(No Uncle) S.A.M.M.s

S.A.M.M.s

Yesterday, as I pondered what an anarchist could do to celebrate the 4th of July, the idea of S.A.M.M.s popped into my head. S.A.M.M. stands for either Silver Anarchist Midnight Market or Silver Anarchist Mid-day Market.

An Open Market

Essentially, an anarchist would pull out a map of his or her town and determine an outdoor place where a spontaneous market could be brought together. It could be on someone’s private land (a large front yard, for example) or public land such as an abandoned field, lot, clearing, etc. It could be within the city limits or just outside of it. Basically, any outdoor place where a makeshift market could be quickly set up.

Promotion

The anarchist would pick a day and a time. It could be one day a week (for example, Monday) or several days a week (Mon, Wed, Fri). The time would be either at midnight or at mid-day. The anarchist would then use networking sites such as Facebook, Myspace, Twitter and blogs, emailing, word-of-mouth and other means to get the word out. There would be no need to organize anything. It could even be a spontaneous thing, so that on the day the S.A.M.M. took place, people would start telling others where it would be.  The anarchist who picked the place could attend it and report via Facebook, etc., on the attendance and outcome, letting others know if/that it was a success, as well as the next planned S.A.M.M.

Silver Barter

These markets would be for buying and selling using silver as barter. Businesses, whether licensed or not, would bring the goods or services they wish to peddle and barter for silver bullion coins. Entrepreneurs and inventors, with or without business licenses, would bring their ideas, concepts and products to the market. Individuals would go with their silver bullion coins to purchase without paying sales taxes (it’s just swapping). Employers would be there, looking to hire independent contractors and to pay them in silver barter, and people out of work would attend, desirous to find a job that will pay them in silver. Absolutely nothing in the market would deal with dollars or any other government currency.

Anarchism Schools

In addition to a market of goods and services, it would be a market of ideas. Anarchists could set themselves up there, freely explaining the principles of anarchism to those that show up. Undoubtedly, non-anarchists would show up, as there are plenty of people who would love a market where silver was the currency, none of whom consider themselves anarchists.

Organizational Tools

Like-minded people could use the markets to organize themselves into United Efforts, pooling their wisdom, knowledge and resources, including their silver, towards common goals and ends.  Those so inclined could even use them to organize themselves into anarchic clans or tribes.  Even DRO’s could be formed at these markets.

Music

Musicians may want to attend to provide music and sell their CDs. Obviously, if noise becomes a factor, the location must be determined wisely.

In large cities, there might be multiple S.A.M.M.s on various days and at various times. S.A.M.M.s can also transcend national boundaries. Any anarchist in any nation could promote a local S.A.M.M.

A Celebration of Anarchy

(No Uncle) S.A.M.M.s would celebrate the right of people to peaceably assemble and to interact with each other in anarchic ways, without having to bring government onto the scene.  By spreading S.A.M.M.s around America, it may have a leavening effect in the minds of the people, so that they truly comprehend what anarchism is all about and its possibilities.

Of course, this is just an idea, and perhaps it is a lame one at that.  But if there are any anarchists out there who would like to take this and run with it, let me know where and when your S.A.M.M. will take place.  I will use my Twitter and Facebook accounts to spread the word.

Oh, yeah, one last thing: Happy Independence Day, America!

Keep your eye on the planets!

D&C 88 is my text for this post.  It is not my intention to expound the entire section, only to bring to the reader’s attention one very significant theological point that I feel the LDS are generally overlooking: the emphasis on PLANETS.  As a help, I will put in bold all the references to planets.

The first sentence of section 88—The First Key/Clue of Understanding

Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you who have assembled yourselves together to receive his will concerning you:  Behold, this is pleasing unto your Lord, and the angels rejoice over you; the alms of your prayers have come up into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth, and are recorded in the book of the names of the sanctified, even them of the celestial world.  (D&C 88: 1-2)

This is the first indication that the Lord is going to start talking of planets, or, as He puts it here, worlds.  The terms world, planet, kingdom and thing, the Lord will explain in this section, are all synonymous.

Third sentence of section 88—The Second Key/Clue of Understanding

This Comforter is the promise which I give unto you of eternal life, even the glory of the celestial kingdom; which glory is that of the church of the Firstborn, even of God, the holiest of all, through Jesus Christ his Son—he that ascended up on high, as also he descended below all things, in that he comprehended all things, that he might be in all and through all things, the light of truth; which truth shineth.  (D&C 88: 4-7)

Here we have the Lord using the second designation of the celestial world, calling it the celestial kingdom.  He also starts talking about things.  Later on He will teach us that the things He is referring to are planets or worlds.  I will explain the reason for bolding God later.

The fourth sentence of section 88

This is the light of Christ.  (D&C 88: 7)

This is referring to the ether which fills space.  (I won’t get into this as it is not the topic of this post.)

The fifth sentence

As also he is in the sun, and the light of the sun, and the power thereof by which it was made.  (D&C 88: 7)

The sun is one of the planet/world/kingdom things this section talks about.

The sixth sentence

As also he is in the moon, and is the light of the moon, and the power thereof by which it was made; as also the light of the stars, and the power thereof by which they were made; and the earth also, and the power thereof, even the earth upon which you stand.  (D&C 88: 8-10)

The moon, stars and earth are some of the the planet/world/kingdom things this section talks about.

The seventh sentence

And the light which shineth, which giveth you light, is through him who enlighteneth your eyes, which is the same light that quickeneth your understandings; which light proceedeth forth from the presence of God to fill the immensity of space—the light which is in all things, which giveth life to all things, which is the law by which all things are governed, even the power of God who sitteth upon his throne, who is in the bosom of eternity, who is in the midst of all things.  (D&C 88: 11-13)

Keep in mind that the things are planets, which will be explained later.  Also God will be explained later.

The 11th sentence

And the redemption of the soul is through him that quickeneth all things, in whose bosom it is decreed that the poor and the meek of the earth shall inherit it.  (D&C 88: 17)

The 12th sentence

Therefore, it must needs be sanctified from all unrighteousness, that it may be prepared for the celestial glory; for after it hath filled the measure of its creation, it shall be crowned with glory, even with the presence of God the Father; that bodies who are of the celestial kingdom may possess it forever and ever; for, for this intent was it made and created, and for this intent are they sanctified.  (D&C 88: 20)

The 13th sentence

And they who are not sanctified through the law which I have given unto you, even the law of Christ, must inherit another kingdom, even that of a terrestrial kingdom, or that of a telestial kingdom.  (D&C 88: 21)

The 14th sentence

For he who is not able to abide the law of a celestial kingdom cannot abide a celestial glory.  (D&C 88: 22)

The 15th sentence

And he who cannot abide the law of a terrestrial kingdom cannot abide a terrestrial glory.  (D&C 88: 23)

The 16th sentence

And he who cannot abide the law of a telestial kingdom cannot abide a telestial glory; therefore he is not meet for a kingdom of glory.  (D&C 88: 24)

The 17th sentence

Therefore he must abide a kingdom which is not a kingdom of glory.  (D&C 88: 24)

The 18th sentence

And again, verily I say unto you, the earth abideth the law of a celestial kingdom, for it filleth the measure of its creation, and transgresseth not the law—wherefore, it shall be sanctified; yea, notwithstanding it shall die, it shall be quickened again, and shall abide the power by which it is quickened, and the righteous shall inherit it.  (D&C 88: 25-26)

The 30th sentence

All kingdoms have a law given; and there are many kingdoms; for there is no space in the which there is no kingdom; and there is no kingdom in which there is no space, either a greater or a lesser kingdom.  (D&C 88: 36-37)

The 31st sentence

And unto every kingdom is given a law; and unto every law there are certain bounds also and conditions.  (D&C 88: 38)

The 33rd sentence

For intelligence cleaveth unto intelligence; wisdom receiveth wisdom; truth embraceth truth; virtue loveth virtue; light cleaveth unto light; mercy hath compassion on mercy and claimeth her own; justice continueth its course and claimeth its own; judgment goeth before the face of him who sitteth upon the throne and governeth and executeth all things.  (D&C 88: 40)

The 34th sentence

He comprehendeth all things, and all things are before him, and all things are round about him; and he is above all things, and in all things, and is through all things, and is round about all things; and all things are by him, and of him, even God, forever and ever.  (D&C 88: 41)

The 35th sentence—The Third Key/Clue of Understanding

And again, verily I say unto you, he hath given a law unto all things, by which they move in their times and their seasons; and their courses are fixed, even the courses of the heavens and the earth, which comprehend the earth and all the planets. (D&C 88: 42-43)

It is here that the Lord finally explains that the things He is referring to are planets.

The 36th sentence

And they give light to each other in their times and in their seasons, in their minutes, in their hours, in their days, in their weeks, in their months, in their years—all these are one year with God, but not with man.  (D&C 88: 44)

In other words, all the times, seasons, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months and years of all of the worlds of the created Universe combined equal one God year.

The 37th sentence

The earth rolls upon her wings, and the sun giveth his light by day, and the moon giveth her light by night, and the stars also give their light, as they roll upon their wings in their glory, in the midst of the power of God.  (D&C 88: 45)

Notice that the earth and moon are both female planets, while the the sun is a male planet.  God, of course, is male.  All these worlds are referred to as if they were people with gender.

The 38th sentence—The Fourth Key/Clue of Understanding

Unto what shall I liken these kingdoms, that ye may understand?  (D&C 88: 46)

Here the Lord lumps the earth (a planet), the sun (a star), the moon (a natural satellite), and the stars (the rest of the stars or suns) together, calling them all kingdoms.  The Lord is finally tying it all together so that we understand that He is talking about planet/kingdom/world things in this section.

The 39th sentence—The Fifth Key/Clue of Understanding

Behold, all these are kingdoms, and any man who hath seen any or the least of these hath seen God moving in his majesty and power.  (D&C 88: 47)

The Lord again reiterates that these worlds are all kingdoms, as if to drive His point across so that we don’t miss it.  And then He drops a bombshell, explaining to His saints that if you’ve seen any of these worlds, you’ve seen God!

This is because God, in addition to being the anthropomorphic, personal Being we worship, is also a planet.  This is also why the ancients of every culture worshiped the planets/stars, calling them gods.

The 40th sentence—The Sixth Key/Clue of Understanding

I say unto you, he hath seen him; nevertheless, he who came unto his own was not comprehended.  (D&C 88: 48)

Again, the Lord reiterates that if we’ve seen any of the planets, we’ve seen God.

Notice, also, that the Lord doesn’t say that if we’ve seen the planets, we’ve seen the Lord.  In other words, He doesn’t say, “I say unto you, he hath seen me (the Lord).”  Instead, He says, “He hath seen him (God).”  This is because the Lord Jesus Christ, Jehovah, in addition to being an anthropomorphic, personal Being, is also a planet.  However, the planet Jehovah is not currently around (in sight).

Also, seeing a planet is not the same as comprehending it.

The 41st sentence

The light shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not; nevertheless, the day shall come when you shall comprehend even God, being quickened in him and by him.  (D&C 88: 49)

Keep in mind that the Lord is equating planets with God, so that if you see a planet, you see God.  Therefore, in this sentence, when He says “you shall comprehend even God,” the Lord is referring to comprehending a planet.

The 42nd sentence

Then shall ye know that ye have seen me, that I am, and that I am the true light that is in you, and that you are in me; otherwise ye could not abound.  (D&C 88: 50)

Don’t lose track, yet!  Keep your eye on the ball and topic at hand, even PLANETS!  The Lord is still talking about planets, only now He is saying that at some point we will see Jehovah (the planet.)

Perhaps to keep our attention firmly fixed on the topic of astronomy, as this is what D&C 88 is all about, the Lord gives the following parable about space and planets.

The parable of the man (Jehovah planet) sending his servants (planets) into the field (space) and visiting them in turn

Behold, I will liken these kingdoms unto a man having a field, and he sent forth his servants into the field to dig in the field.  And he said unto the first: Go ye and labor in the field, and in the first hour I will come unto you, and ye shall behold the joy of my countenance.  And he said unto the second: Go ye also into the field, and in the second hour I will visit you with the joy of my countenance.  And also unto the third, saying: I will visit you; and unto the fourth, and so on unto the twelfth.  And the lord of the field went unto the first in the first hour, and tarried with him all that hour, and he was made glad with the light of the countenance of his lord.  And then he withdrew from the first that he might visit the second also, and the third, and the fourth, and so on unto the twelfth.  And thus they all received the light of the countenance of their lord, every man in his hour, and in his time, and in his season—beginning at the first, and so on unto the last, and from the last unto the first, and from the first unto the last; every man in his own order, until his hour was finished, even according as his lord had commanded him, that his lord might be glorified in him, and he in his lord, that they all might be glorified.

Therefore, unto this parable I will liken all these kingdoms, and the inhabitants thereof—every kingdom in its hour, and in its time, and in its season, even according to the decree which God hath made.  (D&C 88: 51-61)

Note: The joy/light of the countenance of the lord in this parable indicates that the planet Jehovah is a discharging star.

Next sentence and the rest of the section

And again, verily I say unto you, my friends, I leave these sayings with you to ponder in your hearts, with this commandment which I give unto you, that ye shall call upon me while I am near—draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me; ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.  (D&C 88: 62-63)

Now, when you read the rest of the section (D&C 88: 64-141), try to keep in mind that this section is a lesson in ASTRONOMY!  The Lord is talking of heavenly things, meaning PLANETS!  Nevertheless, as above, so below.

(D&C 88 is really long and I don’t want to take the time now to break down every single verse and show the planetary references.  Anthony Larson, if you feel up to it, you can take up where I’ve left off.  Maybe I’ll do it myself in a future post.  But if neither one of us does it, I think what I’ve written above is sufficient to get someone in the right frame of mind to extract the astronomy from the section.  Good luck to all, in that end.)

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A sign of the times?

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We have found the Messias!

Seven Seals and the Paradisaical Millennium
The 8,000 Year Time Line of the Earth
By OneWhoIsWatching www.threewatches.blogspot.com

I suppose one of the most stirring passages of scripture that characterizes the spirit of watching is found in the 1^st Chapter of the Gospel of John.

There were  two disciples of John the Baptist that were with him on the occasion that John saw Christ and said “Behold the Son of God”.  At that point, these two disciples left John and began following Christ.

“Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?

He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.

One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.

He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.

And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.”

These passages are exquisite to me every time I think about them. Can one comprehend what Andrew must have been feeling when he finally found the Messiah he had been waiting and watching for?

Can we comprehend how he felt as he was able to share the good news with his brother Peter who had also been watching for the Messiah?

Can we imagine what Peter must have been thinking and feeling when those words penetrated him?

The story line continues;

“The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.

Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.

Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.

And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.

Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!”

What would it have been like to be Philip or Nathaniel?

Interestingly enough, during the 2nd watch, then Edward Partridge, one who had also been waiting and watching, traveled to meet the Lords Seer, the Lord compared Edward to Nathaniel of old;

“And again, I have called my servant Edward Partridge; and I give a commandment, that he should be appointed by the voice of the church, and ordained a bishop unto the church, to leave his merchandise and to spend all his time in the labors of the church; To see to all things as it shall be appointed unto him in my laws in the day that I shall give them. And this because his heart is pure before me, for he is like unto Nathanael of old, in whom there is no guile.” D&C 41: 11

It appears that it was somewhat common knowledge among the Jews that a Messiah was to soon make his appearance. Even the remnants of the other tribes of Israel who were looked down upon by the Jews seemed to understand that it was the appointed time for the Messiah to appear as demonstrated by the Samarian woman at the well, who, when conversing with Christ acknowledged;

“I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.” John 4: 25

It is truly amazing that after the 400 years of the heavens being closed since Malachi, that there was a group of believers who had studied the prophecies and were found waiting and watching for the Messiah and his forerunner.

It is not clear how the small group of watchers knew how they stood in time, whether it was mainly from personal revelation, from searching the scriptures, from the signs of the times, from the preaching of John the Baptist…  or a combination of all of the above.

I am reminded however of the words of Daniel who had been searching in the “books” to understand various time lines and where he stood in time;

“In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.” (Dan 9:2)

The scriptures are filled with time line related prophecies and the continual reminder of the importance for believers in all three watches to understand where they stand in time relative to the prophecies to be fulfilled in the day they live.

Yet most of the Jews were encompassed about in the cares of the world.

Interestingly, although many of the Jews embraced Christ as a prophet initially, they eventually allowed their corrupt and jealous leaders to turn them against Him.

There was only a small remnant that were earnestly waiting and watching in anticipatory zeal along with Andrew, Peter, Philip and Nathaniel. They were actively looking for him, and he was looking for each of them.

I love the scripture that says Jesus went forth to Galilee and “findeth Philip”.

The Savior said; “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me..”

My wife mentioned in a previous blog about how I became obsessed with doing scriptural word searches using infobases and other word crunching software back in the 1980’s, however she did not mention why I became so obsessed.

It all began in about September or October of 1988 when a friend named Eric who I had not seen for a few years, knocked on the door of my new home in Holiday Utah and told me he had a video I needed to see. It was about the “seven seals” and the “prophetic time line of the earth”.

That was a topic I had always had a keen interest in. I dropped everything and viewed it with great interest… little did I know that my life and my priorities were about to change dramatically.

In the video, a “Brother Nelson” (who was a young insurance salesman) was giving a seminar on the time line of the earth. He quoted many of the time line related scriptures found in the Book of Revelation and section 77 of the D&C.

I had previously read several articles about the seven thousand year time line including a 1983 Ensign article and I had been amazed at how incongruent all of the information I had seen had been with the revealed word of God.

The book of Revelation makes it clear that after the first six thousand years are fulfilled, the seventh seal opens and an hour of judgment takes place, following the hour of judgment, the millennium begins. Following the millennium, a little season takes place before the earth is celestialized. Clearly, the entire time line as revealed in the scriptures could not possibly fit into a seven thousand year time period.

The novel thing about the time line theory being promoted in the video by “Brother Nelson” was what I will refer to as the “overlap” theory.

In short, the theory proposed that the sixth seal and the seventh seal overlapped each other and that the seventh seal began before the sixth seal finished.

Eric and I went to the next scheduled time line seminar to hear the time line presentation in person. While watching the video, I had had a strong impression that that the person who had originated the overlap interpretation was actually someone other than Brother Nelson. After attending a live presentation I asked Brother Nelson if he would be kind enough to give me the contact information of the person who had originated the theory and taught him what he was teaching.

My question surprised him because he was teaching the information as if he had discovered the concepts of the theory from the scriptures himself, but with a little further prodding he finally gave me the name and phone number of a “Brother Edmonds” who lived in Mapleton Utah.

Eric and I contacted Brother Edmonds and requested a meeting with him. If my aging memory serves me correctly, we sat spell bound from about 4 PM to about 4 Am in his living room as he shared with us his version of the divine time line of the earth and the associated prophesies of the last days.

We then returned the following day and had another all night session.

Brother Edmonds was an elderly mam who had been a convert to the Church. As I recall, he was part Indian. I would describe him as fascinating, passionate, eccentric and fanatic… all in a good way. He had a very harsh warning for those who had not prepared temporally for the judgments that were about to hit the world.

He had a self contained retreat that could function off the grid. He had developed an apparatus for generating his own electricity and a large barracks filled with food storage, clothing and survival equipment. He was financially independent and was somewhat of an alchemist who had developed a secret process for refining gold.

Brother Edmonds claimed to have been very close personal friends with President Joseph Fielding Smith and other prophets of the Church. He claimed that the divine time line, including the overlap theory which he taught had been taught to him by President Smith.

As Brother Edmonds shared the parable of the goodman of the house who was to be watching lest the thief come and break in, etc., the message penetrated my heart in such a way that changed my life forever. I feel as it I have been sleeping with one eye open ever since!

That  was the experience 21 years ago that got me searching the scriptures in a much deeper way than I have ever searched them before.

Following that experience I purchased some scripture searching software and became obsessed with doing key word, key phrase and key topic searches. There were days I would spend 8- 10 hours at a time following the various search strings I was working on.

Although the topics I began with was that of the divine time line of the earth and end times prophecy, I soon found that every topic I would search would lead me to several other gospel topics and on and on. The more I learned, the more I realized how little I knew! I have now studied enough to realize I know NOTHING! lol

In the weeks following my initial visit with Brother Edmonds I began researching what President Joseph Fielding Smith had written about the divine time line of the earth.

After reading what he said in Doctrines of Salvation, I was shocked to find that President Smith had taught something quite different than what Brother Edmonds was teaching. To my surprise, President Smith did not teach about the overlapping of the sixth and seventh seal and a seven thousand year timeline, in fact, he taught that the divine time line actually consisted of eight thousand years instead of seven thousand years!

“We have evidence beyond dispute that Adam was driven out of the Garden of Eden about 6,000 years ago, or perhaps a short time less. It is possible using bible chronology and that given by the Lord in the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants to figure this almost accurately… Moreover, our Savior came in the meridian of time… This means that it was about half way from the beginning of “time” to the end of “time”. Anyone who desires can figure it for himself that our Lord came about 4,000 years from the time of the fall. The millennium is to come some time following the 2,000 years following to 2,000 years after his coming. then there is to be the millennium for 1,000 years, and following that a “little season” the length of which is not revealed but which may bring “time to its end about 8,000 years from the beginning.” (Page79-81 Volume One Doctrines of Salvation See also the thesis of Arch Bishop Ussher who spent his life studying the time line of the earth from a literal interpretation of the Bible)

President Smith taught, according to my interpretation of his writings and in conjunction with the word searches I have done, that the seven seals mentioned in the book of Revelation did not represent the entire time line of the earth.. it only had reference to the seven thousand year portion of temporal time that the earth is passing through but he revealed that during the seventh seal, the earth would leave temporal time and go into eternity where it would experience a paradisaical millennium. It would leave this telestial order shortly after the seventh seal begins and go into a paradisaical (terrestrial) order. It would be gone from our telestial reckoning of time for the space of a thousand years and then it would return back to temporal time and finish the remainder of the seventh seal in temporal time.

He taught that the paradisaical millennium that takes place in eternity was separate and distinct from each of the seven millenniums that take place in temporal time.

I returned to brother Edmonds and confronted him about the apparent discrepancy between his interpretation of the time line vs the interpretation provided by President Smith in Doctrines of Salvation.

Although it was not my intent to challenge his sincerity or integrity, I fear that is how he perceived the grilling he was getting. His response was not a pleasant one. It resulted in an unpleasant exchange between the two of us…  we parted ways on a rather sour note, never to see each other in this life again.

I must say however that I feel eternally indebted to Brother Edmonds for his passion about prophecy and for instilling in me a desire to know where I stand in time and the importance of having the spirit of watching and waiting.

He has since passed on, but I shall always be grateful that he was the catalyst for a profound and defining experience in my life.

Needless to say, the time line being presented by Brother Nelson and Brother Edmonds created  no small stir among many people back at that time.

There have since been several groups that have created their own variations of that time line, or were inspired to create different theories altogether, some of them have promoted their own time line videos.

At the time that all of this fuss was taking place, there were rumors about the general authority, under whose stewardship Mapleton Utah,  fell, who was Paul H. Dunn, meeting Brother Edmonds and also with Brother Nelson and warning them to tone things down and to not circulate inaccurate information.

Apparently church headquarters was getting lots of calls and letters from members of the church who were beginning to panic about the perilous time they felt we were entering into.

In an effort to sort things out in my own mind on these issues and to see if the church had an official position on the matter, I wrote a letter to Elder Dunn inquiring about the time line doctrine being taught by Brother Edmonds and the discrepancies I had found between his teachings and those written by President Smith. I included a diagram of my own interpretation of the timeline for his review.

I was curious to know what the official position of the Church was on the time line of the Church.

He was kind enough to respond to my inquiry and to provide a copy of a letter he had recently received from brother Nelson.

At the time, I found it disconcerting that Brother Dunn would commend me for coming to the “proper source” on such doctrinal matters while failing to respond to the doctrinal observations and questions I asked.

As a heretic that tends to be somewhat of a non-conformist, I have tried to find discrepancies in the general nine part time line taught by president Smith as I have searched the scriptures. After 21 years, I have yet to find a major discrepancy in it. In my opinion, his general time line interpretation fits perfectly with every time line statement in the scriptures. Below is my interpretation of the time line based on the scriptures and the writings of President Smith.

1-     1^st Seal (one thousand years)

2-     2^nd Seal (second thousand years)

3-     3^rd Seal (third thousand years)

4-     4^th Seal (fourth thousand years

MIDDLE OF TIME

5-     5^th Seal (fifth thousand years)

6-     6^th Seal (sixth thousand years)

7-     Beginning of the 7^th Seal (Hour of Judgment/Redemption+ possibly about 41 years although the days will be cut short)

8-     Paradisaical Millennium (“There shall be time no longer” the earth leaves temporal time for the “space of 1,000 years”

9-     Remainder of the 7^th Seal (“Little Season” possibly about 959 years)

The above time line which is patterned after the writings of president Smith and many of the time line related prophecies, solves many of the discrepancies found in many of the articles written about the seven seals. Aside from the fact that the time line of the earth revealed in the scriptures cannot possibly fit into a 7,000 year period, another of the glaring discrepancies that most articles pertaining to the seven seals creates, has to do with the term “meridian”.

President Smith taught that the term meridian, as used in this context, means “middle’ and “high point” of time. As you can see from the proposed time line spoken of by President Smith, the coming of Christ did in fact take place in the middle of time;

If the above scenario is anywhere close to being correct, we are very close to the end of the sixth seal… and very close to the events spoken of by Christ that will take place in the last generation of probationary time (which take place before the seventh seal opens)

Of course Joseph Smith and many of the other general authorities from earlier times have been warning the Saints for a long time that we are getting near to the end of the six thousand year period spoken of in the scriptures, but perhaps one of the most disruptive scriptural interpretations derived from the Edmonds time line presentations is found in section 20 of the D&C;

“The rise of the Church of Christ in these last days, being one thousand eight hundred and thirty years since the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the flesh, it being regularly organized and established agreeable to the laws of our country, by the will and commandments of God, in the fourth month, and on the sixth day of the month which is called April— ” D&C 20:

The reason this scripture is so disruptive is because in the past, the six thousand year period was spoken of in a vague context, taking for granted that our current calendar is not completely accurate and that we didn’t know the exact date of Christ’s birth, hence we don’t know when the six thousand year period comes to an end and we therefore don’t know exactly where we stand in time.

However a literal rendering of section 20 enables us to identify with pinpoint accuracy when the fall of Adam, the birth of Christ, the atonement of Christ and the end of the sixth seal takes place!

In essence, it tells us where we stand in time!

But can we take those passages in section 20 literally?

In another post I addressed the fascinating history behind section 20 and pointed out that it was actually written by Oliver Cowdery, not Joseph Smith. There is some disputation upon whether or not it should be consider an inspired writing or an actual revelation. In later years historical documents have surfaced that indicate that it was in fact a direct revelation from God.

Apparently President Kimball did take section 20 literally. On Easter Sunday April 6^th 1980 he made the following statement;

“My brothers and sisters, today we not only celebrate the Sesquicentennial of the organization of the Church, but also the greatest event in human history since the birth of Christ on this day 1,980 years ago. Today is Easter Sunday” (May 1980 Ensign)

Harold B Lee also apparently agreed with the proposition contained in section 20 verse one;

“This is the annual conference of the Church. April 6, 1973, is a particularly significant date because it commemorates not only the anniversary of the organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in this dispensation, but also the anniversary of the birth of the Savior, our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ…” (ref)

When does the Sixth Seal End?

Recently I was asked by a friend, “Why didn’t anything happen on April 6^th 2000?”

His question was based on the following assumptions;

1-  1- The Meridian (or Middle) of time is marked by the Birth of Christ

2-   2- The probationary period of mankind is six thousand years

3-   3- Section 20 reveals that our current calendar is correct to within a few months stating that on April 6^th 1830, it had been 1830 years since the birth of Christ.

Based on the above assumptions, the end of the sixth seal would have been April 6^th 2000. For this reason some people were anticipating that something might happen on that date.

Although I agree with President Smiths nine period chronology of the divine time line and with his definition of “Meridian” meaning middle and high point of time, I disagree with the assumption some people make when they identify the birth of Christ as the “coming of Christ” . I think this is an erroneous application of the term meridian.

Edmonds identified the birth of Christ with the scriptural phrase “coming of Christ”. he felt that the birth of Christ was a prophetic marker pointing to the middle or high point of time.

I am going to suggest that the middle of time and the high point of time was not the birth of Christ, rather it was the Atonement of Christ. (or possibly half way between the birth and atonement of Christ)

Notice the curious scripture found in the Pearl of Great Price;

And it came to pass that Enoch looked; and from Noah, he beheld all the families of the earth; and he cried unto the Lord, saying: When shall the day of the Lord come? When shall the blood of the Righteous be shed, that all they that mourn may be sanctified and have eternal life? And the Lord said: It shall be in the meridian of time, in the days of wickedness and vengeance. And behold, Enoch saw the day of the coming of the Son of Man, even in the flesh; and his soul rejoiced, saying: The Righteous is lifted up, and the Lamb is slain from the foundation of the world; and through faith I am in the bosom of the Father, and behold, Zion is with me.” Moses 7

It appears to me that the meridian of time is being linked with the day of the Lord which is clearly identified by the wickedness of those who shed the sanctifying blood of the righteous Savior. Clearly the emphasis pertaining to the events associated with his coming in the MERIDIAN of time is being placed on the crucifixion and the atonement of Christ, not his birth!

It is understandable that one would think that Christ has delayed the time of the end of probation and his return in glory in the beginning of the seventh seal if one assumes that the meridian of time is based on the birth of Christ. But I would suggest that is a false premise.

IF the following suppositions are true, then the end of the sixth seal would be closer to April 6th 2033 than to April 6th 2000;

·       probationary time does consist of six thousand years

·       section 20 is accurate in validating what the true calendar is

·       the term Meridian does have reference to the middle and high point of the divine     time line

·       the high point of time was in fact the atonement of Christ

Of course we know that the events of the last generation leading up to the end of probationary time, as described by Christ in Matthew 24 must take place sometime during the last biblical generation of the sixth seal.

That would possibly mean that the last 40 year generation of the probationary period before the judgment which takes place in the beginning of the seventh seal, would have possibly begun in 1993 and will possibly end in 2033, or some time sooner since we not that things will be cut short!

Obviously, the events mentioned in Matthew 24 don’t necessarily begin when the generation begins, they simply take place sometime during that generation. Additionally, they are all completed before the entire generation expires for we are told that those days will be shortened;

“And except those days should be shortened, there should none of their flesh be saved; but for the elect’s sake, according to the covenant, those days shall be shortened.” JS-M 1: 20

The thought that the last generation might have begun back in 1993 is an awesome thought to ponder.

The thought that we are currently living in the tail end of the six thousand years is really not a far stretch, after all, as pointed out earlier, President Smith declared that we are nearly at the end of the first six thousand years period. Joseph Smith also declared that those living in his day were living close to the end of the six thousand years;

“The world has had a fair trial for six thousand years; the Lord will try the seventh thousand Himself..” TPSJ 5:252

If those living at the time of Joseph Smith were nearing the end of the six thousand year period, then we know that we are even closer to it!

The comments from Joseph smith would indicate that section 20 could be accurate.

Joseph Fielding Smith has since echoed those sentiments with even more specificity;

“We have evidence beyond dispute that Adam was driven out of the Garden of Eden about 6,000 years ago, or perhaps a short time less. It is possible for us, by using the Bible chronology and that given by the Lord in the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants to figure this almost accurately.” Doctrines of Salvation

Ezra Taft Benson also felt we were close to the end of the six thousand year probationary period:

“For nearly six thousand years, God has held you in reserve to make your appearance in the final days before the Second Coming…” (ETB, Spoken to a gathering of youth in Southern California after he became President of the Church)

Ezra Taft Benson also made the following comments to a youth group:

“Youth of Zion, do you realize you are living in the days of the fulfillment of these signs and wonders? You are among those who will see many of these prophecies fulfilled. Just as certain as was the destruction of the temple at Jerusalem and the scattering of the Jews, so shall these words of the Savior be certain to your generation.

We know not the day nor the hour of His coming, but of this you may feel assured: You stand close to the great day of the Lord! In His words of modern revelation, we say to you, “Seek the face of the Lord, always” (D&C 101:38).

Could it really be possible that we are already living during the last generation of probationary time?

1993 was a year to remember for many people, for many reasons.

Just to jog your memory, the most popular show was “60 minutes”, and the academy award for the best picture that year was given to “Schindler’s List”. That year the Nobel Peace prize was awarded to Nelson Mandela .

The most popular fiction that year was “The Bridges of Madison County”  starring Clint Eastwood, written by  Robert James Waller.

The four most popular Nonfiction books that year were written by an eccentric conservative political talk radio host who would gain such popularity that he would affect politics in a huge way, a degenerate sex pervert who would have been jailed for his antics in the previous generation, but with the downward trend in morals has become worshipped and revered by men and women alike, a stand up comedian that would create an award winning sitcom based on nothing, and a disenfranchised Latter day Saint who claimed to have died and seen the after life, creating her own quasi-new age religion mingled with bits and pieces of Mormon Doctrine;
1.”See I Told You” … Rush Limbaugh
2.”Private Parts” … Howard Stern
3.”Seinlanguage” … Jerry Seinfeld
4.”Embraced by the Light” … Betty J. Eddie with Curtis Taylor

Such were the latter day movers and shakers shaping the thoughts of our present generation in 1993. Those were the books being embraced by a depraved nation with darkened minds.

If indeed 1993 was the beginning of the last 40 year generation of probationary time, it is not unreasonable to suspect that a very significant event might have taken place that year as a prophetic marker indicating where we stand in time.

I have listed below, some of the major events that took place that year. There is one of them in particular that I find to be very significant.

How about you?

Do you find anything in the  following list to be a significant prophetic event? Or are you aware of another event that took place in 1993 that is not on the list that might have been significant?

• The Great Blizzard of 1993 strikes the eastern U.S., bringing record snowfall and other severe weather all the way from Cuba to Québec.
• The European Union was formally established when the Maastricht Treaty came into force on 1 November 1993
• The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is signed into law by US President Bill Clinton.
• The World Wide Web is born at CERN.
• John Paxson’s 3-point shot in Game 6 of the NBA Finals helps the Chicago Bulls, and their third consecutive championship. secure a 99-98 win over the Phoenix Suns.
  
• U.S. President Bill Clinton announces his ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell‘ policy regarding gays in the American military.
• The Mississippi and Missouri Rivers flood large portions of the American Midwest.
• LDS Apostles offered their sacrifices and oblations in the Kirtland Temple for the first time in over 140 years
• Waco seige in Texas.
• First World Trade Center bombing. Terrorists detonate bomb in underground car park.
• A seven year peace treaty signed between Israel and PLO. .
• The HAARP Program ( which stands for “High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program” was created. The HAARP Program is jointly managed by the US Air Force and the US Navy. Though the military denies the allegations, scientific evidence shows that HAARP can cause earthquakes (and other devastations). Russia and the U.S. have already signed treaties agreeing not to use the weather as weaponry against each other.

Assuming that 1993 was the beginning of the last forty year generation of probationary time, those who are watching have great cause to be very anticipatory.

We are now over 1/3 the way through the last generation in the sixth seal during which the preparatory event for the Lords Second coming in glory will take place before the final judgments in the beginning of the seventh seal will take place.

While many believing Mormons, Protestants and Catholics are  watching for the judgments to take place in the opening of the seventh seal and the second coming of the Lord in glory, those who understand the three watch doctrine realize that the Marvelous Work and a Wonder must first take place BEFORE the seventh seal can begin.

Our Father Adam and the Seer and the Spokesman and the rest of the first laborers of the last kingdom must first make their appearance to seal up the righteous and the wicked.

During this time the Savior will return to the vineyard in secret. All of this must happen BEFORE the judgments of the seventh seal and the second coming in glory can take place.

The return of the servants and the testimony of the Servants to the world will be followed by the testimony of earthquakes and the voice of thunderings and the voice of lightnings and the voice of tempests and voice of the waves of the sea heaving themselves beyond their bounds. (See section 88)

As we watch in anticipation for the events to take place, the Lord has given many signs of the times for us to be watching for. Additionally there are other keys to help us understand what is to take place in the near future.

Among them, the dates that revelations took place in the D&C can possibly be very helpful.

Understanding the feasts of Israel and the meaning and sequence behind them and how they related to prophecy can be very helpful.

Perhaps another key was given in section 59

On August 7th 1831 the Lord said;

“Thou shalt offer a sacrifice unto the Lord thy God in righteousness, even that of a broken heart and a contrite spirit.

And that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day;For verily this is a day appointed unto you to rest from your labors, and to pay thy devotions unto the Most High;

Nevertheless thy vow shall be offered up in righteousness on all days and at all times; But remember that on this, the Lord’s day, thou shalt offer thine oblations and thy sacraments unto the Most High, confessing thy sins unto thy brethren, and before the Lord.

And on this day thou shalt do none other thing, only let thy food be prepared with singleness of heart that thy fasting may be perfect, or, in other words, that thy joy may be full.“

Although that revelation was given on a Sunday, verifying that the Lords Sabbath day is indeed on Sunday during this period time, it is interesting to note that it was also given on a NEW MOON!

Hence, the statements from Isaiah and other prophets about the significance of the New Moon are still very applicable. It may be helpful to keep your eyes on the New Moon dates coming up.

This site is very helpful for researching past New Moon dates as well as future ones- Phases of the Moon Calendar

We live in amazing times.

Are you waiting and watching?

Will you be one of the ones that they find, just as the Lord found Philip?

Perhaps you will be one of the first to find them.

Perhaps you, like Andrew, will have the privilege of seeking out your beloved brother or sister and declaring “I have found them! The Servants have returned!”

Perhaps just as Philip found Nathanial, you will find your fellow believers and declare;

“I have found those who have been identified in the scriptures as the first laborers of the last kingdom, they have returned just as the Lord God of Israel has promised!”

Plasma Rods: A Theoretical Concept

This is for what4anarchy’s benefit, but the general public can read it as well. Perhaps someone out there may want to test the theory. Plasma scientists, in particular, are extended a special invitation, to build this and see what happens.

How to Build a Plasma Rod

Instructions:  Stack up to sixteen inertialess drive rotors, one on top of another.  Place them into hollow spheres, each sphere having two air hose valves, one on each side.  The hollow spheres should have two halves so that you can place a rotor inside and then close the sphere by putting the two halves together.  The spheres should be stackable,  so that one fits on top of another.  The rotors need not be of magnetic material, but the effect will be more pronounced if the rotors are magnets.  (I recommend that initially magnets ARE NOT USED.)

The rotors can be steel ball bearings taken to a machine shop and machined into the appropriate shape and weight.  Instructions on making an inertialess drive rotor is found in patent 6,127,762 on the

www.uspto.gov

web site.  Print out the documents and graphics and take them to a machinist to make the shape.  A machinist may also be able to make the spheres or you might be able to find ready-made spheres that fit the size ball bearings you use.

A sensor can be set up to determine the rpms and then the topmost rotor should be rotated with a compressed air tank.  Then attach to the next lower sphere and rotate that rotor faster and so on and so forth.  The rpms in the diagram are arbitrary.  It just needs to have the higher rotors rotating slower than the lower ones in a graduated manner.

19.5 degrees is where the energy should cascade out.  The stack should be stable, so I don’t believe there would be a need for a stopping mechanism, but you probably should provide one just in case.

There you go.

What this should do

Well, you (what4anarchy) already know what this should do, but for the benefit of others, this should be a free energy device, allowing anyone anywhere to draw electricity from the vacuum itself.  (It should also do other things…)  what4anarchy is going to search for some videos he has on the inertialess drive rotor and if he finds them, I’ll put them in this post so people can see it in action.

Why this should work

Abraham 3 (and Facsimile No. 2) and D&C 88 give the pattern of hyperspheres in a stable configuration.  An inertialess drive rotor is a perfect hypersphere.  It has 100% precession and becomes more stable the faster it goes.  The man who invented it saw ball lightning spinning in two directions at once and tried to duplicate the shape that he saw (a mushroom), so this is based upon nature itself.

Also, the Lord has alluded to rods of power in numerous instances in the scriptures.  This plasma rod should enable its possessor to free himself from Babylon’s energy chains, as well as do other things.

Of course, this is all “theory”…

Videos

I found this video of the inertialess drive rotor on YouTube:

You can see that a physical whirlpool forms as it is spun in the water.  In like manner, the rotor causes a vortex to form in the aether, stressing it greatly.  This vortex, like all vortices, is wider and spins slower at the top and narrower and spins faster at the bottom.  When two or more rotors are stacked, their vortices join, becoming a single vortex.  The plasma scientists would probably classify it as a plasma sheath (charge sheath vortex).  The lower and upper rotors become linked hyperdimentionally through the aether, the upper rotors assisting the lower rotors to obtain and maintain their very high rpms.

The next video was also found on YouTube.  The original text for this video (from the company web site) stated:

A video clip of an unrestrained Inertialess Drive Rotor spinning at greater than 10,000 rpm on a flat glass surface. This particular clip shows how relatively stable the rotor is when rotating at a high rotational velocity on a flat surface. The rotor actually gets more stable and moves about less the faster it is spun. This clip also illustrates how easy it is to move the unrestrained rotor about even though it spins at such a velocity.

You can see that very high rpms can be obtained from a stream of compressed air.  The rotor is rotating in two perpendicular planes simultaneously.

There are at least two other videos of this rotor, one of which shows its inertia deadening property.  If what4anarchy still has them on his computer (I sent them to him years ago), I will update this post.

A Couple of Pictures

The following text comes from the company web site:

It might surprise you to learn that a transparent, stationary Inertialess Drive Rotor can bend a laser beam 180 degrees. This unique property will be exploited in a number of products in the near future. The bending properties are shown in the photographs below.

A laser beam from a simple Laser Pointer passes through the centre of the rotor and projects itself on the wall behind it.

This photo captures the Laser Pointer projected onto the right edge of the rotor, where it then projects itself around onto the opposite edge.

These pictures indicate that the very shape of the inertialess drive rotor causes the aether to form an infolding vortex around it, which bends a laser pointer’s beam 180 degrees.  The rotor is stationary in the photos, so this is not a property of torsion field effects due to rotation, but a property of aether configuration/flow due to mass configuration.  Again, this shows that the rotor is a perfect hypersphere, even when stationary.

Previous Plasma Theology article: Monson and his constipated physics redux; or, how electric gravity makes hollow earthers happy

Complete List of Articles authored by LDS Anarchist

“Behold the Time has Fully Come”

“Behold the Time has Fully Come”
By OneWhoIsWatching www.threewatches.blogspot.com

On April 3^rd 1836 Jesus Christ, the Jehovah of the Old Testament suddenly and secretly appeared in the Kirtland Temple to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery.

While standing upon the Ark of the Covenant, suspended in mid air, the Savior of the world declared;

“I am the first and the last; I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain; I am your advocate with the Father.  Behold, your sins are forgiven you; you are clean before me; therefore, lift up your heads and rejoice.

Let the hearts of your brethren rejoice, and let the hearts of all my people rejoice, who have, with their might, built this house to my name. For behold, I have accepted this house, and my name shall be here; and I will manifest myself to my people in mercy in this house.

Yea, I will appear unto my servants, and speak unto them with mine own voice, if my people will keep my commandments, and do not pollute this holy house.

Yea the hearts of thousands and tens of thousands shall greatly rejoice in consequence of the blessings which shall be poured out, and the endowment with which my servants have been endowed in this house.

And the fame of this house shall spread to foreign lands; and this is the beginning of the blessing which shall be poured out upon the heads of my people. Even so. Amen.” ( D&C 110 See also Exod 25:22)

Following that declaration and the transferring of the keys of the gathering of Israel from Moses and the dispensation of the Gospel of Abraham by Elias, Elijah the Prophet appeared and made the following declaration;

“Behold, the time has fully come, which was spoken of by the mouth of Malachi- testifying that he [Elijah] should be sent, before the great and dreadful day of the Lord come- To turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers, lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse- Therefore, the keys of this dispensation are committed into your hands; and by this ye may know that the great and dreadful day of the Lord is near, even at the doors.”

The declaration of Elijah the prophet in the above passages appears to be declaring two things;

1) The prophecy pertaining to Elijah the Prophet contained in Malachi had just recently been fulfilled-

2) The keys to the dispensation of the great and dreadful day of the Lord had been committed to Joseph and Oliver. (That future dispensation has also been revealed as the dispensation of the fulness of times. See D&C 27: 13, D&C 121: 31, D&C 124: 41, D&C 128: 18, 20)

Following this amazing series of visitations Joseph and Oliver had their scribe, Warren Cowdery, (Olivers brother), write down a brief description of the event into a journal.

During the remaining eight years of Joseph’s life, there is no evidence of a public disclosure of this most sacred event by any of these three individuals.

Joseph even gave a public discourse on the future appearance of Elias, Elijah and Messiah without taking the opportunity of disclosing what had already happened or attempting to build upon what had taken place in the Kirtland Temple with Elias, Elijah and Messiah.

It would be decades before the Kirtland Temple visitation would be revealed to the Saints in an article in the Deseret News and a full Biblical generation of 40 years before it would find its way into the canonized revelations in the D&C.

So what event spoken of by Malachi had FULLY COME to pass by April of 1831?

Some LDS scholars believe that the very appearance and declaration by Elijah the Prophet in the Kirtland Temple was the fulfilling of the Malachi’s prophecy but we know that cannot be the case.

We know this because the Angel Moroni gave Joseph Smith a more inspired version of the prophecy revealing that Elijah needed to reveal the priesthood through a physical ordinance by hand, and such an event did not take place pertaining to the visit of Elijah the prophet during the Kirtland Temple visitation;

“..Behold, I will reveal unto you the ^aPriesthood, by the hand of ^bElijah the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the ^cLord..”

It is very important to note that the revealing of the priesthood was to take place by hand, not just by verbal declaration.

With this in mind, others assume that perhaps the appearance of John the Baptist to Joseph and Oliver wherein he laid his hands on them and ordained them to the priesthood must have been the fulfillment of the Malachi prophecy that Elijah was referring to..

One could actually make a very strong case for that deduction given the fact that the New Testament identifies John the Baptist as the one coming in the spirit of Elijah that Malachi spoke of.

Nevertheless, Isaiah and the inspired version of the Bible reveal that the prophecy by Malachi was to have a dual fulfillment, with two separate prophets that come in the spirit and calling of Elijah.

The JST version of the NT identifies John the Baptist as Elijah the preparer who was to first come and prepare the way. But it reveals that in the end times there would be a second prophet coming who was referred to as Elijah the restorer.

Hence, the declaration of Elijah the prophet in the Kirtland Temple was clearly not referring to the restoration of the Aaronic priesthood by the hand of John the Baptist which had occured in 1829 as a preparatory act in restoring the church of Christ to the earth.

So if John the Baptist is Elijah the preparer, who is Elijah the restorer?

And when did Elijah the restorer reveal the priesthood by hand indicating the time had fully come of which Malachi prophesied about?

Clearly it would have to have taken place between the time John the Baptist restored the Aaronic priesthood in 1829 and the visitations in the Kirtland Temple in 1836.

The Purpose of this paper is to document exactly what the prophecy of Malachi was referring to, who Elijah the restorer is and exactly when the revealing of the priesthood by hand took place. (and who the rightful holder of the priesthood is that is spoken of by the ancient prophets)

By doing key word, key phrase and key concept searches, it appears that the act of revealing of the priesthood includes the act of revealing who the Davidic King would be in the third watch, or, in other words,  He whose right it is to reign over the kingdom and dispense the priesthood throughout the kingdom.

When the great overturning of the wicked rulers and their kingdom of iniquity take place, the profane wicked prince of Israel will be dethroned and a literal descendant of David, He whose right it is to rule, will be crowned to reign in behalf of Christ until Christ comes in his glory;

“And thou, profane ^awicked prince of Israel, whose ^bday is come, when iniquity shall have an end,  Thus saith the Lord God; Remove the ^adiadem, and take off the crown: this shall not be the same: exalt him that is ^blow, and abase him that is high. I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it: and it shall be no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him.” Ezek. 21: 27 (See also D&C 58: 22)

Regarding this topic, the Prophet Joseph Smith once taught;

“… the throne and kingdom of David is to be taken from him and will be given to another by the name of David in the last days, raised up out of his lineage.” (Doctrinal History of the Church, vol. 6, p. 253.)

I am suggesting that Elijah the restorer is the descendant of King David spoken of by Joseph Smith and many of the ancient prophets, who has the priesthood right to reign.

Let us first review the prophesy in Malachi as it reads in the King James Version;

” For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.

But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts. Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.

Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:

And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.“

It is a great blessing to have the additional information that has been revealed during the laying of the foundation of the LDS restoration pertaining to those passages through the Book of Mormon, the D&C and the Inspired Version of the Bible and other teachings.

We will review the additional light that God has revealed about those passages and then we will use this information to create an amalgamated text of Malachi’ prophecy.

Then we will identify exactly who Elijah the Restorer is and when he revealed the Priesthood by hand indicating that the time of the fulfillment of the prophecy had fully come;

Listing of additional things revealed pertaining to Malach 4

1- Isaiah prophesies of the mission of Elijah and Christ reveals that every prophecy of Isaiah will have a dual fulfillment; One fulfillment prior to his visit to the Nephites and one fulfillment after his visit to the Nephites; “The ^avoice of him that crieth in the wilderness, ^bPrepare ye the ^cway of the Lord, make straight in the desert a ^dhighway for our God”. ( Isaiah prophecies about the coming of Elijah see Isa. 40: 3) “…for great are the words of ^bIsaiah. For surely he spake as touching all things concerning my people which are of the house of Israel; ^atherefore it must needs be that he must speak also to the Gentiles. And all things that he spake have been and shall be, even according to the words which he spake.” (Christ reveals that all things Isaiah spoke of have been and shall be… they apply to the Jews and to the Gentiles 3^rd Nephi)

2- According to the Inspired Version of the Bible there are actually two Elijahs, a preparer and a restorer; The inspired version reveals that there are actually two prophets that come in the calling of Elijah (which is spelled Elias in the New Testament) The first Elijah comes to prepare the way, the second comes in the last days to restore all things.   JST Matt. 11: 13-15 15 And if ye will receive it, verily, he was the Elias, who was for to come and prepare all things.   JST Matt. 17: 10-14 “And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things, as the prophets have written. And again I say unto you that Elias has come already, concerning whom it is written, Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me; and they knew him not, and have done unto him, whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of Man suffer of them. But I say unto you, Who is Elias? Behold, this is Elias, whom I send to prepare the way before me. Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist, and also of another who should come and restore all things, as it is written by the prophets.

3- JS History tells us that Elijah will “plant” in the hearts of the children the promises of the fathers;

“…After telling me these things, he commenced quoting the prophecies of the Old Testament. He first quoted part of the third chapter of ^aMalachi; and he quoted also the fourth or last chapter of the same prophecy, though with a little variation from the way it reads in our Bibles. Instead of quoting the first verse as it reads in our books, he quoted it thus: For behold, the ^aday cometh that shall ^bburn as an oven, and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly shall burn as ^cstubble; for they that come shall burn them, saith the Lord of Hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. And again, he quoted the fifth verse thus: Behold, I will reveal unto you the Priesthood, by the hand of Elijah the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the ^cLord. He also quoted the next verse differently: And he shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers. If it were not so, the whole earth would be utterly wasted at his coming.

4- Section 98 informs us that the terms “fathers” and “children” apply to “Prophets” and “Jews” “Therefore, ^arenounce war and proclaim peace, and seek diligently to ^bturn the hearts of the children to their fathers, and the hearts of the fathers to the children; And again, the hearts of the ^aJews unto the prophets, and the prophets unto the Jews; lest I come and smite the whole earth with a curse, and all flesh be consumed before me.”  D&C 98: 17

5- Joseph Smith taught that the word “turn” means “bind” or “seal”. “I wish you to understand this subject, for it is important; and if you will receive it, this is the spirit of Elijah, that we redeem our dead, and connect ourselves with our fathers which are in heaven, and seal up our dead to come forth in the first resurrection; and here we want the power of Elijah to seal those who dwell on earth to those who dwell in heaven. This is the power of Elijah and the keys of the kingdom of Jehovah. …”Now comes the point. What is this office and work of Elijah? It is one of the greatest and most important subjects that God has revealed. He should send Elijah to seal the children to the fathers, and the fathers to the children.”  ” History of the Church, 6:251-53 “”How shall God come to the rescue of this generation? He will send Elijah the prophet. … Elijah shall reveal the covenants to seal the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers” History of the Church, 5:555; Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy; and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as are the records on the earth in relation to your dead, which are truly made out, so also are the records in heaven. This, therefore, is the ^asealing and binding power, and, in one sense of the word, the ^bkeys of the kingdom, which consist in the key of ^cknowledge.

15 And now, my dearly beloved brethren and sisters, let me assure you that these are principles in relation to the dead and the living that cannot be lightly passed over, as pertaining to our salvation. For their ^asalvation is necessary and essential to our salvation, as Paul says concerning the fathers—that they without us cannot be made perfect—neither can we without our dead be made ^bperfect.

16 And now, in relation to the baptism for the dead, I will give you another quotation of Paul, 1 Corinthians 15:29: Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? Why are they then baptized for the dead?

17 And again, in connection with this quotation I will give you a quotation from one of the prophets, who had his eye fixed on the ^arestoration of the priesthood, the glories to be revealed in the last days, and in an especial manner this most glorious of all subjects belonging to the everlasting gospel, namely, the baptism for the dead; for Malachi says, last chapter, verses 5th and 6th: Behold, I will send you ^bElijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.I might have rendered a ^aplainer translation to this, but it is sufficiently plain to suit my purpose as it stands. It is sufficient to know, in this case, that the earth will be smitten with a ^bcurse unless there is a welding ^clink of some kind or other between the fathers and the ^dchildren, upon some subject or other—and behold what is that subject? It is the ^ebaptism for the dead. For we without them cannot be made perfect; neither can they without us be made perfect. Neither can they nor we be made perfect without those who have died in the gospel also; for it is necessary in the ushering in of the dispensation of the ^ffulness of times (See section 128)

6- We learn from the appearance of Moroni that it is Gods Servants that will burn the wicked; Moroni reveals, in the Joseph Smith History tells us that “they” who come shall burn them. JS-H 1: 37

7- We know from other prophesies that the word “Lest” means “Before” or “In preparation for”; The dictionary indicates that “lest” some times means “That not”; other times it means “for fear that”, or in other words, “because of” or “in preparation for”. We know that it has to do with the second definition because the scriptures make it clear in multiple places that the earth WILL be smitten with a curse. The point is that Elijah needs to come to prepare and gather the righteous before the curse goes forth, otherwise all of the inhabitants of the earth, including the righteous would be destroyed. (See the prophesied blessing and the cursing in Deut. 30: 1, 19 Also Isaiah’s prophecy that the curse will devour the earth in Isa. 24: 6 etc.)

8- 3rd Nephi reveals that the word “Sun” should be translated “Son” (although both are applicable since the Sun gets it light from Christ); 3 Ne. 25: 2.

Using the information noted above, here is my amalgamated version of the prophesy contained in Malachi;

” For behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: for they that come shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.

But unto you that fear my name shall the Son of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts. Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.

Behold, I will reveal unto you the Priesthood, by the hand of Elijah the prophet, who is to restore all things before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:

And during the 2nd watch he shall first plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers, and in the 3rd watch the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers and he will bind and seal the heart of the Prophets to the Jews, and the heart of the Jews to the Prophets, in preparation for when I come and smite the earth with a curse. If it were not for the return of Elijah the restorer, the whole earth, including the righteous would be utterly wasted at his coming” (Amalgamation and interpretation of the  text of the prophecy in Mal 4 by the Watcher.. changes in red)

There are some amazing things revealed in this prophecy!

Among them is the fact that Elijah the restorer will first prepare the fathers and the children, the Jews and the Prophets by planting a desire in their hearts. Then at the appointed time, he will seal or bind them up before the curse goes forth;

“Q What are we to understand by the angel ascending from the east, Revelation 7th chapter and 2nd verse?

A We are to understand by the angel ascending from the east is he to whom is given the seal of the living God over the twelve tribes of Israel; wherefore, he crieth unto the four angels having the everlasting gospel, saying: Hurt not he earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. And, if you will receive it, this is Elias which was to come to gather together the tribes of Israel and restore all things.”

Notice the related promise that the restorer and his fellow servants will go forth to prepare the Saints by binding up the law and sealing the testimony;

“Therefore, tarry ye, and labor diligently, that you may be perfected in your ministry to go forth among the ^aGentiles for the last time, as many as the mouth of the Lord shall name, to ^bbind up the law and ^cseal up the testimony, and to prepare the saints for the hour of judgment which is to come“  D&C 88: 84

Of course the modern version of this prophesy in section 88 pertaining to the binding up of the law and the sealing of the testimony is in part, a take-off of Isaiah 8.

These passages reveal that when the Davidic Servant returns, who holds the right of priesthood, will be a stumbling block and a rock of offence to both of the kingdoms of Israel that will have become united in the latter days, both the outcasts of Israel and the dispersed of Judah who have gathered unto the gospel covenant. While a remnant will be saved, many will stumble and fall and be snared and taken;

“And he shall be for a ^asanctuary; but for a ^bstone of ^cstumbling and for a ^drock of ^eoffence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a ^fsnare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken. ^aBind up the testimony, ^bseal the ^claw among my disciples.” Isa. 8: 16

Of course, Isaiah and section 88 are prophesying about the time of the cursing and the blessing that Moses prophesied about. ( See Deuteronomy 28-32)

But getting back on topic, who is Elijah the Restorer?

To identify this person we need to go back to the early part of the LDS restoration movement when a fellow by the name of Oliver Cowdery and others were commissioned by the Lord to take the gospel message to another branch of the house of Israel, even the Lamanites.

Oliver was also commissioned to help identify and ordain the 12 apostles that would take the gospel message to foreign lands to gather the dispersed of Judah and the outcasts of Israel, two other branches of the Olive Tree.

Oliver was playing a key role in helping to fulfill the prophesies contained in the allegory of the tame and wild olive trees given by the prophet Zenos. I was reminded the other day by a friend in Utah Valley that the name “Oliver” means “Olive Tree”. What a coincidence!)

In section 6 of the D&C, we read thus:

“And now behold I give unto you (O. Cowdery), and also unto my servant Joseph, the keys of this gift, which shall bring to light this ministry.”

What ministry is the Lord referring to?

It appears that the Lord was referring to a separate, existing ministry from the ministry that Joseph and Oliver were involved in… it was the ministry which was to finish the work of bringing to pass the restoration of Israel, and through these means prepare the way for the coming of Christ.

This is truly amazing. The Lord was not giving Joseph and Oliver the keys of this ministry, he was giving them the privilege and calling of bringing an existing preparatory ministry to light!

Shortly after Joseph and Oliver receive this promise that they will be the ones to bring an existing ministry to light, a revelation comes through Joseph for Oliver and others to go on a mission to the Lamanites.

During the mission Oliver and his companions pay a call to Sidney Rigdon and encourage him to read the Book of Mormon.

Within a short period of time, Rigdon has joined the Church, been the means of preparing hundreds of others to come into the church. He meets Joseph Smith for the first time in December of 1830. During that visit, the revelation currently known as section 35 is given in which the Lord reveals that Sidney is the one who is like John the Baptist (Elijah the preparer)

“Behold, verily, verily I say unto my servant Sidney, I have looked upon thee and thy works. I have heard thy prayers, and prepared thee for a greater work. Thou art blessed, for thou shalt do great things. Behold thou wast sent forth even as John, to prepare the way before me and before Elijah which should come.”

On the surface, this passage is amazingly clear, yet if we drill down a little further, we see an amazing cryptic message embedded into it.

The passage informs us that Bishop Rigdon’s previous ministry was typological of John the Baptists. It was a preparatory ministry… and, as we have pointed out,  John the Baptist was Elijah the preparer who prepared the way for Christ and also prepared the way for the restoration of the Gospel in the 2^nd watch.

However, the passage goes on to inform us that Rigdon would in the future, do a greater work. He would have a greater ministry. He would eventually do GREAT THINGS… even as the apostles of old.  The implication is that Rigdon’s next work would be that of restorer.

Verses 7&8 provide greater clarity to the future work that Sidney will do in the 3^rd watch,  they say;

“And it shall come to pass that there shall be a great work in the land, even among the Gentiles, for their folly and their abominations shall be made manifest in the eyes of all people. For I am God and mine arm is not shortened; and I will show miracles, signs and wonders unto all those who believe on my name.”

Now, getting back to the cryptic aspect of the passages;

“thou wast sent forth even as John, to prepare the way before me and before Elijah which should come.”

At face value it appears that the Elijah who should come is someone other than Sidney, however, what he is really saying is that Sidney had been sent to do a preparatory work before the greater work of Elijah the Restorer was to be done. He was first doing a preparatory work but later he would do the greater work.

It becomes evident that Sidney is very possibly the one who comes in the spirit of Elijah the Restorer at a later time, during the 3^rd watch, during the folly of the Gentiles.

So, here we have the Lord declaring that Sidney has just finished a preparatory ministry similar to the ministry of John the Baptist, and that he would do GREAT THINGS in a GREATER WORK during the folly of the Gentiles at a future time.

But what about revealing the priesthood by hand?

We know from the angel Moroni that the latter day Elijah the restorer would reveal the priesthood by HAND, or in other words, just as John the Baptist revealed the priesthood by giving it to Joseph and Oliver by the laying on of hands, he who was to come in the spirit and calling of Elijah the prophet in the latter days would also reveal the priesthood ordination, by the laying on of hands.

This is where section 36 becomes hugely important.

Following the revelation that the Lord gave to Sidney Rigdon, a revelation was given to his friend, Edward Partridge, who had come with him to meet Joseph Smith. In it, the Lord says;

“..and I will lay my hand upon you [Edward Partridge] by the hand of my Servant Sidney Rigdon, and you shall receive my Spirit, the Holy Ghost, even the Comforter, which shall teach you the peaceable things of the kingdom.” (D&C 36:2)

There it is. Just as John the Baptist revealed the priesthood by ordaining Joseph and Oliver, Sidney Rigdon was revealing the priesthood by ordaining Edward Partridge.

This is exactly the event that Elijah the Prophet was acknowledging and declaring in the Kirtland Temple on April 3^rd 1836. He was acknowledging that in fulfillment of Malachi’s prophesy, He who would come in the calling of Elijah the Restorer had already revealed the priesthood in preparation for the eventual curse that would be poured out upon the earth.

We know from section 6 that Rigdon will eventually do great things when the great work begins, but his past and future ministries had now been brought to light, by revelation, as a result of Joseph and Oliver who had been called to do so.

Oliver Cowdery and Joseph Smith were told that they had the keys of the gift which should bring to light this ministry;

“And now I command you, that if you have good desires-a desire to lay up treasures for yourself in heaven-then shall you assist in bringing to light, with your gift, those parts of my scriptures which have been hidden because of iniquity. And now, behold, I give unto you, and also unto my servant Joseph, the keys of this gift, which shall bring to light this ministry; and in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.”

Joseph and Oliver were given the gift and the calling to bring to light an existing ministry! A separate one from their own. They were to identify the ministry (and minister) that was currently doing a work! And then they were to assist him when the folly of the gentiles takes place in the 3rd watch!

Lets review what happens after Joseph and Oliver are given the promise of bring an existing ministry to light;

1) The Lord calls Oliver Cowdery, Parley Pratt and others on a mission to the lamanites. During the mission they take a Book of Mormon to Sidney Rigdon who declares it to be a revelation from God.

2) Oliver Cowdery baptizes Rigdon.

3) Rigdon visits Joseph Smith during their first meeting… the first time they ever met, Joseph pronounces a blessing upon Sidneys head and the Lord identifies Sidney as the one like John the Baptist who had previously been sent forth doing a work that was a preparatory work.

4) Shortly thereafter the Lord identifies (through the Prophet Joseph Smith) Sidney Rigdon as the Spokesman from the loins of Judah prophesied about in the Book of Mormon and the JST version of Genesis.

What is a ministry?

According the Webster-

Ecclesiastical function; agency or service of a minister of the gospel or clergyman in the modern church, or of priests, apostles and evangelists in the ancient. Acts 1. Rom.12. 2 Tim.4. Num.4.

Did Joseph and Oliver use the keys they had been given to bring to light the existing ministry and the existing minister who God had previously called to do a preparatory work?

YES!

Please remember that anciently, King David had a seer who worked in concert with him;

“All these which were chosen to be porters in the gates were two hundred and twelve. These were reckoned by their genealogy in their villages, whom David and Samuel the seer did ordain in their set office. “

Are we seeing a pattern here? The priests had to come before King David and Samuel the Seer to be ordained. Remember how the Lord said in the D&C that all those who would go forth to preach the gospel must come before Sidney and Joseph?

Joseph had just translated the Book of Mormon with the help of Oliver as his scribe and Oliver had just been given the promise that at a future time he would get to translate ancient records as well… hence, Oliver also had, or would be given the gift of translation at a future time.

So what exactly was the gift promised to Joseph and Oliver that would enable them to bring to light the existing ministry of he who would come in the spirit and power of Elijah the prophet?

It was the gift of translation!

How did the gift of translation help to identify Sidney Rigdons calling?

Perhaps two of the most important sections of scripture identifying Sidney’s calling are 2 Ne. 3: 17-18 in the Book of Mormon and JST Gen. 50: 24-38 in the Bible. Both of these records came forth through the miraculous gift of translation.

Both of these speak about the “Spokesman” and his ministry and provide a point of reference for latter day revelation to refer to when revealing who Sidney is. Sections 100 and 124 identify Sidney Rigdon to be the Spokesman prophesied about in 2^nd Nephi and JST 50;

“And it is expedient in me that you, my servant Sidney, should be a spokesman unto this people; yea, verily, I will ordain you unto this calling, even to be a spokesman unto my servant Joseph.” D&C 100: 9, 11

Certainly the gift of translation that brought forth the Book of Mormon and the inspired version of the Bible (JST) containing prophecies about Rigdons ministry is part of what the Lord was referring to when he spoke of the gift that Joseph and Oliver had been given.

Furthermore, the revelation in section 6 begins by stating that a Marvelous Work was about to come forth verifying that it had not yet begun!

It was referring of course to a future time.. to the 3^rd watch.

I wonder if in the 3^rd watch, perhaps Joseph and or Oliver will translate additional records that will shed further light and testimony on the past and future ministries of Sidney Rigdon, Gods Spokesman, even Elijah the Restorer.

It is remarkable that on this, the new moon of the first month of the transitional year in which the Marvelous Work is very possibly to begin, over 100 elders and other leaders of indigenous tribes in America and other countries have gathered together in a gathering they refer to as “the return of the ancestors“.

Their message to the world is that ;

“we have entered into a very special time in history… It began on October 24 when the blue sphere appeared in the solar system marking.. the end of time“

“there is great change about to happen on earth“

According to one of their spokesmen;

“These elders are coming from all over for ceremony and for prayer. Prayer for themselves and for the world and for all of us.. this is not just an ordinary ceremony this is a ceremony of extreme power because of the timing, because of what it is about and the true meaning behind this of the returning of the ancestors, it talking about the time when the stars open up to us, when the people who actually created the human race re-appear on earth“

How is it possible that so many fragmented tribes of differing beliefs, traditions and in some cases different languages could come together in a united ceremony believing that their ancestors are going to return to teach them wisdom?

The words of the angel Moroni seem very appropriate here;

“And he shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers.”

Although the 1^st mission of Oliver Cowdery to the Lamanites appeared to be a failure at the time, something obviously took place during the restoration movement with regard to the Lamanites. Elijah the prophet apparently planted something in the hearts of the descendants of these great people.

The Lord has promised that;

“…my ^awork shall go forth, for inasmuch as the knowledge of a Savior has come unto the world, through the ^btestimony of the Jews, even so shall the ^cknowledge of a ^dSavior come unto my people-

And to the ^aNephites, and the Jacobites, and the Josephites, and the Zoramites, through the testimony of their fathers-

And this ^atestimony shall come to the knowledge of the ^bLamanites, and the Lemuelites, and the Ishmaelites, who ^cdwindled in unbelief because of the ^diniquity of their fathers, whom the Lord has suffered to destroy their ^ebrethren the Nephites, because of their ^finiquities and their abominations.

And for this very ^apurpose are these ^bplates ^cpreserved, which contain these records-that the ^dpromises of the Lord might be fulfilled, which he made to his ^epeople;

And that the ^aLamanites might come to the knowledge of their fathers, and that they might know the ^bpromises of the Lord, and that they may ^cbelieve the gospel and ^drely upon the merits of Jesus Christ, and be ^eglorified through faith in his name, and that through their repentance they might be saved. Amen.”

We know the Lamanites are going to come to a knowledge of who they are and who God is. The Lord has also promised that  “the Lamanites shall ^bblossom as the rose.“

The words of the dedicatory prayer of the Kirtland Temple also seem appropriate at this time that the indigenous tribes have become humble and looking for guidance from their ancestors from the dead;

“And cause that the ^aremnants of Jacob, who have been cursed and smitten because of their transgression, be ^bconverted from their wild and savage condition to the fulness of the everlasting gospel;

And the poor and the meek shall have the gospel preached unto them, and they shall be looking forth for the time of my coming, for it is nigh at hand-
(Doctrine and Covenants | Section 35:15)

The 400 year period shown to Father Abraham has now expired. It is time for the final warning and judgment of this wicked nation.

The time for Elijah the restorer and his fellow servants to seal up of the righteous is about to take place.

I suspect we have not seen the last of brother Oliver. The Lord has said;

“…for I have given unto him power to ^dbuild up my ^echurch among the ^fLamanites..”

Nor have we seen the last of brother Sidney.

The Words of Jehovah-Saves Anointed-One, Spoken During His Nephite Ministry: DAY ONE

The Words of Jehovah-Saves Anointed-One, Spoken During His Nephite Ministry

DAY ONE

Words of the Father, Spoken to Everyone

See my Son David¹, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name—everyone hear him.

Words Spoken to the Multitude

See, I am Jehovah-Saves Anointed-One², whom the prophets testified shall come into the world. And see, I am the light and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father has given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon me the sins of the world, in the which I have allowed the will of the Father in all things from the beginning.

Words Spoken to the Multitude

Arise and come forward to me, that you [All] may thrust your hands into my side, and also that you [All] may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet, that you [All] may know that I am the El³ of Israel⁴, and the El of the whole earth, and have been violently killed for the sins of the world.

Words Spoken to Nephi

I give to you [Nephi] power that you [Twelve] shall baptize this people when I am again ascended into heaven.

Words Spoken to Timothy⁵

I give to you [Timothy] power that you [Twelve] shall baptize this people when I am again ascended into heaven.

Words Spoken to Jonas⁶

I give to you [Jonas] power that you [Twelve] shall baptize this people when I am again ascended into heaven.

Words Spoken to Mathoni

I give to you [Mathoni] power that you [Twelve] shall baptize this people when I am again ascended into heaven.

Words Spoken to Mathonihah

I give to you [Mathonihah] power that you [Twelve] shall baptize this people when I am again ascended into heaven.

Words Spoken to Kumen

I give to you [Kumen] power that you [Twelve] shall baptize this people when I am again ascended into heaven.

Words Spoken to Kumenonhi

I give to you [Kumenonhi] power that you [Twelve] shall baptize this people when I am again ascended into heaven.

Words Spoken to Jeremiah⁷

I give to you [Jeremiah] power that you [Twelve] shall baptize this people when I am again ascended into heaven.

Words Spoken to Shemnon

I give to you [Shemnon] power that you [Twelve] shall baptize this people when I am again ascended into heaven.

Words Spoken to Jonas⁶

I give to you [Jonas] power that you [Twelve] shall baptize this people when I am again ascended into heaven.

Words Spoken to Zedekiah⁸

I give to you [Zedekiah] power that you [Twelve] shall baptize this people when I am again ascended into heaven.

Words Spoken to Isaiah⁹

I give to you [Isaiah] power that you [Twelve] shall baptize this people when I am again ascended into heaven.

Words Spoken to the Twelve Disciples

In this manner shall you [Twelve] baptize—and there shall be no disputations among you [Twelve]—truly I say to you [Twelve], that whoever repents of his sins through the words of you [Twelve], and desires to be baptized in my name, in this manner shall you [Twelve] baptize them: see, you [Twelve] shall go down and stand in the water, and in my name shall you [Twelve] baptize them. And now see, these are the words which you [Twelve] shall say, calling them by name, saying:

Having authority given me of Jehovah-Saves Anointed-One, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Set-Apart¹⁰ Spirit. Amen.

And then shall you [Twelve] immerse them in the water, and come up again out of the water. And after this manner shall you [Twelve] baptize in my name, for see, truly I say to you [Twelve], that the Father, and the Son, and the Set-Apart Spirit are united; and I am in the Father, and the Father in me, and the Father and I are united.

And according as I have commanded you [Twelve] so shall you [Twelve] baptize. And there shall be no disputations among you [Twelve], as there have been up to this time; neither shall there be disputations among you [Twelve] concerning the points of my doctrine, as there have been up to this time. For truly, truly I say to you [Twelve], he that has the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirs up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another. See, this is not my doctrine—to stir up the hearts of men with anger, one against another—but this is my doctrine: that such things should be done away.

See, truly, truly, I say to you [Twelve], I will declare to you [Twelve] my doctrine. And this is my doctrine, and it is the doctrine which the Father has given to me—and I bear record of the Father, and the Father bears record of me, and the Set-Apart Spirit bears record of the Father and me—and I bear record that the Father commands all men, everywhere, to repent and believe in me. And whoever believes in me, and is baptized, the same shall be saved; and they are they who shall inherit the kingdom of El. And whoever does not believe in me, and is not baptized, shall be damned. Truly, truly, I say to you [Twelve], that this is my doctrine, and I bear record of it from the Father; and whoever believes in me believes in the Father also; and to him will the Father bear record of me, for he will visit him with fire and with the Set-Apart Spirit. And after this manner will the Father bear record of me, and the Set-Apart Spirit will bear record to him of the Father and me; for the Father, and I, and the Set-Apart Spirit are united.

And again I say to you [Twelve], you [Twelve] must repent, and become as a little child, and be baptized in my name, or you [Twelve] can not at all receive these things.

And again I say to you [Twelve], you [Twelve] must repent, and be baptized in my name, and become as a little child, or you [Twelve] can not at all inherit the kingdom of El.

Truly, truly, I say to you [Twelve], that this is my doctrine, and whoever builds upon this builds upon my rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against them. And whoever shall declare more or less than this, and establish it for my doctrine, the same comes of evil, and is not built upon my rock; but he builds upon a sandy foundation, and the gates of hell stand open to receive such when the floods come and the winds beat upon them. Therefore, go out to this people, and declare the words which I have spoken, to the ends of the earth.

Words Spoken to the Multitude

Blessed are you [All] if you [All] shall give heed to the words of these twelve whom I have chosen from among you [All] to minister to you [All], and to be the servants of you [All]; and to them I have given power that they may baptize you [All] with water; and after you [All] are baptized with water, see, I will baptize you [All] with fire and with the Set-Apart Spirit; therefore blessed are you [All] if you [All] shall believe in me and be baptized, after you [All] have seen me and know that I am.

And again, more blessed are they who shall believe in the words of you [All] because that you [All] shall testify that you [All] have seen me, and that you [All] know that I am. Yes, blessed are they who shall believe in the words of you [All], and come down into the depths of humility and be baptized, for they shall be visited with fire and with the Set-Apart Spirit, and shall receive a remission of their sins. Yes, blessed are the poor in spirit who come to me, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

And again, blessed are all they that mourn, for they shall be comforted. And blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. And blessed are all they who do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled with the Set-Apart Spirit. And blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. And blessed are all the pure in heart, for they shall see El. And blessed are all the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of El. And blessed are all they who are persecuted for my name’s sake, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. And blessed are you [All] when men shall revile you [All] and persecute, and shall say all manner of evil against you [All] falsely, for my sake; for you [All] shall have great joy and be exceedingly glad, for great shall be the reward of you [All] in heaven; for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you [All].

Truly, truly, I say to you [All], I give to you [All] to be the salt of the earth; but if the salt shall lose its saltiness with what shall the earth be salted? The salt shall be from that time forward good for nothing, but to be thrown outside and trampled by men.

Truly, truly, I say to you [All], I give to you [All] to be the light of this people. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. See, do men light a candle and put it under a basket? No, but on a candlestick, and it gives light to all that are in the house; therefore let the light of you [All] so shine before this people, that they may see the good works of you [All] and glorify the Father of you [All] who is in heaven.

Do not think that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets. I am not come to destroy but to fulfil; for truly I say to you [All], neither the smallest letter, nor the smallest part of a letter has passed away from the law, but in me it has all been fulfilled. And see, I have given you [All] the law and the commandments of my Father, that you [All] shall believe in me, and that you [All] shall repent of the sins of you [All], and come to me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit. See, you [All] have the commandments before you [All], and the law is fulfilled. Therefore come to me and everyone be saved; for truly I say to you [All], that except you [All] shall keep my commandments, which I have commanded you [All] at this time, you [All] shall never enter into the kingdom of heaven.

You [All] have heard that it has been said by them of old time, and it is also written before you [All], that

“you shall not kill, and whoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment of El”—

but I say to you [All], that

whoever is angry with his brother shall be in danger of his judgment. And whoever shall speak contemptuously and insultingly to his brother, shall be in danger of the high council; and whoever shall say, “You fool,” shall be in danger of hell fire.

Therefore, if you [All] shall come to me, or shall desire to come to me—

and you remember that your brother has something against you, go your way to your brother, and first be reconciled to your brother, and then come to me with full purpose of heart, and I will receive you.

Quickly settle matters and become friends with your suing adversary while you are on the way to court with him, lest at any time he shall get you, and you shall be cast into prison. Truly, truly, I say to you, you shall by no means come out from that place until you have paid the last penny.

And while you [All] are in prison can you [All] pay even one penny? Truly, truly, I say to you [All], No.

See, it is written by them of old time, that

“you shall not commit adultery”—

but I say to you [All], that

whoever looks on a woman, to lust after her, has committed adultery already in his heart.

See, I give to you [All] a commandment, that you [All] allow none of these things to enter into the heart of you [All]; for it is better that you [All] should deny yourselves of these things, wherein you [All] will take up the cross of you [All], than that you [All] should be cast into hell.

It has been written, that

“whoever shall separate from his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement.”

Truly, truly, I say to you [All], that

whoever shall separate from his wife, except because of her sexual sin, causes her to commit adultery; and whoever shall be intimate with her who is separated commits adultery.

And again it is written,

“you shall not forswear yourself, but shall perform to Jehovah your oaths”—

but truly, truly, I say to you [All],

do not swear at all; neither by heaven, for it is El’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is his footstool; neither shall you swear by your head, because you can not make one hair black or white; but let your communication be, “Yes, yes; No, no;” for whatever comes of more than these is evil.

And see, it is written,

“an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth”—

but I say to you [All], that you [All] shall not resist evil, but

whoever shall smite you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also; and if any man will sue you at the law and take away your coat, let him have your cloak also; and whoever shall compel you to go a mile, go with him two. Give to him that asks you, and from him that would borrow of you do not turn away.

And see it is written also, that

“you shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy”—

but see I say to you [All],

love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them who despitefully use you and persecute you;

that you [All] may be the children of the Father of you [All] who is in heaven; for he makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good.

Therefore those things which were of old time, which were under the law, in me are all fulfilled. Old things are done away, and all things have become new. Therefore I would that you [All] should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven, is perfect.

Truly, truly, I say that I would that you [All] should do alms to the poor; but take heed that you [All] do not do your alms before men to be seen of them; otherwise you [All] have no reward of the Father of you [All] who is in heaven. Therefore, when you [All] shall do your alms do not sound a trumpet before you [All], as will hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Truly I say to you [All], they have their reward.

But when you do alms do not let your left hand know what your right hand does; that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret, he himself shall reward you openly.

And when you pray you shall not do as the hypocrites, for they love to pray, standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men.

Truly I say to you [All], they have their reward.

But you, when you pray, enter into your closet, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father, who sees in secret, shall reward you openly.

But when you [All] pray, do not use vain repetitions, as the heathen, for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Therefore, none of you be like them, for the Father of you [All] knows what things you [All] have need of before you [All] ask him. All of you pray, therefore, after this manner:

Our Father who are in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, is yours forever. Amen.

For, if you [All] forgive men their trespasses the heavenly Father of you [All] will also forgive you [All]; but if you [All] do not forgive men their trespasses neither will the Father of you [All] forgive the trespasses of you [All].

Moreover, when you [All] fast do not be as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance, for they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to fast. Truly I say to you [All], they have their reward.

But you, when you fast, anoint your head, and wash your face; that you do not appear to men to fast, but to your Father, who is in secret; and your Father, who sees in secret, shall reward you openly.

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust corrupt, and thieves break through and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust corrupts, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. For where the treasure of you [All] is, there will the heart of you [All] be also.

The light of the body is the seer¹¹;

if, therefore, your seer be single, your whole body shall be full of light. But if your seer be corrupt, your whole body shall be full of darkness. If, therefore, the light that is in you be darkness, how great is that darkness!

No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. You [All] cannot serve El and riches.

Words Spoken to the Twelve Disciples

Remember the words which I have spoken. For see, you [Twelve] are they whom I have chosen to minister to this people. Therefore I say to you [Twelve], do not take thought for the life of you [Twelve], what you [Twelve] shall eat, or what you [Twelve] shall drink; nor yet for the body of you [Twelve], what you [Twelve] shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body more than raiment? See the fowls of the air, for they do not sow, neither do they reap nor gather into barns; yet the heavenly Father of you [Twelve] feeds them. Are not you [Twelve] much better than they? Which of you [Twelve] by taking thought can add one cubit to his stature? And why do you [Twelve] take thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field how they grow; they do not toil, neither do they spin; and yet I say to you [Twelve], that even Solomon¹², in all his glory, was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if El so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, even so will he clothe you [Twelve], if you [Twelve] are not of little faith. Therefore do not take thought, saying, “What shall we eat?” or, “What shall we drink?” or, “What shall we wear?” For the heavenly Father of you [Twelve] knows that you [Twelve] have need of all these things. But seek you [Twelve] first the kingdom of El and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you [Twelve]. Therefore, do not take thought for tomorrow, for tomorrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient is the day to the evil thereof.

Words Spoken to the Multitude

Truly, truly, I say to you [All], Do not judge, that you [All] be not judged. For with what judgment you [All] judge, you [All] shall be judged; and with what standard you [All] measure, it shall be measured to you [All] again.

And why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the beam that is in your own eye? Or how will you say to your brother: Let me pull the speck out of your eye—and see, a beam is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first cast the beam out of your own eye; and then shall you see clearly to cast the speck out of your brother’s eye.

Do not give that which is set-apart to the dogs, nor cast the pearls of you [All] before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you [All].

Ask, and it shall be given to you [All]; seek, and you [All] shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you [All]. For every one that asks, receives; and he that seeks, finds; and to him that knocks, it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, who, if his son ask bread, will give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you [All] then, being sinful, know how to give good gifts to the children of you [All], how much more shall the Father of you [All] who is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? Therefore, all things whatsoever you [All] would that men should do to you [All], do you [All] even so to them, for this is the law and the prophets.

Enter you [All] in at the narrow gate; for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, which leads to destruction, and many there be who go in thereat; because narrow is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads to life, and few there be that find it.

Beware of false prophets, who come to you [All] in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. You [All] shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree brings forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree brings forth corrupt fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth corrupt fruit, neither a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that does not bring forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore, by their fruits you [All] shall know them.

Not every one that says to me, “Jehovah, Jehovah,” shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, except he that does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day: “Jehovah, Jehovah, have we not prophesied in your name, and in your name have cast out devils, and in your name done many wonderful works?” And then will I profess to them: “I never knew any of you; depart from me, all of you that work iniquity.” Therefore, whoever hears these sayings of mine and does them, I will compare him to a wise man, who built his house upon a rock—and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that hears these sayings of mine and does not do them shall be compared to a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand—and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell, and great was the fall of it.

Words Spoken to the Multitude

See, you [All] have heard the things which I taught before I ascended to my Father; therefore, whoever remembers these sayings of mine and does them, him will I raise up at the last day.

Words Spoken to the Multitude

Do not marvel that I said to you [All] that old things had passed away, and that all things had become new. See, I say to you [All] that the law is fulfilled that was given to Moses¹³. See, I am he that gave the law, and I am he who covenanted with my people Israel; therefore, the law in me is fulfilled, for I have come to fulfil the law; therefore it has an end. See, I do not destroy the prophets, for as many as have not been fulfilled in me, truly I say to you [All], shall all be fulfilled. And because I said to you [All] that old things have passed away, I do not destroy that which has been spoken concerning things which are to come. For see, the covenant which I have made with my people is not all fulfilled; but the law which was given to Moses has an end in me. See, I am the law, and the light. Look to me, and endure to the end, and you [All] shall live; for to him that endures to the end will I give eternal life. See, I have given to you [All] the commandments; therefore keep my commandments. And this is the law and the prophets, for they truly testified of me.

Words Spoken to the Twelve Disciples

You [Twelve] are my disciples; and you [Twelve] are a light to this people, who are a remnant of the house of Joseph¹⁴. And see, this is the land of the inheritance of you [Twelve]; and the Father has given it to you [Twelve]. And not at any time has the Father given me commandment that I should tell it to the brethren of you [Twelve] at Jerusalem. Neither at any time has the Father given me commandment that I should tell to them concerning the other tribes of the house of Israel, whom the Father has led away out of the land. This much did the Father command me, that I should tell to them: That

other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

And now, because of stiffneckedness and unbelief they did not understand my word; therefore I was commanded to say no more of the Father concerning this thing to them.

But, truly, I say to you [Twelve] that the Father has commanded me, and I tell it to you [Twelve], that you [Twelve] were separated from among them because of their iniquity; therefore it is because of their iniquity that they do not know of you [Twelve].

And truly, I say to you [Twelve] again that the Father has separated the other tribes from them; and it is because of their iniquity that they do not know of them.

And truly I say to you [Twelve], that you [Twelve] are they of whom I said:

Other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

And they did not understand me, for they supposed it had been the Gentiles; for they did not understand that the Gentiles should be converted through their preaching. And they did not understand me that I said they shall hear my voice; and they did not understand me that the Gentiles should not at any time hear my voice—that I should not manifest myself to them save it were by the Set-Apart Spirit. But see, you [Twelve] have both heard my voice, and seen me; and you [Twelve] are my sheep, and you [Twelve] are numbered among those whom the Father has given me.

And truly, truly, I say to you [Twelve] that I have other sheep, which are not of this land, neither of the land of Jerusalem, neither in any parts of that land round about where I have been to minister. For they of whom I speak are they who have not as yet heard my voice; neither have I at any time manifested myself to them. But I have received a commandment of the Father that I shall go to them, and that they shall hear my voice, and shall be numbered among my sheep, that there may be one fold and one shepherd; therefore I go to show myself to them.

And I command you [Twelve] that you [Twelve] shall write these sayings after I am gone, that if it so be that my people at Jerusalem, they who have seen me and been with me in my ministry, do not ask the Father in my name, that they may receive a knowledge of you [Twelve] by the Set-Apart Spirit, and also of the other tribes of whom they do not know, that these sayings which you [Twelve] shall write shall be kept and shall be manifested to the Gentiles, that through the fulness of the Gentiles, the remnant of their seed, who shall be scattered forth upon the face of the earth because of their unbelief, may be brought in, or may be brought to a knowledge of me, their Redeemer. And then will I gather them in from the four quarters of the earth; and then will I fulfil the covenant which the Father has made to all the people of the house of Israel.

And blessed are the Gentiles, because of their belief in me, in and of the Set-Apart Spirit, which witnesses to them of me and of the Father. See, because of their belief in me, says the Father, and because of the unbelief of you, O house of Israel, in the latter day shall the truth come to the Gentiles, that the fulness of these things shall be made known to them.

But wo, says the Father, to the unbelieving of the Gentiles—for notwithstanding they have come forth upon the face of this land, and have scattered my people who are of the house of Israel; and my people who are of the house of Israel have been cast out from among them, and have trampled by them; and because of the mercies of the Father to the Gentiles, and also the judgments of the Father upon my people who are of the house of Israel, truly, truly, I say to you [Twelve], that after all this, and I have caused my people who are of the house of Israel to be smitten, and to be afflicted, and to be slain, and to be cast out from among them, and to become hated by them, and to become a hiss and a byword among them—and thus commands the Father that I should say to you [Twelve]:

At that day when the Gentiles shall sin against my gospel, and shall reject the fulness of my gospel, and shall be lifted up in the pride of their hearts above all nations, and above all the people of the whole earth, and shall be filled with all manner of lyings, and of deceits, and of mischiefs, and all manner of hypocrisy, and murders, and priestcrafts, and whoredoms, and of secret abominations; and if they shall do all those things, and shall reject the fulness of my gospel, see, says the Father, I will bring the fulness of my gospel from among them.

And then will I remember my covenant which I have made to my people, O house of Israel, and I will bring my gospel to them. And I will show to you, O house of Israel, that the Gentiles shall not have power over you; but I will remember my covenant to you, O house of Israel, and you [All] shall come to the knowledge of the fulness of my gospel.

But if the Gentiles will repent and return to me, says the Father, see, they shall be numbered among my people, O house of Israel. And I will not allow my people, who are of the house of Israel, to go through among them, and tread them down, says the Father. But if they will not turn to me, and hearken to my voice, I will allow them, yes, I will allow my people, O house of Israel, that they shall go through among them, and shall tread them down, and they shall be as salt that has lost its saltiness, which is from that time forward good for nothing but to be thrown outside, and to be trampled by my people, O house of Israel.

Truly, truly, I say to you [Twelve], thus has the Father commanded me—that I should give to this people this land for their inheritance. And then the words of the prophet Isaiah shall be fulfilled, which say:

Your seers¹⁵ shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing, for they shall see eye to eye when Jehovah shall bring again Zion. Break forth into joy, sing together, [All] you waste places of Jerusalem; for Jehovah has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem. Jehovah has made bare his set-apart arm in the eyes of all the Gentiles; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of El.

Words Spoken to the Multitude

See, my time is at hand. I perceive that you [All] are weak, that you [All] cannot understand all my words which I am commanded of the Father to speak to you [All] at this time. Therefore, all of you go to the homes of you [All], and ponder upon the things which I have said, and ask of the Father, in my name, that you [All] may understand, and prepare the minds of you [All] for tomorrow, and I come to you [All] again. But now I go to the Father, and also to show myself to the lost tribes of Israel, for they are not lost to the Father, for he knows where he has taken them.

Words Spoken to the Multitude

See, my bowels are filled with compassion towards you [All]. Do you [All] have any that are sick among you [All]? Bring them to this place. Do you [All] have any that are lame, or blind, or halt, or maimed, or leprous, or that are withered, or that are deaf, or that are afflicted in any manner? Bring them to this place and I will heal them, for I have compassion upon you [All]; my bowels are filled with mercy. For I perceive that you [All] desire that I should show to you [All] what I have done to the brethren of you [All] at Jerusalem, for I see that the faith of you [All] is sufficient that I should heal you [All].

Words Spoken to the Father

Father, I am troubled because of the wickedness of the people of the house of Israel.

Words Spoken to the Multitude

Blessed are you [All] because of the faith of you [All]. And now see, my joy is full.

Words Spoken to the Multitude

See the little ones of you [All].

Words Spoken to the Twelve Disciples

See there shall one be ordained among you [Twelve], and to him will I give power that he shall break bread and bless it and give it to the people of my church, to all those who shall believe and be baptized in my name. And this shall you [Twelve] always observe to do, even as I have done, even as I have broken bread and blessed it and given it to you [Twelve]. And this shall you [Twelve] do in remembrance of my body, which I have shown to you [Twelve]. And it shall be a testimony to the Father that you [Twelve] do always remember me. And if you [Twelve] do always remember me you [Twelve] shall have my Spirit to be with you [Twelve].

Words Spoken to the Twelve Disciples

Blessed are you [Twelve] for this thing which you [Twelve] have done, for this is fulfilling my commandments, and this witnesses to the Father that you [Twelve] are willing to do that which I have commanded you [Twelve]. And this shall you [Twelve] always do to those who repent and are baptized in my name; and you [Twelve] shall do it in remembrance of my blood, which I have shed for you [Twelve], that you [Twelve] may witness to the Father that you [Twelve] do always remember me. And if you [Twelve] do always remember me you [Twelve] shall have my Spirit to be with you [Twelve]. And I give to you [Twelve] a commandment that you [Twelve] shall do these things. And if you [Twelve] shall always do these things blessed are you [Twelve], for you [Twelve] are built upon my rock. But whoever among you [Twelve] shall do more or less than these are not built upon my rock, but are built upon a sandy foundation; and when the rain descends, and the floods come, and the winds blow, and beat upon them, they shall fall, and the gates of hell are ready open to receive them. Therefore blessed are you [Twelve] if you [Twelve] shall keep my commandments, which the Father has commanded me that I should give to you [Twelve].

Truly, truly, I say to you [Twelve], you [Twelve] must watch and pray always, lest you [Twelve] be tempted by the devil, and you [Twelve] be led away captive by him. And as I have prayed among you [Twelve] even so shall you [Twelve] pray in my church, among my people who do repent and are baptized in my name. See I am the light; I have set an example for you [Twelve].

Words Spoken to the Multitude

See, truly, truly, I say to you [All], you [All] must watch and pray always lest you [All] enter into temptation; for Satan desires to have you [All], that he may sift you [All] as wheat. Therefore you [All] must always pray to the Father in my name; and whatever you [All] shall ask the Father in my name, which is right, believing that you [All] shall receive, see it shall be given to you [All]. Pray in the families of you [All] to the Father, always in my name, that the wives of you [All] and the children of you [All] may be blessed.

And see, you [All] shall meet together often; and you [All] shall not forbid any man from coming to you [All] when you [All] shall meet together, but allow them that they may come to you [All] and do not forbid them; but you [All] shall pray for them, and shall not cast them out; and if it so be that they come to you [All] often you [All] shall pray for them to the Father, in my name.

Therefore, hold up your light that it may shine to the world. See I am the light which you [All] shall hold up—that which you [All] have seen me do. See you [All] see that I have prayed to the Father, and you all have witnessed. And you [All] see that I have commanded that none of you [All] should go away, but rather have commanded that you [All] should come to me, that you [All] might feel and see; even so shall you [All] do to the world; and whoever breaks this commandment allows himself to be led into temptation.

Words Spoken to the Twelve Disciples

See truly, truly, I say to you [Twelve], I give to you [Twelve] another commandment, and then I must go to my Father that I may fulfil other commandments which he has given me. And now see, this is the commandment which I give to you [Twelve], that you [Twelve] shall not allow any one knowingly to partake of my flesh and blood unworthily, when you [Twelve] shall minister it; for whoever eats and drinks my flesh and blood unworthily eats and drinks damnation to his soul; therefore if you [Twelve] know that a man is unworthy to eat and drink of my flesh and blood you [Twelve] shall forbid him. Nevertheless, you [Twelve] shall not cast him out from among you [Twelve], but you [Twelve] shall minister to him and shall pray for him to the Father, in my name; and if it so be that he repents and is baptized in my name, then shall you [Twelve] receive him, and shall minister to him of my flesh and blood. But if he does not repent he shall not be numbered among my people, that he may not destroy my people, for see I know my sheep, and they are numbered. Nevertheless, you [Twelve] shall not cast him out of the synagogues of you [Twelve], or the places of worship of you [Twelve], for to such shall you [Twelve] continue to minister; for you [Twelve] do not know if they will return and repent, and come to me with full purpose of heart, and I shall heal them; and you [Twelve] shall be the means of bringing salvation to them. Therefore, keep these sayings which I have commanded you [Twelve] that you [Twelve] do not come under condemnation; for wo to him whom the Father condemns. And I give you [Twelve] these commandments because of the disputations which have been among you [Twelve]. And blessed are you [Twelve] if you [Twelve] have no disputations among you [Twelve]. And now I go to the Father, because it is expedient that I should go to the Father for the sakes of you [Twelve].

Words Spoken to the Twelve Disciples

You [Twelve] shall call on the Father in my name, in mighty prayer; and after you [Twelve] have done this you [Twelve] shall have power that to him upon whom you [Twelve] shall lay the hands of you [Twelve], you [Twelve] shall give the Set-Apart Spirit; and in my name shall you [Twelve] give it, for after this manner do my apostles.

Footnotes

1. See my Beloved Son = See my Son David; David = Beloved

2. Jesus Christ = Jehovah-Saves Anointed-One

3. God = El; El = might, strength, “the divine being,” Saturn

4. Israel = One-Who-Prevails-With-El / Let-El-Prevail

5. Timothy = Honor-Of-El

6. Jonas = Dove

7. Jeremiah = Jehovah-Exalts

8. Zedekiah = Righteousness-Of-Jehovah

9. Isaiah = Salvation-Of-Jehovah

10. Holy = Set-Apart

11. Eye = Seer (See-er)

12. Solomon = Peaceable

13. Moses = Draw-Out

14. Joseph = Jehovah-Increases

15. Watchmen = Seers

Complete List of Articles authored by LDS Anarchist

If you could read only 3 chapters or sections…

During a recent conversation with what4anarchy, he asked me to write down what I had been expounding to him, as it was new information and he didn’t want it lost. So, I’ve been preparing it for publication on this blog. (I can’t say, yet, when it will be ready, so that is the answer you’ll get if you ask me.)

However, during my research into this particular topic, it became plain to me that there was a division in the scriptures:

• Writings that are absolutely essential and most important to our salvation
• Everything else.

In my own life, certain scriptures have been stressed by my leaders. For example, I believe that it was in the MTC, that our president gave a challenge to have the missionaries read 2 Nephi 9 every day for 30 days. Some took it up and said they felt spiritually charged from the experience. Each of us, I suppose, has favorite chapters/sections which, perhaps, do the same. We can read them over and over again and never tire of them, becoming spiritually recharged and renewed.

Nevertheless, the scriptures that I discovered to be the most important during my recent research were never emphasized by any of my leaders. Interestingly enough, they always emphasized other scriptures.

So, out of curiosity, I want to ask the visitors of this blog a question:

If your scriptures were to be ripped from your hands, never again to be returned, but you could pick three or four chapters/sections of the Standard Works to keep with you, that you could read every day of your life and strive to live by, which would they be? In other words, what are the 3 or 4 chapters/sections that are the most important parts of the scriptures?

(I will give the scriptures that I found to be most important in the article that I will publish later.)

Complete List of Articles authored by LDS Anarchist

Seeing Apostasy from Within

“…we know that the people who were in the land of Jerusalem were a righteous people; for they kept the statutes and judgments of the Lord, and all his commandments, according to the law of Moses; wherefore, we know that they are a righteous people…” 1 Nephi 17:22

After nearly a decade of wandering in the desert, Lehi and his family arrived on the seashore and pitched their tents in the land they called Bountiful. Nephi, according to the word of the Lord, began to fashion tools for the construction of a ship. Laman and Lemuel began, once again, to complain citing the above reference regarding the people of Jerusalem. From their view, their friends back home were on the right path. They bemoaned the fact that they could not enjoy their possessions and be happy.

As we stand here centuries later, we can see the big picture. The house of Israel has fallen into disrepair. The people of God had replaced their love and service of God with the pomp and circumstance derived from wealth and pleasure. Apostasy had set in. But to Laman and Lemuel, their easy lifestyle enjoyed in Jerusalem was the standard by which they measured the ‘rightness’ of their living. No admonition from either Lehi or Nephi could sway their sons and brothers from this viewpoint.

Given the difficulty that Laman had in seeing the real picture, how hard would it be for us in this day to see the threads of apostasy in our normal lives? Have we supplanted what the Lord defined for righteousness with our own comfortable standard?

I believe that this movement away from the truth is apostasy and can occur at two levels, organization and personal. The former dealing with the migration of the goals and objectives  promoted by the leadership and the latter expressed in our individual thoughts and actions. Let’s take a look at these two themes.

Corporate Apostasy

Today, we can easily see that the church established by the apostles in the meridian of time moved away from the true principles established by Christ. Let’s look a little more closely at what outward characteristics emerged from this change.

As we look at the Holy Roman Church, we find an entity that expressed itself in the form of magnificent edifices. St. Peter’s Basilica, first commissioned by Constantine, was rebuilt in the 15^th century with no equal. While churches dominated the landscape of most cities of the time, none compared to the structure finally completed in the early 1600’s. A considerable amount of wealth was spent in the construction of beautiful buildings, meant to send a message of the power and prestige of the Catholic church.

The need of the church to express itself in terms of its physical environment extended to the surrounding areas of its headquarters in Vatican City. Speaking of the popes of the 14^th and 15^th century, here is a quote from The Restoration by Wil Durant (page 14):

“They labored to redeem Rome from the ugliness and squalor into which it had fallen while the popes were in Avignon. They drained marshes (by comfortable proxy), paved streets, restored bridges and roads, improved the water supply, established the Vatican Library and the Capitoline Museum, enlarged the hospitals, distributed charity, built or repaired churches, embellished the city with palaces and gardens, reorganized the University of Rome, supported the humanists in resurrecting pagan literature, philosophy, and art, and gave employment to painters, sculptors, and architects whose works are now a treasured heritage of all mankind…perhaps they thought of it as transforming scattered crumbs of evanescent wealth into a lasting splendor for the people and their God.”

The true reverence of God is not expressed in magnificent buildings, gardens, and lavish art. Could this extravagant effort to honor God with the works of man be an outward sign to the apostasy within?

At its height, the Holy Roman Church exerted political influence well beyond the confines of the Vatican. Princes and kings sought out the elite of the church hierarchy to solidify alliances and to position themselves. Leaders of the church traveled not only to Germany and France but to China and India to gain favor with the rulers of these foreign lands. At home and abroad, politics played an integral role in the lives of the popes. Does the ability to influence politics domestically and worldwide serve as a marker of the wayward path?

The practice of indulgences, the idea of reducing the time of a loved one in Purgatory through the purchase of the excess grace of the saints, represented one of the primary methods for creating ongoing cash flow. The donations to the church, then as now, were viewed as ‘fire insurance.’ To spin off an old refrain, money corrupts, and a lot of money corrupts greatly. Such was the Catholic Church in the middle ages. Property bequeathed to the church held the giver higher in the eyes of God, or does it generate a false hope?

Four years before Martin Luther tacked his 95 Theses on the door of the church at Wittenberg, Machiavelli penned the following in his Discourses, iii:

“ Had the religion of Christianity been preserved according to the ordinances of the Founder, the state and the commonwealth of Christendom would have been far more united and happy than they are. … And whoever examines the principles which that religion is founded, and sees how widely different from those principles its present practice and application are, will judge that her ruin or chastisement is near at hand.”

This statement foreshadowed the reformation; an effort to return to the basic principles that were contained in the founding words of apostles. Have we of the LDS church diverged from the original principles upon which the religion was founded? Has the money and power afforded the LDS church over these last decades succeeded in moving us away from the principles contained in the fulness of the gospel? I have found nothing in the scriptures that suggests this generation is immune from apostasy. Are we so blind, as Laman and Lemuel were, to not see what is happening to the corporate church?

In Third Nephi, chapter 27, Christ outlines the criteria for the church to be His. In addition to being called by His Name and tuned to His gospel, He requires that the church ‘show forth the works of the Father’.’ He also warns us that ( verse 11):

If the church “is built upon the works of men, or upon the works of the devil, verily I say unto you they have joy in their works for a season, and by and by the end cometh, and they are hewn down and cast into the fire, from whence there is no return.”

Assuming what I described above, are we taking joy in the works of men? Is the season coming to a close?

Individual Apostasy

Just as there could be markers of apostasy for the corporate entity, there are also similar markers for us as individuals. Apostasy comes from the Greek meaning ‘to stand away,’ and means today that one departs from one’s religion or principles. Subtle apostasy would have us focus our time, talents, and energy on items at ‘appear’ to be important but are really only invalid substitutes for the real thing.

In Matthew 23, we read:

“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

Is it possible that we, today, can do many wonderful works, yet be rejected by Christ? I submit that this substitution of works instead of seeking to be known by Christ represents the type of apostasy that threatens us today. Can we assume that attending the temple, doing our home teaching,  fulfilling our callings and all the other various and sundry activities we are called upon to do in the church today can substitute for having a relationship with Christ sufficient to be ‘known’ by Him?

In the times of the Middle Ages, the tradition of visiting relics and defined sacred sites became very important. Martin Luther, himself, tells of his effort to climb the 200+ steps of a holy site on his knees, reciting a prayer on each step in hopes of currying favor with God. Do we exert such an outward effort in hopes that God will recognize our sacrifice? At the same time, do we ignore the fundamental gospel steps of repentance, faith, baptism by water followed by baptism by fire and the Holy Ghost?

As I sat in fast and testimony meeting last week, I was struck by the ‘testimony’ of an older gentleman who talked of his challenges in keeping his business solvent. He described a discussion with his brother where he was told: “I pay my tithing; I have no reason to worry.” Has tithing become simply a modern day equivalent of the Holy Roman Church’s indulgences? Is there an implied promise that if we pay our money to the church we will receive some level of protection? I am not proposing that anyone who pays tithing is in apostasy. My intent is to raise the concern that substituting tithing for the true meaning of the gospel, to bring us to Christ, will not bring us to our intended goal – His kingdom.

Can the LDS Church fail? Yes, if it allows money, politics and power to supplant the ministry of the gospel. Can we as individuals fail? Yes, if we allow the works of men to replace a relationship with Christ.

These are the questions we must answer for ourselves:

Have I received a remission of my sins? See 2 Nephi 31:17-18,

Have I been sanctified? See 3 Nephi 27:20-21

Have I been cleansed by the power of the Holy Ghost that I may be numbered among the people of the Church of Christ? See Moroni 6:1-4

Once we have prepared our hearts then we turn our effort toward our neighbors. Have we accomplished our personal preparation such that we can assist our brothers and sisters with a pure heart? See Mosiah 4:11-30

Are we, as Laman, defining our own criteria for righteousness?

What think ye?

Trying the Spirits

Try the Spirits
By OneWhoIsWatching  www.threewatches.blogspot.com

I got a call from a friend last night. The first thing he said is, “Are you sitting down?“

“Yes“, I said.

He said, “My father, who is a flaming liberal subscribes to “The Nation” magazine which is a publication put out by the Democratic Party. You aren’t going to believe what is in it!“

Click here for an audio button with a message from the One Who Is Watching

[I have since been informed by "Joseph" that the publication is not technically put out by the Democratic Party. According to wikipedia; The Nation is a weekly^[1] United States periodical devoted to politics and culture, self-described as “the flagship of the left.”^[2] Founded on July 6, 1865 at the start of Reconstruction as a supporter of the victorious North in the American Civil War, it is the oldest continuously published weekly magazine in the US. It is published by the Nation Company, L.P. at 33 Irving Place, New York City.]

He went on to read the following announcement from Share International which was released over the PRNewswire on January 22 and is currently showcased in The Nation magazine.

I don’t know if this was a news item the magazine wanted to highlight or if it was a paid advertisement. I suspect it is a paid advertisement.

Even if it was a paid advertisement, it is remarkable to me, given the message proclaims the emergence of a new political religious order that has the solution for the global economic and financial chaos that we currently face, that the democratic party would allow it in their publication unless it is consistent with their agenda.

“Bright star heralds the emergence of Maitreya the World Teacher
LONDON, January 22 /PRNewswire/ –

- Share International News Release no. 88, 22 January 2009

For over 30 years author, lecturer and artist Benjamin Creme has been preparing the way for the emergence of Maitreya the World Teacher.

On 12 December 2008 Share International distributed a news release announcing that in the very near future a large, bright star will appear in the sky visible throughout the world, night and day. Around a week later Maitreya will give his first interview on major US television.

Since early January 2009 sightings of the star have been reported from Norway, South Africa, the United States, Dubai and Qatar. More and more sightings are now expected. Reports have already appeared in Norwegian newspapers.

A new article by Benjamin Creme’s Master, who is based in the Himalayas, reveals how close we are to witnessing this sign and the historic events which will follow. Maitreya’s first interview will lead to further and more frequent interviews in the USA, Japan and other countries.

Maitreya’s first interview

In the very near future, people everywhere will have the opportunity to witness an extraordinary and significant sign, the like of which has been manifested only once before, at the birth of Jesus. Then, according to Christian teaching, a star appeared in the heavens and led three wise men from the East to the birthplace of Jesus. Soon, once again, a star-like luminary of brilliant power will be seen around the world. What does this mean? How is it possible?

The answer lies in the fact that this mysterious event is a sign, and heralds the beginning of Maitreya’s open mission. Soon after the sign appears in our skies, Maitreya will give His first media interview on American television.

On that open, public occasion, still unannounced as Maitreya, the World Teacher will present His views on the economic and financial chaos which now grips the world. He will explain its origins and final outcome, and present, to some extent, His recipe for amelioration of the present heavy burden on the poor of the world. Thus He will prepare the way for a more detailed and specific announcement of His ideas.

How will viewers respond? They will not know His background or status. Will they listen to and consider His words? It is too soon to know exactly but the following may be said: never before will they have seen or heard Maitreya speak. Nor, while listening, will they have experienced His unique energy, heart to heart. Also, this is a unique time in history with whole nations stunned and apprehensive for the future. Therefore it can be assumed that many who hear His words will be open and eager to hear more. It is not for nothing that Maitreya has waited patiently for this moment to enter the public world; America, for one, would not have responded sooner. Now, for the first time in many years, a new Administration has to cope with financial chaos, unemployment and social unrest on a massive scale. The moment of truth for America and the world has arrived.

Not alone in America but worldwide, people are awakening to the need for and the possibility of change. The politicians and economists call the present situation a ‘downturn’ and a ‘recession’. In truth, we are witnessing the last stumbling steps of the old order. Millions are becoming aware that unbridled competition and greed are not the safest path for men, that such materialistic doctrines create a ’slippery slope’ for the unwary, and, eventually, the international crisis we have today.

Of course, many people of burgeoning wealth stand clear of the present loss of confidence in the ways which have made them rich, and think it only ‘a matter of time’ until we are back on course and thriving again.

Will they heed Maitreya and recognize the sense of His argument? Lost in their arrogance and self-esteem, possibly not. However, many are less sanguine about a return to the status quo. Many have suffered painful losses and have lost faith in the old methods. The peoples of the nations are ripe and ready for change. They call out for change and a more meaningful life. Maitreya will remind men of the essentials without which there is no future for man: Justice and Peace. And the only way to both is through sharing.”

The Nation Magazine provided a toll free number that people can call to get additional information about the emergeance of Lord Maitreya. 1-888-877-8272 (For those who want to hear the message but don’t want to have your phone number tracked, click on the audio button above)

So who is Maitreya?

Maitreya (Sanskrit) or Metteyya (Pāli) is a future Buddha of this world in Buddhist eschatology. In some Buddhist literature, such as the Amitabha Sutra and the Lotus Sutra, he is referred to as Ajita Bodhisattva.

Maitreya is a bodhisattva who in the Buddhist tradition is to appear on Earth, achieve complete enlightenment, and teach the pure dharma. According to scriptures, Maitreya will be a successor of the historic Śākyamuni Buddha, the founder of Buddhism. The prophecy of the arrival of Maitreya is found in the canonical literature of all Buddhist sects (Theravāda, Mahāyāna, Vajrayāna) and is accepted by most Buddhists as a statement about an actual event that will take place in the distant future.

Share International, which equates Maitreya with the prophesied figures of multiple religious traditions, claims that he is already present in the world, but is preparing to make an open declaration of his presence in the near future. They claim that he is here to inspire mankind to create a new era based on sharing and justice.

We live in very strange times. Why are politicians being referred to as Messiahs and why are political parties now beginning to promote the emergence of religious teachers, leaders and Messiahs?

Could it be that we have reached the pivotal time in the history of the world when it will finally become obvious that Government IS a false religion?

Thats right, government is a religion. Think about it, if government can dictate to you whether you can speak about Jesus Christ in a public place and if you are willing to give them that power over you and obey them, then they are dictating to you how you practice your religion, and you are giving them power and authority over and above the God that you supposedly worship.

As Verlan H. Anderson points out in his book “The Great and Abominable Church of the Devil”, the interlocking governments that rule this world are the Great and Abominable Church of the Devil.

And they use fiat currencies and false economies to control , manipulate and enslave the inhabitants of the world.

Yes, there is a sinister combination of secret organizations in the background that control the governments of the world, and there is a specific secret organization that controls all other secret organizations which is clearly identified in the Book of Mormon.

We will discuss that topic in another article, however today, I want to focus on the topic of “discerning the spirits” because the current and future showcasing of the emergence of Lord Maitreya and other false teachers and false Messiahs by the political and governmental Gods that our Idolatrous society has come to worship and put our faith in is a sign of the times and we need to be spiritually prepared to discern the false spirits that are being unleashed upon the earth.

Maitreya is just one of many false spirits that is about be be unleashed on this unsuspecting generation. This is one more sign that the Marvelous Work and a Wonder is about to come forth!

As time goes on it will become more apparent to those who have the spirit of watching and the spirit of discernment that the political financial and religious events of this day are all merged together.

The perceived need for a Maitreya type messianic teacher in the eyes of the masses has been set up by the global financial meltdown that we are currently experiencing.

We don’t need to wait for the meltdown of the global financial system, it has already taken place.

Rep. Kanjorski broke the code of silence among politicians and explained in vivid detail what happened in September of this year.

There was an electronic run on the banks in which $550 Billion Disappeared in one hour. He admitted that if they had not shut the system down and guaranteed up to $250,000 per account, they project that 5  1/2 Trillion would have been withdrawn by 4:00 that day resulting in the complete decimation of the global economy.

The American and global Economies are currently being artificially propped up. When the plug is finally pulled, the degree of fear, panic and utter chaos that will sweep across the world is beyond words. Surely the masses will embrace any Messianic figure who appears to have the solution to the problems the world faces.

Click Here to see the interview

Concerning prophecy and religious deception, the Bible warns: “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1).

With that introduction, I want to provide a profound article that was published in the Times and Seasons by Joseph Smith entitled “Try the Spirits”. It is my hope and prayer that this information contained within this article will inspire you to prepare yourself to be able to discern the spirits.

Try the Spirits

Recent occurrences that have transpired amongst us render it an imperative duty devolving upon me to say something in relation to the spirits by which men are actuated. It is evident from the apostle’s writings that many false spirits existed in their day, and have “gone forth into the world,” and that it needed intelligence which God alone could impart to detect false spirits, and to prove what spirits were of God. The world in general have been grossly ignorant in regard to this one thing, and why should they be otherwise. “For no man knows the things of God, but by the spirit of God.” The Egyptians were not able to discover the difference between the miracles of Moses and those of the magicians until they came to be tested together; and if Moses had not appeared in their midst they would unquestionably have thought that the miracles of the magicians were performed through the mighty power of God; for they were great miracles that were performed by them: a supernatural agency was developed; and great power manifested.

The witch of Endor is no less singular a personage; clothed with a powerful agency she raised the prophet Samuel from his grave, and he appeared before the astonished king and revealed unto him his future destiny. Who is to tell whether this woman is of God, and a righteous woman? Or whether the power she possessed was of the devil, and her a witch as represented by the bible? It is easy for us to say now; but if we had lived in her day, which of us could have unraveled the mystery?

It would have been equally as difficult for us to tell by what spirit the prophets prophesied, or by what power the apostles spoke, and worked miracles. Who could have told whether the power of Simon, the sorcerer was of God, or of the devil? There always did in every age seem to be a lack of intelligence pertaining to this subject. Spirits of all kinds have been manifested, in every age and almost amongst all people; if we go among the Pagans they have their spirits, the Mahomedans, the Jews, the Christians, the Indians; all have their spirits, all have a supernatural agency; and all contend that their spirits are of God. Who shall solve the mystery? “Try the spirits,” says John, but who is to do it? The learned, the eloquent, the philosopher, the sage, the divine, all are ignorant. The Heathens will boast of their Gods, and of the great things that have been unfolded by their oracles. The Mussulman will boast of his Koran and of the divine communications that his progenitors have received, and are receiving. The Jews have had numerous instances both ancient and modern among them of men who have professed to be inspired and sent to bring about great events, and the Christian world has not been slow in making up the number.

“Try the spirits;” but what by? Are we to try them by the creeds of men? What preposterous folly, what sheer ignorance, what madness. Try the motions and actions of an eternal being, (for I contend that all spirits are such,) by a thing that was conceived in ignorance, and brought forth in folly. – a cobweb of yesterday. Angels would hide their faces, and devils would be ashamed and insulted and would say, “Paul we know, and Jesus we know, but who are ye.” Let each man or society make a creed and try evil spirits by it and the devil would shake his sides, it is all that he would ask. All that he would desire. Yet many of them do this and hence “many spirits are abroad in the world.”

One great evil is that men are ignorant of the nature of spirits; their power, laws, government, intelligence &c., and imagine that when there is any thing like power, revelation, or vision manifested that it must be of God: – hence the Methodists, Presbyterians, and others frequently possess a spirit that will cause them to lay down, and during its operation animation is frequently entirely suspended; they consider it to be the power of God, and a glorious manifestation from God, – a manifestation of what? – is there any intelligence communicated? Are the curtains of heaven withdrawn, or the purposes of God developed? Have they seen and conversed with an angel; or have the glories of futurity burst upon their view? No! But their body has been inanimate, the operation of their spirit suspended, and all the intelligence that can be obtained from them when they arise, is a shout of glory, or hallelujah, or some incoherent expression; but they have had “the power.”

The Shaker will whirl around on his heel impelled by a supernatural agency, or spirit, and think that he is governed by the spirit of God: and the Jumper will jump, and enter into all kinds of extravagancies, a Primitive Methodist will shout under the influence of that spirit, until he will rend the heavens with his cries; while the Quakers, (or Friends) moved as they think by the spirit of God, will sit still and say nothing. Is God the author of all this? If not of all of it, which does he recognize?

Surely such a heterogeneous mass of confusion never can enter into the kingdom of Heaven. Every one of these professes to be competent to try his neighbor’s spirit, but no one can try his own, and what is the reason? Because they have not a key to unlock, no rule wherewith to measure, and no criterion whereby they can test it; could any one tell the length, breadth, or height of a building without a rule? Test the quality of metals without a criterion, or point out the movements of the planetary system without a knowledge of astronomy? Certainly not: and if such ignorance as this is manifested about a spirit of this kind who can describe an angel of light, if Satan should appear as one in glory? Who can tell his color, his signs, his appearance, his glory?

Or what is the manner of his manifestation? Who can detect the spirit of the French Prophets, with their revelations, and visions, and power, and manifestations? Or who can point out the spirit of the Irvingites with their apostles, and prophets, and visions, and tongues, and interpretations, &c. &c.; or who can drag into day-light and develop the hidden mysteries of the false spirits that so frequently are made manifest among the Latter-Day Saints? We answer that no man can do this without the Priesthood, and having a knowledge of the laws by which spirits are governed; for as, “no man knows the things of God but by the spirit of God,” so no man knows the spirit of the devil and his power and influence but by possessing intelligence which is more than human.

And having unfolded through the medium of the Priesthood the mysterious operations of his devices: without knowing the angelic form, the sanctified look, and gesture, and the zeal that is frequently manifested by him for the glory of God: – together with the prophetic spirit, the gracious influence, the godly appearance, and the holy garb which is so characteristic of his proceedings, and his mysterious windings. A man must have the discerning of spirits, before he can drag into daylight this hellish influence and unfold it unto the world in all its soul destroying, diabolical, and horrid colors: for nothing is a greater injury to the children of men than to be under the influence of a false spirit, when they think they have the spirit of God.

Thousands have felt the influence of its terrible power, and baneful effects: long pilgrimages have been undertaken, penances endure, and pain, misery, and ruin have followed in their train; nations have been convulsed, kingdoms overthrown, provinces laid waste, and blood, carnage, and desolation are the habiliments in which it has been clothed. The Turks, the Hindus, the Jews, the Christians, the Indians, in fact all nations have been deceived, imposed upon and injured through the mischievous effects of false spirits.

As we have noticed before, the great difficulty lays in the ignorance of the nature of spirits, of the laws by which they are governed, and the signs by which they may be known; if it requires the spirit of God, to know the things of God, and the spirit of the devil can only be unmasked through that medium, then it follows as a natural consequence that unless some person, or persons, have a communication or revelation from God, unfolding to them the operation of spirit, they must eternally remain ignorant of these principles: – for I contend that if one man cannot understand these things but by the spirit of God, ten thousand men cannot; it is alike out of the reach of the wisdom of the learned, the tongue of the eloquent, and the power of the mighty. And we shall at last have to come to this conclusion, whatever we may think of revelation, that without it we can neither know, nor understand any thing of God, or the devil; and however unwilling the world may be to acknowledge this principle, it is evident from the multifarious creeds and notions concerning this matter, that they understand nothing of this principle, and it is equally as plain that without a divine communication they must remain in ignorance.

The world always mistook false prophets for true ones, and those that were sent of God they considered to be false prophets; and hence they killed, stoned, punished and imprisoned the true prophets, and they had to hide themselves “in deserts, and dens, and caves of the earth;” and although the most honorable men of the earth, they banished them from their society as vagabonds; whilst they cherished, honored, and supported knaves, vagabonds, hypocrites, imposters and the basest of men.

A man must have the discerning of spirits as we before stated to understand these things, and how is he to obtain this gift if there are no gifts of the spirit? And how can these gifts be obtained without revelation? – “Christ ascended into heaven and gave gifts to men, . . . “and he gave some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers.” And how were apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, and evangelists chosen? By “prophecy (revelation) and by laying on of hands:” – by a divine communication, and a divinely appointed ordinance – through the medium of the priesthood, organized according to the order of God, by divine appointment.

The apostles in ancient times held the keys of this priesthood – of the mysteries of the kingdom of God, and consequently were enabled to unlock, and unravel all things pertaining to the government of the church, the welfare of society, the future destiny of men, and the agency, power, and influence of spirits; for they could control them at pleasure, bid them depart in the name of Jesus, and detect their mischievous and mysterious operations when trying to palm themselves upon the church in a religious garb, and militate against the interest of the church, and the spread of truth – we read that they “cast out devils in the name of Jesus,” and when a woman possessing the spirit of divination cried before Paul and Silas “these are the servants of the most high God that shew unto us the way of salvation;” they detected the spirit, and although she spake favorably of them Paul commanded the spirit to come out of her, and saved themselves from the opprobrium that might have been heaped upon their heads, through an affiance with her, in the development of her wicked principles: – which they certainly would have been charged with if they had not rebuked the evil spirit.

A power similar to this existed through the medium of the priesthood, in different ages. Moses could detect the magicians’ power and shew that he was God’s servant, he knew when he was upon the mountain (through revelation,) that Israel was engaged in idolatry; he could develope the sin of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, detect witches and wizards in their proceedings, and point out the true prophets of the Lord. Joshua knew how to detect the man who had stolen the wedge of gold and the Babylonish garment, Michaiah could point out the false spirit by which the four hundred prophets were governed; and if his advice had been taken, many lives would have been spared. 2, Chron. xviii, 18. Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and many other prophets possessed this power. Our Savior, the apostles, and even the members of the church were endowed with this gift, for says Paul 1, Cor. xii, “to one is given the gift of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues, to another the working of miracles, to another prophesy, to another the discerning of spirits,” all these proceeded from the same spirit of God, and were the gifts of God. The Ephesian church were enabled by this principle “to try those that said they were apostles, and were not and found them liars.” Rev. ii, 2.

In tracing the thing to the foundation, and looking at it philosophically we shall find a very material difference between the body and the spirit: – the body is supposed to be organized matter, and the spirit by many is thought to be immaterial, without substance. With this latter statement we should beg leave to differ – and state that spirit is a substance; that it is material, but that it is more pure, elastic, and refined matter than the body; – that it existed before the body, can exist in the body, and will exist separate from the body, when the body will be moldering in the dust; and will in the resurrection to again united with it.

Without attempting to describe this mysterious connection and the laws that govern the body and spirit of man; their relationship to each other, and the design of God in relation to the human body and spirit, I would just remark that the spirits of men are eternal, that they are governed by the same priesthood that Abraham, Melchizedec, and the apostles were; that they are organized according to that priesthood which is everlasting, “without beginning of days or end of years” – that they all move in their respective spheres, and are governed by the law of God; – that when they appear upon earth they are in a probationary state, and are preparing if righteous, for a future and a greater glory: - that the spirits of good men cannot interfere with the wicked beyond their prescribed bounds; for “Michael the archangel dared not bring a railing accusation against the devil, but said the Lord rebuke thee Satan.”

It would seem also that wicked spirits have their bounds, limits, and laws by which they are governed or controlled, and know their future destiny; hence those that were in the maniac said to our Savior, “art thou come to torment us before the time:” – and when Satan presented himself before the Lord among the sons of God, he said that he came “from going to and fro in the earth, and from wandering up and down in it;” and he is emphatically called the prince of the power of the air; and it is very evident that they possess a power that none but those who have the priesthood can control, as we have before adverted to in the case of the sons of Sceva.

Having said so much upon general principles without referring to the peculiar situation, power, and influence of, the magicians of Egypt, the wizards, and witches of the Jews, the oracles of the Heathen; their necromancers, soothsayers, and astrologers; the maniacs of those possessed of devils in the apostles’ days, we will notice and try to detect (so far as we have the scriptures for our aid) some few instances of the development of false spirits in more modern times, and in this our day.

The “French Prophets,” were possessed of a spirit that deceived; they existed in Vivatis, and Dauphiny in great numbers in the year 1688, there were many boys, and girls from seven to twenty-five; they had strange fits as in tremblings, and faintings, which made them stretch out their legs and arms as in a swoon; they remained awhile in trances and coming out of them uttered all that came into their mouths. [See Buck's Theological Dictionary.] Now God never had any prophets that acted this way; there was nothing indecorous in the proceeding of the Lord’s prophets in any age; neither had the apostles, nor prophets in the apostles’ day any thing of this kind. Paul says “ye may all prophesy one by one; – and if any thing be revealed to another let the first hold his peace, for the spirit of the prophets, is subject to the prophets,” but here we find that the prophets are subject to the spirit, and falling down have twitchings, tumblings, and faintings, through the influence of that spirit; being entirely under its control.. Paul says “let every thing be done decently and in order;” but here we find the greatest disorder and indecency in the conduct of both men, and women, as above described. The same rule would apply to the falling, twitchings swooning, shaking, and trances of many of our modern revivalists.

Joannah Southcot professed to be a prophetess and wrote a book of prophesies in 1804: she became the founder of a people that are now extant; she was to bring forth in a place appointed a son that was to be the Messiah, which thing has failed. Independent of this however, where do we read of a woman that was the founder of a church in the word of God? Paul told the women in his day “to keep silence in the church, and that if they wished to know any thing to ask their husbands at home;” he would not suffer a woman “to rule, or to usurp authority in the church;” but here we find a woman the founder of a church, the revelator and guide, the Alpha and Omega, contrary to all acknowledged rule, principle, and order.

Jemimah Wilkinson, was another prophetess that figured largely in America in the last century. She stated that she was taken sick and died, and that her soul went to heaven where it still continues. Soon after her body was reanimated with the spirit and power of Christ, upon which she set up as a public teacher and declared she had an immediate revelation. Now the scriptures positively assert that “Christ is the first fruit, afterwards those that are Christ’s at his coming; then cometh the end.” But Jemimah, according to her testimony died, and rose again before the time mentioned in the scriptures. The idea of her soul being in heaven while her body was on earth is also preposterous; when God breathed into man’s nostrils he became a living soul, before that he did not live, and when that was taken away his body died; and so did our Savior when the spirit left the body; nor did his body live until his spirit returned in the power of his resurrection: but Mrs. Wilkinson’s soul, [life] was in heaven and her body without the soul [or life] on earth, living [without the soul, or] without life.

The Irvingites, are a people that have counterfeited the truth perhaps the nearest of any of our modern sectarians; they commenced about ten years ago in the city of London in England. They have churches formed in various parts of England and Scotland and some few in Upper Canada. Mr. Irving, their founder, was a learned and talented minister of the church of Scotland; he was a great logician, and a powerful orator; but withal wild and enthusiastic in his views. Moving in the higher circles, and possessing talent and zeal, placed him in a situation to become a conspicuous character, and to raise up a society similar to that which is called after his name.

The Irvingites have apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and angels. They profess to have the gift of tongues and the interpretation of tongues: and in some few instances to the gift of healing.

The first prophetic spirit that was manifested was in some Miss Campbells, that Mr. Irving met with while on a journey in Scotland; they had [what is termed among their sect,] “utterances;” – which were evidently of a supernatural agency. Mr. Irving falling into the common error of considering all supernatural manifestations to be of God; took them to London with him, and introduced them into his church.

They there were honored as the prophetesses of God, and when they spoke Mr. Irving, or any of his ministers had to keep silence; they were peculiarly wrought upon before the congregation, and had strange utterances, uttered with an unnatural, shrill voice and with thrilling intonations; they frequently made use of a few broken unconnected sentences that were ambiguous, incoherent, and incomprehensible; at other times they were more clearly understood. They would frequently cry out, “There is iniquity! There is iniquity!” And Mr. Irving has been led under the influence of this charge to fall down upon his knees before the public congregation and to confess his sin, not knowing whether he had sinned, nor wherein; nor whether the thing referred to him, or somebody else. During these operation the bodies of the persons speaking were powerfully wrought upon, their countenances were distorted, they had frequent twitchings in their hands, and the whole system was powerfully convulsed at intervals; they sometimes however (it is supposed) spoke in correct tongues, and had true interpretations.

Under the influence of this spirit the church was organized by these women; apostles, prophets &c., were soon called, and a systematic order of things introduced, as above mentioned. A Mr. Baxter (afterwards one of the principal prophets) upon going into one of their meetings, says, I saw a power manifested and thought that it was the power of God, and asked that it might fall upon me; it did so and I began to prophesy. Eight or nine years ago, they had about sixty preachers going through the streets of London, testifying that London was to be the place where the ‘two witnesses,’ spoken of by John was to prophecy: that (they) ‘the church and the spirit’ were the witnesses, and that at the end of three years and a half there was to be an earthquake and great destruction, and our savior was to come.

Their apostles were collected together at the appointed time watching the event; but Jesus did not come, and the prophesy was then ambiguously explained away. They frequently had signs given them by the spirit, to prove to them that what was manifested to them should take place. Mr. Baxter related an impression that he had concerning a child. It was manifested to him that he should visit the child, and lay hands upon it, and that it should be healed: – and to prove to him that this was of God, he should meet his brother in a certain place who should speak unto him certain words; his brother addressed him precisely in the way and manner that the manifestation designated; the sign took place, – but when he laid his hands on the child it did not recover. I cannot vouch for the authority of the last statement as Mr. Baxter at that time had left the Irvingites, but it is in accordance with many of their proceedings, and the thing never has been attempted to be denied.

It may be asked where is there any thing in all this that is wrong?

1^st. The church was organized by women and ‘God placed in the church first apostles, secondarily prophets;’ and not first women; but Mr. Irving placed in his church first women; secondarily apostles; and the church was founded and organized by them. A woman has no right to found or organize a church; God never sent them to do it.

2^nd. Those women would speak in the midst of a meeting and rebuke Mr. Irving, or any of the church: now the scripture positively says, ‘thou shalt not rebuke an elder, but entreat him as a father;’ no only this but they frequently accused the brethren, thus placing themselves in the seat of satan who is emphatically called ‘the accuser of the brethren.’

3^rd. Mr. Baxter received the spirit on asking for it without attending to the ordinances, and began to prophesy, whereas the scriptural way of attaining the gift of the Holy Ghost is by baptism, and by laying on of hands.

4^th. As we have stated in regard to others the spirit of the prophets, are subject to the prophets; but those prophets were subject to the spirits; the spirit controlling their bodies at pleasure.

But it may be asked how Mr. Baxter could get a sign from a second person! To this we would answer that Mr. Baxter’s brother was under the influence of the same spirit as himself; and being subject to that spirit, he could be easily made to speak to Mr. Baxter whatever the spirit should dictate; but there was not power in the spirit to heal the child.

Again it may be asked how it was that they could speak in tongues if they were of the devil? We would answer that they could be made to speak in another tongue as well as in their own as they were under the control of that spirit, and the devil can tempt the Hottentot, the Turk, the Jew, or any other nation; and if these men were under the influence of his spirit they of course could speak Hebrew, Latin, Greek, Italian, Dutch, or any other Language that the devil knew.

Some will say ‘try the spirits’ by the word. ‘Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God.’ John IV, 2, 3. One of the Irvingites once quoted this passage whilst under the influence of a spirit, and then said, “I confess that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh.’ And yet these prophesies failed, their Messiah did not come; and the great things spoken of by them have fallen to the ground. What is the matter here? Did not the apostle speak the truth?

Certainly he did – but he spoke to a people who were under the penalty of death, the moment they embraced Christianity; and no one without a knowledge of the fact would confess it and expose themselves to death: and this was consequently given as a criterion to the church or churches to which John wrote. But the devil on a certain occasion cried out, “I know thee who art the ‘Holy one of God’. Here was a frank acknowledgement under other circumstances, – that ‘Jesus had come in the flesh.’ On another occasion the devil said ‘Paul we know, and Jesus we know;’ of course come in the flesh. No man or sect of men without the regular constituted authorities, the priesthood and discerning of spirits can tell true, from false spirits. This power they possessed in the apostles’ day, but it has departed from the world for ages.

The church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints have also had their false spirits; and as it is made up of all those different sects professing every variety of opinion, and having been under the influence of so many kinds of spirits, it is not to be wondered at if there should be found amongst us false spirits.

Soon after the gospel was established in Kirtland, and during the absence of the authorities of the church, many false spirits were introduced, many strange visions were seen, and wild enthusiastic notions were entertained; men run out of doors under the influence of this spirit, and some of them got upon the stumps of trees and shouted, and all kinds of extravagances were entered into by them: one man pursued a ball that he said he saw flying in the air, until he came to a precipice when he jumped into the top of a tree which saved his life, and many ridiculous things were entered into, calculated to bring disgrace upon the church of God; to cause, the spirit of God to be withdrawn; and to uproot and destroy those glorious principles which had been developed for the salvation of the human family. But when the authorities returned the spirit was made manifest, those members that were exercised with it were tried for their fellowship; and those that would not repent and forsake it were cut off.

At a subsequent period a Shaker spirit was on the point of being introduced, and at another time the Methodist and Presbyterian falling-down power; but the spirit was rebuked, and put down, and those who would not submit to rule and good order, were disfellowshipped. We have also had brethren and sisters who have had the gift of tongues falsely: they would speak in a muttering, unnatural voice, and their bodies be distorted like the Irvingites before alluded to; whereas there is nothing unnatural in the spirit of God. A circumstance of this kind took place in Upper Canada, but was rebuked by the presiding elder – another, a woman near the same place professed to have the discerning of spirits, and begun to accuse another sister of things that she was not guilty of, which she said she knew was so by the spirit, – but was afterwards proven to be false – she placed herself in the capacity of the ‘accuser of the brethren’ – and no person through the discerning of spirits can bring a charge against another, they must be proven guilty by positive evidence, or they stand clear.

There have also been ministering angels in the church which were of satan appearing as an angel of light: – A sister in the State of New York had a vision who said it was told her that if she would go to a certain place in the woods an angel would appear to her, – she went at the appointed time and saw a glorious personage descending arrayed in white, with sandy colored hair; he commenced and told her to fear God and said that her husband was called to do great things, but that he must not go more than one hundred miles from home or he would not return; whereas God had called him to go to the ends of the earth; and he has since been more than one thousand miles from home, and is yet alive. Many true things were spoken by this personage and many things that were false. – How it may be asked was this know to be a bad angel? By the color of his hair; that is one of the signs that he can be known by, and by his contradicting a former revelation.

We have also had brethren and sisters that have had written revelations, and have started forward to lead this church. Such was a young boy in Kirtland – Isaac Russell of Mo. And Gladdon Bishop, and Oliver Olney of Nauvoo. The boy is now living with his parents, who have submitted to the laws of the church Mr. Russell stayed in Far West, from whence he was to go to the Rocky mountains, led by three Nephites, but the Nephites never came and his friends forsook him all but some of his blood relations, who have since been nearly destroyed by the mob. Mr. Bishop was tried by the high council his papers examined, condemned, and burned, and he cut off from the church; he acknowledged the justice of the decision and said “that he now saw his error; for if he had have been governed by the revelations given before he might have known that no man was to write revelation for the church but Joseph Smith,” and begged to be prayed for and forgiven by the brethren. Mr. Olney has also been tried by the high council and disfellowshiped because he would not have his writings tested by the word of God; evidently proving that he loves darkness rather than light because his deeds are evil.