Idolatry: Our #1 Sin Val Brinkerhoff 4/1/2018 (44 pages, 20 pages of endnotes)

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1 Idolatry: Our #1 Sin Val Brinkerhoff 4/1/2018 (44 pages, 20 pages of endnotes) Idolatry is a great sin. The Lord knew it would be a problem among us and thus gave us the first four of the Ten Commandments, which are tied to removing false gods 1 in our lives and worshipping the true and living God, that we might be blessed with eternal life. Isaiah, Jeremiah, Nephi and other prophets focus on removing us from idolatry. They have taught us to love God with our whole heart, and place our faith and trust in Him only (Psalm 118:8; Jer. 17:7), not weak men the arm of flesh (2 Ne. 4:34; 28:31; Jer. 17:5). We are invited to repent and come unto Christ to be saved. God s word tells us there is no other way (2 Ne. 9:41; Hel. 5:12). An oracle concerning Egypt: When Jehovah enters Egypt riding on swift clouds, the idols of Egypt will rock at his presence and the Egyptians hearts melt within them (Isa. 19:1, Gileadi translation). The Lord commanded us to diligently search Isaiah in 3 Nephi 23:1-3. Isaiah experts among the Saints today clearly understand that Egypt is modern America. Our idols will be removed. According to the apostle Paul, idolatry is one of the more wicked things that keeps us out of the kingdom of God. His list includes, adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God (Gal. 5:19 21). Note that idolatry is the fifth thing listed, next to witchcraft. Matthew tells us we must choose one to worship, for we cannot serve two masters. One will be hated and the other loved (Mat. 6:24). Joshua and Mosiah both tell us that we inherit most of our false traditions tied to idolatry from three types of mortal leaders; those at home, those in religion, and those within government. They are our fathers, priests, and kings (Josh. 24:2; Mos. 11:7). Again, we must choose whom we will worship. Nephi and others have told us that we and our land are both cursed when we place trust in the arm of flesh (2 Ne. 4:34; 28:31; Jer. 17:5; Ether 7:23). God alone can bring life and refreshment necessary for the thirsty soul (see Psalm 36:9; Isa. 55:1; John 4:10-14; 7:37-39; Rev. 21:6). Jesus said, He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water (John 7:38). Christ is living water. The children of Israel drank from God s living water at various points in time. When Moses struck the rock in the deserts of Sinai (a type for Christ), living waters flowed. It continues to proceed from the throne of God for those who will receive it. Too many in Israel (ancient and modern) abandon God and His living water. The first evil addressed in Jeremiah 2:13 is turning away from God, the source of all good things. The second is turning to false gods, including men. Living water is a symbol of physical life and eternal life, associated with direct revelation from God. Without it we are dry and thirsty. In the first Section of the Doctrine and Covenants, God, seeing our day, said, They seek not the Lord to establish his righteousness, but every man walketh in his own way, and after the image of his own god, whose image is in the likeness of the world, and whose substance is that of an idol which waxeth old and shall perish in Babylon, even Babylon the great which shall fall (D&C 1:16). Later in Section 64, God added that He will not spare any that remain in Babylon (D&C 64:20; Isa. 2:17-18). False pastors keep the people in ignorance for gain and the honors of men (1 Ne. 22:23). Sent ones preach the way of salvation. Christ is the true Shepherd. False Pastors Sent Ones The Living God Seek their own welfare, not the Sheep Are shepherds to the sheep Christ is the good shepherd Are paid and live off of people Work with their own hands Sacrifice all for sheep They scatter the sheep They are chosen to gather the sheep He is the light for the sheep They destroy the vineyard They nourish the trees of the vineyard Is the true vine - the Tree of Life Seek not the Lord They seek the Lord with their whole heart He opens and shuts the door for the sheep They are not sent of the Lord The Lord sends them, are called & chosen He was sent of the Father Their heads are covered They are sent and know the Lord He says, repent and come unto me They receive no revelation They prophesy, see visions, and provide rev. He is the light and life of the world The teach trust in the arm of flesh They trust in the Lord Trusts in the Father They preach lies, all is well Preach truth & repentance Is the way, the truth & the life They forsake the fountain of living waters They seek & trust God Is God, the fountain of living waters They have wind only, no word in them They have the Spirit with them Is the Spirit of Truth 1

2 Jeremiah was especially blunt in his day with regard to false pastors among the people, those who sought their own welfare rather than the sheep they were to gather and teach. He said these pastors seek not the Lord (Jer. 10:21), and are not sent of the Lord (Jer. 23:21). He added that they have only wind in them, rather than the word (Jer. 5:12-13), and that they preach lies (Jer. 5:12; 23:17). Jeremiah then quoted the Lord, who said, For my people have committed two evils. They have forsaken me the fountain of living waters and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns [imperfect man] that can hold no water (Jer. 2:13; see also 5:19 & 17:13). As a result, the pastors scatter the sheep (Jer. 23:1), and destroy the vineyard (Jer. 12:10). We are the trees of the Lord s vineyard. We are to bear sweet fruit, fruit meet for the Father s kingdom (D&C 84:58). Instead too many trees today are drying up, thirsting for God s living waters. Many bear bitter fruit or no fruit at all (see Jacob 5). In the end, such trees will be cut down and cast into the fire. This sad or awful situation is partly the result of servants in the Lord s vineyard. The Lord addresses these servants in a variety of scriptures, including D&C 101. We read there that one simple but very important command was ignored - that the servants build up a high tower at the center of the vineyard (see D&C 101:43-66). The high tower is thought by some to be a special house, specifically the house of the Lord at Nauvoo. It was never completed. The Saints had other priorities at the time, including the completion of the Masonic Temple, their homes, and their businesses (a similar misplaced priority occurred in Haggai 1). At a deeper level, however, the central tower of D&C 101 is a clear symbol for the Lord Jesus, our Savior, Judge, and King. Seven scriptures reveal that He is The High Tower that we are to build up at the center of our vineyard (see Psalm 18:2, 61:3 & 144:2; 2 Sam. 22:3 & 51; Prov. 18:10, and D&C 97:20). The parable in D&C 101 is tied to disobedience and the traditions of men (fathers, priests, and kings) that result in idolatry. The first and great commandment is to love God with our whole heart and soul (Mat. 22:37). He is to be our central focus - our high tower. The 2nd commandment is like unto the 1st, that we love our neighbors as ourselves. We come to love others (and ourselves), when we are sanctified in Christ - in the mighty change of heart spoken of by Alma (5:14) and others in the Book of Mormon. It is when we are baptized by fire and the Holy Ghost, that our sins may be fully remitted. It is when we receive the Holy Ghost as our guide. We are made new in this important, sanctifying experience. With it we have greater ability to love God, ourselves, and others. We can then become productive, useful servants, full of His love. Too few today understand this necessary cleansing doctrine and event. It is a significant part of the doctrine of Christ found throughout the Book of Mormon. Our non-lds Christian friends refer to it as being born again in Christ, Jesus. It is one of the plain and precious truths removed from the Bible. Moroni and his father Mormon placed it in the Book of Mormon. To receive this fiery baptism is to receive Christ as our Father, receiving redemption at His hands. It is an essential part of the way of salvation now overlooked in favor of following men, a modern form of idolatry. In antiquity, the central high tower of the vineyard was the place where a servant or watchman atop it could see in all directions, and thus alert the people under his care that danger was coming in an advancing enemy. He blew his trumpet to awaken the people, that they might prepare themselves appropriately. Today we are to awake to our awful [unsaved] situation and arise, by coming out of Babylon and its false teachings and traditions, and prepare ourselves for the Second Coming of Christ. Trumpeting is a warning voice, tied to our need for repentance. Sadly, many watchmen are silent in this regard. They are endangering the trees of the vineyard, as the enemy is all around us is advancing. In D&C 101, we read that the watchmen did not turn to the Lord wholly. Instead they trusted in themselves and their own wisdom. They quit building up the high tower at the center of the vineyard. Note also in verse 6 that there were, jarrings, and contentions, and envyings, and strifes, and lustful and covetous desires among them; therefore by these things they polluted their inheritances. As we will see later on, polygamy at Nauvoo became a seething pot of these lustful and covetous desires. Lust drives away the Spirit (D&C 42:22-23). Christ is the high tower not built up sufficiently at the center of the vineyard today too. He is to be our rock (1 Cor. 10:4), our sure foundation (1 Cor. 3:11), our source of living waters (Jer. 2:13). He said, I am the light and life of the world (3 Ne. 11:11). Seeing our day, He informed us that we would deny Him (2 Ne. 28:32), reject Him (2 Ne. 1:10), and forsake Him (Jer. 2:13), along with the power of the Holy Ghost (2 Ne. 2

3 28:26, 31). This paper reveals how we do each of these things today. As we reject God, we turn to idolatry instead, the number one sin among ancient and modern Israel. Hereafter, three forms of modern idolatry are addressed among us. They include: 1. Raising up men instead of the High Tower is lifting up men as our light, rather than the Lord Jesus Christ. This leads to idolatry and cursings. No man, including Joseph Smith or any modern leader should stand between us and the Lord. Christ alone is the gate to heaven. 2. Embracing our idolatrous Gregorian calendar and its holidays is a replacement for God s Holy Days calendar in the Bible, including His special Sabbath day - a sign of who and what we worship today. 3. Maintaining idols in our hearts, rather than seeking God s will and wisdom, is a mostly forgotten form of idolatry, leading to much deception and strong delusion. Following this, a fourth, final section of the paper addresses Our Awful Situation, the corruption of secret combinations among us that contribute to our unsaved condition and the unbelief among us as a people. Interwoven in this four-part discussion, we will see how the Lord assisted Joseph Smith in an attempt to build Zion in early church history, from the spring of 1831 to the fall of years. And we will see how Satan came and took this light and truth away, corrupting the vineyard early on. It is a pattern we must come to recognize and understand, for wicked Babylon is soon to be destroyed. The wise believers, the pure in heart will then have opportunity to help God bring about a glorious new kingdom of peace. 1. Raising up Men instead of the High Tower When most people think of idolatry, they think of the physical idols of the Bible, like the golden calf of Egypt worshipped at the base of Sinai, or Ashtereth, Baal, Chemosh, Dagon, Marduk, and Molech. Few consider men as idols. But today, various Hollywood actors and sports figures fit that mold, as do church leaders, the church itself, and even the temple for latter-day Saints. Idols of all kinds have replaced the reality of the living God. Without Him, there is no salvation, no real hope for our future. Idolatry has resulted in many problems among us. Without God and His word and law center stage, there is increasing crime and corruption, moral decay, and the crumbling of civil and family government. Because many of the Saints have lifted up the arm of flesh in place of God, we too are paying a price as a people. Mormon and Moroni saw our day, a day of pride and unbelief, when all churches would become polluted, including the holy church of God (Morm. 8:36-41). The influence of the Spirit of God is then withdrawn. The state of Utah today has an abnormally high rate of child physical and sexual abuse, pornography addiction, teen suicides, and prescription drug abuse. We lead the nation as a State in some of these. They are a growing epidemic, according to Utah s Governor. Unbelief among the Saints is increasing. And the gifts and fruits of the Spirit are waning. These fruits are in direct opposition to what should be in a state dominated by Mormonism (see endnotes 3 & 7). Instead of sweet fruit meet for the Father s kingdom (D&C 84:58; Alma 12:15, 13:13, 16), there is an increasing quantity of bitter and unripe fruit in the vineyard. Some of our problems may be the result of inherited curses and lies tied to polygamy. Innocent converts in early church history came to this land and then placed their faith and trust in leaders like Brigham Young and many of the Twelve, who them led them into this practice at Nauvoo and thereafter. Had they not lifted up leaders as their light, and had they been taught to turn to God and His word instead (revelation and scripture), many would not have blindly followed them. Removing the Darkness of Ignorance Scripture tells us that time is short for us to act, as the harvest of souls is coming. Too many today believe they are saved when they are not (see D&C 45:2; 56:16; Jer. 17:11). What is needed is a simple sacrifice a broken heart and a contrite spirit. We must repent, have faith in the Lord Jesus and cry out to Him for mercy, as did Alma in the Book of Mormon. We must look to Christ and His redemptive mission to receive salvation at His hands. Men cannot save us. 3

4 Satan and the secret combinations he employs are fully entrenched all around us, causing many to remain in ignorance, and of this saving path. Such remain in darkness at mid-day, when much light is available. The word of God, where the light is, tells us that we cannot be saved in ignorance (D&C 131:6). We are to awake, arise, and come out of Babylon and be saved. We must turn from our idolatry first, and then turn to the Lord. Only He can save us. He employs no servant in this important role. Men are weak substitutes for our powerful God. Man or God When we allow men to place themselves between us, and God, idolatry results. Some preach for gain, practicing priestcraft (2 Ne. 26:29). Gain can be defined as the honors of men, the lusts of the flesh, and of course money and material things. Nephi supplies us a 7-part list in 1 Nephi 22:23. These 7 things make up the great and abominable church in the last-days, in direct opposition to the church of the lamb or the Firstborn. Men in the false church preach, all is well (2 Ne. 28:25-26) rather than repentance (Acts 17:3), and coming to Christ. The Lord has repeatedly stated, Come follow me (2 Ne. 31:12; Luke 9:23, 59; John 10:27, 12:26; D&C 38:22, 100:2). And He continually invites us to repent and come unto me (see D&C 10:67-68; 1 Ne. 10:18-19; 2 Ne. 9:23-24; 28:31-32; Jacob 1:7; Alma 5:33-34; Ether 4:7-19; Mor. 7:34; D&C 93:1; 3 Ne. 9:14, 22, 51; 11:14; 12:19-20, 23-24; 27:5-21; 30:1-2). Men lift themselves up before us for gain. Repentance is the first portion of God s 5-word invitation to receive Him literally in this life! It is an essential part of what He calls my doctrine (3 Ne. 11:28, 30, 31, 32, 35, 39, 40; D&C 10:62, 63, 67), my gospel (D&C 10:45, 46, 48, 49, 50, 52, 62, 63; see also 3 Ne. 27:10, 11, 13, 20-21; 33:11-12; 39:6), and my church (D&C 10:53, 54, 55, 67, 68, 69; 3 Ne. 27:8, 10). Too often men teach that salvation comes via our works, by obedience to law, or through temple service. Leaders in ancient Israel taught similar things. The results were disastrous. Salvation is only in and through the Lord Jesus through His atonement and resurrection. So says the foundational document of our faith the Book of Mormon (see Mos. 3:17; Hel. 5:12; Alma 38:9). Too many today, seek not the Lord nor His righteousness (D&C 1:16), but instead allow men to lift themselves up before us. Such, teach for doctrine the commandments of men (Mat. 15:9). Seeing our day, the Lord said, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me (Mat. 15:8; Isa. 29:13). Such seek their own welfare not that of the sheep in Zion (2 Ne. 26:29). They are wolves in sheep s clothing (Mat. 7:15). Scripture warns us to not be deceived or blinded by the craftiness of men (D&C 76:75; 123:12-13). The blind then lead the blind (Mat. 15:14; Luke 6:39). Many are then deceived, inheriting lesser terrestrial glory, as they reject Christ s invitation to repent and come to Him. Many turn to Him in the next life, but not here, and thus they are not valiant in the testimony of Jesus here (see D&C 76:75). This life is the time to prepare to meet God (Alma 12:14; 34:32). We do so by first removing ourselves from the idolatry of Babylon, placing ourselves instead on the way of salvation the path to the Tree of Life. It is a source of light and living water and indescribable joy. God is this source of love. The Lord Jesus said, I am the light which ye shall hold up that which ye have seen me do (3 Ne. 18:24). God s servants, His sent ones do not draw attention to themselves, but instead they point all to our Savior! They are humble and contrite, sacrificing all for the God they worship and the people they serve. Such are shepherds of the sheepfold. Scripture tells us that we can know them by their fruits. First and foremost, they come to Him (see D&C 84:50-53; 3 Ne.18:25, 21:20; JST John 6:44 45), otherwise they are under the bondage of sin (see farther below). They have obtained a sure witness of His reality and thus exhibit the gifts and fruits of the Spirit. They are called, chosen, empowered, and sent servants of the Lord Jesus (see D&C 95:4-5, 105:33-37, and 121:34-46). They bear fruit as branches of the True Vine (John 15) and of the Tree of Life (1 Ne. 11), fruit meet for the Father s kingdom (see D& 84:58; Alma 12:15, 13:13, 16). Inside Trouble Secret combinations, inspired by Satan, keep us from truth and introduce idolatry. They are addressed frequently in the Book of Mormon, and for good reason, as this book addresses our day and our awful situation (Ether 8:24). Pres. J. Reuben Clark stated, The ravening wolves are among us, from our own membership. And they, more than any others, are clothed in sheep s clothing, because they wear the habiliments of the priesthood. Pres. Ezra Taft Benson added, It is from within the church that the greatest hindrance comes The Lord has said that in the last-days the Devil will rage in the hearts of the children of men, and if it were possible, shall deceive the very elect. The evil one does so most effectively from within. He is the god of 4

5 this telestial world. He and his servants have infiltrated man s institutions, his governments, corporations, and churches. Mormon stated that cries will go forth from the righteous to God in the last-days. The righteous are starving for meat, thirsting for living waters. This is our day, the day when according to Mormon, all churches have become polluted. Speaking of the wise ones that heed the call of the good Shepherd, Jesus said, For they that are wise and have received the truth, and have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide, and have not been deceived verily I say unto you, they shall not be hewn down and cast into the fire, but shall abide the day the day of His coming in judgment (D&C 45:57). It is the great and dreadful day. Our Lord has described who the righteous are among us, those who will abide this day, versus those who are wicked, those under the bondage of sin. They will be burned with all unproductive fruit trees. These trees in the vineyard do not come to Him. God stated: And by this you may know they are under the bondage of sin, because they come not unto me. For whoso cometh not unto me is under the bondage of sin. And whoso receiveth not my voice is not acquainted with my voice, and is not of me. And by this you may know the righteous from the wicked (D&C 84:50-53). I have commanded that ye should come unto me, that ye might feel and see; even so shall ye do unto the world; and whosoever breaketh this commandment suffereth himself to be led into temptation (3 Ne. 18:25). For it shall come to pass, saith the Father, that at that day whosoever will not repent and come unto my Beloved Son, them will I cut off from among my people, O house of Israel (3 Ne. 21:20). No man can come unto me, except he doeth the will of my Father who hath sent me. And this is the will of him who hath sent me, that ye receive the Son; for the Father beareth record of him; and he who receiveth the testimony, and doeth the will of him who sent me, I will raise up in the resurrection of the just. And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except he doeth the will of my Father who hath sent me (JST John 6:44-45). He that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst (John 6:35). Men today have replaced God s wise counsel with their own. The Lord stated, Come, follow me (Matt. 4:19; ; John 10:27, 12:26; 2 Ne. 31:12; Luke 9:23, 59 D&C 38:22, 100:2). Men now teach us to follow the prophet. They say look to the Brethren and we cannot and will not lead you astray. These well-meaning statements are not found in scripture. They contribute to the idolatry among us. Such sentiments may have begun on Oct. 6, 1890, when Pres. Wilford Woodruff stated, The Lord will never permit me or any other man who stands as President of this Church to lead you astray. It is not in the programme. It is not in the mind of God. If I were to attempt that, the Lord would remove me out of my place, and so He will any other man who attempts to lead the children of men astray from the oracles of God and from their duty. Our leaders, whether the Prophet Joseph Smith or President Monson are mortal and do not always speak truth. All men have choice, and agency. All men err. The war in heaven was fought for our freedom to choose and make mistakes in this life, and then repent. Through experience we learn line upon line. The battle of light and dark continues here. It is necessary that we gain valuable experience through our mistakes, discerning truth from error. Leaders can and do lead us astray from time to time, as they are human the arm of flesh. So says Elder Bruce R. McConkie. He stated: I do not know all of the providences of the Lord, but I do know that he permits false doctrine to be taught in and out of the Church and that such teaching is part of the sifting process of mortality True religion is found only where men worship the true and living God. False religion always results from the worship of false gods. Eternal life itself, which is the greatest of all the gifts of God, is available to those and those only who know God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent as Joseph Smith so pointedly taught, a prophet is not always a prophet, only when he is acting as such. Prophets are men and they make mistakes. Sometimes they err in 5

6 doctrine. This is one of the reasons the Lord has given us the Standard Works. They become the standards and rules that govern where doctrine and philosophy are concerned. If this were not so, we would believe one thing when one man was president of the Church and another thing in the days of his successors. Truth is eternal and does not vary. Sometimes even wise and good men fall short in the accurate presentation of what is truth. Sometimes a prophet gives personal views which are not endorsed and approved by the Lord We are all mortal. We are all fallible. We all make mistakes. No single individual all the time is in tune with the Holy Spirit. Wise gospel students do not build their philosophies of life on quotations of individuals, even though those quotations come from presidents of the Church. Wise people anchor their doctrine on the Standard Works [and on Christ]. We do not solve our problems by getting a statement from the president of the Church or from someone else on a subject. We have been introduced to the gospel; we have the gift of the Holy Ghost [or the light of Christ]; we have the Standards Works and it is our responsibility to get in tune and understand properly what the Lord has revealed and has had us canonize the heads of the Church have the obligation to teach that which is in harmony with the Standard Works (letter from Elder Bruce R. McConkie to BYU professor Eugene England, Feb.19, 1981). Presidents Joseph F. Smith and Harold B. Lee echoed similar teaching, stating that the standard works are our doctrinal authority or measuring sticks to measure every man s doctrine. Pres. Lee said, I say we need to teach our people to find their answers in the scriptures. If only each of us would be wise enough to say that we aren't able to answer any question unless we can find a doctrinal answer in the scriptures! And if we hear someone teaching something that is contrary to what is in the scriptures, each of us may know whether the things spoken are false - it is as simple as that (First Presidency Message, Ensign, December 1972). The Apostle John said, If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us (1 John 1:8). The Apostle Peter adds, We ought to obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29). We must not leave our learning and our salvation to men. Though imperfect, we should support good leaders wherever possible, but never follow any man blindly, or the blind will lead the blind, and both will fall into the ditch (Mat. 15:14). The words of Elder McConkie, Smith, and Lee encourage us to compare the words of men to that of God in scripture, and make corrections where necessary. We should also obtain the Holy Ghost to carefully discern between the two. Sadly, the newly announced curriculum of the church is based on conference talks of leaders. Quoting each other is not as powerful as the doctrinal soundness of God s holy word in scripture. His word is our divine standard or measure. Isaiah and Jeremiah have scathing words for the self-serving shepherds of their day, those who fleeced their sheep for gain and the honors of men (see JST Mat. 21; Isa. 28; Jer. 23). Seeking and speaking God s word in our talks and instruction fills the lamps of the sheep with God s oil, His Spirit. Relying on the flesh, however, often leads to deception. Eve was deceived by one that said he was her brother. Lehi s vision of the Tree of Life began when he followed a man dressed in white. This man asked that he follow him. He did so and was led into darkness. It wasn t until Lehi prayed to God for His mercy, that he was removed from this darkness. He was then shown the Tree of Life (see 1 Ne. 8:10). We should hope for the best from men, but expect imperfection. Those who seek to be born again in Christ, can receive the Holy Ghost as their guide. It is very much needed in a time of increasing darkness, that we might avoid blindness and deception and lesser things, including lesser glory in the hereafter (see D&C 76:75). Raising Up Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, and other Mortal Leaders The Prophet Joseph Smith had an amazing gift given him of God to translate the Book of Mormon plates. We have been blessed with its important truths and guidance ever since. Joseph was human, however, and made mistakes, like all men. In D&C 3, the Lord warned him of pride, and that he should not lean on his own wisdom, or fear men more than God, as all men can fall. The Lord warned Joseph that he could fall. He wasn t infallible. Remember, remember that it is not the work of God that is frustrated, but the work of men; For although a man may have many revelations, and have power to do many mighty works, yet if he boasts in his own strength, and sets at naught the counsels of God, and follows after the dictates of his own will and carnal 6

7 desires, he must fall and incur the vengeance of a just God upon him. Behold, you have been entrusted with these things, but how strict were your commandments; and remember also the promises which were made to you, if you did not transgress them. And behold, how oft you have transgressed the commandments and the laws of God, and have gone on in the persuasions of men. For, behold, you should not have feared man more than God. Although men set at naught the counsels of God, and despise his words Yet you should have been faithful; and he would have extended his arm and supported you against all the fiery darts of the adversary; and he would have been with you in every time of trouble. Behold, thou art Joseph, and thou wast chosen to do the work of the Lord, but because of transgression, if thou art not aware thou wilt fall (D&C 3:3-9). Called servants and others, even those who are later also chosen of the Lord, can fall. They have agency. God says we can know His servants by their fruits (Mat. 7:16-20; 3 Ne. 14:20). They are the fruits and gifts of the Spirit. The early years of Joseph Smith and the Saints at Kirtland contrast those of Joseph, Brigham, and others at Nauvoo dramatically. Early on in the Ohio area the Lord opened the heavens and sent forth many revelations through Joseph, revealing the fulness of His word, the fulness of His law, the fulness of His gospel, and the fulness of the priesthood. In the later Nauvoo years there were few revelations, Joseph s doctrine changed, and Masonry and polygamy took hold. God s fulness was given in Kirtland to establish Zion. There the Saints were to receive the fulness of God s presence too, His rest and glory personally. Melchizedek and Enoch were successful in creating Zion with this 5-part endowment of fulness (completeness). Their people and cities were translated. The early Saints, however, were not collectively ready for the higher ways and laws of God (like the law of consecration). They thus lost the fulness (3 Ne. 16:10; D&C 124:28), and with it the opportunity to create a Zion by the fall of 1834, a three and one-half year period from the spring of Though God took away His fulness (pages 31-32), He provided the Saints another opportunity to receive it, if they repented, became obedient, and embraced the greater light at Nauvoo (see D&C 124:28). It did not happen. Satan successfully fought against both the first and second chances. The people fell under the bondage of sin because they did not do as the Lord asked, which was to, repent and come unto me (D&C 84:51). The result was chastisement (D&C 103:4), condemnation (D&C 84:50-59), and ignorance in darkness at midday (D&C 95:6; Ether 8:16). God s truths were then corrupted. In the Kirtland area, the Saints were unable to live the higher Law of Consecration, a law of real love requiring the mighty change of heart. At Nauvoo, Satan introduced a secret combination, called by some within it, the secret chamber. In it were the secrets of Masonry, the lusts of polygamy, and Danite coercion, with its enforcement of these and other things. Instead of blessing and protection as promised by God - if the Saints did their part (D&C 124:44-48), the Saints were cursed and run out of Nauvoo not long after Joseph, Hyrum, and Samuel Smith were murdered. Note the strong, prophetic words at the end of verse 32 of D&C 124, if they did not these things, ye shall be rejected as a church, with your dead, saith the Lord your God. Rather than relying on God s word (revelation and scripture), the Saints relied too much upon the arm of flesh. After Joseph Smith s murder, spiritual wifery was put in place, leading new converts from America and Europe into forbidden paths. It was at this time that the church Joseph help put in place, was scattered seven ways (Deut. 28:25). Many refused the secret things of the secret chamber and Brigham Young s leadership. The bulk of the people, however, followed him west into the Salt Lake Valley. He eventually renamed the spiritual wifery movement of the Cochranites put in place among the Saints, plural marriage. It became an institution in Utah, one necessary for exaltation. In time, he also outlawed black men from the priesthood, and made changes to the temple endowment. Deception, lies and false assumptions, and curses have resulted. Following God or Men Pres. Young did good things too, but like all men, Joseph Smith included, mistakes were made. The simple lesson is, men can and do lead us astray, especially without pure revelation from God. The Lord said that revelation is the rock that keeps the gates of hell from prevailing against His kingdom (see JST Mat. 16:16-19). When men seek the desires or idols of their hearts, rather than God s will, they often get what they desire, deception in false revelation. This may have occurred with Brigham Young while on his English mission. There he claimed to have a vision or revelation on what we now call plural marriage. 2 The lesson is, those who follow other men in their deception, inherit the same lies and curses. This is the clear 7

8 message of the following scriptures, all tied to idols of the heart (Proverbs 23:7, Isaiah 66:2-4, Ezekiel 14:1-11, 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12, James 4:3, Jacob 4:14, Alma 29:4, and Mormon 9:28). We can receive pure revelation from God, by seeking His will, not our own. It is the iron rod we must hold on to, along with His written word in scripture. The iron rod is God s voice (revelation), the Holy Ghost, and pure scripture, not false voices and spirits, and men s teachings. Scripture reveals repeatedly that men who depend upon their own wisdom, other men, or the desires of their hearts - are led astray. We are then sent strong delusion, especially if carnal desires within us rule (see 2 Thes. 2:10-12). Deception is a favorite tool of the adversary (the father of lies), along with designing men who practice priestcraft (2 Ne. 26:29). Seeking God s word and will above that of ourselves, or other men, helps us avoid deception and error. The Lord said: For you shall live by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God [not man]. For the word of the Lord is truth, and whatsoever is truth is light, and whatsoever is light is Spirit, even the Spirit of Jesus Christ. And the Spirit giveth light to every man that cometh into the world; and the Spirit enlighteneth every man through the world, that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit. And every one that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit cometh unto God, even the Father (D&C 84:44-47; see also Matt. 4:4; 2 Ne. 32:1-6). And whoso treasureth up my word, shall not be deceived (JS Mat. 1:37). He added, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free (John 8:32). whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou are the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona; for flesh and blood [man] hath not revealed this unto thee, but my Father who is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou are Peter; and upon this rock [of revelation, from me] I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it (JST Mat. 16:16-19). Note how the Catholic Church has twisted this scripture to mean relying on man, the man Peter and Popes thereafter to lead the church. We must not do the same thing with the phrase Follow the Prophet. The iron rod isn t any man. It is the word of God. And it (He) takes us to the Tree. Jesus is the word - of God. He is the Father s representative on earth, His right hand. He supplies us light, knowledge, and wisdom taking us into the Father s presence (and that of Mother), if we will turn to Him as Mediator and Savior first. He delivers His word to us personally in revelation, typically via the Holy Ghost, and via the written word in scripture, which serves as a second witness for it. Addressing following weak men instead, the Prophet Joseph warned us: none are required to tamely and blindly submit to a man because he has a portion of the priesthood. We have heard men who hold the priesthood remark, that they would do anything they were told to do by those who presided over them, if they knew it was wrong; but such obedience as this is worse than folly to us; it is slavery in the extreme; and the man who would thus willingly degrade himself should not claim a rank among intelligent beings, until he turns from his folly. A man of God...would despise the idea. Others, in the extreme have taught that such obedience was necessary, and that no matter what the saints were told to do by their presidents, they should do it without asking any questions. When Elders of Israel will so far indulge in these extreme notions of obedience as to teach them to the people, it is generally because they have it in their minds to do wrong themselves (Joseph Smith, Millennial Star, vol.14 #38, pp ). Following Joseph s counsel, and that of all prophets in scripture, reveals that lifting up Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, Pres. Monson, or any man as our light is not wise, especially for those new to the church, those who have not yet obtained a sure witness of Christ - the testimony of Jesus. Discovery by new converts that Brigham Young had 55 wives can be troubling without a more developed testimony of Christ and a more complete understanding of church history. All men, including Joseph Smith made errors. God said that Joseph Smith s name would be had for good and evil. The imperfections of Adam and Eve, Enoch, Abraham, Jacob, David, or Alma and his son of the same name, give us hope today. They overcame the world and their human vices, when they fully turned to the Lord, and not before. Like them, we learn by our mistakes and experience, 8

9 and by study and faith. It is best to love, trust, and put faith in God, rather than relying on the arm of flesh (see Psalm 118:8). Modern Idolatry Roots The roots of our present, modern, leader-based idolatry may have originated with two church presidents; President s Woodruff and McKay. Pres. Wilford Woodruff ( ) was heavily criticized by the Saints for the Manifesto he wrote on polygamy. He justified himself in it by claiming that the Lord wouldn't let him or any church president lead the saints astray. Today these and other words of men are often used to support the false belief that men in high places cannot fail. No man is free from sin. History reveals that for over one hundred years after the murder of the three Smith brothers, the term Prophet was exclusively tied to the Prophet Joseph Smith and no other church leader. In 1955, a change occurred during the administration of President David O. McKay ( ). Though he was the Presiding High Priest in the church the church President, he soon came to be called the Prophet. It stuck. It is thought to have originated with a writer at the Deseret News. He called President McKay the Prophet in one story. Ever since that point in time, the administrative leader over the church has become infallible in the minds of many, as a Prophet would certainly be guided by God, and at all times. The Prophet Joseph refuted such thinking, as did Pres. Brigham Young and others. So did God. Joseph Smith was corrected by Him on a number of occasions (see D&C 3:1-9). Early on he had to learn how to discern truth from error - in receiving revelation, for example. Today, however, church presidents are now called the living Prophet and are often viewed as infallible when they are not (see 1 Kings 13). Modern idolatry results from this new title and attitude, with too many looking to mortal men for light rather than the living God (3 Ne. 18:24). The Lord has given us three witnesses to determine if those leading us are not only called, but chosen : 1. Christ said, repent and come to me. He said those who do not literally come to Him are under the bondage of sin (see D&C 84:50-53; 3 Ne. 18:25; 3 Ne. 21:20; JST John 6:44-45; John 6:35). See the paper, A Sent One: The Apostolic charge (of Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery). 2. God said, by their fruits ye shall know them (see Mat. 7:16-20); these include the gifts and fruits of the Spirit; visions, prophecy, revelation, etc. (see D&C 46). They are signs that follow the believers. 3. We are called and we are to also be chosen, empowered, and sent by the Lord, with the fruits, gifts, and signs of the Spirit being evident in what we do in our service. See D&C 121: Because no man is infallible, God provided a special revelation on church discipline for leaders, should the President of the church be found in transgression, leading others astray. He said, thus, none shall be exempted from the justice and the laws of God, that all things may be done in order and in solemnity before him, according to truth and righteousness (D&C 107:82-84). Note also that the Twelve and the Seventy are also mentioned by God in scripture as being susceptible to error (verses 30-32). These and other scriptures are consistent in revealing that no man is infallible. O ye wicked and ye perverse generation; ye hardened and ye stiffnecked people, how long will ye suppose that the Lord will suffer you? Yea, how long will ye suffer yourselves to be led by foolish and blind guides? Yea, how long will ye choose darkness rather than light? (Hel. 13:29). Idolatry in Ancient Israel God is not pleased when men lifted themselves up in pride before others, a form of idolatry. David, the great military leader and king, was tempted by Satan (1 Chron. 21:1) to number his large army (800,000 of Israel, and 500,000 of Judah, 1,300,000 total). It was a form of pride that placed him between the people and God. He and the people were chastised for it (see 2 Sam. 24; Ex. 30:12). The humble man Gideon of Manasseh was told to reduce his army from 32,000 men, to 10,000 men, and finally to only 300 men (those that lapped up water with their hands, Judges 7), before going up against the great army of the Midianites (135,000 men). God was revealing to His people that He was their strength, their Deliverer, not men, no matter how many they had in their army. Moses was not allowed to enter the Promised Land because he had taken credit for providing Israel water in the desert of Sinai, when he struck the rock with his staff (Num. 20). He had placed himself between the people and 9

10 the God of Israel, the God that had just delivered them from Egyptian captivity in the first Passover. The blood of a lamb on the door of the Israelite s homes symbolized their future spiritual deliverance by Him. In the Book of Mormon we read of the conversion of the Lamanites via the efforts of Ammon. He spent 14 years among them to bring them to Christ. One group of Lamanites, the Anti-Nephi-Lehies, had such great faith that they laid down their weapons of war and buried them in a covenant with God. No more would they shed the blood of their brethren. Their 2000 sons did not make this covenant and thus volunteered to defend the people at all costs. Because of the great faith and teaching of their mothers, they fought bravely like lions, even though they were young. All of them were wounded, but none were lost when battling the enemy alongside the Nephite army. They honored God for delivering them, not some great military leader. We also read of Alma the younger, who reminded the people three times that they should remember how great things he [God] has done for their fathers (Mosiah 27:16; Alma 5:6-7, 19:10-12). It was the living God that repeatedly delivered the believers in the Bible and the Book of Mormon. Scripture reveals the cyclical pattern of man s waywardness and return. First, (1) Israel rebels, (2) then God disciplines them like a loving parent; (3) Israel wisely repents; (4) God then delivers Israel. We are in the midst of this same cycle. Discipline will be sent that we might repent. This is the message of much of the Book of Revelation. The discipline addressed there, increases in intensity until total destruction finally comes. The same occurred in the Book of Mormon just before our Lord came (3 Nephi 11). God, Our Great Deliverer The message of the way is - we must come individually and collectively unto Christ, the great Creator and Deliverer and be perfected in Him. By contrast, Satan is the great deceiver, the father of lies (Ether 8:25). We must seek God s mercy and will, not the false teachings of well-intentioned men or evil ones inspired of Satan. Christ descended here to save us. He did so in the Atonement, and has repeatedly delivered His people physically and spiritually throughout scripture! He has said that all He requires from us is repentance and a broken heart and contrite spirit (3 Ne. 9:20). It is the only way we can receive the living waters of revelation from Him, and then Him personally. He is the fountain of living waters, the rock, and high tower. He is calling after us, waiting for us to come to Him. He stands with open arms ready to receive us. Let us come out of Babylon and its false teachings and traditions and move ever closer to Christ the Lord. It must be with our whole heart. Only then can we be born again in Him, made new, and thus become His sons and daughters. This is the sealing we are to seek (see Mos. 5:15), a sealing of the children to the Father of their salvation. The promise is - we will find Him if we seek Him with all our heart (Jer. 29:13). God said we would deny Him (2 Ne. 28:32), reject Him (2 Ne. 1:10), and forsake Him (Jer. 2:13). We must also not diminish Him or replace Him with the things of men. From the 1830 original version of the Book of Mormon to the 1837 version we see four changes made that diminish Christ as God somewhat. I prefer the original translation given to Joseph in pure revelation via God s Spirit by way of the Urim and Thummim. The changes below were made seven years later. Each of them adds the words the son of to different name-titles for the Creator of heaven and earth, our Lord Yeshua or Jesus. They diminish His standing somewhat by lowering Him a notch on the ladder. Original 1830 Book of Mormon Modified 1837 Book of Mormon 1 Ne. 11:18 the mother of God mother of the son of God 1 Ne. 11:21 the Lamb of God, yea even the Eternal Father the lamb of God, yea even the son of the Eternal Father 1 Ne. 11:32 the Everlasting God was judged of the world the son of the Everlasting God was judged of the world 1 Ne. 13:40 the Lamb of God is the Eternal Father the Lamb of God is the son of the Eternal Father God s Word is a Sword Other verses in the Book of Mormon reveal why Christ is the Eternal Father sent of God the Father. Some of them also feature the clarifying words son of (see Mosiah 15:1-4; Alma 11:38-39; Hel. 14:12; Ether 4:7, 12). There were other changes made to the Book of Mormon in 1837 and thereafter, like the sword of justice being replaced with the word of justice (compare 1 Ne. 12:18 to Alma 26:19; 60:29; Hel. 13:5; 3 Ne. 29:4). The word of God is a dividing sword separating truth from error (1 Ne. 21:2). 10

11 There are many changes in the D&C too numerous to mention here. One troubling modern change in the LDS version of the King James Bible is the footnote to John 14:16. In my older scriptures, the footnote tied to the Lord s words about another comforter reads, Jesus Christ, Second Comforter. It newer LDS scriptures, it now reads, Holy Ghost. We have opportunity to treasure God s word (in both pure revelation and scripture) in an effort to try again to establish His ways, that a Zion society of peace, protection, and prosperity might be established. There, real love will be the first priority. In it we will see a full restoration of all things occur, but only among those who seek the living God. He will create Zion here, among the wise and humble people that follow His counsel in all things. He must be our first priority if such is to occur, not the faulty ways of men. Isaiah has warned us that man s ways are not God s ways (Isa. 55:8-9). It is NOT the Same Some who lead cite D&C 1:38 to equate their words with God s words, the Creator of Heaven and Earth. They often do so without full understanding of the context of this verse. It too results in a form of idolatry among us. Verse 38 states: What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same (D&C 1:38). Some modern-day servants quote this verse to give their own words credibility, putting their words on equal standing with God s words. In many cases, this is vanity, leading to idolatry. There are three aspects to this phrase worth noting. 1. The words of a servant are the same as God s only when we quote Him word-for-word. In 3 rd Nephi we read of the disciples of Christ repeating the Lord s words exactly, for effective teaching purposes. And when they had ministered those same words which Jesus had spoken nothing varying from the words which Jesus had spoken behold, they knelt again and prayed to the Father in the name of Jesus (3 Ne. 19:8). The words shared were the same as those of the Lord, nothing varying! 2. When a servant addresses the same content as the lord, doing so also within correct context as would God, while doing so under the power of the Holy Ghost, then the meaning may be the same, even though the words are different. 3. The definition of a servant is critical in D&C 1:38, where the Lord calls the one who speaks the same words as His - my servant. This implies ownership, mostly likely because He has become a son or daughter of God (Mosiah 5), one who has been born again in Christ Jesus. Too many of the Saints do not know what this is, including leaders. To be a sent one a sent servant of the Lord means one is both called AND chosen by Him. They are sent by Him and empowered by Him first. Such are making every effort to know Him and do His will, not their own. The scriptural definition of an Apostle in Greek is a sent one. Such a one is not zealous for the Law, as was Paul before his conversion to Christ, but one who is fully converted to the Lord Jesus. He has obtained a sure witness of His reality, has seen Him and felt the prints of the nails in His body, as well as the spear mark in His side. So did the sent ones of Jesus in the New Testament (Luke 24:39; Acts 1:3), and those in 3 Nephi 11. Such servants have come to know the Lord by advancing on the five-part path of the way of salvation (see hereafter). Too many servants are called by men (or God), but have not become chosen and sent by Him, because, as He says, their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men (D&C 121:34-46). Such have not sought the Lord diligently, that they might obtain the testimony of Jesus (see the paper, A Sent One: the Apostolic Charge). 11

12 Too often D&C 1:38 is taken out of context, inferring that one called as a servant speaks for the Lord, and that his words are the same as God s words, simply because of their calling. This is a grave sin tied to vanity (see Mosiah 11:7). It is making oneself equal with God. Without being chosen by God, a calling means little or nothing, as all men and women, especially leaders, are called to receive the living Christ (see D&C 121:34-46). Many share things over the pulpit that are their own opinion or the words of men. A number of General Authorities, including Presidents of the church, have disagreed with one another in their talks, and on a variety of doctrines. The differences in their teachings are published and readily available to us. We have God s words in the standard works as our measuring tool. We should seek to receive the Holy Ghost as our guide for discernment purposes. More careful consideration should thus be given God s words in D&C 1:38. They are NOT the same as our words, in most cases. The Way of Life & Salvation Note verses 15-16, earlier in Section 1 of the Doctrine of the Covenants. They remind us that we must learn to hear the voice of the Lord and that of His servants, those officially sent by Him, not just those called by men. All of us are called to be sent ones, sure witnesses of the Lord Jesus, but few are chosen by God to actually receive this blessing (because of the ways of the world Babylon, D&C 121:35). The 5-fold pathway of those who are chosen is the essence of the New and Everlasting Covenant. It is the purpose of the doctrine, gospel, and church of Christ; to return us to Him and the Father, negating the effects of the fall which is separation from God. It is a 5-fold progression. We must; 1. Develop strong faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. 2. Sincerely repent, forsaking sin. 3. Enter the waters of baptism by covenant - be baptized unto repentance. 4. Approach the Lord with a broken heart and contrite spirit to receive the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost. Such are then placed through the gate and onto the path or the way to eternal life. 5. These wise ones, now born again in Christ, and posssessing the companionship of the Holy Ghost, then hold onto the iron rod tightly (direct revelation), eventually arriving at the Tree of Life, where they receive God Himself (see also Moses. 6:57-68). They then obtain the testimony of Jesus (Rev. 12:17, 19:10; D&C 46:13-14; 76:51, 101; 88:4, 74-75; Moroni 10:8). It is to receive full redemption and eternal life in this life, as symbolized in the sweet, white fruit of the Tree of Life. It is the way of salvation. The way of life and salvation requires us to work out their own salvation with fear and trembling before the Lord (Philippians 2:12). The symbolic ordinances of the gospel and the temple point us to the reality of experiencing these five steps of redemption at Christ s hands. Such become chosen sent ones, those with an apostolic witness of God s reality in this life. Their words are more like the Savior who sends them. They are sanctified and speak with the tongue of angels, having received the endowment or gift and power of the Holy Ghost. Many believe they have the Holy Ghost simply because another as laid their hands upon their head in a confirmation ordinance at age 8. The words spoken were an invitation only that the individual might eventually and literally receive the Holy Ghost, when they are worthy of it. It is when they finally turn to Christ the Lord with their whole heart, and in sincere repentance, seeking His mercy and forgiveness. Only then are they born again in Christ Jesus (see endnote 11). God said; For they have strayed from mine ordinances, and have broken mine everlasting covenant; They seek not the Lord to establish his righteousness, but every man walketh in his own way, and after the image of his own god, whose image is in the likeness of the world, and whose substance is that of an idol, which waxeth old and shall perish in Babylon, even Babylon the great, which shall fall (D&C 1:15-16). Chosen and sent ones point others to God, not themselves. They seek not their own welfare but that of Zion the pure in heart. We must not allow ourselves to be deceived or blinded by the craftiness of men (D&C 76:75; 123:12-13). Sadly, many cannot see this idolatry. They are comfortable with men leading them, as this requires less study and work. This was the case with the ancient Israelites at Sinai. They were comfortable with the mortal man Moses leading them, when they could have had God directing them personally instead. They settled for less and received the lesser law and gospel as a result (see JST Ex. 34:1-2; D&C 84:23-27, 47-57; 12

13 Heb. 3-4; Jacob 1:6-8; Mos. 13:13-14, 25-35; 2 Ne. 2:3-11, 15-16, 27-28; Mor. 6:4). Progression to full redemption and eternal life requires that we work out our salvation with fear and trembling before the Lord. Some leaders are earnestly seeking a personal witness of Jesus Christ to be chosen, not just called, while others downplay the early Apostolic Charge of Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery - to be a sent one with a sure and special witness of God, by seeing and knowing Him. Some give the impression that they have this witness in carefully chosen words. Such allow the Saints to believe that they have the testimony of Jesus, that they have seen the Lord (see A Sent One: The Apostolic Charge). This is a form of deception. Satan is the father of all lies. It makes no sense for followers to place their trust in one who has not this testimony, but makes it appear as though he has. Whether the leader is a good sincere seeker, or just a deceiver, many scriptures inform us that the blind are cursed from following them in either way. They have put their trust in the arm of flesh (2 Ne. 4:34; 28:31; Jer. 2:13; Psalm 118:8). Joseph Smith s first vision experience is a good example for us. He was confused by all the words of men preaching their version of truth in his day. He thus went to the woods to seek God as his source of light, as James taught (1:5-6). There he received his first vision. Each of us can receive truth directly from the living God of heaven in a direct relationship. This is the important message of the Book of Mormon. Let us review again Lehi s vision experience in 1 Nephi 8 with more detail. In it Lehi was invited to follow a man dressed in white. He said, he bade me follow him. It led to darkness, rather than God s light. for behold, methought I saw in my dream, a dark and dreary wilderness. And it came to pass that I saw a man, and he was dressed in a white robe; and he came and stood before me. And it came to pass that he spake unto me, and bade me follow him. And it came to pass that as I followed him I beheld myself that I was in a dark and dreary waste. And after I had traveled for the space of many hours in darkness, I began to pray unto the Lord that he would have mercy on me, according to the multitude of his tender mercies. And it came to pass after I had prayed unto the Lord I beheld a large and spacious field. And it came to pass that I beheld a tree, whose fruit was desirable to make one happy (1 Ne. 8:4-10). This verse has a subtle but very important lesson on idolatry for us. Lehi followed a man dressed in white and was deceived. He was led into darkness. Lehi removed himself from the darkness of this dreary waste only when he turned to God, when he prayed unto the Lord for His mercy. This is when Lehi s vision turned from darkness to the beauty of the Tree of Life. Its fruit was and is tied to happiness and joy. Mortal imperfect men can only lead us so far. The tares among us purposely deceive (see D&C 76:75; 123:12-13). The Lord spoke to hypocritical Pharisees in His day about how they outwardly keep the law. He addressed their ability to speak eloquently of God. Yet within, their hearts were hard. They were in reality far from Him and His ways. This sentiment was addressed to Joseph Smith in the First Vision as well. God said that men teach for doctrines the commandments of men instead of His truths. Such are like wolves in sheep s clothing. Many of them seek to control the sheep and keep them ignorant for the sake of gain (1 Nephi 22:23; Isa. 56:9-12; Ether 8:16). The Master spoke forcefully to these hypocritical, evil men, stating that they did not enter in by the gate (Him) and that they were stopping others from doing so. The gate is Jesus, and being born again in Him. God said: But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in (Matt. 23:13). Woe unto you, lawyers! For ye have taken away the key of knowledge, the fullness of the scriptures; ye enter not in yourselves into the kingdom; and those who were entering in, ye hindered (JST Luke 11:53). Hear the word of Jehovah, you who are vigilant for his word; your brethren who abhor you, and exclude you because of my name, say, Let Jehovah manifest his glory, that we may see cause for your joy! But it is they who shall suffer shame (Isa. 66:5). Forced Out Gileadi has provided commentary on the third verse above by Isaiah, addressing those who love the Lord and seek His ways, stating, Jehovah s servants who are of a humble [broken hearted] and 13

14 contrite spirit and who are vigilant for my word (v. 2) come under censure by ecclesiastical authorities who feel threatened by their zeal for Jehovah. Such self-righteous brethren abhor or hate their zealous counterparts and exclude or thrust [them] out from among them, humiliating them [compare Morm. 8:28]. In the end, however after it has served Jehovah s purpose of refining his servants and testing their loyalties their momentary shame (Isa. 61:7) turns into their persecutors everlasting shame (Isa. 41:11; 65:15). The descent phase of those who are ostracized by abusive authorities thus resembles that of Jehovah s servant, who they similarly abhor and accuse (Isa. 49:7; 50:8-9). Both, moreover, follow the pattern of Jehovah himself, whose descent phase includes prosecution by unrighteous authorities (Isa. 53:7-9; see Avraham Gileadi, Apocalyptic Commentary of the Book of Isaiah, Hebraeus Press, pps ). This is exactly what happened to Gileadi and others as a group in 1993, those of the September Six, for example, who were excommunicated or disfellowshipped by leaders in the LDS church for daring to present alternative views of scripture and the gospel then taught at the time by their superiors, the Brethren. In Gileadi s case, it was his teachings on the special last-days servant addressed throughout Isaiah. This purge continues today with people like Denver Snuffer, Rock Waterman, Robert Smith, and Adrian Larsen and their blogs and other writings, among many others, all of whom have sought the Lord and His ways, and have paid the price for it. This is not to say these individuals have the truth, and the LDS church doesn t. Both have truths, and as mortals, both exhibit errors too. Gileadi has since returned to the LDS church, but his writings continue to challenge the status quo. The problem is one of ignorance, idolatry, and pride among those who remained blinded by the craftiness of men (see D&C 76:75, 123:12). Because of ignorance of the pure Doctrine of Christ as part of the fullness of His gospel, many Bishops and Stake Presidents try to protect the current narratives of the church (many of which are tied to false teachings and traditions), leading to this discipline. Apostasy is the term often attached to those who are seeking truth, rather than conformity to those in leadership positions and their view of things. This supports idolatry leader worship, by those ignorant of the saving truths of the gospel, those explored by these individuals and many others. The leaders can t be wrong or criticized ( we cannot and will not lead you astray ) and then it becomes a matter of pride. Nephi addresses this in 1 Nephi 22:23, and the Lord does so clearly in D&C 121: We read there that many are called to receive the Lord literally and teach HIS ways, but few are chosen to actually represent Him because of pride and gain, including the honors of men. The Lord said, there are many called, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen? Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men. One is who has a humble, broken heart, and a teachable contrite spirit seeks truth from the source of all light, the light, and life, and truth of the world the fountain of living waters - Jesus Christ, rather than weak men who are like broken cisterns than can hold no such water (Jer. 2:13). Too many men in the chief seats want the honors of men and other forms of gain. The Lord Jesus did not force others to get inline, keep quiet, and keep paying their tithes and offerings. He said, Come follow me (2 Ne. 31:12; Luke 9:23, 59; John 10:27, 12:26; D&C 38:22, 100:2). He then added, Repent and come unto me (D&C 10:67-68; 1 Ne. 10:18-19; 2 Ne. 9:23-24; 28:31-32; Jacob 1:7; Mos. 26:22-24; Alma 5:33-34; Ether 4:7-19;Mor. 7:34; D&C 93:1; 3 Ne. 9:14, 22, 51; 11:14; 12:19-20, 23-24; 27:5-21; 30:1-2). He concluded by saying, Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls (Mat. 11:28-29). Those who have faith and trust in the Lord have this promise realized in their lives. They eventually come into the Lord s presence or rest and receive the heavenly gift (Ether 12:8) Him! Following men, on the other hand, is dangerous, as we see over and over and over, as in 1 Nephi 8:5-9 and 1 Kings 13. This is true of leaders who are inspired and authentic prophets too, even those who speak with God. This is how idolatry rears up its ugly head again, even with the Gileadites and Snufferites. Those who seek truth must do so from the Lord directly, or at the very least, check the words of those they sometimes turn to, against the word of God in pure revelation from Him and that available in the written word scripture; otherwise they are simply substituting another man for LDS church leaders. Only God is to be our primary source of light. 14

15 The lesson of 1 Kings 13 is a good one. In it we read of two authentic prophets, each a man of God. Both did what they thought best. One was wise and older and did exactly as God directed. He tested the other younger prophet, who listened to the first, older prophet, rather than checking in with God in terms of what the older prophet said. The younger prophet was later destroyed by a lion for not doing as the Lord directed. It was a test to determine his loyality to God or to man (even a man of God ). The younger prophet, though himself a man of God, failed the test. Scripture teaches us that those who place their trust in flesh - any man the arm of flesh - merit damnation (the telestial kingdom) alongside the wicked. This is the clear message of D&C 76:75 (which addresses deceit by crafty men), and verses Trusting in men leads to inheriting a lesser kingdom in the next life! We must develop a trusting relationship with God alone, and become His sons and daughters (see Mos. 5). Only He provides us salvation, and light and truth without error. For these are they who are of Paul, and of Apollos, and of Cephas. These are they who say they are some of one and some of another some of Christ and some of John, and some of Moses, and some of Elias, and some of Esaias, and some of Isaiah, and some of Enoch; But received not the gospel... will not be gathered with the saints, to be caught up unto the Church of the Firstborn, and received into the cloud. These are they who are liars, and sorcerers, and adulterers, and whoremongers, and whosoever loves and makes a lie. These are they who suffer the wrath of God on earth. These are they who suffer the vengeance of eternal fire (D&C 76:99-105). Joseph Smith echoed this sentiment in a sermon he gave to the Relief Society in Nauvoo. It is based on Ezekiel chapter 14. Joseph said: the people should each one stand for himself, and depend on no man or men in that state of corruption of the Jewish Church that righteous persons could only deliver their own souls applied it to the present state [1842] of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said if the people departed from the Lord, they must fall that they were depending on the Prophet, hence were darkened in their minds, in consequence of neglecting the duties devolving upon themselves... (TPJS p. 238). Nephi added: Because of pride, and because of false teachers, and false doctrine, their Churches have become corrupted, and their Churches are lifted up; because of pride they are puffed up they have all gone astray save it be a few, who are the humble followers of Christ; nevertheless, they are led, that in many instances they do err because they are taught by the precepts of men (2 Ne. 28:12-14). We read in Helaman: O ye wicked and ye perverse generation; ye hardened and ye stiffnecked people, how long will ye suppose that the Lord will suffer you? Yea, how long will ye suffer yourselves to be led by foolish and blind guides? Yea, how long will ye choose darkness rather than light? (Hel. 13:29). Note also 4 th Nephi: Nevertheless, the people did harden their hearts, for they were led by many priests and false prophets to build up many churches, and to do all manner of iniquity. And they did smite upon the people of Jesus; but the people of Jesus did not smite again. And thus they did dwindle in unbelief and wickedness (4 Ne. 1:34). The Wise Virgins It is when we finally become wise like the virgins in JST Matthew 25 that we turn to the Lord for real light (3 Ne. 18:24). The wise expect more and receive more from the Lord, doing so with gladness (see 2 Ne. 28:29-31). And they do so without fear of what men can do to them. Others have their reward in the honors of men. To have God honor us is the real treasure. God said perfect love - for Him, and one another, casteth out all fear (1 John 4:18). It is then that things of real value begin to occur in our lives. The Temple Endowment enacts the choice to turn to the Lord too. In it we see that there is some light delivered to us by the Lord s messengers, but that in the end, we cannot pass through the veil into God s presence until we obtain greater light and knowledge directly from the Lord Himself - through the veil. The veil we must overcome is our own unbelief, our weak mortal bodies, and the men and things we put between us and God. 15

16 Speaking to the prideful, unbelieving Gentiles today (the Ephraimite Saints), the Lord said, But if they will not turn unto me, and hearken unto my voice, I will suffer them, yea, I will suffer my people, O house of Israel, that they [my people] shall go through among them [the Gentiles], and shall tread them down, and they shall be as salt that hath lost its savor, which is thenceforth good for nothing but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of my people, O house of Israel (3 Ne. 16:15, see also 3 Ne. 20 & 21). JST Matthew 21 is even more direct and forceful. It addresses wicked Gentile leaders in the last-days. Verily, I say unto you, I am the stone, and those wicked ones [the Jewish leaders in the meridian of time] reject me. I am the head of the corner. These Jews shall fall upon me, and shall be broken. And the kingdom of God shall be taken from them, and shall be given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof; (meaning the Gentiles.) Wherefore, on whomsoever this stone shall fall, it shall grind him to powder. And when the Lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, he will destroy those miserable, wicked men, and will let again his vineyard unto other husbandmen, even in the last days, who shall render him the fruits in their seasons. And then understood they the parable which he spake unto them, that the Gentiles should be destroyed also, when the Lord should descend out of heaven to reign in his vineyard, which is the earth and the inhabitants thereof (JST Mat. 21:52-56). God s Words vs Men s Words In an August 25 th letter from the First Presidency of the church to Bishops worldwise, concerning the 2018 curriculum for the Melchizedek Priesthood and the Relief Society, we are informed that, the New [curriculum] materials will emphasize learning from general conference messages. When these messages feature God s words being quoted from scripture, they can be good, but when they feature one leader quoting another, they are much less effective. The Fulness of My Scriptures The Prophet Joseph Smith s primary mission in the Restoration was to bring forth more of God s word in both the Book of Mormon, and the inspired re-translation of the Bible. There are precious truths available only in the fulness of God s words. They lead us to salvation. Without them we are lost in dark paths, as were many in the dark ages before scripture became widely available. The fulness of God s word is a powerful, two-edged, dividing sword. It separates truth from error! We are to give heed to God s word (D&C 12:2) and rely on it for knowledge, wisdom, and guidance (D&C 17:1). The Book of Mormon tells us: whosoever will may lay hold upon the word of God, which is quick and powerful, which shall divide asunder all the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil, and lead the man of Christ in a strait and narrow course across that everlasting gulf of misery which is prepared to engulf the wicked And land their souls, yea, their immortal souls, at the right hand of God in the kingdom of heaven, to sit down with Abraham and Isaac, and with Jacob, and with all our holy fathers, to go no more out (Hel. 3:29-30). Relatively few know that the Book of Mormon, together with Joseph Smith s re-translation of the Bible were intended to be printed and distributed together, with the oracles of the Doctrine and Covenants, in what the Lord called, the fulness of my scriptures (D&C 42:12, 15, 56 & 59; 93:53), the fulness of the scriptures (JST Luke 11:53), or my holy word (D&C 124:89). Collectively, they provide us the key of knowledge necessary to receive Christ and eternal life. They were to go out to the world together in Joseph Smith s day, and as one volume (see endnote 20). Referencing them, God said: For in them are all things written concerning the foundation of my church, my gospel, and my rock. Wherefore, if you shall build up my church, upon the foundation of my gospel and my rock, the gates of hell shall not prevail against you (D&C 18:4-5). In verse 59 of D&C 42, God said that the fulness of my scriptures are to be my law to govern my church (v. 59). And note what is said in The Far West Report. Brother Joseph Smith, Jr. said that the promise of God was that the greatest blessings which God had to bestow should be given to those who contributed to the 16

17 support of his family while he was translating the fulness of the Scriptures that God had often sealed up the heavens because of covetousness in the Church and except the Church receive the fulness of the Scriptures that they would yet fail (Far West Report, p. 16, TPJS, p 9). He added that the salvation of the elect was dependent upon the fulness of truths being delivered to the world in a future one-volume publication of both the Book of Mormon and the JST Bible (a replacement of the KJV, see D&C 35:20). The fulness of God s word has power to change hearts and minds, and to keep us firmly grounded upon the rock Jesus Christ! Alma said, the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them (Alma 31:5). The First Shall be Last The Bible and the Book of Mormon both address the last being first and the first being last, as many are called but few chosen (see Mat. 20:16; Luke 13:23-30; 1 Ne. 13:40-42, 15:17-20; Jacob 5:63; Ether 13:10-12; D&C 107:33-35; 121:34-46). Following Christ s rejection in Jerusalem by His own people (the Jews), His gospel was taken to the Gentiles, who have had it ever since. We have allowed corruption to enter into it. JST Matthew 21, 3 Nephi 16:10-12, and chapter 21 address the rejection of the fulness and a return offering of it to those given it first (the house of Israel). The Lord said, For thus it behooveth the Father that it [the gospel in its fulness] should come forth from the Gentiles [to my people ], that he may show forth his power unto the Gentiles, for this cause that the Gentiles, if they will not harden their hearts, that they may repent and come unto me and be baptized in my name and know of the true points of my doctrine, that they may be numbered among my people, O house of Israel (3 Ne. 21:6). My people are those of the house of Israel that awake and arise in our day, returning to Christ the Lord. Some are those of the Lamanite remnant of Jacob on this land. Others of Jacob or Israel are scattered throughout the world. The Gentiles can join with them in this return to the God of this land - if they will. It is the great awakening of the last-days, the strange act, the marvelous work and wonder that is beginning to take place. Hearken, O ye Gentiles, and hear the words of Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, which he hath commanded me that I should speak concerning you, for, behold he commandeth me that I should write, saying: Turn, all ye Gentiles, from your wicked ways; and repent of your evil doings, of your lyings and deceivings, and of your whoredoms, and of your secret abominations, and your idolatries, and of your murders, and your priestcrafts, and your envyings, and your strifes, and from all your wickedness and abominations, and come unto me, and be baptized in my name, that ye may receive a remission of your sins, and be filled with the Holy Ghost, that ye may be numbered with my people who are of the house of Israel (3 Ne. 30:1-2; see also 3 Ne. 16:10 & Morm. 8:31). The new coming husbandmen of the vineyard will be part of the righteous remnant of Jacob or Israel scattered throughout the world. They are waking up in how to be saved (1 Ne. 15:14) and by whom and that is by complete conversion to the stone of Israel. He is the Lord Jesus Christ, our Creator, Judge, and King. Otherwise the shepherds and their sheep are like salt without savor. Throughout scripture, salt is tied to making covenants with God. The Gentile Saints have made covenants with Him, like those of ancient Israel. Because of idolatry, too many today reject Christ and the New and Everlasting Covenant. It contains the fulness (the 5 steps of the way of salvation see p. 15). Those that reject Him as the rock, their sure foundation - and His fulness - become good for nothing but to be cast out and trodden under foot of men. What is the fulness part of Christ s gospel that is rejected? It is Him, not turning to Him, of not being born again in Christ, when our sins are fully remitted by Him. When we are born again in Him we receive a new heart with no more desire to sin or to do evil. It is when we are finally given the gift and power of the Holy Ghost. God gives it, though men may have a symbolic part of the ordinance tied to it (see D&C 33:15; 3 Ne. 9:20; 12:1; 2 Ne. 31:12; 3 Ne. 11:35; JST Mat. 3:38; JST Luke 3:16; JST John 1:28; 15:26). It is to have the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost (2 Ne. 31 & 32). This important event places us through the gate and onto the way or path to the Tree, and eternal life. Too many have not received this important gift in this necessary event. Too many don t know how. Many shepherds do not understand this doctrine, the doctrine of Christ. 17

18 Christ s arm is extended to all to receive Him in these and other important steps. He is no respecter of persons. Passing through the first gate, we are made clean, counted amongst the gathered remnant of Jacob, the redeemed house of Israel. Our redemption is made complete or full when we later receive Him fully, returning to His glorious presence. He has repeatedly said, repent and come unto me (see D&C 10:67-68; 1 Ne. 10:18-19; 2 Ne. 9:23-24; 28:31-32; Jacob 1:7; Alma 5:33-34; Ether 4:7-19; Mor. 7:34; D&C 93:1; 3 Ne. 9:14, 22, 51; 11:14; 12:19-20, 23-24; 27:5-21; 30:1-2). This invitation is to be taken literally! It is an essential part of what makes any Saint chosen. God wants relationship with His children, not religion. Satan does not want us to turn to Christ and enter into the way of salvation to receive Him. He wants us to be ignorant of these saving truths, lost and off the pathway to the Tree. Such are unredeemed, powerless, enslaved to the ways of the world in its chains. Such may be called but not chosen. Prideful, ignorant and evil men point to themselves as the saviors of men. Wise, humble, and inspired men point us only to the living God. Satan and his servants have employed many strategies to keep us in darkness and ignorance. One of them is our current calendar. It is another idolatrous way in which Christ and His influence are removed from our lives. 2. Embracing the Idolatrous Gregorian Calendar Idolatry in Modern Holidays The Prophet Daniel saw our day, seeing that the great and abominable church would wear out the saints and change God s calendar, the times and laws (see Dan 7:25). We have inherited this corrupt calendar and its pagan traditions, and think little of it today. This calendar introduces a significant amount of idolatry into our lives, while at the same time removing our precious Savior from our remembrance. One subtle example of this occurred during the Saturday session of General Conference on March 31, It was Passover on the LORD s Bible calendar. This important day of deliverance - from the captivity of spiritual Egypt and Babylon - was mostly forgotten. This Holy Day is tied to the LORD s atonement and His resurrection days later, both gifts given because of love. Rather than focusing on Him and these gifts, much praise was given to our new President, Elder Nelson. It was a well-intentioned welcoming. Yet regardless of Elder Nelson s noted strengths, it pains me to see the LORD s prophecies being fulfilled in our ears. He said we would deny Him (2 Ne. 28:32), reject Him (2 Ne. 1:10), and forsake Him (Jer. 2:13), along with the power of the Holy Ghost (2 Ne. 28:26, 31). Though well meaning, this first day of conference was focused on our New President, rather than the atonement of the living God on Passover, the day He sacrificed Himself for us. Fortunately, on Sunday Elder Nelson mentioned it was Easter along with other speakers. The Prophet Joseph Smith said: The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it (TPJS, p. 121). Christ and His important mission was and is the focus of the words of Prophets in scripture and God s own inspired calendar. God said the Holy Days are ordinances to be observed forever (Ex. 12:14; 31:16-17). They are a sign between God and His chosen, covenant people (Ex. 31:13, 16-17). Scripture says we will return to them in the Millennium (Zech. 14:16-21). Like the Ten Commandments, the Holy Days of God s calendar are not to be thrown out, just because one portion of God s lesser law - animal sacrifice - was replaced with the new covenant of the Sacrament, and a broken heart and a contrite. In the Sacrament prayers, we are taught to always remember him, and keep his commandments which he hath given them, that they may always have his Spirit to be with them (Moroni 4:3, 5:2). The twelve Holy Days of God s calendar were designed to help us remember Him more frequently, and on the days He has chosen, that His Spirit and His power might attend us more regularly. He instituted His calendar that we might remember Him more often, removing ourselves from idolatry. Constantine was the anti-jewish Roman Emperor who gave us much of our current pagan calendar. He hated the Jews and the Biblical Holy Days they once honored with their hearts, not just out of habit as they did later on. Constantine was successful in removing much of Christ and His redemptive mission from our remembering, by replacing them with modern pagan holidays. They introduce portions of his Roman idolatry into our lives. 18

19 These holidays (like Easter replacing Passover) often occur on days that are sometimes weeks apart from those on which the Lord actually performed His loving service for us - in the atonement and resurrection in the meridian of time. The Gregorian calendar holidays thus distance us from Christ the Lord, in both their incorrect timing, and in their false and idolatrous meanings The Holy Day Passover, for example, has been replaced by what is called Easter today (similar in sound to Ishtar ). This new holiday has many distasteful pagan traditions tied to it, like eggs (fertility through Ishtar), eating ham (an unclean animal in the Law of Moses), and remembering the pagan Gods Tammuz and Ishtar. Constantine then moved the new holiday Easter to a convenient Friday to Sunday celebration. Today it is often weeks away from the actual atonement and resurrection dates of our precious Lord. Other modern holidays on Constantine s calendar, like Christmas (a pagan winter solstice celebration, with much materialism in giftgiving), Halloween (darkness, death, wickedness), and President s Day, do little to keep Christ and His mission in our remembrance. Idolatry was and is the result instead. Our wise, loving God began putting His calendar in place in the very first chapter of Genesis, to help us remember Him through the whole year. By remembering His great gift to us, we draw closer to Him. He doesn t need our worship, we do - that we might be redeemed and perfected in Him. God s calendar was later laid out in detail for the Israelites and us in the book of Exodus. Its 12 Holy Days are marked by both the sun and the moon He created. They serve as signs and seasonal markers for each Holy Day. They mark the Holy Days in perfect sequence. Those in the spring are tied to His mission of mercy in the meridian of time. His second coming return is marked in the sequence of the fall Holy Days, in connection with the judgment of the King of kings over his kingdom upon His return. The 12 Holy Days were prophetic of His first advent upon the earth as our Savior (the sacrificial Lamb of God), and are prophetic of His Second Coming return as the great judge and King. Useful understanding of the timing, and specific portions of His mission of redemption are given in them. They are thus of great worth. The traditional 12 Holy Days include: 7 annual Holy Days: Passover, Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits, Pentecost, Trumpets, Day of Atonement & Tabernacles. As we remember God and His redemptive mission for us on these special days each year we are blessed with a greater measure of have His Spirit and thus His power with us. 3 Sabbaths: The 7 th day of rest, the 7 th Sabbatical Year of release, and the 7 x 7 Jubilee Year of restoration. The first is tied to loving God, our Creator. The second is tied to loving each other (forgiveness of debt, releasing slaves, and letting the land rest a full year). The third is tied to a great Jubilee celebration. Those who are obedient to God s law in them are rewarded by living on or returning to Promised covenant lands. All three Sabbaths are about love and are designed to relieve oppression which men place upon other men (see Serious about the Sabbath). 2 New Years Days (the sacred New Year of the priest and the civil New Year of the king). They help us remember that our Lord is the great High Priest and the King of kings, who possesses great wisdom, knowledge, and love for us. We show our love for Him by loving one another, not oppressing one another. I have addressed the 12 Holy Days in detail in other papers and books, and thus I will not do so here again, other than to say they will return in the Millennium, when Babylon is destroyed, and when true worship of the Lord Jesus returns in its fulness (see Zech. 14:16-21 & Serious about the Sabbath). For now, those who wish to honor the Lord, look to them as special times in which they express their love and appreciation for Him. He is greatly honored by this and blesses us as a result of our attention and sacrifice. Taking time to remember Him on these special days is a free-will offering, one that also helps remove us from idolatry - from Babylon and its ways. Few realize that our current calendar, including our Sunday Sabbath, comes to us from the Roman Emperor Constantine and the Catholic Church. Who we worship and when we worship are dictated by this pagan calendar! Satan helped inspire this calendar that we might be further removed from God. Throughout His word in both ancient and modern scripture, we read that God s Sabbath, for instance, is the 7 th day, not the 1 st day of the week, and that the sun and the moon are the 2 faithful witnesses He placed in the heavens to mark His holy days. The Sabbath day was the day He finished the creation and rested from His labors. He reveals to us that 19

20 the counting of the 7 days to it - begins at the New Moon (the first sliver of light), which immediately follows the New Moon conjunction (total darkness, no moon, because of the monthly alignment or conjunction of the earth, moon, and sun; a 1 or 2-day event). Proper and respectful worship of the Lord on the Sabbath is important enough that God made it His fourth commandment, and the longest of them all in four total verses (see Exodus 20). It is a covenant sign of those who love and honor Him, in contrast to paying homage to the false gods of this telestial world. They are found today in our Gregorian calendar. It is named after Pope Gregory XIII, who further modified it. Note what God said about His Sabbath as a covenant sign. Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you (Ex. 31:13). Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever (Ex. 31:16-17). God s calendar is tied to His love for us. We can return this love, and worship Him in more pure ways by replacing our idolatrous holidays with His Holy Days once again. Our modern holidays in the Gregorian calendar have been forced upon us by Constantine and the Catholic church. 3 The 12 Holy Days in God s calendar remind us of our need to look to the living God in all things for our redemption at His hands. It reminds us of His greatness and mercy. Those who come to know Him by observing them, come to love Him. It is a joy to worship God on the actual days He performed the Atonement for us in the spring Holy Days. And it is exciting to look forward to His return in connection with the fall Holy Days. He is the Great Deliverer and Redeemer. For more on His calendar, see the author s book, Seven Heavenly Witnesses of the Coming of Jesus Christ. For more on His Sabbath, see the paper, Serious About the Sabbath. Note just 3 examples of Constantine s idolatrous replacement holidays below. The pagan holiday Easter has replaced the Holy Day Passover - the time our Lord performed the Atonement and the Resurrection for us, because of love. Christmas has replaced the Feast of Dedication, a later Jewish holy day tied to the re-dedication of the temple after it was defiled. Constantine sought to blend pagan and Christian traditions together using the nearby date of December 25 th, a day tied to the pagan winter solstice festival called Saturnalia (worshipping the planet Saturn). By changing the name of the festival from Saturnalia to Christmas, Constantine was making it more acceptable for Christians to accept it as God s birthday, wherein His actual birthday appears to be on the Holy Day Rosh Hashanah. We call it the feast of Trumpets. It is the day of the coming of the king - with trumpeting. It is the first day of creation, the civil New Year s Day of the coming King of kings, the day the Bridegroom Christ comes to get us as His bride (the church of believers) at midnight; hence the trumpeting call to awake and arise that we might go out to meet the Bridegroom prepared with the wedding garment and oil in our lamps (see D&C 133:10). Hanukkah, however, the Jewish Festival of Lights, is in December and was observed by Jesus. Our current 1 st day Sun -day worship replaces the 7 th day Sabbath on God s calendar, a calendar marked by the both the sun (seasons) and the moon (days, via moon phases). In the Bible and the Book of Mormon the days of the week, month, and year were numbered only, not named to avoid the idolatry of the nations surrounding Israel. The Babylonians had weekday names tied to worshipping the planets, including sunday, moon-day, Saturn day, etc. Our months have names like January, named after the Roman god Janus. Calendar Summary We demonstrate our love for God by removing idolatry from our lives in all its forms, including that in our current calendar. Again, God said the Holy Days are ordinances to be observed forever (Ex. 12:14; 31:16-17). They are a sign between God and His chosen, covenant people (Ex. 31:13, 16-17). Scripture says we will return to them in the Millennium (Zech. 14:16-21). In the book of Jeremiah we read that ancient Israel did not love God enough to love their brothers and sisters completely. They quit 20

21 honoring the Sabbatical Year (of release) by not forgiving debt among each other, by not releasing their slaves, and by not giving the land rest for a full year. They were to do each of these three things every 7 th year. God then taught rebellious Israel a lesson, magnifying their captivity in Babylon by a factor of 10, or for 70 years (Jer. 25:8;-12, 29:10-14; 2 Chron. 26:19-21; Lev. 26:27-35). The prophet Daniel was one of these captives. He addressed idolatry extensively in the 12 chapters of his book. It was one of the primary reasons the Israelites were removed from their Promised covenant land for 70 years. Those on this choice, Promised, covenant land are to worship the living God, the King of kings, the Creator of heaven and earth, or they will be removed from it. Such is the message of scripture, including the Book of Mormon (Ether 2:8-12, 7:23, 8:21, 9:20, 13:2, 14:1). God said, I, the Lord, the king of heaven, will be their king, and I will be a light unto them forever, that hear my words (2 Ne. 10:14). Good books on the Lord s calendar inlcude: (1) Mark Biltz, God s Day Timer, (2) Edward Chumney, The Seven festivals of the Messiah, (3) and my book, Seven Heavenly Witnesses of the Coming of Jesus Christ. 3. Maintaining Idols in our Heart The only way to receive truth, is to come to God and seek His will, rather than our own. He is an all-wise, Father, full of love, and one who has our best interests at heart. The Lectures on Faith (removed from our canon of scriptures in 1921, see Removing the Lectures on Faith) teach us who God is, including accurate character attributes, that we might develop and place greater faith, love, and trust in Him. They also teach us that we must have sufficient faith in Him to part the veil here, and then literally receive Him as our God and mentor. He only is the True Vine. Faith is the first principle and ordinance of the Gospel of Christ. Some have faith, trust, and love for the church and its leaders. It is better placed in the living God who redeemed them. In chapter 15 of John we are invited to abide in Christ as the True Vine, and have Him and the Father abide in us. This invitation is a real possibility, if we believe like a little child, and act in faith. It is also a great blessing, one we may all receive as we remove ourselves from Babylon and its false traditions and teachings. This is the only way we can be fruit-bearing branches in the Tree of Life, with fruit meet for the Father s Celestial kingdom (D&C 84:58). Pure Revelation Receiving revelation from God, rather than false sources (ourselves or false spirits), requires us to remove the idols we maintain in our hearts, those heartfelt desires that keep us from being one with God and His wise will. One of the lines of our Lord s Prayer to the Father provides us a very good example. It states, Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven (3 Ne. 13:13; Mat. 6:9-13). A number of very informative scriptures reveal that God sometimes gives us what we want, even though such desires may bring curses upon us. It is a lesson too many must learn the hard way. A better way, is to be humble, meek, and submissive, seeking God s superior will, and His greater love, wisdom, and knowledge. There are eight idols of the heart scriptures containing these important truths. They are enlightening and include Proverbs 23:7, Isaiah 66:2-4, Ezekiel 14:1-11, 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12, James 4:3, Jacob 4:14, Alma 29:4, and Mormon 9:28. Discerning Truth from Error We came to the Earth to gain knowledge and experience. The best knowledge comes from God directly, if we will receive it, and not be deceived by our own voice, or that of Satan. The Prophet Joseph Smith had to learn how to receive pure revelation from God via His own experience, as do all men and women. We should expect to receive false things, as well as pure revelation from God, as we learn to part the veil separating heaven and earth. David Whitmer, the third person baptized into the Church of Christ (after Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery) was one of the Three Witnesses to the Book of Mormon (chosen by God). He was with Joseph Smith during many of his early revelations. Whitmer witnessed Joseph develop the gift of revelation, with both failure and success. He stated, How humble and contrite in heart a man must be to receive revelations from God: and how very weak man is, and how liable to be led into error, thinking at the time that he is doing God's will. 21

22 Whitmer observed, At times when Brother Joseph would attempt to translate, he would look into the hat in which the stone was placed, he found he was spiritually blind and could not translate. He told us that his mind dwelt too much on earthly things, and various causes would make him incapable of proceeding with the translation. When in this condition he would go out and pray, and when he became sufficiently humble before God, he could then proceed with the translation. Now we see how very strict the Lord is; and how he requires the heart of man to be just right in His sight, before he can receive revelation from him. Whitmer noted one time in which Joseph was deceived (tied to instruction in an unpublished revelation to go to Canada and sell the copyright to the Book of Mormon there). It was a complete failure and a waste of time. Joseph and others wanted to know why this failure occurred. Joseph enquired of the Lord about it. According to Whitmer, the following revelation came through the stone. Some revelations are of God: some revelations are of men: and some revelations are of the devil. When a man enquires of the Lord concerning a matter, if he is deceived by his own carnal desires [D&C 3:4], and is in error, he will receive an answer according to his erring heart, but it will not be a revelation from the Lord (quoted words of the Prophet Joseph Smith by David Whitmer, An Address to All Believers in Christ, pps , ). Whitmer believed that the spiritual wives doctrine we have come to call polygamy today became a curse upon the Saints in Nauvoo and Utah because some early leaders became prideful, seeking their own carnal desires (D&C 3:4) rather than God s will and wisdom. The lesson to be learned is that all men can be deceived, including leaders. This is especially so when we ask without a pure heart, without humility, without seeking God s will. God revealed to Joseph Smith that there are three voices we can receive information from; (1) the Lord, (2) Satan, or (3) our own voice. The source of that information or revelation is directly tied to the desires of our heart. This is a great mystery to many. Revelation from God requires that we seek His will, not our own or we can be deceived by the lusts or idols within our heart. We read in Proverbs 23:7, For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he. James stated, Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts (James 4:3; Morm. 9:28). The phrase lusts of the flesh is not tied to sexual perversion here, but our own heartfelt desires or lusts in this mortal tabernacle. Some can be good, but not necessarily in line with God s will for us. If we want pure revelation from God, we must be willing to receive its truth, and then do according to God s will, fully submitting to it! Truth is a dividing sword. It is sometimes difficult to accept. Portions of this paper may be in that category for you. Like all men, Joseph was human. He had to learn line upon line, and via experience and mistakes. Like him, we are here to gain knowledge via experience leading to salvation. It isn t always easy. Quoting Joseph, Whitmer stated, Some revelations are of God: some revelations are of men: and some revelations are of the devil. So we see that the revelation to go to Toronto and sell the copyright [to the Book of Mormon] was not of God, but was of the devil or of the heart of man. When a man enquires of the Lord concerning a matter, if he is deceived by his own carnal desires, and is in error, he will receive an answer according to his erring heart, but it will not be a revelation from the Lord. This was a lesson for our benefit and we should have profited by it in future more than we did... The revelation to go to Canada was written down on paper, but was never printed. When Brother Joseph was humble he had the Spirit of God with him; but when he was not humble he did not have the Spirit... When a prophet, or any other man, prays to God and asks wisdom concerning a matter, his conscience will reveal an answer to him just according to the desires of his heart. If his desires are in any way carnal, he being deceived, an answer will be revealed to him accordingly; and he will think it is the revealed will of God [this is the strong delusion addressed in 2 Thess. 2:10-12, Isa. 66:2-4, Ezek. 14:1-11; James 4:3; Jacob 4:14]. Satan reveals his will [often mixed with truth] to deceive him, and makes it appear as an Angel of Light. This is a mystery to a great many people, but only to those who are weak and have need of milk that they may grow in spiritual knowledge to understand the word of God. It is Satan who deceives the man, but God permits it because of the wicked desires of the man, and it is right and justice in God's wisdom to permit the persistent transgressor to be led off and deceived by a delusive false doctrine (Whitmer, An Address to All Believers in Christ, pps ). Strong delusion was apparently given the Saints in Nauvoo because so many sought the desires of their heart in the lusts of polygamy. It was kept secret in the oaths of Masonry, and enforced - along with fidelity to mortal 22

23 leaders, by Danite coercion. 4 This control, made possible by secret oaths, included threats, intimidation, revenge, and violence, even murder. Fear in forced control, with murder, is Satan s way. And so is polygamy and sexual perversion, so prevalent today in our culture (see Moses 5). The pure love of God casts out such things, including fear. In 2 Thess. 2:11, Paul stated: And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie. Why did this occur? Verses 10 and 12 give the reason; because they received not the love of the truth... because they had pleasure in unrighteousness in their carnal desires (see also D&C 3:4). In Isaiah 66:2-4, the Lord contrasts two types of people. But to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word. But to the people who have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations, I will also choose their delusions. Jacob 2 teaches us that polygamy and other whoredoms are an abomination (Jacob 2:22-29). At Nauvoo, Satan tempted the Saints with the secret things of Masonry, the lustful desires of polygamy, and fear and intimidation via Danite-like enforcers to keep them in place. It was a dark period of church history. Note also Ezekiel 14:1-11, especially verses 3-6. There we read, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumbling block of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the LORD will answer him that cometh [through that prophet] according to the multitude of his idols; That I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all estranged from me through their idols. Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God; Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations. Finally, note Alma 29, where God said He often answers us according to our agency and will. God granteth unto men according to their desire, whether it be unto death or unto life; yea, I know that he allotteth unto men, yea, decreeth unto them decrees which are unalterable, according to their wills, whether they be unto salvation or unto destruction (Alma 29:4, see also Jacob 4:14). Receiving Truth Faith and trust in the Lord means desiring and expecting answers from Him according to His will, and then listening for His gentle guiding voice. It most often comes within our mind as a still small voice (see Enos 5, 10). We must then believe as little children, we have received it, that what we hear or sense in such submissive circumstances is from Him, given us in our language and words - that we might understand. Practicing discernment, with child-like faith, and removing all the idols of our heart is a very important doctrine and practice, otherwise deception in other voices can result. In time, our yes and no answers can turn into sentences, and finally conversations (see Receiving Revelation). hearken unto the words of the Lord, and ask the Father in the name of Jesus for what things soever ye shall stand in need. Doubt not, but be believing, and begin as in times of old, and come unto the Lord with all your heart, and work out your own salvation with fear and trembling before him. Be wise in the days of your probation; strip yourselves of all uncleanness; ask not, that ye may consume it on your lusts, but ask with a firmness unshaken, that ye will yield to no temptation, but that ye will serve the true and living God (Morm. 9:27-28). When there is great sin among us, and when we no longer seek God and His will, our heads are covered, including those who lead us (see Isa. 29:10). Revelation then stops and many become blind and deaf (2 Ne. 9:21; 3 Ne. 2:1; D&C 78.10). Blind guides then lead the blind into darkness and rivers of filthy waters. This is one of the key messages of Lehi and Nephi s visions of the Tree of Life. The Temple as an Idol A Kirtland Pentecost Event In the New Testament, the Lord instructed His disciples to tarry at Jerusalem upon His departure for some 50 days to receive the promise of the Father. It was a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit. It occurred as He said and came to be known later as the Day of Pentecost (Greek for 50 or 50 days after the Lord s sacrifice at Passover). The Saints there were not required to build a House of the Lord, as one already existed in the minds of the Pharisees and Sadducees. It was called Herod s Temple. It was corrupted and quite different from the House of the Lord built by Solomon centuries earlier on the same land. 23

24 A similar Pentecostal event occurred with the Kirtland Ohio Saints near the spring equinox of It was prior to missions for many of the Saints, like those called and chosen in Jerusalem. Kirtland Ohio was the Lord s designated setting to tarry - in time and space set apart by the Lord - for this special event. It would again be an endowment of power but this time for the early Saints of the Restoration. He wanted them to have the gift and power of the Holy Ghost too, that they might be empowered missionaries. In 3 Nephi 19, we read of a special gathering of believers near a set apart edifice in the city of Bountiful. In this special place and time, Twelve Disciples of Christ were chosen by Him to minister among the people. We read that they desired to receive the Holy Ghost more than any other thing (see v. 9). It became an endowment of real power for them, as it did for the early Kirtland Saints, and those in the New Testament. With the Saints under Joseph s care, however, the Lord had them tarry at Kirtland to first build and then dedicate a house of the Lord to Him, in preparation for this sacred, group event. They were not building a temple, but a more holy house of the Lord. The Pentecost at Kirtland was set to occur at the dedication of this house on March 27 th of 1836, one week after the sacred New Year on the Lord s Bible calendar (the spring equinox). It happened. Signs Follow Believers Faith in the Lord Like the New Testament Saints, the Kirtland Saints were of one accord in one place (Acts 2:1). The Saints offered up the sacrifice the Lord had chosen for them and us a broken heart and a contrite spirit. They also offered up a completed structure for their gathering and edification, according to His command. They did so at great personal effort and expense. The sacrifices helped purify the hearts of the Saints. History reveals that they were richly rewarded for their humble offering. They experienced a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit at the dedication of the first house of the Lord in Joseph s Restoration. Signs followed these believers (Mark 16:17; Ether 4:18; D&C 58:64, 63:9, 68:10, 84:65). Joseph Smith prayed for them to occur in his dedication prayer for it (see D&C 109:22, 35-37; 110:9). For verily this generation shall not all pass away until an house shall be built unto the Lord, and a cloud shall rest upon it, which cloud shall be even the glory of the Lord, which shall fill the house...therefore, as I said concerning the sons of Moses for the sons of Moses and also the sons of Aaron shall offer an acceptable offering and sacrifice in the house of the Lord, which house shall be built unto the Lord in this generation, upon the consecrated spot as I have appointed And the sons of Moses and of Aaron [lesser priesthood] shall be filled with the glory of the Lord [fiery baptism], upon Mount Zion in the Lord s house, whose sons are ye; and also many whom I have called and sent forth to build up my church (D&C 84:5, 31-32; see also 95:8-9, 97:15-17, 110:7). This prophecy was fulfilled. One of the greatest signs seen at the dedication was God s glory above the Lord s house. It was described as a pillar of fire, the same manifested presence accompanying the Israelites or their desert Journey in the Sinai wilderness. Many of the Kirtland Saints were also seen with a small flame over their heads (by sighted individuals). This was called tongues of fire in Acts 2:3. Many also spoke in tongues, a spiritual gift not fully understood by most Saints today (see Gifts and Fruits of the Spirit). Others saw angels or heard them singing. Fire is consistently tied to the power of Holy Spirit or the Holy Ghost in scripture. A similar outpouring of the Spirit with these signs was not reported at Nauvoo, nor in temple dedications since then. The House of the Lord Throughout scripture, the Lord uses the phrase the house of the Lord. The word house can mean three different things in scripture. Note the following Bible verses. (1) God s family, those under the covenant (see JST Gen. 48:8-11; 2 Sam. 7:18; Isa. 2:2-5) (2) An architectural structure, a house of the Lord on the earth (2 Chron. 3:1) (3) The sacred setting for an ascent return into God s presence (such as Jacob s experience at Bethel which means house of God or of the Lord, see Gen. 28:11-22, 31:13; 32:30) The Prophet Joseph Smith used the word house not temple in connection with the Kirtland structure in all historical references to it, including his dedication prayer for the building. There, for example, Joseph referred to it as a house, the Lord s house and thy house (see D&C 109:2, 5, 8, 12-14, 16-17, 20, 22, 37). Joseph used the word house a total of 31 times in the dedication prayer. The word temple was not used once! The same is true of Solomon s dedication prayer. In it Solomon used the word house 12 times. The word temple 24

25 was not used. In expressing what the House of the LORD is, Jesus used the word house eight times in verse 8 of D&C 109, as He did in verse 118 of D&C 88. He said: Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing, and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God. Later editors added the word temple to many historic documents after Joseph s murder, including Joseph s personal journal references. In his general conversations and in his journal, Joseph smith often referred to the Kirtland structure as a the chapel. Note just two of some 50 examples: On Sab[b]ath morning the 15th He [Erastus Holmes] went with me to meeting which was held in the Schoolhouse on account of the Chappel not being finished plastering. President Rigdon preached on the subject of men's being called to preach the gospel and their qualifications &c. We had a fine discourse. (p. 59 Faulring). Thursday morning, 31st [1836] In the after noon I attended at the Chapel to give directions concerning the upper rooms and more especially the west room which I intend oc[c]upying for a translating room which will be prepared this week (Faulring, p. 94, in Ronald Karren, The Exoneration of Emma, Joseph & Hyrum: Part One; Karren took these quotes from Scott H. Faulring, American Prophet s Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith. Salt Lake City: Signature Books, 1989). God s Words More significant than Joseph Smith s words or Solomon s words is the fact that the Lord did not call the Kirtland or Nauvoo structures a temple in the D&C. Speaking of the Kirtland structure, He instead called it, mine house, my house or a house (D&C 95:3, 97:10, 12, 15, 105:33). He also referred to it as this house (D&C 110:7-9) and this holy house. The same is also true of the later house the Saints built at Nauvoo. In D&C 124, every reference by the Lord to the new Nauvoo structure uses the word house, not temple. He called it, a house (27, 30, 31, 33, 37, 47, 51, 55), this house (vs. 40, 42), and my holy house (v. 39). In this same Section (D&C 124), the Lord also addressed the moving house of the early Israelites, those who had just left captivity in Egypt. Under Moses s direction, they built the Tabernacle that traveled with them for 40 years. God s presence was manifest in the cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night above it (Ex. 13:21-22). In Section 124, God also referenced the house Solomon built in Jerusalem (v. 38). This house was built on behalf of his father David. King David was not chosen by the Lord to build it because he had too much blood on his hands (see 1 Chron. 28:3; D&C 63:31-33, 105:14, 33-37, 121:34-46). Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem in mount Moriah, where [the LORD] appeared unto David his father; for which provision had been made in the Place of David, in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite (2 Chron. 3:1). Earlier in Section 97, God referred to the creation of Zion. It can only be created among the pure in heart, those without idolatry (verse 21). In verse 17, the Lord said He would not come into unholy temples (people or buildings). Hearts are purified in the baptism of fire and Holy Ghost event - one occurring for many at the dedication of the Kirtland structure (see the paper, Endowment of Power from On High). Temple versus the House of the Lord It is apparent in most modern scriptures that the Lord uses the word house for his earthly habitation, those built under His command and direction. Men, however, typically use the word temple, and often in connection with idolatry and false gods. This is apparent in the many temples built to honor Zeus, Athena, Dagon, Baal, Molech, and other false gods. A breakdown of the use of the word house of the Lord versus temple in the Bible, the Book of Mormon, and the Doctrine and Covenants is very instructive. 5 Throughout, the D&C - and relative to building the Kirtland and Nauvoo structures, we see that God consistently called both structures the house of the Lord, not a temple. Accepting the Kirtland Temple in D&C 110, the Lord used the word house 5 times (0 references with the word temple ). The same is true in most verses in the Old Testament tied to the house of the Lord Solomon built. The New Testament is different. It has many references to a temple, mostly in connection with Herod s corrupted temple in the meridian of time (see JST Mat. 24:1-4). Christ cleansed its outer court two times, but showed respect for what it represented. The Book of Mormon features a mix of meanings tied to the word temple, most again revealing this same separation in meaning. 25

26 Sadly, the Nauvoo Masonic Temple was built by the Saints and dedicated - before a house for and to the Lord at Nauvoo. Like the Nauvoo Saints, those in Hagai 1, delayed the building of a house of the Lord, building instead their homes and businesses first. They too were cursed. Unfortunately, the structure at Nauvoo was never completed, though it was hastily dedicated while many were leaving for the Salt Lake Valley. History shows that the Nauvoo structure was later destroyed by lightning and then fire, whereas the Masonic Temple survives to this day. It was purchased by President McKay of the LDS church in Speaking of idolatry in connection with temples, the Prophet Hosea said: For Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and buildeth temples; and Judah hath multiplied fenced cities: but I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour the palaces thereof (Hosea 8:14). Some have forgotten their original purpose today. Like the Jews in Christ s ministry who had Herod s Temple, some think temples are a reflection of superior standing before God. The condition of the heart within our own temple matters much more. We are to have the indwelling of the Spirit. In D&C 97:17 we read of the House of the Lord to be built at Kirtland. God warned the Saints in this Section that He does not come into unholy temples (the only use of the word temple in D&C 97). This refers to both temples of stone and flesh. He stated in an earlier Section, whatsoever temple is defiled, God shall destroy that temple (D&C 93:35, see also 133:1-5 & Mal. 3:1-7). Eight of the references to a temple in the Book of Mormon are also tied the concept of unholy temples (see Mos. 2:37; Alma 7:21, 16:13 23:2, 34:36; Hel. 4:24, 10:18). Note below the Lord s 7-part description of what His holy house is to be in the Doctrine and Covenants, and what its purpose is. God provided a 7-part description of His house. He uses the word house 8 times to identify it as His house - a house of God - in both D&C 88 and 109. Also note that 3 times He speaks of the incomings and outgoings of the Saints from this house that they will be in the name of the Lord - if the Saints are obedient and clean before Him. This was the case for the Saints on the dedication day of the House of the Lord at Kirtland. The Lord s words describing His house are exactly the same in both D&C 88 and 95. Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing, and establish a house, even [1] a house of prayer, [2] a house of fasting, [3] a house of faith, [4] a house of learning, [5] a house of glory, [6] a house of order, [7] a house of God; That your incomings may be in the name of the Lord, that your outgoings may be in the name of the Lord, that all your salutations may be in the name of the Lord, with uplifted hands unto the Most High (D&C 97:8-9, see also D&C 88: ). Meaning of the number 8: made new (rebirth, renewal, etc.) / It is mine house. Meaning of the number 7: complete or full, spiritual perfection / It is a complete house. Meaning of the number 3: divine / It is God s house. It is holy, clean, and built as I commanded. A week after the structure s dedication, on April 3 of 1836 (thought to be the Lord s resurrection day in the meridian of time), Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery within the building to accept it and deliver more to these two special last-days servants. No such event has been reported since. What prepared the believers at Kirtland and Jerusalem to receive real power in their endowment from on high, rather than symbolic instruction in ordinances alone, was the sacrifice the Lord had asked them to make. He wanted a broken heart and a contrite spirit, and a completed, dedicated structure, constructed according to His will. Two similar events in the Book of Mormon reveal that groups of believers were given this or a related gift from God. These events involved those gathered at the land of Zarahemla and those gathered in the land of Nephi. Both were select settings in space and time where a group experienced the outpouring of God s power and spiritual gifts, a real endowment of power from on high. These events point back to the Israelites gathered at the base of Sinai, where they too were invited to receive God and His greatest gifts, when fire was seen atop the desert mountain. The whole purpose of the house of Lord is to experience God personally, and receive of His best gifts. Note the chastening the Kirtland Saints first received for delaying construction of the House of the Lord in Kirtland. Yet the promise to be endowed with power from on high remained, if they repented. 26

27 Wherefore, ye must needs be chastened and stand rebuked before my face; For ye have sinned against me a very grievous sin, in that ye have not considered the great commandment in all things, that I have given unto you concerning the building of mine house; For the preparation wherewith I design to prepare mine apostles to prune my vineyard for the last time, that I may bring to pass my strange act, that I may pour out my Spirit upon all flesh But behold, verily I say unto you, that there are many who have been ordained among you, whom I have called but few of them are chosen. They who are not chosen have sinned a very grievous sin, in that they are walking in darkness at noon-day Yea, verily I say unto you, I gave unto you a commandment that you should build a house, in the which house I design to endow those whom I have chosen with power from on high; For this is the promise of the Father unto you; therefore I command you to tarry, even as mine apostles at Jerusalem (D&C 95:2-6, 8-9, 105:33-37; Luke 24:49; Acts 1:2-4, 8; 2:1-6). Note an even greater promise in D&C 97 relative to this structure and those prepared. And inasmuch as my people build a house unto me in the name of the Lord, and do not suffer any unclean thing to come into it, that it be not defiled, my glory shall rest upon it; Yea, and my presence shall be there, for I will come into it, and all the pure in heart that shall come into it shall see God. But if it be defiled I will not come into it, and my glory shall not be there; for I will not come into unholy temples (D&C 97:15-17). Following the dedication services for the House of the Lord at Kirtland, the building was later used as a general gathering place for the Saints, as a meetinghouse or chappel, and as a school for children, adults, and the School of the Prophets. Neither the building, nor the ordinances inside it were worshipped there. God was. This is why many of the Kirtland Saints received the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost at its dedication. He was their complete focus. Their hearts were turned wholly to Him and they were forever changed via sanctification in the fiery baptism. Too many today focus on the symbolic ordinances of a temple and other things there (which do have educational or other value), rather than the living God and His will for them. When this kind of idolatry occurs, such places become temples, rather than a House of the Lord. God said He would set His house in order in the latter-days (D&C 85:7; 93:43), and that desolation or judgment will proceed forth from His house (D&C 112:24-26). This may mean both His people and/or their sacred places. He reminded us not to build our houses on a sandy foundation earlier in 3 Nephi 14:21-27, but to be doers of the word, not hearers only, and build our foundations upon Him by knowing Him! He stated: 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 who 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. Therefore, whoso heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them, I will liken him unto 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 fell not, for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them not shall be likened unto 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 (3 Ne. 14:21-27). To conclude, temples, like the church itself and its leaders can become idols to us, if we raise them up and diminish our Lord and Savior. It is really that simple. A house of the Lord is centered on Him. The Stone Kingdom The 12 chapters of book of Daniel addresses idolatry in multiple ways, through kingdoms and the kings who reign over them, and the idols they set up in them. Like the temples of men, churches, kingdoms, and the kings themselves can become idols, made with hands. The Lord Jesus is a stumbling block to those in the religions of men. Christ said that He would become a stumbling block to both houses of Israel (Judah and Joseph, Isa. 8:14). He is in the way, a stone of stumbling, for some who wish to be in the chief seats. Their pride and unrighteousness has blinded them. He alone was the way to salvation. Many are kept in darkness today by the false teachings and idolatrous traditions of men and their religion. 27

28 We read first of the great image seen in a dream by king Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon in Daniel chapter 2. The king was the golden head atop the tall image made of iron mixed with clay at the bottom. Higher up were portions of the image s body, made of brass, silver, and finally gold at the top (the different materials represented earthly kingdoms). Daniel, a captive Israelite there, was a great seer and prophet. He only was able to interpret the king s dream. He saw that a great stone cut out of a mountain without hands filled the whole earth in the last-days, smiting all other kingdoms. It alone would then stand forever thereafter (see Dan. 2:28, 21-35, 44, 47). The stone is the Lord Jesus Christ and His kingdom. He is Daniel s God of gods and Lord of lords (v. 47). This is apparent in a number of scriptures. Note three of them; JST Matthew 21:26-56, Acts 4:10-12, and Psalm118:22. All three are worthy of study. In JST Matthew 21, the Lord explains to His disciples what will happen to the miserable, wicked men who are husbandmen over the kingdom in both the meridian of time and the last-days. Both reject Him for gain and the honors of men. Prior to this in verses of this same chapter, Jesus casts out the moneychangers from the temple, and then heals the blind and lame there, both of which make the wicked leaders angry. In verse 13, Christ states that my house is to be a house of prayer, not a den of thieves! In later verses, He adds: When the Lord of the vineyard cometh [His first coming], what will he do unto those husbandmen He will destroy those miserable, wicked men [the Jewish lawyers and Rabbis then leading his corrupted church], and will let out the vineyard unto other husbandmen [the Gentiles thereafter until our day], who shall render him the fruits in their seasons. Jesus said unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner Therefore The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation [those of the Gentles] bringing for the fruits thereof And now his disciples came to him, and Jesus said to them Verily, I say unto you, I am the stone, and those wicked ones reject me. I am the head of the corner. These Jews shall fall upon me, and shall be broken. And the kingdom of God shall be taken from them, and shall be given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof; (meaning the Gentiles.) Wherefore, on whomsoever this stone shall fall, it shall grind him to powder. And when the Lord therefore of the vineyard cometh [a second time, in the last-days], he will destroy those miserable, wicked men, and will let again his vineyard unto other husbandmen, even in the last days, who shall render him the fruits in their seasons. And then understood they the parable which he spake unto them, that the Gentiles should be destroyed also, when the Lord should descend out of heaven to reign in his vineyard [in the Millennium] which is the earth and the inhabitants thereof (JST Mat. 21:51-56). Idolatry and rejecting God have consequences. In the next chapter (3), King Nebuchadnezzar sets up a great golden image for all people to worship. Daniel, on behalf of his companions said, we will not serve thy gods, and furthermore, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace (vs ). They were then thrown into the furnace. We read that God delivered his servants that trusted in him (vs. 25 & 28). King Nebuchadnezzar then recognized that no other God can deliver after this sort (v. 29). The king then had another dream, of a great, high tree in the midst of the earth, with fruit meat for all (Dan. 4:10-12). Daniel interpreted this dream too. The king was the great tree that would be cut down (vs ), leaving only a stump. The king was to be humbled until he realized that the heavens do rule (v. 26) and that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men (v. 32). Eventually king Nebuchadnezzar praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion (v. 34). He said, Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven those that walk in pride he is able to abase (v. 37). In chapter 5, we read of the writing on the wall of the palace of king Belshazzar, son of Nebuchadnezzar. He was partying in pride with his companions, using the sacred vessels (wine coblets) of the House of the Lord built by Solomon. The message of the writing on the wall there stated, God hath numbered [judged] thy kingdom, and finished it. Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians (vs ). In that night was Belshazzar the king slain. And Darius the Median took the kingdom (v ). The captive Israelites then returned to Jerusalem. They were in captivity in Babylon for 70 years (7 x 10) because they had not kept the law of the three Sabbaths, and specifically, the Sabbatical Year of release (held every 7 th year). The Israelites had failed to love God and one 28

29 another. They did not forgive the debt of their brothers, let slaves go free, and allow the land to rest a full year and were thus removed from their covenant lands (see Jer. 25:5-12; 29:8-13; 2 Chron. 26:19-21; Lev. 26:27-35). In chapter 6, we read of more idolatry, when Daniel and his companions did not pay appropriate homage to king Darius, according to new statutes established by those who hated them, those who wanted to make accusation against them (vs. 6-7). Because Daniel and his companions would not honor these new idolatrous laws, they were thrown into a den of hungry lions. King Darius did not want to punish the three Israelites, but had to keep his own law. He stated that the men would be delivered by their God, and fasted the whole night for Daniel, servant of the living God (vs ). God did deliver them. The king then had the accusers of Daniel and his companions cast into this same den of lions. King Darius also sent out a new decree, stating, the God of Daniel is the living God and his kingdom shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end. He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs, and wonders in heaven, and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of lions (vs ). The remaining chapters of Daniel (7-12) address the future, including our day and the coming of the Ancient of days at Adam-ondi-Ahman. There he will commission and empower the Lord s last-days servants to defeat the anti-christ and the kingdoms that have risen up on the earth, all of which are corrupt, all a part of the great and abominable church of the devil. At some point, the anti-christ will enter the Lord s House to make himself god over the earth. He will speak words against the most High (v. 25). It is the abomination that maketh desolate (Dan. 11:31). For a time he will be successful (perhaps 3.5 years, the time of Jacob s trouble ), as he makes war with the saints, and prevailed against them (Dan 7:21). In the end, God s people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book (Dan. 12:1). All throughout scripture we see that those who put their faith and trust in God are delivered, both physically and spiritually by Him! A final last kingdom will soon be put in place. It will be righteous, peaceful, and just. Christ the Lord, our Redeemer and Deliverer - the Stone of Israel, will reign over it. 4. Our Awful Situation: Deception & Encroaching Secret Combinations We see again and again in God s word, warnings to us - the mostly Ephraimite Gentiles. These warnings often focus on the reality that many of us are not reconciled to Christ that we are not saved, even though the harvest is near (D&C 45:2, 56:6; Jer. 17:5). In Christ s day, the leaders kept their people ignorant and under control for the sake of money, and to obtain the honors of men. The same has been prophesied for our day (Ether 8:15-16). Instead of salvation, scripture tells us that too many of us inherit the lies of our fathers, kings, and priests. This results in pride and much unbelief in our lives, with little evidence of the gifts and fruits of the Spirit. Too many are not saved or redeemed. Trees without good fruit at the final harvest will be cut down and cast into the fire. The Lord told us in 3 Nephi 16:10 that we the Gentiles will reject God s fulness, and that we will have among us, pride, lyings, deceits, mischiefs, hypocrisy, murders, priestcrafts, whoredoms, and secret combinations. These words represent a descending order into darkness, ignorance, and sin. There are a number of scriptures addressing these same sins in our day, and nearly all of them begin with two words; lies and deception. Satan is the father of both (Ether 8:25). The Gentiles are filled with all manner of lyings and deceits (3 Ne. 16:10). We read that all deceits shall be done away (3 Ne. 21:19). We are told to repent of your lyings and deceits (3 Ne. 30:2). We are told that the day will come when miracles are done away a day when the blood of the saints shall cry unto the Lord, because of secret combinations a day when the power of God shall be denied, and churches become defiled and be lifted up in the pride of their hearts a day when leaders of churches and teachers shall rise even to the envying of them who belong to their churches a day when there shall be lying, and deceivings (Morm. 8:26-31). Pride often comes as a result of deception, leading to ignorance. Many don t know what salvation is (see p. 15). This is what the evil one wants, and those He has placed in high places. They say; We know what is best. Keep quiet, get in line, and give us your money. Like the Zoramites of old, are we like those upon in Alma 31 which 29

30 stand at a rameumptom once a month, expressing belief that we are God s covenant, chosen people, grateful that no harm will come to us when the prophesied troubles arrive (see Alma 31:11-18)? In our testimonies, we often hear the church is true and Pres. Monson is a Prophet, etc. Our testimonies have truths in them, but they are also mixed with inherited lies (see Isaiah 28). Too few feature the testimony of Jesus, an actual witness of His reality, one He has chosen to give us. It comes to those who seek Him diligently with a broken heart and contrite spirit (3 Ne. 9:20). He has called all of us to receive Him. Let us be chosen to do so. Like the Zoramites of Alma 31, who pushed Christ into the background of their idolatry, many do the same with the church and its leaders, along with inviting in the ways of the world. These actions crowd out Christ. The whole purpose of the Book of Mormon is that we might recognize the harmful patterns of others in scripture - among us. They are given that we might turn to God and repent before it is too late! The goal of the Book of Mormon writers was and is to inform readers, the remnant of Jacob, of where salvation can be found. It is only in and through Christ the Lord! In the coming day the wise will find and embrace Him. And at that day shall the remnant of our seed know that they are of the house of Israel, and that they are the covenant people of the Lord; and then shall they know and come to the knowledge of their forefathers, and also to the knowledge of the gospel of their Redeemer [not that of men] which was ministered unto their fathers by him; wherefore, they shall come to the knowledge of their Redeemer and the very points of his doctrine, that they may know how to come unto him and be saved (1 Nephi 15:12-14). God teaches us how to come to Him in this same book. He says repeatedly, repent and come unto me (1 Ne. 10:18-19; 2 Ne. 9:23-24; 28:31-32; Jacob 1:7; Alma 5:33-34; Ether 4:7-19; Mor. 7:34). Moroni saw that our day also featured many secret combinations spread across the land. It was a day of deception and darkness, a day of vanity, unbelief, and pride, a day when there will be both wise and unwise virgins within churches built up to get gain (1 Ne. 22:23). The wheat and the tares are thus growing together on two separate paths. The wise must awake, arise, and come out of Babylon, for the Bridegroom is coming (D&C 133:5, 7). Though God s great harvest is right around the corner, too many are not redeemed of the Lord. Many have been deceived in thinking all is well, that they are saved when they are not. Though many pay their tithes and offerings, and perform their callings well, there is so much more available to us. The following scriptures reveal that idolatry is often the cause of our ignorance of saving truths in the gospel of Christ. Joshua stated that your fathers (because of their traditions) were led to serve other Gods. He added, Choose you this day whom ye will serve...as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord (Josh. 24:2, 14-15). Scripture tells us that in addition to fathers, civil and religious leaders also set traditions, for better or worse. Speaking of people being led astray, Zeniff said, Yea, and they [the people] also became idolatrous, because they were deceived by the vain and flattering words of the king and priests (Mos. 11:7). The Lord gives us a pattern in all things that we might not be deceived (D&C 52:14). We are to seek the best gifts that we might not be deceived (D&C 46:8). We are to take heed that no man deceive you (JSMat. 1:5). Many will be deceived and fall way just before the Lord returns. They will receive strong delusion, believing a lie rather than the truth, as they take pleasure in unrighteousness (2 Thess. 2:3,11-12). Too many are blinded by those who lie in wait to deceive (D&C 123:12). Honorable men and women thus inherit lesser glory because they were blinded by the craftiness of men, having not received the testimony of Jesus (D&C 76:74-75). Paul says there are false apostle [sent ones], deceitful workers among us (2 Cor. 11:13). He warns us, Let no man deceive you with vain words (Eph. 5:6). Although many serve faithfully in callings, go to the temple regularly, pay tithes and offerings, etc., these things are works and cannot save us. Only God can. We must repent and come to Him. Enduring to the end is not death and inheritance of a glorious mansion in heaven, but endurance in working our our salvation until we meet our life s goal, and that is to make it to the Tree of Life, and there come to know the Lord. Sadly, too few understand that they must first be cleansed from all sin, by God to enter through the gate and begin the journey of real salvation. This occurs in the fiery baptism experience, when we are made new in Christ and 30

31 given the unspeakable gift of the Holy Ghost as our guide (see endnote 11 & the paper Repent and Come unto me). The revelatory light of the Holy Ghost is a necessary companion to navigate the dark mists and many deceptions surrounding us, until we make it all the way to the Tree. We are to hold tightly to the iron rod of personal revelation to arrive there. The iron rod is also Christ - the word of God, and His personal guidance. It is not the vain and false teachings of men. The Lord said, I am the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). He said that those who take the Holy Spirit as their guide - and have not been deceived - shall abide the day of the Lord s coming (D&C 45:57). Such are grounded on the rock, the Stone of Israel. In Mormon 8:23-41, Moroni tells us to Search the prophecies of Isaiah, as he spoke of our day and awful situation. Christ commanded us to diligently search Isaiah, as it is a prophecy of not only what has been but what shall be (3 Ne. 23:1-3). Moroni then added, behold I say unto you, that those saints who have gone before me, who have possessed this land, shall cry, yea, even from the dust will they cry unto the Lord; and as the Lord liveth he will remember the covenant which he hath made with them. And he knoweth their prayers, that they were in behalf of their brethren and it [the fulfilling of the covenant] shall come in a day when it shall be said that miracles are done away And it shall come in a day when the blood of saints shall cry unto the Lord, because of secret combinations and the works of darkness. Yea, it shall come in a day when the power of God shall be denied, and churches become defiled and be lifted up in the pride of their hearts when there shall be great pollutions upon the face of the earth; there shall be murders, and robbing, and lying, and deceivings, and whoredoms, and all manner of abominations He continued, Yea, it shall come in a day when there shall be churches built up that shall say: Come unto me, and for your money you shall be forgiven of your sins. O ye wicked and perverse and stiffnecked people, why have ye built up churches unto yourselves to get gain? Why have ye transfigured the holy word of God, that ye might bring damnation upon your souls? Behold, look ye unto the revelations of God; for behold, the time cometh at that day when all these things must be fulfilled I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not. But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing. And I know that ye do walk in the pride of your hearts; and there are none save a few only who do not lift themselves up in the pride of their hearts, unto the wearing of very fine apparel, unto envying, and strifes, and malice, and persecutions, and all manner of iniquities; and your churches, yea, even every one, have become polluted because of the pride of your hearts. For behold, ye do love money, and your substance, and your fine apparel, and the adorning of your churches, more than ye love the poor and the needy, the sick and the afflicted. O ye pollutions, ye hypocrites, ye teachers, who sell yourselves for that which will canker, why have ye polluted the holy church of God? Why are ye ashamed to take upon you the name of Christ? because of the praise of the world? Why do ye adorn yourselves with that which hath no life, and yet suffer the hungry, and the needy, and the naked, and the sick and the afflicted to pass by you, and notice them not? Yea, why do ye build up your secret abominations to get gain, and cause that widows should mourn before the Lord, and also orphans to mourn before the Lord, and also the blood of their fathers and their husbands to cry unto the Lord from the ground, for vengeance upon your heads? Behold, the sword of vengeance hangeth over you; and the time soon cometh that he avengeth the blood of the saints upon you, for he will not suffer their cries any longer (Morm. 8:32-41). Moroni taught us in Ether 8 that secret combinations and their hidden things - prepared in chambers of darkness (D&C 123:7-13), would come among us to overthrow our freedoms. They keep the people in the darkness of ignorance for the sake of gain. Secret combinations were the downfall of the Jaredite nation, the Nephite nation, and are again overtaking this land today. The Prophets of scripture saw it, especially Isaiah, Jeremiah, and John the Revelator. Moroni stated: And it came to pass that they formed a secret combination, even as they of old; which combination is most abominable and wicked above all, in the sight of God; For the Lord worketh not in secret combinations, neither doth he will that man should shed blood, but in all things hath forbidden it, from the beginning of man [see Moses 5]. And now I, Moroni, do not write the manner of their oaths and combinations, for it hath been made known unto me that they are had among all people And they have caused the destruction of this people of whom I am now speaking, and also the destruction of the people of Nephi. And whatsoever nation shall uphold such secret combinations, to get power and gain, until they shall spread over the nation, 31

32 behold, they shall be destroyed; for the Lord will not suffer that the blood of his saints, which shall be shed by them, shall always cry unto him from the ground for vengeance upon them and yet he avenge them not (Ether 8:18-22). In the book of Ether, seeing our day, Moroni concluded, adding: Wherefore, O ye Gentiles, it is wisdom in God that these things should be shown unto you, that thereby ye may repent of your sins, and suffer not that these murderous combinations shall get above you, which are built up to get power and gain and the work, yea, even the work of destruction come upon you, yea, even the sword of the justice of the Eternal God shall fall upon you, to your overthrow and destruction if ye shall suffer these things to be. Wherefore, the Lord commandeth you, when ye shall see these things come among you that ye shall awake to a sense of your awful situation, because of this secret combination which shall be among you; or wo be unto it, because of the blood of them who have been slain; for they cry from the dust for vengeance upon it, and also upon those who built it up. For it cometh to pass that whoso buildeth it up seeketh to overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations, and countries; and it bringeth to pass the destruction of all people, for it is built up by the devil, who is the father of all lies; even that same liar who beguiled our first parents, yea, even that same liar who hath caused man to commit murder from the beginning; who hath hardened the hearts of men that they have murdered the prophets, and stoned them, and cast them out from the beginning. Wherefore, I, Moroni, am commanded to write these things that evil may be done away, and that the time may come that Satan may have no power upon the hearts of the children of men, but that they may be persuaded to do good continually, that they may come unto the fountain of all righteousness and be saved (Ether 8:23-26). Note the specific warning that there would be a secret combination come among us. This awful situation is upon us, and all around us. Satan in his power, deception, and subtlety has placed some of his servants in high places. They are lawyers, judges, and high priests. So says scripture. Note the complete corruption that occurred before the great destruction of the Nephites in 3 Nephi 6, those who once embraced the light. In verses 21 through 30, we read of chief judges, lawyers, and high priests putting to death secretly, those who boldly testified of Christ. These corrupt leaders gathered together in willful rebellion against God, doing so in their secret chambers of darkness, that they might protect themselves and their kindreds, by way of secret covenants, administered by the devil. Such combine against all righteousness and murder for gain (v. 28). This goal to destroy, included then and today the people of the Lord and the laws and rights of the land, that there might be no more liberty, but that the people might be subjected to their king. God said; For all flesh is corrupted before me; and the powers of darkness prevail upon the earth, among the children of men, in the presence of all the hosts of heaven Which causeth silence to reign, and all eternity is pained, and the angels are waiting the great command to reap down the earth, to gather the tares that they may be burned; and, behold, the enemy is combined (D&C 38:11-12; D&C 112:23-24). Contrast our current awful situation with what the Lord promises will be among those who turn to Him: And I hold forth and deign to give unto you greater riches, even a land of promise, a land flowing with milk and honey, upon which there shall be no curse when the Lord cometh; And I will give it unto you for the land of your inheritance, if you seek it with all your hearts. And this shall be my covenant with you, ye shall have it for the land of your inheritance, and for the inheritance of your children forever, while the earth shall stand, and ye shall possess it again in eternity, no more to pass away. But, verily I say unto you that in time ye shall have no king nor ruler, for I will be your king and watch over you. Wherefore, hear my voice and follow me, and you shall be a free people, and ye shall have no laws but my laws when I come, for I am your lawgiver, and what can stay my hand? (D&C 38:18-22). Shall we not awaken to our awful situation and turn to Christ our Redeemer now? The only other awful situation mentioned in the Book of Mormon is Mosiah 2: In it, King Benjamin uses this phrase to address the unsaved, sinful state of those that listen to the wrong voices of influence; man, false spirits, and Satan, rather the God s voice in pure revelation, or the gift and power of the Holy Ghost. We must turn to God 32

33 and receive the Holy Ghost from Him! Too many don t have it, believing they already do. Too many don t know what it is. This unspeakable gift is addressed in the later portion of this same section of the D&C, section 38, where to combat the rising up of secret combinations, the LORD promised the Saints an endowment of power from on high the gift and power of the Holy Ghost. This is not symbolic ordinances in the temple, but an event often tied to the meeting place of the temple - in which an actual gifting of power from God on high is promised to occur for the faithful the humble and repentant, those with a broken heart and contrite spirit. The scriptures listed hereafter reveal this. Read them and discover this for yourself. Four refer to the Holy Ghost and two refer to priesthood power. (1) Luke 24:49 & Acts 1 & 2 / Pentecost outpouring of the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit at Jerusalem (2) D&C 38:32, 38 / higher priesthood given at Kirtland (3) D&C 43:15-16 / higher priesthood given at Kirtland (4) D&C 44:1-2, 95:8-9 / outpouring of the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit at the house of the LORD at Kirtland (5) D&C 97:12-18 / outpouring of the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit at the house of the LORD at Kirtland (6) D&C 105:10-12 / outpouring of the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit at the the house of the LORD at Kirtland Nephi stated: And now, behold, my beloved brethren, I suppose that ye ponder somewhat in your hearts concerning that which ye should do after ye have entered in by the way. But, behold, why do ye ponder these things in your hearts? Do ye not remember that I said unto you that after ye had received the Holy Ghost ye could speak with the tongue of angels? And now, how could ye speak with the tongue of angels save it were by the Holy Ghost? Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do. Wherefore, now after I have spoken these words, if ye cannot understand them it will be because ye ask not, neither do ye knock; wherefore, ye are not brought into the light, but must perish in the dark. For behold, again I say unto you that if ye will enter in by the way, and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show unto you all things what ye should do. Behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and there will be no more doctrine given until after he shall manifest himself unto you in the flesh. And when he shall manifest himself unto you in the flesh, the things which he shall say unto you shall ye observe to do (2 Ne. 32:1-6). The way of salvation is a clear 5-step process. Too many do not understand steps 4 and 5. By way of review, the way of salvation begins with; (1) faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; (2) then sincere, heartfelt repentance; (3) followed by baptism unto repentance, in pure water by one of authority; (4) we then must earnestly seek the baptism by fire and the Holy Ghost, via a broken heart and contrite spirit; (5) once we receive this important endowment, we are then to hold tightly to the iron rod (to God the word ) and receive further direction from Him via revelation, scripture, and the Holy Ghost, etc., and work our way through the mists of darkness - that we might finally arrive at the Tree of Life. All five steps are part of His doctrine, gospel, and church. The three primary defining characteristics of being born again in Christ (step 4, endnote 11) are: 1. Redemption To be redeemed is to be made clean, to have our sins fully remitted, to be sanctified by Christ in the baptism of fire and Holy Ghost. It is to be redeemed or saved. Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery received this just after their watery baptism in 1829, before a church was formally organized (according to the laws of New York State). On April 6 th of 1830, they and others were baptized again, though they had already received the fiery baptism earlier (see JSH 1:73-74). For most, this cleansing event of the baptism of fire comes much later, when we finally approach God with a broken heart and contrite spirit (3 Ne. 9:20). We become the sons and daughters of God (Mosiah 5). He, the Lord Jesus, becomes the Father of our salvation. 2. Receive the mighty change of heart When we are baptized by fire, an event, we are made new in Christ (Rev. 21:5), given a new heart or the mighty change of heart. With it, we have a greater portion of the love of God in us, in the gifts of hope and charity. It is to experience greater joy in God s Spirit than ever before. We now have greater power (through God s love) to overcome the world and the natural man within us, 33

34 including major sins, and difficult addictions! We have no more desire to sin. It is to have a greater measure of God s love in us, with greater hope and charity (see Mor. 8:25-26). 3. Receive the Holy Ghost God provides the fiery baptism to purge us. He does it (see D&C 33:15; 3 Ne. 9:20; 12:1; 2 Ne. 31:12; 3 Ne. 11:35; JST Mat. 3:38; JST Luke 3:16; JST John 1:28; 15:26). God grants us a gift or endowment of power - in the Holy Ghost (the first comforter). Its guidance helps us arrive at the Tree of Life God s glorious presence (He can then become our Second Comforter). Our confirmation at age 8 features the laying on of hands, with a spoken invitation to receive this important endowment of power in the Holy Ghost. For most it comes years later, because of idolatry, unbelief, and false traditions. If we were prepared, and taught correctly, we could experience after our watery baptism, like Joseph and Oliver did after they baptized each other, and like the disciples did in 3 Ne. 19:9-21. Various signs follow believers and accompany this event (see endnote 11), like a pillar of fire (for those sited), speaking in tongues, angels, the heavens opening, etc. Most feel the Spirit in overwhelming fashion. It is to experience unspeakable joy like never before. Strong Delusion: The Corruption of Fathers, Kings & Priests We are naïve if we think the corruption apparent all throughout scripture has not entered into our churches as well as our government, 6 otherwise why would their need to be a full restoration of all things in the coming day 7 (see D&C 77:9&14). Joseph and the Saints had a very big target on their backs between 1831 and 1834, when so much light was given the Saints, including the fulness of God s word, law, gospel, priesthood, and the promise of His eventual presence. All five types of fulness are needed to create Zion. They include: 1. The fulness of my word, also called the fulness of my scriptures in the Joseph Smith re-translation of the whole Bible (mostly completed by 1834), in combination with the Book of Mormon, and the oracles that would end up in the Doctrine and Covenants. The Lord himself said the church would fail without the fulness of the scriptures being offered together to the people (too few Saints today use the JST, let alone know it even exists). See D&C 42:12, 15, 56 & The fulness of my law, which is the Law of Consecration a law of real love and charity that there would be complete unity, with no poor among the people (see D&C 42:2, 30-37). 3. The fulness of my gospel contains what Christ called my doctrine, which is the five steps of complete redemption ( the way of salvation, see above), and most notably the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost, which is left out of most teaching today in the church. It is a central part of the plain and precious things taken out of the Bible by evil and designing men, later placed in the Book of Mormon by Moroni and his father Mormon. Together, the Lord calls them my church in scripture and my rock. My Doctrine 8 times in 3 Ne. 11:28, 30, 31, 32, 35, 39, 40 (see also D&C 10:62, 63, 67 My Gospel 8 times in D&C 10:45, 46, 48, 49, 50, 52, 62, 63; see also 3 Ne. 27:10, 11, 13, 20-21; 33:11-12; 39:6 My Church 8 times in D&C 10:53, 54, 55, 67, 68, 69, see also 3 Ne. 27:8, 1 (8 is a rebirth number) My Rock See 1 Ne. 13:36, 15:15; 2 Ne. 4:30, 35, 9:45, 18:14, 28:28; Hel. 5:12; 3 Ne. 11:40, 14: The fulness of the priesthood, given in 1831 at the Morley Farm (near Kirtland), where High Priests in the church were called to receive the greater Melchizedek priesthood for the very first time (see D&C 52-65). See 5. The fulness of the Lord s rest and glory (D&C 84:240) - His presence, which is then promised those who embrace the previous four things in obedience and diligence. The pure in heart will live these fuller principles and have Christ among them. The unwise virgins and others be shut out of His presence. Satan came immediately to quickly take away all that God had given. The people then began to fall under the bondage of sin because they did not do as the Lord asked. He invites us all to, repent and come unto me (D&C 84:51). The result was chastisement (D&C 103:4), condemnation (D&C 84:50-59), and ignorance in 34

35 darkness at midday (D&C 95:6; Ether 8:16). Some raised themselves up as lights, bringing the secret things of Masonry and polygamy to Nauvoo. And because of idolatry, many followed them into it. In D&C 93:1, the Lord lists steps to return to His presence. Note that they are similar to the five steps of the fulness above; those things that help make the Saints a Zion people collectively. Both sets of five steps (the number 5 is a covenant number throughout scripture) are to end up in the same place in God s holy presence. Verily, thus saith the Lord: It shall come to pass that every soul who [1] forsaketh his sins [repent] and [2] cometh unto me, [3] and calleth on my name, and [4] obeyeth my voice, and [5] keepeth my commandments, shall see my face and know that I am (D&C 93:1). Later in verse 39, we read that Satan comes to take away all light as soon as God gives it, via the false traditions of the fathers (and kings and priests). And that wicked one cometh and taketh away light and truth, through disobedience, from the children of men, and because of the tradition of their fathers. But I have commanded you to bring up your children in light and truth (D&C 93:39-40). Twice in the Book of Moses (a portion of Joseph Smith s re-translation of the book of Genesis) the Father commands us to teach the fulness of the gospel of Christ to our children (see Moses 6:57-68). Wherefore teach it unto your children that all men everywhere, must repent or they can in no wise inherit the kingdom of God I give unto you a commandment, to teach these things freely unto your children, saying: That by reason of transgression cometh the fall, which fall bringeth death, and inasmuch as ye were born into the world by water, and blood, and the spirit, which I have made, and so became of dust a living soul, even so ye must be born again into the kingdom of heaven, of water, and of the Spirit, and be cleansed by blood, even the blood of mine Only Begotten; that ye might be sanctified from all sin, and enjoy the words of eternal life in this world, and eternal life in the world to come, even immortal glory; For by the water ye keep the commandment; by the Spirit ye are justified, and by the blood ye are sanctified; Therefore it is given to abide in you; the record of heaven; the Comforter [the Holy Ghost]; the peace able things of immortal glory; the truth of all things; that which quickeneth all things, which maketh alive all things; that which knoweth all things, and hath all power according to wisdom, mercy, truth, justice, and judgment. And now, behold, I say unto you: This is the plan of salvation unto all men, through the blood of mine Only Begotten, who shall come in the meridian of time (Moses 6:58-62). Two Turning Points God said we would deny Him (2 Ne. 28:32), reject Him (2 Ne. 1:10), and forsake Him (Jer. 2:13), along with the power of the Holy Ghost (given in the fiery baptism, 2 Ne. 28:26, 31, endnote 11). Idolatry, unbelief and ignorance result, along with lies (false teachings, traditions, and strong delusion). Instead of blessings, condemnation and cursings then come upon us. They stem from two things: (1) Rejecting the fulness God offered the Saints (like that of the Israelites); And (2) Seeking our own will rather than God s will for us. Two important sets of scriptures reveal them to us. 1. Rejecting God, leading to idolatry, inherited lies (including strong delusion), and curses JST Exodus 34:1-2 The Israelites reject God s fulness and rest (presence) at Sinai Hebrews chapters 3 & 4 Provocation comes because the Israelites reject God and His greater light D&C 84:23-27 The Saints also provoke God by rejecting Him and the greater fulness He offered Verses Our condemnation for not valuing the Book of Mormon, nor understanding its primary message, which is to repent, be born again, and then come to me Jacob 1:6-8 - Avoid God s provocation by not rejecting Him and His fulness Mosiah 13:13-14, There is deadness in the law compared to being alive in Christ 2 Nephi 2:3-11, 15-16, The two trees represent the two ways; life or death, blessings or cursings Moroni 6:4 - We fall and are deceived if we are not wrought upon by the Holy Ghost. It is where we are nourished by the good word of God, bringing us to the Tree of Life 35

36 2. Seeking our own will rather than God s superior, wiser will for us can lead to idols in our heart. These idols can lead to strong delusion (lies) in false revelation and the false doctrines of men. See Proverbs 23:7, Isaiah 66:2-4, Ezekiel 14:1-11, 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12, James 4:3, Jacob 4:14, Alma 29:4, and Mormon 9:28. Two Champions of Truth: Come out of Babylon Isaiah and the Book of Mormon prophets have addressed our need to throw off the yoke and chains of false teachings and traditions today (inherited lies and their curses). Pres. Ezra Taft Benson and Elder H. Verlan Andersen saw the darkness first hand. There are indications that these two friends were silenced by insiders. This was some thirty years ago. It was during Pres. Benson s leadership that the highest recorded ratio of baptisms per missionary was seen (1:8-1989). According to President McKay, Elder Benson was a soldier for God, the tip of the spear, the watchmen upon the tower. Others among the Twelve were planters, caring for the garden at home. Success came during later administration as President because he taught the Saints to return to the wisdom of the Book of Mormon, and that we must search it diligently, remove our pride, and repent! These teachings produced results. The ratio of converts per missionary is now at an all-time low, approx. 1:3, as today there is too much unbelief, with fewer examples of the gifts and fruits of the Spirit. 8 Like Pres. Benson, Verlan Andersen was a champion for truth, noting increasing darkness among us in his day (1970 s). He was a BYU professor and later a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy ( ). Elder Benson was in favor of a making brother Andersen an Apostle, but apparently others in the church hierarchy were not. Some believe Elder Andersen was sent away to Central America so that his pro-constitution, antiglobalist thinking could be hidden away. He addressed socialism, communism, the welfare state, secret combinations and Gadianton robbers (now forbidden topics). We could add two more to his list to describe the the great and abominable church of the devil today; the secret chamber, and the new order of things. Elder Andersen died in 1992, but not before he published a number of excellent books, The Great and Abominable Church of the Devil being notable. In it he wrote about the opposing church now widespread throughout the earth, and about corrupt, controlling governments. Note the titles of those published below. Church authorities asked his son Hans to discontinue publishing them after his death. The Great and Abominable Church of the Devil Many are Called but Few are Chosen Moral Basis of a Free Society The Proper and Improper Role of Government Book of Mormon and the Constitution Speaking of the Saints in 1834, the Lord said, But verily I say unto you, that I have decreed a decree which my people shall realize, inasmuch as they hearken from this very hour unto the counsel which I, the Lord their God, shall give unto them. Behold they shall, for I have decreed it, begin to prevail against mine enemies from this very hour. And by hearkening to observe all the words which I, the Lord their God, shall speak unto them, they shall never cease to prevail until the kingdoms of the world are subdued under my feet, and the earth is given unto the saints, to possess it forever and ever. But inasmuch as they keep not my commandments, and hearken not to observe all my words, the kingdoms of the world shall prevail against them. For they were set to be a light unto the world, and to be the saviors of men; And inasmuch as they are not the saviors of men, they are as salt that has lost its savor, and is thenceforth good for nothing but to be cast out and trodden under foot of men (D&C 103:5-10, Feb. 1834). In the opening statements of this same Section, the Lord spoke of the Saints, stating that: those who call themselves after my name might be chastened for a little season with a sore and grievous chastisement, because they did not hearken altogether unto the precepts and commandments which I gave unto them (D&C 103:4). God said we the Gentiles would reject Him and His fulness. It is then taken to the house of Israel, those who will choose Him and His ways today. Are you of that house? Third Nephi 16:10 and 20:28-29 are instructive in this regard. Note the list of characteristics of those who reject God in 3 Nephi 16:10, 30:2, and Mormon 8:31. They lead off with lyings and deceits and then progress through mischiefs, hypocrisy, murders, 36

37 priestcrafts, whoredoms, secret abominations, and finally end with the fulness of the gospel being taken. Instead of God s way of salvation, too many follow their own way or that of men. The chastisement above in D&C 103:4 was given in 1834 (see endnote 8). It addresses the loss of the fulness at that time (see also 3 Ne. 16:10; D&C 124:28). It was given the early Saints that they might establish the love, protection, and power necessary to help bring about Zion, the dwelling place of the pure of heart. The early Saints were not able to live the higher ways tied to real love, that love given us when were are born again in Christ and receive the mighty change in heart. The greater measure of hope and charity in this change helps us love one another, and eventually even our enemies. Without this new heart, it may have been impossible for the early Saints to live the greater Law of Consecration. This love, given in the baptism of fire and Holy Ghost is a missing, forgotten key in creating Zion. Satan has kept many from understanding, seeking, and receiving this gift. Note the following five key, modern scriptures tied to deception, leading to ignorance, and not being saved. 1. D&C 50:6 Satan seeks to deceive all men and women (see also Moses 1:16) 2. D&C 123:12 Many are blinded by the craftiness of men (see also D&C 76:75; JSM 1:5; Mat. 25:5, 23-24) 3. D&C 52 A pattern is given to the Lord s wise disciples that they might not be deceived. They are the Lord s chosen disciples. They are; a. contrite, b. meek, c. use language that edifieth, d. tremble under my power, e. exhibit fruits of praise and wisdom, f. are full of faith, g. they watch over the church, h. they declare my word, i. they labor with their own hands that there be no idolatry or wickedness practiced among them, and j. they remember the poor, needy, sick and afflicted. Those who do not these things are not my disciples (see verses 13-21, 39-40) 4. D&C 46:8 The gifts of the Spirit are given such souls that they might not be deceived (see the paper, Gifts and Fruits of the Spirit) 5. D&C 45:57-58 Those that are wise and who have received the truth, and have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide [not men] and have not be deceived they shall not be hewn down and cast into the fire, but shall abide the day. Such are given the earth as an inheritance, and they and their children shall receive salvation. Such are born again in Christ and receive the Holy Ghost and Christ as their guides. The loss of the fulness early on in the Kirtland area, resulted in a withdrawal of light. It got much worse at Nauvoo. And it has continued to our day, despite various claims. We have less collectively of everything than is possible. With the early rejection of the fulness, there was cursing. The chastisement has been present for some four generations, and may be more severe before it is finally lifted in a full restoration of all things. Besides rejecting the fulness, including the important invitation to receive the Lord personally in this life, the condemnation we remain under is partly because we have allowed secret combinations to surround us and sometimes reign over us. The Book of Mormon addresses this. There we read that the later Lamanites were wise enough to not embrace polygamy, nor secret combinations. For this, the Lord preserved a portion of their seed on this land, even though they were collectively unbelievers. The Nephites, on the other hand, had the fulness of the gospel for a time, but later embraced both polygamy and secret combinations. Many believe this is also what occurred at Nauvoo. The Nephites were destroyed from off the face of the land because they rejected God and the greater light He had given them. They turned to darkness. Where much is given, much is expected. Are the Saints are in this same awful situation today? We are now so used to the encroaching socialism of our controlling government, and the traditions and lies inherited from our fathers, that many, especially the youth, don t see the evolving erosion of our liberties. It is much like the slow, heated pan of water and the frog in it. Before he knew it, the water was boiling and he was done. It is older people, like Pres. Benson, Elder Andersen (of the 70), Cleon Skousen, and others, who have seen the continual encroachment of a corrupt, controlling government in our lives, and written on it. At the root of all secret combinations is Satan. In Moses 5 we see Cain as the first polygamist, the first to implement secret combinations among his brethren, and the first to murder his brother for gain. In Alma 37 we read of a latter-day Gazelem who will eventually discover, reveal, or bring out into light, the increasing darkness tied to secret combinations among the Saints and others today. The wolves in sheep s clothing among us, some of whom are our brethren, will be revealed to God s special servants those that serve Him. The 37

38 meaning of the name-title Gazelem has roots in Gaz, a stone, and Aleim, a revelator. Thus it may signify one who gazes (into a stone) receiving God-given knowledge via pure revelation. Alma 37:23 states: And the Lord said: I will prepare unto my servant Gazelem a stone which shall shine forth in darkness [ignorance] unto light, that I may discover unto my people which serve me that I may discover unto them the works of their brethren, yea, their secret works, their works of darkness, and their wickedness and abominations (Alma 37:23). One of the names for Joseph Smith was Gazelam, note however, that it is spelled with a lam not lem. Cain and others throughout history have killed their brothers for gain! Today the Jesuit arm of the Catholic church has its claws in every world government. They are part of the Illuminati. And there is now a Jesuit Pope in place thought to be the false prophet of the book of Revelation (Chap. 16). Another sinister secret combination is Communism. Our encroaching socialism is part of it. 9 The worldwide infiltration of both types of secret combinations are seen in our media, the entertainment world, our schools and universities, and our churches. I taught at two colleges and two universities (including BYU), and observed that modern globalist thinking, and the teachings of men were widespread there and increasing. It is a sad testament to the success of the great deceiver and his minions in this telestial world. It is no different in our churches. Corruption from within is always the best way to remove God and His light. Note the simplicity of the way of salvation - below left, and the churches of men below right. They represent a summary of the doctrine of the two ways presented throughout scripture (see Deut. 30:16-19). There are save two churches only (1 Ne. 14:10). The Church of Christ built on the Rock (D&C 10:67) The Church of Men & Satan built on sand (1 Ne. 22:23) 1. Repent and 1. Seek gain selfishly, often at the expense of the people 2. Come unto Me 2. Seek power over the flesh 3. Seek to be popular in the eyes of the world 4. Seek the lusts of the flesh 5. Seek the things of the world 6. Seek to do all manner of iniquity 7. Such belong to the kingdom of the devil Names for God s Church Names for the other Church The Church of the Firstborn or Lamb (1 Ne. 14:10; D&C 76:54; Heb. 12:23) The Great and Abominable Church (1 Ne. 22:23) The Virgin Bride of the Lamb, His wife (Rev. 19:7) The Whore, The Whore of Babylon (Rev. 14:15) The Kingdom of God (Jacob 2:18) The Kingdom of the Devil (2 Ne. 28:21) The Church of Christ (3 Ne. 27:8; 4 Ne. 26) MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, The Holy Church of God (Morm. 8:38) THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS The True Faith (3 Ne. 6:14) & Fold of God (1 Ne. 15:15) OF THE EARTH (Rev. 17:3) The Great Harlot (Rev. 17:1-2) Primary Scriptures Primary Scriptures D&C 10:67-68; 1 Ne. 10:18-19; 2 Ne. 28:32; 1 Nephi 14:10 & 1 Nephi 22:23 Jacob 1:7; Alma 5:33-34; 3 Ne. 9:14, 20-22; Alma 5:38-39 & 34:35 3 Ne. 12:19-20, 23-24; D&C 93:1; Mos. 5:15 Those under the bondage of sin reject God s invitation to come to Him D&C 84:50-53; 3 Ne. 18:25, 21:20; JST John 6:35, The Way of Life and Salvation the doctrine of Christ The way of (spiritual) death doctrine of men and devils 1. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ 1. Faith in men, churches, and programs 2. Repentance (confess and forsake sin to God) 2. Pride, all is well, confess to leaders when necessary 3. Baptism by water 3. Baptism without sufficient faith & repentance 4. Baptism by fire and the Holy Ghost 4. Being born again is not well understood today 5. Receive Christ 5. Receiving Christ is not sought today 38

39 In 1968 Elder Andersen presented the following observations and questions to Ezra Taft Benson in a personal letter, stating, I am rather firmly convinced that the great deception being practiced upon LDS today largely comes from our socialized educational system (he taught at BYU in the 1970 s). Satan s doctrines are being boldly taught to our children and we are failing in our duty to set them straight. I have read Moroni s statement in Mormon, Chapter Eight wherein he states every Church has become corrupted and where he says that we Gentiles have polluted the holy church of God (verses 36, 38). I wonder if he is speaking of our restored Church. What do you think? (Compare this with 2 Ne. 28:9-14.) Then there is reference to a great division which will take place among the people (2 Ne. 20:10, compare D&C 63:54). When you get these matters figured out let me know (letter to Ezra Taft Benson, 4/20/1968, this was before Anderson was called as a Seventy, and while Elder Benson was an Apostle). In his personal writings, Elder Andersen pointed out that Zion and Babylon cannot co-exist, and that during Book of Mormon times, almost all of the high priests and lawyers in God s church were corrupt. Today few doubt that secret combinations described in the Book of Mormon are not among us. It was during the reign of the judges among the Nephites, that the secret things came in among them. The righteous were also seduced by them (Hel. 6:38). It is a clear type for our day. This was in the period immediately preceding the complete destruction of 3 Nephi, just prior to our Lord s visit to the remaining faithful. Those bringing about this judgment upon the land, were nearly all, the lawyers and the high priests (3 Ne. 6:25). Andersen asked Elder Benson, If the more part of the righteous and almost all the lawyers and the high priests can be deceived, how can anyone feel safe? Andersen asked this question in In his writings he spoke boldly of a latter-day apostasy, and of a secret combination that, according to president Benson, was and is increasing its evil influence over the entire world. Elder Andersen concluded, stating: Secret combinations lusting for power, gain, and glory are flourishing. A secret combination that seeks to overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations, and countries is increasing its evil influence and control over America and the entire world Religious history testifies that, with the single exception of the inhabitants of the City of Enoch, no people to whom the gospel has been given have remained faithful to their covenants for more than a few generations. Time after time the Lord has established his church among a group who have lived his commandments for a few years and then fallen away thus bringing upon themselves his judgments. This cycle of human folly which so many prophets have noted, has repeated itself with such consistent regularity that any group which finds itself to be the favored recipients of the gospel would do well to assume that their own apostasy is certain and the only question about it is how long it will take. 10 Seeking Gain In Andersen s book, The Great and Abominable Church of the Devil, he stated that governments are the root of all evil in society. In reality, they are controlled by others, including the Jesuits of the Catholic church, who are in turn controlled by an elite group of powerful men that are inspired by Lucifer and are looking to install him as their leader in a coming new age (the Illuminati). He is a false mirror-like reflection of Christ and His future millennial kingdom. The collective desire of this worldwide secret combination, along with those of Communism, is to bring America into bondage, for the sake of gain. Both groups hold power over us by increasing various burdensome laws upon us, through secrecy, and murder. Enforcers today include the CIA and the like here in the U.S. and foreign secret service arms like the Mossad in Israel. Secret combinations take away the freedoms of all people, through licensing, laws, lawyers, judges, and high priests (3 Ne. 6:27). Our entire government is afflicted with this curse today. The Clintons are good examples of those involved within this secrecy and deception, and those protected from prosecution by like-minded lawyers, judges, and high priests that cover each-others sins. Secret combinations practice dishonesty, whoredoms, and murder. They are also found in churches. The Secret Chamber: Spiritual Wifery in Nauvoo Secret combinations thrive on their secrecy. Enforcers were put in place in among the Saints in Missouri (the Danites) and in more quiet ways at Nauvoo. Their job was to thwart dissent from leaders, some of whom were 39

40 part of a secret combination operating behind the backs of Joseph and Hyrum Smith. This was during a time when nearly 1,500 men in Nauvoo had become Freemasons (in 5 lodges). The secret blood oaths within this brotherhood, along with Danite-like coercion of the past, were both useful in suppressing dissent, and hiding what was really going on in Nauvoo the whoredom known as spiritual wifery. It too had oaths of secrecy to hide its practices. Note the following four statements by the Lord. He said: But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head [see Moses 5:29] because thou canst not make one hair white or black (Mat. 5:34-36). Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them (Eph. 5:11). I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing (John 18:20). For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad (Luke 8:17). Emma Smith, wife of the Prophet Joseph believed rampant secrecy at Nauvoo led to the murders of Joseph, Hyrum, and Samuel Smith. She stated that, it was secret things which had cost Joseph and Hyrum their lives. Many believe the three Smith brothers were murdered so that the practice might continue. With the Smiths gone, their blessed bloodline (see D&C 124:57-58) could not challenge the plans of what some called among themselves, the secret chamber. Its primary focus was the spiritual wives doctrine, installed secretly at Nauvoo. Joseph, Hyrum, Samuel, Emma, and many others spoke out against it publically. Others disseminated the rumor that Joseph had fallen as a Prophet and that he and Hyrum were secretly practicing it. Great division, confusion, and darkness resulted. These lies and rumors were cover for the secret chamber. The Law brothers were used by it to spread the rumor more widely. In the first and last issue of The Expositor (a new Local newspaper), the Laws made heartfelt accusations against Joseph, Hyrum and others who they believed were practicing this whoredom. Their desire was to preserve the original pure teachings of the Restoration. In the end, the lies of the secret chamber helped in successfully removing the three Smith brothers, allowing spiritual wifery to rise up at Nauvoo, thereafter remaining in Utah until the end of the century (see the paper Just One Wife). One church historian has noted that early church history was modified to reflect the truths some wanted the Saints to believe, a narrative that remains in place today. This narrative is that Joseph Smith instigated what today is known as polygamy, as revealed to him in D&C 132 (July 12, 1843), and that it may have begun earlier in the 1830s. In June of 2017 the LDS church announced plans for another comprehensive revision of history to begin in June of It has been promised to be transparent, honest, and forthright. The search engine Google has allowed many to uncover additional truths. 11 Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, and Willard Richards (all related by blood or marriage and all Freemasons) later became the First Presidency of the church in Utah. At least six people in the Nauvoo Era, including William Clayton and William Smith (brother to Joseph and Hyrum and an Apostle), referred to those using their new secret priesthood to practice spiritual wifery as the secret chamber. Over a decade earlier in D&C 38 (1831) the Lord saw what was coming. He warned the Saints that those in secret chambers of hidden darkness were conspiring to destroy the church and that the only thing that could save them would be fleeing to Kirtland Ohio where they would receive the fulness of God s word, law and more. This included the Law of Consecration a law of real love (see D&C 42), and a portion of God s greater power in an endowment of power from on high (see endnote 6). The fulness of this power has reference to two different gifts or endowments given only by God; (1) the gift and power of the Holy Ghost, given when one is born again in Christ, and (2) power in the greater Melchizedek priesthood. The opportunity to receive this priesthood was presented that same year - for the first time - at the Morley Farm near Kirtland 40

41 Ohio. It was not the later temple endowment of Brigham and Heber, highly influenced by Masonry, with its secret blood oaths, handclaps, and the like. Instead, the Lord s endowment of power came from on High - from Him - in the gift and power of the Holy Ghost, and in the higher Melchizedek priesthood (see the paper Endowment of Power from On High). The Law of Consecration was given the Saints through Joseph at Kirtland (see Section 42). Later, at a special conference at the Morley Farm near Kirtland, power in the higher Melchizedek priesthood was promised some 23 men and for the first time (an event not well understood my most today). Unfortunately, the Saints were not prepared to come to Christ at this time, nor in living the law of consecration, or practicing monogamy (see verse 22). In addition, most of the men at the Morley Farm were not chosen to receive greater priesthood power from God (see D&C 95:4-5, 105:33-37, and 121:34-46). Instead, the fulness that was given, was taken from the Saints (see D&C 124:28). God in His mercy gave them one more chance at Nauvoo to repent and receive the greater things. Without the fulness and the real changes they were to bring about in the hearts of the people, Zion could not be created, in Missouri or Kirtland, and thus God did not dwell among His people. The rejection of the fulness brought on chastisement as the kingdoms of the world began to prevail against them (see D&C 103). A withdrawl of God s Spirit and covered heads (Isa. 29:10) have been the result, along with historical fabrication and subtle deception. In many ways, the early Saints were much like the Israelites at the base of Sinai, those delivered by God from slavery in Egypt. They too rejected God and His higher ways at Sinai (see JST Ex. 34:1-2; Heb. 3 & 4; D&C 84:23-27; Jacob 1:6-8; Mos. 13:13-14, 25-35; 2 Ne. 2:3-11, 15-16, 27-28; Mor. 6:4). A similar rejection of John the Baptist and the Lord Jesus occurred in Jerusalem in the meridian of time. Both were killed by those in power, specifically the High Priest in Jerusalem and his San Hedrin conspirators. Like the Israelites, the Saints have been chastised since that time, and for some four generations now. In many ways, the kingdoms of this world are prevailing against us as was foretold by Daniel. It will most likely get worse, as anti-christian and Jewish sentiments increase. Daniel stated, I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom (Dan. 7:21-22). The heavenly marker for the coming of the Kingdom of God, as aided by the birth of the man child, was given us in the great sign of An awakening to the sins of Babylon among us (governments and churches) has been occurring ever since then. The great sign in heaven is detailed in JST Revelation 12. It was given to those wise virgins who are watching. It appeared over Jerusalem on the night of September 22 nd of 2017 (see, The Great Sign of 2017). Some believe it marked a great spiritual gathering at Adam-ondi-Ahman, with many important servants, all under the direction of the Ancient of Days. It apparently occurred quietly, outside of our space and time. It may have been a special spiritual preparation for a physical gathering there later on. We should remember that the spiritual creation of the Earth preceded the physical creation in the Book of Abraham. Fortunately, a loving, merciful God desires to redeem all those who will turn to Him. Conclusion God s holy word in revelation and scripture is full of profound truths that can help guide us back into His presence, even amidst increasing darkness, deception, and idolatry. His word is the measuring stick for all things. God said that revelation is the rock that keeps the gates of hell from prevailing against His kingdom (see JST Matt. 16:16-18). Men negate this sure foundation by lifting themselves up, or turning to other men for light. This leads to idolatry and deception. False teachings and traditions are sometimes given us by good people, with good intentions. Some deception, however, is purposeful (see Josh. 24:14-15; Eph. 4:6; 2 Thess. 2:3; 1 John 1:8; Mos. 11:7; D&C 10:25-28, 45:57, 46:8, 52:14, 76:75, 123:12). Significant light and living water is available to us in God and His ways. The Lord Jesus is the way. His profound truths are available to all those who choose to seek Him and His will diligently. It requires the whole heart. 41

42 Relationship versus Religion Satan does not want us to have a relationship with God (Son, Father, and Mother). He wants us to have religion, corrupted by the ways of the world and men. The great and abominable church directly opposes coming to God on His simple terms, which includes repentance, and faith, trust, and love for God. As we embrace God s holy word in scripture, we are taught truth via the simplicity of the way and His Holy Spirit. Together, they are a Urim and Thummim to guide us. In the Joseph Smith re-translation of the Bible and the Book of Mormon we find His doctrine, and His gospel, leading to membership in His church, the church of the Lamb or Firstborn (see D&C 76). In the Book of Mormon we have the story of Alma the elder. He was part of king Noah s corrupted church. He was a young priest in it who heard the inspiring words of Abinadi call Noah and his priests to repentance. He recognized the truth of Abinadi s words and acted. The other priests were angry and sought his life. King Noah was ready to listen to Abinadi s words too, but the wicked priests appealed to his pride and station and changed his mind. Alma s life was changed forever from that point forward and for good! And and those who listened to the gospel message he taught, were brought to Christ with him. He feared God more than man. Two Ways For those awakening today, the path is clear. We have two choices. In scripture it is called the doctrine of the two ways, the end result being either blessing or cursing, life or death (Deut. 30:16-19). The wise and those with faith and trust in God, choose Him and eternal life. Only a few wise ones will find both. Others choose the system, not wanting to rock the boat or get out of it. We can listen to the inspiration of the Spirit and act, as we feast upon God s word, or we can conform and acquiesce to the powers that be, some of which desire gain - the honors of men, power over us, and our money (see D&C 121:35; 1 Ne. 22:23). God simply wants our hearts, and what is best for us as His children. If we will turn to Him, we can be born again in Him and have peace and love in our hearts, for Him and for one another. God then wants us to come to know Him and receive His best gifts; the gifts and fruits of the Spirit, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and the gifts of redemption and eternal life. He gives them freely to us. We can choose to abide in Him, and He in us (John 15). He can then become our mentor, our friend. It is a progressive pathway from servant, to son or daughter, and then friend. As we develop perfect love for God, and cast out all fear (1 John 4:18), including what men can do to us, the blessings flow. Salvation is possible via the Savior Jesus. We should seek to know as much as we can about the Master, but more importantly, He has invited us to be one with Him, to literally know Him (see John 17:21). Why else would He repeatedly refer to Himself as the Bridegroom and us as the Bride, the church of believers. For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart? (Mosiah 5:13). To receive our Lord, the heavenly gift (Ether 12:8), we must hunger and thirst after Righteousness as Enos did. He said, My soul hungered (Enos 1:4). Solomon stated, He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour (Prov. 21:21). The Lord stated, blessed are all they who do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled with the Holy Ghost (3 Ne. 12:6). He added, He that cometh to me shall never hunger (John 6:35, 7:16; 3 Ne. 20:8). Christ the Lord is Righteousness or the Righteous (see Moses 7:45, 47). It is one of His many name-titles in scripture. He said, I am the bread of life; he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst (John 6:35). Jesus is the fountain of living waters (1 Ne. 11:25; John 4:13-14). Four classic scriptures reveal how we reject God. Christ is the light and life of the world (3 Ne. 11:11). Many are called to Him and His light, but few are chosen to receive both, as their hearts are set instead on the things of the world. Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen? Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men (D&C 121:34-35). there are many who have been ordained among you, whom I have called but few of them are chosen. They who are not chosen have sinned a very grievous sin, in that they are walking in darkness at noon-day (D&C 95:5-6). Men continually build upon sandy foundations rather than the Rock, Jesus Christ. Such are washed away when the rains, winds, and floods come (Mat. 7:24-27). 42

43 I am the good shepherd, and the stone of Israel. He that buildeth upon this rock shall never fall (D&C 50:44). The stone rejected by the builders has now become the chief cornerstone (Psalm 118:22, Amplified Bible, this scripture was read by Christ to His disciples at the Last Supper, see also JST Mat. 6-56; Acts 4:10-12). This stone and His kingdom shall roll forth in the last days breaking down all other things (Dan. 2:31 45; D&C 65:2). Our Lord s living waters are rejected in favor of the weak things of men. They are broken cisterns that have no living water in them. For my people have rejected me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold not water (Jer. 2:13). Christ is the high tower not built up at the center of the vineyard. Stewards over the Lord s vineyard were commanded to build it at the vineyard s center, but they became slothful and hearkened not to the Lord (D&C 101). Christ is the high tower in 7 scriptures: Psalm 18:2, 61:3 & 144:2; 2 Sam. 22:3 & 51; Prov. 18:10 & D&C 97:20. The Harvest is Coming and We are not Saved I am grateful that I was raised a Latter-day Saint. Apostle Parley P. Pratt left a missionary tract at the home of one of my distant relatives in England. It resulted in their coming to American and crossing the plains to the Rocky Mountains in the Willie Handcart Company. I am especially grateful for our amazing scriptures. The truth can be found in them. The missionary effort of the LDS church is very good. We take the Book of Mormon message all over the world. Sadly, there is too much idolatry among us today, via well-intentioned commitment to the church and its programs, and the men leading it, rather than full conversion to Jesus Christ, its head. He is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). The average Latter-day Saint is a good person with zeal for the church, but often those with this zeal lack knowledge of the things that will save them. Most don t understand their need for redemption at Christ s hands, even though it is clearly addressed in the Book of Mormon. And by redemption, I mean the fiery baptism. The Book of Mormon is a manual for the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost experience. Most of us must discover this important doctrine there or elsewhere on our own. 12 It is absolutely essential for our salvation! It is where we receive the mighty change of heart, and the Holy Ghost. It is where we are given power - in God s love - to overcome much of what Babylon presents us in this fallen world. To be made new in Christ (Rev. 21:5) is salvation. Our born again Christian friends understand this, yet too many Latter-day Saints do not. Thus, many fall away, as some never develop a strong testimony of Christ the Lord and His work. Many are instead conditioned to follow the Brethren. Christ alone is our Savior, our rock, our source of light and living waters. It is our relationship with Him, the Father of our salvation that brings eternal life, not the law, our works, churches, or men. Two groups of people exist within the LDS church today. Both are virgins - those awake and those asleep those who want truth at all costs, and those who are comfortable with the truths they have. Those awake are seeking more and more light, more of the gifts and fruits of the Spirit, in their desire to know God. They hunger and thirst after Jesus Christ the fountain of all righteousness - and His truth. To do this, they must push away some of their deception, false beliefs, and traditions. It is often painful to remove oneself from Babylon and its ways. The wise virgins hunger to know and live the doctrine of Christ as found in scripture. They also seek truth in Latter-day Saint history, with all its warts and pimples. Their testimony is in Christ. The division between the two groups is increasing, just like that between left and right in American culture. Those awake desire to remain in the church, but often they are pushed from it, by those comfortable in, and protective of, the status quo and its traditions. They see the truth-seekers as non-conformists, rebels, even apostates. A third group is the youth of the church. They are tech savvy and information hungry. They have come to learn things about the church on the Internet that have proven uncomfortable for them. This information isn t consistent with what they have been taught. An increasing number of them are thus departing the church. Some lose their belief and faith in God at the same time. Idolatry is often one of the culprits. 43

44 For years the youth (and others) have been encouraged to stay in the boat, and place their faith in the church and its leaders, as they have been taught that leaders cannot and will not lead them astray. Yet many feel they have been deceived and betrayed by their leaders as the truths found on the Internet are not addressed by them; truths about polygamy, changed history, General Authority salaries, and decisions made by committees rather than revelation, etc. Their long held false assumptions are sometimes seen as lies, supported by the continuing silence of leaders. Communication, truth and openness would solve many of these issues. Many refer to this falling away as the Google Apostasy or a crisis of faith, when in reality it is a crisis of faith in the wrong things faith and trust in an organization led by imperfect mortal men, many of whom are doing the very best they can. It is a modern problem with an old name, idolatry. This falling away was not unexpected. Paul addressed it, stating: the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come [full conversion to Christ the Lord], except there come a falling away first And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie (2 Thess. 2:2, 3, 11). As addressed earlier, one lie for many is that they are saved or redeemed by the church when they are not. Only Christ can do this. It is because of idolatry brings about pride, ignorance, and unbelief, resulting in many of the Saints remaining ignorant of how to be redeemed. Peter got out of the boat to come to Christ. He had to step forward in faith, trusting in God, by reaching out to Him with everything he had. He walked on water for a short time. Faith in Christ remains the first and most important principle and ordinance of His gospel. Everything begins there! Tares are growing up among the wheat today. Some are in high places. They and secret combinations have been planted by the evil one and are rising up among us. Gain of all kinds is their focus, and at all costs. Both are growing together until the harvest. One will be gathered to God, the other burned. Our current situation has resulted in much unbelief and a lack of empowering faith in Christ the Lord. He is the source of any light, power, or love we may have. This awful situation is exactly what Satan and his servants want ignorance of God, and ignorance of His saving truths. Too many then turn to the world and its empty, dark ways. In Christ s day, many were kept in this darkness or ignorance purposely - for the sake of gain. 13 Nephi recognized this too in 1 Nephi 22:23, as did Mormon and Moroni in their warnings. The church we have inherited today retains important truths, but there is also need for reformation and restoration, and a removal of our individual sin, ignorance, apathy, and idolatry. Seeing our day, Isaiah and other prophets in scripture saw our dilemma, our awful situation. It is our Lord that will make the necessary changes. He is our Savior, Judge, and King. In D&C 85, verses 6-8 we read that He will eventually send one mighty and strong to set in order the house of God. 14 Until then, what we can do is diligently search Isaiah (as the Lord commanded us in 3 Ne. 23:103) and other books in God s word. The Book of Mormon is especially useful, as we will find in it what the Lord calls my doctrine, my gospel, and my church - taught in that order (see Repent and Come unto Me). Together they focus on Him as our Redeemer. The truths contained there increase our faith, trust, and love in Him! Once again I quote John is saying that He alone is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). There is no other way (Mos. 3:17; Hel. 5:12; Alma 38:9). Many souls around the world, both in and outside the LDS church are finding the Lord Jesus. He is gathering the remnant of Jacob, and others to Him those who will honor Him more than men. His healing and light are needed all across the world. Idolatry, in following leaders in Nauvoo into the practice of polygamy, resulted in inherited lies and curses. Utah s abnormally high rankings today in child physical and sexual abuse, pornography addiction, prescription drug abuse, and teen suicides, are higher than most all other states. Utah s Governor sees them as an epidemic. They and our unbelief as a people are fruits that are in direct opposition to what should be in the capital of Mormonism (see endnotes 3 & 7). This bitter fruit is not meet for the Father s kingdom (D&C 84:58). Instead it is fulfillment of the words of Mormon and Moroni in the Book of Mormon. They saw our day, when the holy church of God would become polluted (Morm. 8:36-41). 44

45 The great day of the Lord s judgment is coming. 15 Hope remains in Him. He came in the meridian of time as a gentle Lamb to save us. He is returning as our Judge and King, but also the Bridegroom. He is coming to get us as His Bride. She will be made whole in Him. The wise virgins must awake to our awful situation, and arise, then go out to meet Him with clean hands and a pure heart. Yea, let the cry go forth among all people: Awake and arise and go forth to meet the Bridegroom; behold and lo, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Prepare yourselves for the great day of the Lord (D&C 133:10). The Bride of Christ We are invited to seek, find, and embrace the Lord Jesus and the way of salvation. If we do not, we may become part of the great and abominable church of the devil (see 1 Nephi 14:10). It is found in all nations. A great division is occurring, separating the wheat from the tares (see 1 Ne. 6:12, 14:10; 2 Ne. 28, 30:10; Alma 12:9-11; D&C 45:56-57, 63:54, 84:117). Those blessed to be called of the Bride of Christ are relatively few in number, perhaps a tenth of a tenth (1%). Though there are many churches, only one is His Bride (He is not a polygamist). It is the church of the Lamb or the Firstborn, made up of those not deceived, those with oil in the lamps (JST Mat. 7:30-35; 25:1-12), those who embrace His doctrine, gospel, and church. The rest are comfortable where they are, happy with lesser things, when they could have more, an empowering relationship with the Bridegroom the living God. The reward of the faithful who seek Him, is joy, peace, and purpose, along with real love in a new heart. Such are blessed to come to know the Lord and receive of His light and love personally. His love - is the only way to really change the world. You and I can be made new, but only in Him. It is an event that will occur if we seek Him with our whole heart (Jer. 29:13). Scripture tells us that only the pure in heart will be in Zion with God. It is to enter the bridal chamber. Such have developed a relationship with Christ, Jesus. I pray the virgins will not fear man more than God. Let us instead put our houses in order and remove ourselves from the idolatrous influences of Babylon. Let us seek the Lord Jesus with our whole heart. We can then receive Him. This is my hope and prayer for all the wise virgins, in His holy name, Ahmen. End Notes (19 pages) 1 Baal Worship Idolatry is almost always tied to sexual perversion. Baal worship is alive and well among us today. Baal was one of the most insidious false Gods in the Bible. Child sacrifices were made to him there. There have been some 60 million abortions since Roe versus Wade was instituted in 1973 (see They supply innocent blood to feed those in darkness today. Oversight of our civil leaders, and the laws of our land they install over us, should have been a priority for Christian leaders. Yet because churches receive gain via tax-exempt status (a form of bribery) from the Federal government in 5013C status, too many leaders of Christian churches have remained silent, including our own. This allows government leaders to weaken and remove moral laws, like taking prayer out of public schools, and making gay and lesbian marriage the law of the land, and more, all without a fight from those who lead us (see the chart hereafter). Sexual sin has been running rampant ever since the hallmark of Baal worship. Fortunately, many in leadership in our government today in the east, and those in the entertainment industry west, are being exposed like never before under Pres. Trump s leadership. The current watchmen on the tower (Christian church leaders) have been silent for too long. Scripture suggests that many of those leading Christian churches today will be exposed and replaced (see Isaiah 22:15-25 and JST Matthew 21:35-56), as God has said He will clean His own house first (D&C 112:24-26). In the chart below, note the consistent date of June 26 (or near it) for most of the Supreme Court decisions below, all tied to sexual sin and modernday Baal worship. It isn t America that will be cleansed as much as those who were to care for her, the watchmen in high places of governance both civil and ecclesiastical. Over the last 50 years we have seen dark forces at work in our legislative bodies, consistent with a specific date, June 26; a date that supports darkness. The U.S. Supreme Court re-defined marriage for all 50 states on June 26 of The U.S. Supreme Court overturned The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) on June 26 of The U.S. Supreme Court invalidated sodomy laws for all 50 states on June 26 of Pres. Barak Hussein Obama declared June of 2009 "Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual and Transgender Pride month", doing so on June 1 of It was put in place by executive order. 45

46 Leaders of the LDS Church read the Proclamation of the Family 2 times on Sept. 23 rd of 1995 as a warning. This was Rosh Hashanah that year, the civil New Year s Day of the king (the 1 st day of the 7 th month anciently). This day is tied to repentance within the 40 days of Teshuavh (return & repent), and the coming of the King in judgment upon His kingdom. Rosh Hashanah is the day the Bridegroom comes to get and marry His Bride, doing so at midnight, when trumpeting is heard, or when the cry goes forth to Awak and Arise - for the Bridegroom cometh. The U.S. Supreme Court banned prayer from public school on June 25 of Walls of Morality Breached June 26 is the 9th of Tammuz on the Hebrew Calendar (in their 4th month). Tammuz was a Babylonian God, said to be the reincarnation of Nimrod, enemy to God (the Jews were held captive in Babylon for a time and took portions of their calendar from them, including the name of the 4 th month). Baal religion is a form of Satan worship which began with Nimrod. Nimrod means, he rebelled or literally, he returned to Baal or Satan. The people of Babylon built the Tower of Babel, which was a tower to their god Baal (Gen. 10:8-12, 11:2). On the 9 th of Tammuz (or June 26) in 423 BCE, king Nebuchadnezzar's army breached the walls of Jerusalem, entering the Holy City Jerusalem. Eight days later on the 17th day of Tammuz, the Temple services were disrupted and the daily sacrificial offerings were discontinued. Finally, one month later, Solomon's Temple was destroyed on the 9th of Av (Av is the 5th month). The Jews were then exiled to Babylon for 70 years. As a result, this day became a day of fasting and mourning. Upon return to their homeland, the second temple was later built (that of Zerubabbel). Some 500 years later Jerusalem fell again, this time on the 17th of Tammuz, just prior to destruction of the Herod s Temple (again on the 9th of Av). It is clear that Satan and the secret combinations of our day are aware of this ancient date, somehow coordinating advances on this day for gay rights and the legalization of other sexual perversion. The day of June 26 th is thus associated with the breaching of the protective walls of the ancient Holy City and her temple! It is the result of idolatry, of Israel forsaking God and breaking their covenants with Him. It resulted in the loss of their covenant lands, homes, and possessions, and their freedom, many losing their lives. It was followed by 70 years of captivity in Babylon. This represented a 10-fold time punishment for not honoring the Sabbatical Year of Release every 7th year - when the land was to rest, when slaves were to be set free, and when all debt forgiven. It is tied to Christ s mission of redemption, and where oppression was released. It is where all who are humble and repentant are granted a release from sin, death, and hell ( hell being separation from God). Polygamy may be a form of Baal worship among the Saints, and appears to have been a tool of the adversary to attack the LDS church early on. It was conceived in chambers of hidden darkness (see D&C 38:13 & 28). See and the paper, The Abomination of Desolation. We must be vigilant and checking what it taught us against the word of God in scripture and pure revelation. We must not blindly follow any man. 2 Brigham Young s False Revelation on Polygamy The Lord has taught us in scripture that when we seek our own carnal desires in our will, rather than God s will, we can be deceived with false spirits and false revelation (Prov. 23:7, Isa. 66:2-4, Ezek. 14:1-11, 2 Thess. 2:10-12, James 4:3, Jacob 4:14, Alma 29:4, and Morm. 9:28). Brigham Young and many of the Twelve in Nauvoo secretly practiced spiritual wifery behind the backs of Joseph and Hyrum Smith. In 1874, Brigham stated that he received this doctrine from God in vision and the spirit while on a mission to England (with 9 of the 12 Apostles). He had been exposed to the teachings and lifestyle of the Cochranites earlier (by at least 1834), traveling to Saco Maine (their headquarters) alone. One of its founders said it was the adultery capital of the world. The Cochranite religion was all about free sex. Women washed the feet of men after which there was free love among married on nonmarried people. Their rites were to be kept secret via oaths of secrecy (see Moses 5). Brigham s mission to England was in Speaking of it in 1874, Young stated, While we [he and ten of the Twelve] were in England, (in 1839 and 40) I think, the Lord manifested to me by vision and his Spirit, things [concerning spiritual wifery ] that I did not then understand. I never opened my mouth to any one concerning them, until I returned to Nauvoo; Joseph had never mentioned this; there had never been a thought of it in the Church that I ever knew anything about at that time, but I had this for myself, and I kept it to myself. And when I returned home, and Joseph revealed those things to me, then I understood the reflections that were upon my mind while in England. But this (communication with Joseph on the subject) was not until after I had told him what I understood this was in 1841 (Brigham Young, Deseret News, July 1, 1874). Some, like David Whitmer, believe Joseph Smith may have investigated and taught a variation of the multiple wives doctrine after he came across verses about Abraham, Jacob, and especially David and Solomon in his inspired retranslation of the Bible. One Native American chief that Joseph came to know also had more than one wife. Whitmer claims Joseph Smith introduced the concept of the Biblical version of the plurality of wives among the Saints, because he too had this idol in his heart for a time. Others believe Joseph only practiced an early sealing doctrine first implemented there (both women and men were sealed to him). This doctrine is not well understood today. It is tied to salvation. 46

47 Until her death, Emma stated that Joseph did not have any wife but her. After years of researching Joseph Smith and polygamy, I do not believe Joseph Smith practiced polygamy, though he may have investigated it and spoken about it privately. I believe the many claims that he had many wives are all false. It appears that Brigham Young, Willard Richards, and others modified church history to make it appear as though Joseph Smith and others had additional wives. This was done to justify their additional wives. Spiritual wives or wifery is a clear Cochranite term, one that remained in Nauvoo until Apostle William Smith used this term along with the secret chamber in Church leadership continues the narrative of Brigham Young (that Joseph practiced polygamy). Some claim that this narrative is repeated to keep in place the succession of priesthood authority from Joseph to Brigham to the Twelve today. 3 The Catholic Sunday Sabbath Note the following 9 revealing statements, mainly from leaders in Roman Catholicism relative to the Sunday Sabbath (the 1 st day of the week). They express the concept of control over the rest of Christianity. 1. If you want to know the days to keep, go to the Catholic Church, not to the Mosaic Law. We have power to put down feast days, and we have power to institute feast days. Cardinal James Gibbons 2. The Catholic Church abolished not only the Sabbath, but all the other Jewish festivals There is but one church on the face of the earth which has power, or claims power, to make laws binding on the conscience, binding before God, binding under penalty of hell-fire. For instance, the institution of Sunday. What right has any other church to keep this day? You answer by virtue of the third commandment [the Papacy changed the fourth commandment and called it the third], which says, Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day.... It was the holy Catholic Church that changed the day of rest from Saturday, the seventh day, to Sunday, the first day of the week.... And lo! the entire civilized world bows down in reverent obedience to the command of the holy Catholic Church. Thomas Enright, C.S.S.R. 3. From this same Catholic Church you have accepted your Sunday, and that Sunday, as the Lord s day, she had handed down as a tradition; and the entire Protestant world has accepted it as tradition, for you have not an iota of Scripture to establish it. There that which you have accepted as your rule of faith, inadequate as it of course is, as well as your Sunday, you have accepted on the authority of the Roman Catholic Church. D. B. Ray, The Papal Controversy, p On November 11th of 1895, H. F. Thomas, Chancellor of Cardinal Gibbons, stated, Of course the Catholic Church claims that the change [Saturday Sabbath to Sunday] was her act And the act is a mark of her [false] ecclesiastical authority in religious things. Daniel 7:25 states that the Beast, shall think to change time and laws. 5. They [the Papacy] allege the Sabbath changed into Sunday, the Lord s Day, contrary to the Decalogue, as it appears, neither is there any example more boasted of than the changing of the Sabbath day. Great, say they, is the power and authority of the church, since it dispensed with one of the Ten Commandments. Martin Luther, Augsburg Confession of Faith. 6. It is well to remind the Presbyterians, Baptists, Methodists, and all other Christians [Mormons] that the Bible does not support them anywhere in their observance of Sunday. Sunday is an institution of the Roman Catholic Church, and those who observe the day observe a commandment of the Catholic Church. (Priest Brady, in an address reported in the Elizabeth N. J. News of March 18, 1903.) 7 The Bible says, Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day. The Catholic church says, No! By my divine power I abolish the Sabbath day, and command you to keep the first day of the week. And lo, the entire civilized world bows down in reverent obedience to the command of the holy Catholic church! (Fr Enright, C.S.S.R. of the Redeemptorial College, Kansas City, Mo., History of the Sabbath, p. 802.) 8. Sunday is a Catholic institution and its claim to observance can be defended only on Catholic principles From beginning to end of Scripture there is not a single passage that warrants the transfer of weekly public worship from the last day of the week to the first. (Catholic Press, Sydney, Australia, August, In 46 B.C., Julius Caesar asked astronomer Sosigenes to suggest ways to improve the calendar. Acting on Sosigenes suggestions, Caesar ordered the Romans to disregard the moon in calculating their calendars. World Book Encyclopedia, Vol. 3, p Secret Corrupting Influences in Nauvoo Secrecy, the lusts of the flesh, and control were rampant at Nauvoo. Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball were friends before they joined the church. Karren s book reveals potential influence of the spiritual wifery movement of the Cochranites in Saco Maine in the 1830 s, upon Brigham Young and others. Early converts among the Cochranites were brought to Kirtland by 1833, bringing their traditions with them. Masonry Free Masonry is a fraternal order of brothers that is maintained via secret blood oaths and rituals (see Moses 5). At its lower levels (the face of the craft put before men) all seems good, with service to one another and other people. But at its highest levels, it is dark, controlling, and corrupt, with clear ties to Lucifer. Note the words and phrases of Moses 5, D&C 76:75, and 123:12, tied to sin, lies, secrets, gain, a secret combination, the craftiness of men, secret oaths, to swear by the throat, covenants with Satan, they knew every man his brother, loving Satan more than God, etc. Quotes by Pike and other leaders of Masonry on this land are troubling. 47

48 Albert Pike was a lawyer, soldier, and leader of Freemasonry, at a 33rd Degree level. In his well known book Morals And Dogma, he stated, Masonry, like all the Religions, all the Mysteries conceals its secrets from all except the Adepts and Sages, or the Elect, and uses false explanations and misinterpretations of its symbols to mislead those [at the lower levels] who deserve only to be misled (pps ). On page 321 of this book he stated, Lucifer, the Light-bearer! Strange and mysterious name to give to the Spirit of Darkness! Lucifer, the son of the morning! Is it he who bears the Light, and with it's splendors intolerable blinds feeble, sensual or selfish Souls? Doubt it not! He added, Yes, Lucifer is God, and unfortunately Adonay is also god. For the eternal law is that there is no light without shade, no beauty without ugliness, no white without black, for the absolute can only exist as two gods: darkness being necessary to the statue, and the brake to the locomotive. Thus, the doctrine of Satanism is a heresy; and the true and pure philosophical religion is the belief in Lucifer, the equal of Adonay; but Lucifer, God of Light and God of Good, is struggling for humanity against Adonay, the God of Darkness and Evil (Instructions to the 23 Supreme Councils of the World, July 14, Recorded by A.C. De La Rive in La Femme et l'enfant dans la FrancMaconnerie Universelle on p. 588). Few realize that a number of rites in the LDS temple endowment and Masonry have wording that is exactly the same. Some have been changed over time, including the removal of the blood oaths (or penalties) that were taken out of the LDS endowment in The question is, were these rites originally from God, later corrupted by men and then perverted wholesale by Satan? Did Joseph Smith borrow some of things in the endowment from Masonry for teaching purposes, while Masonry was in a more pure state? Or did Satan use Masonry to corrupt what Joseph was trying to do in God s gift or endowment to us (Mor. 10:30), an invitation to receive Him as the heavenly gift (Either 12:8)? Many of the world s elite are Masons. At least four of the first five Presidents of the LDS church were Master Masons (Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, Lorenzo Snow). Some say Joseph Smith was never a Mason and that Masonry was different than it is now. I believe that the later is true. Polygamy Space here does not permit a full discussion of this complex topic (see Just One Wife). What can be said is that all scripture (excepting D&C 132) is very clear in revealing God s condemnation of polygamy, including the foundational document of our faith, the Book of Mormon. There, it is spoken of as an abomination, wickedness, a whoredom, iniquity, a grosser crime, etc. The land is cursed in it, and from other sexual sins (see Jacob 2 & 3; D&C 124:46-48; Lev. 18:24-30). Note also that the verses before and after verse 30 in Jacob 2 ( the escape clause for polygamists in the Book of Mormon), is about Lehi and his family escaping wicked Jerusalem for this and other sins, and that on this special land, he and his posterity were to raise up righteous seed, not tainted by the wicked practices and traditions of the fathers. Verse 30 is taken completely out of context by polygamists - its context being disdain for polygamy and other wicked practices left in Jerusalem. This verse means something very different to polygamists - that God will command the people to live polygamy, according to His will, that He might raise up righteous seed (many children). Brigham Young later promoted this view, that the many children created in it would house the many spirits in heaven. Polygamists ignore every other scripture condemning the practice within the Book of Mormon (chapters 2 and 3 of Jacob), and the Bible. They are numerous. we should remember that the later Lamanites were preserved on this land because they did not practice polygamy and embrace the secret combination supporting it and other wicked practices, even though they were unbelievers. Many have lost their way in the church today because of what can be found in the Internet relative to Joseph Smith and polygamy. Did he practice it (and how) or not? God s healing and truth are needed all across the world. Because of our idolatry in following leaders in Nauvoo into the practice of polygamy, we have inherited lies and curses. Utah has some of the highest rates in the nation with regard to child physical and sexual abuse, teen suicides, prescription drug abuse, and pornography. These fruits stand in direct opposition to what should be in the capital of Mormonism. Where do we look for sources of information on polygamy? They determine the agenda behind what we receive. Four are presented below. 1. God / Agenda light, truth, and life eternal. We must study His word and seek to become purified, that we might obtain pure revelation FROM God on select matters and receive His truth, not that of false spirits nor our own voice. Removing our will (the idols in our heart) and sincerely seeking God s will is the key to receive pure revelation. God s word reveals condemnation for polygamy. Men practice it because they want to. 2. LDS church / Agenda Joseph Smith practiced polygamy, along with Hyrum, Brigham Young, and others. This agenda allows to the church to retain priesthood authority from Joseph to Brigham to the Twelve today. Supporting materials include modified historical documents and researchers like Brian C. Hales. He states, After being three times threatened by an angel, he moved forward and embraced the practice as a commandment of God. Joseph Smith, like all men was imperfect. His primary mission was to bring forth the Book of Mormon and the Joseph Smith re-translation of the Bible to begin the Restoration. These 2 books are what God calls the fulness of my scriptures. 3. Community of Christ / Agenda Joseph did not practice polygamy. Brigham Young and others did. They modified history to make it look as though Joseph was a polygamist. Brigham Young is also responsible for the false temple teachings tied to Freemasonry with its secret blood oaths and secret signs, along with other false doctrines. 48

49 Researchers include Richard and Pamela Price. 4. Problems in Utah & Mormonism / Agenda - I recommend the E book, The Exoneration of Emma, Joseph, and Hyrum, by Ronald Meldon Kerran available at Amazon. Karren s book represents a life-long need to find answers that explain his personal shortcomings, dysfunctions in his family stretching back at least 5 generations, and within the Mormon environment in Utah. Karren is a 7th-generation Mormon who left the church in He is also a former 30-year Utah resident and LDS church leader. Karren saw family dysfunction in his ancestry, his in-laws, his friends, neighbors, and fellow church members. For him the cursing of early church polygamy explains the State of Utah s abnormally high rankings today in child physical and sexual abuse, pornography addiction, prescription drug abuse, and teen suicides. Utah s Governor recently declared these things to be an epidemic. Seeing the dichotomy of the scripture by their fruits shall ye know them, and these fruits, Karren was pushed to obtain answers. This book provides very useful insights. See also endnotes 8 & 11. Some believe Joseph Smith had 30 or more wives. I believe Joseph Smith had some involvement in sealings to multiple people, both men and women. Outside of Emma Smith, no children resulted from Joseph s numerous Sealings. What we do know is that he was mortal, made errors, and was capable of falling (see D&C 2:2-3; 3:3-11; 5:21, 31, 35; 7:2; 20:5; 24:2; 29:3). Hales statement above about the angel and sword is refuted by David Whitmer, who believed Joseph desired polygamy, an idol in his heart, and received the angel as a false spirit, one forcing him into the practice (an angel that desired to took away his agency). Our history is simply too corrupted to find truth without God s guidance. It is clear, however, that Brigham Young and many of the Twelve practiced spiritual wifery at Nauvoo. After the murder of the Smith brothers there was an explosion of Polygamy. In just the six months following Joseph and Hyrum s deaths in 1844, Brigham Young went from 4 wives to 14. Heber C Kimball went from 1 wife to 10. There were 56 new plural marriages in 1845 by church members, then 255 in 1846 (Nauvoo Roots of Mormon Polygamy, : A Preliminary Demographic Report, p 32). Brigham had an estimated children by 16 different women, as far as historical records can provide. Brigham Young took his first plural wife in 1842, when he was 41 years old. She was 20. At age 42 (1843) he married 3 more women, including a 19-year-old and 15-year-old. At age 43 (1844, the year Joseph and Hyrum were killed) he added 15 more wives, 3 of whom were teenagers. At age 44 (1845), he added 21 more wives, 2 of them teenagers. He married 20 more women during a single one-month period in 1846, 5 of them in a single day (Feb. 3), their ages being 55, 42, 41, 36, and 18. When he was 45, he married only 1 additional wife. She was 16. In his 60 s, Brigham Young married 5 more wives, 3 of whom were in their early 20 s. All told, Brigham Young had 55 wives, 9 of whom were teenagers on their wedding day, and 20 of whom were in their 20 s. He divorced 10 of these wives. It should be noted that not all of Brigham s marriages were conjugal. Brigham Young was most like king Noah of the Book of Mormon and other kings in the Bible. D&C 132 was placed in our current canon of scripture by Brigham Young (1878). He did so some 34 years after Joseph Smith was murdered. Many believe Pres. Young changed portions of it or created it. We know that at the same time he put this revelation in our scriptures, that he simultaneously pulled Section 101 from it, a Section that (at the time) was antipolygamy. Polygamy exploded during Pres. Young s leadership, becoming a requirement for exaltation. Many of Pres. Young s teachings have been dis-avowed by later leaders, including changes he made early on to the temple endowment. Brigham Young s rise to power has many surprises when looked into carefully (see the resources at the end of this paper). He and others made changes to some documents to make it appear as though Joseph Smith was fully on board with their version of polygamy (see endnote 18). God s word (excepting D&C 132) reveals that He did not sanction, approve of, or encourage polygamy, anywhere. Abram was not a polygamist (additional wives). He had a concubine in Hagar and was encouraged by Sarai to have a child with her as she was barren and impatient. Nowhere do we read that God approved or sanctioned it nor polygamy (excluding D&C 132). The couple later had Isaac miraculously, when they finally came fully to God, receiving new names (an indication that they were reborn in God. Then there were able to procreate. Jacob was fooled by His stepfather into taking Leah as a wife. Out of charity for her, Jacob maintained this marriage relationship, while later taking his real love Rachel to wife. After Jacob became fully committed to God, receiving his new name Israel, God then took Rachel home (the 2 nd wife). David put away his 10 concubines when he too became fully committed to God. There is one law in scripture tied to polygamy, the Levirate law. When a widow and her children were left out in the cold due to the death of her husband, the Levirate law allowed the brother of the dead husband to take her as an additional wife. This was not for added sex, but to care for her and her children within the former husband s family line. It was an act of love and charity. Most of the polygamy in Nauvoo, and much of it thereafter, was about men and sex, not charity in caring for widows and their children. God s word clearly and consistently speaks against the practice. See also Just One Wife, by the author. The Danites This was an early secret organization of men established in 1838 among the Saints to get justice and even revenge on the enemies of the Saints in Missouri and elsewhere. Danite-like coercion was later used to intimidate non- 49

50 conforming Mormons into obedience. Hosea Stout was one of these. He was the Chief of Police at Nauvoo and reported directly to Brigham Young, President of the Twelve. He and other leaders had convinced many that Joseph Smith was a fallen prophet. Brigham had come to save the day. He practiced a secret priesthood tied to the spiritual wifery of the Cochranites. It was all part of the secret chamber who administered the secret blood oaths of Masonry to its members. In addition to the term Danite, other names for these enforcers included the Daughters of Zion and Destroying Angels. Though Joseph Smith approved of the actions of this group early on, the later tactics of this secret group of enforcers with violence and coercion, was later condemned by Him. Joseph then called it a secret combination. Thomas Marsh, former Pres. of the Twelve, and David Whitmer, head of the church in Missouri, both left the church, citing discomfort with church finances and the Danites as reasons for leaving the faith. Marsh noted that some men swore oaths, to support the heads of the church in all things that they say or do, whether right or wrong. After Joseph Smith was murdered in 1844, Brigham Young made Stout head of the Whistling and Whittling Brigade, a group of young boys who intimidated strangers by following them around Nauvoo, whistling until they left. Coercion, control, intimidation, violence, including murder resulted from this secret, controlling group. It may have been the first secret combination in the church, as spoken of in the Book of Mormon. The second was the secret chamber in Nauvoo, directed by Brigham Young. God prophesied that it would occur ten years earlier in D&C 38:11-13, 28. Today Masonry fills this role in its highest councils. Such is condemned by the Lord in 3 rd Nephi 16:10 in connection with the Saints rejecting God s fulness. Note the words God chooses to describe the Gentiles in this verse. There is, pride, lyings, deceits, mischiefs, hypocrisy, murders, priestcrafts, whoredoms, and secret combinations. Sadly, Utah has the highest rate of pornography in the United States today. Some believe this curse has come upon us because our ancestors practiced polygamy. As we know, iniquities is a term tied to the sins of the fathers being passed down to the children. Such curses are said to last through the 3 rd and 4 th generations. 5 House of the Lord versus a Temple A breakdown of the use of the word house of the Lord versus temple in scripture is very instructive. Note His words in JST Matthew 21. In verses of this chapter, Jesus casts out the moneychangers from the temple, and then heals the blind and lame there, both of which made the wicked leaders angry. In verse 13, Christ stated that my house is to be a house of prayer, not a den of thieves! The Lord s own words in modern revelation in the Doctrine and Covenants, relative to building the Kirtland and Nauvoo structures, reveals that He consistently called them the house of the Lord, not a temple (see 2 Chron., chapters 2 6). The same is true in most all verses in the Old Testament with regard to the house of the Lord that Solomon built. The New Testament is different. It has many references to a temple, mostly in connection with Herod s corrupted temple in the meridian of time. The Book of Mormon features a mix of meanings (below) tied to the word temple. 8 uses of the word temple are tied to God s Spirit not dwelling in unholy temples, both us and architectural temples (Mos. 2:37; Alma 7:21, 16:13 23:2, 34:36; Hel. 4:24, 10:18). 5 are tied to the structure built by Nephi and used by Jacob (2 Ne. 5:16; Jacob 1:17, 2:2, 11; Mos. 1:18). 2 are Old Testament scriptures (Isaiah 6 [2 Ne. 16:1 train in temple ] and Malachi 3 [3 Ne. 24:1, judgment coming suddenly to his temple coming]). Is this referring to people or an architectural building? 1 is tied to the temple at Bountiful where Christ made His appearance in 3 rd Nephi (3 Ne. 11:1). It is unclear whether this was a house of the Lord or a temple. My conclusion, taking the Lord s own words and those of Joseph Smith and Solomon in their dedication prayers for the house of the Lord is that God prefers to use the words house of the Lord for His sacred space on earth, and temple for man s places of worship. Many of these temples are idolatrous, some built for false gods. Joseph Smith s Language Some claim that references to the word temple used by Joseph Smith in connection with the Kirtland structure, may have been changed by modern editors later on to reflect current LDS thinking in connection with LDS temples. Many in the Community of Christ believe influences at Nauvoo from Freemasonry and polygamy led to corruptions in the Mormon faith, the temple being one of them. The Masonic Temple at Nauvoo remains standing today, while the structure built to be a house of the Lord at Nauvoo was destroyed by lightning and later fire. In 1954 the Masonic Temple in Nauvoo was purchased by Pres. David O. McKay. Some believe the motive behind this purchase was obtaining the revealing Masonic Lodge minutes, put in the southeast cornerstone of that building. Nauvoo eventually had 5 Masonic lodges, with nearly 1,500 total male members of Freemasonry, most all of which were Latter-day Saints, including nearly all church leaders. The minutes of the first Nauvoo Masonic lodge are now in LDS church historical archives, unavailable to researchers. Some 50 years later (in the year 2000) the LDS church began building up Nauvoo for historical preservation and tourism, further advancing the narrative that the Nauvoo Saints were driven out of the city for their beliefs, rather than spiritual wifery. 50

51 Consistent with the difference between a house of the Lord and a more idolatrous temple, most in the Community of Christ today see LDS temples as overly influenced by Brigham Young and his Masonry and spiritual wifery, including the temple endowment rites, that feature many phrases that are (or were) exactly the same as those in Masonic rituals (many things have changed or been removed since the early days). Swift Judgment Coming Suddenly to His Temple The Lord said He will come quickly in judgment (see Isa. 19:1). This is thought to be upon us, as people more so than an architectural structure (see D&C 112:23-26). Note that the following scriptures are tied to a temple in this regard: The elements are the tabernacle of God; yea, man is the tabernacle of God, even temples; and whatsoever temple is defiled, God shall destroy that temple (D&C 93:35). Hearken, O ye people of my church, saith the Lord your God, and hear the word of the Lord concerning you. The Lord who shall suddenly come to his temple: the Lord who shall come down upon the world with a curse to judgment; yea, upon all the nations that forget God, and upon all the ungodly among you. For he shall make bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of their God. Wherefore, prepare ye, prepare ye, O my people: sanctify yourselves; gather ye together, O ye people of my church, upon the land of Zion Go ye out from Babylon. Be ye clean (D&C 133:1-5). Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts. But who may abide the day of his coming? [those with clean hands and a pure heart, Psalm 24:3-4] And who shall stand when he appeareth? He is like a refiner s fire, and the like fuller s soap. But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord, as in the days of old, and as in former years. And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the Lord of hosts. For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts (Malachi 3:1-7). Other coming quickly in judgment scriptures include, Isa. 19:1; Rev. 22:20; D&C 33:17-18, 35:27. 6 Infiltration Studying real church history, with all its warts and pimples, reveals the imperfections of men. Thank goodness for a loving, patient God. Has infiltration by followers of the dark side occurred in the LDS church? Why would Satan not focus on the church? Elder Glen L. Pace (once of the Presiding Bishopric) has been mostly silenced after sharing findings tied to S.R.A among the Saints, including leaders. In 1990, Elder Pace, then a counselor in the Presiding Bishopric, sent a memo to the Strengthening Church Members Committee on the subject of Ritualistic Child Abuse or S.R.A. among the Saints. Today, what is now called The Pace Memorandom ( is thought to be a primary reason for the removal of the blood oaths in the LDS temple endowment in April of Many believe the information that Pace was receiving in his interviews during influenced this decision. On page 4 of his memo, for example, Bishop Pace noted that many of those who had allegedly participated in satanic rites claimed that they had their first flashback while attending the temple for the first time (prior to 1990 and their removal). According to Pace, when they took the oaths and heard the exact words in the temple ceremony that they had previously heard in the satanic ritual, horrible memories were triggered (see There are two ways to look at this. Satan may have copied and perverted the blood oaths that were once a part of LDS temple ceremony, and ancient sacrifices in the Bible (see Gen. 15), or they were from Satan in the first place, given to the Saints through Masonry that was adopted by the Saints in Nauvoo (see Mor. 10:30). I prefer the first, as we know Satan has stolen and perverted various important symbols tied to Christ and His mission, including the rainbow, the pentagram, the swastika, the numbers 13 and 911, and more, so why not covenants in the temple? See Pace Memorandom, 7 Future Restoration: Zion is Eventually Redeemed by Power The early Saints were unable to live the higher ways that would bring Zion and God Himself. Instead, the Prophet Joseph was able to lay an important foundation (D&C 1:30) for a future reformation and restoration of the fulness that will occur in the Lord s timing. God said that the Saints would first have to endure chastisement for a little season (100:13 & 103:4, see also D&C 1:27, 87:6, 90:36, 95:1, 97:6, 98:21, 101:5, 105:6, 121:43, 136:31). This is thought to be some four generations. During that time God s oracles (D&C 90:5) are to provide direction and learning for the people. These oracles are found in the Book of Mormon, the JST version of the Bible, and the revelations of the D&C, and Joseph s words (he was an oracle when he spoke under inspiration of the Spirit). When the little season of the Saints chastisement ends, the marvelous work and a wonder the strange act - spoken of in scripture will occur. Moroni stated that when the Gentiles finally repent and embrace the 51

52 fulness (of God s word, law, gospel, priesthood, and His presence), additional ancient records will also come forth to spread greater light. In Ether 4, Moroni stated, Behold, I have written upon these plates the very things which the brother of Jared saw Wherefore the Lord hath commanded me to write them And he commanded me that I should seal them up; and the interpretation thereof For the Lord said unto me: They shall not go forth unto the Gentiles until the day that they shall repent of their iniquity, and become clean before the Lord. And in that day that they shall exercise faith in me, saith the Lord, even as the brother of Jared did, that they may become sanctified in me, then will I manifest unto them the things which the brother of Jared saw, even to the unfolding unto them all my revelations, saith Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of the heavens and of the earth, and all things that in them are (Ether 4:4-7). 8 Disappearing Gifts of the Spirit As Latter-day Saints we are blessed with many things, but sadly, the gifts of the Spirit are waning because of our collective unbelief, idolatry, and a changing moral code. For these important gifts to return, we must do as Moroni said and first come unto Christ (Mor. 10:30), as He is the giver of all the gifts of importance. Many Pentecostals today are enjoying the gifts of the Spirit, as they actively seek the Lord and the charismatic gifts of the Spirit that follow. The chart below reveals numbers among us reflecting trends tied to idolatry and unbelief. Moroni addresses this in Mormon chapters 8 and 9 and elsewhere. In 1989, during Pres. Benson s administration, concentration on the Book of Mormon was strong. He also preached our need for repentance as a people, that we might strip ourselves of pride. The opposite of pride is meekness. We must instead have a broken heart and a contrite spirit, the two necessary things for the baptism of fire to occur (3 Ne. 9:20). The gifts of the Spirit are signs following real belief in Christ signs following those who have had the baptism of fire. They actually receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, not just the outward ordinance that invites us to receive it. Growth and Faith The chart above reveals concerning growth numbers for the Church, the worst in our history (1.6% in 2016 and now 1.4% reported in 2017 in spring of 2018). Membership statistics were not given in 2017, perhaps because of continuing decline. Note that though we had more missionaries than ever in 2014 (85,000), convert baptisms per missionary were down from a high point in 1989 of 8 converts per missionary, to just 3.5 in 2013 and 14. The highpoint year 1989 was the time of Pres. Benson, when he helped us focus upon the Book of Mormon, in connection with His call to eliminate pride in our lives and repent. What is the problem today? One is our decreasing faith and trust in Christ, a result of dwelling too much on the arm of flesh (leaders) and the church itself and its programs (see Psalm 118:8; 2 Ne. 4:34), rather than Christ as our Savior. There is also little teaching about things like the gifts of the Spirit. Moral decline and an increase in the control of secret combinations is also rampant. The only hope is to take seriously our Lord s invitation to repent and come unto me. The decline of belief among Latter-day Saints is reflected in the growth of CenterPoint church in Orem. According to its Pastor, some 65-70% of those who regularly attend are Latter-day Saints or former Latter-day Saints. The decline in Mormonism and in traditional Christian churches generally, is offset by that of Pentecostals. They have the strongest growth among Christians generally. There are more than 600 million charismatic Pentecostal believers worldwide, the second-largest group of Christians after Catholics. Like David of old, many of them really know how to worship Christ. Those who enjoy various gifts of the Spirit among them, seek Christ and His charismatic gifts, including the gift of tongues. Note also the Pew Research Center report and its numbers. According to one source, Pentecostals and charismatic churches are by no means a small, fringe movement; on the contrary, they form the fastest-growing religious movement in 52

53 the world. The gift of tongues is not reserved for a select few. Paul made it clear in 1 Cor. 14:5 that he wanted every believer to pray in tongues (for personal edification) and prophesy (to edify the church). Paul stated, I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. See For more on this topic, see the paper, The Gifts and Fruits of the Spirit, by the author, The percentage of traditional Christians in America has also declined over the last 7 years, Christianity in Russia has doubled in the last 17 years, going from 31% of the total population to 72% today. Vladamir Putin has spoken out openly against the declining moral values of the pagan west. In 2013 the Russian parliament voted 436 to 0 in favor of an anti-gay bill. In addition, Patriarch Kirill (of the Russian Orthodox Church) stated that recent Western legislation of single-sex marriages is bringing the apocalypse closer. Will Russia, with their moral superiority be like the Lamanites in the book of Jacob, who loved their families and conquered the declining Nephites (they had more than one wife at this time). Sadly, according to a recent Pew research report, Latter-day Saints have changed their stance more than any Christian group in American relative to gay rights over the last seven years (2008 to 2015). Support for gay marriage has doubled among the Saints during that same time. See NBC World News story at: homosexual-propaganda-law-signals-latest-russian-crackdown?lite The State of Christianity in America & the World The fulness [wickedness] of the Gentiles has come in. According to the 2015 Pew Research Center report, the United States remains home to more Christians than any other country in the world, and a large majority of Americans roughly seven-in-ten continue to identify with some branch of the Christian faith (70% of the U.S. population). But the numbers are falling... the percentage of adults (ages 18 and older) who describe themselves as Christians has dropped by nearly eight percentage points in just seven years, from 78.4% in an equally massive Pew Research survey in 2007 to 70.6% in Over the same period, the percentage of Americans who are religiously unaffiliated describing themselves as atheist, agnostic or nothing in particular has jumped more than six points, from 16.1% to 22.8%. (See ) Flat-Line Once a fast growing church, Mormonism s growth has essentially flat-lined, with only 1.6 % growth in 2015, perhaps lower in 2016 (the numbers were not shared in the Fall 2017 General Conference). Though there continue to be many convert baptisms, many are also leaving the faith; (1) The 1.6% growth in 2015 was the lowest growth in the last 40 years. This number was 1.7 in 2007, revealing a flat-line for some time; (2) 257,402 convert baptisms were down 13.28% from 2014, the lowest since 2005; (3) There were 74,079 missionaries serving in 2015, down 11,000 since 2014 (85,000); (4) There were 3.47 convert baptisms per missionary in 2015, down from 8 converts per missionary in 1989 (the time of Pres. Benson and the push to read and value the Book of Mormon, and his speaking out against pride); And (5) There were 232,993 members lost (death, names removed from records, etc.) in 2014 & 15 / 230,959 member of record baptisms in (neg. 2, ,402 converts = Net Gain 255,368 members, 1.7% growth). Real Growth The real news is that Pentecostal or charismatic Christian churches are seeing rapid, phenomenal growth (Assemblies of God & independent churches). In the same period of 1970 to 2014, we an increase from 63 million Pentecostals worldwide in 1970 to 631 million Pentecostals in 2014, or nearly 1/4 of all Christians. It is expected that this number will reach 800 million by Classic Note however, that Pentecostalism only accounts for 4% of North American Christians and only 2% in Europe. Why the increase? According to Allan Anderson, Pentecostalism emphasizes personal experience of the Spirit, recognition of the human need for divine involvement in the everyday world, and a refusal to separate spiritual/physical or sacred/secular. There is also Pentecostalism s ability to tap into ancient religious beliefs about the reality and power of the supernatural, its tendency to subvert convention by empowering lay leaders, its willingness to translate Christianity into the language/idioms/customs of various cultures, and its history of engaging issues of gender, race and class. (See ) Mormon Support for Gay Marriage Doubles from This same Pew research report reveals that Latterday Saints have been the fastest changing religious group relative to gay rights. In the 7-year period between 2007 and 2014, the percentage of Mormons believing that society should accept gay marriage doubled. Only 7 years separate Proposition 8 (2008), where California Saints were encouraged by the LDS Church to spend time and money lobbying against homosexual marriage as an immoral threat to families, to Elder Christofferson s March 2015 statement that supporting homosexual marriage was merely an issue, not a doctrine, and that the church would not discipline those who advocated for it. He stated, We have individual members in the church with a variety of different opinions, beliefs and positions on these issues...in our view, it doesn t really become a problem unless someone is out attacking the church and its leaders...trying to pull people, if you will, out of the church or away from its teachings and doctrines. In a KUTV interview, Elder Christofferson acknowledged that Mormon leaders have evolved in their thinking about homosexuality. This is not a doctrinal evolution or change, as far as the church is concerned. It s how things are approached (see marriage_n_ html). 53

54 The expected and exercised charismatic gifts of the Spirit during the early church have been replaced by an assumption that charismatic gifts are given to those with office and position (leaders), rather than anyone with faith in the Lord Jesus. To question a leader today is to reveal a lack of faith in them. Christ as the High Tower Rejected In Moroni s final testimony in the Book of Mormon, he once again invites us to come unto Christ (Mor. 10:30). This statement is followed by and lay hold upon every good gift. Receiving the gifts of the Spirit is dependent upon seeking out our Lord first, and placing Him at the center of our lives. In D&C 101 the high tower at the center of our Lord s last-days vineyard is mentioned 9 times (a number tied to judgment in number symbolism). There we read that the stewards placed over the vineyard became very slothful, and they hearkened not unto the commandments of their lord (D&C 101:50). Seven scriptures reveal that He is the High Tower; Psalm 18:2, 61:3, 144:2; 2 Sam. 22:3, 51; Prov. 18:10, and D&C 97:20. We read in D&C 97:20, He hath sworn by the power of his might to be her salvation and her [Zion s] high tower. Psalm 18:2 states, The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. Without Christ at the center of our worship, the Lord s vineyard is laid waste. This is the message of Isaiah 5, where the Lord then removes the protective hedge surrounding it. The enemy then enters in. This is our fate, as expressed in five sets of scripture tied to the Lord s last-days vineyard. They are: D&C 101 In verses 44-65, the high tower (Christ) is rejected and not built up in our day (for high tower scriptures, see Psalm 18:2, 61:3, 144:2; 2 Sam. 22:3, 51; Prov. 18:10, and D&C 97:20). Our Lord s rest or the fulness of His glory (D&C 84:24) is the fuller gift that is rejected by too many in our day in 3 Nephi 16:10. It is the fruit meet for the Father s kingdom in D&C 84:58. This vineyard is made up of Olive trees. The Jacob 5 Allegory In verses 52-75, the unfruitful Olive trees are burned. Isaiah 5 In verse 5, the hedge protecting the vineyard is removed, the vineyard then laid waste. Jeremiah 12 In verse 10, we read that the pastors are responsible for destroying the Lord s vineyard. JST Matthew 21 In verses 26-56, the Gentile husbandmen of the vineyard are destroyed and replaced with those who will bring fruit upon the trees ( fruit meet for the Father s [Celestial kingdom] includes the gifts of the Spirit, attained in the baptism of Fire experience, where we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost and more). Christianity in Russia In the last 17 years, Christianity in Russia as doubled, going from 31% of the population to 72% of the population. In America, organized religion is failing. China s population of Christians is also rapidly growing, whereas that in America is diminishing. With the legalization of sexual depravity officially, by societal acceptance, and overturning the Lord s form of legal and lawful marriage, it appears that God, as a matter of covenant and Eternal Law, must withdraw from us and leave us powerless to defend ourselves. The hedge of protection that once protected the Lord s vineyard will no longer stand (see Isa 5:5; D&C 101:51). Jerusalem's walls were breached by the King of Babylon and his army on Tammuz 8 (our June 26th in 2015). One month later Solomon's Temple was destroyed. Addressing our day, Isaiah stated that our walls will also be breached (Isaiah 5:5, 13; 2 Nephi 15:5) and the vineyard destroyed (by burning, see Jacob 5:77). The 911 disaster in 2001 and the Supreme Court decision of June 26, 2015 redefining marriage represent two important walls that have come down, revealing our removed protection from God. Sodom and Gomorrah was destroyed by heaven-sent fire for their immorality (Genesis 19). The same is promised for modern Babylon in Revelation, Jeremiah, and Isaiah. Modern Assyria, to our north, or Russia today (Isaiah 10:5) may receive power from God to invade our land and cleanse it. This is the prophecy of Isaiah 5, 19, and 28 (see also Joel 2). They are the nation from the "north" spoken of throughout Jeremiah that will destroy the wicked. Ancient Assyria and Babylon both invaded ancient Israel from this northern direction. Isaiah calls this powerful army "the rod of my anger", the "staff", "my wrath in their land" (Isaiah 10:5-7; 13:9; 63:6). Russia stands on higher moral ground in reference to marriage, as her leaders and people have not embraced the same moral wickedness as our leaders and half our population. They have in fact enacted national laws to protect the sanctity of marriage. According to the Associated Press, the Russians rejected the new morality of the west, their lower house in the Russian Parliament voting 436 to 0 in favor of an anti-gay bill on June 11 of This bill was signed into law by Vladamir Putin, their powerful leader (he was baptized a Christian at 1.5 years old and wears a cross given him by his mother). In addition, Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, stated that recent Western legislation of single-sex marriages is bringing the apocalypse closer (NBC World News story at: Contrast this with former Pres. Obama who openly supported gay rights and third trimester abortion standards. Larry Sinclair claims he had a sexual encounter with a young Barak Obama just before he became an Illinois Senator (listen to the 2nd and 3rd hours of the 3-hour radio broadcast at: The Russians may thus have a legal claim to moral superiority in their destruction of our country, as we have become a modern-day Babylon with worldwide influence. We are the largest supplier of the world s pornography, 54

55 for example. It is on the ashes of sinful and wicked nations like our own, that Zion will finally be built, a phoenix rising from the ashes (see the returning capstone [left] and eagle [right] on the back of our one dollar bill). But before such a restoration can occur, with a new millennial, just government in place, righteous servants will help clean things up prior to our Lord s return (Ezekiel 34:23-24; 37:22-27; Hosea 3:45; Jeremiah 23:1-5; 30:9; Isaiah 42:19-20; 2 Samuel 7:12-16, 25-26, 29). A lead Servant will apparently be directed by the King of kings, Jesus Christ. This Servant prepares the way before Christ (see D&C 77:9 & 14). There is cleansing and judgment first. And now there began to be a great curse upon all the land because of the iniquity of the people And thus we see that the Lord did visit them in the fullness of his wrath, and their wickedness and abominations had prepared a way for their everlasting destruction (Ether 14:1, 25). In the first few verses of the Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord states, And the arm of the Lord shall be revealed; and the day cometh that they [the Saints] who will not hear the voice of the Lord, neither the voice of his servants shall be cut off from among the people; For they have strayed from mine ordinances, and have broken mine everlasting covenant (symbolized by the token of the rainbow, JST Genesis 9). They seek not the Lord to establish his righteousness, but every man walketh in his own way, and after the image of his own god, whose image is in the likeness of the world, and whose substance is that of an idol, which waxeth old and shall perish in Babylon, even Babylon the great, which shall fall (D&C 1:14-16, see also D&C 19:1-5). Nephi stated, But behold, when the time cometh that they [the gentiles, including many modern Saints] shall dwindle in unbelief, after they have received so great blessings from the hand of the Lord knowing the great and marvelous works of the Lord from the creation of the world; having power given them to do all things by faith having been brought by his infinite goodness into the precious land of promise behold, I say, if the day shall come that they will reject the Holy One of Israel, the true Messiah, their Redeemer and their God, behold, the judgments of him that is just shall rest upon them. Yea, he will bring other nations unto them, and he will give unto them power, and he will take away from them the lands of their possessions, and he will cause them to be scattered and smitten (2 Nephi 1:10-11; Isaiah 19 & 28). The events of ancient Israel will occur again. They are types for us. Why else would God command us to diligently search them in Isaiah (see 3 Nephi 23:1-3)? Our enemies will be given power to overthrow the increasing wickedness here, for cleansing purposes. 9 Julia Brown & the Communist Party Two great powers are vying for power in this world, the Illuminati and the Communists. Both encourage division, and collapse, followed by takeover. The great division in our land, strengthened during the Obama presidency and now amplified in the media during the start of the Trump presidency, has a long history on this land. What we see today, centered on racial and political division, is the same old ploy instituted by the Communist Party years ago. Julia Brown, a black female infiltrator for the FBI, was in the Communist party for nine years in the 1970 s. Her words, though shared nearly 50 years ago, fit well into today s divided climate, a climate built to spread revolution on this free land and bring about insurrection and civil war. Invasion and take over can then occur. The great Bible prophet Isaiah may have been addressing this situation on our land, when he prophesied: And I will set the Egyptians against the Egyptians: and they shall fight every one against his brother, and every one against his neighbour; city against city, and kingdom against kingdom And the Egyptians will I give over into the hand of a cruel lord; and a fierce king shall rule over them, saith the Lord, the LORD of hosts Neither shall there be any work for Egypt, which the head or tail, branch or rush, may do And the LORD shall smite Egypt: he shall smite and heal it: and they shall return even to the LORD, and he shall be intreated of them, and shall heal them (Isa.19:2,4, 15, 22). Isaiah scholars like Avraham Gileadi equate the Egypt of old with modern-day America. Today, America is a global military giant, as Egypt once was, a giant that is being weakened by division and corruption. Some believe we are headed for economic collapse, civil war, and then famine and invasion by foreign powers, led by a cruel Lord and fierce king. Thankfully, Isaiah states that there will eventually be healing on the land. Until that time, the division and related troubles may increase. The Inside Scoop FBI infiltrator Julia Brown found that the purpose of the communist party in her day (early 1970 s) was to bring violent revolution and change to America. Her communist controllers asked her to incite others to riot. She said, It was to be a communist revolution, but the average American citizen was not to be allowed to realize this, until it had already happened. The Americans are to believe that the chaos and violence has something to do with civil rights. Our enemies were quick to find our weakest point for their attack. They knew that racial differences could provide them an excellent way to divide our people. Their strategy was and is to keep hammering on that wedge, to drive it deeper into our social structure, to open wounds that have long been healed, and to open new ones wherever they can. Brown continued, Now this doesn t mean that there isn t a legitimate need for advancement of civil rights for many of our Negro citizens. Of course there is a need there, otherwise, communist agitators, posing as civil rights leaders, could never hope to enlist massive support for their schemes. The aspirations of Negros for full equality were not created by communists, but they are used by communists in such a way that idealistic Americans of all races can be tricked into implementing the communist blueprint for revolution. Having been on the inside of the communist party, its easy for me to recognize this revolutionary agitation in disguise, but the average American mind finds that its hard to believe that something as worthy and noble as the civil rights movement could possibly be a communist maneuver. 55

56 Lenin said, Communism must be built with non-communist hands. Stalin said, The revolutionary accepts reform in order to use it as a cover for his illegal work. By concealing the true Communist objectives behind appealing slogans and pretended humanitarian goals, the conspirators are able to dupe hundreds of uninformed opportunists and misguided idealists into supplying the non-communist hands in the needed overthrow of this republic. Lenin added, We can and must write in a language which sows among the masses hate, revolution, and scorn toward those who disagree with us. Members and organizations must continually embarrass and degrade our critics. When obstructionists become too irritating, label them as fascist, or Nazi, or anti-semitic. Constantly associate those who oppose us with those whose names have a bad smell (racist, uncle tom, extremist, hate group, etc.). The association will, after enough repetition, become fact in the public mind. By duping the American public into turning a deaf ear to the voices of warning, because the topics were controversial, or because the patriots themselves had been ridiculed as extremists, racist, strike peddlers, the conspirators were ready to move one step closer to their hidden goals by precipitating mob violence. Lenin concluded, Riots, demonstrations, street battles, detachments of a revolutionary army. Such are the stages in the development of a popular uprising. The communist party will educate and organize the working masses for mass strikes and mass demonstrations. It is through struggles that the working masses are prepared for the final conflict for power. As these strikes grow in number and intensity, they acquire political character through unavoidable collision and open combat with the capitalistic state. Mass action culminates in insurrection in civil war. Summary Pres. Benson was aware of Julia Brown in his day. Some say she addressed infiltration into many organizations in her day, including the LDS church. What we can see today is that the tactics used by foreign enemies to create division on this land have remained the same for decades, no matter what their philosophy is. Today, many leftleaning Americans are accomplishing these goals for our enemies, without even knowing it. The results are the same. 10 Quote by Elder Verlan Andersen, obtained from and I am grateful to The Watcher for his expertise in uncovering many historical truths, including these by Elder Andersen, a former BYU Professor and member of the First Quorum of the Seventy, of the LDS Church. 11 Spiritual Wifery in Nauvoo In this new book, The Exoneration of Emma, Joseph, and Hyrum, by Ronald Meldon Kerran, we read about the roots of the whoredom we today call polygamy or plural marriage. It appears to have begun earlier, around 1834 when Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball (friends before joining the church) experimented with the spiritual wifery of the Cochranites. It was an early religious movement in Saco Maine, tied to the washing of feet and free sex thereafter. Oaths of secrecy were tied to it. Kerran believes it become fully entrenched at Nauvoo as part of a new secret priesthood and the spiritual wives doctrine, all carried out behind the backs of Joseph and Hyrum Smith, presidents of the church. Two Church conferences were held in Saco Maine between 1834 and 1836, with nine early apostles attending them. Most of the apostles also served together on missions in England (the home of Freemasonry). Four of these nine Apostles later became church Presidents (Young, Taylor, Woodruff & Snow, all were also Master Masons). Lorenzo Snow stated, before I left England I was perfectly satisfied in regard to something connected with plural marriage (Lorenzo Snow, Deseret Semi-Weekly News, June 6, 1899). See also endnote Born Again in Christ Our Savior requires a specific sacrifice to receive the priceless blessing of the Holy Ghost, a new heart, and to be redeemed or saved. It is a broken heart and a contrite spirit - our willingness to fully submit to His will and teachings (3 Ne. 9:20). Note the excellent summary scriptures tied to this important event (step #4 of 5 in the way of salvation, p. 28). They are followed by a chart detailing the signs God may provide in connection with this event. Christ Taught Speaking to Nicodemus, a learned Rabbi who came to him at night, our Lord said, except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God Except a man be born of water, and of the Spirit [fire], he cannot enter into the kingdom of God (John 3:3-6). Nicodemus came in the dark and left that way Joseph Smith Taught The baptism of water, without the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost attending it, is of no use... They are necessarily and inseparably connected. An individual must be born of water and the spirit in order to get into the kingdom of God You might as well baptize a bag of sand as a man, if not done in view of the remission of sins and getting of the Holy Ghost. Baptism by water is but half a baptism, and is good for nothing without the other half that is, the baptism of [fire and] the Holy Ghost (HC, 6:316). Speaking of these two baptisms while addressing John the Baptist in JST Matthew 3:38, Joseph altered it to read, I baptize you with water, upon your repentance, but when Jesus Christ of whom I bear record comes, who has the power and keys, He will administer the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost. See also JS History 1: Nephi Taught know the gate by which ye should enter. For the gate by which ye should enter is [1] repentance and [2] baptism by water; and [3] then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost. And then are ye in this strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life; yea, ye have entered in by the gate; ye have done according to the commandments of the Father and the Son; and ye have received the Holy Ghost, which witnesses of the Father and the Son, 56

57 unto the fulfilling of the promise which he hath made, that if ye entered in by the way ye should receive (2 Ne. 31:17-18). Alma the Younger Taught... I have repented of my sins, and have been redeemed of the Lord; behold I am born of the Spirit. And the Lord said unto me: Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters; And thus they become new creatures; and unless they do this, they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God (Mos. 27:24-26). The first chart on the next page features useful signs from God that may accompany those experiencing the fiery baptism. They are signs following those who believe. The next chart features how we are changed in this event. Signs Follow Believers Hel. 5 2 Ne Alma 5 Alma 18 /19 Alma 36 3 Ne. 17 / 19 Mosiah 5 Faith in Christ 41, , , , 10 (4:5, 20) Repent, Cry for Mercy 29, , Heavens Open /34, / 14 See God / / 15 Spirit Sent Down 45 12, 15, 18 /6 24 /13, 20 3 Quickening / HG given /9,13, Fire Present 44, 45 13, 14 / /14 /13-14 Angels Minister 39, 48 /34, /15 /14 Joyful Praise 44, /14, 30, 33 20, 21, 22, 28 17, 18 3 (see also Alma 5:26-34) Gift of Tongues 45 13, 14 /30, 45 13, 14 / 24 3 Fall Down - Submission 42 /15, 16 7, 11 (4:1) 1 Reborn, Sins Remitted 50, , 19 /51 5, 23 / 33 2, 7, 15 Heart purified, gifted with charity (see Mor. 7:48) Concluding Scriptures Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life. And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end. Amen (2 Ne. 31:20-21). Wherefore feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do. Wherefore, now after I have spoken these words, if ye cannot understand them it will be because ye ask not, neither do ye knock; wherefore, ye are not brought into the light, but must perish in the dark. For behold, again I say unto you that if ye will enter in by the way, and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show unto you all things what ye should do (2 Ne. 32:3-5). 57

58 13 Worldly Interests Gain in scripture can mean many things (1 Ne. 22:23); position, praise of the world, and of course money and material things. Turning towards business interests rather than the welfare of Zion (2 Ne. 16:11) has dire consequences. It was during the administration of President Heber J. Grant that the LDS church was incorporated in 1923 (see He made many changes in the church (see Removing the Lectures on Faith). Note the wording for part of this incorporation. The object of this corporation shall be to acquire, hold and dispose of such real and personal property as may be conveyed to or acquired by said corporation for the benefit of the members...this corporation shall have power, without any authority or authorization from the members of said Church or religious society, to grant, sell, convey, rent, mortgage, exchange, or otherwise dispose of any part or all of such property. Various articles suggest the LDS church takes in about 5-7 billion dollars a year from tithing and its for-profit businesses. In scripture, money is said to be the root of all evil (1 Tim. 6:10). Today the LDS church has many salaried employees, including the General Authorities. The for-profit businesses owned by the LDS Church today include Deseret Management Corporation, Beneficial Financial Group, Bonneville International, Bonneville Communications, Bonneville Interactive Services, Bonneville Satellite, 35 different radio stations, KSL Television Station, Deseret Book, Excel Entertainment, Deseret Morning News, Hawaii Reserves, Polynesian Cultural Center, La'ie Shopping Center, La'ie Water Company, La'ie Treatment Works, Temple Square Hospitality and Temple Square restaurants, Zions Securities Corporation, Ensign Peak Advisors, Farm Management Corporation, Deseret Land and Livestock, Sun Ranch, Deseret Ranches of Florida, Deseret Farms of California, West Hills Orchards, Cactus Lane Ranch, Deseret Trust Company, LDS Family Services, Property Reserves Inc., and Deseret Mutual Benefit Administrators (DMBA). With these and tithing, the church pulls in 5-7 billion dollars per year. The elite has surely taken notice. Though Bishops and Stake Presidents are not paid for their service, LDS church General Authorities are. To be fair, D&C 42:71-73 does provide some instruction on caring for full-time church leaders financially. Common sense must prevail, however. Today, General Authorities receive a yearly salary with benefits, including cars, living expenses in some cases, and paid travel, etc. Estimated salaries for General Authorities are thought to be $70-100,000 for the members of the Seventy, $200,000 + for the Twelve, and $400,000 + for the First Presidency. We are no longer informed of exact figures. Pres. Hinckley referred to these salaries as a living allowance. He stated, I should like to add, parenthetically for your information, that the living allowances given the General Authorities, which are very modest in comparison with executive compensation in industry and the professions, come from this business income [see for profit businesses list, p. 6] and not from the tithing of the people (Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley, Second Counselor in the First Pres., Questions and Answers, October 1985 General Conference, Alma said that when Priestcraft is enforced, it leads to destruction (Alma 1:12). Some desire to get gain and praise of the world; but they seek not the welfare of Zion (2 Ne. 26:11). Leaders like King Benjamin, King Mosiah, and Alma the elder and the younger, both High Priests over the church in the Book of Mormon (the foundational document of our faith), taught against receiving payment for preaching. They supported themselves financially with their own hands, and taught that the Spirit would attend them as they sacrificed for Lord and those they serve without filthy lucre (Titus 1:11). With God s grace, we can wax strong in the Spirit, having the knowledge of God, that they might teach with power and authority from God (Mosiah 18:26; see also Alma 30:32-35). There are many scriptures providing enlightenment on nonpayment for preaching. See 2 Nephi 26:20, 25, 27, 29-31; Jacob 2:13-19; Mosiah 2:14, 18:24-26, 27:5; Alma 1:3, 4:8-12, 30:32-35, 60:36; Hel. 13:28-29; Mormon 8:32-33, 36-41; D&C 38:25-27; 42:29-31; 52:40; 70:14; 83:6; 84:78-86, 103; 105:1-5; Acts 20:34; 1 Cor. 9:18; Jeremiah 7:6, all of chapter 23; Ezekiel 22:25-29; all of chapter 34; Amos 6:1-6; and Micah 3:1-12. Especially insightful is Mosiah 18:26. World Trade Center Utah More Idolatry The globalists have their fingers in all things in this dark, telestial world. The Eagle Gate near Temple Square in downtown Salt Lake City was recently re-named World Trade Center - City Creek. This important gate is tied to Christ, the gate or door to heaven. It has a heavenly symbol of freedom atop it - the eagle - sitting atop a keystone (a symbol for Christ as the Rock and the chief cornerstone rejected by His people [Psalm 118:22]). Inside the keystone is an inverted 5-part star, with its elongated point facing down. Christ is the light of the world, and the star [rising] out of Jacob (Num. 24:17). He descended here to save us all. This early Utah symbolism has now been overshadowed by the globalists. Note the 11 founding members of the World Trade Center Utah. The list below includes Utah s major money and power brokers (see Huntsman Foundation Salt Lake County Vivint LHM Management Corp Wells Fargo Dominion Energy JPMorgan Chase Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce Zions Bank The LDS Church Foundation Rocky Mountain Power The station, age, and workload of both men (priest or king) was not used as an excuse to practice priestcaft. Many do so at the expense of their people, especially the poor (2 Ne. 26:20-22, 25-31). One reason for the decline of Christ s church 58

59 among the Nephites was priestcraft. Too often shepherds feed themselves rather than their flock (Ezek. 34, see also Jacob 2:18-19; Alma 4:8-12; 11:24; 30:32-35; 60:36; 3 Ne. 16:10; Acts 20:34; 1 Cor. 9:18; Micah 3:1-12). God has told us that laborers in Zion are to labor for Zion; for if they labor for money they shall perish (2 Ne. 26:31). The things of God are to be offered freely to all (2 Ne. 26:25, 27). Priestcraft is that men preach and set themselves up for a light unto the world, that they may get gain and praise of the world (2 Ne. 26:29; 22:23). Christ stated, I am the light which ye shall hold up - that which ye have seen me do (3 Ne. 18:24). If we will preach without purse and script, seeking the welfare of Zion first, the Lord will bless us with His Spirit. In 3 rd Nephi, our Lord spoke out against denying revelation in connection with getting gain. Yea, wo unto him that shall deny the revelations of the Lord, and that shall say the Lord no longer worketh by revelation, or by prophecy, or by gifts, or by tongues, or by healings, or by the power of the Holy Ghost! Yea, and wo unto him that shall say at that day, to get gain, that there can be no miracle wrought by Jesus Christ; for he that doeth this shall become like unto the son of perdition, for whom there was no mercy, according to the word of Christ (3 Ne. 29:6-7). Seeing our day, Mormon stated, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing For behold ye do love money, and your substance, and your fine apparel, and the adorning of your churches, more that ye love the poor and the needy, and sick and the afflicted (Mor. 8:35-37). Mormon stated, O ye pollutions, ye hypocrites, ye teachers, who sell yourselves for that which will canker, why have ye polluted the holy church of God? Why are ye ashamed to take upon you the name of Christ? Why do ye not thing that greater is the value of an endless happiness than that misery which never dies because of the praise of the world... Behold, the sword of vengeance hangeth over you... (Mor. 8:38, 41). 14 Joseph s Last Prophetic Dream Who is the mighty and strong one of D&C 85:7? Some believe it is Joseph Smith. The Lord names at least two special last-days servants in scripture; John the Beloved (D&C 77:9&14), and Joseph (2 Ne. 3). The Joseph in 2 Nephi 3 may be three separate Joseph s ; A returning Joseph of Egypt, Joseph Smith, or Joseph the Indian Prophet. Note Joseph Smith s last dream just before His murder, and the state of his barn. He said: I was back in Kirtland, Ohio, and thought I would take a walk out by myself, and view my old farm [stake of Zion], which I found grown up with weeds and brambles, and altogether bearing evidence of neglect and want of culture. I went into the barn [Temple], which I found without floor or doors, with the weather-boarding off, and was altogether in keeping with the farm. While I viewed the desolation around me, and was contemplating how it might be recovered from the curse upon it, there came rushing into the barn a company of furious men, who commenced to pick a quarrel with me. The leader of the party ordered me to leave the barn and farm, stating it was none of mine, and that I must give up all hope of ever possessing it. I told him the farm was given me by the Church, and although I had not had any use of it for some time back, still I had not sold it, and according to righteous principles it belonged to me or the Church. He then grew furious and began to rail upon me, and threaten me, and said it never did belong to me nor to the Church. I then told him that I did not think it worth contending about, that I had no desire to live upon it in its present state, and if he thought he had a better right I would not quarrel with him about it but leave; but my assurance that I would not trouble him at present did not seem to satisfy him, as he seemed determined to quarrel with me, and threatened me with the destruction of my body. While he was thus engaged, pouring out his bitter words upon me, a rabble rushed in and nearly filled the barn, drew out their knives, and began to quarrel among themselves for the premises, and for a moment forgot me, at which time I took the opportunity to walk out of the barn about up to my ankles in mud. When I was a little distance from the barn, I heard them screeching and screaming in a very distressed manner, as it appeared they had engaged in a general fight with their knives. While they were thus engaged, the dream or vision ended (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Section Six p. 393) 15 Secret Combinations Take Power Prior to Destruction Just before the destruction occurred in 3 Nephi 8-10, followed by the Lord s appearance, we read of the power of secret combinations among the once righteous Nephites. In only six years they descended into darkness after a period of light and success in Christ s church. This church began to be broken up because of pride, riches, and learning. Class distinctions became widespread with, have s and have not s. Only a few in it stood firm and steadfast, as they were fully converted unto the true faith (3 Ne. 6:14). Most were the Lamanites. The cause of the breakup was Satan s great power to stir the people up into greater pride. They had sought for power, authority, and riches - the vain things of the world (v. 15, 1 Ne. 22:23). The fully converted Lamanites were tempted less by these worldly things. Those in power used the secrecy of ancient blood oaths to hold power, get more of it, and practice all manner of wickedness (see Moses 5). They turned things upside-down (2 Ne. 27:27). The wicked sought for the six things listed in 1 Nephi 22:23, all for gain (praise of men, money, control, etc.) They thus became part of the great and abominable church. It is the whore of all the Earth, led by Satan. Verse 20 of 3 Nephi 6 tells us that God sent men inspired from heaven to preach and testify boldly of Christ and the sins and iniquities of the people, especially to those leading the people. One of these prophets was the brother of Nephi who was stoned by those then in power, the chief judges, lawyers, and the high priests (v. 21). He was later raised from the dead by Nephi. He is now thought to be one of the three translated disciples (Timothy, along with Nephi and Isaiah). The wicked leaders were angry with the prophets sent to call them to repentance. With their oaths they had the prophets and others 59

60 murdered secretly (v. 23). Those in power also had many friends. This group made up almost all the lawyers and the high priests. They did gather together with the judges and made that covenant which was given of old... administered by the devil (Moses 5:18-57), to combine against all righteousness... against the people of the Lord, and did enter into a covenant to destroy them and deliver the wicked from justice (verses 27-29). The liberty of their land was thus destroyed. The survival of the righteous was then at stake. God intervened via the natural destructions upon the land. We are very close to this same awful situation spoken of by the Book of Mormon prophets where secret combinations rule the land, threatening believing Christians. Our decline is further characterized by continuing moral perversions, evident in increasing abortions, and more gay, lesbian, and transgender laws forced upon us by those leading a corrupt government. Even churches are embracing these things to a lesser or greater degree, including our own. The quick removal of Steven Jones, a BYU professor in Engineering revealed much. He was largely responsible for discovering the 9-11 conspiracy of our Government. He was fired after a mysterious phone call threatened the University if he didn t leave. The 10-step decline found below may have connection with the ten plagues or wo s Moses pronounced upon the Egyptians. In addition to the great evil of our judges, lawyers, and high priests, the general membership of the Saints today remain under the condemnation of D&C 84. There we read that it is because of our vanity and unbelief, our taking lightly the Book of Mormon message - to repent and come unto Christ. It is a rejection of the fulness the Lord s invitation to receive His full gospel and enter His rest the fulness of His glory (see D&C 84:24, 23-62). The ten plagues may return upon us in this land. Our only hope is to turn to Christ and repent. 1. The People Wax Strong in Pride Helaman 11:37 2. The Voice of the People Choose Evil (immorality) Mosiah 29:27 3. The People Corrupt the Laws of Jesus Christ Helaman 5:2 4. The People Cast Out the Righteous Helaman 13: Murder, Fornication & Wickedness are pervasive Helaman 8:26 6. Judges Murder the Inspired Men of Jesus Christ 3 Nephi 6:21,23 7. The Wicked Seek to Establish their King of Lies 3 Nephi 6:30 8. The Wicked Enter A Covenant with the Devil 3 Nephi 6:28 9. Secret Combinations Manage the Government & Churches Helaman 6: The Government is Destroyed 3 Nephi 7:6 In 3 rd Nephi, Christ said that what has been shall be in reference to the prophecies of Isaiah (3 Ne. 23:1-3; Eccl. 1:9-11). The events of Isaiah, Revelation, and Daniel will occur again in our day. The Bible reveals the humbling scourge upon the ancient covenant people for their sins - by the Assyrians, then the Babylonians, and finally the Egyptians. Moroni, holding the keys of the Book of Mormon (D&C 27:5), placed revealing patterns in it for our use today. There we see 3 sets of 10 wo s pronounced upon the ungodly by those with the sealing power in the Book of Mormon (2 Ne. 9 & 28, and Helaman chapters 7-15). The number 10 symbolizes completeness in scripture, or a fulness. We are amidst a fulness of wickedness. Moses pronounced ten plagues upon ancient Egypt using his sealing power (Ex. 7-14). We read in verses of the Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood of a scourge and judgment to be poured out upon the children of Zion if they don t repent (verse 59) This pattern is found in the 10 signs the Lord lists as a curse for rejecting Him (and His fulness ) in the Bible story of Moses and people at the base of Sinai (D&C 84:19-27 & JST Ex. 34:1-2), along with those of the Book of Mormon in 3 Nephi 16:10. They, Isaiah, and other scriptures provide evidence of being fully ripe, with invasion, captivity, and destruction eminent in step #10 hereafter. The first of the ten woe s pronounced upon those to whom the law and the commandments have been given in 2 Nephi 9, may be likened unto us. Wo unto them that (1) transgresseth them [the laws and commandments] and that wasteth the days of his probation, for awful is his state! (verse 27). The next verse addresses man s vainness, frailties and foolishness along with his pride and learning. The remaining nine wos are directed towards; (2) the rich, (3) the deaf, (4) the blind, (5) the uncircumcised of heart, (6) the liar, (7) the murderer (8) they who commit whoredoms, (9) those who worship idols (all things or people substituted for God), and (10) those who don t repent - all those who die in their sins, for they shall stand in Christ s presence at the resurrection and behold his face, and remain in their sins (verse 38). The only hope is found in verse 41. He is Christ, the keeper of the gate, the Holy One of Israel, the only way to salvation! Light Upon the Darkness A similar discussion of secret combinations is addressed in Alma 37:21-33, 3 Ne. 6:10-30, and Mormon 8: The elder Alma saw the corruption all around him, and sought out God through repentance. Of special note is God s promise that in the last-days when secret combinations return, when the wrath of God is poured out upon the mother of harlots, which is the great and abominable church... at that day, the work of the Father shall commence, in preparing the way for the fulfilling of his covenants, which he hath made to his people who are of the house of Israel (1 Ne. 14:17). Nephi then addressed John the Revelator, who wrote of our day. His words are sealed up to come forth in their purity... in the own due time of the Lord, unto the house of Israel (v. 26). The words of John the Baptist will also come to the righteous (D&C 93). Note Alma 37:23. There one with the special name-title Gazelem will use a stone to reveal the secret acts of darkness among us today, those among our brethren who have turned to darkness and secret combinations (see also Ether 1:1-4). They will be revealed unto the Lord s called, chosen, empowered, and sent servants. 60

61 15 Watchmen: Awake or Asleep In scripture we read about watchmen and shepherds that are to serve the Lord. In Ezekiel 34, Jeremiah 23, JST Matthew 21, and D&C 101, we read of unwise stewards that are chastised by the Lord for their silence, sloth, or wickedness. There are plenty of examples of good and bad servants in God s word. Without alert, righteous watchmen, the enemy is let in among the people. In chapter 34 of Ezekiel we read; Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not the flock Therefore will I save my flock, and they shall no more be a prey; and I will Judge between cattle and cattle. And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. And I the Lord will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the Lord have spoken it I have broken the bands of their yoke, and delivered them out of the hand of those that served themselves of them. Scriptures chastising leaders in Isaiah, Jeremiah (chapters 1-23), and other books include: Isaiah 1:5, 3:12, 9:16, 22:15-25, 28:1, 3, 7, 15; 19:14 29:10, 56:10, 62:6; Jeremiah 2:8, 13; 5:11-13, 26-31; 10:21; 13:13; 14:14-15; 23:1-32; Ezek. 34:1-3, 8, 22-24, 27; 37:22-28; Hosea 2:16-17, 3:4-5; JST Luke 12:54; JST Matthew 21:55; 2 Nephi 2 Ne. 26:29; 28:3-4, 2, 11-15, 21, 24-25, 31, and D&C 64:38-43; 85:7-9; 89-95; 101:44-61, 90; 124: :44-61, 90. Pres. Ezra Taft Benson taught that false prophets pacify and lull people into carnal security (2 Nephi 28:21). He stated, As watchmen on the tower of Zion, it is our obligation and right as leaders to speak out against current evils evils that strike at the very foundation of all we hold dear In times as serious as these, we must not permit fear of criticism to keep us from doing our duty, even at the risk of our counsel being tabbed as political, as government becomes more and more entwined in our daily lives Many do not want to be disturbed as they continue to enjoy their comfortable complacency Speaking out against immoral or unjust actions has been the burden of prophets and disciples of God from time immemorial. It was for this very reason that many of them were persecuted. Nevertheless, it was their God-given task, as watchmen on the tower, to warn the people (Ezra Taft Benson, Conference Report, April 1973, Benson was a President of the LDS Church). Scriptures where watchmen are replaced include JST Matthew 21; D&C 85:7-9, 101:44-61, 89-95, 101:90; 124:24-26; Isa. 22: Inspired prophets prophesy, seers see visions, and revelators reveal truths and are never silent, calling the people to repentance. They see what is coming and prophecy for the sake of the flock. They receive revelation - the mind and will of the Lord, or the people. They are watchmen on the tower. In D&C 101, it is never built. 16 The Joseph Smith Inspired Re-Translation of the Bible At present we have a limited selection of Joseph s retranslation of the Bible within our current body of LDS scriptures, as the Community of Christ holds the copyright to them (it was preserved by Emma Smith and did not go west with Brigham Young). Too few Saints are aware of the limited verses we do have, let alone the entire re-translated Bible. The keys to unlock the fuller truths of Christ s gospel are available to the elect who search out God s holy word in what He calls the fulness of my scriptures (see D&C 42:15, 56 and 59 & D&C 93:53; 94:10; 104:58 & 124:89). There is also direct revelation from God and the Holy Ghost. The Prophet Joseph began re-translating the King James Version of the Bible six months after completing the Book of Mormon. Though Joseph, Oliver, and Sidney held unique prophetic insights learned while re-translating the Bible, the Lord did not allow them to share these insights with the Saints at that time. The reason is apparent in the Lord s own words. He said, It is not the will of the Lord to print any of the new Translation in the Star [or elsewhere]; but when it is published, it will all go to the world together, in a volume by itself; and the New Testament and the Book of Mormon will be printed together (HC 1:341). In July of 1833 the Star stated, At no very distant period, we shall print the book of Mormon and the [New] Testament, and bind them in one volume. When this finally occurs with the whole re-translated Bible, it may be a fulfillment of Ezekiel 37:15-17, when the two sticks come together, the fulness of the scriptures given Judah (the JST Bible) and Joseph (the Book of Mormon). This may occur in the near future, when other scripture also comes forth. The Lord told Joseph that he was to teach by the spirit instead, that given by the prayer of faith, until the fulness of the scriptures is given [in totality], when they could be given to all men. God said, It is expedient that thou shouldst hold thy peace concerning them, and not teach them until thou hast received them in full. And l give unto you a commandment, that then ye shall teach them unto all men; for they shall be taught unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people (verses 56-58). Note, that what the Lord calls my scriptures were to be my law to govern my church (v. 59). Of special note is another statement by the Lord. We read in The Far West Report, Brother Joseph Smith, Jr. said that the promise of God was that the greatest blessings which God had to bestow should be given to those who contributed to the support of his family while he was translating the fulness of the Scriptures that God had often sealed up the heavens because of covetousness in the Church and except the Church receive the fulness of the Scriptures that they would yet fail (Far West Report, p. 16, TPJS, p 9). The Lord added that the salvation of the elect was dependent upon the fulness of truths being delivered to the world in a future one-volume publication of both the Book of Mormon and JST version of the Bible (a replacement of the KJV, see D&C 35:20). Special Insights Joseph s re-translation of the Bible was preserved by a wise steward in his wife Emma Smith. She chose not to go west with Brigham Young and many of the Saints. Six groups within the body of the Nauvoo Saints departed from the church led by Brigham Young at this time, choosing not to follow him primarily because of his emphasis on polygamy. In an unpublished 1841 revelation of the Lord to Joseph about Emma, we read, for she holdeth records and 61

62 a great key of knowledge... Elder David Bednar quoted JST Matthew 7:33 and 25:10-11 in his October 2016 General Conference address. They are about the necessity of coming to know Christ for salvation sake, the essence of what the Lord calls my doctrine, my gospel, and my church. In JST Matthew 25:10-11, the Lord informs us why the five unwise virgins were not let into the bridal chamber (the regular King James version says Christ did not know them). Other JST scriptures, like JST Matthew 17:11-14 and JST John 1:22 (in combination with other scriptures) reveal insights like Elijah s return as John the Baptist to complete His mission (see the author s paper, To Go No More Out). Others like JST Matthew 21 reveal severe judgment coming on unbelieving Gentile leaders in the last-days. History shows that the fulness of the scriptures was never published to the world as commanded by God. The Prophet Joseph tried to obtain financial assistance for this purpose right up until his martyrdom. Brigham Young pleaded with Emma to get the unpublished manuscript of Joseph s inspired translation of the Bible before he left Nauvoo, but she refused. Many years later the church made an agreement with the Community of Christ allowing them to include limited portions of the re-translation into our scriptures. It is not the full re-translation, however. New insights in the JST include: 1. We must know the Lord to enter the bridal chamber and Zion / JST Matt. 25:10-11; 7:33 2. Greater understanding of the Melchizedek Priesthood, the Sealing Power, etc. / JST Gen Knowledge of the Rainbow Covenant God made with Enoch & his city returning / JST Gen The mystery that John the Baptist as Elijah and how this effects D&C 110 / See Joseph Smith History 1:36-39; Mark 1:1-4; JST, Mark 9:3; Luke 1:17 & 76; D&C 110:13-16; JST Matthew 17:10-14; JST John 1:22-28 (see also To Go No More Out, www7witnesses.com) 5. That the salvation of the elect is dependent upon the the fulness of my scriptures, which is the JST Bible, Book of Mormon & D&C, as they provide a return of the key of knowledge for the Bible, taken by wicked lawyers, rabbis, etc. / JST Luke 11:52 6. The Lord s prophecy of destruction of wicked Gentiles husbandmen in His vineyard in the last-days / JST Matt The three degrees of glory and who inherits them / D&C 76, coming from the Joseph s re-translation of John 5:29 8. The gift of the Book of Moses and its many insights, including Moses ascent-vision, who Satan is, choice & accountability, secret combinations and their traits today, spiritual versus physical creation, Enoch, Earth as a living being, and much more / JST Genesis 9. Clarity on the Lord s prophecy on the last-days / JST Matt Clarity on the coming forth of the man child and the last-days kingdom of God / JST Rev Clarity on John the Beloved s last-days mission / JST Matt. 11, 17; D&C 77 - JST Rev. various chapters 12. Clarity on the Beatitudes - how to return to the Lord s presence / JST Matt. 5 The entire re-translation of the Bible may be obtained from the Community of Christ at the Restoration Book Store in Kirtland, Ohio. Some LDS bookstores also carry it. A free on-line version of the JST is available at: The whole JST Bible is available from the Community of Christ (copyright holder), at the Restoration Bookstore, Kirtland Ohio. Phone (Holy Scriptures, the Inspired Version $38.00 / Side by side comparison version $25.00 / Used copies are 1/3 these prices). 17 Revision of History According to Richard Van Wagoner, The official History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints [the Documentary History of the Church, or DHC] was published in book form under the direction of the First Presidency in The introductory assurance that, no historical or doctrinal statement has been changed is demonstrably wrong. Overshadowed by editorial censorship, hundreds of deletions, additions, and alterations, these seven volumes are not always reliable. The nineteenth-century propaganda mill was so adroit that few outside Brigham Young s inner circle were aware of the behind-the-scenes alterations so seamlessly stitched into church history. Charles Wesley Wandell, an assistant church historian, was aghast at these emendations. Commenting on the many changes made in the historical work as it was being serialized in the Deseret News, Wandell noted in his diary: I notice the interpolations because having been employed in the Historian s office at Navuoo by Doctor Richards, and employed, too, in 1845, in compiling this very autobiography, I know that after Joseph s death his memoir was doctored to suit the new order of things [polygamy], and this, too, by the direct order of Brigham Young to Doctor Richards and systematically by Richards. The Quorum of the Twelve, under Brigham Young s leadership, began altering the historical record shortly after Smith s death. Contrary to the introduction s claim, Smith did not author the History of the Church. At the time of his 1844 death, the narrative had been written up to 5 August 1838 (Richard S. Van Wagoner, Sidney Rigdon: A Portrait of Religious Excess, Signature Books [Salt Lake City, 1994], p. 322). Note the single example included on the next page. It was discovered in the Joseph Smith Papers project. A transcription of the relevant text appears hereafter. Note the to be revised statement words at the lower left (red arrow). It appears an editor copied a section from Joseph's journal recorded on Oct , leaving extra space around the part where Joseph unequivocally forbids the practice of plural marriage. 62

63 In the left margin the words to be revised appear in a different scribe s handwriting. The to be revised handwriting appears to match the handwriting of the revisions made. The revisions change the meaning of Joseph s words completely. The definitive words Joseph forbids it and the practice thereof are crossed out and replaced with verbiage similar to what's found today in D&C 132. Based on the timeline of this compilation, the page above would have been edited sometime between , after George A. Smith took over duties for the deceased Willard Richards. The entry does not describe a public moment. It was a record made in Joseph s private journal by his scribe after the two walked up and down the street having this conversation. The original entry read: Evening at home and walked up and down the street with my scribe. gave inst[r]uction to try those who were preaching teaching or practicing the doctrine of plurality of wives. on this Law. Joseph forbids it. and the practice ther[e]of No man shall have but one wife. The edited version was changed to say what is found in the red square area above. It reads, Evening at home and walked up and down the street with my scribe. gave inst[r]uction to try those who were preaching teaching or practicing the doctrine of plurality of wives. on this law for according to the law i hold the keys of this power in the last days, for there is never but one on earth at a time on whom the power? and the keys are conferred and I have continually said Joseph forbids it. and the practice ther[e]of No man shall have but one wife at a time unless the Lord directs otherwise. The original entry is definitive, with no exceptions provided and matches perfectly what Joseph Smith taught publically. He also demanded that those practicing it be tried in a public church court. Section 132 Section 132 was not part of the LDS canon of scripture under Joseph Smith s approval. Brigham Young later published it, doing so with a modified version of this revelation in the Deseret News in August of 1852, and then the Millennial Star in January of This was some eight years after the murder of Joseph and Hyrum. Twenty-three years later it was added to the 1876 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants, while anti-polygamy Section D&C 101 was removed at the same time (32 years after Joseph s murder). Verse 4 in the 1835 edition of D&C 101 reads, Inasmuch as this church of Christ has been reproached with the crime of fornication, and polygamy: we declare that we believe, that one man should have one wife; and one woman, but one husband, except in case of death, when either is at liberty to marry again. This was Oliver Cowdery s declaration, one approved by the church on August 17, God s law of witnesses states that, in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established (2 Cor. 13:1). Section 132 goes directly against the Book of Mormon, the founding document of the church (see Jacob 2; Mos. 11:2), former Section 101, and most Bible scriptures. Hyrum Smith stated, If any man writes to you, or preaches to you, doctrines contrary to the Bible, the Book of Mormon, or the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, set him down as an imposter (Times and Seasons, Vol. 5, p. 490). Real Love There is no scriptural support for polygamy as the Saints practiced it at Nauvoo and thereafter in scripture. The Levirate law in the Old Testament (Deut. 25:5-10, 21:15-17) allowed a widow with children to be taken as an additional wife by her former husband s brother - that she and the children might be cared for within the family of her former husband (the term levirate is itself a derivative of the Latin word levir, meaning husband's brother ). This single law in scripture tied to an additional wife - was not about additional sex for the man in multiple wives, as practiced in spiritual wifery at Nauvoo and thereafter, but an example of charitable concern for the woman and her children (real love). Other Bible examples of polygamy or concubines by the patriarchal were not encouraged, condoned, nor condemned by God, but the result of unique circumstances, resulting in many problems thereafter (see Just One Wife, 63