Truth Never Changes Volume 10, Number 9

TRUTH NEVER CHANGES

A PUBLICATION IN THE SPIRIT AND TRADITON OF TRUTH MAGAZINE

FALL CONFERENCE ISSUE

Y VOLUME 10              SEPTEMBER 2006              NUMBER 04 Y

Editorial

(Truth Never Changes, Vol. 2, No. 4, pp. 157-158)

Not too long ago, I had the opportunity to walk by the St. George Temple grounds and view that magnificent edifice.  The beauty and regal symbolism are compelling to uplift the soul.  It was the first temple completed by the Saints after coming to Utah.  Here, Pres. Young reviewed the totality of ordinances and set the standard for all time, revealing the eternal mandate, that priesthood ordinances instituted before the foundation of the world, should never be altered or changed.

IN THIS ISSUE: UNTITLED EDITORIAL…………………...306 EZRA’S LAMENTATION………………….309 WHO HELD THE KEYS?………………….320 FROM LEGENDS & MYTHS……………...322 THE EVERLASTING GOSPEL……………325 COMMENTARY ON……………………….328 SHALL THE YOUTH OF ZION FALTER? 329 TEACHINGS OF Wm. N. BAIRD, PT II…..331 ORDER & CHAOS…………………………340 QUOTE……………………………………...353 DIARY OF ARNOLD BOSS…………….…354 Concerning Constitutional Law!………….…359

There is only ONE endowment; yet it comes in increments in direct compliance to the laws and rites of the Priesthood and the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Certain problems exist that must be resolved by each individual.  Some would tell us to uphold whatever the President of the Church decides.  “Brethren, when the Prophet speaks, the thinking has been done.”

I’ve heard this in Priesthood meetings within the Church.  Fundamentalist leaders would tell us, “No, you can’t follow the wrong path; you must think for yourself and then pray to know the Lord’s will.”

And then they tell us, “We are making some changes.  It’s not your place to question these changes!”

Because of the sacredness of this subject, only limited observations can be made in print.  To the “wise,” it will be sufficient.  To the “unwise,” no amount of documentation would enlighten a darkened mind.  Much of what I here relate, I have seen with my own eyes and heard with my own ears.  I have spent a lifetime in the Church I love; a lifetime of endeavoring to build up the Lord’s Church, giving service to the Saints therein.  I would never want to cause harm to the Church, the members or the leaders, but the same love requires that I not remain totally silent.

Equally, the man who stands at the Head of the Council, I sincerely love—he probably doesn’t believe that—but I do.  I would never want to harm him in any way.  I feel honored for the friendship I have felt with him and others.  Only my love for the Lord gives me the courage to stand for correct principles, even if it costs me my membership in the Church or the friendship of loved ones.

This is my only motive – to do all that is possible to assure that the Gospel of Jesus Christ, as delivered to the Prophet Joseph Smith, does not change; that the ordinances and rites of the Holy Priesthood do not disappear from the face of the earth; that all of the Holy Laws are lived.

This is my birthright—I claim it!

It is not just mine alone—it is the birthright of every Latter-day Saint!  I look upon my children, my grandchildren and I ask myself: Should I stay silent and allow individuals to alter that which I know in my heart cannot be altered?  Where will my posterity get their blessings?  Can I do something that will increase the possibility that the Gospel in its purity, will not disappear from amidst my posterity?

Some of the problems I’ve observed, I will present in the form of questions, as ultimately, each one of us must stand before God as individuals.  I’ll offer no answers to these questions.  How each one responds to – or ignores – these items depends upon our personal salvation.

Church Problems

A)    Can the ordinances be changed?

B)    Can the ordinances be eliminated?

C)    Can the covenants be altered?

D)    If the penalty is nullified, can the reward still be there?

E)     Can non-Priesthood bearing individuals (Canaanites) administer ordinances and covenants legally?

F)     Can the Garment of the Holy Priesthood be altered?

I have witnessed the altering and deletion of covenants.  For anyone to try and tell me that this is not the case would be foolishness in the extreme—for I have seen it!  I have seen some sessions in the Temple held up, while this or that brother or sister was returned to the locker rooms to put on the “temple garment,” as we sat in silence, waiting for their return.  Now that garment has bee butchered so that it can be worn with miniskirts and short shorts.  It has been said that the Church Endowment is equal to receiving a half loaf of bread.  Perhaps only a quarter loaf or no bread at all.  These are not all the problems, but perhaps enough to open the eyes of some of the Saints.

Fundamentalist Problems

A)    Can Patriarchal Order/Family Heir be done away with?

B)    Does Council authority justify bypassing a father?

C)    Is vicarious work a commandment or just a fluff-portion of the Gospel?

D)    Can vicarious work for the dead be omitted?

E)     Is doing vicarious work on an on-again-off-again basis, a change in policy or a change in doctrine?

F)     Is limited access for worthy Saints acceptable to the Lord?

G)    Can the stopping and/denying of higher blessings be acceptable to the Lord?

H)    How can the Law of Adoption be deleted?

I)       1. Can the Council decide, do, or direct amiss?

2. Are the Brethren infallible?

Here again, this is not all but sufficient to at least make some scratch their heads.  I have no war to make.  All this leads me to at least ask myself: What do you do, if the Brethren make changes in those areas, where no changes are to be made?  What is your responsibility?  What is mine?

I’ve found that if you stand for principle—any principle—you will encounter opposition.  People will call you “rebellious,” “ungrateful,” “in league with the devil,” “a self-aggrandizer (sic), aspiring to make yourself a leader,” that they “saw through you right from the beginning,” and a whole host of other things.

Uncle Vergel Jessop once told me something that life has proven correct—“Whenever there is great opposition, there is generally a truth at stake.”  How true!

Here, truth is at stake, to valiantly maintain the gospel purity, priesthood purity, and purity of ordinances.  Who dares alter or correct Christ’s Gospel?  Or can we be justified in just waiting around and do nothing?  Will that please the Lord?  To what are men ordained?  Are not ALL former commandments still in force?  Do these commandments not obligate us to actively do the works of the Priesthood?  Who will return to the presence of God?  Those who have duplicated as far as they can, the environment of the Celestial Kingdom, from whence we all came.  And this, by our own free will!  Truth Never Changes!

EZRA’S LAMENTATION:

A Treatise on the Negro Issue from the

Mormon Fundamentalist Perspective

(Truth Never Changes, Vol. 2, No. 5, pp. 203-214)

EZRA 9:1-3:

            Now when these things were done, the princes came to me saying. The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, doing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.  For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons; so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of those lands; yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass.  And when I heard this thing, I RENT MY GARMENT AND MY MANTLE, AND PLUCKED OFF THE HAIR OF MY HEAD AND OF MY BEARD AND SAT DOWN ASTONIED!

In the summer issue of TNC, Vol. 2, No. 3, 1996, page 83, a question of great importance was asked—there has to be an answer to every question.  Since the Negro has been allowed to function in Priesthood ordinances, has the Priesthood within the Church been weakened and polluted?

Today, this is often overlooked or misunderstood by the constituents of our beloved Church.  What is the truth with regard to this matter?

Scriptures and historical evidence can illuminate our knowledge of the subject.  Let us return to the dawn of civilization—to the beginning.  After Cain had slain his brother Abel, the Lord cursed him, “and I the Lord set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.  And Cain was shut out from the presence of the Lord…”  (Moses 5:40-41)

What was the mark and the curse that the Lord placed upon Cain?  The mark, according to Scripture, was definitely a skin tone that would be obvious.  “And there was a blackness came upon all the children of Canaan, that they were despised among all the people.”  (Moses 7:8)

This mark was put on Cain and carried onto his posterity.  Enoch was one of the most righteous men who ever lived and he cried repentance and converted people unto the Lord.  His people lived the Gospel so completely that the Lord called them Zion, or those who dwelt in righteousness.  Enoch had the privilege of being shown by the Lord all the inhabitants of Zion and of all the earth, “and Enoch also beheld the residue of the people which were the sons of Adam; and they were a mixture of all the seed of Adam, save it was the seed of Cain, for the seed of Cain were black, and had not place among them.”  (Moses 7:12)

This mark or skin of blackness continues in our day.  God also pronounced a curse upon Cain and his posterity: “Now this king of Egypt was a descendant from the loins of Ham, and was a partaker of the blood of the Canaanites by birth.”  (Abraham 1:21)

Pharaoh was a descendant of Ham, the son of Noah, through Egyptus, who was Ham’s daughter.  She discovered the land of Egypt.  Her name of Chaldean origin means, that which is forbidden.

Was Egyptus of a forbidden lineage, which the Lord did not allow intermarriage and allow the Priesthood to be given them?  Pharaoh sought after the Priesthood Patriarchal Order as established by his forefathers, such as Adam & Noah.  Noah “Blessed him with the blessings of the earth, and with the blessings of wisdom, but cursed him as pertaining to the priesthood, notwithstanding the Pharaoh’s would fain claim it from Noah through Ham…” (Abraham 1:26-27)

Therefore, the scriptures demonstrate that Cain & his posterity were given a mark or a skin of blackness and cursed with regard to obtaining the Holy Priesthood.  The Lord also stipulated non-intermarriage with their race.  It is evident that Enoch, Noah, Abraham and Moses understood this, because of their involvement in the above-cited scriptures.

Why are they cursed?  Certainly one of the attributes of our Creator is that He is just and would not randomly give such a decree.  There must be an answer to every question.  “And they who keep their first estate shall be added upon: and they who keep not their first estate shall not have glory in the same kingdom with those who keep their first estate; and those who keep their second estate shall have glory added upon their heads for ever and ever.”  (Abraham 3:26)

Now for a hornets’ nest—many Latter-day Saints have often interpreted this Scripture to mean those who advanced to the earth with a body (those who kept their first estate) and those spirits who were cast out upon the earth to remain in a disembodied state (those who kept not their first estate).  That is a correct view of this Scripture, but there is a deeper meaning to this verse.  Among those who progress to the second estate, or those who receive a mortal body in this probation, there are those who were valiant for Christ’s sake (those who kept their first estate) and those who were not valiant (those who kept not their first estate).  Therefore, those who kept not their first estate are not permitted certain blessings (shall not have glory in the same kingdom).  In the Mosiah Hancock Journal, pages 71-74 (Pioneer Press), a vision is related by him.  He was one of the early brethren in Mormonism.  In this vision, he saw the preexistence of mankind dwelling in heaven.  He witnessed the Great War in Heaven between the forces of Jesus Christ and the devil.  The description he gives is more than a war of words, but an actual battle.  There were those who would switch sides and waver until there were definite divisions.  Only the male species participated in the battle.  There was a group that “…withdrew from the conflict, the females taking the males by the arm, said, ‘Come, let us not take part with either side.  Let us retire.’ ”  (Mosiah Hancock Journal, pg. 72)  This illistrates a clear-class of spirits that were not valiant for Christ in the preexistence.  Then God said, “Again it is decreed that those males who have taken no part in this great conflict shall keep their females and a race of servants shall they be.”  (Ibid.)  This was the penalty for remaining neutral in the first estate.  They neither chose Christ’s plan nor the devil’s plot.  As a result of their indecision, or lack of participation, in the first estate then this constitutes a rejection of the Priesthood, prior to coming to this sphere.  For Priesthood is after the order of the Son of God and rejecting Christ is rejecting Priesthood.  Thus, the Father in His infinite wisdom and mercy provided a way for those spirits who were ‘lukewarm’ to come and experience mortality within certain restrictive bounds.  That illustrates the great love that our Heavenly Father has for all of His children.

EZRA 9:10-12:

                And now, O our God, what shall we say after this?  For we have forsaken thy Commandments, which thou has commanded by thy servants the prophets, saying, The land, unto which ye go to possess it, is an unclean land with the filthiness of the people of the lands, with their abominations, which have filled it from one end to another with their uncleanliness.  Now therefore give not your daughters unto their sons, neither take their daughters unto your sons, nor seek their peace or their wealth forever; that ye may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children forever.

In 1978, the Church issued another official declaration reminiscent of the Manifesto of 1890.  It stated a new change in policy for the Church.  In Utah, the media proclaimed the message, prior to it being presented to the body of the Church.

Official Declaration—2

“Dear Brethren:

“As we have witnessed the expansion of the work of the Lord over the earth, we have been grateful that people of many nations have responded to the message of the restored gospel, and have joined the Church in ever-increasing numbers.  This, in turn, has inspired us with a desire to extend to every worthy member of the Church all of the privileges and blessings which the gospel affords.

“Aware of the promises made by the prophets and presidents of the Church who have preceded us that at some time, in God’s eternal plan, all of our brethren who are worthy may receive the priesthood, and witnessing the faithfulness of those from whom the priesthood has been withheld, we have pleaded long and earnestly in behalf of these, our faithful brethren, spending many hours in the Upper Room of the Temple supplicating the Lord for divine guidance.

“He has heard our prayers, and by revelation has confirmed that the long-promised day has come when every faithful, worthy man in the Church may receive the holy priesthood, with power to exercise its divine authority, and enjoy with his loved ones every blessings that flows therefrom, including the blessings of the temple.  Accordingly, all worthy male members of the Church may be ordained to the priesthood without regard for race or color.  Priesthood leaders are instructed to follow the policy of carefully interviewing all candidates for ordination to either the Aaronic or Melchizedek Priesthood to insure that they meet the established standards of worthiness.  We declare with soberness that the Lord has now made known his will for the blessings of all his children throughout the earth who will hearken to the voice of his authorized servants, and prepare themselves to receive every blessings of the gospel.”

The Church subsequently voted on this next manifesto and sustained it.

We question the validity of this change.  There are sever questions that we have concerning this matter:

1.      Is this the language of men or of God?

2.      Why are the ‘new revelations’ altering that which God has already revealed?

3.      Are the Scriptures, which demonstrate the position of the Canaanite wrong?

4.      Were Enoch, Abraham & Moses mistaken?

5.      Were the early brethren of the Church misled and the modern leaders left to correct the “mistake”?

6.      Did governmental pressure have an influence on this “revelation”?

Let us scrutinize what the early brethren of the Church had to say on this topic and compare it to the current attitude of the corporate Church.

Joseph Smith, the founding father of this dispensation, stated that the Negro have souls and are subjects of salvation.  He further stated, “Had I anything to do with the Negro, I would confine them by strict law to their own species, and put them on a national equalization.”  (TPJS pg. 269-270)

Thus, our first prophet clearly defines a policy of non-marriage with the black race and denies the concept of slavery in a single sentence.  How pure the doctrine is from a prophet of the Lord.  In society today, our Church and others, promote the intermarriage of the blacks and are very unaware of the eternal ramifications that occur to the progeny of such unions.  Joseph Smith obviously understood the mark of Cain.  He also understood the curse.  Evidence can be found in the Diary of L. John Nuttall (Pioneer Press).  He was a private secretary to Presidents Young, Taylor and Woodruff.

On Saturday, May 31, 1879, a meeting was held at the house of A. O. Smoot in Provo City, Utah County, Territory of Deseret at 5 pm. 

“President John Taylor, Elders Brigham Young, A. O. Smoot, Zebedee Coltrin and L. John Nuttall met, and the subject of ordaining Negroes to the Priesthood was presented.  Pres. Taylor said, some parties have said to me that Zevedee Coltrin had talked to the Prophet Joseph Smith on this subject, and they said that he (Coltrin) thought it was not right for them to have the priesthood, whereupon Joseph Smith said to him that Peter on a certain occasion had him a vision wherein he ‘saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descended unto him.  As it had been a great sheet caught at the four corners, and let down to the earth.  Wherein all manner of four footed beasts of the air.  And there came a voice to him.  Rise, Peter!  Kill and eat.  But Peter said, Not so Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common.  And the Prophet Joseph then said to Bro. Coltrin, as the Angel said to Peter, ‘What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common’ (speaking of the Gentiles.)

“Pres. Taylor asked Bro. Coltrin, Did the Prophet Joseph Smith ever make such a statement to you?  Bro. C., No sir, he said anything of the kind in his life to me.  Pres. T., What did he say?  Bro. C., The spring that we went up in Zion’s camp in 1834, Bro. Joseph sent Bro. J. P. Green and me out south to gather up means to assist in gathering out the Saints from Jackson County, MO.  On our return home we got in conversation about the Negro having a right to the Priesthood and I took the side he had no right.  Bro. Green argued that he had.  The subject got so warm between us that he said he would report me to Bro. Joseph when we got home for preaching false doctrine.  Which doctrine that I advocated was that the Negro could not hold the priesthood.  All right said I, I hope you will.  And when we got home to Kirtland, we both went in to Bro. Joseph’s office together to make our returns and Bro. Green was as good as his word and reported to Bro. Joseph that I had said that the Negro could not hold the Priesthood.  Bro. Joseph kind of dropped his head and rested it on his hand for a minute, and then said. Bro. Zebedee is right, for the spirit of the Lord saith the Negro has no right, nor cannot hold the Priesthood.  He made no reference to scripture at all, but such was his decision.  I don’t recollect ever having any conversation with him afterwards, but I have heard him say in public, that no person having the least particle of Negro blood can hold the Priesthood.  Bro. Coltrin further said, Bro. (Elijah) Abel was ordained a Seventy, because he had labored in the temple (it must have been into the 2^nd Quorum), and when the Prophet Joseph learned of his lineage, he was dropped from the quorum and another was put in his place.”

A.     O. Smoot testified. “W. W. Patten, Warren Parrish and Thomas B. Marsh were laboring in the Southern States in 1835 and 1836.  There were Negroes who made application for Baptism and the question arose with them whether Negroes were entitled to hold the Priesthood, and by those brethren it was decided they would not confer the Priesthood until they had consulted the Prophet Joseph, and subsequently they communicated with him, and his decision, as I understood, was they were not entitled to the Priesthood, nor yet be baptized without the consent of their masters.  In after years, when I became acquainted with Joseph myself, in Far West, about the year of 1838, I received from Joseph substantially the same instructions.  It was on my application to him what should be done with the Negro in the South as I was preaching to them?  He said I could baptize them by the consent of their masters, but not confer the Priesthood upon them.  These two statements were duly signed by each of these brethren.”  (L. John Nuttall Diary, Pg. 85-87)

By the mouth of two witnesses has this testimony come unto the world of the Prophet Joseph Smith, stating that the seed of Cain may be baptized, but may not be ordained to the Priesthood.

The principle mortal of this dispensation clearly opposed slavery and recognized the humanity of the blacks.  He understood their relationship to God and would have prohibited intermarriage of other races with them and would have allowed baptism, but never allowed any ordination to the Priesthood.

Brigham Young, the second President of the Church, had much to say upon this subject.  We believe that those men who were taught and tutored by the Prophet Joseph Smith understood and comprehended the principles and doctrines of eternity better than contemporary leaders, for it seems that all ‘new revelations’ change those that Joseph has given.  Did the words of Brigham compliment the words of the Prophet Joseph Smith?

On October 9, 1859, in the tabernacle of SLC, in reference to Cain and his seed, Pres. Brigham Young said:

“…and the Lord put a mark upon him, which is the flat nose and black skin.  Trace mankind down to after the flood and another curse is pronounced upon the same race—that they should be the ‘servants of servants’ and they will be until that curse is removed; and the Abolitionists cannot help it, nor in the least alter that decree.  How long is that race to endure the dreadful curse that is upon them?  The curse will remain upon them, and they never can hold the priesthood or share in it until all the other descendants of Adam have received the promises and enjoyed the blessings of the priesthood and the keys thereof.  Until the last ones of the residue of Adam’s children are brought up to that favorable position, the children of Cain cannot receive the first ordinances of the Priesthood.  They were the first that were cursed, and they will be the last from whom the curse will be removed.  When the residue of the family of Adam come up and receive their blessings, then the curse will be removed from the seed of Cain, and they will receive blessings in like proportion.”  (Journals of Discourses, 7:290-291)

These statements are clear and precise that Brother Brigham makes and there is no ambiguity on the topic.  Brigham Young would personally review the sermons that he preached after being recorded in written from, before he would allow them to be printed.  There is no misrepresentation on his statements.

The above statement was partially quoted on the TV show, 60 Minutes last year on April 7, 1996.  Mike Wallace, a journalist and co-host of the show, interviewed Pres. Gordon Hinkley during part of the segment.  The following is an excerpt from the show, as recorded from an individual, who taped the program, then transcribed it onto the Internet.  This individual admitted there are some inaccuracies:

MW: From 1830 to 1978, Blacks could not become Priests in the Mormon Church.

GBH: That is correct.

MW: Why?

GBH: Because the leaders of the Church at that time interpreted that doctrine that way.   [cut].

MW: Church policy had it that Blacks had the mark of Cain.  Brigham Young said, “Cain slew his brother, and the Lord put a mark upon him, which is the flat nose and the black skin.”

GBH: It’s behind us.  Look, that’s behind us.  Don’t worry about those little flicks in history.

MW: Skeptics will suggest, ‘Well, look, if we’re going to expand, we can’t keep the Blacks out.’

GBH: Pure speculation. [Laughs].

The current President of the Church states that the early brethren interpreted the doctrine of ordination to the Priesthood of the Blacks as a quirk of history.  It could be inferred that he concludes that they were in error and misdirected.  If that is the case, then Mormonism has a very shaky beginning.  We believe that when Brigham Young made these remarks, he was preaching doctrine that had been revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith from God, the Eternal Father, and that there is no mistake, nor any vague understanding of this topic.  We believe that Joseph Smith had more communication with Heaven than any other individual within this dispensation and that his teachings come from a pure fountain.  Brigham Young was also Governor of the Territory of Utah—at the Joint Session of the Legislature, at SLC, Utah Territory, Thursday, February 5, 1852, he said: “Now, then in the Kingdom of God on the Earth, a man who has the African blood in him cannot hold one jot nor tittle of Priesthood.  Why?  Because they are the true eternal principles the Lord Almighty has ordained, and who can help it—men cannot, the angels cannot, and all the powers of earth and hell cannot take it off…”  (The Teachings of President Brigham Young, Vol. 3, pg. 43)

He further announces that the Lord will remove this criteria in His own due time and that within the Kingdom of God on the Earth, the Negro cannot hold one particle of power within the government.  Within this same lecture to the Legislature, he also said: “Let this Church, which is called the Kingdom of God upon the Earth; we will summons the First Presidency, the Twelve, and the High Council, the Bishopric, and all the Elders of Israel, suppose we summons them to appear here, and here declare that it is right to mingle our seed with the black race of Cain, that they shall come in with us and be partakers with us of all the blessings God has given to us.  On that very day and hour we should do so, the priesthood is taken from this Church and kingdom and God leaves us to our fate.  The moment we consent to mingle with the seed of Cain, the Church must go to destruction.  We should receive the curse which has been placed on the seed of Cain, and never more be numbered with the children of Adam who are heirs to the priesthood until that curse be removed.”  (Ibid., pg. 46).

This sad situation exists for many within the corporate Church today. The allowance of the Canaanites to participate within Priesthood functions has tremendously weakened the membership of the Church, according to the reckoning of the Lord!  Might does not make right. 

In another speech by Brigham Young and presented to the Territorial Legislature on December 4, 1852, he points out the unrest within the U. S. Congress on the slavery issue.  Brigham emphasized that there would not be peace “…until the subject of servitude and the relation existing between master and servant shall be understood, and acted upon, may we expect quiet in our nation’s councils—when southern statesmen shall learn that Africa’s sons and daughters are not goods and chattels, and will attach unto them, that humanity and moral accountability, to which they are entitled; and cease to appropriate to an inordinate cupidity, the souls of men; and northern fanaticism learn to know that ‘Canaan’ shall be ‘servants of servants’ unto his brethren, and that there is but little merit in subverting their own kindred spirit and flesh to perform the offices allotted by superior wisdom to the descendants of Cain.”  (Ibid. pg. 153)

The teachings of Bro. Brigham Young are quite plain upon the subject.  He was not misquoted, nor can it be said that he did not make such statements.  Are his teachings an “interpretation of doctrine”?  Did he learn these things from the Prophet Joseph Smith?

In Paris, Bear Lake, Utah Territory, August 8, 1880, Apostle Erastus Snow stated: “…while the offspring of Ham inherited a curse, and it was because, as a revelation teaches, some of the blood of Cain became mingled with that of Ham’s family, and hence they inherited that curse.”  (J. of D. 21:370b)

Another of the early brethren that concurs that the curse has been transmitted to the progeny of Ham because of the intermingling with the seed of Cain.

In the Assembly Hall, SLC, on November 20, 1881, Apostle Geo. Q. Cannon referred to the Civil War and how the Mormons, as a whole, had no part in that war, said: “It is a church adapted to all.  The black man is welcome, and he is entitled to the rites of the Gospel, though the Lord has shown that to his race the priesthood is forbidden.  The red man, the yellow man, and every man of every race and of every kindred and of every tongue, has a right in this church and will be received into it and have a place in it just as God has spoken.”  (J. of D. 23:105)

Thus, the Lord places no stipulation with regard to membership within the Church on accordance to the race of the individual, but He does place a requirement that no Priesthood may be conferred upon the Blacks at this time.

Perhaps we should take account the teachings of more recent leaders of the High Priesthood and their views with regard to the matter.  On January 11, 1970, eight years previous to the Official Declaration—2 of the Church, Brother Rulon Allred made a statement of the involvement of the US Government in forcing the Church to give the Negro the Priesthood to “make the Church bow its knee in relation to the Law.”  (Treasures of Knowledge, Vol. 1, pg. 15)

An inspired prophet knew of the political pressure to compel the Church to surrender its position on the Negro.  As a result of the pressure on December 14, 1975, he prophesied what would happen: “The day is at hand as surely as there is a God in Heaven, that the majority of the members of the Church are going to adopt the position that the Negro is entitled to the Priesthood, and that it is perfectly all right for a White girl to marry a Negro man, and for a Negro girl to marry a White man.  Mark you, it’s just as sure to come about as the change in the garment.  It took ancient Israel in the day of Christ about 250 to 300 years to completely apostatize.  We’re doing well; we’ve done it in about 125.  Not altogether, but we’re on our way very rapidly.”  (Ibid., Vol. 2, pg. 235)

That day has come!  Those conditions and attitudes exist within the Church today.  The Lord in His wisdom arranged affairs so that the Negro never received the original garment of the Holy Priesthood, but as a result, this was also lost for the general Church membership, as well.

Apostle William N. Baird, at a Relief Society meeting on March 3, 1983 remarked regarding this issue:

Q: Is the cursed lineage the Canaanite lineage?

WNB: Part of it.

Q: Why?  Why are they cursed?

Voice: They cannot hold the Priesthood

WNB: Why cannot they hold the Priesthood?

Voice: They didn’t want it. 

WNB: There!  You can turn away from the blessings.  Not even God can withhold the blessings, but you can turn away from them.  Only you can take your blessings from yourself.  Once Priesthood is given, it cannot be taken from anybody; they must depart from it.  Somewhere they departed from the Priesthood—they withdrew to the point that they did not accept all of the Priesthood.

That is in agreement with the vision that Mosiah Hancock was given.  They are denied the Priesthood because they didn’t want the responsibility in the preexistence.

Brother I. W. Barlow, a Mormon Fundamentalist, who went to prison for polygamy—in a recorded talk, recalled that Lorin Woolley said that the day would come when the Negro would be put to the forefront of society.  Lorin said this at a time when nobody would have imagined this happenings and yet today, we witness that this is the situation.  They have been elevated in sports, music, dress standards among the youth, in entertainment, in government, and in practically, all aspects of society.  They have been praised and admired for the color of their skin.  We agree that many Negroes have made great accomplishments on their own merits, but society in the US has made their race superstars.  While those of the natural branch of the House of Israel are despised.

It appears that our modern leaders, in giving the Official Declaration of 1978, have seceded from the teachings of Scripture and various prophets of the past.  There has been a doctrinal coup d’`etat.  Were the early brethren making erroneous, irrelevant statements on this issue?  Was it incorrect interpretation of Scriptures and teachings?  Were they deceived on this topic?  Either our polygamous forefathers were correct or the current monogamous view is accurate.  They cannot both be correct.  Those who participate in the ordinations or in Priesthood ordinances with Blacks jeopardize their own Priesthood.  It contradicts the words of God the Eternal Father.  The Church has become weakened and polluted by allowing the seed of Cain to intermingle with Israel and by trying to bestow the Priesthood and the ordinances thereof.  It merely has fulfilled prophecy and is restoring the chaotic condition that Israel has been in previous times.  There is natural result, which will follow these effects within the Church.  Besides rebellion and whoredoms becoming more rampant, there will be a crisis.  (See II Thessalonians 2:3-12).

The Lord shall ultimately triumph and set His house in order.  “Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD OF HOSTS; and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein; and in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the House of the Lord of Hosts.”  (ZECH 14:21)

EZRA 10:10-14

“And Ezra the priest stood up, and said unto them, Ye have transgressed, and have taken strange wives, to increase the trespass of Israel.  Now therefore make confession unto the Lord God of your fathers, and do his pleasure; and separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from the strange wives.  Then all the congregation answered and said with a loud voice, Thou hast said, so must we do.  But the people are many, and it is a time of much rain, and we are not able to stand without, neither is this a work of one day or two; for we are many that have transgressed in this thing.  Let now our rulers of all the congregation stand, and let all them which have taken strange wives in our cities come at appointed times, and with them the elders of every city, and the judges thereof, until the fierce wrath of our God for this matter be turned from us.”

The evidence has been displayed.  Why does the current position of the Church contradict the Scriptures and the statements of the founding fathers of Mormonism?  Is the Lord inconsistent?  We propose that the answer is that men succumbed to governmental pressure that was exerted to get “the Church to bow its knee to the law.”  The Leaders of the Church probably did approach the Lord in prayer and supplication, in order to obtain the mind and will of God.  Our Heavenly Father gave heed to the constant pleas to give them an answer and He finally allowed them to do as they thought was best.  The government has been aligned against Mormonism since the beginning.

“I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; until the Ancient of Days came, and judgement was given to the saints of the Most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the Kingdom.”  (Daniel, 7:21-22)

The Lord has always known that the government would turn against the Saints.  Yet, this is no excuse to try and alter doctrine.  The author well recalls that this was taught as doctrine within the Church at one time.  Now, this is outdated and outcast among those who profess to love truth.  Trying to fit in among the world only complicates matters and adds to the problem.  We would like to propose that many of the problems that plague society today could be eliminated, if the teachings of the Prophet Joseph and Brother Brigham would be implemented.  Their teaching are:

1.      That Blacks are not entitled to the Priesthood.

2.      The Blacks are allowed the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel.

3.      They are bound by strict law to marry within their own race.

4.      The Blacks are not to hold any political power within the Kingdom of God upon the earth.

5.      Slavery of any race is prohibited.

6.      The Blacks are to be on a national equalization—this means that they are free to choose their vocation, education, locality of living, and to enjoy the privileges of a free & tolerant society.

7.      The Blacks are to be employed in a servitude position in society.  They are not allowed to supervise over those of the House of Israel.

8.      The Blacks should be treated as we would treat our own children—with love and kindness.

9.      No race or person shall be elevated to a status of superstardom

If these rules would be adhered to, there would not be strife or turmoil that arises from breaking them.  Today, the seed of Cain again would fain claim the Priesthood, but to no avail.  Eternal decrees from the Lord God Omnipotent cannot be altered by men, regardless of their position in society, or any ecclesiastical hierarchy.  The Priesthood cannot be conferred upon the Negro for the Heavens consider it null and void.

Many would consider these views as racist.  We do not propose the annihilation of the Blacks—the Mormons have never been in favor of slavery.  Those who were involved with slaves, after being converted, eventually gave them freedom and many emigrated to Utah with their former masters—out of love and devotion, or after their own conversion.  These teachings are not of men, but of God!  The Mormons were never a participating factor in the Civil War, yet, the ‘Northern fanaticism’ has been crammed down our throats.  The tip of a gigantic iceberg has been discovered and the United States—the Titanic—is heading on a collision course.  The conflicts are beginning to surface that are yet to come.

A recent concern is that Louis Farrakhan—a Negro Muslim leader—with his attitude of Black superiority is dissatisfied with the current status of the Blacks and could ignite another Civil War.  This would only fulfill the White Horse Prophecy of Joseph Smith.  It was so horrible that he asked the Lord to shut the vision.  We say that men who favor the promotion of the Black race should return to Africa, which is the designated continent for the Canaanites, and improve conditions there for the poor Negro.  There is much need for intelligent leaders there and they can leave the land that is designated for the New Jerusalem.  The militant behavior exhibited by Farrakhan and his associates is not the solution and will only lead to much grief and sadness.  Those who live by the sword shall die by the sword.

There is a great misunderstanding within the Church with regard to the Negro issue.  It is quite saddening to the soul to observe the ‘Rainbow Families’ that are increasing in popularity.  It is sad, because they believe that they are doing good by adopting Black children, but they are opening a door of doom for their own offspring, who will perhaps intermarry with the Blacks.  We recognize the humanity of the seed of Cain—they are subjects of salvation, but not in the way that the Church is doing it.  There is much grief over watching the daughters of Zion marry and bear children to a cursed lineage. 

We truly agonize as did Ezra—over the identical subject—non-Israelite marriages.  All is not well in Zion.  Woe, to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose beauty is as a fading flower, which are on the head of the fat valleys of them that are overcome with wine!  The leaders of the Church have erred and it is displeasing to the God of Israel!

REPENT, O ISRAEL!  REPENT!!

This is the last dispensation of Priesthood keys from Heaven.  There are those who have a fullness of Priesthood and who have maintained a pure lineage. The Lord loves all the races of mankind & all the pure in heart.  He will eventually offer the Priesthood to the race of Cain and the curse shall be removed.

EZRA 10:17, 44:

And they made an end with the men that had taken strange wives by the first day of the month.

And these had taken strange wives; and some of them had wives by whom they had children.

Who Held the Keys?

In my hearing at a Priesthood meeting in Salt Lake, Vance related a comment he heard from his father.  While President McKay was still alive, Brother Rulon often made the comment that if Pres. McKay would step forward and begin to direct the affairs of the Priesthood work, that he, Bro. Rulon, would step to one side and allow Pres. McKay to take charge.  The obvious question is: Why would Bro. Rulon propose this situation?

I have brought this up to other brethren, who also heard Bro. Rulon make this statement.  This proposes an interesting set of circumstances.  The possibilities are:

A)    I am fabricating this story,

B)    Bro. Rulon’s sons and those brethren who heard these statements misunderstood Bro. Rulon, or

C)    Bro. Rulon was wrong and failed to understand Priesthood keys.

You can’t throw rocks at me and say I’m not being truthful—I’m sorta getting used to that.  But I know that I heard this, and alterations would have to have been made in the Priesthood minutes to accommodate this position.

I have spoken to carious individuals who also heard Bro. Rulon say this.  They all concur that Bro. Allred did indeed say this.  Did Bro. Allred understand Priesthood keys?  I believe he did.  Then, what was meant in this declaration?  Did he believe Pres. McKay held greater keys than himself?

The keys of the Priesthood—all of the keys—have been perpetuated by those who have lived all the laws and received all the ordinances.  During the Eight-Hour Meeting, those brethren received a Fulness of Ordinances—the Fulness of Priesthood and the Keys thereof.

There is no other way they could direct the Priesthood affairs and give validity to Priesthood functions.  My testimony is that these men truly held the Keys and were numbered among the “Apostles, even God’s High Priests.”  Not just ordained Apostleship, but patterned after the Fulness of Ordinances, such as received in the School of the Prophets.  No student of the Gospel, who looks in depth, can mistake the many, many individuals, who sought for and received a Fulness of Priesthood blessings.

Bro. Brigham, who was the Head of Priesthood for the longest timeframe, probably gave more of these blessings.  Nevertheless, those who followed, also perpetuated this, the most lofty of Priesthood blessings.  So those at the 1886 Eight-Hour Meeting were not the only ones to receive those keys or blessings.

It is reported that during that meeting, the Prophet Joseph Smith appeared.  All of which strengthens my testimony that a Fulness of Blessings were given.  We find recorded that Pres. Lorenzo Snow called into the Salt Lake Temple, the youthful Joseph Musser, (at age 27) and his wife, and bestowed upon them these blessings.  Failing to understand the totality of the blessings and keys given at that time, is failing to understand the magnitude of the highest blessings that can be bestowed upon man in the flesh.  Are there other Keys to be given?

These blessings began to disappear from the Church in Pres. Grant’s administration.  Pres. McKay was called to the Apostleship by Pres. Joseph F. Smith, and thus received a Fulness of Ordinances.

When Pres. Joseph W. Musser called the new Council, they were called to perpetuate the Fulness of the Priesthood.  I have journals that attest to this.

Did Pres. McKay hold the Keys?  Yes!  Did Pres. Rulon Allred hold the Keys?  Yes!  Were they in harmony?  Not completely, or maybe not at all.  Did that alter the validity of the ordinances they had received?  Perhaps even it was the cause that Pres. McKay didn’t recognize the avenue, by which Bro. Rulon received his blessings—but God did!!!  And no one can get around that.

Pres. McKay and others of the Church failed to do the work of the Priesthood—the higher laws or Celestial Plural Marriage and the Law of the United Order.

Now, suppose that the Church leaders under the direction of Pres. McKay would have begun to implement those laws?  Would they have been valid?  Yes!  The Fulness of Keys were there.  Evidences suggest that there were people still alive in the 1970’s, who were sealed in plural marriage in the Mormon Colonies.  All of this by Church authority and the participants only belonged to the Church and never were part of any Fundamentalist group.  Is there any true Latter-day Saint, who would not doubt the validity of their sealing?  I cannot.

What two heads?  It reminds one of the question Jehoshaphat, the King of Judah asked Jehoram, the King of Israel: “Is there not here a prophet of the LORD, that we may inquire of the LORD by him?”  What two Prophets held the Keys or mantle?

“Well, yes,” says one, “They didn’t have telephones then.”

That question is like another one I have heard: “Why did it take the Lord so long to reveal penicillin?”  Was the Lord’s arm cut short?  How could the Jaredites hold the Keys and Melchizedek also hold Keys?  Or Peter and 3^rd Nephi?  Were the Jaredites and the Nephites unique?  Were they the only ones the Lord lead away to other parts of the Earth?  I don’t think so.  The Lord I worship has ever done great and marvelous works!!!

When any Apostle closes the doors of opportunity for higher blessings—look around—there the Lord will have prepared another Apostle, who will open the doors to the faithful Saints.  The Lord’s work will not be frustrated.

Could Joseph Smith III have done the work of the Lord?  He was set apart by William Marks, who had received a Fulness of Blessings.  There certainly existed that potential.  But both young Joseph and William Marks had rejected the higher laws and at best could only function in a lesser capacity.

The Gospel of Christ cannot and will not change—there is no shadow of change in the Lord, but Who Can Declare His Works?

From Legends & Myths

(Truth Never Changes, Vol. 5, No. 2, pp.49-53)

Every religion, creed, or faith upon this earth began with one—the first religion, brought to this world by Father Adam, instituted by Jehovah.  From that point, Cain and others, the adversary insinuated pollution and decay took over—but the truth has always been eternally constant and unchanging as empires rose and fell with their dogmas.  We are privileged to live in a day where the One True Religion—the Gospel of Jesus Christ is again upon the earth in its celestine purity, and utilizing these doctrines and principles as a gauge, one can look back across the annals of history and see the remnants of truth manifested in the various religions, myths and legends.

All cultures have a beginning or a “creation,” and accredit a deity or deities with the work.  Some of the similarities are remarkable.

In roughly 1396 B. C., a Pharaoh called Tutmosis IV, also known as Akenaten, began a monotheistic movement.  They worshipped a creator-god, called Aten.  This movement lasted only as long as Akenaten was alive, for his successor Amenhotep III (King Tut), re-instituted the worship of all Egyptian deities.

And in Egyptian lore, the deity Atum was the primeval creator-god.  He was believed to have been self-gendered (male and female), who rose up from the Nile and created mankind.  The temple devoted to Atum at Heliopolis was one of the oldest cults in the land two and a half thousand years before Christ.  Atum—the name—meant “the one not yet completed, who would attain completion.”  He was identified with the sun-god Ra, under the composite title, Atum-Ra.

Female deities were also present in different variations, according to Egyptian Lore—one states that a mother goddess made man out of clay, like a figurine, and animated him with the blood from an obscure god called We-ila, and their saliva.  This figurine was the “first human” and other mother goddesses resumed their work and created seven males and seven females.

In the Akkadian myth of the creation, tells of a period before the appearance of man the gods had to fend for themselves.  The lesser gods, who were responsible for the more difficult work, rebelled and so the chief gods decided to create mankind to do the work for them.

Yahwiests present that Adam, filled with the breath of life, was placed within the Garden of Eden, and mankind became subject to death because of Adam’s partaking of the forbidden fruit.  In doing so, Adam lost his immortality and became mortal.  This nature—mortality—he passed on to his children.

Another story from the Koran, is that the angels were jealous of Adam—some advised God against creating him, but were destroyed by God’s rage.  When Adam had been created, the archangel Michael commanded the host of heaven to fall down and worship him—all obeyed, save Lucifer, who was too proud and was hurled out of heaven in banishment.  Others say that this is why Satan tempted Eve in the form of a serpent, to avenge himself on Adam.

Some Gnostics, after the era of Christ, identified with the god of the Old Testament, as an evil being who created an evil world.  The serpent—the tempter—became a virtuous creature, sent by God to teach Adam and his wife.  According to the Gnostics, the Secret Book of John, man was created by the god of the Jews, whose name was Ialdabaoth.  He seduced Eve after their expulsion from the Garden of Eden and fathered the two sons called Cain and Abel--whose real names, according to this book—were Elohim and Jehovah.

In Nordic legends, we find that the great void which preceded the creation was called, Ginnungagap.  This place consisted of Niflheim in the North, where lived a race of giants.  This is particularly interesting, because in Jewish mythology, the angels who took the daughters of men as wives, fathered a race of giants called Nephilim (GEN 6).  The Norse also tell that the first man, Ymir, was sustained from the milk of a giant cow, from whose udders flowed four rivers of milk.  Genesis states the Garden of Eden was sustained by the river Pison, which flowed in four broad heads.

Christ in the D&C calls himself Son-Ahman.  We read of Adam-Ondi-Ahman, and are taught that Ahman is another name for God—so Christ verily called Himself the Son of God, when he proclaimed Himself, Son-Ahman.  And we also learn that Adam-Ondi-Ahman means, “the place where Adam was proclaimed God.”  Is it not interesting that the Egyptians, who vainly attempted to emulate the Priesthood they could never hold, in their ceremonies and rites, called their chief deity, Amen-Ra?  To me, I see this as another thing they plagiarized from the children of Israel.

The Egyptians believed that their Pharaohs were the embodiment of deity—god personified.  Horus means, “he on high,” and was to them, the current Pharaoh.  Like the Hebrews, they believed that God had secret names—Isis cajoled Ra into revealing his secret name, and in Hebrew mythology, one of the angels that fell to earth from heaven, was the chief executor of oaths, and revealed Michael’s secret name to his children.

The Aztecs believed that beyond the world and the gods of nature, there must exist a Supreme Creator, whom they called Ometecuhtli, which means, two-lord—they believed that no creating could ever take place without a man and a woman.  And interestingly enough, they believed that the “old, old god,” Ueueteotl, was the symbol of continous creation and lived in the Pole star, the pivot of the universe—the very star that the Prophet Joseph Smith pointed to as being Kolob, the residence of the Gods.  The Aztecs also believed there are several degrees of heaven—glory—and the lowest being a fiery place where souls passed to return to earth and again enter into mortality.  Enoch saw several heavens.

Nearly all cultures believe their deities had mates: The Syrians, Tamuz & Ishtar; Romans, Jupiter and Juno; the Greeks, Zeus & Hera; Norse, Odin & Frija; the Celts, Loucetius, which means, “shining one,” and his consort was Nemetona.  We know that man is not complete without the wife, and vice versa.  Deity is male and female.  The examples listed are merely corruptions from the truth.

Palestinians called the Supreme God, El, as do the Moslems.  Ancient Canaanites also worshipped El, and his wife Asherah, which may have evolved into Ishtar, who was known in Hebrew mythology as Lilith.  The Mesopatamians believed that Enlil was the principle deity, and in cuneiform, it is he, who made the decision to destroy mankind with the deluge.

Looking back into the histories of the cultures that have preceded us, I find it a great treasure and a wonderful thing to have the Fulness of the Gospel in our time—that we have revelations of God to lighten our path so that we do not stagger blindly in the darkness as so many before us have done.  The Scriptures contain the real truths, the real histories of this earth, and there will come a day when we will have more knowledge, when the hidden books and histories are revealed to mankind.  May we never falter in our path back to the Lord.  May we always be a record-keeping people, for our children’s children and our posterity.  God’s blessings upon you all.

The Everlasting Gospel

We live in a time of changes, inconsistency, betrayal and deception.  People are taught to be leery of business contracts and expect that others will try to take advantage of you.  You can’t even drive down a highway or freeway, without the greed of mankind being made manifest.  Each driver, seeking to go first, or cut you off.

The most sacred and dearest of social contracts—that of marriage—is ignored by most today, and even if it exists, it seems to hold no real, lasting commitment.  Oddly, one observes that those who just live together, with no more than a day to day commitment to each other, seem to get along better than when they decide to “make their relationship legal,” by getting married.  Almost always, even after five to ten years of living together, the moment their marriage is “legalized,” they enter into difficulties and end in divorce.

So it there apparently is no commitment, and greed, strife, betrayal, and deception are common characteristics of modern culture, then what remains consistent?  Surely not technology; changes have been exponential in the past three decades.  Systems are continually out-dated.  The whole industries are forced to change and update to stay competitive.  Companies are forced to re-evaluate methods of management.  Cuts and layoffs are now commonplace, and new technology seems to be ever increasing.  One would again ask: What remains constant?

Governments merge and dissolve, new countries appear and then disappear, world atlases become out-dated almost every five years; inflation, devaluation of currency, new monetary systems; credit; credit cards; unstable jobs; weak marriage commitments; cars that are built not to last; houses that always need repair—these are all the benchmarks of modern life.  What remains the same?

Churches are re-thinking their doctrinal positions.  One denomination is reported to be re-examining its position on suicide, which would “allow” suicides to go to heaven.  Abortion, women clergy, homosexual marriages—are some of the major issues facing believers.  Faith healing, though often real, is fraudulent deception coming to light.  People often turn to psychics for spiritual fulfillment.  What remains the same?

Even our beloved Church endorses many of these same issues—members embrace the changes because it is a “living religion” and to follow a “living Prophet” is better than historical or scriptural truths.  What remains the same?

Even through change, divisions and turbulent times, the LORD and HIS Gospel do NOT change.  The Gospel consists of Laws, Authority, and Ordinances.  These cannot change.  Even God must adhere to them, or cease to be God.  Can we, therefore, alter, add, or take away from what the LORD has instructed before the world was?

Is there any other way to obtain a blessing, other than obeying the law upon which it is predicated?

Can obeying a law without proper authority hold any validity before the Lord?

If the ordinances change, will the Lord recognize them?

The Lord slew two of Aaron’s sons for altering temple ordinances.  Are all alterations thus addressed by the Lord?  No, but that does show the importance the Lord places upon the purity of ordinance?

In D&C 43, we are told that if Joseph Smith should have transgressed, that he would only have power to appoint another in his stead.  Many would say that this applies to the President of the Church or Head of the Priesthood now.  The argument will often be expounded that “since he hasn’t done this, he still must be the One.”

Does the Lord cease to recognize a people for surrendering a part of the Gospel?  I believe the answer could be seen in studying the history of Israel or the ancient Nephites.  Truly the Lord is long-suffering.  But I would ask, will the Lord’s Appointed announce, “I am going to change this or that—I know it is wrong, but I’m going to change it anyway.”

I have never heard of such a declaration.  I have heard different leaders expound how inspired they feel about making this or that change, how they feel it is right and will bring added benefits &c.  Never have they admitted that the change was wrong.

If on was appointed in his stead, what would he do?  “…he that is ordained of me shall…teach those revelations which you have received and shall receive through him whom I have appointed,” (D&C 43:7).  So he would therefore, do the works of Joseph Smith.

Can a man enter into the presence of God without living the same laws, without holding the same authority, or without receiving the same ordinances that the Father himself lived?  Is there another way to God?

If one Apostle closes the door to any of the Laws, Authority, or Ordinances, what should we do?

“And now, verily, verily, I say unto thee, put your trust in that Spirit, which leadeth to do good – yea, to do justly, to walk humbly, to judge righteously; and this is my Spirit.

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, I will impart unto you of my Spirit, which shall enlighten your mind, which shall fill your soul with joy;”  (D&C 11:12-13)

Trust in the Spirit and look for an Apostle who is doing the works of Joseph Smith.

President Brigham Young states: “The Lord operates upon the principles of continuing to organize, of adding to, gathering up, bringing forth, increasing and spreading abroad; while the opposite power does not.”  (J. of D. 1:117)

To help build up the Kingdom of God is the work of the Lord.

Hosea 9:8 says that “The watchman of Ephraim was with my God; but the prophet is a snare of a fowler in all his ways, and hatred in the house of his God.”  (J. S. T.)

Shall we require miracles as proof of Apostleship or a Prophetic calling?

“Require not miracles, except I shall command you, except casting out devils, healing the sick, and against poisonous serpents, and against deadly poisons.”  (D&C 24:13)

So, it isn’t a display of power that establishes who are the “Watchmen of Ephraim.”

Often it is the weak, unlearned, and unassuming, who are used by the Lord as we see in D&C 35:12-13:

“And there are none that doeth good except those who are ready to receive the fulness of my gospel, which I have sent forth unto this generation.

“Whereofre, I call upon the weak things of the world, those who are unlearned and despised, to thrash the nations by the power of my Spirit…”

In fact, we should, of our own free agency, be engaged in good works.

“For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward.

Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness.”  (D&C 58:27-27)

“And I would exhort you, my beloved brethren, that ye remember that very good gift cometh of Christ.

And I would exhort you, my beloved brethren, that ye remember that he is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and that all of these gifts of which I have spoken, which are spiritual, never will be done away, even as long as the world shall stand, only according to the unbelief of the children of men.”  (Moroni 10:18-19)

This instructs us that Christ never changes—the spirit of Christ is the spirit of truth—so there is the constant.

“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.”  (D&C 84:45)

There is our anchor in this turbulent sea of change!  Truth Never Changes!

  

—COMMENTARY—

ON

THE ELECTION

What is the ELECTION?  We have all heard of making ones Calling & Election sure, and understand that ordinance is by the Savior laying His hands on a man’s head and sealing him His—the capstone ordinance.  And we all understand that in order for that ordinance to ever take place, a man must live every revealed law, ordinance and rite of the Holy Priesthood.

“For all who will have a blessing at my hands shall abide the law which was appointed for that blessing, and the conditions thereof, as were instituted from before the foundation of the world.”  (D&C 132:5)

But I would again ask—What is the election?  This ordinance belongs to the wife—my father taught a wife, who knows her husband through and through, and understands that he will not deviate from the path of righteousness, and knows that he will strive to obtain Celestial Glory at any cost, elects her husband.  The election belongs exclusively to the wife or wives.  Each must elect their husband—and how? Mary annointed Jesus’ feet and wiped them clean with her hair (John 11:2; John 12:3).  In the latter Scripture, Mary was strongly criticized by Judas for performing this ordinance on her husband.  Mary knew the ordinance she performed was to prepare the body of her husband for burial—as did the Savior, who said:

“Let her alone; for she hath preserved this ointment until now, that she might anoint me in token of my burial.”  (John 12:7)

When a husband and wife receive their higher blessings, they both receive the Priesthood and she is instructed the manner in which she will performs this ordinance to her husband—the election.  However, in D&C 132:64, the Lord gives a warning to the non-compliant wife:

“And again, verily, verily, I say unto you, if any man have a wife, who holds the keys of this power, and he teaches unto her the law of my priesthood, as pertaining to these things, then shall she believe and administer unto him, or she shall be destroyed, saith the Lord your God; for I will destroy her; for I will magnify my name upon all those who receive and abide in my law.”

The Lord in that verse plainly states that wives will eventually hold the keys of this power—which is given with the higher blessings—and He gives a warning that if she does not comply in electing her husband, she shall be destroyed.  And why?  Because the Lord teaches us that man is not without the woman and woman is not without the man—they are one.  There are no single individuals as Gods; marriage is a part of the Godhead.  There must be a wholeness or a completion of the ordinances before the Lord “magnifies His name upon all those who receive and abide in His Law.”

There are steps we all must take to achieve this capstone ordinance the Savior bestows.

Let us all strive to live our lives in accordance to the precepts of the Fulness of the Gospel, so that we may rise and greet the Master in a warm embrace, as He leads us into the Kingdom.  May God bless you.

Shall the Youth of Zion Falter?

(Truth Never Changes, Vol. 2, No. 5, pp. 187-189)

To whom belongs the responsibility of teaching the youth of Zion?  If Zion’s youth falter, will not Zion itself falter?

Perhaps it is presumptuous for the Saints to call themselves, ZION.  Have the Saints ever established a Zion society?  Enoch established Zion.  How was it accomplished?  We are told that Zion is where the pure in heart dwell.  Is it just the pure in heart?  Our Lord knows that there are many people in different denominations that are pure in heart.  Some religionists are in it for the money.  Some are as phony and theatrical as any Shakespeare presentation.

During the 1970’s, many evangelists came under Federal scrutiny.  Cards that were filled out by worshippers, before sitting down were taken to sound-proof rooms and through special microphones, the symptoms and problems were then communicated through hidden ‘hearing-aid-like speakers.’  These evangelists would act as if under the inspiration of the Lord, receiving ‘revelation’ to the needs of the specific individuals in the audience.  Some eventually went to prison—others were fined.  Immorality began to surface on the part of some.  Others under investigation, chose to “clean up their act.”  It was priestcraft and training individuals to be objects of worship.

I watched on TV the Pope say mass during one of his visits to the U. S.  My understanding, was that tickets were required to be inside the Cathedral.  Several nuns  lined the way the Pope was exiting after mass.  The expression of joy, the thrill of seeing and being blessed by the ‘Vicar of Christ’ was elating to these sweet ladies.  The goodness of their virtuous lives radiated, with that light of pure goodness that cannot be falsified.  ‘Pure in hear,’ who can deny it?  The goodness of some Protestant ministers, who endeavor to be the servants of God cannot be faked, either.  Many Christians shine with purity.  Many Stake Presidents, Bishops and General Authorities do also; not all, but many do shine with purity.  Many returned Missionaries glow after serving the Lord.

Is a Catholic Priest doing the work of the Lord, when working with the homeless?  Yes!  Is the minister doing the work of the Lord helping the drug addict accept Christ and forsake his path of sin?  Of course!  Is the Bishop doing the work of the Lord when he assists young people to set worthy goals and live worthy lives?  Yes again!  The probability of purity exists very strongly with all these people.

Yet, give the Priest a Book of Mormon and what happens?  Explain the Fulness of the Gospel to the Bishop and watch his reaction.  The Truth is that as hard as it is to say it, at that point, they cease to be the servants of the Lord and begin to make war upon those who are living a higher law than themselves!  History demonstrates this repeatedly.

If these are pure and virtuous people, then what is missing?  To every kingdom, there is a law.  Is there any other way to receive a blessing other than by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated?  If there is, then I would like to know about it.  So what does it require to be exalted in the Celestial Kingdom?

The answer is obvious to Saints who study the Gospel.  Somewhere in all the vastness of Eternity, was there some individual who was elevated to Godhood on a lesser plan?  Or does it require that all be elevated on the same principles?  Could one on earth be required to obey a higher law than another, and the inhabitants of both, be exalted to the same degree of exaltation?  Or can one portion of the Lord’s children in one timeframe be required to live higher laws than others in another time—and will all receive equal exaltation?  Those who were required to suffer more, sacrifice more, and endure more may certainly point an accusing finger saying, “Why did I have to go through so much and they did not?”

Can ‘everlasting’ possibly mean conditionalizing, the laws-of-the-land-prohibiting; or “he said I didn’t have to”?  The New and Everlasting Covenant cannot be changed nor altered.  That is a simple fact none of us can escape.  Pres. Taylor said that no one can walk back into the presence of God, save those who live the same law the Father has lived.

Therefore, Zion must be established upon the principles of the Celestial Kingdom.  What does it take then?  Everything within the Gospel of Jesus Christ – The Fulness – nothing less.  We cannot delete this or that portion of the Gospel.  All of the laws must be lived—no ordinance can be dispensed as unnecessary.  We are NOT at liberty to alter the Gospel!

How many times have I seen young people stand in testimony meetings and say, “Well, I really don’t have a testimony,” or “I’m not really sure who holds the keys.”  My obvious question is: Why don’t you?  What is so important in your life that you have procrastinated this?  Whose responsibility is it to teach my children?  The TV?  Billions of dollars each year are spent to impose the world’s morality onto you and your children.  Attention spans have been measured and targeted at the 6^th Grade-level, that will get us all.

Social morality and tolerance levels have been changed in this century by movies and TV.  Why anyone would want one in their home or a Nintendo is beyond me.  It is akin to having a rattlesnake in your house to keep down the mice.

Schools bring peer pressure of unparalleled degree.  Our young people are attacked on every hand.  They are subjected to greater temptations and this at a younger age, than any other generation that I am aware of.  May the Lord bless our children.  In the midst of all this, there are some who say: Don’t hold Primary or MIA or Relief Society.  Is Primary evil?

Our children should experience everything that is good and Mormon in its nature.  We should be willing to put in the time to provide these experiences.  We need to make the investment of time in their wellbeing.  We should be holding Family Home Evening, Family Devotionals and Family Prayers.

Fathers and Mothers need to teach obedience to their children.  Obedience is the first law of the Gospel. Samuel said to Saul that obedience was better than sacrifice.  Not blind obedience, but righteous obedience and conduct.  Obedience to the Lord.  How can children be obedient to the Lord and be disobedient to righteous parents?  Failing to correct children is instilling the seeds of spiritual failure.  Learning to obey parents brings the self-discipline required to resist peer pressure and temptation.  There is the first step to bring about Zion.  Our children are our most precious gift that God has entrusted us with.

SHALL THE YOUTH OF ZION FALTER?   Winter 1996

Selected Writings, Teachings & Compilations of

Elder William N. Baird, Part II

Family Principles of Charity, Forgiveness and Sealing

(Truth Never Changes, Vol. 4, No. 3, pp. 91-103)

         I thought I would quote Christ in the tenth chapter of the Gospel of John, verses 28 to 38:

   

 “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.  My Father, which gave them to me, is greater than all; and no man is able to  pluck them out of my Father’s hand.  I and the Father are one.                                                                          Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.

      Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father, for which of those works do ye stone me?  

     The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, maketh thyself God. 

     Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law I said, Ye are Gods?

If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?  If I do not do the works of my Father, believe me not.  But if I do, though ye  believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.

If Christ called them, that were about to stone Him to death, Gods, are you not at least as good as they?  Then I would like to quote from a discourse of Joseph Smith and then later, a quote from John Taylor.

Doc. History of the Church, Vol. 5, page 23-25

Minutes of meeting of the Female Relief Society, at the Grove, Nauvoo, Ill., June 9, 1842. (Reported by Sister E. R. Snow)

Joseph Smith addresses the congregation

     “It grieves me that there is no fuller fellowship: If one member suffer, all feel it, by union of feeling, we obtain power with God.  Christ said He came to call sinners to repentance, to save them.  Christ was condemned by the self-righteous Jews because He took sinners into His society.  He took them upon the principle that if they repented of their sins.  It is the object of this society to reform persons, not to take those that are corrupt and foster them in their wickedness; but if they repent, we are bound to take them and by kindness, sanctify and cleanse them from all unrighteousness by our influence in watching over them…

     “…Nothing is so much calculated to lead people to forsake their sin as to take them by the hand, and watch over them in tenderness.  When persons manifest the least kindness and love to me, O what power it has over my mind, while the opposite course has a tendency to harrow up harsh feelings and depress the human mind.  It is one evidence that men are acquainted with the principles of godliness to behold the contraction of affectionate feelings and lack of charity in the world.  The power and glory of godliness is spread out on a broad principle to throw out the mantle of charity…

     “…The nearer we get to our Heavenly Father, the more we are disposed to look with compassion on perishing souls; we feel that we want to take them upon our shoulders, and cast their sins behind our backs.  My talk is intended for all this society; if you would have God have mercy on you, have mercy on one another…

He then made a promise in the name of the Lord, saying that that soul who has righteousness enough to ask God in the secret place for life every day of their lives, shall live three score and ten.

     “…We are full of selfishness; the devil flatters us that we are very righteous when we are feeding on the faults of others.  We can only live by worshipping our God; all must do it for themselves; none can do it for another.  Sisters of the Society, shall there be strife among you?  I will not have it.  You must repent, and get the love of God.  Away with self-righteousness.  The best measure of principle to bring the poor to repentance is to administer to their wants.  The Ladies’ Relief Society is not only to relieve the poor, but to save souls.”

John Taylor, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 19, page 148:

     “A word to the sisters.  They have their associations and societies—all of which are good and praiseworthy.  They form a part of us, for man is not without the woman, nor the woman without the man.  It takes a man and a woman to make a man; without woman, man is not perfect; God ordained it.  We are aiming at celestial glory, and when we reach that exaltation, will we have wives?  Yes.”

     Man is singular, women is plural.  In Hebrew, plural means three or more.  Then it would take one man and at least three women in harmony with their husband to make a man, a God-unit, or a creative unit of the universe.

     Husbands, study with your wives.  Wives, study with your husbands.  There is a great strength there that you will not find any other way.  There is power in union of study, as there is a union of feeling.

Eloheim is man and woman; Jehovah is man and women.  Adam and Eve is man and women.  There is a God-unit.  A creative unit.  Man and women combine to create the greatest creation in the universe: Another human soul.

              

 The First Shall be Last and the Last Shall be First

 

LOVE: What is love?  It is not sex; it is not romance; it is as God teaches: different than the world looks at it.

     What does it mean to have a family?  There is only one family.  The world and the people thereof are trying to do away with all of the family ties.  There is a movement on to destroy the family unit.  Some saying that it is the ideal thing.  They teach young people, “do not get involved.”  Involved?  “I do not want to be involved!”  Do your own thing.  Are you involved?  Yes!  You are involved and have been; you prayed for it, trained for it, and were reserved for it from the beginning, from before the foundations of the earth were laid.  The Prophet Joseph Smith said, “By union of feeling we obtain power with God.”

     There is no happiness without family ties, …without union of feeling.  They say do our own thing.  We have a whole generation raised with this feeling.  I have been there and I know there is no happiness without the Gospel of Life (Light).  We will always be looking for peace without it and never finding it.  Having been without the Gospel and then finding it gave me an appreciation for the joy it brings.

     You are involved; you are the sum total of all of the attributes of all your ancestors.  Good and bad.  As one of the brethren put it: you have problems that you can blame on your ancestors.  If you overcome these problems and forgive them (your ancestors), and going farther, if you forgive all, the Prophet Joseph Smith promised that you would get the spirit of God and keep it.  Then the Prophet Joseph Smith promised that if you do get the spirit of God and keep it, you will be an instrument in the hands of God in getting your family (ancestors and posterity) organized and perfected as it was before we came here.  Do you understand the meaning of this promise?  You will be the Saviors of all of your family before you and after you.  You will be a Redemptor, a Savior on Mount Zion for thousands who are not now redeemed.  You will be part of the total Royal Family of God.

     Speaking of the branch grafted in.  If you overcome all of your ancestors bad attributes, you will be the branch planted anew, the branch grafted in, and if the branch is strong enough, it will save the whole tree (The family past and future).  It will be a savior to all, a Redemptor, a savior on Mount Zion.

Forgive All That You May Have the Promise

(MARK 11:21-26)

     “And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.

     And Jesus answering saith unto them Have faith in God, for verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and thou be cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe in those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.  Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.  And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.  But is ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

     If your ancestors have not lived the same law or higher than you have, they will have to be sealed to you and not you to them.  Thus, the first shall be last and the last shall be first. 

     Then your posterity will be as numerous as the sand on the sea shore and as numerous as the stars in the heavens in the total Royal Family of God even before you leave this life.  The last shall be first and the first shall be last.

     In every probation you were there with the Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ.  We have gone through many probations.  Some say we were an Id—then we were an intelligence.  We then had that intelligence put into a spirit body.  That spirit body was then given a mortal body to marshal discipline and bring it into submission.  In each one of these probations, we were there, and so was our Lord.  He was the head and He said, “Come follow me,” showing us the way.  He has always been there for us and will in future probations.  In each probation, Christ organized the human family and perfected it with our help.

The truth (the Kingdom of God) is within you and was from the beginning.  You were in the presence of God the Father and the Son and were taught all of these things before you came here.  In fact in every probation you were taught and remembered again.  (Faith comes by hearing and hearing the word of God).  That is how faith is received.

Meaning of Words of God

Jehovah means Father, Mother and Son or posterity.  It is a condition as well as a name.  Jeh is supreme God, Hovah or Eve-ah, for Eve is the name of the mother of all living.  Eloheim means the same thing, only that it is plural (Council of Gods).  Elijah is EL-I-JAH, means, YAWEH is my God.

El (God) Jah (Supreme God), meaning God and Supreme God, or more particularly, the union of the Father and the Son.  Elias means the same as Elijah on a lesser level; in fact, in some languages there is no such word as Elias; Elijah is the name used for both offices.  Father, meaning Man and Woman; Women, meaning Son or Family; the Son also means Man and Woman.  Thus, Father, Mother and Son or Posterity.  Thus this family extends down to us one link at a time in the Royal Family of God.  Father (Father and Mother), Mother (Mother and Son), Son (also means Man and Women, or more particularly, Father and Mother on the next generation).  Thus the great need for genealogy to bring this down one generation to the next from Joseph Smith down to us and our posterity and maybe back through the fathers to our ancestors.

     Have you ever felt you were not worth very much?  This may not be the case for your ancestors or your posterity.  For without you, or someone like you, they could not be connected with the Total Royal Family of God.  You are their only hope to be welded into this great and glorious family.  If you can comprehend this picture and this promise, it will change your life.  It will tell you who you are in respects to God!!!  A Royal Patriarch in the Royal Family of God.  A Patriarch to both your ancestors (most of them) and your posterity.

     Patriarchal—PA  meaning Father; TRI meaning Trinity; ARCH, having reference to Archangel; AL is God.  The word meaning: Father of the Trinity, an Archangel, who is God.

     God has given instructions to have a Holy Order, but man cannot agree on what “Holy Order” consists of.  Priesthood must tie in with it.  Who of us even understands the Melchizedek Priesthood?  What does it mean to hold the Priesthood of Melchizedek?  Of the name, Melchizedek, the Hebrew dictionary gives the following:

     Melchiah means Jehovah is King.  Zadok means Just or Righteous or Priest.  Hebrew words often contain one of the root words used to designate Deity.  Immanuel, meaning God is with us, contains the same El reference as Eloheim, (the plural form of God—or Gods).  Other examples are Ishmael and Israel.  Words ending with iah designate Jehovah such as, Isaiah and Jeremiah. 

     In all previous dispensations they, (previous dispensations), were not perfect because it was not the dispensation of the fullness of times.   We must have all of the laws, and all of the ordinances and all things that were ever given to the children of men.  Then the Prophet Joseph Smith came in this dispensation to wind up the seen.  He then said to those in the previous dispensations, “Come be sealed to me and then you will have a perfect dispensation to be received in; that you may be saved in a perfect dispensation also.”  They then will be sealed to Joseph Smith and he will be sealed to Jesus Christ and He to the Father. 

     You can say to your ancestors, “Come be sealed to me.”  You will stand to your ancestors and your posterity as Joseph Smith stood to all dispensations.  They then will be sealed to Joseph Smith and the Godhead.  All of this will be done through you and others who will accept this responsibility, and all of your family past and present will be sealed to Joseph Smith and Jesus Christ and to God, through you.  There will be some exceptions to this, however.  Some of them may have lived all of the Law.  If they have, they should be sealed to Joseph Smith and you to them. 

     Joseph Smith died by the shedding of blood that he could stand as a savior to those who have gone before and those who will come after.  Thus the first shall be last and the last shall be first.  If you understand this principle you will be in the same position to your ancestors and of course, posterity, as Joseph Smith is to all dispensations.

HEIRS

    

To be an Heir, you have to be a Patriarch and have all of your ordinances and be connected to others who have all their ordinances and be sealed one-by-one back to Joseph Smith.  There must be a living Heir to be an advocate with those on the other side, one with the right to receive revelation for those on this side, the family.  An Heir is like a birthright son.  He (the birthright son) has all of the responsibility of taking care of the family.  The birthright son has the responsibility of all of the ancestors and the posterity of his father.  The same is an Heir.  The Heir has all of the responsibility of both the ancestors and the posterity; he has the right of revelation and decision pertaining to the blessings and sealing of the family.  The Heir has all of his ordinances as well as having a sealing line (Law of Adoption) back to Joseph Smith, who also has all of their respective ordinances.  Jesus Christ is THE Heir.  You are an Heir if you follow Christ.  Jesus Christ also has His Father’s birthright.  You can also have the Birthright if you qualify.  All of these blessings are yours.  They belong to you through God the Father, Jesus Christ and Joseph Smith.

     The Heir, if he is truly an Heir, is a joint-Heir with Jesus Christ with all of its blessings and responsibilities appertaining there to.

     We come to a necessity of having the Patriarchal Order of the Gods.  Symbolizing the universe (the living Heir) and a planet (the Birthright son), there must be representatives of God to each family-unit (the universe), and each unit within that family (the planet).  Every unit within the universe must have an advocate to receive revelation and make decisions for that unit.  Thus a large job is broken into units and a God over that unit, the Living Heir, is appointed to take the pressure off the President of the Priesthood.  That unit is then broken down into smaller units with a head over that unit (the birthright son).  This makes an impossible job one that can be handled.  It then becomes a task that is capable of being accomplished by all.  If we do not organize an organization of this kind, we will never be able to seal the family back to God.

ADOPTION

  

  This is all part of the law of adoption.  This will have to be fully instituted before the winding up scene.  In fact, it cannot be completed until it is done and all is sealed into the Royal Family of God.  Some will be sealed as Servants of God and some will be sealed as Servants of the Servants of God.  We have all been adopted into the family of God even though some of us have the right lineage. 

Without the right lineage, there has to be two or more adoptions.  All must be adopted, so to speak, by the work that Jesus Christ has done for us because we are sinners all.  He paid the price for us.  He bought us with the shedding of His blood and suffering. (D&C 101:56).  This then is a gift to us because of His righteousness, and not because of anything we do, lest we boast.

Price of the Consecration and Adoption

    

The Master went to the Garden of Gethsemane.  Goethe (Gatt), meaning press and Shemene meaning oil.  Thus He went to the place of the olive press.  It takes many years to cultivate an olive tree to get it to produce at all.  It takes about eight to ten years and much work.  Then, when the olives are raw, they are very bitter and some say they are poisonous in that state.  There is another long process that includes vinegar and salt to make them pure and ready for the press.  They are then taken to the press.  A huge stone is used to crush the olives, and it takes a large beast of burden or machinery to move a stone so large.  The stone then crushes the olives and the oil flows freely.  In Biblical times, they used the pure olive oil for lamps for light.  At the temple, they had a huge reservoir for the oil that was used.  They had what was called the Menorah, the Eternal Light.  The pulp (or mash as some people call it) of the olive after crushing, was used to burn for heat.  It burned long and hot.  The olive was the staff of light and heat.  The olive oil is also used for healing.  It is often called the Balm of Gilead. 

     When Adam was near death, he sent Eve and one of his sons, Seth back to the garden for oil for comfort and healing; they were met by an angel of light.  He told them there would be no more oil until after the Savior came and that the oil then would be from the olive tree.  The tree is also symbolic of eternity.  It is called Eternal.  There are trees on the Mount of Olives that are 1800 years or older.  There is often a branch coming out of a tree that has apparently been dead many years; a branch will appear, so to speak, out of a dead tree.  This represents the branch that comes out of the stem, which comes out of the root of David.

     (D&C Section 113:1-10: Heading)

     “Who is the Stem of Jesse spoken in the 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th verses of the Chapter of Isaiah? 

     Verily thus saith the Lord: It is Christ.

     What is the rod spoken of in the first verse of the 11^th Chapter of Isaiah, that should come out of the Stem of Jesse?

     Behold, thus saith the Lord: It is a servant in the hands of Christ, who is partly a descendant of Jesse, as well as Ephraim, or the house of Joseph, on whom there is laid much power.

     What is the root of Jesse spoken in the 10^th verse of the 11^th Chapter?

     Behold, thus saith the Lord, it is a descendant of Jesse, as well as Joseph, unto whom rightly belongs the priesthood, and the keys of the kingdom, for an ensign, and for the gathering of my people in the last days.

     Questions by Elias Higbee: What is meant by the command in Isaiah, 52^nd Chapter, 1^st verse, which saith: Put on thy strength, O Zion—and what people had Isaiah reference to?
     He had reference to those whom God shall call in the last days, who should hold the power of priesthood to bring again Zion, and the redemption of Israel; and to put on her strength is to put on the authority of the priesthood, which she, Zion, has a right to by lineage; also to return to that power which she had lost.

     What are we to understand by Zion loosing herself from the bounds of her neck, 2^nd verse?

     We are to understand that the scattered remnants are exhorted to return to the Lord from whence they have fallen; which if they do, the promise of the lord is that he will speak to them, or give them revelation.  (See the 6^th, 7^th and 8^th verses).

     The bands of her neck are the curses of God upon her, or the remnants of Israel in their scattered condition among the Gentiles.

     As the pure olive tree was beaten for the oil or light, so was Christ, pure, beaten for the light.  He paid the price, the price of the consecration.  The whole process of the pure olive oil and the press is symbolic of Christ.

     The Garden of Gethsemane was on the Mount of Olives.  It was there that the Lord suffered; it was there that the Lord was raised up to His Father.  It is there that He will return.  It has many important and sacred meanings.  The Place, the Name, the Time and the Person.  Four sacred things came together at the same time.  The greatest event that ever occurred was the day that Christ paid the price for consecration, the earth and everyone that has ever or ever will come upon it.  Mount Olivette is also the place where Christ will return.  When His foot touches the Mount there will be an upheaval that it will put the earth through the olive press, (wine press), it will purify the earth and all upon it.  Then will come the Wedding Feast (welding feast).  All who attend will have to have the proper Wedding Garment on.  All will be clothed with Glory, Immortality and Eternal Life.  If they are not wearing the proper wedding garment, they cannot be there—they will be cast out.

     Christ sweat great drops of blood because of the suffering He received because of our sins.  He suffered more than any other man could have.  He paid the price for us.  He bought us—He paid for us.  We do not belong to ourselves—we belong to Christ.  He then paid the price again on the cross in the most agonizing way.

He was the Anointed One from before the foundation of the earth.  He paid the price that He could become the Anointed One.  Without an administrator, an anointing one, the children of men would receive nothing.  We could not receive what we can receive.  He did this that you and I could receive the blessings and share in His glory.

     After Christ has given us the right to be in the Total Royal Family of God, we still will be required to live in such a way that the adoption will be fully effective for us.  We must also pay the price of consecration.  We must suffer in what ever way is required of us that we may also pay the price of the consecration.  We must keep our covenants no matter what the price of the consecration, that we may become an administrator and anointing one to our posterity.  This is another adoption of sorts.  There will be yet another when the whole earth is adopted completely. 

     There will be one great and glorious Wedding Breakfast (welding breakfast), or Wedding Supper with the Savior, when the Priesthood, or Christ (the Father) and the Church (the Mother) and the Kingdom (the Son) will be welded together.  When all will be put in their place and sealed forever to our Lord Jesus Christ.  Our family will then be organized and perfected as it was before we came here.  Christ will again have done His work and permitted us to help—then we share in His blessings and glory.

     If later those that have been sealed to us may be restored back to their own parents some day, we will not lose our tie to them.  It will only mean that they as well as all their children are also one with us, and we are tied to more people than before.  We will have had those sealed to us is trust so that they could then do for their ancestors what they could not have done before.  If their parents qualify, they will then have the family organized and perfected as it was before we came to this earth as promised by Joseph Smith Jr.

     If we become an anointer for our posterity (our ancestors, too), we will be the Olive Branch planted anew, or the branch growing from a dead tree, to help our Savior gather in His family.  How can a man love God without loving his?  How can a wife love her husband without loving what is his?  How can anyone love God without loving what is you?  You are one with all men (God’s Children).

     How can a man be an Apostle without loving all other Apostles?  Without love, what is God?  Without love, what are we?  Without loving, how will we ever be a God?

     The Mount of Olives or Mount Olivette is symbolic of the Olive Tree or the Olive Oil.  The light is the consecration.  The Oil (the saving principles of Christ) flows from Mount Olivette (Christ) to all the world.  The olive tree or olive beaten for the light or Christ beaten for the light is to all the world and to all the children of men (God).

     Referring to whether you are worth anything or not, think about this: Can you have a kingdom without your posterity?  Can Christ have a Kingdom without those that are under Him?  If He didn’t have us and others, He would not have what He has.  You are important to Him.  He is important to us.  No one can have the Gospel without each other.  We are all important to each other and God.  There is no one that is not important to the whole.  All things are one—you are one with all things. 

     Let me ask you one more thing: If any man has a kingdom or any other blessing, has he been able to acquire it without receiving it through his wife?  If any woman has blessings, has she been able to receive them except through her husband?  See how necessary each one is?  All must be one. 

O! How can a wife look at her children without loving her husband?  How can a man look at his children without loving his wife?

The Conflict of Eternity:

Chaos and Order in the Gospel

"While with an eye made quiet by the power

Of harmony, and the deep power of joy,

* We see into the life of things"

* -William Wordworth

*    "But if corruption take away all measure, all form, all order from corruptible things, no nature will remain."

* -St. Augustine

"Freedom so high when we are all bound by laws

Etched in the scheme of nature's own hand

Unseen by all those who fail

In their pursuit of faith"

- Dead Can Dance

"One thing only is clear, that the appearance of all these grades and subdivisions of men must follow with unfailing regularity some law of nature.  That law, of course, is unknown at present, but I am convinced that it exists, and one day may become known."

Fyodor Dostoevsky  

Two Trees

Quite recently, a good Christian friend of mine made a gift of a book to me.  I was greatly touched by this gesture and proceeded to read it.  As usual, I read to try to glean any insight that might be contained in the pages, because I try to keep myself humble, believing that others have the capacity to teach me and that I have much to learn.  There was much good to learn in this book, but I also keep my eyes open for falsehoods.  The writer brought up a subject upon which I have been pondering.

In it, he illustrated the story of the Garden of Eden, specifically the dichotomy of the two trees - the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil and the Tree of Life.  His premise is that the Tree of Knowledge was a biblical model of law - an understanding of the quintessential difference between good and evil, creating the necessity of law to accentuate this distinction.  The creation of this law created in turn sin, sin being no more that the transgression of the law.

He quoted the Apostle Paul to support his premise:

"The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law." 1 Corinthians 15: 56

The writer used inductive logic, and his arguments were methodical.  In essence, I think that he might have touched on a degree of truth.

            His conclusion, however, caused me some sadness.

            He says that if the Tree of Knowledge is a biblical model for law and sin, then the Tree of Life must be an analogy of Christ, or freedom from sin.  Freedom from sin can only mean freedom from law.

            Now, please understand that I commend this writer as he was trying to expound the gospel as far as he is able to comprehend it.  The sentiments that he expresses are in complete conformity with mainstream Christian thinking.  They have streamlined their religious doctrines to eliminate all obligation to law and rite, but focus rather on internal feelings.  The extent of their relationship with God is emotive.

            For this we cannot blame nor judge the, but allow them to worship God according to the dictates of their own conscience.

            We can however, point out that this is not in harmony with Mormon teachings.  Moreover, it is needful to breech this subject, because of some of the things I have heard some Latter-day Saints say within the past few years.

The Church of Know-it-alls?

           

Contemporary Christians often resent Mormons, because they think we have an answer to everything.  I have heard it expressed, "Mormons try to explain too much."  Most recently, Mormons have been trying to downplay the differences between the Church and other religions.  (see this month's issue of Time magazine)  At church just yesterday, a brother applauded publicly the Church's PR involvement in the Council of World Churches.  In the same Gospel Doctrine class, the teacher unwittingly demonstrated a complete lack of understanding in the meaning of celestial law as referenced in D&C 105:5, saying that the celestial law that will build up Zion is charity.

            However sad, I am not surprised that Latter-day Saints are beginning to be confused about the importance of law.  How can they value the laws of God when the church authorities have treated the law of God lightly in favor of the unconstitutional laws of the land?  If we lived in Daniel's day, would they sustain the edicts against prayer and sanction those cast into lion's dens?  How many laws were rendered 'obsolete' beginning with the 1890 Manifesto that revoked the practice of plural marriage?

            I cannot find myself too terribly astonished to hear statements from the mouths of Mormons like those that follow:

1) "I don't think it matters what you believe or practice, so long as your heart is right."

2) "Everyone should just decide what's right for him/ herself and just follow that."

3) "We should follow the prophet, even if what he tells us is wrong."

4) "We can do temple work in the Millennium."

5) "We don't need to live the laws of consecration or plural marriage in this day and age.  They don't apply to us."

            Everyone of these phrases is in direct contradiction with the most fundamental teachings of the gospel as revealed to TPJS.  Doubt me?  If so, then take the blinders off so that you can see the pages when you read.  I have heard with my own ears these very phrases from the lips of good LDS people.  Now, before you think that I am being overly critical of church members, let me point out that every phrase except #5 has come out of the lips of Mormon Fundamentalists.  Truth magazine in the 1940's was geared specifically to mainstream Mormons.  Truth Never Changes is geared not only to mainstream Mormons, but also to many Mormon Fundamentalists who regrettably didn't apply to their lives the lessons found in Truth magazine.  The call to repentance is to all who will repent.

The Great Mystery

           

I will address the issues of law and order, chaos and dissolution, organization and disunity as they pertain to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

            I will address many common themes found in this issue, but you will see that we all are in harmony and that my viewpoints are in good company.  The analogy of the opening of my treatise is an adequate starting place.

            Whether literal, figurative or both, I feel that the Great Mystery of our primeval origins and our cosmic destination lies intricately woven with the Creation story found in the Book of Genesis.  Mormons who have received their endowments in the temple should at least understand this.  We understand, through the teachings of Brigham Young, that Moses, that ancient patriarch, while penning this book, enshrouded it with obscure symbolism to preserve the sacred nature of the universe from the uninitiated and unbelievers.  Historians tell us that the Romans, seeking cultural enlightenment, contracted the Essenes to translate the Torah into Greek, into what was called the Septuagint, but historians state that the Essenes disguised their secret doctrines in a shroud of poetry, allegories of serpents, ribs, and clay.

            Generally, we Mormons think that we have a better grasp on creationism that most, but I'd like to pose a question: Do we really?

            Brigham Young tried to expound on it by revealing more on the nature of godhood and who the first man was.  He anticipated humanity to welcome these _tidings, and he expected it to be thundered across the pulpit.  If anyone has questions pertaining to creationism, I can think of no greater clarification than the Lecture at the Veil.

            Yet how did the Saints react to it?  They have stammered their syllogisms and contradictions in embarrassment and sought to extinguish the light of the Adam-God Doctrine by labeling it heresy and excommunicating any who would dare espouse the teaching, muttering every frantic apology for the man who roared it like a lion across the fertile Utah valleys.  They say he was "misquoted" or "didn't know what he was talking about."

            And where is a revelation that corrects Brother Brigham?  Have you seen it?

            No, we were not ready.  The Lord sought to reveal greater truth upon us, and we were not ready.  We label these things the 'mysteries', but why are they 'mysteries'?  Not because God does not want them hidden from us, but because we do not want to ponder them.  They cause us to think, and we do not like the threat that thinking might present to us.  There is no mystery but what we are unwilling to discover or accept.

            Some believe that the events described in Genesis are literal - that God truly fashioned Adam out of an adobe and then breathed on him.  Some, like the Jewish scholars and Kabballists think that every letter, every number, every word is a hidden nuance or an esoteric insinuation. (Wink. Wink. Nudge. Nudge. Say no more.)  What do I believe?  A little of both.

            Let us start with the very beginning of the Bible:

            Berashith Bera Elohim Ath Ha Shamaim Va Ath Ha Aretz.

            Hebrew for "In the beginning God  created the heaven and earth."

            The Elohim - the gods - demonstrated their 'unique' nature (unique in that they are one) in the very first chapter of the Bible.  Brigham Young taught that it is imperative that man come to know the character of God.  The character of God is manifested in the Book of Genesis.

            In mythology and legends, most cultures have wrestled with the idea that order and chaos are of a primordial duality.  In the Christian tradition, God is described as having moved on the face of the deep (chaos) to bring light (order). (Fractals: The Pattern of Chaos: Discovering a New Aesthetic of Art, Science and Nature by John Briggs, Touchstone, NY, 1992)

            I reject wholly the Gnostic notion of a God without essence - a God who is neither good nor evil, but both.  Long before Zarathustra, the adherents of the priesthood of Melchezidek understood the duality of the universe - that the struggle of good and evil exists; that light and darkness create the synthesis of progression or regression, that there is a polarity to all things seen and unseen.  That chaos and order are the structure upon which all the cosmos exists.

allow me to begin to illustrate...

Hail Darwin, Full of  #@$%

It has been fitting that the previous article touched upon the principles of science.  I do not pretend to be well-versed in the postulates, theorems and precepts of science, yet I acknowledge a common desire with scientists to know the truth of all things.  I love to hear of new ideas and theories, no matter how wild they may be.  But scientists would refuse to hear my concept of truth.

Why is that?

In order to understand the conflict between science and religion, you must understand that science itself is a quasi-religion complete with it's priesthoods of PHDs, it's inner sanctums of laboratories, it's museums of shrines, it's platitudes of method, it's pantheon of great thinkers, it's own code of mythos, pathos, logos, eros.  It has it's own myths of creation.  Who can prove to me Le Maitre's big-bang theory with it's cosmic egg (If creation started when a cosmic egg exploded in all directions, pray tell, was there some big chicken floating around there in the nothingness?) any more that one can prove to me that God crated the Earth in 6 days?  It can't be done!  Belief in subatomic particles is as much a question of faith as belief in the Holy Ghost, because none of us has ever seen either.

            Yes, science is a religion just like any other.  Whereas I feel that there is a true science, truth immutable and unaffected by human existence, we must admit that modern science is flawed, because it contains human error and fallacy.  If the philosophers before Galileo believed the earth to be the center of the cosmos, can you imagine what foolish notions we believe?

The breadth of science is not wide, and ultimately scientific questions become spiritual ones.

            And because science is filled with human error, it is ripe for the tampering of that ancient liar - the devil.

Chaos Theory

The duality of chaos and order are well-known concepts in popular science.  Those who are familiar with Heisenberg's uncertainty principle and Lorenz's chaos theory are aware that these mathematicians teach that chaos is the organizing force behind all dynamic patterns in nature, however contradicting these terms might seem.  These ideas are radically changing the scientific method and almost replacing it with a sense of futility at ever trying to understand the process of nature.  For instance, according to the complexity and chaos theories, a dynamic system like the weather has so many immeasurable influences that it is virtually impossible to predict or even observe the weather in completeness.  There are too many variables.  Someone lighting a bonfire on the west coast might contribute to variables that send a weather front to the Midwest.  So it is impossible to accurately gauge anything in nature, but the theory teaches that events tend to occur in some semblance of order through random sequences.

So what does this have to do with creationism?  Everything, to me.  I have no argument with chaos theory at its fundamental level. I have no problem with the correlation between the intricate fractal designs in snowflakes and leaves.  Hey!  I'm no mathematician, I'm a man of God.

            I call into question the concept of chaos on a spiritual level.  The advocates of this trendy train of thought teach essentially that chaos is the genesis behind everything we call order - that random patterns and chance propagate every cycle from the micro to the macrocosm.  It essentially places law and order on a level too far removed from humanity to be understood.  Like it's sibling, quantum physics, it comes strikingly close to a religious teaching than a scientific one.  It down plays law, just like the writer I spoke of earlier did.  The 'mystery' that this teaching engenders is ambiguous, and ambiguity is fertile ground for the subtle art of slavery in which the Great Liar is so well-versed.

Chaos and order.  The chicken and the egg.  Ying and yang.  Taste and filling.  Polar opposites.  All of these ideas I've discussed, I hope they've illustrated a deeper conflict at play here - the struggle of the eternities.  A struggle between good and evil.  God and Satan.  Order and chaos.  Law and rebellion.  Creation and destruction.  Addition and subtraction.  Incarnation and dissolution.  Love and hate.  Light and dark.

This  is the nature of the universe.  This is the battle we are fighting.  This is the purpose of existence - to internalize this struggle and bring about resolution within ourselves to align ourselves with one side or the other.  To take our place in the grand scheme of all space.  To become gods or devils.

The Light-Bearer

Let us discuss a character we are not comfortable discussing.  The Antithesis himself, Satan.  "Satan" in Hebrew means "Adversary".

            Have we all not at least once (or twice) in our life played the roll of the adversary?  Have we not ever, for a moment, forgotten that we are all a child of God and raged and fumed against that which is beautiful and true?  Kicked against the pricks?  If you say that you have not, then you are lying, because we all need repentance.  But if we have ever been adversarial in our lives, have we not before been Satan?

            Consider Lucifer, who was once a might angel of light.  “Lucifer” means “the bearer of light.”  What a beautiful, noble name.  Fathom for a moment, even if it brings you a little discomfort—What could cause the Light-Bearer, the son of the morning to fall from grace and rebel against God?  Read Isaiah.  He mourns that Lucifer fell from Heaven.  He was well loved there.

            How do you merit against an angel of light?  This shows to me that this conflict never ends, even after we have ascended to immortality and eternal lives. T here is no end to progression, hence adversity.

            Satan ahs no body, not necessarily because they have no flesh and blood.  But they have no body as Christ has a body, as we are part of the body of Christ when we commune in the covenant.

            Why is this? Because Satan is the essence of chaos. Satan is the absence of law.  Satan is the absence of order.  Satan is dissolution.  Satan is the absence of organization. Satan is the absence of Body.

Law and Order

The entire first two chapters of Genesis describe how God created the earth, how he moved across the face of the deep and brought order to it, how he established the law and set everything into its place.

In the 3rd chapter of Genesis (Joseph Smith’s Inspired Version, of course), the first thing that Satan does is to try to disrupt the order that God had brought forth:

"Wherefore, he sought to destroy the world."  (Genesis 3: 7)

Conversely, God is the essence of order.  The institution of order is called law.  Our Heavenly Father is as bound by law as we are, if we mean to share inheritance with him.  Adherence to these order-bringing laws are what make Him God.

Behold, mine house is a house of order, saith the Lord God, and not a house of confusion...This is eternal lives - to know the only wise and true God, and Jesus Christ, whom he hath sent.  I am he.  Receive ye, therefore, my law.  (D&C 132:4, 24)

The purpose of the Almighty are unchanged and unchangeable, his laws endure, and he is the same yesterday, today and forever.  (J of  D 18: 91)

Permit me to say there are eternal laws that exist with the Gods in the eternal worlds, and from which they cannot depart, and to which they are bound in all their acts; I was going to say as we are; but I will say not as we are, but as we ought to be, subject to the law of God in all our acts, and that it is absolutely necessary that men should be placed in a state of trial, in a state of probation.  (Deseret News, February 14, 1880 - John Taylor)

Jesus Christ was able to fulfill his calling, because he observed every aspect of the law to set an example for us.

Jesus Christ never omitted the fulfillment of a single law that God has made known for the salvation of the children of men.  It would not have done for him to have come and obeyed one law and neglected or rejected another.  He could not consistently do that and then say to mankind, 'Follow me'.  (Millennial Star 62: 97)

For behold, I reveal unto you a new and everlasting covenant; and if ye abide not that covenant, then ye are damned; for no one can reject this covenant and be permitted to enter into my glory...And I will appoint unto you, saith the Lord, except it be by law, even as I and my Father ordained unto you, before the world was?  I am the Lord thy God; and I give unto you this commandment - that no man shall come unto the Father but by me or by my word, which is my law, saith the Lord...Verily, Verily, I say unto you, except ye abide my law ye cannot attain to this glory.  (D&C 132: 4, 11-12, 21)

In turn, we are obliged to fulfill those requirements necessary to include ourselves within this grand order, which is the effulgent light of the universe.  These prerequisites are no more than the very laws that Jesus Christ abided by - the same law that our Heavenly Father submitted to.

Now, answer me this:  If we submit to the same laws, how can we not reap the same blessings as our Heavenly Father?  To their greatest extent?  And if we go against law and order, will we not be numbered with the "Satan"?  The Nephilim?

Broad is the gate, and wide the way that leadeth to the deaths; amd many there are that go in thereat, because they receive me not, neither do they abide in my law.  (D&C 132: 25)

We have received the high priesthood.  There is no change to that priesthood.  It belongs to the Celestial Kingdom of our God.  It does not belong to the Terrestrial nor the Telestial Kingdoms.  If you or I ever get into the Celestial Kingdom we have got to keep the law of that kingdom.  Show me the law that a man keeps, and I will tell you where he is going.  (Wilford Woodruff - DeseretWeekly News, July 29, 1889)

Do you begin to see?  Order is the basis of all the Gospel.  Everything we do in the Gospel is calculated to bring order for ourselves.  To establish family units.  To assemble ourselves as a church.  To perpetuate the order of the priesthood through all generations of time and throughout all eternity.

And again, verily I say unto you, that which is governed by law is also preserved by law and perfected and sanctified by the same.

That which breaketh a law, and abideth not by law, but seeketh to become a law unto itself, and willeth to abide in sin, and altogether abideth in sin, cannot be sanctified by law, neither by mercy, justice, nor judgement.  Therefore, they must remain filthy still.

All kingdoms have a law given.  (D&C 88: 34-36)

The Poetry of Ritual

I was surfing the Net late one night near the end of last semester, and I entered a chat room occupied by two other students.  One was in California, writing a paper on religion.  He was an ex-Mormon, so the conversation was already ripened for my entry.

He asked me, "What is the purpose of ritual?"

This threw me for a loop.  I know that the ordinances are necessary for salvation.  The root of the word "ordinance" is "order".  I started to explain myself, approaching it logically, saying that rituals are symbols - acts of commitment wherein we announce obligation to live a certain way.

But then, I realized that I was just talking too much.  I was trying to intellectualize something that transcends intellect.

The day I was endowed, I took off my shoes, entered the endowment house, saw everyone seated in the assembly room and instantly the power of the place struck me.  It was tangible.  There was power in this place, and the feeling was primeval and pure as the wellspring of a mighty river.  It was looking upon the dawn of creation.  I knew right then and there that the power of the priesthood is the power of creation, the power of God.  And whereas we might partake of it, it is greater than man and permeates the entire universe.

Priesthood is God.

It is as mighty yet as subtle, strong yet as quiet as a glacier.

I believe that I understand the ordinances.  I believe I understand what they are.  I understand the symbolism behind them.  I understand what they endow a man with.  I believe that through the rites that pertain to the priesthood, God establishes his Holy Order upon the earth.  I know what the keys are.  I think that I understand what the fullness of priesthood is.  I believe I have an inkling of what the calling and the election entail.

I don't know, however, why God chose the specific symbols, emblems and representations encapsulated in these rituals.  That they are representations of greater states of consciousness, I have no doubt, but, for instance, I don't know why philosophically we must be baptized by immersion, though I know the results of it.  And I know we are commanded to.  I just don't know everything.

And after many days an angel of the Lord appeared unto Adam, saying: Why dost thou offer sacrifices unto the Lord?  And Adam said unto him: I know not save the Lord commanded me.

And then the angel spake, saying: This thing is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father, which is full of grace and truth.

Wherefore, thou shalt do all that thou doest in the name of the Son, and thou shalt repent and call upon God in the name of the Son forever more.  (Moses 5: 6-8)

The Rope of Sand

The gospel is order, law defines what the order is, and the rites of the priesthood is the tool by which order is established.  We can actively participate in bringing about this order or seek its destruction.  Ultimately, there is no middle ground.

We would ask, for what is the priesthood given unto men?  It is that they may have a right to administer the Law of God.  Have they then a right to make void that law?  Verily no.  When the law of God has gone forth from His own mouth, and been declared by the mouths of His Prophets and Apostles, saying, "Thou shalt not lie"; who can say by virtue of his priesthood, you may lie and be approved?  The Lord and His prophets have declared it as a law unto His people, "Thou shalt not commit adultery."  Then who can say, Thou mayest commit adultery, and it will be no sin?  It is written as a law unto the Saints, "Thou shalt not kill."  Then we ask, who can kill and be forgiven?  And in like manner it might be asked of all the laws of God, who has the right to make them void?  None can revoke the decree but Him by whom it was given; neither can the laws of God be trampled upon with impunity, or revoked by a lesser power that that by which they were framed.  (Millennial Star 14: 592)

It was revealed to me that if the people did not receive the spirit of revelation that God had sent for the salvation of the world, they would receive false spirits, and would have revelation.  Men would have revelation, women would have revelation...people would have revelation enough to damn the whole nation...It was not only revealed to Joseph, but to your humble servant, that false spirits would be as prevalent and as common among the inhabitants of the earth as we now see them...But God has spoken now, and so has the devil; Jesus has revealed his priesthood, so has the devil revealed his, and there is quite a difference between the two.  One forms a perfect chain, the links of which can not be separated; one has perfect order, laws, rules, regulations, organization, it forms, fashions, makes, creates, produces, protects and holds in existence the inhabitants of the earth in a pure and holy form of government, preparatory to their entering the kingdom of heaven.  The other is a rope of sand.  It is disjointed, jargon, confusion, discord, everybody receiving revelation to suite himself...it is confusion and discord.  THERE IS NO ORDER, NO ORGANIZATION; it cannot be reduced to a system, it is uncertainty.  That is the difference between two spiritual systems - yes, this is the higher order of spiritualism, to be led, governed and controlled by law, and that, too, the law of heaven that governs and controls the Gods and the angels.  THERE IS NO BEING IN HEAVENS UNLESS HE IS SANCTIFIED, PURIFIED AND GLORIFIED BY LAW, AND LIVES BY LAW.  But take the other party, and it is without law.  (J of D 13: 280-281)

Oh, you who call yourselves the Saints of God!  Why are you tampering with the laws of God?  Why are you flirting with destruction.  At the moment that fateful bullet pierced the body of the Prophet and took his life, he had at that point striven with all of his might to establish a fullness of order upon the earth, and he left all of the quorums organized and in order.  The blood spilled from his wounds and saturated the earth of this nation, AND BOUND THAT ORDER UPON US!!!!   At the moment that that last sigh escaped his lips, the tide was loosed, and the kingdom of God became like a herd of crazed mules set loose and scattering all at once in a frenzy.  Lions of men like Brigham Young and John Taylor spent their every effort trying to maintain this order upon the earth, but you cannot make men do what they do not want to.  You cannot force souls unto God and salvation.  Sacrifice must be a willing offer.

AND THIS PEOPLE DOES NOT WANT TO SACRIFICE!!

...so we pay the price exacted from our apathy by relinquishing the order....

License Revoked?

Who is going to answer the call of God?  Who will be strong enough?  Who will bid farewell to the parody of madness we call the world, put his shoulder to the wheel and build this kingdom?

Do we truly believe that God established his order through our martyred prophet?  If so then we should trust that it was done correctly and requires no revision.  If it requires revision, then we must believe that it was all fabricated, for surely something from God requires no correction.  (Not even the Book of Mormon)  Why was plural marriage and United Order revoked?  Why have the temple ceremonies been altered?  Why was this necessary?

I'll tell you, it was not!  Man has taken it upon himself to tamper with that which should not be tampered with.

God has established the laws and order of this earth.  Only he can revoke them.  We cannot hope for an instant, that we have any license or cause to abrogate anything that He has already decreed.  To do so, would be not only audacious, but vain.

We talk sometimes about the great discoveries men have made connected with electricity, steam, light and its properties, and a variety of other principles that exist in nature, all these principles are governed by certain specific laws, which are immutable and unchangeable; and all of the great discoveries which men have made, have only developed certain properties that have always existed...we live, and have lived in a world in which from the beginning there have existed principles, organisms and systems, - all that are now known or that ever will be discovered, but we have been ignorant of them, and only become aware of their existence by what is called the progress of science and the discoveries of scientific and ingenious men.  And as earthly things are governed and controlled by unchangeable laws, so it is with heavenly laws...there are laws pertaining to eternal things - the things of God - that are just as immutable and unchangeable as those of which I have been speaking, and to realize the results they are calculated to produce, you must submit to and obey them.  (J of D 16: 530-37)

There is a law, IRREVOCABLY decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated-

And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated.  (D&C 130: 20-21)

The Lord can decree any laws, and they are binding upon the earth, and He can call back that law, if such is His desire.  But consider the following taken from the 1886 Revelation:

Thus saith the Lord All commandments that I give must be obeyed by those calling themselves by my name unless they are revoked by me or my authority and HOW CAN I REVOKE AN EVERLASTING COVENANT

For I the Lord am everlasting and my covenants cannot be abrogated nor done away with; but they stand forever...

Nevertheless I the Lord do not change and my word and my covenants and my law do not...

I have not revoked this law NOR WILL I for it is everlasting and those who will enter into my glory must obey the conditions thereof, even so Amen.  (verses 2-3, 6, 9)

Have we broken the new and everlasting covenant in the latter days?  Have we made a covenant with death and hell (chaos)?  We so often like to evoke Isaiah, saying that he "saw our day."  it is a bleak picture of "our day" that Isaiah describes, full of apostasy and sin.  Are we so proud to be those whom  Isaiah foresaw?  What does Isaiah have to say about the new and everlasting covenant?

The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because THEY HAVE TRANSGRESSED THE LAWS, CHANGED THE ORDINANCE, BROKEN THE EVERLASTING COVENANT.  (Isaiah 24; 5)

Who???  Which ordinances?  Who makes the covenants??

Yesterday, I overheard a good LDS fellow tell a Catholic woman that, as the Pope changes Roman Catholic policy, so the Church president changes Mormon doctrines, because he follows the law of the Church.  A seminary teacher recognized the changes in the temple, but reconciled them by following the "Living Prophet".  Another learned Latter-day Saint refutes the need for legal administrator in priesthood rites, because he unwittingly quotes John Lennon in saying that "all you need is love."

Yet here Isaiah tells us that the earth is defiled, because they transgressed the law, changed the ordinance and broke the new and everlasting covenant. 

Who are "they"?  Could it be anyone but those who have the new and everlasting covenant in their midst?  You have to have something first to break it!

The Mighty and Strong One

And it shall come to pass that I, the Lord God, will send one mighty and strong, holding the scepter of power in his hand, clothed with light for a covering, whose mouths shall utter words, eternal words; while his bowels shall be a fountain of truth, to set in order the house of God, and to arrange by lot the inheritances of the saints whose names are found, and the names of their fathers, and of their children, enrolled in the book of the law of God;  (D&C 85: 7)

No one at Truth Never Changes pretends to be the One Mighty and Strong.  We believe that this is a title currently occupied by the Prophet Joseph.  This scripture illustrates to me that the house (kingdom) of God would be out of order (under the sway of Satan) in the last days, and it is necessary for it to set in order.  So we can set our minds somewhat at ease when we admit ourselves that everything down to the last quorum of deacons is out of order and will be set right by the Father of this dispensation.

However, let's not be fatalistic by allowing this scripture to prevent us from organizing ourselves according to the pattern the Lord has set for us.  The state of present confusion in the world does not grant us justification in being unorganized.  Rather let us use the priesthood to set our families in order, to establish the Order of Enoch, the order of Melchezidek, and the order of the Most Holy One of Israel.

Yes, the Lord will send one mighty and strong, but what will we do until then?  Analyze our self-destruction?  I for one will do all I can to build the Kingdom.  I do not feel this to be a pretense at being more than I am, but rather the simple duty of every Latter-day Saint in this age.

While the 150th anniversary of the Saints entering the Salt Lake Valley occupied much of the news, the sentiment on everyone’s lips was acknowledgment of all that our forefathers strove to establish for us. Hey sweat and bled to build Zion here for us.  Will we really scorn our ancestors by trifling with its holy laws?

And Zion cannot be built up unless it is by the principles of the law of the celestial kingdom; otherwise I cannot receive her unto myself.  (D&C 105:5)

There are many Fundamentalists out there who feel that any form of organization is wrong. This because of the teachings of Lorin Woolley and Joseph Musser.  But these men lived in a day when the order of the Church was still relatively untainted.  Nowadays, we can't rely on the Church for our blessings.  I hope that this treatise has pointed out the danger of not organizing.  To not organize is against the gospel.  I don't care what dad or granddad said.  They don't live in our day and age where the very order of the priesthood is about to evaporate.  To not organize is to ensure our destruction.  To not organize is to flirt with chaos and can result only in dissolution.

I think Paul understood this when he said that the strength of sin is the law.  This is not because sin creates law, but that law is so important that the consequences of not following it will determine the course of our destiny - to the gates of heaven or to the courts of chaos.

My house is a house of order and not a house of confusion.  (I Corinthians 14)

God is a God of order; He is a God of law.  (J of D 14: 276)

Let us set our lives in order.

“Now those men or those women who know no more about the power of God, and the influences of the Holy Spirit, than to be led entirely by another person, suspending their own understanding, and pinning their faith upon another’s sleeve, will never be capable of entering into the Celestial Glory, to be crowned as they anticipate; they will never be capable of becoming Gods.

“They cannot rule themselves, to say nothing of ruling others, but they must be dictated to in every trifle, like a child.  They cannot control themselves in the least, but James, Peter, or somebody else may control them.  They never can become Gods, nor be crowned as rulers with glory, immortality, and eternal lives. They never can hold scepters of glory, majesty, and power in the celestial kingdom.

“Who will?  Those who are valiant and inspired with the TRUE INDEPENDENCE OF HEAVEN, who will go forth boldly in the service of their God, leaving others to do as they please, determined to do right, though all mankind besides should take the opposite course.  Will this apply to any of you?  Your own hearts can answer.”  Brigham Young, Elder’s Journal

Excerpts From The

PRISON DIARY

OF

ARNOLD BOSS

PART IV

            Friday, July 20, 1945

            This evening I read for some time.  I read Isaiah.  I took my Bible and went and asked Joseph if he understood Isaiah Chapter 52 as I did.  I referred to verses 13 to 15.  To me it was Christ.

            He said I was right in the interpretation.

            I also read the 53^rd Chapter of Isaiah.  I expressed myself on Old Testament characters, prophets, seers and revelators, and the Priesthood that continued on down from Moses’ day to Jesus Christ.  I mentioned that special key of the Priesthood which David is quoted to have had, “The key to open and none can shut; the key to shut and none can open,” I said, “Joseph, this has reference to the sealing authority.” 

He said he understood it that way, too.  Then he said to me, “You will obtain the same key and power.”

Very Important:                        Utah Vs Joseph F. Smith

                                                Case # 16181

                                                Utah VS Heber J. Grant

                                                Case # 482

July 21, 1945

I read the appeal brief for the nine persons convicted on Federal charges, written and mailed to the Untied States Solicitor General, prior to the Supreme Court hearing in October.  I think it an excellent brief.

Friday, July 27, 1945

Commencing with Monday, July 23, all of the brethren, except Joseph, I. W. and Edmond, we started to go back and forth to the Point of the Mountain to cut weeds.

Today, July 27, after returning, I visited John Y.  We both commented on the sweeping political revolution, which had just taken place in England.  Aristocracy being swept away and a labor government with a two to one vote supplanting it.  It was a sweeping and sudden revolution.  We both expect similar, but more radical changes, here in the United States not so far away.

I mentioned to John how Joseph was failing in his health.  He said, “I see it also.”  Then he said to me, he told him just recently (Joseph speaking) “If I have to stay here much longer, I believe it will kill me.”

I told John, another 60 days of change similar as the past thirty have been will bring about some alarming thing.

John said, “I expect the One Might and Strong to come before Joseph was taken.  Things will change very rapidly then.”

John said, “There are no more wicked characters in hell than are to be found in this prison.”

I believe he is not far from the actual truth.

                                  *                        *                      *

Wednesday, August 15

Brother Del Timpson and I, while engaged in conversation, exchanged hopes the good news we might hear would be our liberation from prison.  As we engaged in conversation, Brother John Y. drew near and spoke to us, saying, “I haven’t found anyone among us yet who will say we won’t get released on the habeas corpus writ.”  Then he started to leave and said, “I know, I don’t know whether we will get out on it or not.  I was shown we would come here, but that’s all.  I saw we would come up against a wall over a year ago before it happened.”  He then walked away.

Friday, August 18, 1945

This morning Joseph came to my cell door shortly after I arose.  He looked very pale.  I said kindly, “Joseph, how are you?”

He replied, “well, not so good.  I found myself on the floor this morning.  When I came to, I guess I must have fainted in the night.  It is so hot.”  He sat on my bed then.  I tried to console him.  His lips quivered with emotion.  The left side of his face had three bar marks where the blood had come on through a bruise.  The skin was not broken.  He said, “But I guess it is alright, anyhow, we have got to endure it.”  With that, he walked away, back to his cell to hide his emotions as I saw he could not control himself nor talk further.  God bless him.

Sometime later, just before going outside of the walls, I entered Joseph’s cell.  Del Timpson was there with me.  Brother Timpson said to Joseph, “You are not getting the right kind of food.”

To this, Joseph replied, “I can’t eat that slop they have mornings.”

We ask, “Can we bring you anything?”

He replied, “Oh, how I would like a good T-bone steak well-done and a good glass of beer.”

He said to me, “I would like to be home in a soft bed, the doors to the house closed and no one allowed to come in and just rest and rest.”  His lips quivered as he tried to speak.

Tuesday, August 21, 1945

Without any warning whatever, just before 3:30 pm, as we were finishing some corn canning, word was brought to us by I. W. Barlow we were wanted over at the barn.  That a document was to be read to us.  We all assembled at the southeast corner of the barn, where there was a lean-to…next to the barn.

It was about 3:30 when we met.  All were there, except Joseph Lyman Jessop, Albert Barlow and Rulon Allred.  These three brethren were at the Point of the Mountain.  David B. Darger was not well today, and he remained in his cell all day.  I think he had a tooth extracted.

I was the last one to arrive.

The brethren got seated in some manner.  Joseph was spokesman.  John Y. Barlow said nothing.  He sat opposite me to the left. 

Brother Musser said to us he had “a matter of grave concern to present to us which involved our further confinement or release from the penitentiary.”  He said, “Our release was a matter of concern with friends on the outside; that the Governor had been interviewed and our release sought.  A Mr. Jenson had interviewed him and he was told that Joseph W. Musser was not deserving prison confinement as much as either he—Jenson or the Governor.” 

He told us that more arrests were underway at Short Creek, Arizona; and, if we would receive the matter to be read to us, it would help stop the arrests down there.  He stated it would make some of us squirm on hearing what was in the document, but that we all had our agency as to whether we would accept it or not.  It was a matter up to us.

He stated a petition had been drafted to gain our freedom from this prison, and that it had been presented and submitted for his endorsement.  He said at the same time, he “had given it his approval.”

Joseph then said, “Mr. Jenson was our friend though he is nothing in the Church.”  He then asked us all to listen to its contents as he read it.  He then read it from a copy set up by some printer.  (I observed there were more copies than one printed, one of which I later obtained).

DECLARATION OF POLICY

To Whom It May concern:

The undersigned officers and members of the so-called Fundamentalist religious group, desiring to bring about peace and harmony within the Church, and recognizing the futility of disobeying the laws of the land even the practice of a religious belief, do hereby declare as follows:

That we individually and severally pledge ourselves to refrain hereafter from advocating, teaching or countenancing the practice of plural marriage or polygamy, in violation of laws of the State of Utah and of the United States.

The undersigned officers of the religious group above referred to further pledge ourselves to refrain from engaging in or from solemnizing plural marriages from and after this date

(Signed)

.

1) John Y. Barlow                                          2) Joseph W. Musser

3) Edmond Barlow                                         4) I. W. Barlow

5) Oswald Brainisch                                      6) Adelbert Timpson

7) David B. Darger

Dated at Salt Lake City, Utah, this _____day of 1945.

As Joseph proceeded in the reading some of us looked at each other with astonishment.  I noticed division on the faces of some of the men while others approbated the document.

When Joseph finished its reading, Brother Charles said, “That is another Manifesto, (and he) would not violate his covenants by receiving it.”

Both Edmond F. Barlow and I. W. Barlow said they could endorse it.  It was the means to get us out.

Brother John Y. Barlow said he, “could sign it without the surrendering of any trust.”

O. Brainisch said he, “could also sign it.”

Louis Kelsch said, “It sounds like another document to catch the Saints and Priesthood, and if signed by us, would be the means of abridging our right to carry on.”

After some additional views were expressed, Fred Cleveland said, “If we signed it, we could not be bound by any document impelled by force.”

Morris Kunz quoted the statement of the Savior, “Agree with thine enemy quickly,” etc.

Charles was very much opposed to it.  Brother John Y. asked me what I thought about it?

I said, “I don’t feel good about it at all.”

We only had fifteen minutes to discuss this document, thought we took more time.  During that time, considerable opposition made itself manifest.  The majority seemed to sanction its signing.  Brother Timpson felt good over it.  He could see it was the way for us to get out.

As the opposition increased, John and Joseph both suggested we think the matter over.  John told Charles to pray over it.

We then left for our work again.  As no additional fruit was available at the cannery, we arranged to go to our cells.

…When I got to my cell I went to John and asked him for his copy of the document.  I observed there were four printed copies set up by a printer.  John loaned it to me.  I made a copy of it at once.  When I returned it to him, he asked what I now thought of it?

I said, “I cannot sustain it.”

A little later I. W. Barlow came to my cell.  The two of us discussed it together.  I read the document and gave him my reasons in the negative.  After we had gone all over it, he said, “If it means that you have said it means, I will not sign it either.”  But he, with six others, had already signed it.  He left me and went to Joseph’s cell.  He again asked Joseph to explain its meaning, following which he came back to my cell and said, “Joseph does not interpret it as you do.”

With that, I took the document and I. W. followed.  We went to Joseph’s cell and I said, “Joseph, I would like to go over this document with you and show you why I cannot sign it.”

He asked me to be seated.

I read the first two lines and said, “Why Joseph, that is surrender!”

He said, “I know it is, but we can’t fight the Church.”

I was dumbfounded.  I had never entertained the idea that we were fighting the Church, but on the contrary, we were maintaining and upholding the faith—the fullness of the Gospel.  I read more and said, “Joseph, if I sign that statement all the 12 years of my research work could never be used.”

He said, “Oh yes it can, and when I get out, I’m going to have all the work of John Taylor printed at once.  I will liken it this way: robbers come to a service station with guns.  They command the one in charge to surrender his money.  To save his life, he gives it, but, he is forced to do what he does.  He won’t be held to blame for doing what he does in giving what he does in giving up his money.”

I could see no such analogy for our case.  We had violated law; for its violation, we were now in prison, but since here no one has exercised force upon us. 

Joseph followed this up by saying, “I feel easy over it and I will sign it.  I should not be in this prison; I have no right to be here, and the only reason I am in here is because men have had women sealed to them who had no right to them.  They have made trouble for us.  Mistakes have been made in sealings that have taken place.  John has made mistakes; I have made mistakes; Leslie has made mistakes; Charles has made mistakes, etc.  From now on there must be a different policy—a safer and more guarded means when sealings are performed.  Further investigations are now going on here in Salt Lake City, and if they come to light, with other things that have taken place at Short Creek, they will fan a breeze that will go to the whole world.”

He told me who on the outside were instrumental in helping to get this document through—the names of Frank Jenson and Johnny Burgess were given.

I said, “Joseph, I will pray over it, but if I don’t feel any better than I do now, I won’t sign it.”

Later in the evening, Bro. John Y. called us into cell number 50.  It was Cleveland’s cell.  Joseph again was the spokesman.  The document was again placed before us in hoes we could unite on it.

Joseph asked for expressions again from us.  He wanted to know if we had a change of mind.

Joseph said to Louis, “How do you feel?”

Louis answered, “Joseph, I feel I can’t sign it.”

Joseph said to Morris, “How do you feel?”

He answered, “I can’t bring myself to answer it, either.”

Joseph to Arnold, “Do you feel as you did tonight?”

Answer, “Yes, I cannot sign it.”

Joseph to Fred Cleveland, “And you?”

Answer, “I don’t feel I can sign it either.”

David Darger to Joseph, “I cannot sign it unless the wording is changed.  As I told you, I’d like the word of the Lord on it.”

Joseph to Charles, “What are your feelings?”

Answer, “It is another manifesto and God said in 1889 not to put ourselves in the hands of our enemies.  If I signed it, I would feel I’d be doing wrong.”

The rest of the brethren were not asked, for all of them had endorsed the document…the brethren were six to six—for and against the document now, as David Darger had asked his name to be withdrawn.  The three at the Point of the Mountain would yet have to be reached.

It was evident, we brethren at the old prison, were anything but united.  We were in conference just one half hour.

Through the day, Dr. LeGrand Woolley visited Brother Musser.  I was told he had been handed the document previously presented to us.  He read it and someone told me (I don’t know if true or not) he had said, it was alright to sign it and go out.  Dr. Woolley said the Church leaders now felt that the women should be made examples of, too, by being placed into jails. (To be continued…)

Concerning Constitutional Law!

(Contributed)

We as a people here in Arizona, have been troubling ourselves with the laws of man concerning our status.  The answers I have for you do not come from me, but from great men whom I respect.  I believe it was Thomas Jefferson, who said, “This constitution is wholly inadequate for an immoral people.”

The problem we have is discerning what law is constitutional and what law is not.  In the D&C, section 98, verses 4 through 9, it explains to us that God justifies us in befriending constitutional law, but as to the laws of man, whatever is more or less than this, cometh of evil.

The problem most of us have is, none of us like to leave our comfort zone.  It seems to me that too many of us wish to live with a foot on each side of the fence.  To me, this is a contradiction to Scripture, because it is written many times that man shall not serve two masters.

If our desire is to build the Kingdom of God, then we must do it based upon God’s laws—otherwise it is not His Kingdom.  If we use the devices of a wicked government to build up God’s Kingdom, who is our God?  The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob gave us the laws by which to build up His Kingdom.  If we change these laws to make things more comfortable for ourselves, is it not blasphemy?  If you use Satan’s tools and Satan’s laws to build a city or a Kingdom is it Zion or Babylon?

God has given instruction and examples like the constitution to work as a civil government on a temporal or physical level, but in order to achieve Celestial glory or exaltation, one must live, abide by, and practice Celestial law on a lesser sphere in order to be counted worthy to live in Celestial glory.

Man, living by man’s laws would make it impossible for us to do that.  This is what causes us to search out and study things like common law, sovereignty and the constitution: to look for loopholes for us to get out of the bondage we find ourselves in.  I will tell you that with our current status it is impossible.  I may be called a fool and a liar, but I know who my God is and He has shown these things to me.  This is my testimony: We cannot build God’s Kingdom using Satan’s rules and Satan’s laws.  You cannot fight against Satan and his kingdom using his laws.  The only way to triumph is to put on the full armor of God, to use God’s laws to build God’s Kingdom and to stand in holy places.  Only then will we have the power to overcome our enemies—be it the laws of man, the representatives of a wicked government—be it death and hell, or Satan himself.  If we live all the laws of God, the (adversaries) will have no power over us.  That is my testimony.

Now in order to obtain freedom as a people to live the laws of God, we must obtain complete sovereignty.  Satan cannot have one piece of prima faca evidence showing that we are partakers of the benefits of his Kingdom.  If he has that evidence, he has claim upon us.  If he has claim on one member of our community, he can bring down the whole.  We cannot have a foot on each side of the fence—it must be absolute—all or nothing.  In the words of Benjamin Franklin, “We must all hang together or we will most assuredly hang separately.” 

There is no more to be said at this time, except for a secret—the key to our temporal freedom lies with the Lamanites, as has been prophesied.

By my body, my blood, my name and my sacred honor, I testify that God has revealed these truths to me.

HOLINESS

Y

TO THE LORD

TRUTH NEVER CHANGES

VOLUME 10, NUMBER 09

SEPTEMBER 2006