TRUTH NEVER CHANGES
A PUBLICATION IN THE SPIRIT AND TRADITON OF TRUTH MAGAZINE
Y VOLUME 12 AUGUST 2009 NUMBER 02 Y
THE VISION OF LORIN C. WOOLLEY
1886
In about the, year 1886, after having retired to rest, all of a sudden I appeared to be standing on a high range of mountains, from which point I could see a cordon of Elders reaching from Yucatan, South America, north to the Arctic regions. Then there appeared a black cloud in the Balkans traveling westward. It only reached to the shores of the United States when it seemed to stop and go back to its starting point. Then it came again and covered all the eastern part of the United States and north into Canada. As I looked, I saw what appeared to be large birds (now interpreted as being airplanes) emerge from the dark cloud; also horseless carriages appeared, (automobiles) all loaded principally with women, travelling westward. We made no attempt to stop them.
| IN THIS ISSUE: Vision of Lorin C. Wooley…..……………………………….…27 Quote, Words of Joseph Smith……………………………….…28 Fireside Minutes, November 2001……………………………....28 Quote, Words of Joseph Smith………………………………….29 Spiritual Maturity, Part II……………………………………….30 1880 Revelation………………………………………………....31 Quotes on Food Storage………………………………………...36 A Vision………………………………………………………....39 Editorial…………………………………………………………40 |
As the cloud traveled westward, groups of men holding the Priesthood seemed to run in circles, one in the center of each group, rebuking the cloud through prayer. The cloud would stop and start again and it made headway until it reached the Missouri River west of Independence. At this point, three groups of Elders with three men, (instead of one as before) in the center of
each group, formed in circles, one group being in Canada, one group in the United States, and one in Mexico, (Lorin Woolley being in the center of the center circle). As we prayed, the cloud went back. I could see clearly from Yucatan to the frozen north.
A black cloud also arose over the Pacific Ocean and traveled eastward as far as the Sierra Mountains, where it was arrested, not reaching Utah.
In relating the above to President John Taylor and others of the brethren, President Taylor said the vision showed two wars, the first reaching only to the Eastern shores of the United States, while the second would reach to the shores of the Missouri River. The Asiatics will over-run the Western Coast, but will not be able to hold it. He said, "It will be a war of desolation."
* * * * *
"And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time; and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book." (Daniel 12:1) (Kraut, Visions of the Latter Days, pp. 119 – 120)
| The most eminent and distinguished prophets who have laid down their lives for their testimony (Jesus among the rest), will be crowned at the head of the largest kingdoms under the Father, and will be one with Christ as Christ is one with his Father; for their kingdoms are all joined together, and such as do the will of the Father, the same are his mothers, sisters, and brothers. He that has been faithful over a few things, will be made ruler over many things; he that has been faithful over ten talents, shall have dominion over ten cities, and he that has been faithful over five talents, shall have dominion over five cities, and to every man will be given a kingdom and a dominion, according to his merit, powers, and abilities to govern and control. It will be seen by the above diagram that there are kingdoms of all sizes, an infinite variety to suit all grades of merit and ability. The chosen vessels unto God are the kings and priests that are placed at the head of these kingdoms. These have received their washings and anointings in the [p.299] temple of God on this earth; they have been chosen, ordained, and anointed kings and priests, to reign as such in the resurrection of the just. Such as have not received the fulness of the priesthood, (for the fulness of the priesthood includes the authority of both king and priest) and have not been anointed and ordained in the temple of the Most High, may obtain salvation in the celestial kingdom, but not a celestial crown. Many are called to enjoy a celestial glory, yet few are chosen to wear a celestial crown, or rather, to be rulers in the celestial kingdom. (Ehat & Cook, Words, 13 August 1843 (1) Note, p.298–p.299) |
Fireside Notes
10 November 2001
Ted Jessop
Ted: Spoke of the Woolleys being unsung heroes—all around this timeframe, we have the youth of Zion seeking the culture of the world, people claiming to have testimony, but never get around to living it…
We see history repeating itself today—this generation literally had to run and hide from the marshals. Story of deputies allowing one man to say goodbye to each wife before being arrested. “Okay,” the Marshal says. At each home more sons rode along until the Marshal was afraid and left.
Hiding places in homes were made. Stories of different men going to prison—Lorenzo Snow, Richard Jessop—men were running and couldn’t support their families—they had to commend them to the grace of God.
The Church property began to be disbursed as the government disincorporated the Church and confiscated properties.
Story of John Taylor going in the night to a friend’s home where he was turned away. “Kingdom or nothing!”
Stories of John Taylor in hiding and manhunts after him—recorded by Samuel W. Taylor.
There’s not been a time when it’s popular to be a Latter-day Saint. There has not been a time where it has been easy, and the people didn’t want to live these laws. They presented John Taylor with a document doing away with it and asked him to take it up with the Lord.
I have a testimony that the Prophet Joseph and Jesus Christ visited with John Taylor.
I have done extensive studies on these things, but I know by the Spirit of the Lord. Related a story of Rone Jessop about “Grandpa Woolley” of the visitors from the other side.
The Lord will give you a testimony of what you want if you want a testimony of this work. This is a continuation of the Lord’s work. We don’t own it. It’s the Lord’s work and it is alive and well.
Shortly before the first Solemn Assembly in Mesa, that Brother Joe called, I had several experiences. The Lebarons have many claims that Benjamin F. Johnson, who was a patriarch for the Church in Tempe, Arizona.
I was sitting in my home in Mesa, when I heard the words of BFJ prophesied that the beginnings of the Holy Order of God would begin right there in Mesa, Arizona, and we witnessed that.
Morris Kunz bore testimony that he had met every one of the men at that meeting, even (name not recorded), who admitted there was a meeting and I’ve heard others—Sister Mary Lavery, who bore testimony of Daniel Bateman’s statement.
This is the same work and we need to be engaged in this work. Ended in the name of the Savior.
| In the evening we went to hear a Methodist preacher lecture. 2 After he got through Pres. J. offered some corrections as follows. The 7th verse of C 2 of Genesis ought to read God breathed into Adam his spirit or breath of life, 3 but when the word "ruach" 4 applies to Eve it should be translated lives. Speaking of eternal duration of matter he I said. There is no such thing as immaterial matter. All spirit is matter but is more fine or pure and can only be discerned by purer eyes. We cant see it but when our bodies are purified we shall see that it is all matter. Ehat & Cook, Words, William Clayton Diary: 17 May 1843 (2) (Wednesday Evening), p.203 4.& As shown in the last note, Joseph Smith interpreted the phrase breath of life in Genesis 2:7 to mean Adam's [pre‑mortal] spirit, which spirit (ruwach) was put into the body to form a living soul (D&C 88:15: "the spirit and the body are the soul of man."). However the word ruwach does not appear in this passage nor in Genesis 3:20, where the name Eve (Chavvah, meaning life‑giving) appears. It is clear why Joseph Smith used the word ruwach in connection with Genesis 2:17, but his use of this word in connection with Genesis 3:20 is not so clear. Possibly he wanted to emphasize Eve's role as lives‑giver, which coincides with the usage of lives soon to appear in the revelation on eternal marriage (D&C 132:22‑24). Parenthetically we note that in some published versions of this discourse, the transliteration of the Hebrew word for "spirit" is given incorrectly as rauch. Obviously, Joseph Smith cannot be faulted for scribal errors; however, as seen here, Clayton (as far as phonetic spelling goes) correctly gives the transliteration as ruach. Ehat & Cook, Words, 17 May 1843 (2) Note, p.281 |
Spiritual Maturity—Part II
(Contributed)
D&C 6
7 Seek not for riches but for wisdom, and behold, the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto you, and then shall you be made rich. Behold, he that hath eternal life is rich.
11 And if thou wilt inquire, thou shalt know mysteries which are great and marvelous; therefore thou shalt exercise thy gift, that thou mayest find out mysteries, that thou mayest bring many to the knowledge of the truth, yea, convince them of the error of their ways.
The Lord in numerous places invites us to search that we might know the mysteries. But in no place in the Standard Works does the Lord indicate that He will give us the mysteries as part of His Gospel Teaching Program, unless we inquire. Thus, every thrust into discovering the mysteries for ourselves begins with a question. But absent that question, the Lord will not reveal the mystery and if the Lord will not reveal the mystery, then neither should we be revealing anything. In other words, finding out the mysteries is an individual effort and it is tied to being “rich” and also “eternal life”.
In the above scriptures, the Lord also indicates that knowing the mysteries is the KEY to
1. bringing many to the knowledge of the Truth
2. convincing many of the error of their ways.
It is for this purpose that we seek the mysteries—that we might serve our fellowman both in bringing them to the Truth and also convincing them of their errors, so that they might repent. This task is laid upon the Lord’s Priesthood and is how the Church perfects itself, as it comes to know the Truth in its Fullness (the mysteries) and is able to eschew errors in how we live and in also what we have embraced as doctrine or in other words, false doctrines and false practices.
But in doing this, we must have the Spirit of the Lord, as the Doctrine and Covenants counsels us—
D&C 42
14 And the Spirit shall be given unto you by the prayer of faith; and if ye receive not the Spirit ye shall not teach
Regarding the mysteries we are given additional counsel that MUST be followed, the Prophet Alma preaching to the wicked people of Ammonihah providing this Key to us in how we share the mysteries:
Alma 12
9 And now Alma began to expound these things unto him, saying: It is given unto many to know the mysteries of God; nevertheless they are laid under a strict command that they shall not impart only according to the portion of his word which he doth grant unto the children of men, according to the heed and diligence which they give unto him.
One who shares the mysteries because he has diligently sought and learned these mysteries for himself must give heed to this wise counsel given by the Prophet Alma. To do otherwise is to possibly find himself at variance to the Lord’s Will in sharing the mysteries. And if this is the case, the Lord will withdraw His Spirit and in doing so, the man who thinks he knows so much of the mysteries begins to find darkness in his teachings where before there had been light.
If a man is driven by PRIDE to “show off” all that he has learned of the mysteries (as is the case with so many apostates to this Work) or has some other agenda than the salvation of that one who is learning from him the mysteries, he will possibly destroy the student’s budding but tender testimony and cause him to go into darkness. This brings damnation to both the souls of the student as well as the “teacher”.
As again reiterated above, if we do not have the Spirit of God, we cannot teach. All teachings of the Gospel, basics or mysteries should be so calculated so as to raise the student and bring him to a closer relationship to the Lord Jesus Christ and the desire to live the Savior’s Gospel.
An interesting illustration of this Way of Teaching is found in the Truths we learn about the Restoration of the Priesthood. Missionaries and teachers talk of Peter, James and John, three Resurrected Beings, coming to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery to restore the Melchezedek Priesthood and Apostleship.. Technically, three Resurrected Beings is not a “true statement” as one of the returning Apostles is a Translated Being (John the Beloved, promised by the Savior to never taste death.)
So, if we were to say, ‘two Resurrected Beings and one Translated Being” (which is “the Truth”) we teach an “unnecessary mystery”, raising in the minds of the investigators or students the distracting question, “What’s a translated being?” And getting into the Doctrine of Translation is a thrust into the mysteries of Godliness which is an unnecessary distraction from the Central Reality and Truth that the missionary/teacher is attempting to put across—that the Priesthood was restored in our Dispensation giving us authority to restore the Church of Jesus Christ.
Thus, in summary, we learn these Central Truths about the Mysteries of Godliness:
1. Some truths (what the Scriptures call “the mysteries”) we learn are only for our edification and are not to be shared, under the Doctrine of the Sacred Silence—that same Doctrine that keeps us silent to the world about the mysteries we learn in the Temple .
2. If we are to share the Mysteries, we must do so as we are directed by the Spirit of God or we cannot teach anything.
3. We are put under a strict charge to share the mysteries only according to the heed and diligence that the hearer has given and will give the Lord. We can only ascertain that by the Gift of Discernment, given to us by the Spirit of God.
4. If we deviate from the counsel given to us by the Lord in His Scriptures regarding the teaching of the Mysteries, because of Pride or some other false agenda, we will find darkness in our teachings, confusion in those who hear us, and a general malaise that will not contribute to the building of the Lord’s Kingdom.
Before teaching or sharing a mystery, a sense of humility that says that you don’t know what to teach or how to teach what the person requires, a quick prayer of the heart, inquiring of the Lord will most likely yield an immediate answer or revelation that will guide you in what you are to do. And you must do that which the Spirit directs you or you and the inquirer will be damned. (In other words, no spiritual progress).
Returning to the above scripture, the Lord ties the mysteries to Eternal Life. We know that only in the Temple is the way opened to us to find Eternal Life. And in the Temple we are taught many mysteries that empower us unto Eternal Life, as Knowledge in the Lord’s Kingdom is the same as Power in the Lord’s Kingdom. But there are also many mysteries that are not taught in the Temple that we must inquire about and find out for ourselves. Sometimes, the Lord gives us an outright revelation on our inquiry, but usually He directs us to other sources to find the answers—the Standard Works, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, The Journal of Discourses, Conference Talks, books that enlighten us or an individual that for a short time may become our Teacher, until we are directed by the Spirit to “move on”.
I have been amazed that the old adage, “When the student is ready, the Teacher will appear” is true. I have found that I may be looking for knowledge on a specific aspect or mystery of the Gospel, only to have a person or book or some source appear in my life that fills that vacuum. And I come away edified and enriched, another drop of oil added to my testimony of the Genius of this Restored Gospel that the Lord has so graciously given to us.
And so goes our Eternal Progression, learning and growing, asking and contemplating, searching and questioning, that process started when the Missionaries first approached us and asked that “first question” which drew our attention to the Restored Gospel, the questions coming and the answers flowing ever since.
When I consider where I was as a young lad of 16 years old when I first joined the Church and where I am now in the Gospel, I marvel, as the Lord has taught me so much—yet I sense the reality that I have not even scratched the surface of all that the Lord has to share with me. And the prospect of learning ever so much more about the Gospel and the Priesthood is both enthralling and exciting, the Nectar of the Gods sweetness to my soul, the Fullness of my Joy.
And to these Ends, the Lord restored the Fullness of His Everlasting Gospel, the Central Doctrine of the reason for our existence on this earth—“Men are that they might have joy and that more abundantly.”
REVELATION OF JANUARY 26, 1880
Given Through Wilford Woodruff
Sunset, Arizona
REVELATION given through Wilford Woodruff while at Sunset, Arizona, January 26, 1880. This revelation was given for comfort, instruction, and showing forth the will of God concerning the nation and its inhabitants of Zion. The Government was prosecuting and persecuting the Saints through the Edmunds-Tucker law, causing them much distress and imprisonment. This revelation was in response to the prayers and desires of Wilford Woodruff to know the will of the Lord concerning the Saints and their destiny and the reasons for their persecutions.
1. "Thus saith the Lord unto my servant, Wilford Woodruff, I have heard thy prayer and will answer thy petition. I will make known unto thee my will concerning the nations who encumber the land of promise and also concerning Zion and her inhabitants.
2. "I have already revealed my will concerning this nation through the mouth of my servant Joseph, who sealed his testimony with his own blood, which testimony has been in force upon all the world from the hour of his death.
3. "What I the Lord have revealed in that testament and decreed upon this nation and upon all the nations of the earth, shall be fulfilled, saith the Lord of hosts. I the Lord have spoken and will be obeyed. My purposes shall be
fulfilled upon this nation and no power shall stay My Hand. The hour is at the door when My wrath and indignation will be poured out upon the wicked of this nation.
4. "Their murders, blasphemies, lying, whoredoms, and abominations have come up before my face and before the heavens, and the wrath of my indignation is full.
5. "I have decreed plagues to go forth and waste my enemies, and not many years hence they shall not he left to pollute my heritage.
6. "The devil is ruling over his kingdom and my spirit has no place in the hearts of the rulers of this nation, and the devil stirs them up to defy my power and to make war upon my Saints. Therefore let mine Apostles and mine Elders who are faithful obey my commandments which are already written for their profit and guidance.
7. "Thus saith the Lord unto My servant, John Taylor, and My servant Wilford Woodruff, and My servant Orson Pratt, and to all the residue of mine Apostles; Have you not gone forth in My name without purse or scrip and
declared the Gospel of life and salvation unto this nation and the nations of the earth and warned them of the judgments which are to come, as you have been moved upon by the power of the Holy Ghost and the inspiration of the Lord?
8. "You have done this year by year for the whole generation, as men count time. Therefore, your garments are clean of the blood of this generation and especially of this nation.
9. "Therefore as I have said in a former commandment, so I the Lord say again unto My Apostles: Go ye alone by yourselves, whether in heat or cold and cleanse your feet in water, pure water, it matters not whether it be by the running streams, or in your closets; but leave these testimonies before the Lord and the heavenly hosts; and when you have all done this, then gather yourselves together in your Holy places and clothe yourselves with the robes of the Holy Priesthood and there offer up your prayers according to my Holy law.
10. "Let him who presides be mouth and kneel at the Holy Altar, and there let mine Apostles bring all these testimonies before my face and before the heavenly hosts and before the justified spirits made perfect. And thus
saith the Lord unto you, mine apostles, when you bring these testimonies before me, let them be presented by name as far as the Spirit shall present them unto you:
11. "The Presidents of the United States, the Supreme Court, the Cabinet, the Senate and House of Congress of the United States, the Governors of the States and Territories, the judges and others sent unto you, and all men and persons who have taken any part in persecuting you or bringing distress upon you or your families, or who have sought your lives, or sought to hinder you from keeping my commandments or from enjoying the rights which the constitutional laws of the land guaranteed unto you.
12. "And what I the Lord say unto you, mine Apostles, I also say unto my servants the Seventies, the High Priests, the Elders, the Priests and all my servants who are pure in heart and who have borne testimony unto the nations. Let them go forth and cleanse their feet in pure water and bear testimony of it unto the Father who is in heaven.
13. "And then, saith the Lord unto mine Apostles and mine Elders, when ye do these things with purity of heart, I the Lord will hear your prayers and am bound by oath and covenant to defend you and fight your battles.
14. "As I have said in former commandments, it is not my will that mine Elders should fight the battles of Zion, for I will fight your battles.
15. "Nevertheless, let no man be afraid to lay down his life for my sake, for he that layeth down his life for my sake shall find it again and have eternal life.
16. "This nation is ripened in iniquity and the cup of the wrath of mine indignation is full and I will not stay my hand in judgments upon this nation or the nations of the earth.
17. "I have decreed wars and judgments upon the wicked and my wrath and indignation are about to be poured out upon them and the wicked and rebellious shall know that I am God.
18. "As I the Lord have spoken so will I fulfill. I will spare none who remain in Babylon, but I will burn them up, saith the Lord of Hosts. As I the Lord have suffered, so will I put all enemies under my feet. For I the Lord
utter my word and it shall be obeyed.
19. "And the day of wrath and indignation shall come upon the wicked.
20. "And I say again, woe unto that nation or house or people who seek to hinder my people from obeying the Patriarchal law of Abraham, which leadeth to Celestial Glory, which has been revealed unto my Saints through the mouth of my servant Joseph, for whosoever doeth these things shall be damned, saith the Lord of Hosts, and shall be broken up and wasted away from under heaven by the judgments which I have sent forth, and which shall not return unto me void.
21. "And thus, with the sword and by bloodshed, and with famine and plagues and earthquakes and the thunder of heaven and the vivid lightnings shall this nation and the nations of the earth be made to feel the chastening hand of an Almighty God until they are broken up and destroyed and wasted away from under heaven, and no power can stay my hand. Therefore, let the wicked tremble; let them that blaspheme my name hold their lips, for destruction will swiftly overtake them.
22. "All that I the Lord have spoken through the mouths of my Prophets and Apostles since the world began, concerning the last dispensation and fullness of times, concerning my Church, which has been called out of the wilderness of darkness and error, concerning the Zion and kingdom of God and concerning Babylon the great, and what I have spoken through the mouth of my servant Joseph, shall all be fulfilled.
23. "And though the heaven and earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall be fulfilled, saith the Lord.
24. "These revelations and testimonies are before you. Let my Saints search the Word of the Lord and treasure up wisdom and be prepared for that which is to come.
25. "As I have decreed, so shall my judgments begin at the House of God.
26. "There are those in my Church who have a name among you, who are adulterers and adulteresses, and those who blaspheme my name and those who love and make a lie, and those who revel and drink with the drunken.
27. "If they do not speedily repent of this wickedness and abomination, they should be severed from the ordinances of my house, saith the Lord.
28. "There are many who have need to repent, whose hearts are set upon the things of this world, who aspire to the honors of men, and do not honor the Priesthood, nor seek to build up the Kingdom of God as they should. Neither do they learn and comprehend:
29. "That the rights of the Priesthood, are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness.
30. "Such should repent and turn unto the Lord, and seek for the Holy Spirit to guide them.
31. "Judgments will begin upon my house, and from thence will they go forth unto the world and the wicked cannot escape.
32. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for my blessings await them in this life and eternal life in the world to come.
33. "Thus saith the Lord unto you, my servants and Apostles who dwell in the flesh. Fear ye not your enemies. Let not your hearts be troubled. I am in your midst. I am your advocate with the Father.
34. "I have given mine angels charge concerning you. Mine eyes are upon you and the eyes of your heavenly Father and the Heavenly Hosts and all justified spirits made perfect are watching over you.
35. "Your works are manifest before the face of my servants who have sealed their testimony with their blood, and before all my servants of the Apostles whom I have taken unto myself.
36. "The veil is taken from off their faces and they know your works. They await your coming when you have finished your testimony in the flesh. Therefore, be ye faithful until I come. My coming is at the door.
37. "Call upon the Lord in mighty prayer, ask and you shall receive. Whenever you agree as touching anything and ask the Father in my name, it shall be given you.
38. "Seek diligently to build up Zion and to magnify your high calling and your enemies shall not prevail over you.
39. "Zion shall not be moved out of her place. Zion shall prevail against her enemies.
40. "My people shall not be hindered in the building of my temples unto my Holy Name, if they will hearken unto my voice and do as I command them.
41. "The blood of my servants Joseph and Hyrum and of mine Apostles and Elders which has been shed for the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ, cries from the ground for vengeance upon the nation which has shed their blood.
42. "But their blood shall speedily be avenged and shall cease to cry unto me, for the hour of God's judgment is fully come and shall be poured out without measure upon the wicked.
43. "But hearken and hear, O ye Apostles, Elders and people of my Church, to the Word of the Lord concerning you, that for all the blessings that I will pour out upon you and the inhabitants of Zion and the judgments and destruction upon the wicked, I will be inquired of by you to ask the Father in my name to do and to perform these things for you as I told all the House of Israel by my servant Moses, that they should ask at my hand for all the
blessings which I the Lord have promised unto Israel in the latter days.
44. "And as I the Lord ordained mine Apostles who were with me in my ministry and promised them that they should sit upon twelve thrones, judging the Twelve Tribes of Israel, so I say unto you mine Apostles, whom I have raised up in these last days that I have ordained you to bear record of my name, and of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to the Gentiles first, and then to the House of Israel.
45. "I have also ordained you to sit upon thrones and judge the Gentiles and all the inhabitants of the earth unto whom you have borne testimony of my name in the day and generation in which you live. Therefore, how great is your calling and responsibility before me.
46. "Therefore, gird up the loins of your minds and magnify your calling in the fear of God, and prepare ye for the coming of the Son of Man, which is nigh at the door.
47. "No man knoweth the day nor the hour, but the signs of both heaven and earth indicate His coming, as promised by the mouths of my disciples; the fig tree is leafing and the hour is nigh. Therefore, prepare yourselves, O ye Saints of the Most High God, with oil in your lamps, for blessed is he that
watcheth for the coming of the Son of Man.
48. "Again, hear ye the Word of the Lord, O ye mine Apostles whom I have chosen in these last days to bear record of my name and lead my people Israel until the coming of the Son of Man.
49. "I the Lord have raised up unto you my servant John Taylor to preside over you and to be a lawgiver unto my Church. He has mingled his blood with that of the martyred Prophets. Nevertheless, while I have taken my servants Joseph and Hyrum unto myself, I have preserved my servant John Taylor for a wise purpose in me.
50. "I have also taken many others of the apostles unto myself, for I take whom I will take, and preserve in life whom I will preserve, according to the counsel of mine own will.
51. "And while my servant John Taylor is your President, I wish to ask the rest of my servants of the Apostles the question, although you have one to preside over your Quorum, which is the order of God in all generations, do you not, all of you, hold the apostleship, which is the highest authority ever given to men on earth? You do. Therefore you hold in common the Keys of the Kingdom of God in all the world.
52. "You each of you have the power to unlock the veil of eternity and hold converse with God the Father, and His Son Jesus Christ and to have the ministrations of angels.
53. "It is your right, privilege and duty to inquire of the Lord as to His mind and will concerning yourselves and the inhabitants of Zion and their interests.
54. "And whenever any one of you receives the word of the Lord, let it be written and presented in your councils and whatever by united consent you deem wise to be presented unto the people, let it be presented by the President, my servant John Taylor, as the word of the Lord. In this way you will uphold him and strengthen his hands, as all the burden should not lie upon one man.
55. "For thus saith the Lord, all mine Apostles should be full of the Holy Ghost of inspiration and revelation to know the mind and will of God and be prepared for that which is to come.
56. "Therefore let mine Apostles keep my commandments and obey my voice and the gates of hell shall not prevail against you.
57. "Fear not, for lo, I am with you until I come, I come quickly. Even So, Amen."
* * * * *
NOTES
NOTE 1. "During the month of January, 1880, I was at Sunset, Arizona, with Brother Lot Smith and the brethren with him who were trying to establish a branch of the United Order at that place. At this time the Government, through its officers, were using every means in its power to enforce the Edmunds-Tucker and anti-polygamy law with the evident intent on the part of the officers to break us up as an organized community. Being away from president Taylor and my Quorum, I felt deeply distressed in mind concerning our conditions as a people. While thus exercised I went into "the Wilderness," a region of country called by this name, situated about forty miles west of Sunset; and while there I stopped with two young men who were herding sheep belonging to the people of Sunset. I remained with them ten days, reading the revelations of God as contained in the Doctrine and Covenants, and praying fervently unto the Lord to reveal to me His mind and will concerning Zion. On retiring to bed on the night of the 25th of January, 1880, I found myself wrapt in vision, and the next morning the following revelation was given to me of the Lord which I wrote at the time." (The preceding revelation was then quoted.)
THE JOURNAL OF WILFORD WOODRUFF
January 25, 1880
NOTE 2. "During the period of the extreme and unrelenting prosecutions under the anti-polygamy acts of Congress, President Woodruff spent much of the time among the churches in Arizona and Southern Utah. On January 26, 1880, having retired for some days in the mountains fasting and praying, he obtained important revelations from the Lord concerning the work of the Twelve Apostles and events which would happen, affecting both the church and the nations. These were submitted to President John Taylor and the Council of the Apostles and were accepted by them as profitable for doctrine, for comfort, for light as to the future and for encouragement in the work of the ministry."
IMPROVEMENT ERA 1:874
NOTE 3. After his visit along the settlements up the Little Colorado Elder Woodruff returned to Brigham City, and later took up his abode in a shepherd's tent about twenty-five miles from Sunset. Here he wrote letters to President Taylor and others, and was especially thoughtful of Elder George Reynolds, then a prisoner in Lincoln, Nebraska, Elder Reynolds having been convicted of polygamy. It was here in this shepherd's tent that he felt the solemnities of eternity resting upon him and desired to know the mind and will of the Lord concerning the Apostles
and the nation, and especially the purpose of the persecution against the Saints of God. On the 26th of January in his journal he says: "I went to bed filled with prayer and meditation. I fell asleep and remained in slumber until about midnight, when I awoke. The Lord then poured out His spirit upon me and opened the vision of my mind so that I could comprehend in a great measure the mind and will of God concerning the nation and concerning the inhabitants of Zion. I saw the wickedness of the nation, its abominations and corruptions and the judgments of God and the destruction that awaited it. Then I also comprehended the great responsibility which rested upon the Quorum of the Apostles. My head became a fountain of tears, and my pillow was wet with the dews of heaven. Sleep departed from me. The Lord revealed unto me the duty of the Apostles and of all the faithful elders of Israel. The revelation was submitted to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles just prior to the April conference of that year; it was accepted by that body as the word of the Lord, according to Elder Woodruff's journal, under the date of April 4th 1880.
On the morning following the revelation, January 27th, he said: "I arose in the morning after the vision of the night. My heart was filled with joy and gratitude for a manifestation of the spirit of God to me. It was given by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost. I had read a revelation in the Doctrine and Covenants and prayed earnestly to the Lord to manifest to me His mind and will concerning myself and my brethren, the Apostles, and the Lord gave me that revelation in answer to my prayers."
LIFE OF WILFORD WOODRUFF
By M. F. Cowley, p. 530-531
(Kraut, Revelations 1880 – 1890, pp. 1-12)
QUOTES ON FOOD STORAGE FROM THE JOURNAL OF DISCOURSES
"...go there and store up grain enough to last you and your families seven years;" B.Y. / 55 2:312
"How many times have you been told to store up your wheat against the hard times that are coming upon the nations of the earth?" H.C.K. / 55 3:57
"We never ought to be without three or five years provisions on hand." B.Y. / 56 3:196
"In the future build yourselves good store‑houses and save your grain for a time of famine, and sickness, and death upon the nations of the wicked, to get rid of the evil doers. ...when hard times commence they will begin at the house of God, ...even here there is hardly a person but what takes a course to live from hand to mouth, that is, they will never lay up anything. This course will not answer for us, we must lay up grain against the famines that will prevail upon the earth. What shall we lay up that grain for? Shall we lay it up to feed the wicked? No, we shall lay it up to feed the Saints who gather here from all the nations of the earth, and for the millions of lovers of good and wholesome laws who will come from the old countries and from the United States, fleeing to this place for their bread, and I know it.
How much have you got to feed them on now? We talk about those in the household of faith, and those who are inclined to serve the Lord, they will be the ones to suffer first." H.C.K. / 56 3:227-228
"...lay up stores of grain, against the time of need, for you will see the time when there will not be a kernel raised, and when thousands and millions will come to this people for bread." H.C.K. / 56 3:253
"I will tell you a dream which brother Kesler had lately. He dreamed that there was a sack of gold and a cat placed before him, and that he had the privilege of taking which he pleased, whereupon he took the cat, and walked off with her. Why did he take the cat in preference to the gold? Because he could eat the cat, but could not eat the gold. ...I recollect that brother Brigham proclaimed the policy of our laying up grain, and told us to lay up a seven years' supply, and prepare for a famine." H.C.K. / 55 3:262
"We, as well as others, should learn to store our provisions when there is plenty that we may be prepared against a time of need. The First Presidency, from time to time, since we came here, have taught that it was necessary for us to provide against the day of famine and great trouble, and that it was not only necessary for us to provide for ourselves, but also for the thousands and millions who are flocking to these mountains, for shelter from the calamities that are fast falling upon the world. ...Then it becomes the Saints to store up food for themselves, and for the hosts who will come here for sustenance and protection, for as the Lord lives they will flow here by thousands and millions, and seek bread and protection at the hands of this people." G.A.S. / 56 3:288-289
"I will now present a subject which will be a text for the brethren to preach upon from this stand, viz., the necessity of building store houses in which to preserve our grain. ...And if the people do their duty in this matter, they will continue to lay up grain for themselves and for this community throughout this Territory, and for fifty or a hundred times as many more, until they have enough to last them seven years. You can figure at that, and learn how much grain you ought to lay up. ...it is our indispensable duty to safely store it for a time to come." B.Y. / 57 4:307
"I speak of these things by way of encouragement to you, brethren and sisters. You are a good people: I respect you; I have pride in you, when you live your religion; but let us wake up. We have done first rate; but we can wake up more, and keep waking up, and attend to the things you have been told to attend to; and one of them is, to lay up stores of corn, wheat, oats, peas, beans, buck wheat, and everything else that can be preserved; for you will see a day when you will want it; and it will be when we shall feel the effects of famine, and when the United States have not any food." H.C.K. / 57 4:330
"Brethren, go and build your storehouses before your grain is harvested, and lay it up, and let us never cease until we have got a seven years' supply. ...Will you be slack, brethren, and let the evil come upon us, when we forewarn you of the future events that are coming? Now, supposing that I had not the spirit of prophecy upon me, then I had better sit down. If a man gets up here and lets the Spirit of God dictate him, he cannot help prophesying, for the Holy Ghost is the Spirit of prophecy, and he will foretell future events, and you cannot help it. We are telling of what the prophets have said‑‑of what the Lord has said to Joseph. Wake up, now, wake up, O Israel, and lay up your grain and your stores. I tell you that there is trouble coming upon the world. ...Is it so in the United States? It is. ...and when famine, pestilence, and starvation come upon us in a small degree, it will increase upon them fourfold, packed down and running over, and they cannot help it." H.C.K. / 57 4:337-339
"Let us go to, then, and lay up in our store‑houses, and prepare for the day of famine, of sorrow, and of trouble; for all those things written in the prophecies, in ancient days and in this our day, will surely come upon the inhabitants of the earth." B.Y. / 57 4:343
"...we are now going to work to lay up our grain, and we are building storehouses to store it away in; and we shall not only store away grain but other things that will keep; and the day will come that you (strangers) will have to come to us for bread to eat; and we will be your saviours here upon Mount Zion. You don't believe it now; but wait a little while, and you will see that it will come to pass. ...I will prove to you that I will put my faith with my works and lay up stores for my family and for my friends that are in the United States, and I will be to them as Joseph was to the people in the land of Egypt. Every man and woman will be a saviour if they will do as I say. ...These things bear heavily upon my mind, and they have done so for some time. There are very few who have got any surplus grain on hand. ...It behooves us to be saving and to prepare for the time to come. The day will come when the people of the United States will come lugging their bundles under their arms, coming to us for bread to eat." H.C.K. / 57 5:9-10
"Remember the counsel that is given, "STORE UP ALL YOUR GRAIN," and take care of it! Prize it above gold and silver," O.H. / 57 5:17
"When we have stored away our grain we are safe, independent of the world, in case of famine, are we not? Yes, we are; for, in that case we will have the means for subsistence in our own hands. When the famines begin upon the earth, we shall be very apt to feel them first.
If judgments must need begin at the house of God, and if the righteous scarcely are saved, how will it be with the wicked? Am I looking for famines? Yes, the most terrible and severe that have ever come upon the nations of the earth. These things are right before us, and some of this people are not thinking anything about them; they do not enter their hearts. Still there is not an Elder here who has read the revelation which says, Go forth and warn the inhabitants of this land of the sickness, the death, and disasters that are coming upon this nation, ...neglect those things that I am speaking of, and you will perish temporally." H.C.K. / 57 5:20-21
"...prepare yourselves for the famines that are coming upon the earth; for I tell you that they are coming.
Do you suppose that God would give revelations and tell us to warn the inhabitants of the earth of things which were coming speedily upon them, if He did not intend that those things should come? He said that they should feel them, and I know that they are bound to feel them; for they will not repent. ...the day will come when people will gather here by hundreds and by thousands,‑‑yea, ...many will come trudging along with their bundles under their arms. I have heard brother Joseph, brother Brigham, and several other men say that it will be so; and I know it will," H.C.K. / 57 5:23
"...famine and desolation shall come upon the nation like a whirlwind." H.C.K. / 57 5:93
"...who recollect Brigham testifying most strenuously ...of the propriety of this people laying up grain and other stores for seven years, ...He said it was our duty to lay up grain for seven years, because he foresaw what would be; ...I have spoken also of these things constantly. How oft have you heard these things proclaimed for four years past? And, after all we have said, who is there that has laid up grain to last them one year, much less two, ...
Brother Brigham, myself, and Jedediah have blazed away on this matter for the last four years; and how many have manifested their faith by their works? Have one of you got wheat laid up to last you seven years? No; not one of you have got enough laid up to last three years. ...
You now see there is a time coming for every man to go to with his might, and lay up his wheat and his oats, his barley, his peas, and his beans, and dry your fruit, and lay it up; and then, when you have done it this year, do it next year, and then prize it as the most precious thing upon the earth.
The Bible says a man will give all he has got for his life. If you had a million of dollars in gold or in silver, you would give the whole of it for food to save your life. Well, then, why do you not take a course to lay up that very thing that will save your lives and the lives of others, as Joseph did the lives of the people of Egypt and his father's house?
Joseph warned the people of a famine that was coming on the land, and laid up corn; so Brigham and Heber have taught you that we are going to see a day similar to that, but more terrible‑‑more awful." H.C.K. / 57 5:173-174
"...live your religion, you never will have anything to do but to live your religion and lay up stores and prepare for the sceneries that are to come; for, as true as the Lord lives, the people of the nations will come by hundreds and by thousands for food, and for raiment, and for protection;" H.C.K. / 56 5:218
"...God ...says ...`GO TO AND CULTIVATE, AND RAISE GRAIN, AND PROVIDE FOR YOURSELVES SEVEN YEARS' PROVISIONS.' That is the way he is going to provide for you‑‑to tell you, like a good father tells his sons, how to provide for yourselves." H.C.K. /57 6:51
"When the pioneers came here, President Young counselled the brethren respecting laying up their grain against a time of famine and sorrow. ...and you will see sorrow yet, if you neglect the counsel of God through his servants." H.C.K. / 59 7:168
"We are blessed with plenty ...But I look for pretty keen times ...and therefore I would recommend the brethren to buy goods and lay them away, and don't sell them; for the time will come when many will be destitute of the necessary comforts of life. ...
I have no doubt about the time coming when we shall feel the pangs of hunger and destitution;" H.C.K. / 59 7:234
"We are continually talking about being the saviours of men. ...If I do not take a course to preserve myself and my family, ...feed and clothe a small family, I want to know what I can do for a large one. We have to learn this, and that if we cannot take a course to lay up wheat, corn, meat, and the comforts of life, ...If we do not take a course to provide for those around us, can we provide for our friends? We cannot. ...I contend that every man that holds the Priesthood ought to be a saviour temporally as well as spiritually, for we are in duty bound to try to save our natural lives. we ought to be good stewards, and lay up stores for that time which is to come, and thereby prepare for a day of scarcity. ...we have to learn to pursue that course that will make us independent." H.C.K. / 60 8:108-110
"I will not say much more about grain: you can do as you please. I might just as well say nothing about it, for I know none will listen to it but good Saints, men of God, and men that have an experience, and can see things as they are: they are the men that will save this people. If one to fifty proves a saviour in the end, I shall think that things are much better than I expected to find them. And those who have not skill, power, and wisdom, and salvation enough to save themselves and families temporally, what are they going to do with the spirit?" H.C.K. / 60 8:246
"President Young has talked and talked upon the subject of saving your breadstuff, and the Twelve have borne testimony of it in all your settlements day after day and year after year; and yet many of the people don't care any more about it than if we had never spoken upon the subject. ...
How can you be saviours, except you lay up knowledge of the things of God? And how can you be temporal saviours, except up lay up provisions? ...The Lord is not bound to feed us, except we take care and do our part." H.C.K. / 60 8:251-252
"Brethren, it is for us now to be industrious, live our religion, lay up our grain, and prepare for the times that are coming upon the earth." H.C.K. / 61 9:134
"But, suppose the people of the States should become as infuriated as the Jaredites, or the Nephites and Lamanites of old were, and should fight and slay each other as they did, whom would you get your supplies from? ...We should have to supply ourselves or go without. Think of these things, and realize that the Lord has taken peace from the earth, and is suffering the wicked to slay the wicked, and that the Prophet Brigham has this day blown the trumpet and warned us to prepare to supply our own wants."
G.A.S. / 62 9:159-160
"My warfare is, and has been for years, to get the people to understand that if they do not take care of themselves they will not be taken care of; that if we do not lay the foundation to feed and clothe and shelter ourselves we shall perish ...We have contended long to convince this people that they must become self‑sustaining." B.Y. / 63 10:200-201
"The Latter‑day Saints ought to be able to take care of themselves; men that are talking of possessing thrones, principalities and powers, of becoming kings and priests unto God ought to know how to take care of enough wheat to supply the wants of themselves and their families." J.T. / 63 10:260
"Now you, my brethren and sisters, who have been in the habit of coming here for the last ten, twelve, or fifteen years, have not been told all the time, at least as often as once a month, that the time would come when you would see the necessity of taking counsel and laying up grain? ...
At our Semi‑Annual Conference last fall the Bishops were instructed to go to each house and see what breadstuffs were on hand. Why? `Because the time is coming when they will want breadstuffs.' ...Why could they not believe what they were told? They ought to have believed, for it is true; and in all these matters the truth has been timely told to the people. ...Do we not see the storm gathering? ...The clouds are gathering; the distant thunders can be heard; the grumblings and mutterings in the distance are audible, and tell of destruction, want and famine. `Why, some good brother will feed us.' But that good brother has not got the flour. `I am not going to buy any; I will trust in the Lord; He will send the ravens to feed me.' Perhaps the faith of some people is such that they think the Lord will send down an angel with a loaf of bread under one arm and a leg of bacon under the other ...My faith is not like that. ...
My faith does not lead me to think the Lord will provide ...He will give us the ability to raise the grain, ...it is for us to preserve it‑‑to save the wheat until we have one, two, five, or seven years' provisions on hand, until there is enough of the staff of life saved by the people to bread themselves and those who will come here seeking for safety. ...the Lord has said it is His business to provide for His Saints, and I guess He will do it. `I have no doubt but He will do it.' I have no doubt but He will provide for His Saints, but if you do not take this counsel and be industrious and prudent, you will not long continue to be one of His Saints; ...store it up till you get your five or seven years' provisions on hand. ...
The time is coming when your friends are going to write to you about coming here, for this is the only place where there will be peace. There will be war, famine, pestilence, and misery through the nations of the earth, ...And then, when the people come here by thousands, you will be able to feed them. What will be your feelings, when the women and children begin to cry in your ears, with not a man to protect them? ...
Joseph said, many and many a time, to us,‑‑`Never be anxious for the Lord to pour out his judgments upon the nation; many of you will see the distress and evils poured out upon this nation till you will weep like children.'" B.Y. / 64 10:291-295
"`You have preached so many years to us about saving our grain, will the people save it now?' They will do just as they please. It is our duty to preach the truth, it is theirs to believe and obey it. ...My faith must be consistent, and go with my works. It is not my duty to make you build granaries. My duty is done when I tell you what you ought to do. ...It has been told you before, time and again, and we want to keep sounding it in your ears, take the course to save yourselves both spiritually and temporally. ...
If you love brother Brigham, brother Heber and the Twelve, do as they tell you. As fast as possible, secure a year's supply of breadstuff, and then try to sustain yourselves without using any of that supply; and take the same course in the harvests of 1865‑6‑7, and so on, until you have a supply for seven years, then you are prepared either for a famine of that duration, or to feed the thousands who will come here hungry." B.Y. / 64 10:336-338
"How long shall we have the privilege of ending to New York, St. Louis, or other places to buy our goods? Babylon will surely fall." B.Y. / 65 11:134
"...the necessity of laying up and securing to themselves bread against a time of want. There would not be the empty granaries and the comparative lack of that which should exist ...the causes that have induced this condition ...In my mind there exists but one general reason‑‑our lack of comprehending the truth in relation to the nature of the work in which we are engaged; perhaps, we may have been to some extent presuming too much upon the kindness, charity, and goodness of our heavenly Father. We may have fancied, perchance, that he is pledged to preserve us irrespective of the course that we pursue, simply because we have supposed that we are Saints," A.M.L. / 65 11:194
"Then the farmer, shoemaker, tailor, weaver, and so on through the whole people, could have their bins filled, and have on hand one, two, or three years' supply. ...I believe it is the duty of the Bishops and of all our leading men to see these things carried out. I know it is the wish of President Young and of the Lord." J.T. / 67 11:358-359
"The day is not far distant when we shall have to take care of ourselves. Great Babylon is going to fall, judgment is coming on the wicked, the Lord is about to pour upon the nations of the earth the great calamities which He has spoken of by the mouths of His prophets; and no power can stay these things. It is wisdom that we should lay the foundation to provide for ourselves." W.W. / 67 12:13
"President Kimball has been urging us strongly to store our bins with wheat and flour. ...the counsel to store up food is frequently given, and is absolutely necessary." G.A.S. / 67 12:25 (Compiled by W. H. Knecht)
| A VISION In the early morning hours of Saturday the 13th of December, 1997, I awoke at about 3:00 am. I had been discouraged because Brother ____ ____ had not kept his appointment with me two days earlier in Kanab. I don’t know why, but that failure demoralized me and I returned home in a melancholy mood. At 3:00 am, I awoke and this feeling intensified; I started to pray and asked the Lord where I stood and if the efforts we were making were acceptable to Him. At about 4:00 am I went back to bed, but could not sleep. I lay awake wanting to go back to sleep. BrotherJoseph Thompson came into the room and asked Eva and I to come into the kitchen. We went in and he hugged Eva and shook my hand very warmly, demonstrating a great deal of love. (Brother Joe was generally all business with us; this outpour of love by Brother Joe was unusual.) He relayed that what we were doing was acceptable to the Lord and to continue doing what we are doing. “You were told that this work would go slow at the beginning. Go forward and continue,” Brother Joe said. I began to weep and thank the Lord in my heart that the Lord was watching over us. I wept with joy and then: I woke up!! I was in bed!! It was so real, yet it was a dream? It had been so real. Nevertheless I felt peace in my heart and joy. Signed, Jackson Ted Jessop |
E D I T O R I A L
A LAW UNTO OURSELVES
I recall many times in our Seventies Meetings and also in Priesthood Meetings both in the Church and in the Work that we would frequently decry and look down our long noses on those in the Restored Gospel who broke loose from the “Head of Priesthood” or from “the Prophet of the Church” (take your pick) and were now “out on their own”, “doing their own thing” and not taking counsel from any “head”. I have to say that I would shutter and think to myself, “What proud and arrogant men who think to lead and guide their families without “priesthood leadership or a’ priesthood head’ in their lives.” And then, I would strive my best to take whatever counsel came from these heads, first when I was in the Church and then later when I was in the Work and apply it to my own life and to the lives of my family.
But in taking this counsel, I forgot to consider the Savior’s admonition by which we test any counsel given by such men.
Matthew 7
When applying the counsel of either Church or Priesthood leaders to my personal challenges, I found that their counsel had no power, no efficacy and certainly not the genius of the Lord. Such counsel came to me as it would from a college textbook, the best of man’s wisdom that usually does not work and I found did not work in any setting. I concluded that such counsel does not work in Time or Eternity.
We find we have financial problems. What is the solution? Church and Priesthood leaders hark back to the “counsel” that self-improvement “gurus” (what the Scriptures call soothsayers) have provided and they quote such “wisdom” as if they had received “revelation” or “inspired counsel” from the Lord. But what are their fruits? Those who follow such counsel go on wallowing in their financial morass year after year, without realizing that economic wealth comes from living Consecration and United Order. Those who have applied the principles of Consecration and Stewardship successfully have become wealthy as historical evidence shows. We have abundant examples to search out and find and then emulate.
We have marital problems. What is their solution? Again, we find such “leaders” suggesting to us that we chat with “marriage counselors” who have been trained in the Universities of the world or have read a plethora of books on the subject written by “inspired men and women” but without the revelations of God. Or in the alternative, such leaders try to “play” marriage counselors, drawing on their own experiences and what they can remember from the books they have read or talks they have heard from others on the subject. There is not the genius of Heaven and therefore no fruits.
But when we look into the Scriptures, we see a very interesting and compelling pattern that emerges by how families anciently prevailed and succeeded---the Patriarchal and Matriarchal Order of Family Government, wherein each person in an Eternal Family Structure knows what he or she is to do and his/her proper place in that Family Structure. When we all in a family pray for guidance from the Lord, He will open to us the vision of how to implement this Order of Family Government and thus, bring peace and strength to our Families, where “marital problems” are no longer an “issue”. But generally, the “leaders” will set themselves up as a “light to the family” and attempt to provide uninspired counsel. And when this counsel fails to yield fruits, then the blame is laid at the feet of the persons who strove to implement such uninspired counsel, believing they were being led by the “revelations of God” to them through appointed Priesthood channels.
Jeremiah had a great deal to say about prophets and priests who cause the people of Israel to err. You can read his condemnation of such uninspired men who claim to be prophets and priests leading the people of Israel in Chapter 23 of Jeremiah in the Old Testament. Specifically, he gives a very compelling standard by which to judge a prophet in Israel
Jeremiah 23
22 But if they [Priesthood Leaders] had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings.
Many of us have earnestly sought from Priesthood leaders to be “turned from our ‘evil way’” and from the “evil of our doings”, knowing that we are following an evil way by the fruits flowing into our lives, only to be misled and “taken for a ride”. Finally, in desperation we cry out to the Lord for guidance and for personal revelation and wouldn’t you know it? Voila!! He answers that heart-felt request and leads us to where we can find TRUE answers or gives us outright personal revelation that shows us what we must do NOW to find the fruits of peace, joy and rest on the particular issue that is proving so nettlesome and painful to us.
I recall a dear friend of mine who suffered many “marital problems”. He read self-help books, listen to CD’s, watched DVD’s, attended week-end marriage retreats, went to Church leaders and marriage counselors for answers to his painful problems. In the end, he and his wife came up empty and divorce seemed to be the only solution. Finally, in desperation, he put aside the silly little typical shallow prayers of both his youth and his family, and got truly humble, honest, and REAL with the Lord and exploded in his zealous pleadings to the Lord wherein he was ready to die that moment or have REAL answers to that which had vexed him and his family for so many years. And as he shared with me his story, he audibly heard a voice from Heaven that said this to him: “Finally, I have your attention.” Whereupon, this friend was led by revelation to those places in the Scriptures and in the writings of the Prophets and to those Saints who taught him and his wife the Patriarchal Order of Family Government. Of course, it also led them to the Fullness of the Gospel and being cut off from the Church. But where darkness had prevailed before, now the Light of Truth illuminated their family, causing them to change which the scriptures labels “repentance”.
Following such personal revelations eventually has the Priesthood Leaders cutting us off from their “presence” (not the Presence of the Lord, for that is what brought us to be at odds with the Priesthood Leaders in the first place) causing us to separate ourselves from “the Priesthood Leaders” as we are left with no other choice and we are then called by the Lord to go on without the “Priesthood Leaders”. Thus, we are left with no other choice but to find ourselves in that category of being “a Law unto ourselves”. That is fine, I suppose, provided that that “Law” is based upon God’s Laws and also upon personal revelations that we receive from the Lord.
But, we are now at risk. Without a Church structure, without other men in the Priesthood to provide some sort of “structure” we are very likely to be misled or to be deceived, as evidence shows that so many who are “Independents” have done. Without unity and without strong leadership, we are many times left powerless to do much of anything as far as the Gospel is concerned (like build a Temple , effect the Gathering, or establish a United Order) beyond what we do in our individual families. The focus of our efforts to build the Kingdom of God then becomes the focus to build up our individual families with great suspicion of anyone who comes claiming to be a “Priesthood Leader” or anyone who desires to lead us en masse to accomplish these other projects that we know are part of building the Kingdom. Thus, we are left to decide between the “lesser of two evils” to either become a “Law unto ourselves” and thus follow our Personal Revelations from Heaven, which sometimes we don’t understand or which we misinterpret to our detriment, or to follow apostate Priesthood Leaders who lead us astray and leave us with no fruits, other than that state of desperation where we find no answers, because they have no answers to give us.
In the final analysis, we find that we driven to that state of being that Isaiah describes in his writings:
Isaiah 2
11 The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day.
17 And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day.
There are some among us who decry and condemn the “one-man doctrine”, but the history of the Dispensations, including our own and the one that is now coming upon us wherein we will establish Zion, has the repentant remnant of Israel who have taken the Holy Spirit to be their guide (as opposed to the Arm of Flesh—uninspired Priesthood Leaders) following ONE man who leads us by his own efforts and through the efforts of those he appoints to that place of salvation where Israel is always led by the Lord’s Anointed Servants. Thus, we are left with two choices:
- Follow the Lord’s Anointed Servants who truly receive the Lord’s Revelations as we confirm such revelations through our own personal revelations
OR
- If the body of the Church which organizes Israel has sufficiently apostatized and we are without the Lord’s Anointed Servants who truly receive the Lord’s Revelations, then we must become “a Law unto ourselves” with the commensurate risk of being misled, thus leaving us in a constant humbled state wherein we are willing to repent when we see the deceptions and errors that will surely come.
With the second alternative, we must.. WE MUST be humble, we must be testing our personal revelations constantly, we must be forever seeking the Will and Word of the Lord to us individually and to our families that we have been called to serve as Patriarchs and Matriarchs, so that we can find our Way back home to our Heavenly Father. We must also be expecting the Lord to call a “Moses” or a “Joseph Smith” to gather and organize the righteous outcasts and faithful remnants of Israel to redeem Zion that this world may fulfill its divine destiny. The Prophet Isaiah labels this man to yet be called to lead righteous Israel to destroy wicked and depraved “Assyria” and to establish Zion as “The Davidic King” who will walk in the calling and footsteps of the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth. We must look for this man and realize that as Babylon falls and Assyria rises so will Zion under the leadership of this ONE man, even the promised Servant standing in the Davidic Calling of the King of Israel, leading us forward to established the promised and long-anticipated Zion .
Will you be there? Yes, but only if you endure this night wherein we are without revelation to Appointed Priesthood Leaders in Israel, relying solely on the merits of the personal revelations that you receive from the Lord through the Holy Ghost to guide you and the families that God has given you to serve as a wise and faithful Steward.
The Spirit of God Like a Fire is Burning!
The Spirit of God like a fire is burning!
The latter-day glory begins to come forth;
The visions and blessings of old are returning,
The angels are coming to visit the earth.
The Lord is extending the Saints' understanding,
Restoring their judges and all as at first;
The knowledge and power of God are expanding;
The veil o'ver the earth is beginning to burst.
We'll call in our solemn assemblies in spirit,
To spread forth the kingdom of heaven abroad,
That we through our faith may begin to inherit
The visions and blessings and glories of God.
We'll wash and be washed, and with oil be anointed,
Withal not omitting the washing of feet;
For he that receiveth his penny appointed
Must surely be clean at the harvest of wheat.
Old Israel, that fled from the world for his freedom,
Must come with the cloud and the pillar again;
And Moses and Aaron and Joshua lead them,
And feed him on manna from heaven again.
How blessed the day when the lamb and the lion
Shall lie down together without any ire,
And Ephraim be crowned with his blessings in Zion,
As Jesus descends with His chariots of fire!
We’ll sing and we’ll shout with the armies of heaven,
Hosanna, Hosanna to God and the Lamb!
Let Glory to them in the highest be given,
Henceforth and forever, Amen and Amen!
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