Outcasts Of Israel

There once was a container ship built mighty and strong that was set sail many years ago to deliver her precious cargo to the inhabitants of the world. The original cargo included that which was of most worth to the people. After many years the operators of the ship began to add items of their own making to the cargo of the ship seeing as there was room enough and they could increase their profits. Year after year, voyage after voyage more cargo was added to the ship until one day it became too much. Although the ship was built correctly and could withstand the rigors of sailing with the original load, the added weight proved too heavy and the ship could no longer remain upright. Before she sank some rescue tugs came and helped off-load some of the added cargo which was promptly cast into the sea. Upon seeing this the operators of the ship were very angry because in their minds the ship could never sink, however those who were present knew that this brave act was the only way to keep the ship from being lost completely.

39 Verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my doctrine, and whoso buildeth upon this buildeth upon my rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against them.
40 And whoso shall declare more or less than this, and establish it for my doctrine, the same cometh of evil, and is not built upon my rock; but he buildeth upon a sandy foundation, and the gates of hell stand open to receive such when the floods come and the winds beat upon them. (3 Nephi 11:39-49)

67 Behold, this is my doctrine–whosoever repenteth and cometh unto me, the same is my church.
68 Whosoever declareth more or less than this, the same is not of me, but is against me; therefore he is not of my church.
69 And now, behold, whosoever is of my church, and endureth of my church to the end, him will I establish upon my rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against them.(Doctrine & Covenants 10:67-69)

Here are two statements made by authorities from two of a small handful of churches that claim to be the only true church of God. I am very familiar with both of them since I grew up in one of them and am a current member of the other. One of them fell into apostasy and one of them claims this can never happen to them. (Email me if you would like the references regarding which quote belongs to which church and who stated these teachings.)

“A true mystic or visionary will always obey the legitimate religious superiors and authorities in the Church. We can be sure that if a mystic or seer is in any way disobedient to the local Bishop or their religious Superiors, then the alleged revelations and messages cannot be authentic. God’s graces flow through His Church in union with the legitimate authority that He Himself established.”

“When visions, dreams, tongues, prophecy, impressions or an extraordinary gift or inspiration, convey something out of harmony with the accepted revelations of the Church or contrary to the decisions that its constituted authorities, [the members of the church] may know that it is not of God no matter how plausible it may appear.”

Now let me leave you with statements by two men, Joseph Smith and Nephi, both of whom the Holy Ghost has testified to me that they are true prophets of Jesus Christ:

“When God offers a blessing or knowledge to a man, and he refuses to receive it, he will be damned. The Israelites prayed that God would speak to Moses and not to them; in consequence of which he cursed them with a carnal law.” (Joseph Smith)

“It is the constitutional disposition of mankind to set up stakes and set bounds to the works and ways of the almighty.” (Joseph Smith Preaching at temple stand 13 aug 1843, Ehat pg. 238)

“The mystery power and glory of the priesthood is so great and glorious that the angels desired to understand it and cannot: why, because of the tradition of them and their fathers in setting up stakes and not coming up to the mark in their probationary state.” (Words of Joseph Smith, Ehat & Cook pg. 247)

“To all those who are disposed to say to set up stakes for the almighty – will come short of the glory of God. To become a joint heir of the heirship of the son he must put away all his traditions.” (Joseph Smith 27 aug 1843 temple grove preaching, diary of Joseph Smith by Willard Richards)

Yea, wo be unto him that hearkeneth unto the precepts of men, and denieth the power of God, and the gift of the Holy Ghost!
Yea, wo be unto him that saith: We have received, and we need no more!
And in fine, wo unto all those who tremble, and are angry because of the truth of God! For behold, he that is built upon the rock receiveth it with gladness; and he that is built upon a sandy foundation trembleth lest he shall fall.
Wo be unto him that shall say: We have received the word of God, and we need no more of the word of God, for we have enough! (2 Nephi 28:26-29)

If we historically applied the teachings of the first two quotes in this post then the teachings of most all the prophets in their day, including Christ, would have to be rejected.

If we apply these teachings to us today then it leaves open the possibility that true messengers sent by the Lord to either institution might also be rejected.

Candidate truth must be evaluated on its own merit without stakes, limits, or prejudice. Just like Nephi went against the established traditions and teachings of his faith when prompted to take Laban’s life and also when Abraham was told by the Lord to offer his son Isaac in sacrifice; what made these actions justified and not sin is that it was the Lord commanding these things.

Could this happen today? Of course it can. Who am I to place limits on what the Lord can reveal to others? Can the Lord reveal some truth to someone that is not accepted and taught by the institutional church?

The apologists might argue “yes but God is a God of order and He wouldn’t do that.” How certain are you of that? How certain are you that the above quotes were the oracles of God and a revelation of His will versus merely a precept and opinion of a church leader?

I will leave you a key to discern the precepts and philosophies of men verses a true teaching from Heaven.

If what you are taught in your church, if carried out in the times when the Savior walked the earth would have caused you to reject Christ in favor of orthodoxy or tradition or your religion; then you may know with surety that the teaching in question is a precept of man or worse yet, a doctrine of devils. It’s that simple. For

If a teaching would have caused you to reject the Christ in his day then that same teaching might lead you to reject any of His true servants that he chooses to send today. I am not talking about religion per se. I am talking about receiving truth. Christ is truth, His word is truth, His light and spirit are truth. Religious traditions that are not based on Him must needs fall.

If we accept the quotes in then beginning of this post as true teachings of God then we are limited to only receive truths that the institutions deem appropriate for us and it stifles the ability of personal revelation.

If the Lord reveals something to you personally that is against the established traditions of your church, you may not be authorized to share it or teach as a doctrine of the church, however it doesn’t necessarily mean it isn’t true.

It would behoove us, regardless of which religious institution suits us, to not set up stakes as to what the Lord can reveal and how he can reveal it and by whom he can reveal His truths to the children of men.

I am confident and certain that the Lord is still able to do His own work. I testify that there is a God today, and that the Lord and the Redeemer has not finished his work by giving his power unto men (see 2 Nephi 28:5).  Men (and women) however may participate in the Lord’s work should they choose to follow Him.  Behold he stands at the door and knocks but he will never force himself upon us, we are the ones who must open unto him.

I am a convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and am a “card-carrying” member in every sense of the meaning. I am also grateful for what has been preserved and handed down by the sect of converts that followed Brigham Young (for there are hundreds of prior and current sects) and am appreciative of what we currently enjoy in the institutional LDS church, however it is very apparent that we don’t have Zion amongst us in the scriptural definition. We are steeped in the ways of the world so much so that it is easy to see why Zion is fled and has not returned.

While it is important to possess the appropriate gratitude towards our spiritual forefathers of the restoration, it is also important to not be lofty or prideful in assuming that we currently enjoy the fullness of the blessings or the fullness of the priesthood that the Lord was willing to restore to the early saints of this dispensation. For those who may think we enjoy these blessing in the church today I would humbly refer you to JST Genesis 14 to compare the fruits of this order of priesthood to the fruits enjoyed today, or to simply compare the fruits of what was produced by Joseph Smith versus those who came after.

The doctrine of the Father teaches us to avoid contention; commands us to repent and to completely turn ourselves to Christ and to press forward steadfastly in Him. It beckons us to have humility and child-like innocence and faith. It bids us to feast upon the words of Christ until we can lay hold upon this grace to transform ourselves and become a people of one heart and one mind, to become one with Christ as he is with the Father. It invites us to have the Spirit of truth manifest in our lives to the degree that we can speak with the tongue of angels. (See 3 Nephi 11 and 2 Nephi 31)

An honest assessment in our lives will show that we as a people have missed the mark. We have let the precepts of men muddle the strait and narrow path that Christ walked and invited us to walk upon. So I cannot help but to weep for Zion and to pray that we may qualify to be worthy to associate with those who did pay the price to attain it. Joseph Smith taught:

“Let us here observe, that a religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation; . . . It is in vain for persons to fancy to themselves that they are heirs with those, or can be heirs with them, who have offered their all in sacrifice, and by this means obtained faith in God and favor with him so as to obtain eternal life, unless they, in like manner, offer unto him the same sacrifice, and through that offering obtain the knowledge that they are accepted of him.” (Lectures on Faith; sixth lecture, par. 7–8)

We have not qualified ourselves for Zion. We have not paid the price nor have we offered an acceptable sacrifice. Some of us think that just being members of the church is the price for admission as if all that is required is to board the correct “good ship” and then let is sail us onward to Zion and the celestial kingdom.  This idea cheapens the gospel. The most precious blood to ever grace the earth was shed 2000 years ago to provide an infinite atonement for our transgressions and to usher in the fulfillment of the good news. The best blood of the 19th century was shed as a witness that the restoration of the fullness of the gospel was returned to the earth. The price of admission to Zion was never cheaply attained and never can be. What price are we willing to pay to attain it?

Far from proclaiming that all is well and that Zion prospers, I cannot help but to lament and ask “how long O, Lord?” And the reply that causes me to shudder in anguish is “until the cities be left desolate without inhabitants.” For what more could the Lord have done to preserve his vineyard? Has He slackened his hand, has He not nourished it and pruned it and dunged it and sent laborers therein? Yet Zion is gone, is fled and I mourn her absence and will send up my cries on her behalf. Had I the trump of an angel I would lift my voice and proclaim repentance to this generation. Turn ye to the Lord and make his paths straight for he is returning and not as a meek and lowly lamb but as one who has tread the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of God alone.

Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another, and the Lord hearkened and heard; and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.
And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of Hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
Then shall ye return and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not. (Malachi 3: 16-18)

May we as a people be found worthy to have our names be written in that book of remembrance. May we be those bright and shining jewels to add glory to the Holy One of Israel. May we know whom it is that we serve and in the coming day be spared even as sons and daughters of God for these are they who will be worthy to prepare, build and dwell in Zion.

To the Walpole Family,

On Friday I received a punch to my gut with the news that my dear friend Brennan was caught it an avalanche. It was just a few days prior that I was the one snowmobiling with him. We talked, laughed, had a great time and finished up with a meal together. We discussed gospel topics on the ride home and enjoyed each other’s company very much. It seems just a little while ago that I had the privilege of spending a week with him and Rolf and Garrett in Mexico. He was a good man and friend and I mourn with you his passing.

My feeble words will undoubtedly be inadequate to assuage the pain, to answer the questions, or to bring back that which was taken however from all that I have seen and learned, I don’t think events like what your family has gone through are “accidents” in the sense that there is no greater plan to all of this, nor do I think it an accident that Brennan’s and my paths crossed. It is my firm belief that the timing of our exit from mortality is not accidental even though to our limited understanding it appears so. Brennan is alive and carrying on and will be able to be a great blessing to you who are his family. Of course there are many scriptures that attest to the power of the resurrection and restoration however let me add an independent witness besides what is written that Brennan is alive, he will be at times just as near to you as when he was in his mortal state and you will one day see him again. May I offer an invitation to continue to press forward with a steadfastness in Christ. May the hope of His resurrection be your hope, may the promise of the glory that accompanies affliction be your promise and may the invitation to partake of His goodness be your invitation.

I can’t imagine what you and your family are going through, however I do know that any faith and hope in Christ will not be in vain. We signed up for trials, sorrow and affliction when we came to this earth however “eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” Let this love be a beacon of hope, of faith, of light in a world that has been darkened by the losing of your husband, son, father, and brother for a season. The restored gospel, which is the good news that we believe in is real, it is true and one day I promise you in the name of the Lord that you will have a more full understanding of why Brennan can no longer be physically with you and this will bring comfort to your hearts.

May I leave you with the words of him whose unworthy servant I am:

“And this is life eternal, that they may know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent.”

“My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

May the God of Peace bring peace to all of your souls during these times of sadness and mourning.

Every month we as Mormons are given an opportunity to ascend to the pulpit and bear testimony to the things we believe are true. I have often wondered how often false statements are introduced and testified of with all the fervor with which we are wont to manifest. I often wonder if the Lord is always pleased with the things that we bear witness of and the certainty with which we bear it. Anyhow that’s a side thought, what got me thinking of this is the account in 1 Nephi 17 where we have 2 separate testimonies borne (or is it bared, I don’t know) which are diametrically opposed.

As a backdrop, Laman and Lemuel have reluctantly followed their prophet father Lehi as he was told in no uncertain terms that they needed to flee Jerusalem and that it would be destroyed and many taken captive etc. This is around 600 BC. They lived as vagabonds in the desert for many years. I’ll cut these two rebellious-prone brothers some slack since if we were in that family’s shoes, I’m afraid many would not have even left.

The testimony they bear is found in verses 21 and 22:

Behold, these many years we have suffered in the wilderness, which time we might have enjoyed our possessions and the land of our inheritance; yea, and we might have been happy.

And WE KNOW that the people who were in the land of Jerusalem were a righteous people; for they kept the statutes and judgments of the Lord, and all his commandments, according to the law of Moses; wherefore, WE KNOW that they are a righteous people; and our father hath judged them, and hath led us away because we would hearken unto his words; yea, and our brother is like unto him. And after this manner of language did my brethren murmur and complain against us. (1 Nephi 17:21-22, Book of Mormon, emphasis mine)

So these two brothers had a “testimony” of the religious institution to which they were born into. They also had a “testimony” of the righteousness of their fellow Jews because of their religiosity. (Now I’m NOT asking you to apply this to us today because we are swimming in uncorrelated waters now, so please don’t. All is well, Zion prospereth!)

Contrast this to the testimony of the younger brother Nephi, the same Nephi who knew of what he spoke and testified of. The same Nephi who saw in vision the future birth of the Savior and his ministry and death, and saw a great and glorious vision to the end of the world. Although he was not permitted to reveal to us the fullness of his account, he did leave us many warnings, exhortations and a true witness as one who received the testimony of Christ.

Referring to his fellow Jews at Jerusalem, Nephi bares his testimony that:

. . . the time has come that they have become wicked, yea, nearly unto ripeness; and I KNOW not but they are at this day about to be destroyed; for I KNOW that the day must surely come that they must be destroyed, save a few only, who shall be led away into captivity. (1Nephi 17:43)

What does history have to say about this? Obviously both of these witnesses’ testimony could not be true no matter how much they hoped it to be. A few years later after this exchange, the king of Babylon himself Nebuchadnezzar II and his army laid siege to Jerusalem and ransacked the city, countless died, the temple was destroyed, the city razed to the ground and a small remnant were taken captive into Babylon, the vast majority however were slaughtered. The king at the time Zedekiah was captured and had his children killed in front of his eyes and then his eyes were cut out. He was taken captive in chains to Babylon and lived in captivity all the rest of his days.

How blind are we today and how many flaxen cords of the adversary are wrapped around our bodies? To whom are we in bondage to? These are interesting things to ponder and apply to our own selves.

Score 1 point for team Nephi. (Nephi actually cheated because he saw the aforementioned events, he didn’t just believe falsely in the traditions of his fathers.)

Next time we are impressed upon to bear testimony of things as they are, as they were or as they are to come, let us choose carefully the words we use and let us choose carefully what we are willing to bear witness to.  Sometimes “I believe” or “I hope” is more appropriate than “I know.”

One of the great ironies of the scriptures is how some of those who were sent to teach light and truth have been labeled as coming from darkness or insanity or having been influenced of the devil. Below are some examples from the scriptures with the very God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob receiving the most numerous of these utterly hypocritical accusations:

And now when the king had heard these words, he said unto his priests: Away with this fellow, and slay him; for what have we to do with him, for he is mad.
But I must fulfil the commandments wherewith God has commanded me; and because I have told you the truth ye are angry with me. And again, because I have spoken the word of God ye have judged me that I am mad. (Abinadi to the people of King Noah. Book of Mormon, Mosiah 14:1&4)

. . . if a prophet come among you and declareth unto you the word of the Lord, which testifieth of your sins and iniquities, ye are angry with him, and cast him out and seek all manner of ways to destroy him; yea, you will say that he is a false prophet, and that he is a sinner, and of the devil, because he testifieth that your deeds are evil. (Testimony of Samuel the Lamanite regarding those who are of God and teach his truths, Book of Mormon, Helaman 13:26)

But the more part of them did not believe in the words of Samuel; therefore when they saw that they could not hit him with their stones and their arrows, they cried unto their captains, saying: Take this fellow and bind him, for behold he hath a devil; and because of the power of the devil which is in him we cannot hit him with our stones and our arrows; therefore take him and bind him, and away with him. (Book of Mormon, Helaman 16:6)

And it came to pass that he began to cry unto the people, saying: Behold, I am guilty, and these men are spotless before God. And he began to plead for them from that time forth; but they reviled him, saying: Art thou also possessed with the devil? And they spit upon him, and cast him out from among them, and also all those who believed in the words which had been spoken by Alma and Amulek; and they cast them out, and sent men to cast stones at them. (People of Ammoniha reviling against Zeezreom after he defended Alma and Amulek, Book of Mormon, Alma 14:7)

But as to the people that were in the land of Ammonihah, they yet remained a hard-hearted and a stiffnecked people; and they repented not of their sins, ascribing all the power of Alma and Amulek to the devil; for they were of the profession of Nehor, and did not believe in the repentance of their sins. (Book of Mormon, Alma 15:15)

. . . Imagining up some vain thing in their hearts, that it was wrought by men and by the power of the devil, to lead away and deceive the hearts of the people; and thus did Satan get possession of the hearts of the people again, insomuch that he did blind their eyes and lead them away to believe that the doctrine of Christ was a foolish and a vain thing. (Nephites disbelieving signs of coming of the Lord attributing it to the power of the devil, Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 2:2)

For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil. (Bible KJV, Matthew 11:18, see also Luke 7:33)

But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. (Bible KJV, Matthew 12:24, see also Mark 3:22)

The people answered and said, Thou hast a devil: who goeth about to kill thee? (Bible KJV, John 7:20)

Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil? (Bible KJV, John 8:48)

And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him? (Bible KJV, John 10:20)

And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself.
And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils. (Bible KJV, Mark 3:21-22)

From these examples it seems that some of those who were commissioned by the Lord or imbued with power of the Holy Ghost to testify of truth and of Christ and His Gospel have been labled in the past  as having a devil or being under the influence of a devil, especially when the message ran afoul of the traditions of the people.

Is there any reason to think this would not be the case today or in the future? What greater insult could the Jews have leveled at the Savior of the world, the very God of their Fathers and one who in short time future would be suffering for their very own sins, than to accuse his high and holy commission of being of the devil and evil. His meek response:

Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me.
And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.
Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death.
Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?
Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:
Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying.
Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?
Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. (Bible, KJV John 8:49-58)

I bear witness of that man who was accused of having a devil that he is the Anointed of the Father, his very Christ and the Savior of all who will believe on his name and hearken unto His words and doctrine; that one may thereby lay hold upon His grace and be saved. He is the First and the Last, the great I AM. He lives, and he will return again as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. I invite all to seek for this Jesus of whom the prophets have testified. Behold He stands at the door and knocks and what great joy will fill the souls of those who will open unto Him!

Zebedee Coltrin was one of the early converts to the Church of Christ which was afterward renamed The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served as a missionary in Missouri, as a general authority (one of the early presidents of the Seventy) and was one of the original members of the School of the Prophets. After this school was reinstituted in the Salt Lake Valley, John Taylor invited the aging Coltrin to give his testimony of an experience he had in the early days of the school in kirtland above the Whitney store.  Brother Coltrin relates:

“At one of these meetings after the organization of the school, (the school being organized on the 23rd of January, 1833), when we were all together, Joseph having given instructions, and while engaged in silent prayer, kneeling, with our hands uplifted each one praying in silence, no one whispered above his breath, a personage walked through the room from east to west, and Joseph asked if we saw him. I saw him and suppose the others did and Joseph answered that is Jesus, the Son of God, our elder brother. Afterward Joseph told us to resume our former position in prayer, which we did. Another person came through; he was surrounded as with a flame of fire. The Prophet Joseph said this was the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. I saw Him. “When asked about the kind of clothing the Father had on, Brother Coltrin said: I did not discover his clothing for he was surrounded as with a flame of fire, which was so brilliant that I could not discover anything else but his person. I saw his hands, his legs, his feet, his eyes, nose, mouth, head and body in the shape and form of a perfect man. He sat in a chair as a man would sit in a chair, but this appearance was so grand and overwhelming that it seemed I should melt down in his presence, and the sensation was so powerful that it thrilled through my whole system and I felt it in the marrow of my bones.”

Brother Coltrin concluded his testimony by repeating the initial charge that Joseph Smith gave in 1833 to those at the original Kirtland School of the Prophets. Joseph told them:

“Brethren, now you are prepared to be the apostles of Jesus Christ, for you have seen both the Father and the Son and know that They exist and that They are two separate personages.” (Minutes, Salt Lake City School of the Prophets, October 3, 1883)

The following dedicatory prayer was pronounced upon the land of Jerusalem on 24 October 1841 by an apostle of Jesus Christ, Orson Hyde who received it by prophecy and revelation.  It is amazing to see how much has already been fulfilled.  The time of the gentiles is coming to an end that the last may be first and the first may be last.

“O Thou! who art from everlasting to everlasting, eternally and unchangeably the same, even the God who rules in the heavens above, and controls the destinies of men on the earth, wilt Thou not condescend, through thine infinite goodness and royal favor, to listen to the prayer of Thy servant which he this day offers up unto Thee in the name of Thy holy child Jesus, upon this land, where the Son of Righteousness set in blood, and thine Anointed One expired.

Be pleased, O Lord, to forgive all the follies, weaknesses, vanities, and sins of Thy servant, and strengthen him to resist all future temptations. Give him prudence and discernment that he may avoid the evil, and a heart to choose the good; give him fortitude to bear up under trying and adverse circumstances, and grace to endure all things for Thy name’s sake, until the end shall come, when all the Saints shall rest in peace.

Now, O Lord! Thy servant has been obedient to the heavenly vision which Thou gavest him in his native land; and under the shadow of Thine outstretched arm, he has safely arrived in this place to dedicate and consecrate this land unto Thee, for the gathering together of Judah’s scattered remnants, according to the predictions of the holy Prophets — for the building up of Jerusalem again after it has been trodden down by the Gentiles so long, and for rearing a Temple in honor of Thy name. Everlasting thanks be ascribed unto Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that Thou hast preserved Thy servant from the dangers of the seas, and from the plague and pestilence which have caused the land to mourn. The violence of man has also been restrained, and Thy providential care by night and by day has been exercised over Thine unworthy servant. Accept, therefore, O Lord, the tribute of a grateful heart for all past favors, and be pleased to continue Thy kindness and mercy towards a needy worm of the dust.

O Thou, Who didst covenant with Abraham, Thy friend, and who didst renew that covenant with Isaac, and confirm the same with Jacob with an oath, that Thou wouldst not only give them this land for an everlasting inheritance, but that Thou wouldst also remember their seed forever. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob have long since closed their eyes in death, and made the grave their mansion. Their children are scattered and dispersed abroad among the nations of the Gentiles like sheep that have no shepherd, and are still looking forward for the fulfillment of those promises which Thou didst make concerning them; and even this land, which once poured forth nature’s richest bounty, and flowed, as it were, with milk and honey, has, to a certain extent, been smitten with barrenness and sterility since it drank from murderous hands the blood of Him who never sinned.

Grant, therefore, O Lord, in the name of Thy well-beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to remove the barrenness and sterility of this land, and let springs of living water break forth to water its thirsty soil. Let the vine and olive produce in their strength, and the fig-tree bloom and flourish. Let the land become abundantly fruitful when possessed by its rightful heirs; let it again flow with plenty to feed the returning prodigals who come home with a spirit of grace and supplication; upon it let the clouds distil virtue and richness, and let the fields smile with plenty. Let the flocks and the herds greatly increase and multiply upon the mountains and the hills; and let Thy great kindness conquer and subdue the unbelief of Thy people. Do Thou take from them their stony heart, and give them a heart of flesh; and may the Sun of Thy favor dispel the cold mists of darkness which have beclouded their atmosphere. Incline them to gather in upon this land according to Thy word. Let them come like clouds and like doves to their windows. Let the large ships of the nations bring them from the distant isles; and let kings become their nursing fathers, and queens with motherly fondness wipe the tear of sorrow from their eye.

Thou, O Lord, did once move upon the heart of Cyrus to show favor unto Jerusalem and her children. Do Thou now also be pleased to inspire the hearts of kings and the powers of the earth to look with a friendly eye towards this place, and with a desire to see Thy righteous purposes executed in relation thereto. Let them know that it is Thy good pleasure to restore the kingdom unto Israel — raise up Jerusalem as its capital, and constitute her people a distinct nation and government, with David Thy servant, even a descendant from the loins of ancient David to be their king.

Let that nation or that people who shall take an active part in behalf of Abraham’s children, and in the raising up of Jerusalem, find favor in Thy sight. Let not their enemies prevail against them, neither let pestilence or famine overcome them, but let the glory of Israel overshadow them, and the power of the Highest protect them; while that nation or kingdom that will not serve Thee in this glorious work must perish, according to Thy word — Yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted.

Though Thy servant is now far from his home, and from the land bedewed with his earliest tear, yet he remembers, O Lord, his friend: who are there, and family, whom for Thy sake he has left. Though poverty and privation be our earthly lot, yet ah! do Thou richly endow us with an inheritance where moth and rust do not corrupt, and where thieves do not break through and steal.

The hands that have fed, clothed, or shown favor unto the family of Thy servant in his absence, or that shall hereafter do so, let them not lose their reward, but let a special blessing rest upon them, and in Thy kingdom let them have an inheritance when Thou shalt come to be glorified in this society.

Do Thou also look with favor upon all those through whose liberality I have been enabled to come to this land; and in the day when Thou shalt reward all people according to their works, let these also not be passed by or forgotten, but in time let them be in readiness to enjoy the glory of those mansions which Jesus has gone to prepare. Particularly do Thou bless the stranger in Philadelphia, whom I never saw, but who sent me gold, with a request that I should pray for him in Jerusalem. Now, O Lord, let blessings come upon him from an unexpected quarter, and let his basket be filled, and his storehouse abound with plenty, and let not the good things of the earth be his only portion, but let him be found among those to whom it shall be said, `Thou hast been faithful over a few things, and I will make thee ruler over many.’

O my Father in heaven! I now ask Thee in the name of Jesus to remember Zion, with all her Stakes, and with all her assemblies. She has been grievously afflicted and smitten; she has mourned; she has wept; her enemies have triumphed, and have said, `Ah, where is thy God?’ Her Priests and Prophets have groaned in chains and fetters within the gloomy walls of prisons, while many were slain, and now sleep in the arms of death. How long, O Lord, shall iniquity triumph, and sin go unpunished?

Do Thou arise in the majesty of Thy strength, and make bare Thine arm in behalf of Thy people. Redress their wrongs, and turn their sorrow into joy. Pour the spirit of light and knowledge, grace and wisdom, into the hearts of her Prophets, and clothe her Priests with salvation. Let light and knowledge march forth through the empire of darkness, and may the honest in heart flow to their standard, and join in the march to go forth to meet the Bridegroom.

Let a peculiar blessing rest upon the Presidency of Thy Church, for at them are the arrows of the enemy directed. Be Thou to them a sun and a shield, their strong tower and hiding place; and in the time of distress or danger be Thou near to deliver. Also the quorum of the Twelve, do Thou be pleased to stand by them for Thou knowest the obstacles which they have to encounter, the temptations to which they are exposed, and the privations which they must suffer. Give us, [the Twelve] therefore, strength according to our day, and help us to bear a faithful testimony of Jesus and His Gospel, to finish with fidelity and honor the work which Thou hast given us to do, and then give us a place in Thy glorious kingdom. And let this blessing rest upon every faithful officer and member in Thy Church. And all the glory and honor will we ascribe unto God and the Lamb forever and ever. Amen.”

The night before his death the Prophet Joseph related this dream as recorded in Documentary History of the Church 6: 609-610.

“I was back in Kirtland, Ohio, and thought I would take a walk out by myself, and view my old farm, which I found grown up with weeds and brambles, and altogether bearing evidence of neglect and want of culture. I went into the barn, which I found without floor or doors, with the weather – boarding off, and was altogether in keeping with the farm.

While I viewed the desolation around me, and was contemplating how it might be recovered from the curse upon it, there came rushing into the barn a company of furious men, who commenced to pick a quarrel with me.

The leader of the party ordered me to leave the barn and farm, stating it was none of mine, and that I must give up all hope of ever possessing it.

I told him the farm was given me by the Church, and although I had not had any use of it for some time back, still I had not sold it, and according to righteous principles it belonged to me or the Church.

He then grew furious and began to rail upon me, and threaten me, and said it never did belong to me nor to the Church.

I then told him that I did not think it worth contending about, that I had no desire to live upon it in its present state, and if he thought he had a better right I would not quarrel with him about it but leave; but my assurance that I would not trouble him at present did not seem to satisfy him, as he seemed determined to quarrel with me, and threatened me with destruction of my body.

While he was thus engaged, pouring out his bitter words upon me, a rabble rushed in and nearly filled the barn, drew out their knives, and began to quarrel among themselves for the premises, and for a moment forgot me, at which time I took the opportunity to walk out of the barn about up to my ankles in mud.

When I was a little distance from the barn, I heard them screeching and screaming in a very distressed manner, as it appeared they had engaged in a general fight with their knives. While they were thus engaged, the dream or vision ended.”

I invite any who read this to ask the Lord in mighty prayer to reveal to you if this dream relates to us today and if so then what is the correct interpretation. That is all I care to comment about it.

There once was a man who was labeled an apostate by the a “true” religion of his day, even those who considered themselves the chosen of God. He came completely outside the authorized channels. Repeatedly the accusatory question was asked “who authorized you to teach such things?” There was no apparent beauty in him that the people should desire to be his follower. He brought no earthly “bonafides” that his report should be believed. He was one of many anointed ones however only he bears the title THE Anointed. He is Faithful and True. His name means salvation, Yeshua. The work he did allowed those with eyes to see and ears to hear to be spiritually redeemed, to be cleansed from sin, to hunger not, neither thirst anymore. He is the light and life of the world. He marked the path that we can all safely follow. Those who rejected him did so at their own peril.

Would we have received this outcast or would we have clung to our traditions and given more heed to authority figures? Would we have risked offending the powerful so that we might be followers of this blasphemer from Nazareth? Would we have gladly been kicked out of the synagogue and cut off from the chosen of God to follow this apostate? Will we receive any future servant who might come in the name and power authority of Messiah in the last days? Only little children and those who seek to become as such can receive these things, for they are hid from the proud and the lofty. Who do you choose to become like?  Who do you choose to follow?