This
blog post is written for my family. . . may you read it, ponder it,
and ask God if these are His words. I love you all . . .
This
is the second time the Lord has awakened me in the early morning
hours with thoughts about this blog post . The first night (Oct.
3, 2015) he gave me the title of the blog. This morning (Oct.
5, 2015) he gave me a dream.
I
was lying down on the couch in the foyer of the church. My husband
was on the ground sitting next to me so that we were facing opposite
directions. I thought we were alone. We started kissing. Our display
of affection was tender and would be appropriate in front of the
children. It could be felt that we really were in love not merely
living together and putting up with each other.
I
then realized we were not alone. We were being watched. I turned and
saw that the chapel doors were open. A woman was standing at a
distance watching this exchange between John and me. I looked past
the woman to see two other women who were also in the chapel. They
were on cleaning duty.
The
first woman approached us. She scolded us for kissing in the church.
The other women seemed to support her opinion. I headed down the hall. As I walked away, I looked back and saw my husband quietly
chuckling and shaking his head as he sat alone on the couch. He said
nothing to the women.
The
woman followed me down the hall. Her silent supporters followed
behind. This woman was not content with my response to her scolding.
She did not think I had taken her seriously. She threatened to tell
the church leaders about our kissing in the foyer.
I
could feel my heart beating as I composed myself to respond to this
woman's absurd accusations. The dream ended, and I was awake. As I
came out of the dream, I was still processing the exchange. I thought
about why she lashed out at me the way she did: Maybe she doesn't
love her husband the way I love mine. Have her children ever seen her
passionately kiss her husband? What gives her the right to condemn an
innocent display of affection?
I was
awake in my bed thinking about the dream that had just been given me.
What does my dream mean? The Lord said, “The exchange you had with
your husband represents a loving, close, and intimate relationship a
bride has with her bridegroom. You are the bride. I am the
bridegroom. I desire a close relationship with you, just as you
desire to be close to your husband whom you love. The women cleaning
the chapel represent those who serve in the church but do not know
me. They haven't experienced and don't understand true, pure, and
virtuous intimacy. They think all intimacy is evil and wrong. They
haven't experienced love and intimacy in their their relationship
with me and think it is their busy-body duty to prevent others from
experiencing intimacy with me. They try to keep my sheep from coming
to me.”
The
Lord then told me that this dream was given me to help me understand
the doctrine of devils. I asked, “How does this dream relate to the
doctrine of devils?” He told me to get out of bed and write the
scriptures and thoughts that came to me.
Woe
unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye
entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye
hindered. Luke 11:52
The
Lord continued, “It is one thing to choose not to come to unto me;
it becomes very grievous when someone tries to prevent others from
developing intimacy with me. The doctrine of devils attempts to
prevent loving intimacy between me and my people.”
4
And Jesus left them, and went upon the Mount of Olives. And as he sat
upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately,
saying: Tell us when shall these things be which thou hast said
concerning the destruction of the temple, and the Jews; and what is
the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world, or the
destruction of the wicked, which is the end of the world?
5
And Jesus answered, and said unto them: Take heed that no man deceive
you;
6
For many shall come in my name, saying—I am Christ—and shall
deceive many; Joseph
Smith—Matthew 1:4-6
“Jennifer,
who is saying 'I am Christ'? These aren't just some weird lunatics
running around claiming to be the reincarnated Jesus Christ. . . This
is a group of people who claim to come in my name, and they have
enough influence to deceive many. They use my name as a cloak. They
use my name to deceive. They claim to be my servants. These false
Christ's reasoning goes something like this, 'If you follow me,
you're following Jesus. I follow Jesus, you follow me, see how it
works? You're following Jesus because you follow me. You can't go
straight to Jesus; you might be deceived. To get to Jesus you need to
go through me.' ”
The
Lord continued to explain, “To understand what I mean when I say,
'For many shall come in my name, saying—I am Christ—and shall
deceive many', you need to understood that Christ is not a person, it
is a title.”
What
does “Christ” actually mean? What does it mean to speak of
Jesus as the “Christ”?
This
word is one of the most important, basic words in a Christian’s
vocabulary. But it isn’t until you dig into the Bible’s ancient
context that you that see its surprising imagery and some of its most
important implications.
First
of all, the word “Christ” comes from christos, a Greek word
meaning “anointed.” It is the equivalent of the word mashiach, or
Messiah, in Hebrew. So, to be the Christ, or Messiah, is to be “the
anointed one of God.”
But
what does that mean?
To
be anointed, literally, is to have sacred oil poured on one’s head,
because God has chosen the person for a special task. Priests and
kings were anointed, and occasionally prophets. Kings were anointed
during their coronation rather than receiving a crown.
Even
though prophets and priests were anointed, the phrase “anointed
one” or “the Lord’s anointed” was most often used to refer to
a king. . .
The
overriding biblical imagery of the word “Messiah” or “Christ”
is that of a king chosen by God. Often in the Old Testament, God
would tell a prophet to go anoint someone and proclaim him king. The
act of anointing with sacred oil emphasized that it was God himself
who had ordained a person and given him authority to act as his
representative.”
“Lord,
I'm starting to understand, but keep going.”
“Look
up a few scriptures. I'll show you what this means.
22 Now
the Lord had shown unto me, Abraham, the intelligences that were
organized before the world was; and among all these there were many
of the noble and great ones;
23 And
God saw these souls that they were good, and he stood in the midst of
them, and he said: These I will make my rulers; for he stood among
those that were spirits, and he saw that they were good; and he said
unto me: Abraham, thou art one of them; thou wast chosen before thou
wast born.
24 And
there stood one among them that was like unto God, and he said unto
those who were with him: We will go down, for there is space there,
and we will take of these materials, and we will make an earth
whereon these may dwell . . .
27 And
the Lord said: Whom shall I send? And one answered like unto the Son
of Man: Here am I, send me. And another answered and said: Here am I,
send me. And the Lord said: I will send the first.
28 And
the second was angry, and kept not his first estate; and, at that
day, many followed after him. Abraham 3:22-24, 27-28
Supplanting
Jesus the Christ has been the desire of devils even before the world
was.
1 And
I, the Lord God, spake unto Moses, saying: That Satan, whom thou hast
commanded in the name of mine Only Begotten, is the same which was
from the beginning, and he came before me, saying—Behold, here am
I, send me, I will be thy son, and I will redeem all mankind, that
one soul shall not be lost, and surely I will do it; wherefore give
me thine honor.
2 But,
behold, my Beloved Son, which was my Beloved and Chosen from the
beginning, said unto me—Father, thy will be done, and the glory be
thine forever. Moses 4:1-2
For
behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the
immortality and eternal life of man. Moses 1:39
And when he had said these words, behold, the Lord showed himself unto him, and said: Because thou knowest these things ye are redeemed from the fall; therefore ye are brought back into my presence; therefore I show myself unto you. Ether 3:13
And when he had said these words, behold, the Lord showed himself unto him, and said: Because thou knowest these things ye are redeemed from the fall; therefore ye are brought back into my presence; therefore I show myself unto you. Ether 3:13
11 But
now mine own eyes have beheld God; but not my natural, but my
spiritual eyes, for my natural eyes could not have beheld; for I
should have withered and died in his presence; but his glory was upon
me; and I beheld his face, for I was transfigured before him.
12 And
it came to pass that when Moses had said these words, behold, Satan
came tempting him, saying: Moses, son of man, worship me.
13 And
it came to pass that Moses looked upon Satan and said: Who art thou?
For behold, I am a son of God, in the similitude of his Only
Begotten; and where is thy glory, that I should worship thee?
14 For
behold, I could not look upon God, except his glory should come upon
me, and I were transfigured before him. But I can look upon thee in
the natural man. Is it not so, surely?
15 Blessed
be the name of my God, for his Spirit hath not altogether withdrawn
from me, or else where is thy glory, for it is darkness unto me? And
I can judge between thee and God; for God said unto me: Worship God,
for him only shalt thou serve.
16 Get
thee hence, Satan; deceive me not; for God said unto me: Thou art
after the similitude of mine Only Begotten.
17 And
he also gave me commandments when he called unto me out of the
burning bush, saying: Call upon God in the name of mine Only
Begotten, and worship me.
18 And
again Moses said: I will not cease to call upon God, I have other
things to inquire of him: for his glory has been upon me, wherefore I
can judge between him and thee. Depart hence, Satan.
19 And
now, when Moses had said these words, Satan cried with a loud voice,
and ranted upon the earth, and commanded, saying: I am the Only
Begotten, worship me. Moses 1:11-19
The
desire to be worshiped can be seen when men engage in priestcrafts.
They participate in priestcrafts when they set themselves up for a
light unto the world that they may get gain and praise of the world.
He
commandeth that there shall be no priestcrafts; for, behold,
priestcrafts are that men preach and set themselves up for a light
unto the world, that they may get gain and praise of the world; but
they seek not the welfare of Zion. 2 Nephi 26:29
One
reason we are warned against participating in priestcrafts is so that
there is no idolatry practiced. Mortals are not to be worshiped. All
are alike unto God. There should be no part-time or full-time paid
clergy. The preacher is no better than the hearer, neither is the
teacher any better than the learner.
Let
the residue of the elders watch over the churches, and declare the
word in the regions round about them; and let them labor with their
own hands that there be no idolatry nor wickedness practiced.
Doctrine and Covenants 52:39
And
when the priests left their labor to impart the word of God unto the
people, the people also left their labors to hear the word of God.
And when the priest had imparted unto them the word of God they all
returned again diligently unto their labors; and the priest, not
esteeming himself above his hearers, for the preacher was no better
than the hearer, neither was the teacher any better than the learner;
and thus they were all equal, and they did all labor, every man
according to his strength. Alma 1:26
But
because of priestcrafts and iniquities, they at Jerusalem will
stiffen their necks against him, that he be crucified. 2 Nephi 10:5
And
my vineyard has become corrupted every whit; and there is none which
doeth good save it be a few; and they err in many instances because
of priestcrafts, all having corrupt minds. Doctrine and Covenants
33:4
The
Lord's vineyard has become corrupted, and even the few who do good
have become corrupted because of priestcraft. Priestcraft has
corrupted our minds.
Here
are a few examples:
President
Nelson said he can empathize with those brethren who will be
called to the Twelve. “There is no way you can describe it,” he
said. “It is the most sacred thing that can happen to a man in this
life. It is life-changing, yes. But hopefully, he, in turn, will be
able to change the lives of many other people toward the Lord. This
is what we do. We are servants of the Lord. We are His agents, and
that means salvation and exaltation for the people who come under the
sphere of His influence.”
Really?
Is the most sacred thing that can happen to a man in this life a
position in the top hierarchy of a multi-billion dollar corporation?
Where is Jesus the Christ in this equation? If this is the most
sacred thing that can happen to a man in this life, what about all
those who will never experience such a call? Does salvation and
exaltation for the people come through these top paid officials of
the LDS church or does it come through Jesus the anointed one? How
can they claim to be servants and agents, or in other words, Christ's
when they've never been anointed by God?
Here
is another
example of the doctrine of devils. This man isn't even subtle
about where to focus your eyes. He uses God's name in vain to divert
attention away from the Lord onto himself.
Recently,
I spoke at the new mission presidents’ seminar and counseled these
leaders:
“Keep
the eyes of the mission on the leaders of the Church. … We will not
and … cannot lead [you] astray.
“And
as you teach your missionaries to focus their eyes on us, teach them
to never follow those who think they know more about how to
administer the affairs of the Church than …
“Sister
Willis I urge you to do the ordinary things the Lord has prescribed
for his children to do at this time, and leave the timing of other
essential things to the Lord. When it is time to take extraordinary
measures or to do different things to be “sanctified,” that word
will come from the Lord, speaking through his servants.” Dallin
Oaks
“I
say to Israel, the
Lord will never permit me or any other man who stands as President of
this Church to lead you astray.” [Emphasis added] (“I say to
Israel” is omitted in Official
Declaration 1, but you can read the original text in Deseret
Evening News, October 11,
1890, p. 2)
Have
we forgotten the doctrine taught by Nephi?
41 O
then, my beloved brethren, come unto the Lord, the Holy One. Remember
that his paths are righteous. Behold, the way for man is narrow, but
it lieth in a straight course before him, and the
keeper of the gate is the Holy One of Israel; and he employeth no
servant there; and there is none other way save it be by the gate;
for he cannot be deceived, for the Lord God is his name. [emphasis
added]
42 And
whoso knocketh, to him will he open; and the wise, and the learned,
and they that are rich, who are puffed up because of their learning,
and their wisdom, and their riches—yea, they are they whom he
despiseth; and save they shall cast these things away, and consider
themselves fools before God, and come down in the depths of humility,
he will not open unto them.
43 But
the things of the wise and the prudent shall be hid from them
forever—yea, that happiness which is prepared for the saints.
44 O,
my beloved brethren, remember my words. Behold, I take off my
garments, and I shake them before you; I pray the God of my salvation
that he view me with his all-searching eye; wherefore, ye shall know
at the last day, when all men shall be judged of their works, that
the God of Israel did witness that I shook your iniquities from my
soul, and that I stand with brightness before him, and am rid of your
blood.
45 O,
my beloved brethren, turn away from your sins; shake off the chains
of him that would bind you fast; come unto that God who is the rock
of your salvation. 2 Nephi 9
Verily,
thus saith the Lord: It shall come to pass that every soul who
forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and
obeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments, shall see my face and
know that I am; D&C 93:1
We are
to the point in church history that seeking the Second Comforter is
now derided and mocked by current LDS apostles.
“Another
claim is that the church is not teaching what is necessary for
exaltation, for example, some say that only those who see the face of
Jesus Christ in mortality will receive Celestial Glory.
“Of
course, all of the righteous desire to see the face of our Savior,
but the suggestions that this must happen in mortality is a familiar
tactic of the adversary. To identify a worthy goal, such as to
achieve exaltation, and then to use the desirability of that goal and
people’s enthusiasm for it to obscure the new means the adversary
suggests to achieve it. The means are important, even vital. As the
Lord said in another setting, ‘it must needs be done in mine own
way.’ ”(Dallin
Oaks page 13, audio)
Here
is another example of the kinds of teachings you'll need to sort
through and determine if they come from God or a devil. . .
“Another
claim that we sometimes hear is that current apostles have no right
to run the affairs of the church since they do not meet the New
Testament standard of apostles because they do not testify of having
seen Christ. (Turley)
“The
first answer to this claim is that modern apostles are called to be
witnesses of the name of Christ in all the world, Doctrine and
Covenants 107:23. This is not to witness of a personal manifestation.
To witness of the name is to witness of the plan, the work, or
mission such as the atonement and the authority or priesthood of the
Lord Jesus Christ, which an apostle who holds the keys is uniquely
responsible to do.
“Of
course apostles are also witnesses of Christ just like all members of
the Church who have the gift of the Holy Ghost.” (Dallin
Oaks page 14, audio)
When
did the standard for apostles change? Why does this man call himself
a special witness if his testimony is just like all members of the
Church?
This
is what the Prophet Joseph Smith taught:
"Answer
to the question, Was the Priesthood of Melchizedek taken away when
Moses died? All Priesthood is Melchizedek, but there are different
portions or degrees of it. That portion which brought Moses to speak
with God face to face was taken away; but that which brought the
ministry of angels remained. All the prophets had the Melchizedek
Priesthood and were ordained by God himself." p.180
Teachings ofthe Prophet Joseph Smith
“Salvation
cannot come without revelation; it is in vain for anyone to minister
without it. No man is a minister of Jesus Christ without being a
Prophet. No man can be a minister of Jesus Christ except he has the
testimony of Jesus; and this is the spirit of prophecy. Whenever
salvation has been administered, it has been by testimony. Men of the
present time testify of heaven and hell, and have never seen either;
and I will say that no man knows these things without this.” p.160
Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith
.
. . for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. Revelation
19:10
Doctrine and Covenants 76:51-70 explains what it means to have a
testimony of Jesus.
15
And the king said that a seer is greater than a prophet.
16 And
Ammon said that a seer is a revelator and a prophet also; and a gift
which is greater can no man have, except he should possess the power
of God, which no man can; yet a man may have great power given him
from God.
17 But
a seer can know of things which are past, and also of things which
are to come, and by them shall all things be revealed, or, rather,
shall secret things be made manifest, and hidden things shall come to
light, and things which are not known shall be made known by them,
and also things shall be made known by them which otherwise could not
be known. Mosiah 8:15-17
“Wherefore,
we again say, search the revelations of God; study the prophecies,
and rejoice that God grants unto the world Seers and Prophets. They
are they who saw the mysteries of godliness; they saw the flood
before it came; they saw angels ascending and descending upon a
ladder that reached from earth to heaven; they saw the stone cut out
of the mountain, which filled the whole earth; they saw the Son of
God come from the regions of bliss and dwell with men on earth; they
saw the deliverer come out of Zion, and turn away ungodliness from
Jacob; they saw the glory of the Lord when he showed the
transfiguration of the earth on the mount; they saw every mountain
laid low and every valley exalted when the Lord was taking vengeance
upon the wicked; they saw truth spring out of the earth, and
righteousness look down from heaven in the last days, before the Lord
came the second time to gather his elect; they saw the end of
wickedness on earth, and the Sabbath of creation crowned with peace;
they saw the end of the glorious thousand years, when Satan was
loosed for a little season; they saw the day of judgment when all men
received according to their works, and they saw the heaven and the
earth flee away to make room for the city of God, when the righteous
receive an inheritance in eternity. And, fellow sojourners upon
earth, it is your privilege to purify yourselves and come up to the
same glory, and see for yourselves, and know for yourselves. Ask, and
it shall be given you; seek and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be
opened unto you.” p. 12 Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith
Doctrines
of Resurrection and Election
The
Doctrines of the Resurrection of the Dead and the Eternal Judgment
are necessary to preach among the first principles of the Gospel of
Jesus Christ.
The
Doctrine of Election. Peter exhorts us to make our calling and
election sure. This is the sealing power spoken of by Paul in other
places.
"13.
In whom ye also trusted, that after ye heard the word of truth, the
Gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye
were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise,
"14.
Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the
purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory, that we may be
sealed up unto the day of redemption."--Ephesians, 1st chapter.
This
principle ought (in its proper place) to be taught, for God hath not
revealed anything to Joseph, but what He will make known unto the
Twelve, and even the least Saint may know all things as fast as he is
able to bear them, for the day must come when no man need say to his
neighbor, Know ye that Lord; for all shall know Him (who remain) from
the least to the greatest. How is this to be done? It is to be done
by this sealing power, and the other Comforter spoken of, which will
be manifest by revelation.
The
Two Comforters
There
are two Comforters spoken of. One is the Holy Ghost, the same as
given on the day of Pentecost, and that all Saints receive after
faith, repentance, and baptism. This first Comforter or Holy Ghost
has no other effect than pure intelligence. It is more powerful in
expanding the mind, enlightening the understanding, and storing the
intellect with present knowledge, of a man who is of the literal seed
of Abraham, than one that is a Gentile, though it may not have half
as much visible effect upon the body; for as the Holy Ghost falls
upon one of the literal seed of Abraham, it is calm and serene; and
his whole soul and body are only exercised by the pure spirit of
intelligence; while the effect of the Holy Ghost upon a Gentile, is
to purge out the old blood, and make him actually of the seed of
Abraham. That man that has none of the blood of Abraham (naturally)
must have a new creation by the Holy Ghost. In such a case, there may
be more of a powerful effect upon the body, and visible to the eye,
than upon an Israelite, while the Israelite at first might be far
before the Gentile in pure intelligence.
The
Second Comforter
The
other Comforter spoken of is a subject of great interest, and perhaps
understood by few of this generation. After a person has faith in
Christ, repents of his sins, and is baptized for the remission of his
sins and receives the Holy Ghost, (by the laying on of hands), which
is the first Comforter, then let him continue to humble himself
before God, hungering and thirsting after righteousness, and living
by every word of God, and the Lord will soon say unto him, Son, thou
shalt be exalted.
When
the Lord has thoroughly proved him, and finds that the man is
determined to serve Him at all hazards, then the man will find his
calling and his election made sure, then it will be his privilege to
receive the other Comforter, which the Lord hath promised the Saints,
as is recorded in the testimony of St. John, in the 14th chapter,
from the 12th to the 27th verses.
Note
the 16, 17, 18, 21, 23 verses:
"16.
And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter,
that he may abide with you forever;
"17.
Even the Spirit of Truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it
seeth him not, neither knoweth him; but ye know him; for he dwelleth
with you, and shall be in you.
"18.
I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.* *
"21.
He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth
me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will
love him, and will manifest myself to him.
"23.
If a man love me, he will keep my word: and my Father will love him,
and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him."
Now
what is this other Comforter? It is no more nor less than the Lord
Jesus Christ Himself; and this is the sum and substance of the whole
matter; that when any man obtains this last Comforter, he will have
the personage of Jesus Christ to attend him, or appear unto him from
time to time, and even He will manifest the Father unto him, and they
will take up their abode with him, and the visions of the heavens
will be opened unto him, and the Lord will teach him face to face,
and he may have a perfect knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom
of God; and this is the state and place the ancient Saints arrived at
when they had such glorious visions--Isaiah, Ezekiel, John upon the
Isle of Patmos, St. Paul in the three heavens, and all the Saints who
held communion with the general assembly and Church of the Firstborn.
Teaching
of the Prophet Joseph Smith page 149-150
Although
false Christs and prophets may deceive, God is still calling you. If
you can start by just believing that this great blessing can be yours
in this lifetime, you've begun to repent. Continue to believe and
follow the voice of God, and you will behold his face.
God
has asked me to write these words to you, my family. Please take
these things seriously; pray about what has been said; search the
scriptures; ponder these things out in your hearts and minds; take
advantage of the opportunity being offered you today. He doesn't care
where you've been or what you've done, he has absolute power to
forgive and heal you. Turn and face him while it is called today. Cry
out to him, and he will guide you.
I love
you.
Your
Daughter, Sister, and Aunt
