God's house is a house of order, and He works according to patterns.
And again, I will give unto you a pattern in all things, that ye may not be deceived; for Satan is abroad in the land, and he goeth forth deceiving the nations— Doctrine and Covenants 53:14
We
can look into the past to see the future.
For
I know that God is not a partial God, neither a changeable being; but
he is unchangeable from all eternity to all eternity.” Moroni 8:18
The
rise and fall of a society is so predictable if you can see the
pattern. According to the pattern, we are either growing in light and
truth or falling into apostasy.
And
therefore, he that will harden his heart, the same receiveth the
lesser portion of the word; and he that will not harden his heart, to
him is given the greater portion of the word, until it is given unto
him to know the mysteries of God until he know them in full. And they
that will harden their hearts, to them is given the lesser portion of
the word until they know nothing concerning his mysteries; and then
they are taken captive by the devil, and led by his will down to
destruction. Now this is what is meant by the chains of hell. Alma
12:10-11
As far as I know, there are only two groups of people, that have lived upon the face of the earth that we have record of, who have not fallen into apostasy. The city of Enoch . . .
And
the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and
one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among
them. And Enoch continued his preaching in righteousness unto the
people of God. And it came to pass in his days, that he built a city
that was called the City of Holiness, even Zion. And it came to pass
that Enoch talked with the Lord; and he said unto the Lord: Surely
Zion shall dwell in safety forever. But the Lord said unto Enoch:
Zion have I blessed, but the residue of the people have I cursed. And
it came to pass that the Lord showed unto Enoch all the inhabitants
of the earth; and he beheld, and lo, Zion, in process of time, was
taken up into heaven. And the Lord said unto Enoch: Behold mine abode
forever. Moses 7:18-21
and
the people of Melchizedek
And
men having this faith, coming up unto this order of God, were
translated and taken up into heaven. And now, Melchizedek was a
priest of this order; therefore he obtained peace in Salem, and was
called the Prince of peace. And his people wrought righteousness, and
obtained heaven, and sought for the city of Enoch which God had
before taken, separating it from the earth, having reserved it unto
the latter days, or the end of the world; JST, Genesis 14:32-34
Let's
look at what has happened in the past to help us understand what is
happening in our day. The Book of Mormon explains what happens when
people harden their hearts against the truth. There is a tension that
builds between believers in Christ and unbelievers. The unbelievers
are not content to allow men the privilege of worshiping Almighty God
according to the dictates of their own conscience, allowing them to
worship how, where, or what they may. (A of F #11) The unbelievers
begin to exercise unrighteous dominion upon the believers and cast
them out until there is an entire separation of the righteous and the
wicked. Here's how the scriptures describe it.
But
it is by the prayers of the righteous that ye are spared; now
therefore, if ye will cast out the righteous from among you then will
not the Lord stay his hand; but in his fierce anger he will come out
against you; then ye shall be smitten by famine, and by pestilence,
and by the sword; and the time is soon at hand except ye repent. Alma
10:23
But
behold, it is for the righteous sake that it is spared. But behold,
the time cometh, saith the Lord, that when ye shall cast out the
righteous from among you, then shall ye be ripe for destruction; yea,
wo be unto this great city, because of the wickedness and
abominations which are in her. Helaman 13:14
And
because they did cast them all out, that there were none righteous
among them, I did send down fire and destroy them, that their
wickedness and abominations might be hid from before my face, that
the blood of the prophets and the saints whom I sent among them might
not cry unto me from the ground against them. 3 Nephi 9:11
And
until that hour there will be foolish virgins among the wise; and at
that hour cometh an entire separation of the righteous and the
wicked; and in that day will I send mine angels to pluck out the
wicked and cast them into unquenchable fire. Doctrine and Covenants
63:54
While
working on this, I received an email from a friend. It is relevant to
this topic:
I've
been studying from the Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith lately.
Tonight, I read:
"I shall now proceed to make some remarks from the sayings of the Savior, recorded in the 13th chapter of His Gospel according to St. Matthew, which, in my mind, afford us as clear an understanding upon the important subject of the gathering, as anything recorded in the Bible."
I
turned to Matthew 13 and read the parable of the wheat and the tares.
The parables given in this chapter, Joseph taught, would help us
understand the gathering more than anything else in the Bible.
I
went back to the words of Joseph Smith and read on a few interesting
things that I thought I might share. Joseph said:
"Now
we learn by this parable, not only the setting up of the Kingdom in
the days of the Savior, which is represented by the good seed, which
produced fruit, but also the corruptions of the Church, which
are represented by the tares, which were sown by the enemy . . ."
(TPJS, p. 98)
And
then, a few pages later:
"As,
therefore, the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so shall it
be in the end of the world; that is, as the servants of God go forth
warning the nations, both priests and people, and as they harden
their hearts and reject the light of truth, these first being
delivered over to the buffetings of Satan, and the law and the
testimony being closed up . . . they are left in darkness, and
delivered over unto the day of burning; thus being bound up by their
creeds, and their bands being made strong by their priests, are
prepared for the fulfilment of the saying of the Savior - 'The Son of
Man shall send forth His angels, and gather out of His Kingdom all
things that offend, and them which do iniquity, and shall cast them
into a furnace of fire . . .'"
Then:
"after
the day of burnings, the righteous shall shine forth like the sun, in
the Kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear"
(TPJS, p. 101).
An
interesting thing is happening in the LDS church today that should
put all of us on notice. People who believe in following Jesus
Christ, believe in preserving the restoration brought to us by Joseph
Smith, believe God can still talk face to face with each of us,
believe in the Book of Mormon, believe we are still under
condemnation for taking the Book of Mormon lightly are being cast out
of the LDS church.
"When
individuals or groups of people turn away from the principles of the
gospel, they are in a state of apostasy."
The
Book of Mormon contains the fullness of the gospel, so if people are
going be judged as turning away from the principles of the gospel, it
would follow that the Book of Mormon should be a key component in
judging the matter.
“He
said there was a book deposited, written upon gold plates, giving an
account of the former inhabitants of this continent, and the source
from whence they sprang. He also said that the fulness of the
everlasting Gospel was contained in it, as delivered by the Savior to
the ancient inhabitants;
Book
of Mormon
But
this criteria is not being used in the LDS church courts. A secret
definition that appears only in the Church Handbook of
Instructions Volume 1, is being used. This handbook is tightly
controlled and only made available to certain church leaders. As used
here apostasy refers to members who:
Repeatedly act in clear, open and deliberate public opposition to the Church or its leaders.
Persist in teaching as Church doctrine information that is not Church doctrine after they have been corrected by their bishop or a higher authority.
Continue to follow the teachings of apostate sects (such as those that advocate plural marriage) after being corrected by their bishop or a higher authority.
Formally join another church and advocate its teachings.
The
secret definition says nothing about Jesus Christ or the restoration
of the gospel or the Book of Mormon. It only makes reference to the
Church and its current leaders. History shows us that every
restoration (except the two mentioned above) ends in apostasy. So, if
the Church is in a state of apostasy, people can actually be
excommunicated for believing and living the gospel.
Behold,
I say unto you that you shall let your time be devoted to the
studying of the scriptures, and to preaching, and to confirming the
church at Colesville, and to performing your labors on the land, such
as is required, until after you shall go to the west to hold the next
conference; and then it shall be made known what you shall do. And
all things shall be done by common consent in the church, by much
prayer and faith, for all things you shall receive by faith. Amen.
Doctrine and Covenants 26:1-2
The
Lord asked the leaders of the new church to study the scriptures,
preach, confirm the church, and do all things by common consent.
Secret definitions and rules are not to be used. We are to use the
scriptures as our guide.
9
Yea, and there shall be many which shall teach after this manner,
false and vain and foolish doctrines, and shall be puffed up in their
hearts, and shall seek deep to hide their counsels from the Lord; and
their works shall be in the dark.
10
And the blood of the saints shall cry from the ground against them.
11
Yea, they have all gone out of the way; they have become corrupted.
12
Because of pride, and because of false teachers, and false doctrine,
their churches have become corrupted, and their churches are lifted
up; because of pride they are puffed up.
13
They rob the poor because of their fine sanctuaries; they rob the
poor because of their fine clothing; and they persecute the meek and
the poor in heart, because in their pride they are puffed up.
14
They wear stiff necks and high heads; yea, and because of pride, and
wickedness, and abominations, and whoredoms, they have all gone
astray save it be a few, who are the humble followers of Christ;
nevertheless, they are led, that in many instances they do err
because they are taught by the precepts of men.
15
O the wise, and the learned, and the rich, that are puffed up in the
pride of their hearts, and all those who preach false doctrines, and
all those who commit whoredoms, and pervert the right way of the
Lord, wo, wo, wo be unto them, saith the Lord God Almighty, for they
shall be thrust down to hell!
16
Wo unto them that turn aside the just for a thing of naught and
revile against that which is good, and say that it is of no worth!
For the day shall come that the Lord God will speedily visit the
inhabitants of the earth; and in that day that they are fully ripe in
iniquity they shall perish. 2 Nephi 28
This
message is for us. According to the pattern set forth in scripture,
when the corrupted Church casts out true believers in Christ, they
are ripe for destruction (see Helaman 14:13). When the Church casts
out people who are turning to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, they
confirm that they, the Church, have become the apostates.
23
For behold, I am God; and I am a God of miracles; and I will show
unto the world that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and
I work not among the children of men save it be according to their
faith.
24
And again it shall come to pass that the Lord shall say unto him that
shall read the words that shall be delivered him:
25
Forasmuch as this people draw near unto me with their mouth, and with
their lips do honor me, but have removed their hearts far from me,
and their fear towards me is taught by the precepts of men—
26
Therefore, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people,
yea, a marvelous work and a wonder, for the wisdom of their wise and
learned shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent shall be
hid.
27
And wo unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the Lord!
And their works are in the dark; and they say: Who seeth us, and who
knoweth us? And they also say: Surely, your turning of things upside
down shall be esteemed as the potter’s clay. But behold, I will
show unto them, saith the Lord of Hosts, that I know all their works.
For shall the work say of him that made it, he made me not? Or shall
the thing framed say of him that framed it, he had no understanding?
28
But behold, saith the Lord of Hosts: I will show unto the children of
men that it is yet a very little while and Lebanon shall be turned
into a fruitful field; and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a
forest.
29
And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the
eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness.
30
And the meek also shall increase, and their joy shall be in the Lord,
and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.
31
For assuredly as the Lord liveth they shall see that the terrible one
is brought to naught, and the scorner is consumed, and all that watch
for iniquity are cut off;
32
And they that make a man an offender for a word, and lay a snare for
him that reproveth in the gate, and turn aside the just for a thing
of naught.
33
Therefore, thus saith the Lord, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the
house of Jacob: Jacob shall not now be ashamed, neither shall his
face now wax pale.
34
But when he seeth his children, the work of my hands, in the midst of
him, they shall sanctify my name, and sanctify the Holy One of Jacob,
and shall fear the God of Israel.
35
They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they
that murmured shall learn doctrine. 2 Nephi 27
The
unfolding of events is in Lord's hands. The joy of the Lord is full
to those who continue to trust in their God.
10
And blessed are all they who are persecuted for my name’s sake, for
theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11
And blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute, and shall
say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake;
12
For ye shall have great joy and be exceedingly glad, for great shall
be your reward in heaven; for so persecuted they the prophets who
were before you. 3 Nephi 12
The
question might be asked? Why do you remain a member of this church if
you see it's corrupt and apostate condition? The Lord works according
to patterns and the law of witnesses is still in place. Those who
remain until being cast out serve as witnesses as a testimony before
the Lord God so He can come forth and exercise a righteous judgment
against the ungodly.
9
And it came to pass that they took Alma and Amulek, and carried them
forth to the place of martyrdom, that they might witness the
destruction of those who were consumed by fire.
10
And when Amulek saw the pains of the women and children who were
consuming in the fire, he also was pained; and he said unto Alma: How
can we witness this awful scene? Therefore let us stretch forth our
hands, and exercise the power of God which is in us, and save them
from the flames.
11
But Alma said unto him: The Spirit constraineth me that I must not
stretch forth mine hand; for behold the Lord receiveth them up unto
himself, in glory; and he doth suffer that they may do this thing, or
that the people may do this thing unto them, according to the
hardness of their hearts, that the judgments which he shall exercise
upon them in his wrath may be just; and the blood of the innocent
shall stand as a witness against them, yea, and cry mightily against
them at the last day.
12
Now Amulek said unto Alma: Behold, perhaps they will burn us also.
13
And Alma said: Be it according to the will of the Lord. But, behold,
our work is not finished; therefore they burn us not.
14
Now it came to pass that when the bodies of those who had been cast
into the fire were consumed, and also the records which were cast in
with them, the chief judge of the land came and stood before Alma and
Amulek, as they were bound; and he smote them with his hand upon
their cheeks, and said unto them: After what ye have seen, will ye
preach again unto this people, that they shall be cast into a lake of
fire and brimstone?
15
Behold, ye see that ye had not power to save those who had been cast
into the fire; neither has God saved them because they were of thy
faith. And the judge smote them again upon their cheeks, and asked:
What say ye for yourselves? Alma 14 (see also Alma 60:13, Doctrine
and Covenants 103:3, Mosiah 17:10)
These
judges were cocky and confident in their actions and speech as they
sealed their destruction, but according to the pattern they were
destroyed.
2
For behold, the armies of the Lamanites had come in upon the
wilderness side, into the borders of the land, even into the city of
Ammonihah, and began to slay the people and destroy the city.
3
And now it came to pass, before the Nephites could raise a sufficient
army to drive them out of the land, they had destroyed the people who
were in the city of Ammonihah . . . Alma 16
According
to LDS scripture, there is no law against a man's belief, and yet
people are being cast out of the Church because of their beliefs.
Those who are seeking the face of the Lord are being targeted.
Now
there was no law against a man’s belief; for it was strictly
contrary to the commands of God that there should be a law which
should bring men on to unequal grounds. Alma 30:7
We
claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the
dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege,
let them worship how, where, or what they may. Article of Faith 11
Here
are a few testimonies of those who have experienced LDS Church
discipline because of their beliefs. The pattern is repeating itself.
For those who have ears to hear, there is still time to repent.
This
is in no way a complete list. If you know of others who would like to
add their testimony to this list, please post a link to their
testimony in the comment section. I can update this blog post.
Denver
C Snuffer: September 8, 2013 Court
was scheduled, September 10, 2013 Denver was informed of decision
Disciplinary
Council Letter & Appeal Letter: Appeal
Letter
Decision
of Council Letter: No
Title
Brent Larsen: Feb 2, 2014
Appeal
Letter: pdf
link
Interview
with a 70 for Appeal: pdf
link
Emily
Prentice: March 30, 2014
Source: Emily
Prentice
Will
Carter: April 9, 2014
Letter
of Appeal: "Exhaling"
Adrian
& Tausha Larsen: October 12, 2014
Brian
Beckle: October 12, 2014
Letter
to Stake President: pdf
link
Source:
Brian Beckle
Angel
Cicero: October 26, 2014
Keith Henderson: November 2, 2014
Letter
of Appeal: pdf
link
Testimony
At Denvers Last Talk (page 40): pdf
link
Ken
Jensen: January 11, 2015
Letter
to First Presidency: pdf
link
Letter
from First Presidency: pdf
link
Duztin
and Sarah Sorensen: Februrary 8, 2015
Disciplinary
Council Letter: pdf
link
Source:
Sarah Sorensen
Jonny
and Kari Durfee: March 6, 2015
Source:
"My
Bishop Called"
"Bishops
"court" ,
"Getting
to Know you-What to expect when called in by stake (interview
with stake)", "Texts",
"Stake
President Called me Today",
"The
Bells Toll",
"A
New Day Dawns"
Alan
Rock Waterman: June 4, 2015
Source: "Yerrrr
Out"
Garth
and Melonie Turley November 2, 2015
Source:
Garth
and Melonie Turley
Source: Another Casualty
Rob
Smith February 11, 2016
Book:
Teaching for Doctrines the Commandments of Men: Tradition in Modern
Mormonism Free
Download
Louis Steiner Naegle May 13, 2016
Source: Excommunication of Louis Steiner Naegle
Outcome
Pending
James
Fargo
Anonymous
Friend
Source: Letter
shared with permission