During
the fall of 2013, I wrote and sent a letter to all of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve (except Dallin Oaks). I did not mail the
letters at the same time, but I sent the same letter to all of them.
I
received a letter dated January 6, 2014. It was from Brook P. Hales,
secretary to the First Presidency.
Hello
Elder _______________,
I
am writing in response to Dieter F. Uchtdorf's general conference talk. I did not listen to conference, but a family member sent me a
copy of his talk. Do you really want people like me in your church?
Here
is a little background about me: I am happily married and enjoy being
the mother of 11 children. Both my husband and I served full time
missions for the LDS church. I have attended church regularly
throughout my life, and for most of my adult life have attended the
temple on a weekly basis. As a family we have contributed hundreds
of thousands of dollars to fund church operations.
A
little over two years ago things changed for me in regards to my
relationship with the church. We were talking about prophets in
relief society, and I asked a few questions. I wondered why we were
required to follow the counsel of the first presidency and quorum of
the twelve without receiving a confirming witness from God. I also
wondered where is the precedence showing that the president of the
church won't be allowed to lead us astray? If that is true, Caiaphas
would never have been allowed to be the High Priest of the church.
These
few questions caused enough of a stir that I was reported to the
bishop, called in, chastised, threatened, punished, and silenced. I
have been without a temple recommend since that day. I told the
bishop that I sustain you in your calling, but the Lord has not yet
confirmed to me that you are a prophet, seer, and revelator.
So,
for the past two years I've stayed at home and enjoyed taking care of
my little ones while I pray and study the scriptures. Even though my
husband was also punished, he still takes some of our children to
church. Just this last summer, I received word from some of the
youth workers that the bishop directed all of the auxiliaries to shut
down and silence the questions of the Willis children. I wonder what
kind of adult is intimidated by the questions of a child.
So
I ask, “Is President Uchtdorf talking to people like me or is his
message directed toward some other type of member?”
In
an attempt to find answers to my questions, I am asking the men who
know the answers to my questions?
Are
you a prophet of the Lord Jesus Christ as defined by Joseph Smith
and the scriptures? Have you been sanctified, come into the presence
of the Lord, and been ordained by God himself? Have you seen heaven
and hell? Are you a member of the church of the firstborn? See quotes
and scriptures below:
"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 of
the 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
D&C
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
Do
you sustain the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints as the Prophet, Seer, and Revelator and as the only person on
the earth who possesses and is authorized to exercise all priesthood
keys? Do you sustain members of the First Presidency and the Quorum
of the Twelve Apostles as prophets, seers, and revelators? Do you
sustain the other General Authorities and local authorities of the
Church?
Do
you really want people like me in your church? Can I come as I am
with all my questions and thoughts? If so, let me know.
May
God Bless You,
Jennifer
Willis
