The Servants: Amos 3:7

Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. (Amos 3:7)

An often sited scripture to show that the Lord will reveal his will to His servants. Now who are his servants the prophets? Who is Amos? What kind of man was Amos that the will of the Lord was given to him?

Read Amos 7. In vs. 13-14, Amos explains how he was not part of the hierarchy of the time, and had no authority, save the Lord's voice. "I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet's son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit. And the Lord took me as I followed the flock, and the Lord said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel."

He was a herdsman. Called out of obscurity like John the Baptist who "came forth from the wilderness crying out, ‘Repent ye..."(TJS, The Mission of John the Baptist, Chapter 6). For the Lords voice always cries as "The voice of one crying in the wilderness..."! (JST Luke 3:2).

In fact, the authorized hierarchy actually does not like Amos at all. See vs. 12-13: "Amos, O thou seer, flee thee away into the land of Juda, and there eat bread, and prophesy there: But prophesy not again any more at Beth-el: for it is the king's chapel, and it is the king's court."

Amaziah is the priest of Bethel (vs. 10)

He speaks evil of Amos to the king, saying "Amos hath conspired against thee in the midst of the house of Israel: the land is not able to bear all his words."

It's also interesting to read some of Amos' teachings. He teaches that the Lord despises their offerings and rituals and songs to Him, because they are not leading to justice and righteousness. They are just empty shells, with no redemptive power. (Amos 5:22-24)

He preaches against the rich who sit upon "beds of ivory" and "eat the lambs out of the flock" and "chant to the sound of the viol", while great danger is near. Trying to wake them up that "all is not well in Zion" (Amos 6:1, See 2 Nephi 28.21).

 Tells them that their wives will become harlots, their sons and daughters slaughtered by the sword, and their land divided and polluted (Amos 7:17).

Speaks against their terrible treatment of the poor: "O ye that swallow up the needy, even to make the poor of the land to fail ... falsifying the balances by deceit ... that we may buy the poor for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes" (Amos 8:4-6)

Not surprising he's not welcomed with open arms by the priests and rulers...

Just a foolish, simple, herdman and gatherer. He was not even from the land - Amos was from the southern kingdom, and was preaching against the people in the northern kingdom.

Foreign, poor, unauthorized by man, unconnected to the rich and powerful, most likely unknown to the vast majority of people he preached to.

This is a servant of the Lord. This is who the Lord calls. This is who the Lord can call, even in our day. Brought out from obscurity to deliver a message, rejected by the masses. No rank among men. Surely the Lord will reveal his secrets to his servants the prophets. The meekest of the earth. The least of the earth. Unsupported by man.

Testimony of Jesus

I have mentioned this once before. I thought I would focus entirely on this. This stems from more recent discussions.

I have heard the following as some things that the Testimony of Jesus is.

To be baptized
To receive the holy ghost thus gaining a witness of Christ Gospel
To join a Church.
To know about the gospel

Thats the most common, especially that is just a witness by the Holy Ghost.

D&C 76 states:

Celestial

51 They are they who received the testimony of Jesus, and believed on his name and were baptized after the manner of his burial, being buried in the water in his name, and this according to the commandment which he has given—

Terrestial

74 Who received not the testimony of Jesus in the flesh, but afterwards received it.
79 These are they who are not valiant in the testimony of Jesus; wherefore, they obtain not the crown over the kingdom of our God.

Telestial

82 These are they who received not the gospel of Christ, neither the testimony of Jesus.
83 These are they who deny not the Holy Spirit.

Telestial Are they who believe in the prophets

99 For these are they who are of Paul, and of Apollos, and of Cephas.
100 These are they who say they are some of one and some of another—some of Christ and some of John, and some of Moses, and some of Elias, and some of Esaias, and some of Isaiah, and some of Enoch;
101 But received not the gospel, neither the testimony of Jesus, neither the prophets, neither the everlasting covenant.

Telestial are they who are some of Paul, some of Christ, some of Joseph, Some of <insert man here>... but they receive neither the testimony of Jeus, neither the prophets, neither the everlasting covenant.

The Lord is warning us. Do not partake of anything that is not part of this everlasting covenant! Do not follow men! For followers of men will end up still telestial or the world you now live as the temple illustrates.

So how can you receive the prophets but not be "some of <insert prophet name>"? By receiving them but not following them. To go and receive the Testimony of Jesus for yourself and wrestle the promises from the Lord like those who have gone before.

What is the testimony of Jesus?

“THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS” meant according to Joseph Smith. “ TO BE SEALED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE THAT IS THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS.” (WJS, pg 209)

The Testimony of Jesus is to be sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise. THAT is the testimony of Jesus.

What is the Holy Spirit of Promise?
A revelation given to Joseph tells us the following.

5 (May 17th, 1843.) The more sure word of prophecy means a man’s knowing that he is sealed up unto eternal life, by revelation and the spirit of prophecy, through the power of the Holy Priesthood.
6 It is impossible for a man to be saved in ignorance.(D&C 132:5-6)

A man cannot be saved in ignorance. Ignorance of what? Of the man being saved! That is what verse 5 says, its talking about the more sure word of prophecy, which means a mans KNOWING (not merely believing) that he is sealed up unto eternal life.

Knowing
Knowing is knowledge. It is not belief. Knowing is not knowing ABOUT something, its  EXPERIENCING or partaking of something. You can read all you want about Christ but until you live it and become it, and become precisely like Him you will not be like Him because its only through sacrifice where we obtain  the reward.

For the sixth Lectures on Faith state,

3. Having the assurance that they were pursuing a course which was agreeable to the will of God, they were enabled to take not only the spoiling of their goods and the wasting of their substance joyfully, but also to suffer death in its most horrid forms knowing (not merely believing) that when this “earthly house of this tabernacle [was] dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” (2 Cor 5:1).
4. Such was and always will be the situation of the Saints of God. Unless they have an actual knowledge that the course they are pursuing is according to the will of God, they will grow weary in their minds and faint. [Instead of being promised that they shall "never fall" (See 2 Peter). This is why Joseph was able to endure such tribulations, he had this knowledge! Its what comforted him in these hard times.]

Holy Spirit of Promise 
This is the experience of others receiving theirs as recorded in D&C 88:1-5.

3 Wherefore, I now send upon you another Comforter, even upon you my friends, that it may abide in your hearts, even the Holy Spirit of promise; which other Comforter is the same that I promised unto my disciples, as is recorded in the testimony of John.
4 This Comforter is the promise which I give unto you of eternal life, even the glory of the celestial kingdom;

This is why Joseph exhorts the saints as does 2 peter to seek after a more sure word that they won't go faint and weary in their minds and fall. I will post some quotes at the bottom for reference but the last thing I want to mention is the experience of Newel K Knight that I have recorded once before.

Newel Knight

Here he receives the promise of an inheritance or as Joseph said (quoted below) " It is one thing to be on the mount and hear the excellent voice, etc., and another to hear the voice declare to you, You have a part and lot in that kingdom". Because he was promised to enjoy his society for ever and ever, he would have received his calling and election made sure.

He saw heaven opened and beheld the Lord Jesus Christ, sitting [at] the right hand of the Majesty on high, and had it made plain to his understanding that the time would come when he should be admitted into his presence to enjoy his society for ever and ever. (Joseph Smith Papers, History, circa June–October 1839 [Draft 1], pg 388, here)

Testimony of Jesus 
These are those who receive a testimony from Christ that they are saved. (D&C 76: 51.) Those who claim to follow prophets, but have not received the testimony of Christ that they have part with Him will be burned at His coming and appointed their place in sorrow and suffering. (D&C 76: 98-106.)

The Testimony of Jesus is the promise of eternal life through the means the Lord chooses to bestow that promise to you. What ones experience may be, may be entirely different than another but you must know, not merely believing. Hence Moroni warns us to work out our salvation with "fear and trembling". Like Enos we must wrestle with the Lord continually calling upon God until we obtain the promise. For some the promise may be the last hours of their life, like Stephen who had angels minister to him upon his deathbed during the last hours of his life. These promises are throughout the scriptures. In essence its "to hear the voice declare to you, You have a part and lot in that kingdom" (TPJS 306) or  in Enos's experience "And there came a voice unto me, saying: Enos, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou shalt be blessed." (Enos 1:5).

It is not so much your testimony of Christ (though your faith leads you to receive it) but Christ's testimony of YOU. That your sins have been washed clean from the blood and sins of this generation. So it is, you cannot be saved in ignorance. You must have this testimony for yourself.

Additional Quotes
These quotes are related but not all refer to the same thing.

“There are three grand secrets lying in this chapter, [2 Peter 1] which no man can dig out, unless by the light of revelation, and which unlock the whole chapter as the things that are written are only hints of things which existed in the prophet’s mind, which are not written concerning eternal glory . . . Paul ascended into the third heavens, and he could understand the three principal rounds of Jacob’s ladder—the telestial, the terrestrial, and the celestial glories or kingdoms, where Paul saw and heard things which were not lawful for him to utter. I could explain a hundred fold more than I ever have of the glories of the kingdoms manifested to me in the vision, were I permitted, and were the people prepared to receive them. The Lord deals with this people as a tender parent with a child, communicating light and intelligence and the knowledge of his ways as they can bear it. The inhabitants of the earth are asleep; they know not the day of their visitation. The Lord hath set the bow in the cloud for a sign that while it shall be seen, seed time and harvest, summer and winter shall not fail; but when it shall disappear woe to that generation, for behold the end cometh quickly. Contend earnestly for the like precious faith with the Apostle Peter, ‘and add to your faith virtue,’ knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, charity; ‘for if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.’ Another point, after having all these qualifications, he lays this injunction upon the people ‘to make your calling and election sure.’ He is emphatic upon this subject—after adding all this virtue, knowledge, etc., ‘Make your calling and election sure.’ What is the secret—the starting point? ‘According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness.’ How did he obtain all things? Through the knowledge of Him who hath called him. There could not anything be given, pertaining to life and godliness, without knowledge. Woe! woe! woe to Christendom!—especially the divines and priests if this be true. Salvation is for a man to be saved from all his enemies; for until a man can triumph over death, he is not saved. A knowledge of the priesthood alone will do this . . . We have no claim in our eternal compact, in relation to eternal things, unless our actions and contracts and all things tend to this. But after all this, you have got to make your calling and election sure. If this injunction would lie largely on those to whom it was spoken, how much more those of the present generation! 1st key: Knowledge is the power of salvation. 2nd key: Make your calling and election sure. 3rd key: It is one thing to be on the mount and hear the excellent voice, etc., and another to hear the voice declare to you, You have a part and lot in that kingdom” (TPJS, 304-6).

Calling and Election
Now, there is some grand secret here, and keys to unlock the subject. Notwithstanding the apostle exhorts them to add to their faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, etc., yet he exhorts them to make their calling and election sure. And though they had heard an audible voice from heaven bearing testimony that Jesus was the Son of God [Mt 17:5], yet he says we have a more sure word of prophecy, whereunto ye do well that ye take heed as unto a light shining in a dark place. Now, wherein could they have a more sure word of prophecy than to hear the voice of God saying, This is my beloved Son?
Now for the secret and grand key. Though they might hear the voice of God and know that Jesus was the Son of God, this would be no evidence that their calling and election was made sure, that they were sealed in the heavens and had the promise of eternal life in the kingdom of God. Then, having this promised sealed unto them, it was an anchor to the soul, sure and steadfast. Though the thunders might roll and lightnings flash, and earthquakes bellow, and war gather thick around, yet this hope and knowledge would support the soul in every hour of trial, trouble and tribulation. Then knowledge through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is the grand key that unlocks the glories and mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. 

Compare this principle once with Christendom at the present day, and where are they, with all their boasted religion, piety and sacredness while at the same time they are crying out against prophets, apostles, angels, revelations, prophesying and visions, etc. Why, they are just ripening for the damnation of hell. They will be damned, for they reject the most glorious principle of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and treat with disdain and trample under foot the key that unlocks the heavens and puts in our possession the glories of the celestial world. Yes, I say, such will be damned, with all their professed godliness. Then I would exhort you to go on and continue to call upon God until you make your calling and election sure for yourselves, by obtaining this more sure word of prophecy, and wait patiently for the promise until you obtain it. (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 297-298)

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…. 

586"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." (Teachings, pp. 149-51.)

2 Peter 1.
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and preciouspromises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divinenature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world throughlust.
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindnesscharity.
8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure:for if ye do these things, ye shall neverfall: 

Calling and Election - TemplesThe Doctrine of Election

¶ St Paul exhorts us to make our Calling & Election shure. This is that sealing power spoken of by Paul in other places (See Eph I. 13.14. In whom ye also trusted, that after ye heard the work of truth; the gospel of your salvation, in whom also after that ye believed ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise. 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, this principle ought. (in its proper place) to be taught, for God hath not revealed any thing to Joseph, but what he will make known unto the Twelve & 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 the 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 & the other comforter spoken of which will be manifest by Revelation. (Joseph Smith, June 27, 1839))

Keep the Commandments: Wait for His instruction.

This is from John Hall a language professor at BYU as I heard it.

Keep the commandments is translated wrong.
Keep = stand watch,
Commandments = instructions.
= Stand watch for His instructions

Stand Watch for His instruction.

Awhile back I gave another definition for Perfect which in the Greek means complete or complete the ascent to God.

The purpose to stand watch and wait for his instructions is so that you may become perfect and complete the ascent to God. Which is the definition of the fulness of the gospel, the ascent into Gods presence.

Doctrine of Christ:

Repent to receive a remission of your sins by turning and facing God.

Come unto Christ

Be baptized

Receive the Holy Ghost and it will show you all things you must do (2 Nephi 32:1-5)

Do you see why we must receive the Holy Ghost before we can even know what the Lord commands us to do? Do you see now why the Holy Ghost leads you to the Son? The entire purpose of the Holy Ghost is to reveal the word of God to YOU so that you may be tried, and do what He bids you to do. Only those who take the Holy Spirit as their guide will be saved. Those who take anyone or anything else as their guide will fail to "keep the commandments" or to "wait for His instruction" to YOU.

There is only one way for you to keep the commandments and that is to do what Nephi tells us to do and the Lord, in his own words, warned of us in 3 Nephi 11 

"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;""

What is the Rock?

No more or less, else it cometh of evil. This is why a few only partake of the tree of life. Only a few are ever willing to receive the word of God for themselves instead relying upon the arm of flesh. Indifference or waiting for someone else to reveal what you need will prevent you from rising up. The rock is revelation, it is knowledge.

“Jesus in His teachings says, ‘Upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.’ [Matthew 16:18.] What rock? Revelation.”(Joseph Smith TJS Ch 16 or History of the Church, 5:258)

Revelation is salvation. It is knowledge. It is the Lords word to you.

“… A man is saved no faster than he gets knowledge, for if he does not get knowledge, he will be brought into captivity by some evil power in the other world, as evil spirits will have more knowledge, and consequently more power than many men who are on the earth. Hence it needs revelation to assist us, and give us knowledge of the things of God.” (Joseph Smith, TJS Ch 22)

You fail to get knowledge here, you will become captive by some evil power in the other world. Hence those who repent or which the Lord defines as gaining further light and knowledge (revelation) will have the greater advantage in the world to come. (See Doctrine and Covenants 130:19). The greater the degree one repents the greater the knowledge of heavenly things one will receive. Until the mysteries are revealed in full. Not knowledge THROUGH another. Its not enough to know about something you must experience it for yourself and wrestle the promise and covenant from the Lord for yourself. Knowing about Christ will not save you. For eternal life is to Know God. To be like Him, precisely like him. Thus faith only grows when we "experiment upon the word" as Alma 32 tells us so that the seed may grow. Experiment means trying new things, failing at times, until you overcome the stumbling block and learn for yourself what "tastes good" and what is not good.

No More Doctrine Until

Nephi concludes the doctrine of Christ with this.

5 For behold, again I say unto you that if ye will enter in by the way, and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show unto you all things what ye should do.
6 Behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and there will be no more doctrine given until after he shall manifest himself unto you in the flesh. And when he shall manifest himself unto you in the flesh, the things which he shall say unto you shall ye observe to do. (2 Nephi 32)

Until the Lord manifests himself unto YOU in the flesh. IN THE FLESH. And " the things which he shall say unto you shall ye observe to do.". What are these things? They are commandments or instructions to you at that time. But first you must obey the Holy Ghost and yield your hearts unto God and do what he bids you to do now.

Ascent to God

That book is all about the ascent back to the presence of God. Testimony after testimony, experience after experience, that's what the Book Mormon stands for. That, the ascent to God, is the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. You encounter it almost immediately in the first chapter when Lehi rises up. And you encounter it in Nephi. And you encounter it in Jacob. And you encounter it in Enos and in Alma and in Mosiah. You just continually get the same message. Joseph Smith said: “I advise all to go on to perfection and search deeper and deeper into the mysteries of godliness.” (TPJS p. 364)

The mysteries of godliness is all about the presence of God. For it will be a great work beyond the veil to learn our salvation. Even beyond the grave. Take your probation seriously and you will return to God added upon. Idle it away in idle pursuits and you will find yourself wanting.

Get Your Houses in Order: Stop Following Men

Remember these sayings, for many of you will live to see them fulfilled. The time will come when no man nor woman will be able to endure on borrowed light. Each will have to be guided by the light within himself. If you do not have it, how can you stand? Do you believe it? 

How is it now? You have the First Presidency, from whom you can get counsel to guide you, and you rely on them. The time will come when they will not be with you. Why? Because they will have to flee and hide up to keep out of the hands of their enemies. You have the Twelve now. You will not always have them, for they too will be hunted and will have to keep out of the way of their enemies. You have other men to whom you look for counsel and advice. Many of them will not be amongst you, for the same reason. You will be left to the light within yourselves. If you don't have it you will not stand; therefore seek for the testimony of Jesus and cleave to it, that when the trying times comes you may not sumble and fall. (Quoted by Harold B. Lee in CR, Oct. 1965, p. 128; see also Orson F. Whitney, Life of Heber C. Kimball, pp. 446, 449–50.)

The Day of the Lord is At Hand 
If I give any advise at this time it would be to get each of our own houses in order. The time is fast approaching when nothing but our connection to God will save us. Do you hear the Holy Ghost daily? Do you and have you heard the voice of God? Do you have conversations with him? Can you ask and receive answers? Do you hear at least a yes or no from Him in responses? Or can you have a greater communication with him where you talk to each other?

The earth is changing. The world is spiraling into darkness. The Lords second hand has been set forth but also the times of the gentiles is ending. Destruction awaits us. Even the elect will be overcome. But for what is coming only those who have made a covenant by sacrifice will be able to endure what is coming.

A Generation of Wickedness and Corruption
Darkness currently reigns. Corruption is present  everywhere. The world is absolutely wicked and corrupt. It doesn't matter where you look, what religion you look in, there is corruption. Despite this, Mormon facing complete corruption was able to live the gospel when no one else would. These things won't bar individuals from heeding Gods words.

I will Go and Do
Joseph used to say, "when the Lord commands I do it". As the Doctrine of Christ says, " receive the Holy Ghost, it will show unto you all things what ye should do." (2 Nephi 32:5). It is not given from having it confirmed upon you. It is received from calling upon God. Those who put their trust in another because its a "saffer" way to NOT be deceived will not be able to recognize that voice when destruction is all around them. When they are left with the light within themselves. When the only way to safety is their connection to God, and they must follow that spirit and if they have not learned to be guided by it in all things than they will fall.

For any who put their trust in another to avoid deception; I ask, when there is no man to tell you where to go, when the government takes over, mobs break out, war breaks out, a desolating scourge breaks out through this country, sweeping death and disease throughout, will you than be able to avoid deception? Will it be easier in chaos to learn how to heed that voice? Or rather should you now while there is yet peace experiment to learn to heed that voice even if at times you give heed to the wrong voice? You can learn to follow the Holy Ghost now or wait till it may just be too late.

A Test is Coming
There is a reason why Moroni tells us we must "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling before him" (Mormon 9:27).

Though I guess most believe in some "call out" and that such things will never happen.

We think we are secure here in the chambers of the everlasting hills. . . , but I want to say to you, . . . the time is coming when we will be mixed up in these now peaceful valleys to that extent that it will be difficult to tell the face of a Saint from the face of an enemy to the people of God. Then, brethren, look out for the great sieve, for there will be a great sifting time, and many will fall; for I say unto you there is a test, a TEST, a TEST coming, and who will be able to stand? [Orson F. Whitney, Life of Heber C. Kimball(Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1967), p. 446]

My advice. STOP following "the prophet".

Here is why
Some want a list of commandments they must heed. The problem with this is soon as you get a list than you must follow that list. When you follow that list, than when the Holy Ghost tells you to do something different, you fail to do it because it contradicts that list of commandments. This means the Holy Ghost can tell two people to do TWO different things. That's not possible now is it? I mean we're commanded to not kill yet Nephi was commanded by the Holy Ghost to kill? Lehi was commanded to leave while Jeremiah stayed. Abraham left a false religious practice of his fathers, one of which he was asked to do the very same thing that God asked him to do later, to sacrifice his son on the alter. Isn't that killing innocent blood? Didn't Joseph teach that we must all be tried even as Abraham if we wish to be saved?

They Must Needs Be Chastened and Tried, Even as Abraham (D&C 101:4)

So I ask if following some man, a prophet, is always right, than how is one supposed to do all things the Holy Ghost tells them to do when it asks them to do something different than the prophet is telling the people? Doesn't the prophet know the will of the Lord for all people?

The purpose of the Holy Ghost is to prove you in ALL things if YOU will do WHAT the LORD asks of YOU. It WILL ask you to do DIFFERENT things. ALL too see if you will obey the Lord over man. After all YOU must learn to be like God.

What is right for one may be wrong for another.

A Test Given to Emma Smith
God told Joseph (the Prophet) to give something to his wife Emma. God also told Emma to not partake of that. If she would have followed the prophets advice she would have failed her Abrahamic sacrifice. Can complete salvation be given to one who is NOT proven in all things? One who has failed that which was given to gain an eternal reward? The things of heaven are received from sacrifice and there is no other way. Without offering the sacrifice the reward will not be given.

51 Verily, I say unto you: A commandment I give unto mine handmaid, Emma Smith, your wife, whom I have given unto you, that she stay herself and partake not of that which I commanded you to offer unto her; for I did it, saith the Lord, to prove you all, as I did Abraham, and that I might require an offering at your hand, by covenant and sacrifice. (D&C 132:51)

If you wish to receive the things of those who have gone before like Abraham, Jacob, and Isac you must go through a similar path, similar sacrifices. For you cannot be given what you have not qualified for.

Doctrine of Christ 
No where does the doctrine of Christ involve man. It involves the Holy Ghost. And when two men are commanded to do two different things, if one is not listening to the Holy Ghost they may just lose their salvation. (See 1 kings 13). This is why its so important not to judge others! You just don't know what God can ask one to do even if its different than what another is supposed to do.

What is the Purpose of the Lords Servants?
They restore that which is lost. They warn of coming destruction. They preach repentance to a wicked and perverse generation. It is the message that is important. The messenger is not. When the Lord gives a message it should be heeded (not followed). You cannot reject the message without consequences.

The message always contains some message on how to reconnect with God so that YOU can receive the Holy Ghost so that you can re-enter the "rest of the Lord" or the presence of God. When there is a group that all have the Holy Ghost than they can all be "edified together" until they come in a unity of faith where no one is above another but all are equal. So that the individual will be able to receive commandments directly from the Lord for themselves. (See 4 Nephi) For the Lords words unto You are commandments.

Gods Messengers
Messengers (Gods servants) prepare men to receive the Holy Ghost so that they begin to exercise faith in God.
Holy Ghost leads one to Christ.
Christ leads one to the Father.

Do not make the same mistake the early saints made that cost them the opportunity to build Zion. They depended upon Joseph.

"The Lord had declared by the Prophet, that the people should each one stand for himself, and depend on no man or men...righteous persons could only deliver their own souls...They were depending on the Prophet, hence were darkened in their minds" (Teachings, Section Five 1842-43, p.237)

If you think God cursed the children of Israel for praying that Moses would speak to them, how much more darkened are our minds for teaching that you do not need to speak to God because there is one that speaks for you!?

Gods Servants (teachers)
True Servants point to Christ.
False Servants point to themselves.

For only those who "have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide, and have not been deceived" (D&C 45:57) will stand (parable of the 10 virgins).

Read the scriptures, the Book of Mormon which will draw you closer than ANY other book and learn to recognize His voice. Time is too short. The Lords spirit is already ceasing to strive with men. Though the world continues to believe life is going to go on as things are now, it is not.