The Book of Mormon In Hebrew

“I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.” (History of the Church,4:461.)

All truth should be measured against this book. It can draw us nearer to God by than any book or Men living today.

http://www.amazon.com/Book-Mormon-Hebrew-Joseph-Smith/dp/1512065250/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1449274339&sr=8-1&keywords=hebrew+book+of+mormon

"If any man writes to you, or preaches to you, doctrines contrary to the Bible, the Book of Mormon, or the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, set him down as an imposter." (Joseph Smith, Times & Seasons, April 1, 1844)

We remain under condemnation until we believe what it's teaches, accept it,  and abide by it's teachings even when it contradicts what men teach

D&c 84: 54 And your minds in times past have been darkened because of unbelief, and because you have treated lightly the things you have received
55 Which vanity and unbelief have brought the whole church under condemnation.
56 And this condemnation resteth upon the children of Zion, even all.
57 And they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon and the former commandments which I have given them, not only to say, but to do according to that which I have written.

How can we remember it when we don't teach or believe what it even says?

No Garment of Many Colors

There was no Garment of Many colors as some call it for Joseph. It was a garment of certain or sacred marks.

“The idea of a garment of many colors is an invention. If you look in your Bible every time it mentions many colors the word colors (even in the commentary) is in italics [the word in italics is actually many] because it is put in there by modern editors. It’s found in no ancient source. It’s not a garment of many colors at all. A garment of certain marks is the term that’s used here. We’ll see what it is in a second. ‘This garment had belonged to Abraham, and it already had a long history.’ It’s history was lengthy because it went back to the Garden of Eden, you see. That’s the garment; it’s the only one. Just as we treat the story of Cain and Abel, we trivialize this. We say, ‘Joseph was the youngest kid, so his father favored him and gave him a pretty garment of many colors.’ There is no mention in any ancient source of a garment of many colors. That’s an invention of modern editors trying to explain it. But here it was the garment he gave him. It was the garment of the priesthood. No wonder they were jealous of him, they being the elder brothers and he the younger in the patriarchal line coming down from Abraham. This garment had belonged to Abraham and had come down to Joseph instead of to the other brethren.” - Hugh Nibley, Teachings of the Book of Mormon, vol. 3, 51-52.

A Women Healed of Lyme Disease: A Call For Fellowships

No matter who believeth, these signs, such as healing the sick, casting our devils, etc., should follow all that believe, whether male or female... it is no sin for anybody to administer that has faith, or if the sick have faith to be healed by their administration. (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pg 224)

"These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."(Mark 16:17-18)

I am acquainted with a lady who recently gathered with other saints, as a fellowship, in prayer to be healed from her ailments. I wanted to share part of that experience from those who attended followed.

Hearts Knit as One:
Some scriptures on the importance of unity.

And he commanded them that there should be no contention one with another, but that they should look forward with one eye, having one faith and one baptism, having their hearts knit together in unity and in love one towards another. (Mosiah 18:21)

Be determined in one mind and in one heart, united in all things: (2 Ne. 1:21)

It is good for brethren to dwell together in unity (Ps. 133:1)

Now, when the multitude had all eaten and drunk, behold, they were filled with the Spirit; and they did cry out with one voice, and gave glory to Jesus, whom they both saw and heard. (3 Nephi 20:9)

Whatsoever ye shall ask in faith, being united in prayer, ye shall receive (D&C 29:6)

Part of  Her Experience:
The experience begun with hymns and sacrament as a group of 16 adults,  eight women and eight men,  where "they did kneel down" and offer up the prayers partaking of the flesh and blood of Christ. Breaking of the bread symbolizing the flesh being torn and broken. The drinking of the Wine, symbolizing the bitter cup that the Lord partook for each of us and bleeding from every pore. Together symbolizing his suffering and death, pleading before the Father in agony as our advocate that we "may come unto him and have everlasting life". (D&C 45:3-5) Symbolizing that we can too, through suffering, can be made perfect and always have his spirit to be with us, having Him take his abode with us.

Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek (Hebrews 5:8-10)

Some Thoughts By Her

Tonight was a profound experience for me. I am so thankful to all of you who prayed for me, those who were there and those who weren't.

I wish everyone could have been there! To me it felt like a glimpse of what it will be like when we are of one heart and one mind. 

I was there to be healed physically, but the most incredible part was the spiritual healing that happened, although I know it is all connected. Something terrible was cast out that has plagued me for most if not all of my life. I am so grateful, so grateful!  I don't have words to describe tonight like I would like to. 

I was very vulnerable tonight, in a way I don't think I have ever been in front of a group of people. I would normally have been very embarrassed, but I wasn't. That was because of the Lord, and the love of the people there. 

We can become one with our hearts knit together in love! We need to do it. 

I love you all very much! I am so grateful to the Lord for all the experiences of my life! 

And so grateful for the healing and joy I experienced tonight. 

I pray the tide is turning to the light for us all.

Events that Transpired:
Many of these thoughts were from just a few of the people that experienced the events including from the one who was healed perspective. I will include a few of the experiences that happened.

Each person contributed with their own way to the healing. It is many beliefs, including mine, that there is no one way to heal. If you look at the scriptures there was not one way to heal someone. Some washed seven times in the river, others rubbed mud on their eyes, in Joseph's day he blessed a handkerchief and gave it to someone. In another circumstance Joseph healed himself.

The impressions were that the different ways of contributing was to help cast off unbelief which also accounts for the different ways that Christ healed others. The differences in their healing by each person helped others, including themselves, cast off their own unbelief until they had enough faith to heal the women.

Both male and females joined in the circle. They did not do a circle with all their hands on her head. Rather most touched the back of her head or other parts like her back. Some not directly in the circle touched the people standing closer in, but all were connected while blessing her.

Each person, if they felt impressed, took turns praying as impressed. Some people prayed that the Lord would cut through all the layers that were binding her with this ailment. Another person felt to pray again a second time to cast out the illness as nobody had done that yet.

Another person was directed to not use many words feeling that power was not in many words but rather in the people where God shows forth his power. He was led to say "father in heaven I believe that this women can be healed at this moment in time and if it so be that all our combined faith and belief is not enough than I ask that the Lord step in and be counted for his faith and his belief for his atoning sacrifice. Amen"

Following the first set of prayers many felt emotional and physically weak. They had a strong love for everyone there, especially for many feeling very vulnerable for doing things asked of them that they have not witnessed before.

People had been praying and casting out and doing whatever they felt inspired to do. Then someone asked her how she felt, if she thought it was all gone. she said she had to think about it, because she felt better, but still felt something maybe on or in front of her face, and neck, and down into her heart a bit. By this time it seemed to her the main thing was that something evil was in her that had to be cast out, and that that was what this was all about. The physical healing would be connected to that.

She started praying out loud and saying that she wanted it to be gone, and she told it that it did not have permission to be in her or around anymore. That she did not want it. She also kept praying a lot about how grateful she was for the experiences she have had. She prayed and cast out in the name of Jesus Christ. It was gone. Some people told her later that they could see it on me and see it go. Some sensed it there and felt it go. One lady then felt inspired to "get oil and salt, like a newborn babe.” She put those on her hands and said to put it on her head, which she did, and she also put it on her face and a bit on her chest and neck.

She said she could feel the Savior there in the room.

She felt so incredibly thankful to the Lord and so happy! She cannot say that all her physical pain is gone, but that the Lyme is cured and her body still has damage to heal up from, from the years of damage from it. But, for her, the main thing is that awful thing is gone.

She believes it was a very strong evil spirit that has been bothering her maybe her whole life. And it may have been the cause of many sicknesses in her life, including the Lyme Disease. She was told in a blessing many years ago that Satan gave her Lyme Disease.

Her feeling is that that night was about more than healing her. That it was an example to us of the kind of thing we should be doing for each other. That it was an example of how it can be when we are of one heart and one mind.

After the blessing and praying, they also gathered in a circle together all holding hands and prayed some more, whoever felt inspired to pray. And then they didn’t feel to be done even then. They all sang several songs together, and they partook of the Sacrament.

It was a day of increasing light for all of us, even in the midst of the darkness increasing in the world.

The scriptures inform us that our lives should be filled with wonder. That is what that night was for her.

The event was very emotional and vulnerable for everyone.

Doctors Checkup:

 It is so exciting to have this other witness!

So, I went to the doctor today (August 31). He is my alternative/chiropractor doctor, the only one I go to any more. The last time I was there was about 3 weeks ago. He has been extremely worried about me lately because of how weak my heart has sounded and the arrythmias it has had. It had sounded better once a couple months ago, but then got worse again.

So first he adjusted me and remarked that my joints were MUCH more stable than usual. Then he listened to my heart, and was very surprised. He said he could hear the deep tones (which he usually can't or barely can) and that it sounded SO much stronger.

Then he kept on listening for about a minute and said that he didn't hear ANY of the major arrythmias he has mostly always heard when only listening for a few seconds. He said the supplements he gives me must be really working. But then he asked me if I was doing anything else, because it was just so surprising. I said that I had had a big blessing. :) He said blessings are good.

He was so clearly surprised by how well I was doing.

Perspective From a Women In the Circle:

The following are pieces from the thoughts of what transpired both during and before the event that took place on August 22 according to one of the women in the circle.

July 21 2015 

I was praying over the Women and saw things on her so I texted her. 

There's something on the top of your head and on and in your mouth- top lip and in the top of your mouth. On your hands and between the first 2 fingers of one of your hands. I can't see which hand. There's more at your waist in the front and further down, but I can't see what. I'm sure I just gave you plenty. 

The thing between your fingers looks like a rock. Gray.  

July 22 

What are you holding onto that is killing you?

August 9

During the SLC Fellowship meeting, I felt to lay hands on her, so I put my right hand over her heart and said words I felt impressed to say and told her  heart that it was time to heal. She said her heart stayed in good rhythm the whole next week.

August 22 

At the blessing, I knelt by her side and touched her hands, Other people were praying over her.  

Now, I cannot remember the order, but at some point I was told clearly to use “oil and salt” and felt impressed to get them from my cupboard.  I hesitated because I wanted a scriptural reference, but was told to look it up later. I got olive oil and fine salt and poured the oil on her hands and poured the salt over the oil and felt that she should rub them together and then put it all on her head- super weird I know. She did so.  I knew that there was something bad/evil staring her face to face. I felt impressed to tell her that she didn’t need what it was and that the Lord would raise her up without it.  She began to cast it out and I reminded her in what name we cast out.  She called on the name of Christ and kept saying that she didn’t need whatever it was any longer and that she would not be embarrassed by it. It left.  Others noted cold breezes or seeing something.  I just knew it was gone and that it could not come back.  I think it was very important for the Women to withdraw permission from it and to be so supported in casting it out.

After Thoughts 

A week later I was reflecting on blessings in general. I feel it terribly important that we do these things for each other. And then I thought "Christ doesn't want us in this state. He wants us healed."  The Spirit flared up in me and told me that the entire reason he came was to overcome Death and Hell. I felt like a total blind idiot.  Yes.  He wants us healed here and now.

Yet Another Perspective:
The following are from one of the men that were part of the experience.

We all gathered in a loose circle around the Women, and laid hands upon her. Initially my right hand was on her head (my left hand was on a persons shoulder that was also in the circle). Whenever I am involved in giving a blessing, I try to envision, or get the feeling, that I am simply a conduit to transfer light and love and healing from heaven to the person.

There was a darkness in her body, like a cloud of ink from an octopus. Her blessing was given in two parts. During the first part the darkness was substantially dispersed, but not entirely. When the first part was finished, she was asked how she felt, and reported that it was better, but that there was still something lingering in her neck and chest area. So, we decided to continue the blessing. 

I moved my hands to her upper back (like I was going to push her out of her chair) because that was closer to the area of her body with the complaint. At the same time, Someone also put his hand on the back of her neck and rebuked the disease. There was a definite shift at that point. 

Also, someone else suggested at some point that we not only cast out the darkness, but that we also replace it with love and light.

After that, the Women began to speak her own blessing. She revoked any permission for the evil thing to remain with her. All the while my hands were still on her back, and we were all concentrating our faith and love towards the single object of facilitating the healing our friend.

When the Women was about half way thru with the words she had to say, my eyes were closed, but I could see a sphere of light form within her chest and begin to expand until it extended beyond her body. The sphere seemed to begin with the light and love coming into her from the circle, but it soon began to grow on its own. It continued to expand until it reached the circle of people surrounding her. It was bright, and, as it expanded, it pushed out the last traces of darkness. There seemed to be a tremendous calm afterward.

Symbols: Prayers of the People
Previously to the event she was baptized on the 16th of August, 2015 for healing by one having authority. After this a prayer meeting was setup to pray in her behalf to help her be healed from Lyme Disease which is where the healing took place.

A group of people gathered together, ending up in a total of 16 adults or vessels though many more were invited. Interesting enough 16 also represents 8 couples which represents a new beginning along with symbolizing the day she was baptized which she did not intend to do. The number 8 is seen with Noah and his 7 sons or Adam and the 7 high priests that gathered in the first Adam-Ondi-Ahman (See Lectures on Faith) which will be seen again at the end of the world.

At the time of the blessing the moon had been at about 51% and waxing (unplanned). At this point it typifies light conquering darkness as there is at this moment more light than there is darkness. Waxing also typifies the light overcoming the darkness and growing greater.

Today, one week later or 7 days, it is now a full moon. I don't share this as a sign of what took place. I show this to show how much our world truly typifies heaven. The signs in the heavens go by unnoticed and I was amazed at the perfect number of 7. It may have been during the 8th day as I am unsure exactly the time the moon was at 50%.

With combined faith we can do what we might not be able to do alone. There is power when people are unified.

Fellowships:
There is something underway. It began with the Latter-day Saints. It will move on to address other gentiles, then the Lehi remnant, and finally the Jews. It will unfold as the Lord directs, at the time and in the manner He wants. The systematic approach to the final invitation will roll out under the direction of the Lord, in the way He directs, and with results based on whether they “hear His voice”–the same criteria as when He was here during the New Testament era.

God has made Himself directly known to prophets of old. He did so with Abraham (Gen. 15:1); and Jacob/Israel (Gen. 46:2); and has said He would do so with any authentic prophet (Num. 12:6).

Part of this invitation was given to us through Denver Snuffer as written in the Lecture series the Lord had asked him to give titled "40 years in Mormonism". Anyone can read more there so I won't add more to that.

Denver’s message is ultimately, Receive your guidance from the Lord. Gain a personal relationship with Him and let no man tell you how to worship, except the Lord. Search the scriptures, measuring all truth against the spirit (test it) and especially the Book of Mormon, pray, live righteously, and receive Him. Joseph Smiths first vision, where he communed with God face to face is what religion is meant to be, each of us being able to go to God, lacking wisdom, and receive an answer. Obeying His voice, doing what the Lord bids each of us to do as it will be different for every person. 

Response to FairMormon: A Message to Gnostics - A spiritual threat

Creeds of Catholism 

Todays Miracles: Turning Wine To Water

There is an article making the rounds issued by FairMormon as seen here.

I wanted to discuss a few of the points. She identified a threat among Mormons as those who believe “the Church has lost its way, Church leaders are not inspired or in favor with God, so God has raised up new leaders outside the Church hierarchy whose visions and teachings are important for us to follow,”. She identifies one select group of these people as the "remnant".

She makes the claims that these people think they are more righteous and that they are elitist. This is far from the truth. When you begin to read the Book of Mormon and realize its a message not just about everyone else rather its about YOU (including me), and specifically the Latter Day Saints, YOU begin to NOT see yourself as a righteous soul. Singing songs of your righteous ancestors who failed to build Zion, despite the great sacrifices they made that preserved so much that we take for granted today, or hearing praises of flattery that you are a choosen generation begins to repulse you. When YOU begin to realize you are not actually as choosen as you first thought, YOU are not as righteous as you first thought, and YOU, just because you may have received the ordinances found in the Temple are still in jeopardy because YOU have not conversed with the Lord through the veil and redeemed your soul. When you accept the peril that is placed before you for your own soul this becomes the state of that soul. This is the reaction of the people to the message that King Benjamin delivered who sprang forth after 3-4 generations of no revelations (See Omni 1:11).

...behold they had fallen to the earth, for the fear of the Lord had come upon them.
And they had viewed themselves in their own carnal state, even less than the dust of the earth. And they all cried aloud with one voice, saying: O have mercy, and apply the atoning blood of Christ that we may receive forgiveness of our sins, and our hearts may be purified; for we believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who created heaven and earth, and all things; who shall come down among the children of men. (Mosiah 4:1-2)

This is how I view myself. I am nothing, I am fully inadequate to do anything the Lord has placed before me. And until you acknowledge this, you will never be able to do what great things the Lord  asks of those who Love Him. It is at this point you can finally declare like Moroni that you must "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling before him" (Mormon 9:27, 2 Corinthians 7:15)

Instead of complacency and receiving flattery that you have done all that you need to do, you realize we are ALL sinners and God is no respecter of religion, even those who do not belong with the "one and only true" church. In fact YOU begin to realize God does not view the righteous as those who belong to and those who don't to some "church" EVEN if they contained the authority to baptize. Because God cares much more about the Heart than he ever does about the outward appearance. It is not the pharisee who prays every day and fasts twice a week that attends his weekly meetings that ends up saved by God but the broken hearted that accepts he is not righteous and will never do enough through his own works to warrant his grace. (Luke 18:9-14) Because in the end their hearts are humble enough, being stripped of pride and their self righteousness to accept Gods word to gain the spirit and do what He asks. Even if at first he appears to be a murderer like Alma the Younger.

In the end, all the church has, until Zion is formed, is an invitation and most will never accept that invitation. It will not be those first invited that are accepting it as the Lord said "The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy". So who does the Lord invites next? "Go therefore to the main highways, and as many as you find there, invite to the wedding feast. Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered together all they found, both evil and good; and the wedding hall was filled with dinner guest" (Matthew 22:8-10) Who are those first invited? Was that invitation given to us through Joseph Smith? Is that not what he did exactly like Moses? (D&C 84:23-25, 3 Nephi 16:10)

In the end both good and bad will be invited and are the ones that accept the invitation to the wedding feast. All that is required is to be clothed in a wedding garment. (Matthew 22 11-13) I do not view others as those who are more righteous for that is not the requirement to be accepted to the wedding feast. My goal is to see them as they really are which all will do that receive the "heavenly gift" (See  Hebrew 6, Ether 12), a requirement for Zion.

It is Satan that gives us a "false sense of security" and telleth us "all is well".

"others will he[the devil] pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, that they will say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well—and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell." (2 Nephi 28:21)

"Jesus replied, "The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed,"(Like 17:20)

The kingdom of God comes not with observation! Look at all the chaptels, temples, and other things being built! That is something that is observed.

“We know for certain that if or when everything else in the latter days is down or dying: if governments, economies, industries, and institutions crumble; if societies and cultures become a quagmire of chaos and insecurity, nevertheless through it all the gospel of Jesus Christ and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that bears that gospel to the world will stand triumphant, and we will stand undefiled in God’s hand until the very Son of God Himself comes to rule and reign as Lord of lords and King of kings,” he said. “Nothing is more certain in this world. Nothing is more sure. Nothing could be more of an antidote to anxiety.” (Elder Holland, Feb 6 2015, General Conference, Be Not Afraid Only Believe)

The only sure thing is what's in the scriptures..

It is only in the state, working out our salvation with fear and trembling, that one is ever meek and humble enough to approach the Lord, being stripped of their pride of their own righteousness. Which fear caused King Lamoni people to fall upon the ground in fear and torment in the presence of his servants and others. He did not flatter them. He did not tell them how good they were and how righteous they were.

Message of The Book of Mormon
Both these groups believe in the claims of the Book of Mormon. So the question comes down to one issue. What does the Book of Mormon, the most correct book really say? There have been many articles on this including one that was used as a reason for belief written as a rebuttal to the CES letter as seen here: The Acutal Message of the Book of Mormon.

So it comes down to who is the Book of Mormon speaking to with the following verses (picking just a few)?

2 Nephi 28:

"Because of pride, and because of false teachers, and false doctrine, their churches have become corrupted," (vs 12)  

"they rob the poor because of their fine sanctuaries" (vs 13)  Who's fine santuaries rob the poor? What churches build fine sanctuaries?

they rob the poor because of their fine clothing; (vs 13) What churches wear fine clothing? What churches mimic the clothing as seen in Holywood and movies as the book of Mormon terms "fine twine linen" clothes (See 1 Nephi 14)?

they have all gone astray save it be a few (vs 14)

Mormon 8:

  "For behold, ye do love money, and your substance, and your fine apparel, and the adorning of your churches, more than ye love the poor and the needy, the sick and the afflicted." (vs 37) 

But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing...and your churches, yea, even every one, have become polluted because of the pride of your hearts. (vs 35-36) 

What churches are the people adorning in this verse? Why do they love that more than the poor? What way? Why does the Lord include this? Does he care more for buildings or the poor?

Ezekial 34:

8 As I live, saith the Lord God, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock;

Isaiah 24:

"The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant." (vs 5 See also D&C 1:14-15) 

This is a prophecy of the state of the world before His return. Can a group who has not received the everlasting covenant break it? Or can it only be broken once it has been received? What does it mean to break the everlasting covenant and to change the ordinances? What ordinances could have been changed? If they have will the Lord still accept them even if we are unaware of them being changed?

Isaiah 28:

...The priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment. For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean. (vs 7-8)

Isaiah 56:

His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand. (vs 10-11)

3 Nephi 16 :

At that day when the Gentiles shall sin against my gospel, and shall reject the fulness of my gospel, and shall be lifted up in the pride of their hearts above all nations, and above all the people of the whole earth, and shall be filled with all manner of lyings, and of deceits, and of mischiefs, and all manner of hypocrisy, and murders, and priestcrafts, and whoredoms, and of secret abominations; and if they shall do all those things, and shall reject the fulness of my gospel, behold, saith the Father, I will bring the fulness of my gospel from among them. (vs 10)

Joseph Smith Last Dream on the Barn:

...I told [some men] 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...

Even if the statements are true, it is not important to follow these said "new" leaders. The entire message is to follow Christ not man. That the doctrine "follow the prophet" or leader is anti-scriptural. All we are ever required to do is follow the Doctrine of Christ which points exclusively to Christ, which doctrine includes "the holy ghost shall show unto you all things ye must do" (paraphrasing). Not man. Not a leader. Not a prophet. The Holy Ghost is our guide (D&C 45:57). If we trust a leader over that guide we will eventually be deceived. 

Reoccurring Theme: Pride

In all these verses the root cause is tied back to "because of pride". Pride is according to the dictionary "a high or inordinate opinion of one's own dignity, importance, merit, or superiority, whether as cherished in the mind or as displayed in bearing, conduct, etc." The proud, on the other hand, are so blinded by their pride that they think they have no need of God or, worse, that God should accept them as they are because they deserve His acceptance. Pride is taking the glory that belongs to God alone and keeping it for ourselves. Pride is essentially self-worship.

Second Comforter:
She states they have an, "An inordinate interest in the Second Comforter." We need to be careful when we state such things are foolish and should not be sought after.

The fool hath said in his heart, There is no man that hath seen God. Because he showeth himself not unto us, therefore there is no God.Behold, they are corrupt; they have done abominable works, and none of them doeth good. (JST Psalms 1:1)

We need to be careful when we say the first vison was only for Joseph and not for us.

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." (Words of Joseph Smith, pg 244) Or (History of the Church, 5:554-556)

Sign of a True Messenger:
A true messenger always teaches the saints to enter the presence of the Lord while in the Flesh.

Now this Moses plainly taught to the children of Israel in the wilderness, and sought diligently to sanctify his people that they might behold the face of God; (D&C 84:23-25), See also Alma 13)

If the people will do as they are told, I will tell you what to do. Get the visions of heaven, and seek not what you shall eat or what you shall drink, but seek the will of God. Get into the presence of God (Sidney Rigdon, General Conference Minutes of the Church, April, 1844.)

Hard Heart and No Faith:

55 Let us here observe, that after any portion of the human family are made acquainted with the important fact that there is a God who has created and does uphold all things, the extent of their knowledge, respecting his character and glory, will depend upon their diligence and faithfulness in seeking after him, until like Enoch the brother of Jared, and Moses, they shall obtain faith in God, and power with him to. behold him face to face. (Lectures on Faith)

Saving Knowledge
She defined Mormon gnosticism as “the belief that esoteric knowledge — hidden, deep doctrine — is necessary for fulfilling our spiritual potential, and that seeking for it is more spiritually advanced.”

If any man wants to go find out about some "hidden, deep doctrine" be my guest. This is not what is being taught. The scriptures are clear about the subject. You cannot be saved without knowledge. But we are not talking about trivial knowledge but Knowledge of GOD. Knowledge only gained by nourishing the "seed" using the phrase in Alma 32.

“It is impossible for a man to be saved in ignorance" (D&C 131:6)

“A man is saved no faster than he gets knowledge.” (Joseph Smith)

“… Mormonism is truth, in other words the doctrine of the Latter-day Saints, is truth. … The first and fundamental principle of our holy religion is, that we believe that we have a right to embrace all, and every item of truth, without limitation or without being circumscribed or prohibited by the creeds or superstitious notions of men, or by the dominations of one another, when that truth is clearly demonstrated to our minds, and we have the highest degree of evidence of the same.”5

“As far as we degenerate from God, we descend to the devil and lose knowledge, and without knowledge we cannot be saved, and while our hearts are filled with evil, and we are studying evil, there is no room in our hearts for good, or studying good. Is not God good? Then you be good; if He is faithful, then you be faithful. Add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, and seek for every good thing [see 2 Peter 1:5].

“… 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.”15

Is the knowledge you currently have sufficient? How do you know what this knowledge IS if you have not received it? Are you content letting a leader give you this knowledge instead of seeking for it yourself? Are you content having your eternal salvation at bay and in peril while trusting this knowledge will be given? What if this knowledge that is required for you to be saved is not lawful to utter? Do you not trust in the Lords promise that he will bestow this knowledge upon ALL those who love him?

... great and marvelous are the works of the Lord, and the mysteries of his kingdom which he showed unto us...[that] "are not lawful for man to utter; Neither is man capable to make them known, for they are only to be seen and understood by the power of the Holy Spirit, which God bestows on those who love him, and purify themselves before him; To whom he grants this privilege of seeing and knowing for themselves;" (D&C 76:114-117)

What if this knowledge puts you at odds with those who lead you? Will you abandon it to conform to the current rules and regulations of your church that is still presently under condemnation? (D&C 84:55-57) Is not being condemned the same thing as not having truth and light or the fullness of the gospel? Just because you have the record in front of you that contains the fulness, will that save you in the great and dreadful day of the Lord? How do you know you sufficiently understand the message contained therein? Where can I get this assurance? What if the Lord has told you that you have been forgiven like Enos yet your bishop or priesthood leader still believes you are unable to hold a recommend? Will the Lord deny you of the blessings even though you are not allowed to enter? Does this also mean that your revelation is wrong because its not inline with the Leader?

Is it possible for the Lord to tell  a leader to withhold truth or give a false precept? Did he do just this with Moses? If he did than why not today? How do you know if the people today have a hardened heart against the truth? Why will our day be even as the day of Noah? Why will our day be even as Sodom and Gumorah? Why are we a wicked and perverse generation? Why do you believe these scriptures refer to everyone but the saints? Here is what the Lord said regarding Moses.

And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away.And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept.(Mark 10:4-5)

How certain are you this time in history will be different than ALL the scriptures before us? What purpose did the Lord serve by giving us the Book of Mormon which tells of the constant struggle to preserve truth, not fall into apostasy, and a story of men who fought to preserve the truth when at all odds against those who thought they were already "righteous."

Must Worship Inside the Church:

"I say unto you, do ye suppose that ye cannot worship God save it be in your synagogues only? "(Alma 32:10)

The majority of these people did not leave the church but rather were excommunicated because you cannot remain in good standing if you do any of these three things.

1. Do not believe in follow the prophet doctrine (though you believe you should heed them when acting as a prophet) or have doubts the current prophet has finished his ordination because you don't believe just being called into the office means you are actually a seer, revelator or prophet.
2. Partake the sacrament in your own home being the patriarch of your own family. 
3. Practicing the doctrine of rebaptism either for offering up a recomittment unto God like Brigham Young did or even for healing purposes that Joseph practiced many times. Because the current handbook of instructions forbids this and is grounds for excommunication.

Everything Is As It Seems

The majority of the claims in this article assumes the churches claims TODAY are 100% correct. This also means that, if they are true, that the claims of the earlier leaders are false. Doctrine has changed. What is taught today denounces much of what was taught by the earlier leaders.

What was once proclaimed to be required for salvation is no longer required. What was once not required for salvation is now today required (ie. Word of Wisdom required for temple attendance which was given "not by commandment or restraint"). The same judgments issued against those living today, are not the same as those living in an earlier time. Yet God is unchangeable? God is the same yesterday, today and forever? Noah became drunk yet he was trusted to repopulate an entire world and retained the fulness of God. (Genesis 9:21)

Here are just some of the changes.

1. Tithing was meant for the poor but is no longer used to help the poor.
2. The office of Church Patriarch has now been abandoned with its accompanying authority with the passing of Eldred G Smith which the Lord said should be held in "“honorable remembrance from generation to generation.” There was no revelation to remove the office.
3. The claim that Elijah has restored all ordinances and power per D&C 110 (1835) when Joseph said in 6 different lectures between 1841 and 1844 that He had yet to come to restore the power of Elijah. I've cited all 6 lectures as found in the Joseph Smith Papers elsewhere.
4. The stakes of Zion were not supposed to be governed by the Apostles.

“Now as the Twelve have no power with regard to the government of the Church in the Stakes of Zion, but the High Council have all power, so it follows that on removal of the first President, the office would devolve upon the President of the High Council in Zion …the Twelve… were aware of these facts but acted differently.” (Linda King Newell and Valeen Tippetts Avery, Mormon Enigma: Emma Hale Smith, Doubleday, (New York, 1984), pp. 206-207.)

5. Meant to have full transparency of all church resources especially tithing.
6. Today require tithing even if you can't afford food from the original revelation of surplus ( as said by Lorenzo Snow "who has means" which church manuals removed.)
7. The congregation no longer kneels with the priests for the sacrament per D&C 20 and Moroni 4-5 commanding the congregation to do so. ("they did kneel down with the church" vs 2)
8. Changing of the word "wine" to "water".
9. Apostles were once required to have seen the ressurected Lord but now are only required to have a testimony via the Holy Ghost that He lives. "Never cease striving until you have seen God face to face.... Your ordination is not full and complete till God has laid His hand upon you. We require as much to qualify us as did those who have gone before us; God is the same." (Joseph Smith Papers, Minute Book 1, 12 Feb. 1834, 27–29., here) Also "That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us"(1 John 1:3) This is confirmed in the Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood.

Rob Smith, a blogger, has outlined a few others here including:

• For decades, the church actively misrepresented Joseph's practice of polygamy.
• For decades, the church lied about plural marriage after the 1890 manifesto, claiming either that there were no church sanctioned plural marriages after 1890 or that the only sanctioned ones took place in Mexico where it was legal. Both were lies, as polygamy was just as illegal in Mexico and Michael Quinn documented very many sanctioned marriages post 1890 (authorized by the first presidency, and not just in Mexico).
• For decades, the church said that Brigham Young's policy of not ordaining blacks to the priesthood and banning them from temple ordinances was a commandment from God. THIRTEEN subsequent presidents of the church maintained that position, calling the priesthood ban "not a matter of the declaration of policy but of direct commandment from the Lord." (Aug 17,1951 - Official First Presidency Statement). Of course, President Monson's administration has said that Brigham was wrong, and that it wasn't a commandment.
• The church continues to misrepresent the history of the Nauvoo temple, which I have detailed elsewhere on this blog.

God will Seek Another People:

Just because the priesthood will not be taken from the Earth does not guarantee it will be the Latter Day Saints that retain it. 

His work will go forward in these last days in purity, for if Zion will not purify herself so as to be approved in all things in His sight, He will seek another people. For His work will go on until Israel is gathered. And they who will not hear His voice must expect to feel His wrath. (TPJS p. 18.)

 To the same effect, during the Mormon Reformation Heber C. Kimball said:

“We received this priesthood in power and authority. If we make a bad use of the priesthood do you not see that the day will come when God will reckon with us and he will take it from us and give it to those who will make better use of it?” (JD 6:125.)

 George Albert Smith said essentially the same thing:

“God has set his hand at the present time to establish his kingdom. But unless the Saints will so live and so exert themselves that they can preserve the purity of the holy Priesthood among them, the work will be left to other people.” (JD 6:161.)

 Brigham Young said essentially the same thing.

“God will preserve a portion of the meek and the humble of this people to bear off the Kingdom to the inhabitants of the earth, and will defend His Priesthood; for it is the last time, the last gathering time; and He will not suffer the Priesthood to be again driven from the earth. ” (JD2:184.)

If we are today in a state of Apostasy, than those who are found within it are not going to teach it. Therefore we must rely upon the scriptures and specially the Book of Mormon along with much "prayer and fasting" yielding our hearts "unto understanding".

“The things of God are of deep import; and time, and experience, and careful and ponderous and solemn thoughts can only find them out. Thy mind, O man! if thou wilt lead a soul unto salvation, must stretch as high as the utmost heavens, and search into and contemplate the darkest abyss, and the broad expanse of eternity—thou must commune with God. How much more dignified and noble are the thoughts of God, than the vain imaginations of the human heart! … (Teachings: Joseph Smith, Chapter 22, Gaining Knowledge of Eternal Truths)

Testing Truth: Two Prophets Among Us

Any test we use to test truth is only valid when that test does not reject Christ. 

What if there were two men... one of the men never claimed that he was a prophet, never claimed that he had received a message from the Lord to deliver to the people, and never claimed that the words he delivered were from God.  What if people assumed he were a prophet because of his administrative position in an organization and assumed that what he spoke was God's will for them and was God's message to them?  Would he be responsible for people assuming things about him and his message that he never claimed himself?  Would the people who assumed those things be justified in doing so?

What if the second man did claim that he had spoken with God and what if he did claim that God had given him a message to deliver to the people?  What if the message was consistent with the scriptures and brought light and truth?  But what if that man did not hold an administrative position in the organization?  Would the people be justified to ignore the message because the second man did not have the required credentials they expected him to have?  Would God be wrong to allow something like this to happen or to work in this way?
What if the first man in this hypothetical example were Caiphas, the High Priest of the Jewish people during the time of Christ?  What if the second man were John the Bapist?  Looking back at these men through the lens of what has been passed down through history and the scriptures, do we find it upsetting to think that John was a prophet and Caiphas was not?  How about the Jewish people in that day?  What would they think of John's claims when they believed Caiphas to be the high priest?  What if the Jewish people had been taught that God would only deliver his words through the high priest? 

Do we find it upsetting or incorrect to believe that God used John to deliver his message rather than Caiphas?  What if God did that in order to test the people?

What if God chose to do this same type of thing again in our day?  Is He (God) allowed to work like this in our day? or would He be constrained by the teachings of modern day leaders that have taught us that if God is going to send a message, it will only come through the leader at the top of the administrative hierarchy of an organization?

We have seen that people were offended by Christ Teachings. The Jewish leaders asked him where his authority came from.  Why wasn't Jesus Christ, as the Son of God, made the high priest of the religious organization of the day? Why did he instead choose to avoid all earthly priestly authority and serve the weakest and mingle with the poor and diseased?

In the story of David who was exalted upon an earthly throne, he lost his exaltation and fell. (d&c 132) perhaps the Lord learned from the mistakes of this man who went before him and learned from sad experience that almost all men use their priestly authority to control others. Perhaps this is why he instead served instead of reigning. The Jewish leaders expected the Messiah to be a great king. But what manner of men was He? A man of Galilee? Is He not the example?

Boy scouts

June 25, 1991:  "[A]n official of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints [Elder Jack H. Goaslind, of the First Quorum of Seventy, president of the church's Young Men program and a member of the Boy Scouts' National Executive Board] said Tuesday he would recommend that the church withdraw from the Boy Scouts of America if the church is forced to register homosexual Scouts or to register those who will not adhere to "Duty to God" provisions of the Scout Oath and Law."

Newsroom, July 27, 2015: "The Church has always welcomed all boys to its Scouting units regardless of sexual orientation."

Desert news article.
http://bit.ly/1HWDhKQ

Passing The Sentinels That Stand Guard: Waiting on others

The fullness of  the Gospel is found in the Book of Mormon. There you will find individual after individual who have returned, through faith, back to God's presence. Once they have returned to God's presence, they have a different view of themselves and others.

In the case of Lehi and his family, he listened to the testimony of others warning of the destruction of Jerusalem, took their warning seriously, and begged God on behalf of his people. (1 Ne. 1: 5.) As a result of his intercession and compassion for others, he was visited by God. (1 Ne. 1: 6.)

Lehi's family did not believe him. They followed him into the wilderness, but only because of the respect accorded to the father in their society. None of the family could believe what he was saying.

The younger son, Nephi, prayed to be able to believe what his father Lehi was saying. Even though Nephi wanted to acquire faith, it was not easy to trust his father's message. Because of his desire to believe, Nephi reports the Lord "did visit me;" this sounds like something more than it was. The Lord's initial "visit" to Nephi consisted only in 'softening Nephi's heart so that he was able to believe his father.' (1 Ne. 2: 16.)

This is the beginning. This is the first step. When the Lord first takes hold of your hand, it is a faint grip, a partial contact, a weak beginning. It is the token, however, that everyone must first receive. It comes from obeying and then acting faithfully on what has been shown to you. It requires you to sacrifice your own will to the Lord's.

No one will return to the presence of God who has not received this gentle grip from the Lord. It is a true token given by the Lord; not just something ceremonial. It is the companion to faith. It is the start of the path you will walk back to the presence of God, passing the sentinels who stand along the way. They will want to know you have learned all you need from your experiences here to be able to return to God's presence.

When the most dramatic points of struggle happen along the path, the Book of Mormon provides us with a view into the person where the struggle takes place. Nephi's record of the fullness includes his testimony of kneeling on a dark Jerusalem street where he found the person of Laban lying drunk and unconscious before him. (1 Ne. 4: 7-8.) He disarmed him. Then took the time to admire the weapon of war he had taken from his fallen uncle, noting its precious material and workmanship. (1 Ne. 4: 9.)

While admiring the sword, he had the urge to slay Laban. (1 Ne. 4: 10.) Though Nephi attributed this impulse to "the Spirit" it was nothing more than an impulse. Here is where the cosmic struggle plays out. In Nephi's heart, there is a strong urge to kill a man which, in Nephi's life, is unprecedented. It is foreign to him. It is "the Spirit" and not Nephi who has this will to kill the man.

Nephi's hesitancy is not based solely on moral scruples, but on all he believes about himself. He is not a man of war. He has "never before shed the blood of man" and does not think it appropriate to start now. (1 Ne. 4: 10.) This is not about self control, this is about who his identity. This is who Nephi believes himself to be. He is better than this base impulse. It is beneath him.

When he resists this impulse, "the Spirit" elevates the message. No longer is it "constraint" or inclination, but "the Spirit" now "speaks" to him in unmistakable words. (1 Ne. 4: 11.) The message not only clearly tells Nephi the Lord's will in 'delivering Laban into his hands,' but also makes enough sense to Nephi that he can immediately recognize the many reasons for the Lord accomplishing this. (1 Ne. 4: 11.) The proof of the Lord's hand lays before Nephi. After all, Laban is lying helpless, and "has been delivered into thy hands" as the most tangible, clear proof of God's power. (Id.)

Yet all of this struggle is internal to Nephi. You could stand on the same street, at the same moment and see the same scene play out before you, and you would not be a witness to God's great work underway.

The fullness of the Gospel requires us to recognize the hand of God guiding us. The battle we join is within. No one is spared from these stages of growth and development.

The church cannot provide you with an alternative means to get there. It is between you and God, alone. The scene will be as the Book of Mormon continually portrays it. That record is the most comprehensive retelling of how to return to God's presence ever compiled. It was put together by those who made the journey along the path, passing all the sentinels who stand guard along the way. They embraced their Lord through the veil before entering again into His presence. Then, having been true and faithful, they were brought back into His presence and redeemed from the fall of mankind. (Ether 3: 13.) They, like the Brother of Jared, were redeemed because of their knowledge. (Ether 3: 19.)

Yet you insist on captivity because you have no knowledge. (Isa. 5: 13.) You take blind guides and are therefore, blinded by your own ignorance. (Matt. 23: 16.) You insist on keeping what can never inform you, while rejecting what is told you in plain words. (2 Ne. 32: 7.) You refuse to see and are willingly blind and therefore the greater darkness lies within you.

You can wait until there is a program offered to you by an institution and see how long it takes for you to learn of God. Or, believe in the Book of Mormon and remove yourself from condemnation. (D&C 84: 56-57.) But if you seek for approval from an institution, then the Lord cannot overcome the barrier you have erected between you and Him.

One man and One Wife

1835 D&C 101:4
"Inasmuch as this church of Christ has been reproached with the crime of fornication, and polygamy: we declare that we believe, that one man should have one wife; and one woman,  but one husband, except in case of death, when either is at  liberty to marry again."

http://josephsmithpapers.org/paperSummary/doctrine-and-covenants-1835?p=259&highlight=one%20wife

Legalization of Gay Marriage: LDS Church: Abomination of Desolation

The Federal courts have now officially stepped in and legalized Gay Marriage.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/supreme-courts-landmark-ruling-legalizes-gay-marriage-nationwide/ar-AAcaBM5?ocid=U218DHP

I will examine some past, current and future events that will soon come to pass.

"8 Jerusalem will falter and Judea fall because their tongue and their actions are contrary to Jehovah, an affront to his glory before his very eyes.

9 The look on their faces betrays them: they flaunt their sin like Sodom; they cannot hide it. Woe to their souls; they have brought disaster upon themselves!" (Isaiah 3, Gileadi Translation)

"5 ¶And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.

12 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.

13 And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth." (Genesis 6)

But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. (Matthew 24:37)

Some few in the end times will be saved like the days of Noah. Because the world is filled with wickedness.

This post is not about the Gay Marriage Issue but the prophecies in the scriptures.

I will use the writings of Denver Snuffer to highlight these points. I hope this bring some few to fast, pray, and study the words that the Lord has given him in this day and age. I hate to distract from the message for a topic about gay marriage as our personal relationship with Christ is the most important thing but I feel to comment on this issue.

LDS Church Response:

New Era, July 2015. Taken from Lds.org.
A colorful picture mirage of temples.

Today the church reiterated the following.

"The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints acknowledges that following today's ruling by the Supreme Court, same-sex marriages are now legal in the United States. The Court's decision does not alter the Lord's doctrine that marriage is a union between a man and a woman ordained by God. While showing respect for those who think differently, the Church will continue to teach and promote marriage between a man and a woman as a central part of our doctrine and practice." (Lds Living, http://ldsliving.com/story/79291-church-responds-after-supreme-court-rules-in-favor-of-gay-marriage)

Government Response:

WhiteHouse Picture
Following the Gay Marriage Ruling

"After the Supreme Court issued its ruling on gay marriage Friday, President Obama gave a speech in which he said Americans need to change their religious views to be accepting of gay marriage, the Daily Caller reported. To that end, he encouraged gay marriage supporters to "help” people overcome their deeply-held religious views" (source: examiner) 

Slippery (Denver Snuffer, Monday, February 22, 2010):

The Church is quite important to me. It deserves my careful study. Therefore I do not mind giving it the attention which it requires to understand what the Church is doing to cope with the various pressures, trends, and difficulties it encounters daily.
The Church's study of public opinion is so careful, so well done, and so frequently updated, that in his October, 2006 General Conference talk, Elder Jeffrey Holland made the following observation: 

"Not often but over the years some sources have suggested that the Brethren are out of touch in their declarations, that they don’t know the issues, that some of their policies and practices are out-of-date, not relevant to our times. As the least of those who have been sustained by you to witness the guidance of this Church firsthand, I say with all the fervor of my soul that never in my personal or professional life have I ever associated with any group who are so in touch, who know so profoundly the issues facing us, who look so deeply into the old, stay so open to the new, and weigh so carefully, thoughtfully, and prayerfully everything in between. I testify that the grasp this body of men and women have of moral and societal issues exceeds that of any think tank or brain trust of comparable endeavor of which I know anywhere on the earth."

This statement was based upon the Church's on-going public relations survey taking, opinion polling, and focus group studies.
...
When the Church changed its position and supported the same-sex attraction ordinance in Salt Lake City a few weeks ago [proposition 8], the Church's spokesman made the following public announcement of the Church's reasons for the change:

"There are going to be gay advocates who don't think we've gone nearly far enough, and people very conservative who think we've gone too far; the vast majority of people are between those polar extremes and we think that's going to resonate with people on the basis of fair-mindedness."

This is the language of opinion polling. The words "going to resonate with people on the basis of fair-mindedness" are the words of social sciences. The decision was not a "revelation" but a change in position based upon the polling which showed the position change could be safely made. The Salt Lake Tribune made the following report on January 30, 2010: 

“When Salt Lake City embraced anti-discrimination ordinances for gay and transgender residents last fall -- snagging a landmark endorsement by the LDS Church and widespread support from city officials -- more shifted than public policy. Public opinion -- throughout Utah -- jumped, too. Support for some gay rights, short of marriage, climbed 11 percentage points across the state from a year ago, according to a new Salt Lake Tribune poll, and shot up by 10 percent among Mormons. Two-thirds of Utahns (67 percent) favor employment protections and safeguards for same-sex couples such as hospital visitation and inheritance rights, up from 56 percent in January 2009, when pollsters asked the same question. (This year's survey of 625 frequent Utah voters has an error margin of plus or minus 4 percentage points; last year's was 4.5 percent.) Opposition dropped, overall, from 40 percent to 23 percent. Among LDS respondents, it plummeted from 48 percent to 28 percent. ‘This isn't a gradual change of attitudes. This is a fairly dramatic jump,’ says Matthew Burbank, chairman of the University of Utah's political science department. ‘Clearly, the fact that the LDS Church was officially endorsing this position had an impact on people.’ A similar number of respondents, 66 percent, also say they support expanding Salt Lake City's anti-discrimination policy -- the first of its kind in Utah and already mimicked in Salt Lake County—throughout the state.”

Church and Government 

Social and Cultural "Rights" (Sunday, February 21, 2010)

The case of Perry v. Schwartzenegger in California, which challenges the Proposition 8 vote was cited by Elder Lance Wickman, the Church's General Counsel (lawyer). In that case the public's decision to prohibit same-sex marriage is being challenged on the basis that voters cannot negate a fundamental right.

The Church is alarmed about the growing potential for conflict between social and cultural "rights" on the one hand, and the free exercise of religion on the other.

The deeper problem the Church has with their position on this legal conflict in California, is the position taken on the Salt Lake City ordinance the Church endorsed a several weeks ago. In that decision, the Church announced that employment and housing were "fundamental rights" which same-sex attraction could not forfeit.

The Church endorsed the use of coercive governmental power to compel employers and property owners to permit homosexual employees and renters, upon pain of punishment by the Courts.  This was an extraordinary departure from past positions of the Church, and represented the first time the Church approved governmental compulsion against employers and property owners to protect homosexual conduct.

... 

And if any judge, anywhere, or ultimately five of the nine Supreme Court Justices, decide that marriage is a "fundamental right," then the result will follow that religion cannot prevent the practice.

... 

It will take time for the arguments to wend their way through the courts.  But ultimately the Church's position on the "fundamental right" of homosexuals to be employed and housed without discrimination, using the coercive force of the government to protect that "right" against employers and property owners, will be the same reason the government will force the LDS Church to be coerced into acceptance of homosexual marriage.  The LDS Church's own words/press release and public relations spokesman's words will be the reason cited by the Court against the Church, at the time the decision is reached.  The Court will announce that the LDS Church has already recognized the need for governmental power to be used to protect fundamental rights of housing and employment.  The Court will rule the Church must, therefore, accept as a fundamental right marriage, as well. 

Family Proclamation To The World

WE CALL UPON responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.(lds.org)

A Quick Rundown
1) It would take awhile to go through the courts but gay marriage would be legalized (2010). Almost 5 years later that day has come.
2) The church called upon the government through their PR to support equal rights especially in the housing sector.
3)They claim their doctrine will not change.
4) They state that its the duty of the government to promote the rights of the family therefore the government is free to endorse it as they see fit and promote what the world believes should be the rights of the family.

In the original Constitution as inspired by God it was never a right or duty for the government to be involved in civil marriages. It was a separate, religious matter. We can see over the course of 200 years how subtle the workings of Satan is upon the hearts of men, altering the constitution line upon line to get his end eventual goal. Teaching the philosophies of men mingled with scripture.

Before I get to the last point.

Compulsion or Coercion.

Anytime you see someone or something use compulsion, force, coercion, upon the souls of men you can know by that sign it is not of God.

...it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion. (D&C 121:39 )

The priesthood,

may be conferred upon us, it is true; but when we undertake to cover our sins, or to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man. (vs 37)

So we can see that almost all men who claim priestly authority do not actually hold priesthood like they claim because they cannot learn this one lesson.

the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness. (vs 36)

The priesthood is not given to control. Anyone who claims it is used to control, does not understand its true purpose. CANNOT be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness. NOT upon the principles of righteousness. No POWER or INFLUENCE CAN OR OUGHT to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood. That is not its purpose.

41 No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned;
42 By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile—

The Lords dominion is "without compulsory means" (vs 46) or other-wards they choose freely, according to their desires, to be one with Him and to be part of His family. They do not in return use compulsion upon the souls of men or force them to think, believe, act, in a certain way. Thus retaining their free agency. The Lord does not compel them. He allows them to wonder as the prodigal son for as long as they need to learn where true happiness is found and we should accept any and all to do the same without judgment or hypocrisy.

I would rather treat it as something that I need to use persuasion, long-suffering, and patience to deal with. Not as something that needs the coercive power of government to criminalize.

Marlin Jensen's Last Answer (Denver Snuffer, Tuesday, February 7, 2012)

When Pres. Packer's comments about homosexuality as sinful behavior in a general conference talk are edited before they appear in the conference issue of the Ensign, you can know there is a great deal of internal discussion underway. Editing Bro. Poelman's talk is one thing, but editing a talk given by the President of the Quorum of the Twelve is altogether another...

When Marlin Jensen's mind goes from a question about troubling history and tolerance of differing views of our past, immediately to tolerance of homosexuality, that is not so bizarre a jump as you might think. It is a reflection of the current discussion underway at the very top of the church. 

Public opinion is shifting. Particularly among the younger Americans. The trends all suggest that acceptance of homosexual conduct as normal will be shared by the majority of Americans. Those holding contrary views are aging and dying, and those who hold the more open and accepting view are replacing them. Unless opinions change this is the inevitable result.

Any organization that is sensitive to survey's and polling to determine public opinion on the topic of homosexuality will discover growing demographic evidence of inevitable majority acceptance. Therefore, if you are going to make decisions on the basis of public opinions, you are going to respond to this shifting view.

Abomination of Desolation: Final Thoughts

Things as they appear may not be fulfilled as they may seem. Prophecies can be fulfilled on a spiritual level or a physical level. So when the Lord says for example a plague will sweep the earth he may not just be talking about a physical plague but something spiritual, for all things are spiritual first. Therefore the Lord can conceal the events until they happen only to give us the information in hindsight that he knew before hand even though we did not understand it yet.

It will be interesting to watch this issue unfold. For those who believe the practice of homosexuality is wrong because it frustrates the Divine order, and is desolating to humanity because it ends the continuation of family life through the union of the sexes, the idea of church approval for such relations is unthinkable. For more socially progressive Mormons who wish to be aligned with popular opinion, it is a relief to have another divisive issue excised from the principles of Mormon religion. 

When an abomination that renders sexual relations desolate (they don't produce offspring) occurs in the holy place, you can know the promised destruction is soon at hand. Christ said those living in that day would live to see the end of the world. (See JS-M 1: 32-36.) The way to decide when the virtue of tolerance becomes the wickedness of permissiveness can only be done by those who treasure up His (Christ's) words. (JS-M 1: 37.) For those few willing to do so, the Lord will send angels to gather them. (Id., see also D&C 77: 11.)

Some say it is good to be popular. It is better to not care. It is best to have an eye single to the word of the Lord.(ibid)

Zion: (Denver Snuffer, Thursday, February 23, 2012)

In the Mark 13 text, the repeated "and then" language of the KJV is not chronological or sequential. It is referring to the generation living at the time it starts, who will live to see it all occur. Meaning "in that day" or more precisely, "among the generation then living." 

When there is an abomination that renders desolate in the Temple, you will also see afflictions. You will see those who claim they are Christ, or they are Christ's true living prophet-- though they are not. You will see signs and wonders, including great building projects and the astonishing ability to speak in every language across the world in a single time, but that will not deceive those who take the Holy Spirit for their guide. They will be able to distinguish between the truth and error. Heaven will be shaken. Angels will gather those who follow Christ rather than trust the arm of flesh, and ultimately Christ will return and the world will be wasted at His coming. Though there will be some fragment, like the days of Noah, there will be those who have been gathered by the angels. Those few will be preserved.

The prophecies are being fulfilled before our eyes. 

Words Mean Something: One

Words mean something. Look at the word "one" in these verses.

9 And it came to pass that he saw ONE descending out of the midst of heaven, and he beheld that his luster was above that of the sun at noon-day. (1 Nephi 1)

For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. (1 Corinthians 10:17)

There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; (Ephesians 4:4)

I and my Father are one:John 10:30; ( D&C 50:43; )

Jesus prayed that all may be one as he and his Father are one:John 17:11–23; ( 3 Ne. 19:23; )

I beseech you that there be no divisions among you, but that ye be perfectly joined together: 1 Cor. 1:10;

Be determined in one mind and in one heart, united in all things:2 Ne. 1:21;
Saints should have their hearts knit together in unity:Mosiah 18:21;

Jesus prayed for unity among his Nephite disciples:3 Ne. 19:23;

The disciples were united in mighty prayer and fasting:3 Ne. 27:1;

The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are one:D&C 20:27–28; ( D&C 35:2; D&C 50:43; )

And verily I say unto you, that the conditions of this law are these: All covenants, contracts, bonds, obligations, oaths, vows, performances, connections, associations, or expectations, that are not made and entered into and sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, of him who is anointed, both as well for time and for all eternity, and that too most holy, by revelation and commandment through the medium of mine anointed, whom I have appointed on the earth to hold this power (and I have appointed unto my servant Joseph to hold this power in the last days, and there is NEVER BUT ONE on the earth at a time on whom this power and the keys of this priesthood are conferred), are of no efficacy, virtue, or force in and after the resurrection from the dead; for all contracts that are not made unto this end have an end when men are dead. (D&C 132:7)

Gives a new meaning to having no divisions among us. Be united. Be One. Which is a name for God. for "he saw ONE descending out of the midst of heaven" So it goes from "Powers of Heaven" to singular Power of Heaven when Zion is formed because Christ is among them and they are One.

If your unfamiliar with that word phrase 'Power of heaven" and "the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven" than you should re-read this post.

http://tysonchunt.blogspot.com/2014/03/what-is-priesthood-powers-of-heaven.html

Priesthood is always a relationship between man on earth and the "powers" or hosts of heaven. These angelic or heavenly beings were those who escorted men to the first heavenly Zion (Moses 7: 27), and will do so again. 

For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles [angels] be gathered together. (Matthew 24:28)

Fire: Fiery Ones: Pillar of Fire

The scriptures are full of dual meanings. One symbol can point to multiple meanings. Therefore it can point one where they are currently at to a higher path, or spiritual awakening. Therefore the Lord can teach all using the same words, which represent different understandings depending on we perceive it until our mind is quickened entirely by the frequency or light that the writers of the book of mormon had to be able to perceive and understand exactly what they are trying to say.

Scriptures on Fire:

Mosiah 17:15
Book of Mormon
Behold, even as ye have done unto me, so shall it come to pass that thy seed shall cause that many shall suffer the pains that I do suffer, even the  pains of death by fire  ; and this  because they believe in the salvation of the Lord  their God.

I want to point out here off topic, that they suffered death by fire BECAUSE they believed in their Lord. The Lords people suffer pain. It is not a sign of righteousness because one is well off or rich. Infact the scriptures tell us otherwise. The lords people are the ones who endure the most punishment in behalf of the wicked. They are both poor and meek. They suffer the loss of all earthly things. Therefore looking at the world, we might assume that those who bare the most loss, grief, dissarray, diseased and ill stricken may be the most trusted by the Lord to endure it. Perhaps the least deserving homeless, widows, poor in spirit, in our minds are the greatest in the Kingdom of God.

Mosiah 19:20
Book of Mormon
And the king commanded them that they should not return; and they were angry with the king, and caused that  he should suffer, even unto death by fire .

2 Nephi 30:10
Book of Mormon
For the time speedily cometh that the Lord God shall cause  a great division  among the people, and the wicked will he destroy; and  he will spare his people,  yea, even  if it so be that he must destroy the wicked by fire  .

 1 Nephi 22 17
 17 Wherefore, he  will & preserve the righteous by his power & , even if it so be that the fulness of his wrath must come, and the righteous be preserved,  even unto the destruction of their enemies by fire  . Wherefore, the righteous need not fear; for thus saith the prophet,  they shall be saved, even if it so be as by fire  .

Alma 5:52
Book of Mormon
And again I say unto you, the Spirit saith: Behold, the ax is laid at the root of the tree; therefore  every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit shall be hewn down and cast into the fire, yea, a fire which cannot be consumed, even an unquenchable fire

3 nephi
 20 And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit. And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit,  him will I baptize with fire  and with the Holy Ghost, even as the Lamanites, because of their faith in me at the time of their conversion, were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not.

Joseph Smith
 I may believe that Jacob conversed  with holy angels and heard the word of his Maker. that he  wrestled with the angel until he prevailed and obtained a  blessing I may believe that Elijah was taken to Heaven in  a chariot of fire with fiery horses

1 Nephi 1:6
Book of Mormon
And it came to pass as he prayed unto the Lord,  there came a pillar of fire  and   dwelt upon a rock before him  ; and he saw and heard much; and because of the things which he saw and heard he did quake and tremble exceedingly.

Helaman 5:43
Book of Mormon
And it came to pass that when they cast their eyes about, and saw that the cloud of darkness was dispersed from overshadowing them, behold, they saw that they  were encircled about, yea every soul, by a pillar of fire  .

Exodus 13
21 And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:

 22 He took not away the  pillar of the cloud by day, nor the  pillar of fire by night,  from before the people.

JSH 24 However, it was nevertheless a fact that I had beheld a vision. I have thought since, that I felt much like Paul, when he made his defense before King Agrippa, and related the account of the vision he had when  he saw a light  , and heard a voice.

Last I want to point out that the Doctrine of Covenants mentions that the Seraphim are the "fiery ones" in heaven. The rest I leave to ponder.

Fruits of the Lords Commision: Fellowships & Zion

As the Lord prepares the earth for his return in the final stages and winding up scene He has asked us to organize into fellowships to gain practical experience. We can all envision ourselves to be Zion but it is only through experience where we learn to set aside the very things that caused Zion to fail in the early days.

I say unto you, there were jarrings, and contentions, and envyings, and strifes, and lustful and covetous desires among them; therefore by these things they polluted their inheritances. (D&C 101:6)

They were "moved out of their place" as they had no inheritance. Their failures brought cursings, wrath, indignations, and judgments (D&C 124:45-48). This day is the last time that the Lord shall nourish his vineyard (Jacob 5:71) In this day He has invited us to form fellowships to gain practical knowledge to fulfill the admonition to have "no poor among" us (Moses 7:18). The prophecies are being fulfilled before our eyes and who has eyes to see? Who believes the signs that are being manifest?

Fruits of Fellowships

I've heard people saying that the people who are involved in the restoration movement are no better than the LDS they're coming out from.

Their absolutely right. There are many LDS who are more virtuous than many involved in the restoration movement. I personally know a number of LDS people who would give you the shirt of their back, who would serve others until they're exhausted, and who live most every rule with exactness. They are models of virtue.

And yet...and yet, somehow the fellowship that I contribute to has managed to provide long-term help (1 year so far, and only strengthening) to several widows (divorced single moms are the modern equivalent of widows in the bible), which the church is unable to do under the welfare system. So a bunch of admittedly imperfect people have somehow accomplished something that seems impossible.

I personally know many people in the LDS church who would do this better than we do in the fellowship I belong. It's just that they won't, because they don't believe it's possible! It doesn't fit their pattern, or their paradigm, so they don't even try! If they tried, they'd be great at it! 

It turns out that it's not nearly as hard as you'd think. Because when you start giving to people that you actually know, who really need it, you find that your heart changes, and you want to give. It's not hard once that change happens. Realizing God gives both to the just and the unjust so why shouldn't you?

So I don’t think Zion requires models of virtue. It requires righteousness. It just requires people who are willing to put aside beliefs that are blocking them (i.e. unbeliefs) so they can begin to repent.

Moses commanded you to circumcise your sons. But it wasn't really Moses who gave you this command. It was your ancestors..." (John7:22)

So it is true once again today. We take the tradions of our fathers as truths that were not given by God or given to us by Joseph whom God vouched for. We have turned unto fables.(2 Timothy 4:4)

It's not about who's more perfect at living the rules and laws and commandments. The restoration movement people lose that contest. But it's not relevant. The Lord doesn't need us to be 100% home teachers, or to stop completely yelling at our kids, or whatever else, before he can use us to build Zion. God only requires a broken heart and a contrite spirit that we may yield up our spirits, our will, to Him. We're focused on the wrong thing if we're caught up in that race to perfection. 

It’s an endless pursuit that everyone who tries it realizes is impossible. And we use our inability to live up to all the rules as the justification for why we’re not receiving the ministry of angels, or witnessing miracles, or receiving Christ. 

It’s a perfect trap.

If you have seen the Les Miserables movie there is a single mother who is forced by a corrupt government into prostitution to support their family. Are we today any different when we turn them away?

Our group donates thousands, monthly, to support two single mothers with children. Watching the sacrifices of these people donate what little they have, forgoing their own needs for the needs of others begins to restore that faith that there can be no poor among us and create situations where we can learn through practical experience to remove envy, jealousies, and selfishness. Only by managing our own money, by using tithing for the poor, can we learn what is required to build Zion.

Tithing has not been used for the poor for a long time its time to return to the scriptures.

[Melchezidek] whom God had appointed to receive tithes for the poor (JST Gen 14:38)

In the last days we are told the prophecy of Joel would be fulfilled "your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:" The Lord told Joseph it had not yet been fulfilled but soon will be. These gifts are once again being manifested in abundance. The gifts of the Spirit are being are being experienced as the Lord continues to gather an army of witnesses that KNOW Him in the flesh.

Practical experience is absolutely necessary. Theories and pretensions are not going to get us anywhere. The gospel requires hard won virtuous experience and not just theoretical or imaginary virtues. Everyone can theorize the virtues that are necessary to gather people together and live together in harmony.  

Everyone can envision themselves as one of the residents of the City of Peace. But the practical experience required to iron out our selfishness and competitiveness so that we can actually live in peace is another order of magnitude harder.  (Interview with Denver Snuffer by Tim Malone, here) 

"This gathering will require a kind of social order we are unprepared to live. We cannot be “one” in the sense required for Zion in our present social, political, economic and educational systems. It requires a kind of inter-dependence and cooperation we find repulsive." (http://denversnuffer.com/2012/02/zion)