Jesus Christ The Savior and Redeemer of The World

Much of our individual frustrations as Saints come as a result of trying to move too quickly toward perfection. We fail to realize perfection is the process of cooperating with God. We don’t need to accomplish anything. We only need to get our hearts right. Life is the time to overcome vanity, pride, and selfishness. It is the time to lose ourselves. When we do that, it does not matter that we still have a great gulf between us and perfection; we are nonetheless perfect. Submission is perfect.

How to Worship?
In a vision in D&C 93 John saw Christ receive the fulness. He tells us what we must do to receive of it ourselves by going from "grace to grace". It tells us what kind of person Christ was.

I give unto you these sayings that you may understand and know how to worship, and know what you worship, that you may come unto the Father in my name, and in due time receive of his fulness. (D&C 93:19)

This informs us HOW YOU WORSHIP matters! This testimony of John was given so that WE MAY COME UNTO THE FATHER. And if we wish to come unto the Father we must know how to worship Him.

The Lord tells us.

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)

No man can come unto the Father but by Jesus Christ for he is the advocate with the Father. And he IS PLEADING YOUR cause before Him.

Listen to him who is the advocate with the Father, who is pleading your cause before him 

Saying: Father, behold the sufferings and death of him who did no sin, in whom thou wast well pleased; behold the blood of thy Son which was shed, the blood of him whom thou gavest that thyself might be glorified; 

Wherefore, Father, spare these my brethren that believe on my name, that they may come unto me and have everlasting life. (D&C 45:3-5)

He is your intercessory. The very type of what we must be. We should become like Him and act as intercessory to others, especially our enemies.

So I ask How Did HE Worship? How do WE worship? He is the example. "I am the way, the truth" "He is the Word of God"

Therefore, in the beginning the Word was, for he was the Word, even the messenger of salvation—(D&C 93:8)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1)

So how was He THE WORD? How is He the Word of God? What does that mean?

He “subjected the flesh to the will of the Father.” You cannot be the Son of God the Father unless you reflect Him. You are His “Son” when you are like Him. To be like Him you must subject your will to the will of the Father. This is how Christ defined Himself.(See 3 Ne. 11: 11)

When Christ subjected Himself entirely to the will of the Father, He was in every deed, thought and action “the Father” even though He was flesh and blood and living among us. They were “one."(John 10: 30) If you beheld Christ, you would behold the image of His Father.(John 14: 9.) He came down into a tabernacle of clay. The Father has a tabernacle of spirit and glory.

Christ subjected Himself to the Holy Spirit, or “mind of the Father” (See Lecture 5) which made His will swallowed up in the will of the Father. He models what He asked us to likewise do. He prayed that we would allow the Spirit to make us “one” with them, so we become “perfect” as They are perfect. (See John 17: 20-26)

Each week the two sacrament prayers ask God the Father to send His (Christ’s) Spirit to be with those who take the bread and wine in remembrance of Christ’s body and blood.(See D&C 20: 77, 79, Moroni 4: 3; 5:2)

If you have His (Christ’s Spirit) then you have also the Father’s Spirit; or according to the Lectures on Faith, you have the Holy Spirit to be with you. This Holy Spirit is “a personage of Spirit” (D&C 130: 22) which dwells within you. Or, in other words, when you receive the “mind of the Father and the Son” by listening to the Holy Spirit, you become sanctified by Their presence in you. You become “one” with them. You gain access to: 

 “the record of heaven; the Comforter; the peaceable things of immortal glory; the truth of all things; that which quickeneth all things, which maketh alive all things; that which knoweth all things, and hath all power according to wisdom, mercy, truth, justice, and judgment.” (Moses 6: 61.)

He declared who He was when He introduced Himself to the Nephites and He said, He suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning.

From what beginning? For you, why cannot that be a beginning starting now? For you, why can you not from this beginning, at this moment, wherever you are, go forward saying you will follow the will of the Father in all things, from this beginning? Why will you refuse to rise up and receive grace for grace?

This is how you worship who you worship, (D&C 93: 19) embodiment of the Father's will. The Father declares what is right and true and the Son obeys. Thus the Son became the Word of God, because He did what the Father asked Him. Would you also want to be a son or daughter of God? Do what He bids you do. This is how the Son lived. This is who the Son is. This is what you must do to worship Him.

As Mosiah said,

For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father. (Mosiah 3:19)

Prototype of A Saved Man
Lecture 7 explains what a saved man must Be.

In order to have this subject clearly set before the mind, let us ask what situation must a person be in, in order to be saved? or what is the difference between a saved man and one who is not saved? We answer from what we have before seen of the heavenly worlds, they must be persons who can work by faith, and who are able, by faith to be ministering spirits to them who shall be heirs of salvation. And they must have faith to enable them to act in the presence of the Lord, otherwise they cannot be saved. And what constitutes the real difference between a saved person and one not saved, is the difference in the degree of their faith: one's faith has become perfect enough to lay hold upon eternal life, and the other's has not. But to be a little more particular, let us ask, where shall we find a prototype into whose likeness we may be assimulated, in order that we may be made partakers of life and salvation? or in other words, where shall we find a saved being? for if we can find a saved being, we may ascertain, without much difficulty, what all others must be, in order to be saved - they must be like that individual or they cannot be saved: we think, that it will not be a matter of dispute, that two beings, who are unlike each other, cannot both be saved; for whatever constitutes the salvation of one, will constitute the salvation of every creature which will be saved: and if we find one saved being in all existence, we may see what all others must be, or else not be saved. We ask, then, where is the prototype? or where is the saved being? We conclude as to the answer of this question there will be no dispute among those who believe the bible, that it is Christ: all will agree in this that he is the prototype or standard of salvation, or in other words, that he is a saved being. And if we should continue our interogation, and ask how it is that he is saved, the answer would be, because he is a just and holy being; and if he were any thing different from what he is he would not be saved; for his salvation depends on his being precisely what he is and nothing else; for if it were possible for him to change in the least degree, so sure he would fail of salvation and lose all his dominion, power, authority and glory, which constitutes salvation; for salvation consists in the glory, authority, majesty, power and dominion which Jehovah possesses, and in nothing else; and no being can possess it but himself or one like him: Thus says John, in his first epistle, 3:2 and 3: Behold, now we are the sons of God, and it doth not appear what we shall be; but we know, that when he shall appear we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And any man that has this hope in him purifies himself, even as he is pure.--Why purify himself as he is pure? because, if they do not they cannot be like him. (Lecture 7)

Or as Moroni 7:48 hints at.

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen. (Moroni 7:48)

So while we should "seek his face always" (D&C 101:38) so he can bless us, because until we seek we shall not find, we should keep in mind our approach to gaining a relationship with the Son should be like that of our enjoyment of the sun - indirect. That is, entering into His presence is a by-product. It is as a result of the way you live. It is not the "goal."

To approach Him, you must live as He did. You must "keep His commandments." You must love others. You must live the way He lived.When you are walking in the same path He walked, you will find that He is walking there still. He will come alongside you, as you are "in the way" and will open to your understanding all things which He would have you know.

When you become a Son of God. You become a stranger and a soujourner here. Because you take up residence there. You have association with an innumerable company of angels and have come up to mount Zion while walking among strangers here.

Worlds Created by His Word

32 And by the word of my power, have I created them, which is mine Only Begotten Son, who is full of grace and truth.
33 And worlds without number have I created; and I also created them for mine own purpose; and by the Son I created them, which is mine Only Begotten. (Moses 1:32:33)

Whenever a servant speaks by the power of the Holy Ghost they become the Word of God or the word of "my Power" (God the Father). They become instruments in His Great Work. The work of the Son prepares man to receive the Father. The work of the Son is to fix us and prepare us to reach the Father. Its the work of the Holy Ghost to get us to the point where we can receive the Son, and yield our hearts unto God. When our will finally an embodiment of the Fathers will, we can than begin our ascent as Sons of God.

God said let there be light and there was light.

"For he spoke, and it came to be" (Psalm 33:9). By his "word" he created the worlds. Power is in our words. It is a REAL power. The Savior willed it, it was done. All things were created spiritually before they were created physically. If thou wilt "say unto this mountain remove hence to yonder place; " (Matthew 17:20) it will be done.  That is why we must be proved in all things before we are given such great power.

The Power Of God

4 Blessed art thou, Nephi, for those things which thou hast done; for I have beheld how thou hast with unwearyingness declared the word, which I have given unto thee, unto this people. And thou hast not feared them, and hast not sought thine own life, but hast sought my will, and to keep my commandments.
5 And now, because thou hast done this with such unwearyingness, behold, I will bless thee forever; and I will make thee mighty in word and in deed, in faith and in works; yea, even that all things shall be done unto thee according to thy word, for thou shalt not ask that which is contrary to my will. (Helamen 10:4-5)

Until one is pure, one is sanctified, willing to give up their will to the Father they cannot indeed will not receive this power. It is the Power of God. If this power was given to the ill prepared they would present a peril to the Universe. If words have such great power and through ones weakness one could not only create worlds but destroy them. Thus the Lord will not give such power to those who have not learned this one principle. "that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness." (D&C 121:36) but "only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned;" (vs 41).

The First Principle of the Gospel
We are familiar with the first article of Faith. But Joseph explained in further detailed what the first principle was. The King Follet discourse was given in 1844. The portions below are taken from the Ensign April 1974.

These ideas are incomprehensible to some, but they are simple. It is the first principle of the gospel to know for a certainty the character of God, and to know that we may converse with Him as one man converses with another, and that He was once a man like us; yea, that God himself, the Father of us all, dwelt on an earth, the same as Jesus Christ Himself did

What are these Ideas that are part of this? Its in the next paragraph. Instead of quoting the entire paragraph I will separate it into smaller points.

The scriptures inform us that Jesus said, as the Father hath power in himself, even so hath the Son power—to do what? Why, what the Father did. The answer is obvious—in a manner to lay down his body and take it up again. Jesus, what are you going to do?

To lay down my life as my Father did, and take it up again. Do you believe it? If you do not believe it you do not believe the Bible. The scriptures say it, and I defy all the learning and wisdom and all the combined powers of earth and hell together to refute it.

Here, then, is eternal life—to know the only wise and true God; and you have got to learn how to be gods yourselves, and to be kings and priests to God, the same as all gods have done before you, namely, by going from one small degree to another, and from a small capacity to a great one; from grace to grace, from exaltation to exaltation, until you attain to the resurrection of the dead, and are able to dwell in everlasting burnings, and to sit in glory, as do those who sit enthroned in everlasting power. And I want you to know that God, in the last days, while certain individuals are proclaiming His name, is not trifling with you or me. (King Follet Discourse, Ensign, April 1974)

Here are three points I want to look at.
1)Learn how to Be Gods
2)To Be Kings and Priests (These are they that receive the Fulness of the Priesthood)
3)Do the same as all gods have done before you namely,

• going from one small degree to another,
• from a small capacity to a great one,
• from grace to grace (There we have the D&C 93 reference again)
• from exaltation to exaltation,

Until YOU attain to the Resurrection of the dead.
Are Able to dwell in everlasting burnings, to sit in glory.

It is through Christ that we are all resurrected but that power comes through him. Until YOU learn to go from one small degree to another, one small capacity to a great, from grace to grace, from exaltation to exaltation and attain to the Resurrection of the dead. Until You learn how to do that, it will be borrowed from Him. 

Orson Hyde said this referring to the story of the talents,

He that has been faithful over a few things, will be made ruler over many things; he that has been faithful over ten talents, shall have dominion over ten cities, and he that has been faithful over five talents, shall have dominion over five cities, and to every man will be given a kingdom and a dominion, according to his merit, powers, and abilities to govern and control. (Orson Hyde, “A Diagram of the Kingdom of God,” Millennial Star 9 [15 January 1847]: 23-24).

It is plain beyond disputation, and you thus learn the First Principles of the Gospel, about which so much has been said. When you climb up a ladder, you must begin at the bottom, and ascend step by step, until you arrive at the top…It is not all to be comprehended in this world; it will be a great work to learn our salvation and exaltation even beyond the grave.” (King Follet Discourse, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pg. 345-348)

Here is another one by Maxwell.

Just as we can move, step by step, from faith to knowledge, so in particular dimensions of living, such as in justice or honesty, some mortals have merited the accolades of prophets ‘in that thing.’ Significantly, when such spiritually advanced individuals were described as perfect, often their ‘justness’ was the virtue cited. Little wonder justice is so stressed, in view of this verse: ‘He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?’ It is clear too that being just not only consists of fair play with one's associates and neighbors, but also reflects largeness of soul. In this broadened sense, ‘there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.’ Jesus Himself did not receive ‘of the fullness at first,’ but continued ‘from grace to grace, until he received a fullness.’ His progress was incomprehensibly more rapid than ours, but the pathway is the same; so can be the pattern of ‘grace to grace’: ‘For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom.’” (Neal A. Maxwell, Even As I Am [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1982], pg. 15)

As Fast as You Are Able

God is everlasting patient. He will only give you what you are able to receive. When you are ready he will bestow it but the course or the path you choose is up to you. If you choose the lesser course or the greater course, is entirely up to each person. But we will all go on. We will be added upon according to our works. Some one talent others 10 talents.

“God hath not revealed anything to Joseph, but what He will make known unto the Twelve, and even the least Saint may know all things as fast as he is able to bear them, for the day must come when no man need say to his neighbor, Know ye the Lord; for all shall know Him … from the least to the greatest [see Jeremiah 31:34].”(TJS, Chapter 2) 25

This Is His Work 

39 For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass theimmortality and eternal life of man. (Moses 1:39)

He intends to make Sons of God out of the children of Men. It is His work. The Lord has "worlds without end".

3 And this is the manner after which they were ordained—being called and prepared from the foundation of the world according to the foreknowledge of God, on account of their exceeding faith and good works; in the first place being left to choose good or evil; therefore they having chosen good, and exercising exceedingly great faith, are called with a holy calling, yea, with that holy calling which was prepared with, and according to, a preparatory redemption for such.
4 And thus they have been called to this holy calling on account of their faith, while others would reject the Spirit of God on account of the hardness of their hearts and blindness of their minds, while, if it had not been for this they might have had as great privilege as their brethren.
5 Or in fine, in the first place they were on the same standing with their brethren; (Alma 13:3-5)

 Rise up now. Show forth your exceeding great faith now. And you might be able to on account of your own faith, receiving a preparatory redemption, be one who has "chooen good" "from the foundation of the world" thus you may be called with a "holy calling" on  account of YOUR faith. And so it is "Jesus Himself did not receive ‘of the fullness at first,’ but continued ‘from grace to grace, until he received a fullness.’" on account of his great faith before the foundation of the world he was choosen with the holy calling He has now faithfully filled.

Like a fulcrum he lifts this creation. He gives each of us our daily breath, without his light, we would cease to exist and return to the dust of the Earth. Thus he is "bonded" to each of us. He is a part of each of us and is always with us even when we may not realize it. He is pleading your cause. He wants you to receive grace for grace that you may become a Son of God on account of your faith. And if you do so, you may receive a holy calling, you may leave witnesses here who will sustain you in another existence.

A New Name
We and all men and women are experiencing the “Deity within us” (Brigham Young, p. 45) that will motivate us to grow forever in grace and truth. Indeed, “we are conducted along from this probation to other probations” (JD 6:63, Heber C. Kimball). And “if there was a point where man in his progression could not proceed any further, the very idea would throw a gloom over every intelligent and reflecting mind” (JD, vol. 6, p. 120 (1857), Wilford Woodruff). Agency will always prevail. The choice is yours. The path you wish to take will everlastingly be yours.

In Mosiah 1 he is going to give them a new name and a new identity. See, every time you get a new life or a new advancement, a new step or initiation, you get a new identity, a new persona. When a person is born he gets christened. He is not christened until he joins the church. This is the theory in the Christian world. With us it used to be always on the eighth day, circumcision, etc. You have a new name, and when you get married you get another new name. If you get any office, you also get another new name. Then at your funeral you get another identity, etc. They go through the same ritual every time. And, of course, when you reach maturity there's a very important thing- the rites of initiation that come with maturity. In the Christian churches it's when you are confirmed, around the age of fifteen. In all primitive tribes and [other societies] when a person becomes mature-reaches manhood or womanhood-there is that rite. Then they get a new name; they are identified with another group entirely. Boys are no longer with the women, etc. They now belong to a man's phratry. These are the rites of puberty. So each time you get a new name, a new identity, a new appearance, new marks, and a new title or degree. (Hugh Nibley, Teachings of the Book of Mormon--Semester 1: Transcripts of Lectures Presented to an Honors Book of Mormon Class at Brigham Young University, 1988--1990 [Provo: FARMS pg. 448-449) 

He Lives

9 For it is expedient that an atonement should be made; for according to the great plan of the Eternal God there must be an atonement made, or else all mankind must unavoidably
perish; yea, all are hardened; yea, all are fallen and are lost, and must perish except it be through the atonement which it is expedient should be made.
10 For it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice; yea, not a sacrifice of man, neither of beast, neither of any manner of fowl; for it shall not be a human sacrifice; but it must be an infinite and eternal sacrifice. (Alma 34:9-10)

The demands of Justice requires all of us to die. Because we are sinful. However Christ did not deserve to die. Because he did not earn the "wages of death", by never submitting to sin. So when Christ was killed he was given power to take up His body again, and Justice could not prevent it because He did not deserve to die. He deserved to live on forever never giving heed to sin.

23 For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.(2 Nephi 2:23)

Christ is real. It is the first principle of the Gospel that EACH of us can know for a certainty the nature of God.  With outstretched arms he is waiting still. 

Tithing: Bound Down Under Priestcraft

UPDATE (Oct 10 2014): The purpose of this post is not to denounce tithing. It IS a commandment and I intend to obey all of Gods commandments (1 Nephi 3:7). Therefore I encourage ALL to pay this offering as directed by the Lord.

We cannot travel the streets without meeting beggars half naked. This gives me feelings that I do not like.

We have to live quite short but the brethren are very kind to us. They are willing to divide with us the last they have. They are quite ignorant; many of them cannot read a word and it needs great care to teach them the gospel so that they can understand. The people here are bound down under priestcraft in a manner I never saw before. They have to pay tithes to the priests of every tenth they raise, so that they cannot lay up one cent. They are in the same situation the children of Israel were in Egypt. 

They have their taskmasters over them to bind them down. It will be as great a miracle to deliver this people as it was the children of Israel.
(Heber C. Kimball, Preston, Lancashire, England, September 2, 1837)

This is a story of Heber on his mission. He describes the circumstances as follows they have to "pay tithes to the priests of every tenth they raise". How much is that? Every tenth? Ten percent? Of all they raise? Isn't that Gross/Net? Isn't that what we pay today? Why did he call that being in Bondage? But were not in bondage? Because this is the law of tithing right? Or are we missing something?

Tithing was meant to help the saints have all things in common.

Read the following scriptures and stories on tithing. Notice the translations that Joseph gave us in the JST. Look how much the people of God were asked to pay.

Wherefore, Abram paid unto him tithes of all that he had, of all the riches which he possessed, which God had given him more than that which he had need. (JST Genesis 14:39).

And it was this same Melchizedek to whom Abraham paid tithes; yea, even our father Abraham paid tithes of one–tenth part of all he possessed.(Alma 13:15)

When thou hast made an end of tithing all the tithes of thine increase the third year, which is the year of tithing, and hast given it unto the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be filled; (Deuteronomy 26:12).

At the end of three years thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase the same year, and shalt lay it up within thy gates: (Deuteronomy 14:28).

And after that, those who have thus been tithed shall pay one–tenth of all their interest annually; and this shall be a standing law unto them forever, for my holy priesthood, saith the Lord. (D&C 119:4).

IN'TEREST, n. Concern; advantage [Surplus]; good; as private interest; public interest. (Webster's 1828 dictionary (http://1828.mshaffer.com/))

1 VERILY, thus saith the Lord, I require all their surplus property to be put into the hands of the bishop of my church in Zion,
2 For the building of mine house, and for the laying of the foundation of Zion and for the priesthood, and for the debts of the Presidency of my Church.
3 And this shall be the beginning of the tithing of my people.
4 And after that, those who have thus been tithed shall pay one–tenth of all their interest annually; and this shall be a standing law unto them forever, for my holy priesthood, saith the Lord.
5 Verily I say unto you, it shall come to pass that all those who gather unto the land of Zion shall be tithed of their surplus properties, and shall observe this law, or they shall not be found worthy to abide among you.
6 And I say unto you, if my people observe not this law, to keep it holy, and by this law sanctify the land of Zion unto me, that my statutes and my judgments may be kept thereon, that it may be most holy, behold, verily I say unto you, it shall not be a land of Zion unto you.
7 And this shall be an ensample unto all the stakes of Zion. Even so. Amen.
(D&C 119:1 - 7)

Brigham Young:

“When the revelation which I have read was given in 1838, I was present, and recollect the feelings of the brethren. A number of revelations were given on the same day. The brethren wished me to go among the Churches, and find out what surplus property the people had, with which to forward the building of the Temple we were commencing at Far West. I accordingly went from place to place through the country. Before I started, I asked brother Joseph, “Who shall be the judge of what is surplus property?” Said he, “Let them be the judges themselves, for I care not if they do not give a single dime. So far as I am concerned, I do not want anything they have.” (JD, 2:306)

Orson Hyde:

"The celestial law requires one-tenth part of all a man's substance which he possesses at the time he comes into the church (See D&C 119:1), and one-tenth part of his annual increase ever after(See D&C 119:4). If it requires all man can earn to support himself and his family, he is not tithed at all. The celestial law does not take the mother's and children's bread, neither ought else which they really need for their comfort. The poor that have not of this world's good to spare, but serve and honor God according to the best of their abilities in every other way, shall have a celestial crown in the Eternal Kingdom of our Father." (The Millenial Star, 1847. Orson Hyde, editor)

Despite the current teachings of the church.

"Bishop Orellana looked at the new convert and said, “If paying tithing means that you can’t pay for water or electricity, pay tithing. If paying tithing means that you can’t pay your rent, pay tithing. Even if paying tithing means that you don’t have enough money to feed your family, pay tithing. The Lord will not abandon you.” (Sacred Transformations, December 2012, Ensign by Aaron L. West)

And countless other stores such as "if a destitute family is faced with the decision of paying their tithing or eating, they should pay their tithing. " (General Conference, 2005, Tithing for the Destitute, Lynn G. Robbins, 1st Quorum of the Seventy)

Against Orson Hydes comments. Who's wrong? They both can't be right. Orsons beliefs coincide with the JST Gen 14 and the other scriptures I have posted along with what woodruff observed. Here are a few other stories. I will quote what Lorenzo Snow said later the one known for "tithing".

"I require all their surplus property to be put into the hands of the bishop" Let us consider for a moment this word 'SURPLUS.' What does it mean when applied to a man and his property? SURPLUS CANNOT MEAN THAT WHICH IS INDISPENSABLY NECESSARY FOR ANY GIVEN PURPOSE, BUT WHAT REMAINS AFTER SUPPLYING WHAT IS NEEDED FOR THAT PURPOSE. Is not the first and most necessary use of a man's property that he feed, clothe and provide a home for himself and family! . . . WAS NOT 'SURPLUS PROPERTY,' THAT WHICH WAS OVER AND ABOVE A COMFORTABLE AND NECESSARY SUBSTANCE? In the light of what had transpired and of subsequent events, what else could it mean? CAN WE TAKE ANY OTHER VIEW OF IT WHEN WE CONSIDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH IT WAS GIVEN IN FAR WEST, IN JULY, 1838? "I have been unable in studying this subject to find any other definition of the term 'SURPLUS,' as used in this revelation, than the one I have just given. I find that it was so understood and recorded by the Bishops and people in those days, AS WELL AS BY THE PROPHET JOSEPH HIMSELF, WHO WAS UNQUESTIONABLY THE ABLEST AND BEST EXPONENT OF THIS REVELATION." (Emphasis added, Franklin D. Richards, Nov. 6, 1882. JD 23:313.)

John Corrill which can be read in the Joseph Smith Papers.

"If a man gives for the benefit of the Church, it is considered a voluntary offering. Yet the law requires or enjoins a consecration of the overplus, after reserving for himself and family to carry on his business." (A Brief History of the Church of Latter Day Saints, pg. 45) 

Notice what Lorenzo Snow said here.

“I plead with you in the name of the Lord, and I pray that every man, woman and child who has means shall pay one tenth of their income as a tithing.”(BOAP, Lorenzo Snow, Conference Report, October 1899, p.29)

Who has MEANS! Not pay even if you don't have means. That was the law. But through correlation and other means we have changed it to be more about money than the poor.

Here is what it says in the Teachings of the president of Lorenzo Snow manual. The reference cited is "18. In Conference Report, Oct. 1899, 28."

I plead with you in the name of the Lord, and I pray that every man, woman and child … shall pay one-tenth of their income as a tithing.18

The part that states "who has means" has been left out. We "grind the faces of the poor". There is no revelation saying to remove or change the manner of tithing. The scriptures inform us that increase, is advantage or surplus (overplus) over that which ye have need of (according to the definition in Josephs day). As Orson Hyde said, "the celestial law does not take the mother's and children's bread, neither ought else which they really need for their comfort." It includes comfort. As that is one of the defintions of poor "again, I say unto the poor, ye who have not and yet have sufficient, that ye remain from day to day" (Mosiah 4:24). Joseph saw fit to put it that way in the JST Gen 14:29 "more than that which he had need".

Conveniently the church left out the phrase, "who has means ". And now the law  is no longer "who has means" but pay even if you are left destitute.

Tithing is for the poor
The tithes are supposed to go to the Lords Storehouse. Tithing is meant for the poor. (Deut 14:28-29, D&C 83:5-6) The Store house is for the Poor. Even though some was allowed to be used for building the temple too.

1 VERILY, thus saith the Lord, in addition to the laws of the church concerning women and children, those who belong to the church, who have lost their husbands or fathers:
2 Women have claim on their husbands for their maintenance, until their husbands are taken; and if they are not found transgressors they shall have fellowship in the church.
3 And if they are not faithful they shall not have fellowship in the church; yet they may remain upon their inheritances according to the laws of the land.
4 All children have claim upon their parents for their maintenance until they are of age.
5 And after that, they have claim upon the church, or in other words upon the Lord's storehouse, if their parents have not wherewith to give them inheritances.
6 And the storehouse shall be kept by the consecrations of the church; and widows and orphans shall be provided for, as also the poor. Amen.
(D&C 83:1 - 6)

Church No longer uses it for the poor.

The contributions we should make to charities come from our own funds, not from the tithes we are commanded to pay to the storehouse of the Lord. The Lord has directed by revelation that the expenditure of his tithes will be directed by his servants, the First Presidency, the Quorum of the Twelve, and the Presiding Bishopric (see D&C 120). Those funds are spent to build and maintain temples and houses of worship, to conduct our worldwide missionary work, to translate and publish scriptures, to provide resources to redeem the dead, to fund religious education, and to support other Church purposes selected by the designated servants of the Lord. (Elder Oaks, General Conference, 1994, Tithing)

Other scriptures

28 ¶ At the end of three years thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase the same year, and shalt lay it up within thy gates:
29 And the Levite, (because he hath no part nor inheritance with thee,) and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, which are within thy gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest. (Deuteronomy 14:28 - 29)

24 But the tithes of the children of Israel, which they offer as an heave offering unto the LORD, I have given to the Levites to inherit: therefore I have said unto them, Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.
25 ¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
26 Thus speak unto the Levites, and say unto them, When ye take of the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then ye shall offer up an heave offering of it for the LORD, even a tenth part of the tithe.
27 And this your heave offering shall be reckoned unto you, as though it were the corn of the threshingfloor, and as the fulness of the winepress.
28 Thus ye also shall offer an heave offering unto the LORD of all your tithes, which ye receive of the children of Israel; and ye shall give thereof the LORD's heave offering to Aaron the priest.
29 Out of all your gifts ye shall offer every heave offering of the LORD, of all the best thereof, even the hallowed part thereof out of it.
30 Therefore thou shalt say unto them, When ye have heaved the best thereof from it, then it shall be counted unto the Levites as the increase of the threshingfloor, and as the increase of the winepress.
31 And ye shall eat it in every place, ye and your households: for it is your reward for your service in the tabernacle of the congregation.
32 And ye shall bear no sin by reason of it, when ye have heaved from it the best of it: neither shall ye pollute the holy things of the children of Israel, lest ye die.
(Numbers 18:24 - 32)

18 But before ye seek for riches, seek ye for the kingdom of God.
19 And after ye have obtained a hope in Christ ye shall obtain riches, if ye seek them; and ye will seek them for the intent to do good—to clothe the naked, and to feed the hungry, and to liberate the captive, and administer relief to the sick and the afflicted.(Jacob 2:18 - 19)

26 And now, for the sake of these things which I have spoken unto you—that is, for the sake of retaining a remission of your sins from day to day, that ye may walk guiltless before God—I would that ye should impart of your substance to the poor, every man according to that which he hath, such as feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and administering to their relief, both spiritually and temporally, according to their wants.
27 And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength. And again, it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize; therefore, all things must be done in order.(Mosiah 4:26 - 27)

11 And it came to pass in the commencement of the ninth year, Alma saw the wickedness of the church, and he saw also that the example of the church began to lead those who were unbelievers on from one piece of iniquity to another, thus bringing on the destruction of the people.
12 Yea, he saw great inequality among the people, some lifting themselves up with their pride, despising others, turning their backs upon the needy and the naked and those who were hungry, and those who were athirst, and those who were sick and afflicted.
13 Now this was a great cause for lamentations among the people, while others were abasing themselves, succoring those who stood in need of their succor, such as imparting their substance to the poor and the needy, feeding the hungry, and suffering all manner of afflictions, for Christ's sake, who should come according to the spirit of prophecy;
14 Looking forward to that day, thus retaining a remission of their sins; being filled with great joy because of the resurrection of the dead, according to the will and power and deliverance of Jesus Christ from the bands of death. (Alma 4:11 - 14)

Random Quotes

No commentary just quotes.

"It is a very apparent fact that we have traveled far and wide in the past 20 years. What the future will bring I do not know. But if we drift as far afield from fundamental things in the next 20 years, what will be left of the foundation laid by the Prophet Joseph Smith? It is easy for one who observes to see how the apostasy came about in the primitive church of Christ. Are we not traveling the same road?” (Joseph Fielding Smith Journal, 28 December 1938)

"What kind of a revolution would it work among the Latter day Saints if the revelation given in March, 1831, were carried out by them, “It is not given that one man should possess that which is above another, wherefore the world lieth in sin?” How much of a revolution would it accomplish in Salt Lake City if this order of things should be brought about? I think it would work a greater revolution among this people than has ever been witnessed amongst them since they had an existence as a Church.
...
There must be a reformation. There will be a reformation among this people, but He will plead with the stronger ones of Zion, He will plead with this people, He will plead with those in high places, He will plead with the priesthood of this church, until Zion shall become clean before him. I do not know but what it would be an utter impossibility to commence and carry out some principles pertaining to Zion right in the midst of this people. They have strayed so far that to get a people who would conform to heavenly laws it may be needful to lead some from the midst of this people and commence anew in the regions round about in these mountains. "
(JD 15:355-360, http://jod.mrm.org/15/354)

"This is plain preaching, and perhaps some of you will not like it. I cannot help it, these are the things that present themselves before my mind. There must be a reformation,there will be a reformation among this people" (JD 15:361)

“Not only are there apostates within our midst, but there are also apostate doctrines that are sometimes taught in our classes and from our pulpits and that appear in our publications. And these apostate precepts of men cause our people to stumble. As the Book of Mormon, speaking of our day, states: ‘They have all gone astray save it be a few, who are the humble followers of Christ; nevertheless, they are led, that in many instances they do err because they are taught by the precepts of men.’ (2 Nephi 28:14)” (Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, Pg.89 90)

"The next day the Prophet came to our home and stopped in our carpenter shop and stood by the turning lathe. I went and got my map for him. `Now,' he said, `I will show you the travels of this people.' He then showed our travels thru Iowa, and said, `Here you will make a place for the winter; and here you will travel west until you come to the valley of the Great Salt Lake! You will build cities to the North and to the South, and to the East and to the West; and you will become a great and wealthy people in that land. *** You will live to see men arise in power in the Church who will seek to put down your friends and the friends of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Many will be hoisted because of their money and the worldly learning which they seem to be in possession of; and many who are the true followers of our Lord and Savior will be cast down because of their poverty.'"(Mosiah Hancock Journal, p. 19)

Some of you will be handled and ostracized and cast out from the church by your brethren because of your faithfulness and integrity to this principle, and some of you will have to surrender your lives because of the same, but woe, woe, unto those who shall bring these troubles upon you (John Taylor, 27 September 1886)

President Taylor said, "I would be surprised if ten percent of those who claim to hold the Melchizedek priesthood will remain true and faithful to the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, at the time of the seventh president, and that there would be thousands that think they hold the priesthood at that time, but would not have it properly conferred upon them." (Pamphlet, 1886 Revelation, p. 8.)

I hate quoting from the Truth it was an anti-mormonism newspaper in the early days. I decided to keep the quote some believe its valid some don't.

"The day will come when man’s priesthood and authority will be called to question, and you will find that there will be hundreds who have no priesthood, but who believe they hold it, they are holding only an office in the church" (George Q Cannon, Truth, 3:153)

President Benson
"Watchmen – what of the night? We must respond by saying that all is not well in Zion. (Conference Report, May 1986, Pg. 4. See Isaiah 21:11.)

Elder H. Verlan Anderson, A General Authority said,

"To fail to consider the possibility that the members of the church are again “falling away” would be to ignore one of the most thoroughly documented lessons of history. Especially is this true in light of the fact that the cultural, political, and educational life of Church members has become so deeply and thoroughly involved with that of non-members that they are overwhelmingly influenced by the “ways of the world.” Through newspapers and magazines, motion pictures and television, schools and lecture halls, and a thoroughly integrated economic system, Church members come into close and continuous contact with those not of their faith.

Some may assume that a “Gentile apostasy” in these latter days cannot occur because Christ’s Church is here to stay this time. They may assume that widespread departure from gospel principles by Church members is contrary to prophecy. While the scriptures do assure us that the Church will continue to exist and be divinely led by prophets of the Lord right up until his Second Coming, they do not state that all, or even a majority of its members will follow those prophets. On the contrary, they foretell extensive, and in some cases, almost total defection from true principles." (The Great and Abominable Church of the Devil, pp. 169-170)

McKay warned of the consequences of Correlation., "This correlation work is applicable to courses of study of priesthood and auxiliares to avoid duplication. THAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE CORRELATION WORK....It is easy to understand how the Apostasy took place in the early days. President Brown added, 'Take the heads away, and you are done.'" (David O McKay Diary, quoted in Prince p151, emphasis in original)

Joseph Fielding Smith warned against something even as small as formalism in the sacrament: 

 “If we are not careful, we will find ourselves travel- ing the road that brought the Church of Jesus Christ in the first centuries into disrepute and paved the way for the apostasy.”(Joseph Fielding Smith, Church History and Modern Revelation Volume 1 (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 1946), 103.)

"...I told the people that if they would not believe the revelations that God had given,
He would suffer the devil to give revelations that they -- priest and people -- would follow after. Have I seen this fulfilled? I have. I told the people that as true as God lived, if they would not have truth, they would have error sent unto them and they would believe it."
-- Brigham Young

"When we see the time that we can willingly strike hands and have full fellowship with those who despise the Kingdom of God, know ye then that the Priesthood of the Son of God is out of your possession." (Brigham young, http://jod.mrm.org/10/265, JD 10:265)

"There is nothing that would so soon weaken my hope and discourage me as to see this people in full fellowship with the world, and receive no more persecution from them because they are one with them. In such an event, we might bid farewell to the Holy Priesthood with all its blessings, privileges and aids to exaltations, principalities, and powers in the eternities of the Gods". (Brigham young, http://jod.mrm.org/10/32)

"My greatest happiness I find in the goodwill and friendship that has developed among all classes of people at home and abroad toward the LDS church during my lifetime. In place of early-day persecution and bitterness we now enjoy high regard and happy associations with all denominations. "(Heber J. Grant, Salt lake tribune, 22 November 1938)

"And when the spirit of persecution, the spirit of hatred, of wrath, and malice ceases in the world against this people, it will be the time that this people have apostatized and joined hands with the wicked, and never until then; which I pray may never come. "(JD 4:326 327)

"When we see the time that we can willingly strike hands and have full fellowship with those who despise the Kingdom of God, know ye then that the Priesthood of the Son of God is out of your possession. Let us be careful how we make friends with and fellowship unrighteousness, lest the curse of God descends heavily upon us." (JD 10:273)

"When “Mormonism” finds favor with the wicked in this land, it will have gone into the shade; but until the power of the Priesthood is gone, “Mormonism” will never become popular with the wicked." (JD 4:38)

"They would come now by thousands and thousands, if the Latter day Saints were only popular. “What, these honorable men?” Yes, they would say, “I want to be baptized. I admire your industry, and your skill in governing. You have a system of governing that is not to be found anywhere else. You know how to govern cities, territories, or the world, and I would like to join you.” But take care if you join this people without the love of God in your soul it will do you no good. If they were to do this, they would bring in their sophistry, and introduce that which would poison the innocent and honest and lead them astray. I look at this, and I am satisfied that it will not do for the Lord to make this people popular. Why? Because all hell would want to be in the Church. The people must be kept where the finger of scorn can be pointed at them. Although it is admitted that we are honest, industrious, truthful, virtuous, self denying, and, as a community, possess every moral excellence, yet we must be looked upon as ignorant and unworthy, and as the offscouring of society, and be hated by the world. What is the reason of this? Christ and Baal can not become friends. When I see this people grow and spread and prosper, I feel that there is more danger than when they are in poverty. Being driven from city to city or into the mountains is nothing compared to the danger of our becoming rich and being hailed by outsiders as a first class community. I am afraid of only one thing. What is that? That we will not live our religion, and that we will partially slide a little from the path of rectitude, and go part of the way to meet our friends." (JD 12:272.)

Elder Packer,

"In recent years I have felt, and I think I am not alone, that we are losing the ability to correct the course of the church. You cannot appreciate how deeply I feel about the importance of this present opportunity unless you know the regard, the reverence, I have for the Book of Mormon and how seriously I have taken the warnings of the prophets, particularly Alma and Helaman.

Both Alma and Helaman told the church in their day. They warned about fast growth, the desire to be accepted by the world, to be popular, and particularly they warned about prosperity. Each time those conditions existed in combination, the church has drifted off course. All of those conditions are present in the church today.

Helaman repeatedly warned, I think four times he used these words, that the fatal drift of the church could occur in the space of not many years. In one instance it took only six years. (Helaman 6:32; 7:6; 11:26)" (“Let Them Govern Themselves,” Reg. Rep. Seminar, March 30, 1990)

Awful Situation Part 3: Second Coming: Words of Isaiah

I expect you have read my other posts leading up to this one.
Part 1 (The Awful Situation)
Part 2 (Kingdom of the Devil inside the Kingdom of God)

It wouldn't hurt to read the Cleansing of the Church too for many scriptural references. Yes I know my posts are too long :)

Do you want to survive the coming days?

Santification

D&C 39:18
And inasmuch as they do repent and receive the fulness of my gospel, and become sanctified, I will stay mine hand in judgment.

This is the only way to remove the judgments of God from us. This is how we remove the Condemnation that rests upon ALL, even the whole church (D&C 84). 

1) Receive the fulness of the my gospel (fulness of the priesthood <-> Jesus Christ <-> His Power)

2) Become Sanctified

See this is what Moses tried to do (D&C 84:23-25) and every other prophet, sanctify his people that they might behold the face of God. There is no other way, or people that can survive his coming (D&C 101:12). Only those seeking His face will ever receive these blessings. God will not give us something we are not seeking after and we should be doing it NOW.

Only those who are seeking his face shall abide the day of his coming and posses their souls (D&C 101:38). Only those who are able to endure his presence when he comes will make it else "they that come shall burn them" (JSH vs 37 angel quoting malachi). For he will come in judgement and if you are not prepared to meet your God you will not be able to enter into His glory.

"Seek the face of the Lord always, that in patience ye shall posses your souls" and receive eternal life (D&C 101:38). This section is about the redemption of Zion. You cannot posses your soul on any other law. Some believe all you must do is see Christ around you and that is enough. Some feel you do not need to behold him here and now. While its true we don't need to see him to believe in Him and to some it is given by the gift of the Holy Ghost to "know God" and others to "believe on their words" we must seek after Him as our second Comforter and than in Gods timing the blessings will occur if we are humbly seeking, for to Know God is to receive a covenant by Him. There is no other way for this covenant, no temple, no ordinance, except the Ordinance which He and Him alone, bestows upon you through the veil.
Entering into His presence is a by-product. It is as a result of the way you live. It is not the "goal."

Watching Always:

32 ¶But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
34 For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.
35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:
36 Lest coming suddenly he find you asleeping.
37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

D&C 45:44....
44 And then they shall look for me, and, behold, I will come; and they shall see me in the clouds of heaven, clothed with power and great glory; with all the holy angels; and he that watches not for me shall be cut off.

If you are not watching the parable goes, you will be found asleep.

Isaiah To Be Fulfilled Shortly

3 Nephi 23:1-3
1 And now, behold, I say unto you, that ye ought to search these things. Yea, a commandment I give unto you that ye search these things diligently; for great are the words of Isaiah.
2 For surely he spake as touching all things concerning my people which are of the house of Israel; therefore it must needs be that he must speak also to the Gentiles.3 And all things that he spake have been and shall be, even according to the words which he spake. 

3 Nephi 20:11-12
11 Ye remember that I spake unto you, and said that when the words of Isaiah should be fulfilled—behold they are written, ye have them before you, therefore search them—
12 And verily, verily, I say unto you, that when they shall be fulfilled then is the fulfilling of the covenant which the Father hath made unto his people, O house of Israel.

Awake Awake!
Isaiah tells us only those that AWAKE! can bring forth Zion.

24 Awake, awake, put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city; for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean.
25 Shake thyself from the dust; arise, sit down, O Jerusalem; loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion. (2 Nephi 8:24-25)

Awake, Arise. Those who do not will not be ready for the day of his coming.

Awake to what?
Arise to what?

The problem with Israel is the slumber that keeps them from awakening to their awful situation and repenting of their sins. Jacob sees the end of time, and Israel still slumbers and cannot establish Zion because of their deep sleep. They must awake, put on the strength of salvation or priesthood, shed their filth for beautiful garments, and cease association with the unclean and uncircumcised. (2 Ne. 8: 24.) Zion will not otherwise come to pass.

And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the Lord is in this place; and I knew it not (Genesis 28:16).

Zion evades those who desire it because they are too ill-educated, thinking their scholarship has merit and the Holy Spirit does not. (2 Ne. 9: 29.) They are rich, and think it a good thing rather than a hindrance. (2 Ne. 9: 30.) They will not hear, and therefore are as good as deaf. This form of deafness prevents them from hearing the warning and so they will perish in their ignorance of the truth. (2 Ne. 9: 31.) They are also deliberately blind, refusing to see the truth when it is presented to them. (2 Ne. 9: 32.) They are uncircumcised, liars, whoring after other gods, and worshiping idols. (2 Ne. 9: 33-37.)

Awake Arise!

A religion that allows you to foolishly waste the days of your probation will not save you. That religion is NOT the faith that Abraham followed or that Jesus Christ taught. A religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things will never allow one to have faith unto life and salvation.

Awake to our awful situations and the sins that beset you now (even though you may think you are a righteous generation)

Arise to the situation and do the works of Abraham and follow the holy spirit as your guide. Turn to Christ and He alone.

Power of God will Save you Only
This is the same subject as the fulness of the priesthood.

For without this no man can see the face of God, even the Father, and live.  (D&C 84:22) 

Section 132 talks about this power. (This is NOT authority) As President Joseph Fielding Smith said "Authority and Priesthood are two different things." (Relief Society Magazine, Jan. 1959, p. 4.). Only God through the Holy ghost can bestow that.

45 For I have conferred upon you the keys and power of the priesthood, wherein I restore all things, and make known unto you all things in due time.    46 And verily, verily, I say unto you, that whatsoever you seal on earth shall be sealed in heaven; and whatsoever you bind on earth, in my name and by my word, saith the Lord, it shall be eternally bound in the heavens; and whosesoever sins you remit on earth shall be remitted eternally in the heavens; and whosesoever sins you retain on earth shall be retained in heaven.    47 And again, verily I say, whomsoever you bless I will bless, and whomsoever you curse I will curse, saith the Lord; for I, the Lord, am thy God.    48 And again, verily I say unto you, my servant Joseph, that whatsoever you give on earth, and to whomsoever you give any one on earth, by my word and according to my law, it shall be visited with blessings and not cursings, and with my power, saith the Lord, and shall be without condemnation on earth and in heaven.  [you see this is how one removes the condemnation they are under]   49 For I am the Lord thy God, and will be with thee even unto the end of the world, and through all eternity; for verily I seal upon you your exaltation, and prepare a throne for you in the kingdom of my Father, with Abraham your father.    50 Behold, I have seen your sacrifices, and will forgive all your sins; I have seen your sacrifices in obedience to that which I have told you. Go, therefore, and I make a way for your escape, as I accepted the offering of Abraham of his son Isaac.

This is directly related to receiving ones calling and election made sure. They have seen their sacrifices and remember Lecture 2 in Lectures on faith? I quoted in another post " in the last days, before the Lord comes, he is to gather together his saints who have made a covenant with him by sacrifice" and why is that? Because it is what is required to receive the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the new and everlasting covenant and obtain a promise. The covenant that "cannot be broken" that the whole world will not be utterly wasted when he comes. The only way to have "perfect faith".

Trial for the Saints
Avraham Gives us a key into the words of Isaiah for the trials ahead in his Book Isaiah Decoded.

“Another trial God’s people face is the tendency by some to control others’ spiritual lives. Driven by an ungodly loathing of those more zealous for God than themselves, certain “brethren” – religious leader- misuse their authority by acting “holier than thou.” Contrary to counsel Jesus gave, they pull out the wheat with the tares, excommunicating and blacklisting those whom they cannot bear. These suffer the misfortune of being social outcasts, of being treated as heretics and apostates. They must deal with the paradox of so-called men of God—“shepherds” of the people—making a pretense of mediating God’s covenant while, in fact, persecuting them in his name. (Isaiah 56:3, 10-12; 61:7; 66:5.)

Ezekiel, too, describes false brethren as “shepherds” who, instead of feeding the flock, scatter and drive it away. They feed themselves from the fattest. They don’t care for the sick to bind them up nor rescue those astray. The sheep wander wherever they can, becoming a prey to “wild beasts”- forces foreign and hostile to God. God responds by raising up his servant, who gathers the outcasts from whence they are scattered. God appoints his servant as his people’s “prince” and “shepherd,” establishing his covenant with those he gathers. (Ezekiel 34). Ezekiel’s scenario thus parallels Isaiah’s, except that Ezekiel emphasizes the shepherds’ abuses whereas Isaiah highlights how people handle them.

In the end, those who claim God’s authority in support of their unrighteous leadership see their worst fears realized- they lose their place in the kingdom of God. God brings them to judgment and releases them as shepherds. They themselves become prey to “wild beasts.” The shame they brought on others comes on themselves in full. Isaiah likens persecution by false brethren to the Woman Zion, God’s spouse, going into labor, also called the ”birthpangs of the Messiah.” She gives birth to God’s “son” or servant, and to “nation” of God’s children. This nation consists of those whom the servant gathers, who ascend to zion/Jerusalem. (Isaiah 55:4-5; 56:8-11; 61:1-3; 66:5-9.)

"The tares choke the wheat and drive the church into the wilderness" (D&C 86:3).

Mormon 8
Mormon Chapter 8.

23 Search the prophecies of Isaiah. Behold, I cannot write them. Yea, behold I say unto you, that those saints who have gone before me, who have possessed this land, shall cry, yea, even from the dust will they cry unto the Lord; and as the Lord liveth he will remember the covenant which he hath made with them.
24 And he knoweth their prayers, that they were in behalf of their brethren. And he knoweth their faith, for in his name could they remove mountains; and in his name could they cause the earth to shake; and by the power of his word did they cause prisons to tumble to the earth; yea, even the fiery furnace could not harm them, neither wild beasts nor poisonous serpents, because of the power of his word.
25 And behold, their prayers were also in behalf of him that the Lord should suffer to bring these things forth.
26 And no one need say they shall not come, for they surely shall, for the Lord hath spoken it; for out of the earth shall they come, by the hand of the Lord, and none can stay it; and it shall come in a day when it shall be said that miracles are done away; and it shall come even as if one should speak from the dead.
27 And it shall come in a day when the blood of saints shall cry unto the Lord, because of secret combinations and the works of darkness.
28 Yea, it shall come in a day when the power of God shall be denied, and churches become defiled and be lifted up in the pride of their hearts; yea, even in a day when leaders of churches and teachers shall rise in the pride of their hearts, even to the envying of them who belong to their churches.
29 Yea, it shall come in a day when there shall be heard of fires, and tempests, and vapors of smoke in foreign lands;
[Still future!]
30 And there shall also be heard of wars, rumors of wars, and earthquakes in divers places.
31 Yea, it shall come in a day when there shall be great pollutions upon the face of the earth; there shall be murders, [I have given a different definition for murder by Alma, causing souls to perish] and robbing, and lying, and deceivings, and whoredoms, and all manner of abominations; when there shall be many who will say, Do this, or do that, and it mattereth not, for the Lord will uphold such at the last day. But wo unto such, for they are in the gall of bitternessand in the bonds of iniquity.
32 Yea, it shall come in a day when there shall be churches built up that shall say: Come unto me, and for your money you shall be forgiven of your sins.
33 O ye wicked and perverse and stiffnecked people, why have ye built up churches unto yourselves to get gain? Why have ye transfigured the holy word of God, that ye might bring damnation upon your souls? Behold, look ye unto the revelations of God; for behold, the time cometh at that day when all these things must be fulfilled.
34 Behold, the Lord hath shown unto me great and marvelous things concerning that which must shortly come, at that day when these things shall come forth among you.
35 Behold, I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not. But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing.  

[You see he SAW US Today. Now before all these things were fulfilled he is trying to warn us to awaken to our awful situation before we all perish.] 

36 And I know that ye do walk in the pride of your hearts; and there are none save a few only who do not lift themselves up in the pride of their hearts, unto the wearing of cvery fine apparel, unto envying, and strifes, and malice, and persecutions, and all manner of iniquities; and your churches, yea, even every one, have become polluted because of the pride of your hearts.
37 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.
38 O ye pollutions, ye hypocrites, ye teachers, who sell yourselves for that which will canker, why have ye polluted the holy church of God? Why are ye ashamed to take upon you the name of Christ? Why do ye not think that greater is the value of an endless happiness than that misery which never dies—because of the praise of the world?
39 Why do ye adorn yourselves with that which hath no life, and yet suffer the hungry, and the needy, and the naked, and the sick and the afflicted to pass by you, and notice them not?
40 Yea, why do ye build up your secret abominations to get gain, and cause that widows should mourn before the Lord, and also orphans to mourn before the Lord, and also the blood of their fathers and their husbands to cry unto the Lord from the ground, for vengeance upon your heads?
41 Behold, the sword of vengeance hangeth over you; and the time soon cometh that he avengeth the blood of the saints upon you, for he will not suffer their cries any longer.

The Keys of God

1 May 1842 (Sunday Morning). Grove. 

Manuscript History of the Churchpages 119 - 120 I preached in the grove on the keys of the Kingdom, Charity &c The keys are certain signs and words by which false spirits and personages may be detected from true, which cannot be revealed to the Elders till the Temple is completed —The rich can only get them in the Temple—the poor may get them on the Mountain top as did Moses. The rich cannot be saved without Charity, giving to feed the poor when and how God requires as well as building. There are signs in heaven, earth, and hell, the Elders must know them all to be endowed with power, to finish their work and prevent imposition. The devil knows many signs but does not know the sign of the Son of Man, or Jesus. No one can truly say he knows God {7} until he has handled something, and this can only be in the Holiest of Holies.

You see, if you want to be endowed with power it is not enough to "go to a temple" but to receive what the official ordinance represents, its invitation is simple, receive the tokens and become like Him. I've talked about this in my post "Declare These Things Part 2" but I will requote this. Now ponder that with the image.

7. Represents God sitting upon his throne, revealing through the heavens the grand Key-words of the Priesthood; as, also, the sign of the Holy Ghost unto Abraham, in the form of a dove. (Book of Abraham Facsimile 2)

Remeber the temple is another symbol for US. When Jesus said not one stone would be left of the temple the people thought it talked about the structure, but he was referring to his own body and sacrifice. Our bodies are the temple of God. And no unclean thing can enter therein or abide in you. This all points to our inner spiritual self. A State of being. We begin to see the kingdom of God within ourselves, when we finally have it manifested we will have taken His countenance upon us and we will be like Him.

Asleep, Slumber 
The parable earlier of the watcher mentioned awake from your sleep.

Isaiah explains more of this. I will post some commentary from Avraham Gileadi as well.

29:10 Jehovah has poured out on you  a spirit of deep sleep:
he has shut your eyes, the prophets;
      he has covered your heads, the seers. 

God’s people who are here addressed are chronically delusional to the point of being in a “deep sleep” (tardēmâ). Having procrastinated the day of their salvation by preoccupying themselves with dreamlike fantasies, they become “bewildered” (těmāhû)and “cry for help” (šōcû) when God’s judgments come upon them. As a people’s leaders generally reflect the people themselves, so all are “drunk” (šakrû) and “stagger” (nā û) spiritually. The prophets and seers—the people’s “eyes” (ēnayîm) and “heads” (rōᐣšîm)—can’t enlighten them to spiritual realities because they too slumber. (http://www.isaiahexplained.com/isaiah_ch_29.html)

We all begin in this deep sleep when we are born into this world. The question is will YOU Awake! Awake! That you may Arise?

Woe! All is Well in Zion

21 And others will he[satan] 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.
24 Therefore, wo be unto him that is at ease in Zion!
25 Wo be unto him that crieth: All is well! (2 Nephi 28)

The work is hastening! The temples are going up! The members are increasing! All is well isn't it? What does this verse mean? Is it referring to something else?

Hastening of the Work That We May See It

18 Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope: 

19 That say, Let him make speed, and hasten his work, that we may see it: and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we may know it!
 (Isaiah 5:18-19)

Solemn meetings:
Isaiah warns us of the following.

11 To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the Lord: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.
12 When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts?
13 Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.
14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.
15 And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.
16 Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;
17 Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.
18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. (Isaiah 1:11-18)

The Jews omitted the weightier law (Matthew 23). Judgment, mercy, and faith which is shown by Isaiah. They omitted the weightier law. The purpose for the meetings was to relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.

The things we are taught to do with "fasting", "meet together oft" and with "prayer and fasting". The way to do a true fast is to do this in verse 17, relieve the burdens of others. The sacrifices meant nothing without this. It was dead works. Isaiah tells us the same thing how to truly fast in Isaiah 58. Than he says if we do these things these meetings and the fast is acceptable in His eyes.

"Even their spiritual gatherings and assemblies God “cannot approve” because those who attend them are encumbered with offenses. Their “wickedness”—their unrepented sins and iniquities—renders their religious devotion a mockery." (Avraham gildeadi, Chapter 1 Commentary)

Fasting and the Sabbath
In Chapter 58 Isaiah explains what must be done to make the sabath day acceptable in His eyes. I will use Avraham Gildeadi again for come commentary.

If you will keep your feet from trampling the Sabbath—
from achieving your own ends on my holy day—
and consider the Sabbath a delight,
the holy day of Jehovah venerable,
and if you will honor it
by refraining from your everyday pursuits—
from occupying yourselves with your own affairs
and speaking of business matters— (Isaiah 58:13)

Verses 6-8

Is not this the fast I require:
To release from wrongful bondage,
to untie the harness of the yoke,
to set the oppressed at liberty
and abolish all forms of subjection? 

Is it not to share your food with the hungry,
to bring home the wretchedly poor,
and when you see men underclad to clothe them,
and not to neglect your own kin? (vs 6-7)

Then shall your light break through like the dawn and your healing speedily appear;your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of Jehovah will be your rearguard.  (vs 8)

So we start off with a people who are an outward form of observance, but are inwardly lacking the essence, they haven’t really caught on. And the Servant is sent to them, to call them to repentance, to declare their transgressions to them. Even though they are going through religious observance, it means very little, because they are two-faced. Then he says, “Do this and this and this. And if you will do that, then your light will break through like the dawn, like the dawning of the Millennium.” … your healing speedily appear; your righteousness will go before you, …the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. 

That is exodus imagery. In other words, you will participate in the Exodus. Which Exodus? The one that comes before the Destruction. When Lot is taken out of Sodom, before Sodom is destroyed by a rain of fire and brimstone. The Lord’s Servant will lead them out as Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt. And the plagues or covenant curses come upon Babylon. They will be led out to safety. Who will? Those who release from wrongful bondage, who untie the harness of the yoke, who set the oppressed at liberty, who abolish all forms of subjection, who share their food with the hungry, who bring home the wretchedly poor, who, when they see men underclad, clothe them, and who don’t neglect their own kin: they will. And the light and righteousness are metaphors of the Lord’s Servant. Their light shall break through like the dawn. Like the dawn appears, and starts to get light over the mountains, over the horizon. The sun hasn’t come up yet, but it’s getting lighter and lighter and lighter. That will be like for these people. They’ll come out of darkness, from the state of darkness that they are in now, which caused them to be so two-faced. One the one hand they think they are righteous: they pray every day, they go through the motions of religious observance, but they’re not getting any blessings. Well, that darkness will disappear and they will be brought into His marvelous light. So it’s a conversion process. And then when the Lord comes, He’s like sun that pops over the horizon and they will be prepared to receive Him at that time. The Servant is the light that prepares the way. He is appointed as a light to the nations in Chapters 42 to 49. And as the Lord heals him, so he heals them. The Servant does for the Lord’s people what the Lord does for him. They are healed then. 

Your righteousness will go before you, That’s the Servant. Yes, first of all it is your literal righteousness. It is because you are righteous in doing those things. When you do those things that He says here, you are righteous. That’s the terms of God’s covenant that He requires of you. And then you will qualify for salvation, salvation in the form of an Exodus. Who leads the Exodus? The Servant does. So on a metaphorical level the one who leads the Exodus is the Servant. Your righteousness goes before you like Moses leading the Exodus of the Lord’s people out of Egypt. And the glory of the Lord accompanies them, will be there rear guard, protect them from the Egyptians who try to harass them from the rear. Is that all? No, there’s more.

Drunkards of Ephraim

28:1 Woe to the garlands of glory of the drunkards of Ephraim! Their crowning splendor has become as fading wreaths on the heads of athe opulenta overcome with wine. shall be trodden underfoot. on the heads of athe opulent,a shall be like the first-ripe fruit before summer harvest: he who sees it devours it28:3 The proud garlands of the drunkards of Ephraim28:4 And the fading wreaths, the crowns of glory the moment he has hold of it.

Drunkards, or being drunk is a symbol of deception. The destruction that awaits Ephraim is severe for they will be trodden underfoot in the last days. (See 3 Nephi 16)

Vomit, Weaned from milk 

28:7  These too have indulged in wine
      and are giddy with strong drink:
priests and prophets have gone astray through liquor.
      They are intoxicated with wine
and stagger because of strong drink;
      they err as seers, they blunder in their decisions.
      and are giddy with strong drink:
28:8  For all tables are filled with vomit;
      no spot is without excrement.
28:9       Whom shall he give instruction?
       Whom shall he enlighten with revelation?
Weanlings weaned from milk,
      those just taken from the breast? 
28:10     For it is but precept upon precept,
      precept upon precept,
measure by measure, measure by measure;
      a trifle here, a trifle there. 

Avraham explains on his website IsaiahProphecy.com,

Tables Full of Vomit—The Learning of Men
Isaiah spares no words when indicting God’s people, particularly their leaders. When he says of Ephraim’s priests and prophets, “All tables are full of vomit; no spot is without excrement” (Isaiah 28:8), the meaning is figurative. The context of the entire chapter relates to Ephraim’s self-deception, its reluctance to receive direct revelation from God, instead relying solely on the basic learning method of “line upon line, precept upon precept” (Isaiah 28:10). Half-digested truths are regurgitated for God’s people to swallow, so much that God has to intervene and restore his word, but not until that state of affairs has provoked God’s judgments (Isaiah 28:11–22).

When Sabbath meetings, fast days, and temple attendance become mere routine (Isaiah 1:10–15; 58:1–3), when people’s piety toward God “consists of commandments of men learned by rote” while their hearts remain far from him (Isaiah 29:13), when his people and their prophets and seers fall into a deep sleep (Isaiah 29:10), God intervenes both for good and for evil. For good, when he “lay[s] in Zion a stone, a keystone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation” (Isaiah 28:16). For good, when he brings forth “the words of the book” (Isaiah 29:18). For evil, when he brings “a flooding scourge” upon those who mock at how God intervenes (Isaiah 28:14–22).

Faith Like the brother of Jared

6 For the Lord said unto me: They shall not go forth unto the Gentiles until the day that they shall repent of their iniquity, and become clean before the Lord.

7 And in that day that they shall exercise faith in me, saith the Lord, even as the brother of Jared did, that they may become sanctified in me, then will I manifest unto them the things which the brother of Jared saw, even to the unfolding unto them all my revelations, saith Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of the heavens and of the earth, and all things that in them are. (Ether 4:6-7)

The vision of all! Just like Joseph received in D&C 76. When the people become clean. They can finally build up Zion because it delays no longer. (D&C 105:11-13) Unfortunately only a few will. For they will think all is well because the rest of the people are doing exactly what they are doing, and of course they are a righteous people! A Chosen generation.

When its all said and Done

… I may believe that Enoch walked with God. I may believe that Abraham communed with God and conversed with angels. I may believe that Isaac obtained a renewal of the covenant made to Abraham by the direct voice of the Lord. 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. I may believe that the saints saw the Lord and conversed with him face to face after his resurrection. I may believe that the Hebrew church came to Mount Zion and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels. I may believe that they looked into eternity and saw the Judge of all, and Jesus, the Mediator of the new covenant.

But will all this purchase an assurance for me, or waft me to the regions of eternal day with my garments spotless, pure, and white? Or, must I not rather obtain for myself, by my own faith and diligence in keeping the commandments of the Lord, an assurance of salvation for myself? And have I not an equal privilege with the ancient saints? And will not the Lord hear my prayers and listen to my cries as soon as he ever did to theirs if I come to him in the manner they did?
(Chapter 10: Prayer and Personal Revelation,” Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, (2007), 125–34)

Awful Situation Part 2: Kingdom of the Devil Inside the Kingdom of God

"Once again the Book of Mormon and modern revelation give us the guidance we need so that we are not taken out of our places by too much concern over what on the landscape of history may after all be a very temporary thing, real and menacing though it may be. In the Book of Mormon is a verse I wish I fully understood, but which I draw to your attention. It is 2 Nephi 28:19, which says “the kingdom of the devil must shake.” It is a very intriguing verse. I do not presume to know what this redemptive turbulence will be like, but it will be such that a few people now caught up in that generic kingdom of the devil will be “stirred up” and find their way out and into the kingdom of God. I don’t know how that will happen, but it will happen. I rather imagine, and this is sure speculation, that there will be in this redemptive turbulence some jarring inconsistencies brought to the fore—jarring enough that they will cause some people who are caught up in the subsets [traditions of our fathers] to leave [the traditions of our fathers not the church] and find the truth. As prophesied in the Book of Mormon, full of portent for Latter-day Saints, there will be real turbulence." (President Neal A Maxwel, here, Sharing Insights from My Life)

Normally when i mention 2 Nephi 28, most people say "that is not talking about the latter day saints!". But it is. Here Maxwell applies it to us. Not to mention the language of Nephi here is speaking to "Zion". I don't think Babylon is anything related to Zion.

The best quote in the talk is this.

"Submission to Him is the only form of submission that is completely safe." (ibid)

Mormon Chronicles had an exclusive article on a seventy, Elder H Verlan Andersen. (an article written entirely by Elder Andersen written to President Benson) http://www.mormonchronicle.com/exclusive-elder-h-verlan-andersen-on-apostasy-of-the-church-members/ 

Nephi prophesies that Satan will stir the people up to anger against that which is good in our day. (2 Ne. 28:20) Also Moroni indicates that the blood of the saints will be shed in our day by these secret combinations. (Ether 8:22) 

I am rather firmly convinced that the great deception being practiced upon LDS today largely comes from our socialized educational system. Satan’s doctrines are being boldly taught to our children and we are failing in our duty to set them straight. 

I have read Moroni’s statement in Mormon, Chapter Eight wherein he states every Church has become corrupted and where he says that we Gentiles have polluted the holy church of God. (verses 36, 38) I wonder if he is speaking of our restored Church. What do you think? (Compare this with 2 Ne. 28:9–14.) 

Then there is reference to a great division which will take place among the people. (2 Ne. 20:10, compare D&C 63:54) When you get these matters figured out let me know.…(Letter to Ezra Taft Benson, 4/20/1968)

Who considers it either impossible or unlikely that a person can belong to the Devil’s organization and Christ’s Church simultaneously? The Nephite scriptures provide some interesting information. No one who believes that the Book of Mormon is the word of God doubts that the secret combinations described therein were built up by the devil. The record is most explicit about this fact. But notice in the days of the reign of the judges among the Nephites, that when this secret society came among them, they seduced even the more part of the righteous to join them. (Hel. 6:38) 

Then in that period of time immediately preceding the terrible destruction which almost obliterated the Nephite nation, the very people who formed the secret combination which was largely instrumental in killing the prophets and bringing about this awful disaster, included, almost all the lawyers and the high priests. (3 Ne. 6:25) 

If the more part of the righteous and almost all the lawyers and the high priests can be deceived, how can anyone feel safe? (Personal notes: Can one belong to the Church of the Lamb and the Church of the Devil at the same time? 1970)

 Remember what maxwell said that verifies what Elder Andersen said?

"Full of portent for Latter-day Saints, there will be real turbulence." Lets assume those scriptures do apply to us.

A secret combination among the latter day saints.
Seduced the more part of the righteous to join in
Included almost all lawyers and high priests
A great division in the land
We have polluted the holy church of God.
Satans doctrines are being boldly taught from the church
Kingdom of the devil will become part of the kingdom of God.

How can anyone feel safe?

By doing what maxwell said to do.

"Submission to Him is the only form of submission that is completely safe."

By weighing everything against the scriptures even the words of modern leaders, prophets, or apostles. If it contradicts scripture you are to discard it . This is what the scriptures mean by "casting off unbelief" or removing the "false traditions of our fathers" as Joseph said unless you "remove all your false traditions" you cannot be saved. We are only to accept the lords servants when they are "moved upon by the holy ghost".

We wrest the scriptures at our peril. It is not enough to read ensigns over and over because we will never know what is the false traditions that are among us. The four standard works that the lord has vouched for repeatedly, Bible, Book of mormon, pearl of great price, and the doctrine and covenants. Take the holy spirit as your guide and it will show you the truth of all things.

"The words and the way they are used in the Book of Mormon by the Lord should become our source of understanding and should be used by us in teaching gospel principles. (Ezra Taft Benson)

D&C 18:2-4.2 Behold, I have manifested unto you, by my Spirit in many instances, that the things which you have written are true; wherefore you know that they are true.3 And if you know that they are true, behold, I give unto you a commandment, that you rely upon the things which are written;4 For in them are all things written concerning the foundation of my church, my gospel, and my rock. 

Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation 3:203-204. (Italics in original.) It makes no difference what is written or what anyone has said, if what has been said is in conflict with what the Lord has revealed, we can set it aside. My words, and the teachings of any other member of the Church, high or low, if they do not square with the revelations, we need not accept them. Let us have this matter clear. We have accepted the four standard works as the measuring yardsticks, or balances, by which we measure every man's doctrine.

Harold B. Lee, Improvement Era, Jan. 1969, p. 13; Living Prophets for a Living Church, p. 60. All that we teach in this Church ought to be couched in the scriptures. It ought to be found in the scriptures. We ought to choose our texts from the scriptures. If we want to measure truth, we should measure it by the four standard works, regardless of who writes it. If it is not in the standard works, we may well assume that it is speculative, man's own personal opinion; and if it contradicts what is in the scriptures, it is not true. This is the standard by which we measure all truth. 

Even A Prophet Will Fail You.
President George Q. Cannon:

Do not, brethren, put your trust in man though he be a bishop; an apostle, or A PRESIDENT. If you do, they will fail you at some time or place, they will do wrong or seem to, and your support be gone, but if we lean on God, He never will fail us. When men and women depend on God ALONE, and trust in Him ALONE, their faith will not be shaken if the highest in the Church should step aside. They could still see that He is just and true, that truth is lovely in His sight, and the pure in heart are dear to Him. Perhaps it is His own design that faults and weaknesses should appear in high places in order that His saints may learn to trust in Him and NOT IN ANY MAN OR MEN! Therefore, my brethren and sisters, SEEK AFTER THE HOLY GHOST and his unfailing testimony of God and His work upon the earth. Rest not until you know for yourselves that God has set His Hand to redeem Israel, and prepare a people for His coming. (Deseret Weekly, March 7, 1891. pg. 322, No. 10 vol. XLII a Discourse by Pres. George Q. Cannon, Manti, Sanpete County  on the evening of February 15, 1891).