What is Scripture.
The Apostle Peter taught this:
2 Peter 1:21
21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
A modern revelation was given in our day to a Living Prophet, the Prophet Joseph Smith, on November 1, 1831 explaining how scripture comes:
Doctrine and Covenants 68:4
4 And whatsoever they shall speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost shall be scripture, shall be the will of the Lord, shall be the mind of the Lord, shall be the word of the Lord, shall be the voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation.
The Importance of Scripture Study.
Scripture is the word of God to us, His children, to guide us while in this earth test we are now in.
He sends prophets to be with us and give us His words.
He explains how we should live our lives and how we should treat our fellow men and women since they are literally our brothers and sisters of the family of God.
He teaches us love and compassion and we are shown the example by reading, learning and living our lives after the pattern that His Son, Jesus Christ has set for us.
We must follow Him, but we cannot follow Him if we do not read and study the scriptures and the record of His ministry and His mission of the Atonement that
He performed for all of us.
He performed the Atonement for every single person on earth from the beginning to the end.
What are the Scriptures today?
For most of the world the scriptures are called The Bible.The Old Testament.
The 66 books in the Bible were made individually, but were brought together into one volume.
The first five books in the Old Testament were written by Moses, some of the others books by prophets like Isaiah, Malachi and many others.
The New Testament.
The Books in the New Testament were written by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, called the Four Gospels. These were eye witness accounts of what they had seen. Acts was written by the Apostle Paul and others by various servants of the Lord.
That is all the world has and many in our day look at the book as a bunch of fairy tales.
We, of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints have additional scripture that goes along with the Bible, which we also believe.
Before the Prophet Joseph Smith was commanded to organize the Church again on the earth, He was visited by God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ in an open vision in the spring of 1820.
God the Father called Joseph by name and pointed to Jesus Christ and said, “This is my beloved Son, Hear Him.”
The Savior gave Joseph instructions not to join any existing church because in His eyes, they were all wrong and was told that he, Joseph, would be the instrument to Restore His Gospel and Church.
A group came out of Jerusalem about 600 B.C. and the Lord instructed them to keep a record of His dealings with them and what happened to their descendants. He knew that in the Last Days much would be lost or changed in the Bible and this record would Restore that which was wrong or missing.
This record was passed on, prophet to prophet and the last prophet named Moroni buried the record about 421 A.D. to come forth in the Last Days when the Lord wanted it to.
The Prophet Moroni was commanded to deliver the plates to the Prophet Joseph Smith himself.
After translating the plates with the Urim and Thummim, the Priesthood Authority of God was restored to the earth to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery by the Resurrected John the Baptist with the Aaronic Priesthood and Peter, James and John with the Melchizedek Priesthood.
Yes, there are still miracles in our day.With this authority, he was instructed to organize the church. This happened on April 6, 1830.
The Book of Mormon.
The Book of Mormon did not come forth to replace the Bible, but to be a Second Witness that Jesus is the Christ and that the Bible is true.
The Lord instructed those prophets of old to make the record for us, now, in our day and give us clear warnings on what is happening by seeing what was happening to them then.
Their prophets were “moved upon by the Holy Ghost” and so it became scripture, and that is how we take it now.
The Doctrine and Covenants.
These are revelations and guidance to us today to help us in our living during the last days before His Second Coming.
He lives. He talks to us through Living Prophets and Apostles today.
The Pearl of Great Price.
The Book of Moses.
A clear revelation given to Moses about the creation of the earth with much more information than in Genesis.
The Book of Abraham.
Taken from parchment scrolls wrapped in a mummy that came from Egypt in Joseph Smith’s time and came into the hands of the church and the Prophet Joseph Smith translated it and said it was written in Abraham’s own hand.
Abraham talks about details on stars and the universe and how they are organized. Then he talks about the details of the Grand Council that happened in Heaven, where every one of us were in attendance.
For more information, see each one of these books of scripture at www.lds.org Go to scriptures.
Monday, July 29, 2013
FAMILIES COME FIRST
Are you one of the lucky ones who had both parents and felt a secure feeling, a safe feeling? Maybe you were not as lucky when growing up and you didn’t feel you were supported by your parents or parent as much as you felt you should have been.
All you know is that someday, in your heart and plans, you told yourself that you will create a family and make it a happy home for you, your spouse and your children. You may feel it would be a little difficult because of your lack of experience and not seeing an example of that in your own life.
Then you start a search for an example and you are led to a special church.
You hear its doctrine and how it is guided by prophets and apostles as it was in days of old, and the families that belong to it seem to be the examples you have been looking for.
You discover God’s restored church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
You find that they have actual temples of the Lord and because of that, you find that a special ceremony is performed within temples that Seal families together for Time and All Eternity, where death does not break up the family.
You also find that in this church, marriage and families are the most important social unit here on earth and continue on beyond death and into eternity.
Sometimes there is a disaster. Most people do not think of their money or house or the things they have, because their first thought is their families. Where are they, are they safe?
All have a feeling in their heart and in their minds that direct their feelings towards their families.
Because of what is in their spirit before being born on earth, that they will live again, feels that their family will be together after this life, not realizing that their marriage ceremony ended with “Until death do us part,” or “As long as we both shall live.”
If they believe that their ceremonies with these words have authority and power, that it actually marries them, then they have to believe all of it, including those phases mentioned above. They just cannot change it and add something to it, as if the marriage would last beyond this life. It will not.
Those who belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints know that marriages can go into eternity, intact, with all family members, because of the Sealing Ceremonies conducted in the temple.
They know they are married here on earth and the marriage will be recognized by God the Father in the next life and throughout eternity because it was performed in His Temple and by someone who has the special authority to Seal on Earth and in Heaven.
This authority has been granted by the Lord to His prophet and granted to the sealers in the temples. These sealers are High Priests with special authority. The church has legal authority to perform earthly marriages also.
We are all the sons and daughters of God and part of His eternal family and we are being taught how to create and raise families on earth, and those who are married in the temples, will continue to have children and raise them in the eternities.
Don’t get discouraged. No matter how hard we try, our marriage and home won’t be perfect.
But if we build them around Christ’s principles including faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work and wholesome fun, home can be a place of refuge, peace and joy.
Love of God comes first, then families, then church.
Families are the most important unit on earth and in eternity.
For more information on families, go to www.lds.org or http://mormon.org/values.
To prepare and protect your family for emergency situations click on the
YEAR SUPPLY or WATER FILTRATION in the upper right.
Friday, July 26, 2013
ARTICLE OF FAITH 11 - WORSHIPING GOD OUR WAY
THE ELEVENTH ARTICLE OF FAITH.
We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.
EXERCISING FREE AGENCY
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints proclaims their allegiance to the principles of toleration and religious liberty to all people.
This is an inherent and inalienable right to all people all over the world.
It is a self-evident truth, a birthright of all people and gives every person a claim to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
If you have a love for God who is your Heavenly Father, can you be content to be restricted in the performance of what you want to do with your life and what God gave you as your Free Agency to follow His commandments and your own conscience?
WORSHIP OF GOD
True worship of God cannot exist if there is no reverence or love for God. If man receives love in his soul, he will say in his heart that his Heavenly Father is love. Man cannot serve Heavenly Father in ignorance and the more he knows about the personality of God, the truer will be his adoration or worship.
Once you know the Father and His Son whom He sent to perform the Atonement, this knowledge is man’s guaranty to eternal life.
Worship is the voluntary homage of the soul. A prayer that is spoken is empty if it is not from the soul.
This church holds that a man has the right to worship according to the dictates of his own conscience and it has been given to us by an authority higher than any government on earth. It cannot be changed.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints upholds the Constitution of the United States and the First Amendment for religious liberty in our own nation and that NO LAW shall ever be made “respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;” ( Constitution of the United States, First Amendment).
INTOLERANCE IS NOT SCRIPTURAL
This, we believe, should spread throughout the world and be accepted by every nation. Intolerance has been a problem in every period of time and the professed ministers of religion have stained the pages of history with unholy deeds of persecution.
The Lord tolerated but did not approve the heathen in their idolatry, or the Sadducees in their luxury-loving, the Samaritans in their degenerate customs of worship or the Pharisees in their law bound ways of worship.
He instructed us in a different way:
MATTHEW 5: 44-45
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
The Lord has instructed us to tolerate others, and let the coming harvest of the Lord take care of it.
MATTHEW 13: 27-30
27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?
28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?
29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
Let it be remembered that vengeance and recompense belong to the Lord.
Do not hold anything against anyone. Remember what the Lord said:
DOCTRINE and COVENANTS 64: 9-11
9 Wherefore, I say unto you, that ye ought to forgive one another; for he that forgiveth not his brother his trespasses standeth condemned before the Lord; for there remaineth in him the greater sin.
10 I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men.
11 And ye ought to say in your hearts—let God judge between me and thee, and reward thee according to thy deeds.
Other places to learn about the U. S. Constitution are:
http://www.nccs.net/
https://online.hillsdale.edu/login
To See it:
http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/bill_of_rights_transcript.html
We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.
EXERCISING FREE AGENCY
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints proclaims their allegiance to the principles of toleration and religious liberty to all people.
This is an inherent and inalienable right to all people all over the world.
It is a self-evident truth, a birthright of all people and gives every person a claim to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
If you have a love for God who is your Heavenly Father, can you be content to be restricted in the performance of what you want to do with your life and what God gave you as your Free Agency to follow His commandments and your own conscience?
WORSHIP OF GOD
True worship of God cannot exist if there is no reverence or love for God. If man receives love in his soul, he will say in his heart that his Heavenly Father is love. Man cannot serve Heavenly Father in ignorance and the more he knows about the personality of God, the truer will be his adoration or worship.
Once you know the Father and His Son whom He sent to perform the Atonement, this knowledge is man’s guaranty to eternal life.
Worship is the voluntary homage of the soul. A prayer that is spoken is empty if it is not from the soul.
This church holds that a man has the right to worship according to the dictates of his own conscience and it has been given to us by an authority higher than any government on earth. It cannot be changed.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints upholds the Constitution of the United States and the First Amendment for religious liberty in our own nation and that NO LAW shall ever be made “respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;” ( Constitution of the United States, First Amendment).
INTOLERANCE IS NOT SCRIPTURAL
This, we believe, should spread throughout the world and be accepted by every nation. Intolerance has been a problem in every period of time and the professed ministers of religion have stained the pages of history with unholy deeds of persecution.
The Lord tolerated but did not approve the heathen in their idolatry, or the Sadducees in their luxury-loving, the Samaritans in their degenerate customs of worship or the Pharisees in their law bound ways of worship.
He instructed us in a different way:
MATTHEW 5: 44-45
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
The Lord has instructed us to tolerate others, and let the coming harvest of the Lord take care of it.
MATTHEW 13: 27-30
27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?
28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?
29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
Let it be remembered that vengeance and recompense belong to the Lord.
Do not hold anything against anyone. Remember what the Lord said:
DOCTRINE and COVENANTS 64: 9-11
9 Wherefore, I say unto you, that ye ought to forgive one another; for he that forgiveth not his brother his trespasses standeth condemned before the Lord; for there remaineth in him the greater sin.
10 I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men.
11 And ye ought to say in your hearts—let God judge between me and thee, and reward thee according to thy deeds.
Other places to learn about the U. S. Constitution are:
http://www.nccs.net/
https://online.hillsdale.edu/login
To See it:
http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/bill_of_rights_transcript.html
ARTICLE OF FAITH 10 - ZION or THE NEW JERUSALEM WILL BE BUILT ON THE AMERICAN CONTINENT
THE TENTH ARTICLE OF FAITH.
10 We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.
Why do we believe this?
We believe it because it talks about it in the Bible that Zion, or the New Jerusalem is a separate place than the Jerusalem of old.
ZION or THE NEW JERUSALEM and THE OLD JERUSALEM.
JOEL 3: 16-17
16 The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the Lord will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel. (Two places, not one.)
17 So shall ye know that I am the Lord your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more.
Also:
MICAH 4: 2
2 And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
Isaiah also mentions it, three prophets cannot be wrong:
ISAIAH 2: 2-3
2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.
3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
Micah having the full Spirit of the Lord with him predicted the destruction of Jerusalem and the associated Mount Zion which was near to it said that Jerusalem would become “heaps” and Mount Zion would be “plowed as a field”. (See Micah 3: 12)
As I described in our Ninth Article of Faith, we believe all that has been revealed. These are some of the prophets of old. We do believe them.
We also believe our Living Prophets that the Lord has sent, Restoring His church and the Fullness of His Gospel on the earth preparatory to His Son’s Second Coming.
THE RETURN OF THE TEN LOST TRIBES OF ISRAEL.
Centuries ago, the House of Israel split up. Ten of the tribes of Israel went into the north countries and the tribes of Judah and Levi stayed in Jerusalem. Those in Jerusalem today are knows as Jews. The Ten Lost Tribes are not Jews but of Israel.
The majority of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is Ephraim. A smaller portion is Manasseh. The choice blessings were given to Ephraim by Jacob, that in the Last Days he would be the major instrument in gathering Israel from the four corners of the earth.
This is happening now. Eventually, the Lost Ten Tribes will come here, to Zion, the New Jerusalem and they will receive their blessings by the hand of Ephraim and then most will go to the Old Jerusalem.
ARMAGEDDON and THE SAVIOR.
Many believe that Israel will be wiped off the face of the earth. They believe wrong because they do not know the scriptures especially the Revelation of St. John.
He speaks that two prophets will hold of the Armies of Armageddon, be killed and lay in the streets for 3 days and most of Jerusalem will be destroyed, but the Lord will raise them up before their eyes and will destroy the Armies when He sets His feet on the Mount of Olives.
They will know then, that Jesus Christ was their Savior, their great Jehovah of their fathers.
THE MILLENNIUM.
Much destruction will happen throughout the earth, destroying the wicked. No one will be able to hide. He knows each of us and the righteous will be saved.
The earth is alive. It was baptized in the flood at the time of Noah and will receive the baptism of fire for the cleansing and it will receive the paradisiacal glory and will be like it was in the Garden of Eden.
Jesus Christ will rule here on earth for a thousand years. He will rule from Two Capitals. Zion or the New Jerusalem and from a glorified and rebuilt Old Jerusalem.
10 We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.
Why do we believe this?
We believe it because it talks about it in the Bible that Zion, or the New Jerusalem is a separate place than the Jerusalem of old.
ZION or THE NEW JERUSALEM and THE OLD JERUSALEM.
JOEL 3: 16-17
16 The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the Lord will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel. (Two places, not one.)
17 So shall ye know that I am the Lord your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more.
Also:
MICAH 4: 2
2 And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
Isaiah also mentions it, three prophets cannot be wrong:
ISAIAH 2: 2-3
2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.
3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
Micah having the full Spirit of the Lord with him predicted the destruction of Jerusalem and the associated Mount Zion which was near to it said that Jerusalem would become “heaps” and Mount Zion would be “plowed as a field”. (See Micah 3: 12)
As I described in our Ninth Article of Faith, we believe all that has been revealed. These are some of the prophets of old. We do believe them.
We also believe our Living Prophets that the Lord has sent, Restoring His church and the Fullness of His Gospel on the earth preparatory to His Son’s Second Coming.
THE RETURN OF THE TEN LOST TRIBES OF ISRAEL.
Centuries ago, the House of Israel split up. Ten of the tribes of Israel went into the north countries and the tribes of Judah and Levi stayed in Jerusalem. Those in Jerusalem today are knows as Jews. The Ten Lost Tribes are not Jews but of Israel.
The majority of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is Ephraim. A smaller portion is Manasseh. The choice blessings were given to Ephraim by Jacob, that in the Last Days he would be the major instrument in gathering Israel from the four corners of the earth.
This is happening now. Eventually, the Lost Ten Tribes will come here, to Zion, the New Jerusalem and they will receive their blessings by the hand of Ephraim and then most will go to the Old Jerusalem.
ARMAGEDDON and THE SAVIOR.
Many believe that Israel will be wiped off the face of the earth. They believe wrong because they do not know the scriptures especially the Revelation of St. John.
He speaks that two prophets will hold of the Armies of Armageddon, be killed and lay in the streets for 3 days and most of Jerusalem will be destroyed, but the Lord will raise them up before their eyes and will destroy the Armies when He sets His feet on the Mount of Olives.
They will know then, that Jesus Christ was their Savior, their great Jehovah of their fathers.
THE MILLENNIUM.
Much destruction will happen throughout the earth, destroying the wicked. No one will be able to hide. He knows each of us and the righteous will be saved.
The earth is alive. It was baptized in the flood at the time of Noah and will receive the baptism of fire for the cleansing and it will receive the paradisiacal glory and will be like it was in the Garden of Eden.
Jesus Christ will rule here on earth for a thousand years. He will rule from Two Capitals. Zion or the New Jerusalem and from a glorified and rebuilt Old Jerusalem.
CONTINENTS DIVIDED WILL COME TOGETHER AGAIN
Sounds crazy? I am sure the scientists will say that, but the scriptures do not lie.
The scriptures were given by prophets who were inspired by the Lord.
Doctrine and Covenants 68: 3-4
The first five books of the Bible were written by The Prophet Moses.
He mentions the birth of Peleg, this was in the year 2243 B.C. or before Christ's birth.
The name Peleg means (division).
Genesis 10: 25
25 And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg; for in his days was the earth divided; and his brother’s name was Joktan.
The scripture says that Shem begat Arphaxad two years after the Flood which would be 2342 B.C.
So, this makes the flood 2340 B.C.
This would mean that Peleg was born 97 years after the flood. The Flood and the Division of the earth are two different things.
The division of the earth occurred early in the life Peleg, because he was given a name which meant "Division."
Chronologically, the earth was divided approximately 2240 B.C. This makes Peleg 3 years old at the time of the actual division of the continents.
Now since only a hundred years had passed since the arrival of Noah and his family landed on this new part of the earth, it is likely that the city of Babel was just getting a good start when the great division of the continents occurred.
The whole earth was covered with water except the land they were on and they started building the tower of Babel, afraid that the Lord would send another flood.
The death of Peleg was 209 years later, which makes it 2004 B.C.
Genesis 11: 19
19 And Peleg lived after he begat Reu two hundred and nine years, and begat sons and daughters.
This gives us a time period of 2243 B.C. to 2004 B.C., which, as you know, the numbers get smaller as they go towards the birth of Jesus Christ. They increase after His birth.
Since the Lords church and the restored gospel is now back on the earth, we have Living Prophets again, with inspiration and revelations to guide His children in these Last Days.
The First Latter Day Prophet is the Prophet Joseph Smith, and he was commanded to organize again, on the earth, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
The name was given in a Revelation to the Prophet Joseph Smith by the Lord Himself.
One of the many revelations received, specifically talking about the continents, and how the earth was going to be healed before the Millennium, was received by the Prophet Joseph Smith on November 3, 1831:
Doctrine and Covenants 133: 23-24 are more details that have been revealed.
It is clear that the dividing of the earth in the days of Peleg came because the Lord wanted to reserve and keep safe for His future plans, like a land to Restored His church and the setting up of Zion in the Last Days.
He sunk lands so that water would come from the Polar regions and fill up the areas He wanted separated.
There was a sinking of the Pacific floor, and there may have been a sinking of the Atlantic floor. There was a "sea east" in that area even before the division.
We do know that when the division occurred around 2240 B.C., America, Australia, Europe and Asia and the islands of the sea were cut off from the "one land," and they became continents.
At or just before His coming, the mountains will be made low and the valleys would be made high and all the lands will be level and in one land mass.
Because there are scriptures that the Jews and the rest of the world do not understand, it needs to be explained here.
The Jews think that Zion will be the Old Jerusalem, but it will not.
The Old Jerusalem will be rebuilt and glorified as a magnificent city and will be One of Two capitals during the Millennium.
America, namely Independence, Jackson County, Missouri will be the Center place or New Jerusalem, known as Zion.
The Scriptures tell us why:
Isaiah 2: 2-3
2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.
We have a Temple of the Lord here, the House of the Lord.
Two capitals will exist during the Millennium, Zion or New Jerusalem, and Jerusalem in Palestine.
But, also at that time, as it says above in the Revelation to the Prophet Joseph Smith, D&C 133, the waters will be driven back into the North lands by the raising of the Sea Floors and All land will be One continent.
Zion on one end and Jerusalem on the other. That is why is does not say: The law and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. It separates the two cities for a reason.
They are two different cities. Zion or New Jerusalem where the Law will go forth and Jerusalem will go forth the Word of the Lord.
Other scriptures Verify Isaiah.
Micah 4: 2
2 And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
And the Book of Mormon, another witness of Jesus Christ confirms Isaiah and Micah. This is from the Brass Plates that Lehi and his family took with them when they left Jerusalem so that they would have a record of the Word of the Lord to the Jews with them, and their posterity would not be ignorant to the word of the Lord.
Lehi was descendant of Judah and was a prophet of the Lord, a contemporary of Jeremiah the Prophet. They both prophesying to the Jews to repent but they attempted to kill them. The Lord directed Lehi to leave Jerusalem with his family and only a few belongings.
In the Brass Plates, Isaiah was recorded and it gives it to us in our day as in it's purity, it says compare Isaiah 2, between 559 and 545 B.C. when this was recorded
2 Nephi 12: 3
3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths; for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
Trust the scriptures more than scientist when it has to do with comparing between the Lord and scientists.
For more information go to www.lds.org
The scriptures were given by prophets who were inspired by the Lord.
Doctrine and Covenants 68: 3-4
3 And this is the ensample unto them, that they shall speak as they are moved upon by the Holy Ghost.
4 And whatsoever they shall speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost shall be scripture, shall be the will of the Lord, shall be the mind of the Lord, shall be the word of the Lord, shall be the voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation.
Let us look at some scripture that shows what has happened.
The first five books of the Bible were written by The Prophet Moses.
He mentions the birth of Peleg, this was in the year 2243 B.C. or before Christ's birth.
The name Peleg means (division).
Genesis 10: 25
25 And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg; for in his days was the earth divided; and his brother’s name was Joktan.
The scripture says that Shem begat Arphaxad two years after the Flood which would be 2342 B.C.
So, this makes the flood 2340 B.C.
This would mean that Peleg was born 97 years after the flood. The Flood and the Division of the earth are two different things.
The division of the earth occurred early in the life Peleg, because he was given a name which meant "Division."
Chronologically, the earth was divided approximately 2240 B.C. This makes Peleg 3 years old at the time of the actual division of the continents.
Now since only a hundred years had passed since the arrival of Noah and his family landed on this new part of the earth, it is likely that the city of Babel was just getting a good start when the great division of the continents occurred.
The whole earth was covered with water except the land they were on and they started building the tower of Babel, afraid that the Lord would send another flood.
The death of Peleg was 209 years later, which makes it 2004 B.C.
Genesis 11: 19
19 And Peleg lived after he begat Reu two hundred and nine years, and begat sons and daughters.
This gives us a time period of 2243 B.C. to 2004 B.C., which, as you know, the numbers get smaller as they go towards the birth of Jesus Christ. They increase after His birth.
Since the Lords church and the restored gospel is now back on the earth, we have Living Prophets again, with inspiration and revelations to guide His children in these Last Days.
The First Latter Day Prophet is the Prophet Joseph Smith, and he was commanded to organize again, on the earth, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
The name was given in a Revelation to the Prophet Joseph Smith by the Lord Himself.
One of the many revelations received, specifically talking about the continents, and how the earth was going to be healed before the Millennium, was received by the Prophet Joseph Smith on November 3, 1831:
Doctrine and Covenants 133: 23-24 are more details that have been revealed.
23 He shall command the great deep, and it shall be driven back into the north countries, and the islands shall become one land;
24 And the land of Jerusalem and the land of Zion shall be turned back into their own place, and the earth shall be like as it was in the days before it was divided.
It is clear that the dividing of the earth in the days of Peleg came because the Lord wanted to reserve and keep safe for His future plans, like a land to Restored His church and the setting up of Zion in the Last Days.
He sunk lands so that water would come from the Polar regions and fill up the areas He wanted separated.
There was a sinking of the Pacific floor, and there may have been a sinking of the Atlantic floor. There was a "sea east" in that area even before the division.
We do know that when the division occurred around 2240 B.C., America, Australia, Europe and Asia and the islands of the sea were cut off from the "one land," and they became continents.
At or just before His coming, the mountains will be made low and the valleys would be made high and all the lands will be level and in one land mass.
Because there are scriptures that the Jews and the rest of the world do not understand, it needs to be explained here.
The Jews think that Zion will be the Old Jerusalem, but it will not.
The Old Jerusalem will be rebuilt and glorified as a magnificent city and will be One of Two capitals during the Millennium.
America, namely Independence, Jackson County, Missouri will be the Center place or New Jerusalem, known as Zion.
The Scriptures tell us why:
Isaiah 2: 2-3
2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.
(Salt Lake City is the Temporary Center of His church which will eventually go to Missouri when He commands it. Salt Lake City is over 5,000 feet above sea level - tops of the mountains)
3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
Two capitals will exist during the Millennium, Zion or New Jerusalem, and Jerusalem in Palestine.
But, also at that time, as it says above in the Revelation to the Prophet Joseph Smith, D&C 133, the waters will be driven back into the North lands by the raising of the Sea Floors and All land will be One continent.
Zion on one end and Jerusalem on the other. That is why is does not say: The law and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. It separates the two cities for a reason.
They are two different cities. Zion or New Jerusalem where the Law will go forth and Jerusalem will go forth the Word of the Lord.
Other scriptures Verify Isaiah.
Micah 4: 2
2 And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
And the Book of Mormon, another witness of Jesus Christ confirms Isaiah and Micah. This is from the Brass Plates that Lehi and his family took with them when they left Jerusalem so that they would have a record of the Word of the Lord to the Jews with them, and their posterity would not be ignorant to the word of the Lord.
Lehi was descendant of Judah and was a prophet of the Lord, a contemporary of Jeremiah the Prophet. They both prophesying to the Jews to repent but they attempted to kill them. The Lord directed Lehi to leave Jerusalem with his family and only a few belongings.
In the Brass Plates, Isaiah was recorded and it gives it to us in our day as in it's purity, it says compare Isaiah 2, between 559 and 545 B.C. when this was recorded
2 Nephi 12: 3
3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths; for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
Trust the scriptures more than scientist when it has to do with comparing between the Lord and scientists.
For more information go to www.lds.org
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
APOSTASIES AND DISPENSATIONS
What are Apostasies and Dispensations and why
do they happen and how do they relate to each other.
DISPENSATIONS.
The Bible dictionary says about
dispensations:
A dispensation of the gospel is a period
of time in which the Lord has at least one authorized servant on the earth who
bears the holy priesthood and the keys, and who has a divine commission to
dispense the gospel to the inhabitants of the earth.
When this occurs, the gospel is revealed
anew so that people of that dispensation do not have to depend
basically on past dispensations for knowledge of the plan of salvation.
There have been many gospel dispensations
since the beginning. The Bible suggests at least one dispensation identified
with Adam, another with Enoch, another with Noah, and so
on with Abraham, Moses, and Jesus with His Apostles in the
meridian of time.
Paul writes of “the dispensation of the
fulness of times” in which the Lord will “gather together in one all things
in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth” (Eph. 1:10). The
fulness of times is the final dispensation and began with the revelation of
the gospel to Joseph Smith.
It is a dispensation of restoration
and of fulfillment of the Lord’s plans and purposes since the world began.
There are also things reserved for the
fulness of times that have not been revealed previously (D&C121:26–32; 124:41).
It is a glorious time, the time in which we live today (see Acts 3:19–21;
D&C27:13; 110:11–16;
112:14–32;
128:18–21;
136:37–40).
End of quote.
APOSTASIES.
Whenever people choose to disregard, disobey
or distort any of the principles of the gospel or do not listen to the Lord’s
prophets they push themselves away from God and they begin to live in spiritual
darkness. This becomes apostasy and then
God withdraws His prophets and His priesthood authority which is required by
God to teach and administer the ordinances of the gospel.
There have been Six Dispensations given (as
mentioned in Dispensations above). Each
has ended in Apostasy.
GOSPEL IS RESTORED TO THE EARTH FOR THE LAST
TIME.
After a period of time the Lord has revealed
anew His Gospel. Heavenly Father revealed
His gospel through direct communication to prophets.
In this day, the Last Days, God called a prophet
for this, the Dispensation Of The Fullness Of Times, the last dispensation
before the Second Coming of the Lord.
This prophet is the Prophet Joseph Smith and he
has granted him priesthood authority which was not at that time on the earth, which
is recognized only by God and has revealed eternal truths including a new
volume of scripture written by Jews who left Jerusalem in 600 B.C. and came to
the Americas.
The Lord knows the end from the beginning so
He had this record made over a 1,000 year period and preserved it to come forth
in our day for this Final Dispensation.
This volume of scripture is a Second Witness
that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that the Bible is true.
This is called The Book of Mormon.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is God’s Plan of
Salvation for us. The Atonement that His
Son, Jesus Christ is the center of that plan.
Because of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ,
every one of us will rise from the grave, whether we were good or very evil and
all will be immortal beings.
We will then as an immortal being, be able to
stand before Jesus Christ at the Judgment Bar and answer for the things done in
the physical body on earth.
No one will escape from that one on one
judgment experience, no one.
The Atonement of Jesus Christ will take away
all of the sins that we confess and repent of.
If we do not repent, we must suffer for them and take the eternal punishment
that comes with the final judgment.
The Atonement is the only thing that will
allow us to move past only having an immortal body, but be able to have Eternal
Life and Exaltation, which is completely different than being Immortal.
He wants us to be successful in this life and
be worthy to return to His presence to live with Him.
Note that I said return. We have been there before. We did not just come into existence when we
were born.
For more information,
go to www.lds.org
YOU KNEW GOD THE FATHER BEFORE YOU WERE BORN
Yes, you knew God the Father before you were born. We all did.
FROM INTELLIGENCES TO SPIRITUAL BEINGS.
We were all intelligences in the beginning. We have always existed as intelligences and are co-eternal with God, but we did not have a spirit body.
At a certain point in our existence Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother gave us, each individually, a spirit body and each of us became one of His spirit sons and daughters.
Yes, we have a Heavenly Mother because there is gender in Heaven as it is here. There always has been and always will be.
The spirit body for men and women were made in His image, meaning arms, legs, head, eyes, nose, mouth, brain, and heart.
Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother both have them but they are immortal, glorified and perfected. Blood does not run in their veins as in ours. Blood is the life of the physical earthly body.
Heavenly Father and Mother have spirit matter running in their veins because it is eternal.
Some think the body is not needed.
If this were true, Jesus Christ would not have come back and resurrected His.
It is one of the purposes of this life to come and get a body of flesh and bone for our spirit. This is what will eventually become immortal.
As Jesus Christ said that He only does what He saw the Father do, we are doing what we saw Jesus Christ do. Follow Him.
Male and female have the same design except the male looks like Heavenly Father and the females are designed to look like Heavenly Mother.
WE KNOW GOD THE FATHER AS THE FATHER OF OUR SPIRITS.
We all know God Our Father even better than we know our earthly parents.
He also knows us better than we know ourselves.
We lived with our Heavenly Parents for eons of time. They trained and educated us in our roles of being a father and a mother and taught us what earth life would be like.
Heavenly Father loves us and is sad when we suffer and is happy when we do what is right. He has made it possible to communicate with Him at any time or in any place we are. This is what prayer is.
He wanted us to learn and grow and to be clean and pure through obedience to His commandments.
Part of our learning process is to live by faith. That is why our minds have a veil placed over it so we could not remember where we came from and our former life in the Spirit World.
This life is a test. We must learn to live by faith and learn all over again who our Heavenly Father is.
He wants us to know Him again.
We must listen to His prophets He would send and the words they would write through inspiration from Him.
He has told us in a revelation to the Prophet Joseph Smith on 1 November 1831, which pertains to all prophets, that as they speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost:
DOCTRINE and COVENANTS 68: 3-4
3 And this is the ensample unto them that they shall speak as they are moved upon by the Holy Ghost.
4 And whatsoever they shall speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost shall be scripture, shall be the will of the Lord, shall be the mind of the Lord, shall be the word of the Lord, shall be the voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation.
Through the process of education in the Spirit World we learned all about earth life and how it would be. We learned in fields of our own choosing there, that would help us here on earth.
Some learned about the body and how to repair it, and when they came to earth, the medical profession seems to come to them easier.
Others chose other fields. Some chose spirituality. Recognizing true principles of the gospel came easier for them and are becoming leaders in His kingdom. An Apostle in our day, Apostle Bruce R. McConkie had given us this information about the spirit world.
BEING BORN ON EARTH.
As a matter of fact, our earthly parents were our brothers and sisters in the Spirit World before coming here to earth.
They came to earth a little before we came. They made a physical body for us.
Since our spirit bodies have all the same parts as our physical bodies have, it would stand to reason that when the spirit enters the physical body, the spirit body helps the physical body and its counter parts to grow and expand.
Each body is uniquely designed to complement each other and allow us to become one and create families here on earth.
This is how our brothers and sisters get to come here to earth for their test and we must teach them about our Heavenly Father and His Plan of Salvation for us.
It is our mission and duty.
For more information see www.lds.org
FROM INTELLIGENCES TO SPIRITUAL BEINGS.
We were all intelligences in the beginning. We have always existed as intelligences and are co-eternal with God, but we did not have a spirit body.
At a certain point in our existence Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother gave us, each individually, a spirit body and each of us became one of His spirit sons and daughters.
Yes, we have a Heavenly Mother because there is gender in Heaven as it is here. There always has been and always will be.
The spirit body for men and women were made in His image, meaning arms, legs, head, eyes, nose, mouth, brain, and heart.
Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother both have them but they are immortal, glorified and perfected. Blood does not run in their veins as in ours. Blood is the life of the physical earthly body.
Heavenly Father and Mother have spirit matter running in their veins because it is eternal.
Some think the body is not needed.
If this were true, Jesus Christ would not have come back and resurrected His.
It is one of the purposes of this life to come and get a body of flesh and bone for our spirit. This is what will eventually become immortal.
As Jesus Christ said that He only does what He saw the Father do, we are doing what we saw Jesus Christ do. Follow Him.
Male and female have the same design except the male looks like Heavenly Father and the females are designed to look like Heavenly Mother.
WE KNOW GOD THE FATHER AS THE FATHER OF OUR SPIRITS.
We all know God Our Father even better than we know our earthly parents.
He also knows us better than we know ourselves.
We lived with our Heavenly Parents for eons of time. They trained and educated us in our roles of being a father and a mother and taught us what earth life would be like.
Heavenly Father loves us and is sad when we suffer and is happy when we do what is right. He has made it possible to communicate with Him at any time or in any place we are. This is what prayer is.
He wanted us to learn and grow and to be clean and pure through obedience to His commandments.
Part of our learning process is to live by faith. That is why our minds have a veil placed over it so we could not remember where we came from and our former life in the Spirit World.
This life is a test. We must learn to live by faith and learn all over again who our Heavenly Father is.
He wants us to know Him again.
We must listen to His prophets He would send and the words they would write through inspiration from Him.
He has told us in a revelation to the Prophet Joseph Smith on 1 November 1831, which pertains to all prophets, that as they speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost:
DOCTRINE and COVENANTS 68: 3-4
3 And this is the ensample unto them that they shall speak as they are moved upon by the Holy Ghost.
4 And whatsoever they shall speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost shall be scripture, shall be the will of the Lord, shall be the mind of the Lord, shall be the word of the Lord, shall be the voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation.
Through the process of education in the Spirit World we learned all about earth life and how it would be. We learned in fields of our own choosing there, that would help us here on earth.
Some learned about the body and how to repair it, and when they came to earth, the medical profession seems to come to them easier.
Others chose other fields. Some chose spirituality. Recognizing true principles of the gospel came easier for them and are becoming leaders in His kingdom. An Apostle in our day, Apostle Bruce R. McConkie had given us this information about the spirit world.
BEING BORN ON EARTH.
As a matter of fact, our earthly parents were our brothers and sisters in the Spirit World before coming here to earth.
They came to earth a little before we came. They made a physical body for us.
Since our spirit bodies have all the same parts as our physical bodies have, it would stand to reason that when the spirit enters the physical body, the spirit body helps the physical body and its counter parts to grow and expand.
Each body is uniquely designed to complement each other and allow us to become one and create families here on earth.
This is how our brothers and sisters get to come here to earth for their test and we must teach them about our Heavenly Father and His Plan of Salvation for us.
It is our mission and duty.
For more information see www.lds.org
Monday, July 22, 2013
OBEDIENCE TO THE RESTORED GOSPEL
The Lord does not want blind obedience in fear of punishment but He wants us to know what and why we are obedient to.
The 12th Article of Faith tells us to obey the laws of the land.
The Lord also said in a modern revelation to the Prophet Joseph Smith on August 1, 1831:
Doctrine and Covenants 58: 21-22
21 Let no man break the laws of the land, for he that keepeth the laws of God hath no need to break the laws of the land.
22 Wherefore, be subject to the powers that be, until he reigns whose right it is to reign, and subdues all enemies under his feet.
Our Father in Heaven loves each one of us because we are literally His spirit children.
We all existed in the Spirit World before we came here and our Heavenly Father created this earth for us to come here, gain a physical body for our spirit body and to be tested with our Free Agency.
His commandments that He has given us through prophets and the scriptures are for our learning and benefit. He gives us these instructions for us so we can have happy lives and prepare to come back to meet Him again if we prove ourselves worthy.
SATAN’S POWER TO TEMPT US.
He has given Satan and his followers the temporary power to tempt us so we can choose between right and wrong.
He has not given Satan power to tempt us beyond our power to resist. Satan cannot make us do anything that he wants us to do.
If we give in, it is because of our own choice and we will be accountable at Judgment day for the choices we had made.
Satan also knows our weaknesses from the spirit world and works on our weaknesses to tempt us to give in.
OBEDIENCE IS LOVE TOWARDS HEAVENLY FATHER.
Obedience to the commandments brings us peace in this life and eternal life in the world to come.
Obedience shows our love for God.
Disobedience brings us sorrow.
Heavenly Father knows our weaknesses and if we are diligent, we will notice them and try to correct them and make them strong.
He is patient with us and loves us.
When we have repented of our wrong choice, the Atonement of Jesus Christ will erase that wrong choice and it will not be in the records of Heaven at Judgment.
Doctrine and Covenants 130: 20-21
20 There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated—
21 And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated.
The Apostle John said:
John 14: 15
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
And again, we read this in the Old Testament:
Ecclesiastes 12: 13
13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
Are we going to walk with our Heavenly Father and be submissive to His Will and serve Him with our might. His standard is righteousness.
We must commit ourselves and dedicate ourselves to follow Him and learn His ways so we can be like Him.
For more information, go to www.lds.org
Thursday, July 18, 2013
ARTICLE OF FAITH 9 - GOD STILL SPEAKS TO MAN
THE NINTH ARTICLE OF FAITH:
We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
GOD IS ALIVE AND WELL.
God is not dead. He is not asleep. He has not finished His work and will not until the end of the world. God loves His children and still guides us as He did since the beginning of the world.
At the end of the Millennium His work will be completed and at that time, Jesus Christ will present the earth to the Father and say that it is finished.
WE ARE BEING TESTED.
Besides coming to earth and obtaining a body for our spirit to dwell in, and learn how to control it and not let it control the spirit, the earth was created for the purpose of testing His children to see what they would do with their Free Agency.
They would have opposition in all things and He would see how they would use that agency of choice.
SATAN HAS TEMPORARY POWER ON THIS EARTH.
Satan and his followers were cast down to the earth and are being used to tempt us. Satan has many, many ways to trick and con us into choosing the wrong way.
He creates things that look very close to the real, true doctrine or science.
For example, the science of Astronomy which is the study of the stars and planets, he has created a fake science called Astrology. In this way he leads the people astray and brings them closer to accepting his own doctrine and little by little he leads them down to Hell.
LIVING PROPHETS AND SCRIPTURES
As it says in the Ninth Article of Faith, we believe all that God has already revealed through the prophets of old. They have written it under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost and thus it becomes scripture.
DOCTRINE and COVENANTS 68: 3-4
3 And this is the ensample unto them, that they shall speak as they are moved upon by the Holy Ghost.
4 And whatsoever they shall speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost shall be scripture, shall be the will of the Lord, shall be the mind of the Lord, shall be the word of the Lord, shall be the voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation.
We believe the words of Adam, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Isaiah and all the prophets and consider their writings as scripture.
But, that is not all. As I said, He is Not Dead.
He speaks today to us, to guide us towards salvation. We are His children and He wants us back to live with Him. He will give us all the help He can through His prophets and leaders. He has not left us alone.
Most of the world thinks that He finished His work already and what He has given to us in the Bible is everything. This is not the case. His work is not finished so this is why He has chosen a prophet in our day to continue guiding us.
There are many places in the Bible that tell us that more of His word is coming. One of the main ones is this from Ezekiel.
Ezekiel 37: 15-20
15 The word of the Lord came again unto me, saying,
16 Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions:
17 And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand.
18 And when the children of thy people shall speak unto thee, saying, Wilt thou not shew us what thou meanest by these?
19 Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand.
20 And the sticks whereon thou writest shall be in thine hand before their eyes.
This prophesy has already come to pass. The Bible or the Stick of Judah and the Book of Mormon which is the Stick of Joseph or Ephraim and now One in our hands.
The Book of Mormon was written for us in our day and was buried by the Last Prophet, named Moroni, to come forth in the due time of the Lord, from the dust to the Prophet Joseph Smith, the first prophet in the Last Dispensation, the Dispensation of the Fullness of Times which we are now in.
The Lord’s work is not yet finished and we are told that more scriptures will come to help us accomplish His work before the Second Coming of His Son, Jesus Christ.
We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
GOD IS ALIVE AND WELL.
God is not dead. He is not asleep. He has not finished His work and will not until the end of the world. God loves His children and still guides us as He did since the beginning of the world.
At the end of the Millennium His work will be completed and at that time, Jesus Christ will present the earth to the Father and say that it is finished.
WE ARE BEING TESTED.
Besides coming to earth and obtaining a body for our spirit to dwell in, and learn how to control it and not let it control the spirit, the earth was created for the purpose of testing His children to see what they would do with their Free Agency.
They would have opposition in all things and He would see how they would use that agency of choice.
SATAN HAS TEMPORARY POWER ON THIS EARTH.
Satan and his followers were cast down to the earth and are being used to tempt us. Satan has many, many ways to trick and con us into choosing the wrong way.
He creates things that look very close to the real, true doctrine or science.
For example, the science of Astronomy which is the study of the stars and planets, he has created a fake science called Astrology. In this way he leads the people astray and brings them closer to accepting his own doctrine and little by little he leads them down to Hell.
LIVING PROPHETS AND SCRIPTURES
As it says in the Ninth Article of Faith, we believe all that God has already revealed through the prophets of old. They have written it under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost and thus it becomes scripture.
DOCTRINE and COVENANTS 68: 3-4
3 And this is the ensample unto them, that they shall speak as they are moved upon by the Holy Ghost.
4 And whatsoever they shall speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost shall be scripture, shall be the will of the Lord, shall be the mind of the Lord, shall be the word of the Lord, shall be the voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation.
We believe the words of Adam, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Isaiah and all the prophets and consider their writings as scripture.
But, that is not all. As I said, He is Not Dead.
He speaks today to us, to guide us towards salvation. We are His children and He wants us back to live with Him. He will give us all the help He can through His prophets and leaders. He has not left us alone.
Most of the world thinks that He finished His work already and what He has given to us in the Bible is everything. This is not the case. His work is not finished so this is why He has chosen a prophet in our day to continue guiding us.
There are many places in the Bible that tell us that more of His word is coming. One of the main ones is this from Ezekiel.
Ezekiel 37: 15-20
15 The word of the Lord came again unto me, saying,
16 Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions:
17 And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand.
18 And when the children of thy people shall speak unto thee, saying, Wilt thou not shew us what thou meanest by these?
19 Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand.
20 And the sticks whereon thou writest shall be in thine hand before their eyes.
This prophesy has already come to pass. The Bible or the Stick of Judah and the Book of Mormon which is the Stick of Joseph or Ephraim and now One in our hands.
The Book of Mormon was written for us in our day and was buried by the Last Prophet, named Moroni, to come forth in the due time of the Lord, from the dust to the Prophet Joseph Smith, the first prophet in the Last Dispensation, the Dispensation of the Fullness of Times which we are now in.
The Lord’s work is not yet finished and we are told that more scriptures will come to help us accomplish His work before the Second Coming of His Son, Jesus Christ.
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