This website contains nearly one hundred papers providing greater depth into these subjects. Recall the focus of this website. The title is “A Day in David” when Israel is gathered. The Lord’s people have His laws written into the hearts and minds. [1] Joseph Smith further said there would be few Gentiles joined together with Israel. Joseph’s statement with many references from the Covenant of Christ affirm a troubling outcome for latter-day Gentiles. [2]           Innovatio

Some became Covenant Christians by seeing contradictions between revelations and teachings of Joseph Smith and narratives that survived him. Among the more prominent is how leadership misinterpreted the Lord’s revelations received by Joseph Smith. The revelation is used to reinforce their authority and compel obedience through fear which is contrary to the revelation.           One example is the application of D&C 121:34-46 [now RE T&C 139:5-6]: “Behold, there are many calle

Discipleship “The word “disciple” is derived from discipline. A disciple follows the Master” (A Glossary of Gospel Terms, Disciple, second edition, p. 78, emphasis added).             A disciple is a strict practitioner of their mentor’s example. Christians claim discipleship to Christ verbally while their actions may lack devotion to His discipline. They believe His grace fills the gap in relation to their conduct and profession of belief, no matter the distance. His ability

Institutional Righteousness vs. Discipleship            Scripture can be intimidating. Initial impressions may cause a lack of faith in our ability to understand them. Those overcoming their fears press forward. They learn from God’s revelations and His spiritual endowment of light. Others, like the man in white in Lehi’s dream stand ready to beckon us to follow them.  We doubt ourselves and God’s abilities and turn to those who beckon. No matter how good, well intentioned, o

Adoption Reversed             Adoption is generally considered two parents assuming responsibility for providing and nurturing someone not conceived by them. Adoption from a Gospel perspective is reversed. A person is not adopted by parental selection. Adoption in the economy of God respects the agency of individuals. Everyone determines their spiritual lineage by emulating those whom they serve.   [1]  The choice may be conscious or random, but every choice reflects a decisi

“And now my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this straight and narrow path, I would ask if all is done. Behold, I say unto you, nay, for ye have not come thus far  save it were by the word of Christ, with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save .  Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feas

*There have been close to 100 papers posted to my website. Many of the earliest papers have been overlooked for various reasons. My intent is to edit and revise those papers for the purpose of making them more reader friendly. The first paper posted is timelier now than the original posting. The dated posts will have (Revised) under the title to distinguish them from more recent papers.   “We have yet to take the Spirit of Elias seriously enough to move on to receive somethin

*Apologies to my wife and others who struggle with copious text and footnotes. I never start with that intent, but it seems to happen with some regularity. Sometimes I feel compelled.   In Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith there is a reference about King David under the heading “ Murderers Have No Forgiveness. ” The heading establishes a context for Joseph Smith’s quote that veers from the original intent of Joseph Smith’s sermon. The quote states: “Although David was a

The subject of an end times servant has more relevance than many appreciate. It is noteworthy when the resurrected Lord, speaking to the Nephites, quotes a Messianic prophecy from Isaiah and adapts it to His servant. After Jesus introduces the prophecy of Moses to Nephite survivors, He unfolds a prophecy for future Nephite descendants. He speaks of how “ The Holy Ghost will be poured out on the Gentiles through Me .” The effect of the Holy Ghost on latter-day Gentiles empow

I have researched and written extensively about the prophecies of an end time servant. My understanding of the subject is an ongoing work product of more than 40 years. Others have studied a similar duration, but I doubt any have been as focused on the subject as I have. The research has not been in complete isolation from others who are bonified scholars. Over the years I have held substantive conversations with them and considered their perspectives. One thing they all had

Mormon attributed events of his day to prophecies of Abinadi and Samuel the Lamanite. The last paper addressed Abinadi and his prophecies. This paper reviews the prophecy of Samuel the Lamanite. There is a direct correlation between conditions among the Nephites and conditions among modern Gentiles. Samuel’s warning to the Nephites echoes the Lord’s warning to contemporary Gentiles as well as Gentiles in Joseph Smith’s day. Samuel prophesied to the Nephites when the Lord sen

Building on a recent talk by Stephanie Snuffer [which I highly recommend], [1] the following paper addresses the subject of king David further. David was a shepherd boy of little consequence until he met the Lord’s prophet, Samuel.   The Apostle Paul was a persecutor of Christians and complicit with the stoning of Stephen. Paul entered the synagogue on the sabbath day to preach. After a brief review of Israel’s history Paul introduced the subject of Samuel replacing Saul wit

In the preceding paper it was noted Mormon attributed his contemporary conditions to prophecies spoken by Abinadi and Samuel the Lamanite: “. . . Because of the hardness of their hearts, the land was cursed . And the Gaddianton robbers, who were among the Lamanites, raided the land, so much so  the inhabitants began to hide their valuables in the earth ; and they slipped away because the Lord had cursed the land , so they couldn’t hold onto them or recover them . There was so

While on family vacation in Florida, I was wrestling in the pool with five of my twelve grandchildren. A jovial retired man from Boston stood chuckling as he watched the ensuing struggle. I finally reached exhaustion and called for a time out.    The man and I talked about our families. Twenty of our twenty-two members were present. After sharing stories about our children, the man who was 76 years old informed me he invested one hundred percent of their funds in technology

In the Lord’s prayer the Savior spoke of a time when: “Your kingdom come; your will be done on earth, as it is done in Heaven” [1] In the Lord’s economy, there is no wishful thinking, no pipe dreams. Only objectives He intends to fulfill. For us, they seem inconceivable and impossible. But for God, facilitating our transformation to His image over eons of time (to us) is something He is comfortable with and successful at. Unlike God, we live under constraints of time, laborin

In the Lord’s prayer the Savior says, “Your kingdom come; your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.” [1] Like us, earth is preparing to be inhabited by a select group.The Savior refers to those who inherit earth in His “Sermon on the Mount.” “And blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth ” (RE Matthew 3:8, emphasis added). The kingdom of God comes to earth, but the meek will not inherit it until earth and those who occupy it complete preparations to reside

The Testimony of Saint John provides the following description of the Savior: “Now, therefore, know that Jesus is the Messiah, the Walker in the Path  who has proven for evermore that Father Ahman sent Him into the world to prove His Father’s path ” (RE T&C 171, The Testimony of Saint John 12:21, emphasis added). Our Heavenly Father sent His “Only Begotten” Son to earth. His objective was to prove to us the viability of the path the Father followed to Godliness. How it works

In part 1 of “Unraveling the Mystery of Godliness,” a personal anecdote with my grandchildren mentioned basketball. In review, the subject of dribbling was discussed and the difference between knowing how to dribble and proficiency in dribbling. Dribbling by a novice requires concentration of sight and coordination on the ball. Through practice and “muscle memory” a proficient dribbler turns their focus away from the ball to the court. The acquisition of this skill enables pl

“To be godly” or “close to God.” It is possible to pretend to godliness (i.e., have a “form” that mimics it) without actually being close to God . In the truest sense, to be close to God is to be in His presence ” ( A Glossary of Gospel Terms , Godliness, second edition, p.129, emphasis added) To be in His presence we must undergo a transformation from the attributes of the natural man to become like Him. Because: “If a person is meek and humble in heart  and confesses by the

In C of C, 3 Nephi 9:12 we find the fulfillment of Moses prophecy foretelling the coming of Christ in the last days. In the Savior’s explanation of the prophecy's fulfillment, the Father empowers a servant to deliver words of Christ to the Gentiles and from them to descendants of Lehi. When the servant delivers Christ’s words, those Gentiles rejecting them are “cut-off” from the Lord’s people of the covenant [Israel]. “ At that time , to advance My [the Saviors] cause, the Fa