Additional Role of Interpreters in Last Days Prophecy

Clarification:

In the “Awake and Arise” series, I may have incorrectly conflated the stone tablet of Coriantumr with twenty-four plates discovered by Limhi’s people. Both records were passed down from kings to Alma and his son, Helaman.  The stone tablet with the record of the Jaredites is partially shared in Moroni’s abridgment in the Book of Ether. Confusion arises because they represent separate societies occupying the same land who suffer the same fate. Both became wicked and were destroyed when they departed from serving Christ.

At the time Alma delivered the plates to Helaman, Alma expounded on the Lord’s purpose for preserving the records for future generations. Alma explained how the “interpreters” had a broader purpose beyond translation. They reveal how wickedness of earlier residents led to destruction for the same.

“Now I’ll tell you about those 24 plates: You must keep them safe, so that the mysteries and their dark, secret schemes, the conspiracies of those people who were destroyed, can be revealed to this nation. They will need to hear about all their murders, robberies, plundering, wickedness, and abominations. And you must preserve these Directors. When the Lord saw His people began to fall into dark acts and to commit secret murders and abominations, the Lord warned that if they didn’t repent, they would be altogether annihilated from the earth. The Lord said: I’ll prepare a stone for My servant Gazelem [1] that will bring their dark acts into the light, so I can expose for the people who serve Me the errors, depravity, and abominations of the earlier believers who fell into secret wickedness and dark works. And now, my son, these Directors were prepared to accomplish the prophecies of God, which He committed to have happen, saying: I’ll expose to public view, out of darkness into light, all their secret offenses and their abominations. And unless they repent, I’ll destroy them and annihilate them from the earth. And I’ll bring to light all their secrets and abominations to every nation who will inhabit the land after this. And now, my son, we see they didn’t repent; therefore they’ve been removed. And so far God’s word has been fulfilled; indeed, their secret abominations have been brought out of darkness and revealed to us.

And now, my son, I command you to not publish all their oaths, covenants, and agreements used in their secret abominations; indeed, you must continue protecting this people from all their signs and conspiracies, so they don’t learn them,[2] so they can’t risk falling into darkness as well, and also be destroyed. Remember, there’s a curse on all this land that any people who choose darkness until they’re fully ripe in iniquity, will be destroyed by God’s power. That being the case, I don’t want this people to be destroyed. So you must protect this people from these secret plans of their oaths and covenants. And only reveal to them the wickedness, murders, and abominations. You must teach them to reject and regard such wickedness, abominations, and murders with disgust. You must also teach them the reason those people were destroyed was due to their wickedness, abominations, and murders. Indeed, they murdered all the Lord’s prophets who came among them to condemn their iniquities. And the blood of those they murdered cried out to the Lord their God for vengeance upon their murderers. As a result, God’s judgments were imposed upon those who practiced that darkness and were part of the secret conspiracies. And may the land be cursed forever against those who work in darkness, to their utter destruction, unless they repent before they’re fully ripe.

Now, my son, remember the words that I’ve spoken to you. Don’t entrust those secret plans to this people, but teach them an everlasting hatred for sin and iniquity. Preach to them repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Teach them to humble themselves and to be meek and humble in heart. Teach them to resist every temptation of the accuser with their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Teach them never to grow tired of doing good, but to be meek and humble in heart — because then they’ll find rest for their souls. Remember, my son, and learn wisdom while you’re young; indeed, learn to keep God’s commandments while you’re young. Cry to God in prayer — in all that you do — for help, strength, and comfort; and do everything you do for the Lord. And no matter where you go, go with the Lord. Direct all your thoughts to the Lord and always place your heart’s desires on the Lord. Consult the Lord in everything you do, and He’ll direct you for good. When you lie down at night, lie down directing your thoughts and feelings to the Lord, asking Him to watch over you in your sleep. When you get up in the morning, let your heart be full of thanks to God. And if you always do these things, you’ll be lifted up on the last day” (CofC Alma 17:12-14; emphasis added).

People of Zarahemla [descendants of Judah] anxiously received scriptures from Laban’s plates containing a record of their forefathers as well as Joseph’s forefathers. By common consent, Mosiah is anointed king over both people and a large stone with engravings was brought to Mosiah. The stone engravings were in possession of the people of Zarahemla with no means of interpreting the record. It was brought to the first Mosiah and he interpreted the record by “the gift and power of God” through the “interpreters.” For both people these records were considered “rich treasures” because they revealed God’s relationship to their Father’s and a guide to return to His presence. [3]

          This is not a random event. It has prophetic implications as a type for the last days and Israel’s gathering. After a Gentile remnant carries the Covenant of Christ to Lehi’s descendants [Ephraim (Gentiles) and Manasseh (Lehi’s descendants); collectively Joseph], they gather Israel from among collapsing Gentile nations. [4] The Lord revealed the following regarding that day:

“Hearken and hear, O you inhabitants of the earth, and listen you elders of my church together, and hear the voice of the Lord, for he calls upon all men and he commands all men everywhere to repent. For behold, the Lord God has sent forth the angel crying through the midst of Heaven, [5] saying, Prepare the way of the Lord and make his paths straight [Elias forerunner like John the Baptist], for the hour of his coming is near, when the Lamb [Christ] shall stand upon Mount Zion and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand, [6] having his Father’s name written in their foreheads [adoption (sealing) into God’s family, Israel]. Wherefore, prepare yourselves for the coming of the Bridegroom. Go all you, go out to meet him, for behold, he shall stand upon the mount of Olivet and upon the mighty ocean, even the great deep [7], and upon the islands of the sea, [8] and upon the land of Zion. [9] And he [Christ] shall utter his voice [or the voice of His servants which is the same] out of Zion [10] and he shall speak from Jerusalem, and his voice shall be heard among all people [11] and it shall be a voice as the voice of many waters, [12] and as the voice of a great thunder [13] which shall break down the mountains [Isaiah’s metaphor for nations], and the valleys shall not be found [great leveling of all societies, equality]. He shall command the great deep, [14] and it shall be driven back [15] into the north countries and the islands shall become one land, 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. And the Lord, even the Savior, shall stand in the midst of his people and shall reign over all flesh. And they who are in the north countries shall come in remembrance before the Lord, and their prophets shall hear his voice [or the “voice of His servants because it is the same.” see T&C 54:7] and shall no longer stay [restrain] themselves, and they shall smite the rocks, [16] and the ice shall flow down at their presence, and a highway shall be cast up in the midst of the great deep. Their enemies shall become a prey unto them, [17] and in the barren deserts [spiritual desolation of Babylon] there shall come forth pools of living water [revelation] [18] and the parched ground shall no longer be a thirsty land [as was Zarahemla when Mosiah discovered it]. And they [scattered of Israel] shall bring forth their rich treasures [scriptures and genealogy] unto the children of Ephraim, my servants [19], and the boundaries of the everlasting hills [20] shall tremble at their presence, and there shall they fall down and be crowned with glory [light and truth] [21], even in Zion, by the hands of the servants of the Lord, even the children of Ephraim, and they shall be filled with songs of everlasting joy [22]. Behold, this is the blessing of the everlasting God upon the heads of the tribes of Israel, and the richer blessing upon the head of Ephraim and his fellows. [23] And they also of the tribe of Judah, after their pain, shall be sanctified in holiness before the Lord, to dwell in his presence day and night, for ever and ever” (RE T&C 58:3; emphasis added).

Upon the stone was written the record of the Jaredite people [type for “rich treasures”] who were led by God to the chosen. Their departure occurred when the tower of Babel was constructed and the Lord confounded languages.

          Part 4 shared a portion of Moroni’s abridgment of Mosiah’s translation warning all who occupied this land of a divine requirement. They must serve Jesus Christ, the God of this land, if they hope to be preserved and prosper. Departing from the Lord leads to destruction, should they fail to repent.

          Coriantumr, the lone survivor of the Jaredite nation and only witness to their destruction appeared in Zarahemla. He remained for “nine months” and departed. [24]

          Details of the lost Jaredite civilization were preserved by God to warn Nephites and latter-day Gentiles of the peril they face if they turn from the Lord, embracing secret oaths and murder. The Covenant of Christ testifies of death and destruction befalling Jaredites, Nephites, and Gentiles whom God brought to this land.

          The Covenant of Christ is more than a warning to latter-day Gentiles. It contains instructions on how to avoid destruction through obedience to God and His commandments. Nephite inhabitants of this land found peace, prosperity, and preservation in serving the Lord. When they departed from Him, they lost civility and destroyed themselves.

          Their success was founded on a growing body of scripture given by direct revelation and restoring hidden records to inspired kings. They were given means from God for interpreting languages and revealing wickedness. Those means were passed on throughout the reigns of Mosiah, Benjamin, and Mosiah. When the reign of kings ended the “interpreters” and other instruments from God were given to Alma the younger and his lineage.

          Moroni declares,

“. . . when you see the things come among you, [murderous conspiracies] “wake up to a sense of your awful situation because of this secret society that’s come into existence among you.”

          There is no question secret societies and oaths are among latter-day Gentiles. Only the question of what modern Gentiles do remains open. Salvation, peace and prosperity is found in repentance and serving Christ. All other roads lead to destruction both temporally and spiritually. [25]

          As with all previous societies succumbing to the wiles of the Accuser, the Lord provides means to expose to His servant’s secret acts of wickedness and abomination. The means may involve instruments like the “interpreters” or “Urim and Thummim” or anointing the eyes of His servants to open them to the misdeeds of those hiding their evil doing.

“Alma saw that Amulek’s words silenced Zeezrom. Zeezrom realized Amulek caught him lying and misleading, attempting to destroy him. Because Zeezrom was trembling in fear from his guilt, Alma spoke directly to him, confirming Amulek’s words and elaborating and explaining the scriptures beyond what Amulek had covered. What Alma told Zeezrom was overheard by everyone who gathered around them. He said this: Now Zeezrom, your lies and misrepresentations have been exposed. But you haven’t just lied to these people, you’ve also lied to God. He knows all your thoughts and God has revealed your thoughts to us by His Spirit. You see we understand your plan. It was cunning, but follows Satan’s pattern, hoping to use a lie to deceive these people, so you could turn them against us. You expected them to scorn us and throw us out. Now this was your adversary’s plan, and you’ve surrendered, letting him control you. Remember that what I tell you, I tell to everyone. I warn all of you that this was a trap of the adversary he has used to control you. He hopes you follow him and get caught in his chains. He wants your everlasting destruction, which results from letting him control you.

When Alma had said this; Zeezrom began to tremble even more intensely, since he was convinced more and more of God’s power. He also realized Alma and Amulek had exposed him. And he was convinced they knew the thoughts and secret intentions of his heart. They knew this because of the spirit of prophecy. And Zeezrom began to ask them sincere questions, so he could learn more about God’s kingdom. He asked Alma: What do Amulek’s words about the resurrection of the dead mean? How will all rise from the dead, both the just and unjust, and be brought to stand before God to be judged according to their works?” (CofC Alma 9:1-2; emphasis added).

The Lord intends to bring every evil act to light in the last days. The means may include physical instruments like “interpreters” or revelation through the spirit of prophecy and the Holy Ghost.

“Hearken, O you people of my church, says the voice of him who dwells on high, and whose eyes are upon all men. Yea, truly I say, hearken you people from afar, and you that are upon the islands of the sea, listen together, for truly the voice of the Lord is unto all men, and there is none to escape. And there is no eye that shall not see, neither ear that shall not hear, neither heart that shall not be penetrated. And the rebellious shall be pierced with much sorrow, for their iniquities shall be spoken upon the housetops and their secret acts shall be revealed, and the voice of warning shall be unto all people by the mouth of my disciples whom I have chosen in these last days. They shall go forth and none shall stay them, for I, the Lord, have commanded them” (RE T&C 54:1; emphasis added).

Joseph Smith said the following as voice of warning:

“We have thieves among us, adulterers, liars, hypocrites. If God should speak from heaven, he would command you not to steal, not to commit adultery, not to covet, nor deceive, but be faithful over a few things. As far as we degenerate from God, we descend to the devil and lose knowledge, and without knowledge we cannot be saved, and while our hearts are filled with evil, we are studying evil, there is no room in our hearts for good, or studying good. Is not God good? Then you be good; if He is faithful, then you be faithful. Add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, and seek for every good thing. The Church must be cleansed, and I proclaim against all iniquity. A man is saved no faster than he gets knowledge, for if he does not get knowledge, he will be brought into captivity by some evil power in the other world, as evil spirits will have more knowledge, and consequently more power than many men who are on the earth. Hence it needs revelation to assist us, and give us knowledge of the things of God. What is the reason that the Priests of the day do not get revelation? They ask only to consume it upon their lusts. Their hearts are corrupt, and they cloak their iniquity by saying there are no more revelations. But if any revelations are given of God, they are universally opposed by the priests and Christendom at large; for they reveal their wickedness and abominations” (Smith Jr., Joseph. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith (pp. 247-248; emphasis added). (Function). Kindle Edition.

Also:

“Joseph the Seer arose in the power of God; reproved and rebuked wickedness before the people, in the name of the Lord God. He wished to say a few words to suit the condition of the general mass, and then said: I shall speak with authority of the Priesthood in the name of the Lord God, which shall prove a savor of life unto life, or of death unto death. Notwithstanding this congregation profess to be Saints, yet I stand in the midst of all [kinds of] characters and classes of men. If you wish to go where God is, you must be like God, or possess the principles which God possesses, for if we are not drawing towards God in principle, we are going from Him and drawing towards the devil. Yes, I am standing in the midst of all kinds of people. Search your hearts, and see if you are like God. I have searched mine, and feel to repent of all my sins” (Smith Jr., Joseph. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith (p. 247, emphasis added). (Function). Kindle Edition.

[1] Joseph Smith used Gazelam as a code name to hide his identity in revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants that are since been redacted. Gazelem could have been Joseph Smith’s new name given by the Lord. In the “An Exhaustive Concordance of the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl of Great Price,” R. Gary Shapiro suggests Gazelem was the “new name” for Enoch without citation. (p.368). Another possibility is Gazelem may have been a seer among the Jaredite people who were destroyed. The “Directors” may be another name for “interpreters” or “Urim and Thummim.” In the event this is the case gaining clarity on this subject must be reserved for a future time when the Lord makes known more content from the full text of the Covenant of Christ.

[2] “I Moroni am not writing the details of their oaths and conspiracies, since it has been revealed to me that they exist among all people; and they exist among the Lamanites. And they’ve brought about the people’s destruction, whom I’m now writing about [Jaredites], as well as the Nephites’ destruction. Any nation that upholds such secret conspiracies, to get power and wealth, until they spread throughout the nation, will be destroyed. Because the Lord won’t permit the blood of His holy ones, which will be shed by them, to always cry out to Him from the ground for vengeance without avenging them. Therefore, you Gentiles, it’s God’s wisdom for you to be shown these things, so you’ll repent of your sins and not allow these murderous conspiracies, that are always set up for power and money, to control you, so that you won’t provoke your own destruction. Indeed, the sword of the justice of the Eternal God will fall upon you [“Wherefore, the voice of the Lord is unto the end of the earth, that all that will hear may hear: Prepare yourselves, prepare for that which is to come, for the Lord is near and the anger of the Lord is kindled, and his sword is bathed in Heaven and it shall fall upon the inhabitants of the earth, and the arm of the Lord shall be revealed. . .” RE T&C 54:3], to your ruin and destruction, if you allow these things to continue. Therefore the Lord commands you, when you see these things come among you, to wake up to a sense of your awful situation because of this secret society that’s come into existence among you. Woe [condition of deep suffering] to this conspiracy on account of the blood of those who have been killed; they [martyrs] cry out from the dust for vengeance upon it, and upon those who make and support it.

Indeed, whoever builds it up hopes to overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations, and countries. These conspiracies bring about everyone’s destruction since they’re built up by the accuser, who’s the father of all lies. He’s the same liar who deceived our first parents, who caused people from the start to commit murder. He’s hardened people’s hearts so that they’ve murdered the prophets, stoned them, and banished them. As a result, I’ve been commanded to write these things so evil can be ended. And so the time will come when Satan won’t have any power over people’s hearts, so they can be persuaded to always do good and come to the Source of all righteousness and be saved” (CofC Ether 3:18-19; emphasis added).

[3] “. . . Their enemies shall become a prey unto them, and in the barren deserts [metaphor for spiritual destitution] there shall come forth pools of living water [revelation, truth] and the parched ground shall no longer be a thirsty land. And they [scattered of Israel] shall bring forth their rich treasures unto the children of Ephraim, my servants, [recreation of Mosiah’s reception in Zarahemla] and the boundaries of the everlasting hills shall tremble at their presence, and there shall they fall down and be crowned with glory, even in Zion, by the hands of the servants of the Lord, even the children of Ephraim, and they shall be filled with songs of everlasting joy [redeeming love]. Behold, this is the blessing of the everlasting God upon the heads of the tribes of Israel, and the richer blessing upon the head of Ephraim and his fellows. And they also of the tribe of Judah, after their pain, shall be sanctified in holiness before the Lord, to dwell in his presence day and night, for ever and ever” (RE T&C 58:3; emphasis added).

[4] “Then I looked and saw the whore of the whole earth. She was spread everywhere across the seas, ruling over the whole earth, among all people of every nation, tribe, and language. And I saw the congregation of the Lamb of God; its numbers were few because of the wickedness and abominations of the whore who was spread everywhere across the seas. Nevertheless, I saw that the congregation of the Lamb, who were God’s holy ones, were also there throughout the earth; but their presence was small because of the wickedness of the great whore whom I saw. And I saw the great mother of abominations assembled in large numbers all over the earth among all Gentile nations to fight against the Lamb of God. Then I saw the power of the Lamb of God descend upon the holy ones of the Lamb’s congregation and upon the Lord’s covenant people, who were scattered across the earth. They were armed with righteousness and God’s power in great glory.

And I saw that God’s wrath was poured out upon that wealthy and utterly wicked church, so that wars and reports of wars arose among the nations and tribes of the earth. As these wars and reports of wars arose among the nations that followed the mother of abominations, the Angel told me: God’s wrath is upon the mother of harlots. You’re a witness to all these things. When the time comes that God’s anger is poured out upon the mother of harlots — the wealthy and utterly wicked church of the whole earth, whose foundation is the accuser — then as that happens it will be part of the Father’s work to vindicate the covenants He has made with His people who belong to the house of Israel” (CofC 1 Nephi 3:28-29; emphasis added).

“And thus with the sword and by bloodshed, the inhabitants of the earth shall mourn. And with famine, and plague, and earthquake, and the thunder of heaven, and the fierce and vivid lightning also, shall the inhabitants of the earth be made to feel the wrath, and indignation, and chastening hand of an Almighty God, until the consumption decreed has made a full end of all nations, that the cry of the saints, and of the blood of the saints, shall cease to come up into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth from the earth, to be avenged of their enemies” (RE T&C 85:3; emphasis added).

[5] “Question: What are we to understand by the little book which was eaten by John, as mentioned in the 10th chapter of Revelation [Rev. 3:13]?

Answer: We are to understand that it was a mission and an ordinance for him [John the Beloved] to gather the tribes of Israel. Behold, this is Elias [John the Beloved] who, as it is written, must come and restore all things” (RE T&C 74:14; emphasis added).

[6] “Question: What are we to understand by sealing the one hundred and forty-four thousand, out of all the tribes of Israel, twelve thousand out of every tribe?

Answer: We are to understand that those who are sealed are high priests [Spirit of Elijah, fullness of the Priesthood], ordained unto the Holy Order of God, to administer the everlasting gospel. For they are they who are ordained out of every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, by the angels to whom is given power over the [Gentile] nations of the earth, to bring as many as will come to the church of the Firstborn” (RE T&C 74:11; emphasis added).

[7] “But at the horizon of the morning star, Jesus stood at the sacred entry; however the disciples could not recognize it was Jesus for the glory about Him. Then Jesus asked them, Children, have you celebrated the ritual meal? They answered Him, No. And He directed them and said, Approach the veil to the east and you will find what you seek. They approached the veil as instructed, and now they were overcome by the multitude of what was received. Therefore the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he quickly clothed himself (for he did not wear the apparel), and cast himself into the great deep. And the other disciples came into the ark and parted also the veil (for they were not bound by the limits of this world).

As they ascended, they saw a fire burning at the offering place and the Flesh Offering was upon it, who is also the Bread of Life. Jesus said to them, Rise above the flesh you now occupy, and Simon Peter ascended, and drew the veil open, and there were ministering a hundred, and then fifty, and then three; and for these many who they beheld, yet the veil remained open.

Jesus said to them, Come and eat the food of the rising sun. And none of the disciples asked of him, What name is now yours? knowing that it was their Lord. Jesus then served to them His flesh and blood, and they were filled by His Spirit. This was now the third time Jesus ministered to His disciples following His rise from among the dead” (RE T&C 171, Testimony of St. John 12:15-17; emphasis added).

[8] “Everything that is not part of the great Euro-Asian- African land mass. Although North America is currently regarded as a continent, in Covenant of Christ and Book of Mormon vernacular, it is an isle of the sea (see 2 Nephi 7:5). Further, most of Israel was relocated onto the isles of the sea (see 1 Nephi 7:2). So when the Lord affirms He speaks to those on the isles of the sea, He is confirming that there are multiple locations, involving multiple parties, each one of which has received sacred communication from Him. Mankind thinks of “isles” apart from continents, but Nephi corrects that. Insofar as Nephi’s use of the Isaiah materials is concerned, the Americas are part of the isles, and this message is directed to residents of the Americas” (A Glossary of Gospel Terms, Isles of the Sea, p.172; emphasis added).

[9] “But if the Gentiles repent and hearken to My words and don’t harden their hearts, I’ll establish My congregation among them. And they will enter the covenant and be included with the remnant of Jacob, to whom I’ve given this land as their inheritance. They will join with My people, the remnant of Jacob, and all those of the house of Israel who come, so they can build a city that will be called the New Jerusalem. Then they will join with My people who are scattered throughout the land so they can be brought in together to the New Jerusalem. Then the Powers of heaven [Patriarchal Fathers] will come down among them, and I will be with them as well. Then the Father’s work will be underway, when this gospel is preached among the remnant of this people. Truly I say to you: At that time, the Father’s work will be taught among the scattered portion of My people, even the tribes that have been lost, whom the Father led away out of Jerusalem. The Father will work with My scattered people, to enable them to come to Me, so they can call on the Father in My name. Truly the work of the Father will be underway in all nations, clearing the way to let His people be gathered home to the land of their inheritance. They will go out from all nations. And they won’t go hastily or at a run, because I will go in front of them, says the Father, and I will guard them from behind” (CofC 3 Nephi 10:1; emphasis added).

[10] “The city of Zion spoken of by David, in the one hundred and second Psalm, will be built upon the land of America, "And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads." (Isaiah 35:10); and then they will be delivered from the overflowing scourge that shall pass through the land. But Judah shall obtain deliverance at Jerusalem. See Joel 2:32; Isaiah 26:20 and 21; Jeremiah 31:12; Psalms 1:5; 10. These are testimonies that the Good Shepherd will put forth His own sheep, and lead them out from all nations where they have been scattered in a cloudy and dark day, to Zion, and to Jerusalem; besides many more testimonies which might be brought” (Smith Jr., Joseph. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith (p. 16, emphasis added). (Function). Kindle Edition.

“But if the Gentiles repent and hearken to My words and don’t harden their hearts, I’ll establish My congregation among them. And they will enter the covenant and be included with the remnant of Jacob, to whom I’ve given this land as their inheritance. They [Gentiles] will join with My people, the remnant of Jacob, and all those of the house of Israel who come, so they can build a city that will be called the New Jerusalem. Then they [Gentiles] will join with My people who are scattered throughout the land [Israel] so they can be brought in together to the New Jerusalem. Then the Powers of heaven [Patriarchal Fathers] will come down among them, and I [Christ] will be with them as well. Then the Father’s work will be underway, when this gospel is preached among the remnant of this people. Truly I say to you: At that time, the Father’s work will be taught among the scattered portion of My people, even the tribes that have been lost, whom the Father led away out of Jerusalem. The Father will work with My scattered people, to enable them to come to Me, so they can call on the Father in My name. Truly the work of the Father will be underway in all nations, clearing the way to let His people be gathered home to the land of their inheritance. They will go out from all [Gentile] nations. And they won’t go hastily or at a run, because I will go in front of them, says the Father, and I will guard them from behind” (CofC 3 Nephi 10:1; emphasis added).

[11] “Search these commandments for they are true and faithful, and the prophecies and promises which are in them shall all be fulfilled. What I, the Lord, have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself. And though the heaven and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by my own voice or by the voice of my servants it is the same. For behold and lo, the Lord is God and the spirit bears record, and the record is true, and the truth abides for ever and ever. Amen” (RE T&C 54:7; emphasis added).

[12] “Afterward, he brought me again unto the door of the house [Temple], and behold, waters [truth, revelation] issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward — for the forefront of the house stood toward the east — and the waters came down from under, from the right side of the house at the south side of the altar. Then he brought me out of the way of the gate northward, and led me about the way outside unto the outer gate by the way that looks eastward; and behold, there ran out waters on the right side. And when the man that had the line in his hand went forth eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters (the waters were to the ankles). Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through the waters (the waters were to the knees). Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through (the waters were to the loins). Afterward he measured a thousand, and it was a river that I could not pass over, for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over. And he said unto me, Son of man [Ezekiel], have you seen this?

Then he brought me and caused me to return to the brink of the river. Now when I had returned, behold, at the bank of the river were very many trees [Isaiah’s metaphor for trees, see RE Isaiah 20:2] on the one side and on the other. Then said he unto me, These waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea — which, being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed. And it shall come to pass that everything that lives, which moves, wherever the rivers shall come, shall live. And there shall be a very great multitude of fish [“I will make you fishers of men” see RE Matthew 3:2] because these waters shall come there, for they shall be healed. And everything shall live where the river comes. And it shall come to pass that the fishers shall stand upon it from Engedi even unto Eneglaim. They shall be a place to spread forth nets; their fish shall be according to their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceedingly many. But the miry places thereof and the marshes [places where the water is stagnate, no revelation] thereof shall not be healed; they shall be given to salt [sterile, no life, cursed]. . . And by the river, upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for food — whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed [eternal, endless]. It shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary [Temple]; and the fruit thereof shall be for food [spiritual nourishment], and the leaf thereof for medicine [healing]. (RE Ezekiel 21:58-61; emphasis added).

“. . . And righteousness will I send down out of Heaven. Truth will I send forth out of the earth to bear testimony of my Only Begotten, his resurrection from the dead, yea, and also the resurrection of all men. And righteousness and truth will I cause to sweep the earth as with a flood, to gather out my own elect from the four quarters of the earth unto a place which I shall prepare, a holy city, that my people may gird up their loins and be looking forth for the time of my coming. For there shall be my tabernacle, and it shall be called Zion, a New Jerusalem. And the Lord said unto Enoch, Then shall you and all your city meet them there, and we will receive them into our bosom. And they shall see us, and we will fall upon their necks, and they shall fall upon our necks, and we will kiss each other; and there shall be my abode. And it shall be Zion which shall come forth out of all the creations which I have made, and for the space of a thousand years shall the earth rest” (RE Genesis 4:22; emphasis added).

[13] “And again, the Lord shall utter his voice out of Heaven saying, Hearken, O you nations of the earth, and hear the words of that God who made you: O you nations of the earth, how often would I have gathered you as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, but you would not? How oft have I called upon you by the mouth of my servants, and by the ministering of angels, and by my own voice, and by the voice of thunderings, and by the voice of lightnings, and by the voice of tempests, and by the voice of earthquakes and great hailstorms, and by the voice of famines and pestilences of every kind, and by the great sound of a trump, and by the voice of judgments, and by the voice of mercy all the day long, and by the voice of glory and honor and the riches of eternal life, and would have saved you with an everlasting salvation, but you would not? Behold, the day has come when the cup of the wrath of my indignation is full” (RE T&C 29:8; emphasis added).

[14] “. . . And thus, having been approved of God, he was ordained a high priest after the Order of the covenant which God made with Enoch, it being after the Order of the Son of God, which Order came not by man, nor the will of men, neither by father nor mother, neither by beginning of days nor end of years, but of God. And it was delivered unto men by the calling of his own voice, according to his own will, unto as many as believed on his name.

For God, having sworn unto Enoch and unto his seed with an oath by himself that everyone being ordained after this Order and calling should have power, by faith, to break mountains, to divide the seas, to dry up waters, to turn them out of their course, to put at defiance the armies of nations, to divide the earth, to break every band, to stand in the presence of God, to do all things according to his will, according to his command subdue principalities and powers; and this by the will of the Son of God which was from before the foundation of the world. And men having this faith, coming up unto this Order of God, were translated and taken up into Heaven” (RE Genesis 7:18-19; emphasis added).

[15] “Now Melchizedek was a man of faith who wrought righteousness. And when a child, he feared God, and stopped the mouths of lions, and quenched the violence of fire. And thus, having been approved of God, he was ordained a high priest after the Order of the covenant which God made with Enoch, it being after the Order of the Son of God, which Order came not by man, nor the will of men, neither by father nor mother, neither by beginning of days nor end of years, but of God. And it was delivered unto men by the calling of his own voice, according to his own will, unto as many as believed on his name.

For God, having sworn unto Enoch and unto his seed with an oath by himself that everyone being ordained after this Order and calling should have power, by faith, to break mountains, to divide the seas, to dry up waters, to turn them out of their course, to put at defiance the armies of nations, to divide the earth, to break every band, to stand in the presence of God, to do all things according to his will, according to his command subdue principalities and powers; and this by the will of the Son of God which was from before the foundation of the world. And men having this faith, coming up unto this Order of God, were translated and taken up into Heaven” (RE Genesis 7:18-19; emphasis added).

[16] “Then came the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, into the desert of Zin in the first month. And the people stayed in Kadesh. And Miriam died there and was buried there. And there was no water for the congregation, and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron. And the people chided with Moses and spoke, saying, Would to God that we had died when our brethren died before the Lord. And why have you brought up the congregation of the Lord into this wilderness, that we and our cattle should die there? And why have you made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in unto this evil place? It is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink. And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they fell upon their faces; and the glory of the Lord appeared unto them. And the Lord spoke unto Moses, saying, Take the rod and gather the assembly together, you and Aaron your brother, and speak unto the rock before their eyes, and it shall give forth his water. And you shall bring forth to them water out of the rock; so you shall give the congregation and their beasts drink.

And Moses took the rod from before the Lord, as he commanded him. And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, you rebels, must we fetch you water out of this rock? And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice, and the water came out abundantly; and the congregation drank, and their beasts also. And the Lord spoke unto Moses and Aaron, Because you believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them. This is the water of Meribah [=dispute, quarrel], because the children of Israel quarreled with the Lord, and he was sanctified in them” (RE Numbers 10:1-2; emphasis added).

[17] “And it shall come to pass in that day that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people which shall be left from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. And he shall set up an ensign for the nations [Spirit of Elijah, Priesthood fullness], and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah, from the four corners of the earth. The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off. Ephraim shall not envy Judah and Judah shall not vex Ephraim. But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west, they shall spoil them of the east together, they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab, and the children of Ammon shall obey them. And the Lord shall utterly destroy the tongue [commander in chief]  of the Egyptian sea [military], and with his mighty wind [Spirit of Elijah, power used to part the Red Sea] he shall shake his hand over the river, and shall smite it in the seven streams, and make men go over with dry feet. And there shall be a highway for the remnant of his people which shall be left from Assyria, like it was to Israel in the day that he [Moses] came up out of the land of Egypt” (RE Isaiah 5:5; emphasis added).

[18] “His followers were not with him, but had left to buy food in the city and therefore he [Jesus] was alone. The Samaritan woman replied to him, I do not understand why a Jew would ask me as a Samaritan to give you a drink. Jews look down on us as unclean, so why would you ask me such a thing?

Jesus replied, I have been sent by God, and if you recognized who now asks you to give a drink of water, you would gladly do so and ask me in turn for the gift of living water. The woman responded to him, Sir, you have nothing to reach the water, and the well is deep, so how can you suggest you could offer living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, to whom God gave this well, who drank here with his children, and he watered his cattle from this source? Jesus answered her, Whoever drinks water from this well will thirst again, but whoever drinks from the living water which I shall give him shall live from eternity to eternity, for the Source in me will be the power to rise upward forever, worlds without end” (RE T&C 171, The Testimony of Saint John 4:2-3; emphasis added).

[19] “Ephraim the envious, drunkard, headstrong, idolater, and rebellious will finally repent in the last days and allow the Lord to rule over him. It will be as if Ephraim were never cast off. Ephraim will then provide those returning with “crowns of glory,” or in other words with intelligence, which is light and truth, or the knowledge of God. At that point no one will tell another, “Know ye the Lord,” because all will know Him, from the least to the greatest. Some few Gentiles will be included: “But if they [Gentiles] will repent” [after first failing to receive what He offered through Joseph Smith] “and hearken unto my words, and harden not their hearts, I will establish my church among them,” [His real church, not an earthly institution] “and they [Gentiles] shall come in unto the covenant and be numbered among this the remnant of Jacob,” [an actual covenant established through His word] “unto whom I have given this land for their inheritance [Lehi’s descendants];” [those Gentiles who will repent and return will also inherit this land and be numbered in Zion. It can include anyone who will repent and return.] “And they [Gentiles] shall assist my people, the remnant of Jacob, and also as many of the house of Israel as shall come, that they may build a city, which shall be called the New Jerusalem. And then shall they [repentant Gentiles] assist my people [Israel] that they may be gathered in, who are scattered upon all the face of the land, in unto the New Jerusalem. And then shall the power of heaven come down among them; and I also will be in their midst.” [710] [Here, “the power of heaven” is singular. The participants will be “one,” and also our Lord will be there. When He is present, the Power[s], [see CofC 3 Nephi 9:22] of Heaven [Patriarchal Fathers] is singular for He is One. (published prior to Covenant of Christ.)] “And then shall the work of the Father commence at that day, even when this gospel shall be preached among the remnant of this people [Israel]” (Snuffer, Denver. Preserving the Restoration pp.265-266; emphasis added, (Function). Kindle Edition.

“My anger was kindled against the shepherds, and I punished the goats. For the Lord of Hosts has visited his flock [Israel], the house of Judah, and has made them as his goodly horse in the battle. Out of him came forth the corner, out of him the nail, out of him the battle bow, out of him every oppressor together. And they [Judah] shall be as mighty men, who tread down their enemies in the mire of the streets in the battle. And they shall fight because the Lord is with them, and the riders on horses shall be confounded. And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them again [implying they have fallen], to place them. For I have mercy upon them [Joseph]. And they shall be as though I had not cast them off, for I am the Lord their God and will hear them.

And they of Ephraim [including repentant Gentiles] shall be like a mighty man, and their heart shall rejoice as through wine. Yea, their children shall see it and be glad. Their heart shall rejoice in the Lord. I will hiss for them and gather them, for I have redeemed them, and they shall increase as they have increased. And I will sow [scatter] them among the people [Gentiles], and they [Ephraim] shall remember me in far countries [Gentile lands]. And they [Ephraim] shall live with their children [covenant lands of their inheritance] and turn again [to the Lord]. I will bring them again also out of the land of Egypt and gather them out of Assyria [Gentile lands], and I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon [return to land of their covenant heritage], and place shall not be found for them. And he [Davidic king] shall pass through the sea with affliction and shall smite the waves in the sea [of affliction], and all the depths of the river shall dry up [Spirit of Elijah]. And the pride of Assyria shall be brought down [Gentile nations], and the scepter of Egypt shall depart away [Gentile rule over Israel removed]. And I will strengthen them [Israel] in the Lord, and they shall walk up and down in his name, says the Lord” (RE Zechariah 1:28-29; emphasis added).

“Behold, the Lord requires the heart and a willing mind, and the willing and obedient shall eat the good of the land of Zion in these last days. And the rebellious shall be cut off out of the land of Zion, and shall be sent away, and shall not inherit the land. For truly I say that the rebellious are not of the blood of Ephraim, wherefore they shall be plucked out” (RE T&C 51:9; emphasis added).

[20] “Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well, whose branches [descendants] run over the wall. The archers have severely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him; but his bow remained in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob (from there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel), even by the God of your father who shall help you, and by the Almighty who shall bless you with blessings of Heaven above, blessings of the deep that lies under, blessings of the breasts and of the womb [posterity]. The blessings of your father [Joseph] have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills. They shall be on the head of Joseph and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren” (RE Genesis 12:29; emphasis added).

“Isaiah prophesied in Isaiah 2:2-3: “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.” In this context, “all nations” is not about Russia and China and Ethiopia and Pakistan. “All nations,” in this context, is all the twelve tribes of Israel. The “nations” are the twelve tribes of Israel. That's it, period. That's who is going to flow unto it. So you won't need an international airport. Nor will you need to host the Olympics. “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. 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 [Christ] will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths.” The paths of God lie in the heavens. Therefore, if you are going to learn to walk in his paths you are going to have to learn to walk in the heavens” (Snuffer Jr., Denver C.. The Teachings of Denver C. Snuffer, Jr. Volume 2: 40 Years in Mormonism 2013-2014: Kindle Edition (The Teachings of Denver C. Snuffer Jr. Readers Edition Series) (p. 170, emphasis added). (Function). Kindle edition.

[21] “The Spirit of Truth is of God. I am the Spirit of Truth. And John bore record of me, saying, He received a fullness of truth, yea, even all truth. And no man receives a fullness unless he keeps his commandments. He that keeps his commandments receives truth and light until he is glorified in truth and knows all things” (RE T&C 93:9; emphasis added).

“Hearken, O you elders of my church, and give ear to my word, and learn of me what I will concerning you, and also concerning this land unto which I have sent you. For truly I say unto you, blessed is he that keeps my commandments, whether in life or in death, and he that is faithful in tribulation, the reward of the same is greater in the Kingdom of Heaven. You cannot behold with your natural eyes, for the present time, the design of your God concerning those things which shall come hereafter and the glory which shall follow after much tribulation, for after much tribulation comes the blessings. Wherefore, the day comes that you shall be crowned with much glory. The hour is not yet, but is nearly at hand” (RE T&C 45:1; emphasis added).

“Truly, truly I say unto you, I who speak even by the voice of my spirit, even Alpha and Omega, your Lord and your God. Hearken, O you who have given your names to go forth to proclaim my gospel and to prune my vineyard. Behold, I say unto you that it is my will that you should go forth and not tarry, neither be idle, but labor with your mights, lifting up your voices as with the sound of a trump, proclaiming the truth according to the revelations and commandments which I have given you. And thus, if you are faithful, you shall be laden with many sheaves and crowned with honor, and glory, and immortality, and eternal life” (RE T&C 67:1; emphasis added).

“Now, truly I say unto you that through the redemption which is made for you is brought to pass the resurrection from the dead. And the spirit and the body is the soul of man, and the resurrection from the dead is the redemption of the soul, and the redemption of the soul is through him who quickens all things, in whose bosom it is decreed that the poor and the meek of the earth shall inherit it [Christ]. Therefore, it must needs be sanctified from all unrighteousness, that it may be prepared for the Celestial glory, for after it has filled the measure of its creation, it shall be crowned with glory, even with the presence of God the Father, that bodies who are of the Celestial Kingdom may possess it for ever and ever. For, for this intent was it made and created, and for this intent are they sanctified” (RE T&C 86:2; emphasis added).

“...The eternal Father sits at the head, crowned King of kings and Lord of lords. Wherever the other lines [image appearing like a Christmas tree with the main body descending down from the Father in Heaven at the center] meet, there sits a king and a priest unto God, bearing rule, authority, and dominion under the Father. He is one with the Father, because his kingdom is joined to his Father's and becomes part of it. The most eminent and distinguished prophets who have laid down their lives for their testimony (Jesus among the rest), will be crowned at the head of the largest kingdoms under the Father, and will be one with Christ as Christ is one with his Father; for their kingdoms are all joined together, and such as do the will of the Father, the same are his mothers, sisters, and brothers [family, Israel]. 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. It will be seen by the above diagram that there are kingdoms of all sizes, an infinite variety to suit all grades of merit and ability. The chosen vessels [kings and priests] unto God are the kings and priests that are placed at the head of these kingdoms. These have received their washings and anointings in the temple of God on this earth; they have been chosen, ordained, and anointed kings and priests, to reign as such in the resurrection of the just. Such as have not received the fulness of the priesthood, (for the fulness of the priesthood includes the authority of both king and priest) and have not been anointed and ordained in the temple of the Most High, may obtain salvation in the celestial kingdom, but not a celestial crown. Many are called to enjoy a celestial glory, yet few are chosen to wear a celestial crown, or rather, to be rulers in the celestial kingdom. (WJS, pp. 298-299, quoting from Orson Hyde, A Diagram of the Kingdom of God," Millennial Star 9 [15 January 1847]: 23-24.)

During the first phase, Joseph [Smith] had an integrated vision of how mankind was to be prepared for the Second Coming. It involved conveying the “fullness of the priesthood” [Davidic king is to restore with the Spirit of Elijah] to faithful saints. They would thereby become “kings and queens, priests and priestesses” sealed to Joseph, and through him to the “fathers.” These “fathers” would hold the same “priesthood” and be the seed of Abraham. Like Abraham, they would be entitled to stand at the head of a branch of the heavenly family. To occupy that position they would need to be royal. These eternal family positions are always royal. The plan Joseph hoped to bring back in a fullness required angels to constantly attend to the development of the anticipated kingdom [Patriarchal Fathers]. Heaven could not abandon it [sealing power, Spirit of Elijah]. Joseph said seeking the presence of the Lord as a presiding King was always the object of the Gospel in every age where it is present. If angels are no longer working with mankind, then we may have seen the passing of the heavenly gift from the earth at the death of Joseph Smith. If that is so, angels will need to return for us to regain what was rejected by the gentiles” (Snuffer, Denver. Passing the Heavenly Gift (pp. 396-399). (Function). Kindle Edition.

[22] [Dedicatory prayer for the Kirtland Temple by Joseph Smith] “Put upon thy servants the testimony of the covenant, that when they go out and proclaim thy word they may seal up the law and prepare the hearts of thy saints for all those judgments thou art about to send in thy wrath upon the inhabitants of the earth because of their transgressions, that thy people may not faint in the day of trouble. And whatever city thy servants shall enter, and the people of that city receive their testimony, let thy peace and thy salvation be upon that city, that they may gather out of that city the righteous, that they may come forth to Zion or to her stakes, the places of thine appointment, with songs of everlasting joy. And until this be accomplished, let not thy judgments fall upon that city. And whatever city thy servants shall enter, and the people of that city receive not the testimony of thy servants, and thy servants warn them to save themselves from this untoward generation, let it be upon that city according to that which thou hast spoken by the mouths of thy prophets. But deliver thou, O Jehovah, we beseech thee, thy servants from their hands, and cleanse them from their blood. O Lord, we delight not in the destruction of our fellow men; their souls are precious before thee. But thy word must be fulfilled. Help thy servants to say, with thy grace assisting them, Thy will be done, O Lord, and not ours.

We know that thou hast spoken, by the mouth of thy prophets, terrible things concerning the wicked in the last days, that thou wilt pour out thy judgments without measure. Therefore, O Lord, deliver thy people from the calamity of the wicked, enable thy servants to seal up the law and bind up the testimony, that they may be prepared against the day of burning” (RE T&C 123:11-12; emphasis added).

[23] “Thus says the Lord God: This shall be the border whereby you shall inherit the land, according to the twelve tribes of Israel — Joseph shall have two portions [Ephraim and Manasseh], and you shall inherit it, one as well as another — concerning which I lifted up my hand to give it unto your fathers; and this land shall fall unto you for inheritance” (RE Ezekiel 21:62; emphasis added).

[24] “Zarahemla’s people and Mosiah’s people united, and Mosiah was accepted as their king. During Mosiah’s rule, a large stone containing engravings was brought to him and he translated the engravings by God’s gift and power. They gave an account of a man named Coriantumr and his slaughtered people. This Coriantumr was discovered by Zarahemla’s people and he lived with them for nine months. The stone also mentioned Coriantumr’s ancestors — that the earliest ones had come from the tower when the Lord confused the people’s language. But the Lord’s justice resulted in severe judgments on them, and their bones lay scattered in the land northward” (CofC Omni 1:8; emphasis added).

[25] “If the Gentiles then obey the Lamb of God, He’ll reveal Himself to them in word and power and in person, in order to remove barriers to their belief, and if they don’t harden their hearts against the Lamb of God, they’ll be included with your father’s descendants — indeed, they’ll be included as part of the house of Israel. And they’ll become a blessed family in the promised land forever. They won’t be enslaved anymore, and the house of Israel won’t be embarrassed anymore. And the great pit dug for them by that utterly wicked church, which the accuser and his followers founded so that he could take people’s souls down to hell — that great pit dug for people’s destruction will be filled with those who dug it, to their complete destruction, says the Lamb of God — not the destruction of the soul, but throwing it into that endless hell. This is according to the accuser’s imprisonment, and according to God’s justice as well, upon all those who insist on doing wicked and corrupt things in God’s sight.

Then the Angel told me: You’ve seen that if the Gentiles repent, it will turn out well for them [some few will repent]. You also know about the Lord’s covenants with the house of Israel. And you’ve also heard that whoever doesn’t repent must perish. As a result, if the Gentiles harden their hearts against the Lamb of God, I will afflict them. Because the time will come, says the Lamb of God, when I’ll bring about a great and awe-inspiring work among mankind, one that will be everlasting — one way or the other — either to convince them, resulting in peace and life eternal; or to give them up to their hard hearts and blind minds, bringing about their slavery and temporal and spiritual destruction, under the accuser’s enslavement which I’ve spoken about” (CofC 1 Nephi 3:25-26; emphasis added).

Scott Roderick

5/1/2026

Last Days Prophecy.pdf

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