Broadening Our Perspective - Exploring Basic Doctrine

“The great thing for us to know is to comprehend what God did institute before the foundation of the world. Who knows it? It is the constitutional disposition of mankind to set up stakes and set bounds to the works and ways of the Almighty . . .

Had I inspiration, revelation, and lungs to communicate what my soul has contemplated in times past, there is not a soul in this congregation but would go to their homes and shut their mouths in everlasting silence on religion till they had learned something. Why be so certain that you comprehend the things of God, when all things with you are so uncertain. You are welcome to all the knowledge and intelligence I can impart to you. I do not grudge the world all the religion they have got: they are welcome to all the knowledge they possess . . .” (Smith Jr., Joseph. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith (p. 366, emphasis added). Deseret Book Company. Kindle Edition).

The quote from Joseph Smith was from his remarks at Judge Higby’s funeral. It contains much that is worthy of consideration. Particularly in light of the recent “God’s Covenant People” talk by Denver Snuffer. In the first sentence Joseph states, “it would be good for us to comprehend what God instituted before the foundation of this earth.” On this subject Denver said:

“Before this creation [or prior to the foundation of this world], some of God’s sons (and their companions) were identified as “noble and great” and correspondingly also “Gods” before the world was organized.[1] These were chosen before they were born to accomplish work for the benefit of others. They were to be sent into the world, not to be proven or tested, but instead to participate in proving or testing others. They were already known to be true and faithful to God and His plan of salvation. From this, we can know that God’s hope for the completion of the events needed to fulfill His oaths, covenants, prophecies, and promises rests upon God’s faith in other Gods (the noble and great) who covenanted with Him before the world was organized. He had the confidence and hope that in proceeding with this creation, it would be possible to redeem it and save the souls of mankind sent to live in it. Just as God knew before the world was created that Jesus Christ would deliver it from ruin by His faithful fulfillment of His promises, God likewise knew before the world was created that His servants sent to accomplish other promises would also keep their obligations to Him. So, God’s hope is predicated upon promises made by Gods before creation and rests on the same principle as our hope in God. God has faith in the Gods He recognized as being His sons before this cycle of creation in this world. As Joseph taught about these sons of God: “Now,” says God, when He visited Moses in the bush, (Moses was a stammering sort of a boy like me) God said, “Thou shalt be a God unto the children of Israel.” God said, “Thou shalt be a God unto Aaron, and he shall be thy spokesman.” I believe those Gods that God reveals as Gods to be sons of God, and all can cry, “Abba, Father!” Sons of God who exalt themselves to be Gods, even from before the foundation of the world, and are the only Gods I have a reverence for. (DHC, 6: 478; TPJS, p. 375.) The reason for God’s hope is His confidence in the covenants made with the sons of God who exalted themselves before the foundation of the world. He trusts them to help with the work of redeeming mankind. Because of them, He is willing to make promises to mankind, trusting they will be kept. This hope underlies His ability to inspire prophecy. God’s hope in the completion of His plan of redemption is grounded in God’s faith in the noble and great ones He chose before the world “to fulfill and do the work of the Father’s covenants” He made with mankind.

God has faith, which justifies His hope in the same way that mankind can have faith in God and hope in His promises. It is the same in this existence as it is in eternity, and in all things, there is a type and shadow . . . God’s faith is not limited to confidence in Himself alone but extends to His confidence in His Sons. I believe God had faith in Joseph Smith to found a dispensation of the gospel. As Joseph said of himself: “Every man who has a calling to minister to the inhabitants of the world was ordained to that very purpose in the Grand Council of heaven before this world was. I suppose I was ordained to this very office in that Grand Council.” (TPJS, p. 365), (God’s Covenant People, Denver Snuffer Jr., pp.24-26, emphasis added).

God foreordained men and women prior to the creation of this earth and covenanted with them to come to this creation, not to be tried and tested but to try and test those yet to attain godhood. Because of His knowledge of their prior faithfulness in ascending to godliness, the Father had faith in them with His Only Begotten Son.

          The Atonement rested solely on Jesus but those who condescended with Him assist in bringing to pass the immortality and eternal life of men and women in this cycle. Their role will be addressed later in this paper.

“Had I inspiration, revelation, and lungs to communicate what my soul has contemplated in times past, there is not a soul in this congregation but would go to their homes and shut their mouths in everlasting silence on religion till they had learned something. Why be so certain that you comprehend the things of God, when all things with you are so uncertain.”

Adam and Eve are the prototype for mortal men and women. They began in a state of innocence, inexperienced in judging between good and evil. After partaking of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil they fell and were driven from the Garden of Eden. They were cut-off from God’s presence but not His voice.[2] Having a deficit of both knowledge and wisdom, Adam and Eve were sent away with the commandment to build an altar and offer sacrifice.

“And after many days, an angel of the Lord appeared unto Adam, saying, Why do you offer sacrifices unto the Lord? And Adam said unto him, I know not but the Lord commanded me . . .” (RE Moses 3:3, emphasis added).

For “many days” Adam and Eve built an altar and offered sacrifice with no understanding why. The Lord commanded them and they trusted Him, having faith they would one day understand the purpose and meaning of this ordinance. Faith was the first divine principle of the gospel displayed when they were driven from the Garden of Eden. From their example it is our task to glean from their account what God requires of us in our exile from Their presence.

          The practice of literal sacrifice was discontinued by the Savior and an alternative practice given.[3] There is symbolic meaning in building an altar and offering sacrifice. The first commandment God desires us to obey is faith in Him. Sufficient faith that we, like Adam and Eve trust Him. The “Lectures on Faith” provide three requirements for exercising faith.[4] In the context of Adam and Eve, their first act of faith was to build an altar and offer sacrifice for many days. Repetition of ordinances draws our attention to principles the ordinances seek to convey.

          Discipline and process are learned by repetition. In addition to the ritual of sacrifice, each experience would be a time of discovery, new experiences for Adam and Eve, both good and bad. The same is true for everyone when they emerge from innocence and acquire knowledge. Consider the possibility the altar we build is symbolic of our lives. As we commence growing in light and knowledge, God guides us in a path that cleanses us as we learn by experience to obey Him.[5]

“ . . . We are obligated to heed the Lord. We only have two choices: either to learn by precept or through sad experience. If we learn by precept, then we listen and follow the Lord. But, when we reject the Lord’s counsel and ignore His warning, then we learn through sad experiences. Based on the recent communication with the Lord, it appears we will need, and are going to learn, from sad experiences” (God’s Covenant People, Denver Snuffer Jr., p.14, emphasis added).

Learning by precept and sad experiences is inevitable.[6] Before we address this subject, God instructs us to offer two items on our altar of life before proceeding on the straight and narrow path.[7] After we have faith, the second principle we are asked to sacrifice on life’s altar is our sins.

“When Aaron had said this, the king bowed down to the Lord on his knees, even lying face down on the ground, and prayed earnestly, saying: O God, Aaron has told me that there is a God. And if there is a God and if you are God, will you make yourself known to me? I’ll give up all my sins so I can know you and be raised from the dead and be saved on the last day . . .” (CofC Alma 13:10, emphasis added).

Walking through mortality, our first sacrifice is to surrender our sins. We learn from the prior account the sincerity[8] of the Lamanite king’s heart because when he rose from his heartfelt prayer, he knew God.[9] Surrendering our sins on life’s altar is the first sacrifice God requires of us. It prepares us for spiritual cleansing.[10]

          The next sacrifice the Lord asks of us is a broken heart and contrite spirit.

“You must no longer shed blood as an offering to Me; indeed, your sacrifices and burnt offerings must end now, because I’ll no longer accept any of your sacrifices or burnt offerings. You must offer Me a broken heart and a contrite spirit as a sacrifice. Whoever comes to Me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, I’ll baptize them with fire and the Holy Ghost, just like the Lamanites were baptized with fire and the Holy Ghost because of their faith in Me at the time of their conversion, and yet they didn’t understand what it was. I’ve come into the world to bring redemption to the world, to save the world from sin. Therefore whoever repents and comes to Me as a little child, I will receive them, because God’s kingdom is made up of people like this. I’ve given My life for such people, and I’ve taken it up again. Therefore repent and come to Me, everyone throughout the world, and be saved” (CofC 3 Nephi 4:7, emphasis added).

“God’s kingdom is made up of people like this.” To enter God’s kingdom we, by precept and sad experience become like them. The gospel is the means to accomplish this. As plain and clear as the Savior’s statement appears, complying with His commandment is difficult because we wrestle against our inherent nature.[11] We see how Joseph Smith struggled against this mentality among the early saints. Clearly it remains among us in our day as it was with Joseph Smith.

“Because of my discouragement, I went to the Lord in prayer with my hopelessness. I learned a great deal from that prayer, and that experience with the Lord has led to this talk. I was wrong in my understanding of the mechanics the Lord will use to accomplish the prophesied “gathering” of His people. My understanding was different from what the Lord had in mind. I learned that the Lord can and will do some significant pruning, even of those who will be gathered. There will be experiences that will humble and refine His people. In answer to my despairing prayer:

______________________________

My mind was flooded with scriptures that helped me understand how the Lord had dealt with His people in the past. This is how He will also deal with us” (God’s Covenant People, Denver Snuffer Jr., p.3).

Joseph Smith was exasperated with the inability of early saints to receive precepts from him, as God’s servant.

“But there has been a great difficulty in getting anything into the heads of this generation. It has been like splitting hemlock knots with a corn-dodger [corn bread dumpling] for a wedge, and a pumpkin for a beetle. Even the Saints are slow to understand.

Unwillingness of Saints to Learn.

 I have tried for a number of years to get the minds of the Saints prepared to receive the things of God; but we frequently see some of them, after suffering [sad experience] all they have for the work of God, will fly to pieces like glass as soon as anything comes that is contrary to their traditions: they cannot stand the fire at all. How many will be able to abide a celestial law, and go through and receive their exaltation, I am unable to say, as many are called, but few are chosen. (Jan. 20, 1844.) —DHC 6:183-185. (Smith Jr., Joseph. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith (pp. 379-380). Deseret Book Company. Kindle Edition”).

Like latter-day saints of Joseph Smith’s day, we suffer from our inability to receive instruction from God’s servants. The only means for determining our ability to learn by precept is observing our behavior.[12] When precepts are taught and behavior reflects the precept in practice, the Lord and His servant know the precept is received. Absence of the behavior suggest those who claim to receive the precept passively or actively reject the principle taught. Thereafter consequences for our disobedience lead to learning by sad experience.

Learning by Sad Experience

“Alternatively, we can choose to fail by not heeding the Lord’s precepts, instead enduring sad experiences that remind us of our own lowliness. None of us should be proud, thinking ourselves better than our fellow man. We aren’t. We are not even as much as the dust of the earth because the dust we occupy belongs to God. Therefore, we should be grateful for every sad experience and recognize that it is for our good. It is necessary because, for whatever reason, we did not learn by precept. God’s plan expects we will learn from both. Learning by precept is not better than learning by sad experience. They are both essential teachers. The important part is how we learn by sad experience: Do we blame, judge, avoid, react, offend, ignore, resist, refuse? Or do we take accountability, reason, observe, engage, submit, ask, share, listen, pray, fast?” (God’s Covenant People, Denver Snuffer Jr., pp.29-30, emphasis added).

Learning by sad experiences has always been part of God’s plan. If we understand God’s plan it should be apparent it extends beyond redemption from sin and resurrection. It is aspirational in the sense it is not enough to be created in God’s image in appearance. He intends for us to conform to His image in acquiring His attributes as well.

          If acknowledgment of our sins leaves us lacking in humility, sad experiences from our inadequate repentance brings us where we need to be to advance. Progress in the form of spiritual growth is sent by God to enlighten the minds of the humble and contrite.

“My people must be tried in all things, that they may be prepared to receive the glory that I have for them, even the glory of Zion; and he that will not bear chastisement is not worthy of my kingdom.

Let him that is ignorant learn wisdom by humbling himself and calling upon the Lord his God, that his eyes may be opened that he may see, and his ears opened that he may hear;

For my Spirit is sent forth into the world to enlighten the humble and contrite, and [when it is withdrawn] to the condemnation of the ungodly” (LDS D&C 136:31-33, emphasis added).

For us to have our “eyes opened that we may see and ears open so [that we] may hear,”[13] we must find humility and become contrite. To qualify for enlightenment humility and contrition are required. Without  it, we remain unenlightened and closed off from heaven. Without sufficient humility and contrition we are cut-off from the Lord and His people.[14]

          God intends to send a messenger to prepare the way before Him as He did prior to His mortal ministry. When the messenger and Lord come with covenants for the people the righteous will be cleansed [humble and contrite] and separated from the wicked.[15]

“Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant whom you delight in. Behold, he shall come, says the Lord of Hosts. But who may endure the day of his coming? And who shall stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap. And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he shall purify the sons of Levi and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord, as in the days of old and as in former years. And I will come near to you to judgment, and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers; and against those that oppress the hired hand in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless; and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, says the Lord of Hosts. For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore, you sons of Jacob are not consumed” (RE Malachi 1:6, emphasis added).

A refiner’s fire purifies, and fuller’s soap removes impurities from silver and gold through intense heat [adversity] and vigorous scrubbing. We can do this ourselves by submitting to God’s precepts voluntarily or by suffering the consequences of neglecting those precepts. One is voluntary and the other, involuntary. Neither is punitive, but manifestations of God’s love.[16] Approaching adversity as a manifestation of God’s love rather than contempt allows us to humbly accept His correction and possibly lessen the duration and intensity of the corrective consequences for sin.

Two Ways of Learning by Sad Experience

          As a young man I recall my father explaining that I could learn by my own mistakes or learn and avoid mistakes by observing those of others. In other words, learn by my own sad experiences or learn from the sad experiences of others. All though very young, his message resonated with me. His example taught me the joy of serving those in adversity rather than idly observe their struggling.

“He told them: Here are the waters of Mormon (referring to what they were called). Do you have a desire to enter God’s fold and be called His people? Are you willing to help carry each other’s burdens, to lighten them for one another? Are you willing to mourn with those who mourn, and comfort those who need comforting? Will you stand and testify as witnesses of God at all times, in all things, wherever you go, for the rest of your lives? Do you want to qualify for redemption by God and be included with those of the first resurrection, receiving eternal life? If this is the desire of your hearts, are you now willing to be baptized in the Lord’s name, as a witness before Him that you’ve made a covenant with Him? Are you willing to commit to serve Him and keep His commandments, so He can pour out His Spirit more abundantly upon you? Now when the people heard this, they applauded and shouted: This is our heart’s desire!”[17] (CofC Mosiah 9:7, emphasis added).

Entering the fold of God and being called His people requires us to bear one another’s burdens and mourn with those who mourn. There is more at play here than promising to adopt appropriate behaviors. The principle is divine reciprocity.

“Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when did we see you hungry, and fed you? Or thirsty, and gave you drink? When did we see you a stranger, and took you in? Or naked, and clothed you? Or when did we see you sick, or in prison, and came unto you? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Truly I say unto you, inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me” (RE Matthew 11:25, emphasis added).

When we covenant with God through baptism, we begin a path leading to the transformation of our spirits into the image of God’s Spirit or mind.

“ . . . the Father and the Son possessing the same mind, the same wisdom, glory, power, and fullness, filling all in all — the Son being filled with the fullness of the mind, glory, and power, or in other words, the spirit, glory, and power of the Father — possessing all knowledge and glory, and the same kingdom: sitting at the right hand of power, in the express image and likeness of the Father — a mediator for man — being filled with the fullness of the mind of the Father, or in other words, the spirit of the Father, which spirit is shed forth upon all who believe on his name and keep his commandments. And all those who keep his commandments shall grow up from grace to grace and become heirs of the Heavenly kingdom and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ, possessing the same mind, being transformed into the same image or likeness, even the express image of him who fills all in all: being filled with the fullness of his glory, and become one in him, even as the Father, Son, and holy spirit are one” (RE T&C 110, Lectures on Faith, Lecture 5:2, emphasis added).

When we share His mind, feel charity for our brethren and sisters as He feels, assist in bearing their problems, we are “His people.” Because our lives are a witness to the Father we act as He does towards His children, we are adopted into His family.

“Now these are the words king Benjamin hoped to hear from them. Therefore he told them: You’ve said the words I wanted to hear, and the covenant you’ve made is a righteous covenant. Now because of the covenant you’ve made, you’ll be called the sons and daughters of Jesus Christ. Today, He has spiritually begotten you. You’ve said your hearts have changed through faith in His name. As a result, you’re born of Him and have become His sons and daughters. You’re now free under His wings, and there’s no other Savior under whose wings you can be sheltered. There’s no other name given through which salvation comes. Therefore all of you who have made the covenant with God to be obedient for the remainder of your lives, take upon yourselves the name of Christ. Those who do this will be found at the right hand of God and will answer to the name of Christ” (CofC Mosiah 3:2, emphasis added).

Evidence we are His children occurs when “our hearts are changed through faith on His name and have no disposition to do evil, only good.

“After king Benjamin had said all these things to his people, he sent out a message, asking his people if they believed what he taught them. And they all cried out with one voice, saying: Yes, we believe everything you’ve taught us. And we know these things are true because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has caused a big change in our hearts. We’re not inclined to do evil anymore, but rather want to continually do good. We, through God’s infinite goodness and the manifestations of His Spirit, can clearly envision what’s to come. And if necessary, we could even prophesy about all of it. And it’s our faith in the things our king has taught us that’s given us this valuable knowledge, which makes us rejoice! We’re willing to enter into a covenant with God, promising to obey His commandments and do His will for the rest of our lives. We don’t want to cause ourselves the never-ending torment described by the angel, nor do we want to incur God’s anger” (CofC Mosiah 3:1, emphasis added).

When people enter a covenant with God, (repenting in sincerity), their hearts are changed by the Spirit of God. They receive an endowment of knowledge from God. Their recollection of the past and future resides within them and begins to be restored.

“. . . Behold, here is the agency of man, and here is the condemnation of man, because that which was from the beginning [pre-mortality] is plainly manifest unto them, and they receive not the light, and every man whose spirit receives not the light is under condemnation . . .” (RE T&C 93:10, emphasis added).

When we receive light by covenant, it is accompanied with an outpouring of the Spirit of God. We begin a process of restoration of knowledge from the “beginning” or pre-mortality. Our agency is exercised when we choose to receive knowledge from our pre-mortal experiences. Receiving this knowledge provides greater light and truth to our minds and spirits. Rejecting it brings condemnation. We need greater light and truth to ascend toward God. The process is gradual and progresses according to how rapidly we accept what God offers.

“ . . . Wherefore, he that preaches and he that receives, understand one another, and both are edified and rejoice together. And that which does not edify is not of God, and is darkness. That which is of God is light, and he that receives light and continues in God receives more light, and that light grows brighter and brighter until the perfect day” (RE T&C 36:4, emphasis added).

Another factor influencing how quickly we receive greater light and knowledge is how actively we pursue it. Our assertiveness is a measure of our desire to know God. Without initiative in the pursuit of knowledge one risks not receiving sufficient light and knowledge to ascend.

“Now, my dear people, I believe you’re wondering a little in your hearts about what you should do after you’ve entered through the way. But why do you wonder over these things in your hearts? Don’t you remember I told you that after you had received the Holy Ghost, you could speak the words of angels? Now, how could you speak the message of the angels unless you did it by the Holy Ghost? Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; as a result, they speak Christ’s words. Therefore I told you: Feast on Christ’s words — because the words of Christ will tell you everything that you should do. After I’ve said these words, if you can’t understand them, it will be because you don’t ask or knock. Consequently, you aren’t brought into the light but are certain to perish in the dark. I tell you again, if you will enter through the way and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show you everything you should do. This is Christ’s doctrine. No more doctrine will be given until after He visits you here on earth [the perfect day]. Once He shows Himself to you here on earth, you must obey what He tells you” (CofC 2 Nephi 14:1, emphasis added).

The Holy Ghost shows us all things we should do because receiving the Holy Ghost is receiving the “mind of the Father” and like the Son of God, it is the means by which we become one with them and each other [Zion].[18]

          Nephi’s reference to angels in the context of the Holy Ghost was not random or a passing comment. Those receiving the Holy Ghost speak the language or “tongue” of angels. That language has a name and the name is “Christ.”[19] It is a collaboration between the Holy Ghost and the angels of God. Angels speak the words of Christ and the Holy Ghost carries Christ’s words into the hearts of the Lord’s chosen vessels. The chosen vessels [mortal servants] act as proxy’s for the Lord through His angels to share words of Christ.

“Now I can’t write everything that was taught to my people, and I’m also not as effective a writer as I am a speaker. Because when anyone speaks by the power of the Holy Ghost, the power of the Holy Ghost impresses people’s hearts . . .” (CofC 2 Nephi 15:1, emphasis added).

The Lord revealed to Joseph Smith why this process is effective in inspiring faith in the hearts of those who hear and heed the Lord’s servants. As cited earlier,

“Wherefore, he that preaches and he that receives, understand one another, and both are edified and rejoice together. And that which does not edify is not of God, and is darkness”(RE T&C 36:4, emphasis added).

The Lord also made the point that any alternative method of instruction is not from Him:

“And if by some other way, it is not of God.” (RE T&C 36:4, emphasis added)

          Angels prepare “chosen vessels” acting as proxies to those mortals for whom they minister. The angels Nephi and Moroni speak of have a vested interest in seeing the covenants of the Father fulfilled. They are the men to whom the Father originally made covenant promises. He engages them in fulfilling covenant promises for the salvation of their posterity.[20] We know many by name but they are collectively referred to as the “Powers of Heaven.”

“A title referring to a specific group [of people] with status on the other side of the veil; a proper noun, not just an abstraction. In the afterlife there are different rungs on Jacob’s ladder where different Powers are fixed: Angel, Archangel, Principality, Power, Dominion, Throne, Cherubim, and Seraphim — they may all be called Powers of Heaven. These Powers [people] have no desire to control or compel others to rise on Jacob’s ladder. Each rung is a developmental stage of growth through which all must pass if they want to ascend nearer to God. Each individual on Jacob’s ladder should be moving toward perfection” (A Glossary of Gospel Terms, Powers of Heaven, second edition, p.248, emphasis added).

While their involvement is occasionally manifest throughout earth’s existence, there comes a time when their reconnection with this earth becomes permanent and their involvement with mankind extensive.[21] The “Powers of Heaven” represent men and women of great faith whom God trusted with extraordinary power when they walked this earth.

“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.

And now Melchizedek was a priest of this Order, therefore he obtained peace in Salem and was called the Prince of Peace. And his people wrought righteousness, and obtained Heaven, and sought for the city of Enoch which God had before taken, separating it from the earth, having reserved it unto the latter days, or the end of the world, and has said and sworn with an oath that the heavens and the earth should come together [Spirit of Elijah], and the sons of God should be tried so as by fire. And this Melchizedek, having thus established righteousness, was called the King of Heaven by his people — or in other words, the King of Peace” (RE Genesis 7:19-20, emphasis added).

The coming together of heaven and earth occurs when a conduit is permanently opened between the earth and heaven and righteous men descend to fulfill the promises of the Father made to them by Him. It is a time when, like Elisha and his servant, God’s servant is heard by Him and the eyes of those serving with the servant are opened to reveal the presence of heaven’s hosts.[22]

Those in Whom the Lord has Faith

“If God did not have faith, he could not lead prophets to prophesy, nor could He have covenanted to have people at His return whose unified hearts will welcome His coming: Malachi 1:12:

Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And he shall seal the heart of the Fathers to the children and the heart of the children to their Fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

The Lord needed to have faith that He will send Elijah and accomplish this promised event. We have every reason to have faith in God’s promise, but God likewise had faith to make the promise. If we believe in and trust the Lord, then we ought to have faith in His promises . . . Before this creation, some of God’s sons (and their companions) were identified as “noble and great” and correspondingly also “Gods” before the world was organized. These were chosen before they were born to accomplish work for the benefit of others. They were to be sent into the world, not to be proven or tested, but instead to participate in proving or testing others. They were already known to be true and faithful to God and His plan of salvation. From this, we can know that God’s hope for the completion of the events needed to fulfill His oaths, covenants, prophecies, and promises rests upon God’s faith in other Gods (the noble and great) who covenanted with Him before the world was organized. He had the confidence and hope that in proceeding with this creation, it would be possible to redeem it and save the souls of mankind sent to live in it. Just as God knew before the world was created that Jesus Christ would deliver it from ruin by His faithful fulfillment of His promises, God likewise knew before the world was created that His servants sent to accomplish other promises would also keep their obligations to Him.

So, God’s hope is predicated upon promises made by Gods before creation and rests on the same principle as our hope in God. God has faith in the Gods He recognized as being His sons before this cycle of creation in this world ” (God’s Covenant People, Denver Snuffer Jr., p.15, 24-emphasis added).

In addition to the great works these men and women do through mortal counterparts, there are personal ministrations they do for individuals providing a “key” to opening the record of heaven for those who receive the “mind of the Father” or Holy Spirit. This restores to them the account of their works prior to this cycle of existence. They learn whether or not they were among the “noble and great.” It reveals to them covenants they made with the Lord prior to their birth and their personal mission in the Lord’s work.

“As this vision closed, the Heavens were again opened to their view, and they [Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery] saw and beheld, and were endowed with knowledge from the beginning of this creation to the ends thereof. And they were shown unspeakable things from the sealed record of Heaven, which man is not capable of making known, but must be revealed by the Powers of Heaven [Patriarchal Fathers]” (RE T&C 157:30, emphasis added).

The rights to these Priesthood powers may only be controlled or handled in righteousness.[23] Fortunately, Nephi saw two small groups who meet the Lord’s requirements initially to begin fulfilling the work of the Father’s covenants.

“ . . . 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 [including the Powers of Heaven] in great glory” (CofC 1 Nephi 13:28, emphasis added).

There will be “holy ones” among the Lord’s congregation and members of Israel scattered throughout the earth. Both are “armed” with righteousness and the “power of God in great glory.” These groups were referred to in the “God’s Covenant People” talk.

“After learning that the Lord intends to accomplish His work through our group, or at least a remnant that includes some from our group, I was then told that the Lord has given us a name. When the Lord names His people He then commits to work with them, for there is no reason for Him to name what He intends to abandon. Even if the people reject Him, for at least three and four generations the Lord will reach out to recover them. Only when they have altogether gone too far astray will He then end His work with the people He has named, to choose and work with another people. Therefore, the fact He has now named us holds great significance” (God’s Covenant People, Denver Snuffer Jr., p.28).

[1] “Now the Lord had shown unto me, Abraham, the intelligences that were organized before the world was, and among all these there were many of the noble and great ones. And God saw these souls, that they were good, and he stood in the midst of them and he said, These I will make my rulers. For he stood among those that were spirits, and he saw that they were good. And he said unto me, Abraham, you are one of them; you were chosen before you were born.

And there stood one among them that was like unto God, and he said unto those who were with him, We will go down, for there is space there, and we will take of these materials and we will make an earth whereon these may dwell. And we will prove them herewith to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them. And they who keep their first estate shall be added upon, and they who keep not their first estate shall not have glory in the same kingdom with those who keep their first estate; and they who keep their second estate shall have glory added upon their heads for ever and ever” (Abraham 6:1-2).

[2] “And Adam called upon the name of the Lord, and Eve also, his wife; and they heard the voice of the Lord from the way toward the Garden of Eden speaking unto them, and they saw him not, for they were shut out from his presence. And he gave unto them commandment that they should worship the Lord their God and should offer the firstlings of their flocks for an offering unto the Lord. And Adam was obedient unto the commandments of the Lord” RE Genesis 3:2, emphasis added).

[3] “ . . . You must no longer shed blood as an offering to Me; indeed, your sacrifices and burnt offerings must end now, because I’ll no longer accept any of your sacrifices or burnt offerings. You must offer Me a broken heart and a contrite spirit as a sacrifice. Whoever comes to Me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, I’ll baptize them with fire and the Holy Ghost, just like the Lamanites were baptized with fire and the Holy Ghost because of their faith in Me at the time of their conversion, and yet they didn’t understand what it was . . .” (CofC 3 Nephi 4:7, emphasis added).

[4] “In presenting the subject of faith, we shall observe the following order:

1.     First, faith itself — what it is,

2.     Secondly, the object on which it rests, and

3.     Thirdly, the effects which flow from it” (RE T&C 110, Lectures on Faith, Lecture 1:2-5).

[5] “ . . . yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered. (This alludes to Melchizedek and not to Christ.)” (RE Hebrews 1:12).

[6] “We have learned by sad experience that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion. Hence many are called, but few are chosen” (RE T&C 139:5, emphasis added).

[7] “ . . . Now, my dear people, I know by this that unless a person endures to the end in following the example of the Son of the living God, they can’t be saved. Therefore do the things I’ve told you that I saw your Lord and Redeemer will do. They’ve been shown to me for this purpose, so you’ll know the gate through which you’re to enter. And the gate you’re to enter is repentance and baptism by water, and then a remission of your sins comes by fire and by the Holy Ghost. Then you’re on the straightforward and narrow path that leads to eternal life — indeed, you’ve entered through the gate. You’ve acted in accordance with the commandments of the Father and the Son, and you’ve received the Holy Ghost promised to you once you entered through the way, which testifies of the Father and Son” (CofC 2 Nephi 13:3, emphasis added).

[8] “ . . . God has said: A person who’s evil can’t do good. Because if they offer a gift or pray to God, unless they do it with real intent, it’s of no benefit to them — 7it isn’t credited to them for righteousness. If a person who’s evil gives a gift, they do it grudgingly; so it’s credited to them the same as if they had retained the gift. Therefore they’re considered evil before God. And it’s similarly counted as evil if a person prays without real intent of heart. It’s of no benefit to them since God doesn’t accept such a person. So a person who’s evil can’t do good, and they can’t give a good gift either” (CofC Moroni 7:2, emphasis added).

[9] “When Aaron witnessed what the queen had decided, and knowing the hardness of the hearts of the people, he was afraid a crowd would gather and there would be a serious confrontation with them. So he put out his hand and helped the king up from the ground saying to him: Stand up! And he stood on his feet, regaining his strength. Now this was done in the presence of the queen and many of his servants. When they saw it, they were amazed and became afraid. And the king stood up and began to testify to them, and he taught them so that his whole household was converted to the Lord. Now a crowd gathered because of the queen’s command, and many whispered complaints circulated between them because of Aaron and his companions. But the king interrupted them and testified to them. He reconciled his people with Aaron and those with him” (CofC Alma 13:12, emphasis added).

[10] “ . . . The beginning step following repentance is baptism. And baptism comes through faith in order to fulfill the commandments; and fulfilling the commandments brings remission of sins; and the remission of sins brings meekness and a humble heart. And because of meekness and a humble heart comes the presence and gift of the Holy Ghost, and this Comforter fills with hope and perfect love, and this love endures by being diligent in prayer until the end comes, when all the holy ones will live with God . . .” (CofC Moroni 8:5, emphasis added).

[11] “Because the Lord God saw that His people were stubborn, He gave them the Law of Moses. Many signs, wonders, types, and symbols foreshadowed His coming. Additionally, holy prophets also spoke to them about His coming. However, the people hardened their hearts and failed to understand that the Law of Moses alone couldn’t provide forgiveness. Forgiveness comes exclusively through the atonement of Jesus Christ’s blood. Even if it were possible for children to sin, they couldn’t be saved. However, I tell you that they’re blessed. Even though by Adam or by nature they fall, Christ’s blood is sufficient to atone for their sins. I want to share with you that there’s no other way for mankind to attain salvation except through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent. He’ll be the righteous judge. While infants who pass away won’t be lost, mankind must humble themselves and believe in the atoning blood of Christ to avoid damnation. This belief is necessary for salvation and must be held steadfastly. Men and women, in their natural state, are out of harmony with God and have been since the Fall of Adam. This disharmony will continue from eternity to eternity, unless they yield to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, abandon their fallen nature, and become holy through the atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ. They should strive to become like a child, humble, meek, patient, and full of love, willing to accept everything that the Lord deems appropriate for them, as a child obeys their parents” (CofC Mosiah 1:16, emphasis added).

[12] “There were more, but I hope these scriptures are enough to teach the point. We are obligated to heed the Lord. We only have two choices: either to learn by precept or through sad experience. If we learn by precept, then we listen and follow the Lord. But, when we reject the Lord’s counsel and ignore His warning, then we learn through sad experiences. Based on the recent communication with the Lord, it appears we will need, and are going to learn, from sad experiences” (God’s Covenant People, Denver Snuffer Jr., p.14, emphasis added).

[13] “And when the servant of the man of God was risen early and gone forth, behold, a host encompassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master, what shall we do? And he answered, Fear not, for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed and said, Lord, I pray you, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha. And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the Lord and said, Smite this people, I pray you, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha. And Elisha said unto them, This is not the way, neither is this the city. Follow me and I will bring you to the man whom you seek. But he led them to Samaria” (RE 2 Kings 2:22, emphasis added).

[14] “At that time, to advance My cause, the Father will begin a work, which will be a great and awe-inspiring work among them [Gentiles]. There will be many who won’t believe it, although a man will tell it to them. But the ministry of My servant will be led by My hand; therefore they won’t be able to harm his work, although he’ll be opposed and discredited by them. Yet I’ll support him; I’ll show them My wisdom is greater than the accuser’s deceitful scheming. Therefore those who won’t believe in My words, and I Am Jesus Christ, which the Father will give and empower that servant to set before the Gentiles, it will result exactly as Moses said: They will be cut off from My people who are part of the covenant . . .” (CofC 3 Nephi 9:12, emphasis added).

[15] “The Lord God will begin His work among people of all nations, tribes, and languages, to bring about His people’s restoration upon the earth. And with righteousness He’ll judge the needy, and with justice decide matters for the poor. He’ll control the earth with words from His mouth, and with His breath He’ll slay the wicked. For it will soon be time when the Lord God will cause a great division among the people, and He’ll destroy the wicked. And He’ll spare His people, even if He needs to use fire to destroy the wicked” (CofC 2 Nephi 12:13, emphasis added).

[16] “My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord, neither be weary of his correction; for whom the Lord loves, he corrects, even as a father the son in whom he delights” (RE Proverbs 1:10, emphasis added).

[17] “ . . . But the crowd was so large that they had them separated into 12 groups [type for Israel]. And the twelve taught the crowd. They had the crowd kneel on the ground and pray to the Father in the name of Jesus. The disciples also prayed to the Father in the name of Jesus. Then they got up and ministered to the people. When they had reiterated the same words Jesus had spoken, not varying from what Jesus had said, they knelt down once more and prayed to the Father in the name of Jesus. And they prayed for what they most desired: they asked for the Holy Ghost to be given to them. After they had prayed for this, they went down to the water’s edge; and the crowd followed them. Then Nephi went down into the water and was baptized. And he came up out of the water and began to baptize, and he baptized all those Jesus had chosen. When they were all baptized and had come up out of the water, the Holy Ghost fell upon them; and they were filled with the Holy Ghost and with fire. And they were surrounded by what seemed to be fire, which came down from heaven. The crowd witnessed it and testified of it. Angels came down from heaven and ministered to them . . .” (CofC 3 Nephi 9:2, emphasis added).

[18] “. . . And all those who keep his commandments shall grow up from grace to grace and become heirs of the Heavenly kingdom and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ, possessing the same mind, being transformed into the same image or likeness, even the express image of him who fills all in all: being filled with the fullness of his glory, and become one in him, even as the Father, Son, and holy spirit are one” (RE T&C 110, Lectures on Faith 5:2, emphasis added).

[19] “ . . . And neither have angels stopped ministering to mankind. They are obedient to Him, to minister according to His commands, revealing themselves to those of strong faith and of a firm mind in every form of godliness. The responsibility of their ministry is to call people to repentance, and to fulfill and do the work of the Father’s covenants that He’s made to mankind, to prepare the way among people by declaring Christ’s word to the Lord’s chosen vessels, so they can bear testimony of Him. And by doing this, the Lord God prepares the way for the remainder of mankind to have faith in Christ, so the Holy Ghost can have a place in their hearts according to the power of the Holy Ghost. This is how the Father vindicates the covenants He’s made to mankind . . .” (CofC Moroni 7:6, emphasis added).

[20] “And the Lord said unto Enoch, As I live, even so will I come in the last days, in the days of wickedness and vengeance, to fulfill the oath which I have made unto you concerning the children of Noah. And the day shall come that the earth shall rest. But before that day, the heavens shall be darkened, and a veil of darkness shall cover the earth; and the heavens shall shake, and also the earth. And great tribulations shall be among the children of men, but my people will I preserve. 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).

[21] “Question: What are we to understand by the four angels spoken of by John, 7th chapter and 1st verse of Revelation [Rev. 2:13]?Answer: We are to understand that they are four angels sent forth from God [Powers of Heaven], to whom is given power over the four parts of the earth, to save life and to destroy. These are they who have the everlasting gospel to commit to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, having power to shut up the heavens, to seal up unto life, or to cast down to the regions of darkness” (RE T&C 74:8, emphasis added).

[22] “And when the servant of the man of God was risen early and gone forth, behold, a host encompassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master, what shall we do? And he answered, Fear not, for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed and said, Lord, I pray you, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha. And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the Lord and said, Smite this people, I pray you, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha. And Elisha said unto them, This is not the way, neither is this the city. Follow me and I will bring you to the man whom you seek. But he led them to Samaria” (RE 2 Kings 2:22, emphasis added).

[23] “ . . . that they do not learn this one lesson — that the rights of the Priesthood are inseparably connected with the Powers of Heaven and that the Powers of Heaven cannot be controlled nor handled, only upon the principles of righteousness” (RE T&C 139:5, emphasis added).

Scott Roderick

4/25/2025

Broadening Our Perspective.pdf

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