Israel Awakes and Arises - Part 4 : The Covenant of Christ’s Royal Trifecta

          In the context of scripture, a “type” applies past events as examples for the future. Many times they do so with precise parallels. Joseph Smith explained a descendant of king David and Joseph of Egypt will be raised by the Lord to obtain the Spirit of Elijah and the fullness of the Priesthood. [1] The Davidic servant unites tribes of Ephraim [son of Joseph] and Judah [2] through three steps of Priesthood progression, the Spirits of Elias [Aaronic], Elijah [Patriarchal], and Messiah [Melchizedek]. [3] Each step draws David and latter-day Israel toward a union between “kingdoms” of God in Heaven and His earthly kingdom [through an ensign, Spirit of Elijah]. [4]

          The lives of king David and Hezekiah, both kings over ancient Israel are types for the latter-day David as well. Types from those men are legitimate examples but not a subject for this paper.

What is unique about Covenant of Christ kings Mosiah, Benjamin, and Mosiah are their collective success in gathering diverse groups and leading those people through three progressive steps of ascension to righteousness and a Priesthood fullness.

          The steps of progression reverse regressive declines in Priesthood Israel experienced following their rejection of the Lord’s offer of covenant at Sinai. Israel was invited to the highest Priesthood covenant at the outset. They were invited to approach the Lord at the veil on Sinai. The Lord offered Israel the privilege of representing themselves individually before the Lord. Prior to Sinai the people of Israel relied on Moses conversing with the Lord on their behalf. [5]

          From the beginning salvation for mankind sought to reverse the effects of the fall of Adam and Eve. Including restoring their personal relationship with God and preparation for returning to His presence. [6] Rejection by Israel of the Lord’s offer of covenant at Sinai had the effect of negating the full benefit of the Savior’s Atonement in their salvation. God’s gift to mankind was rejected by Israel when the Lord extended His offer to them. It was an affront to God’s condescension and bitter suffering to satisfy demands of divine justice. Israel’s response lacked gratitude and appreciation, exposing their ignorance of the extraordinary price paid by the Lord.

Upon Israel’s rejection, the Lord’s offer of covenant was withdrawn. Moses and the holy Priesthood was taken from them. The Aaronic Priesthood alternative was introduced “in His wrath” with animal sacrifice and vicarious representation for Israel by Aaronic high priests as the inferior practice.

          Corruption among families of the high priests frustrated the elders of Israel. They approached Samuel and proposed an earthly king be anointed to reign over Israel. [7] The Lord or “King of Kings” reigned over them at this time. Requesting a mortal king was a second rejection of the Lord and a second retreat from personal representation by Israel. A mortal king placed a second person between Israel and the Lord. The people became accountable to David; David was accountable to Samuel and later Nathan. Samuel and Nathan represented David and Israel before the Lord. It was another regressive level of separation between the Lord and Israel.

          Each step taken at the request of Israel’s elders is a covenant retreat from personal representation before the Lord and Priesthood. Faithful kings in the Covenant of Christ become a type for reversing Israel’s retreat. Israel’s latter-day gathering follows the same path by pursuing a retracement of the steps of their retreat. It begins with a righteous king obtaining the Spirit of Elijah through a connection with Heaven referred to as an “ensign.” [8] This occurs among a remnant of Joseph of Egypt’s people and descendants of Judah in Zarahemla.

Israel’s Return Begins with Destruction   

          A term introduced in the Covenant of Christ is the phrase, “ripened in iniquity.”

“Now we’ll witness God’s decrees concerning this land, [America’s] and whoever occupies this land of promise must serve God, or they’ll be swept away when they provoke His full wrath upon them. The full extent of God’s wrath will be provoked when they’ve ripened in iniquity. This is a land that’s specially chosen and better than all other places on earth. That being the case, those who inhabit it must serve God or they’ll be swept away because of God’s everlasting decree. But they aren’t swept away until there’s a fullness of iniquity among the occupants of the land. This is coming to you, Gentiles, so you can know God’s decrees, so you can repent and not continue in your iniquities until the fullness has come, so you don’t provoke the full extent of God’s wrath upon you as the inhabitants of the land have all done before. This is a choice land; and any nation that inhabits it will be free from enslavement and captivity and from all other nations under heaven if they will only serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ, who’s been revealed to you through the things we’ve written” (CofC Ether 1:7; emphasis added).

Some lands of inheritance are preferable to others currently. Those occupying this “choice land” are held to a higher standard of loyalty to the Lord. They are required to serve Him alone. Prior occupants arrived and enjoyed freedom and prosperity until they “ripened in iniquity.” When the ripening occurred the Lord raised a righteous remnant and led them away after warnings were given by God and His servants. If there was no one penitent before God the whole society was destroyed. Destruction began with the wicked destroying one another followed by His wrath by natural means.

Beginning in Jerusalem

          Lehi, Jeremiah, and probably others warned inhabitants of Jerusalem of their impending destruction and captivity. When the people threatened the lives of His servants by taking them captive and attempting to kill them, the Lord led a righteous remnant out from among the wicked. Jerusalem’s destruction followed their departure. [9]

Separation in the New Land

          Nephi left his brothers and their families when they repeatedly attempted to take his life. He separated from them in the land they originally occupied when they arrived in the land of promise.

“I cried often to the Lord my God in prayer because of my brothers’ anger, but their anger against me grew to such an extent that they tried to kill me. Indeed, they complained about me, saying: Our younger brother is planning to rule over us — we’ve put up with so much from him. Therefore let’s kill him now, so we won’t be bothered anymore by what he says. We refuse to have him be in charge of us, because it belongs to us, the older brothers, to rule over the people. Now I don’t write on these plates all of their accusations against me, I’ll just leave it with they tried to kill me.

Then the Lord warned me and any who wanted to go with me, to leave them and escape into the wilderness. Therefore I took my family, Zoram and his family, my older brother Sam and his family, my younger brothers Jacob and Joseph, my sisters, and anyone willing to go with me. Those willing to go with me were the people who believed in God’s warnings and revelations; as a result, they listened to what I said. We took our tents and everything we could and traveled in the wilderness for many days. After we had traveled for many days we set up our tents. Those who accompanied me wanted to name the place Nephi, so we called it Nephi, and they took the liberty of calling themselves Nephi’s people. We paid careful attention to follow the Lord’s judgments, statutes, and commandments in all things, according to the Law of Moses. The Lord was with us and we thrived, sowing seeds and harvesting abundantly. We began to raise flocks, herds, and animals of every kind. I also brought the records engraved on the brass plates, and the ball or compass prepared for my father on which the Lord had written messages” (CofC 2 Nephi 4:1-2; emphasis added).

Nephi and “the people who believed in God’s warnings and revelations; as a result, they listened to what I said.” After separating from Laman and Lemuel’s people, Nephi and his people began as righteous, prosperous people in the land they called Nephi. Eventually the people of Nephi gave way to pride and wickedness. Mosiah and his people were led out of Nephi by the Lord to Zarahemla where they met the Mulochites from Jerusalem.

Mosiah leads People Out From Nephi’s Descendants

          Prior to the invasion of the land of Nephi by the Lamanites the Lord warned Mosiah of their impending destruction. Mosiah was told to flee with those who were like Nephi’s original followers. They fled to the land of Zarahemla.

“I’m Amaleki, Abinadom’s son. I’ll tell you something about Mosiah, who was made king over Zarahemla. He was warned by the Lord to flee from the land of Nephi — and all those who were willing to respond to the Lord’s voice were also warned to go with him into the wilderness. And he did what the Lord commanded him, and all those who were willing to respond to the Lord’s voice went into the wilderness. They were led by continual preaching and prophesying and were constantly admonished by God’s word. They were led through the wilderness by His power, until they came down to the land called Zarahemla. There they discovered a people who were called Zarahemla’s people. Now Zarahemla’s people rejoiced greatly and so did Zarahemla, because the Lord had sent Mosiah’s people with the brass plates containing the record of the Jews [the plates of Laban preceded Judah’s birth].

Mosiah discovered Zarahemla’s people left Jerusalem at the time Zedekiah, king of Judah, was taken away as a prisoner to Babylon. They traveled across the wilderness and were brought by the Lord’s hand across the sea to the land where Mosiah discovered them; and they had lived there since their arrival. . .” (CofC Omni 1:6-7; emphasis added).

Mosiah and his people fled into the wilderness, being led by the Lord to Zarahemla. Mosiah and his people are Joseph of Egypt’s descendants through Manasseh. Zarahemla and his people are Judah. The unification of Joseph and Judah under Mosiah mirrors latter-day prophecies from the Old Testament of the Davidic king gathering the same tribes.

A great cause for rejoicing among the people of Zarahemla was Mosiah and his people had the records of Judah and their ancestors.

          In the account of Mosiah and his people in Zarahemla, the Lord’s pattern of leading His people away from destruction prior to His wrath pouring out is repeated.

Contrasting Mosiah’s people with Zarahemla’s informs us that all things were not equal in their respective relations with God. Mosiah and his people carried with them scriptures from the brass plates of Laban. Their people were knowledgeable and righteous. The records held by Mosiah began with the creation and accounts of the Patriarchal Father’s. The account of Judah was included up to the Babylonian captivity.

          The added benefit to Mosiah and his people was the scriptures. The records sustained their faith and devotion to the Lord. Mosiah and their prophets diligently taught their people from scripture, encouraging obedience to God’s commandments. Their persistence in teaching and exemplifying these principles inoculated the people from Satan’s two methods of removing light and truth. [10] Instruction from righteous men prevented false traditions from becoming established. Obedience to God’s commandments brought further light and knowledge. Greater light increased their ability to discern good from evil. The scriptures contained God’s dealings with their forefather’s encouraging faith in God among rising generations.

          Unlike people of Mosiah, the people of Zarahemla corrupted their language and lost faith in God. Left to their own device’s wars were fought and many lost their lives. After Mosiah and his people taught people of Zarahemla their language, the Mulochites were re-introduced to faith in the living God and scripture.

          These events illustrate how prophecies from Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Joseph of Egypt are fulfilled in the latter-days. A righteous remnant from Joseph of Egypt is led by a righteous king to unite remnants of Lehi’s seed and unaware descendants of Judah of their lost identity as covenant Israel. Descendants of Joseph [repentant Gentiles and Lehi’s descendants] in a future day teach a remnant of Judah [Israel] their language. When a means of communication is established, Joseph’s descendants teach descendants of Judah about their Patriarchal Father’s and promises obtained from God by them. [11] The Lord’s promises to their Patriarchal Father’s are eternal, extending to them and their posterity “for ever.” [12] Collectively They become God’s eternal heritage, Israel.

          Each example is a microcosm on a regional stage of events re-enacted in the last days. “There’s nothing new under the sun.” [13] The difference between smaller scale events and their repetition in the last days is scale. The stage for latter-day events is global. Israel’s tribes are scattered throughout the world of Gentile nations. The prophesied gathering of Israel is triggered by Gentile nations globally “ripening in iniquity.” [14] The Lord gathers those who “were willing to respond to the Lord’s voice,” and are led by “continual preaching and prophesying and were constantly admonished by God’s word.” [15]

          At the conclusion of Part 3 a warning was given to latter-day Gentiles of God’s approaching wrath if they fail to heed warnings from His servants, past and present. The challenge for modern people is discerning between contemporary true messengers and impostors.

          Joseph Smith warned Gentiles in his day and ours:

“I prophesy, that that man who tarries after he has an opportunity of going, will be afflicted by the devil. Wars are at hand; we must not delay; but are not required to sacrifice. We ought to have the building up of Zion as our greatest object. When wars come, we shall have to flee to Zion [in America]. The cry is to make haste. The last revelation says, Ye shall not have time to have gone over the earth, until these things come. It will come as did the cholera, war, fires, and earthquakes; one pestilence after another, until the Ancient of Days [Adam, at Adam-Ondi-Ahman= Adam in the presence of God on earth] comes, then judgment will be given to the Saints” (Smith Jr., Joseph. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith (pp. 180-181; emphasis added). (Function). Kindle Edition.

“Wherefore, we again say, search the revelations of God; study the prophecies, and rejoice that God grants unto the world Seers and Prophets. They are they who saw the mysteries of godliness; they saw the flood before it came; they saw angels ascending and descending upon a ladder [Jacob’s] that reached from earth to heaven [ensign]; they saw the stone cut out of the mountain, which filled the whole earth; they saw the Son of God come from the regions of bliss [Heaven] and dwell with men on earth; they saw the deliverer come out of Zion, and turn away ungodliness from Jacob [Davidic servant]; they saw the glory of the Lord when he showed the transfiguration of the earth on the mount; they saw every mountain laid low and every valley exalted when the Lord was taking vengeance upon the wicked; they saw truth spring out of the earth, and righteousness look down from heaven in the last days, before the Lord came the second time to gather his elect; they saw the end of wickedness on earth, and the Sabbath of creation crowned with peace [“I will make with them a covenant of peace” after David gathers Israel, see RE Ezekiel 19:7]; they saw the end of the glorious thousand years [millennial reign of Jesus Christ], when Satan was loosed for a little season; they saw the day of judgment when all men received according to their works, and they saw the heaven and the earth flee away to make room for the city of God, when the righteous receive an inheritance in eternity [“for ever”]. And, fellow sojourners upon earth [mortal men], it is your privilege to purify yourselves and come up to the same glory, and see for yourselves, and know for yourselves. Ask, and it shall be given you; seek and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you” (Smith Jr., Joseph. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith (p. 11; emphasis added). (Function). Kindle Edition.

In addition to prophecies of Joseph Smith, another warning was given in our day when the Lord renewed His covenant with repentant Gentiles in 2017:

“Language of scriptures description of the events now underway calls it the end of the times of the gentiles. This process with the spirit withdrawing, will end on this continent, as two prior civilizations ended in fratricidal and genocidal warfare. For the rest of the world, it will be as in the days of Noah [16] in which, as that light [truth] becomes eclipsed, the coldness of men’s hearts is going to result in a constant scene of violence and bloodshed. The wicked will destroy the wicked. [17]

The covenant, if it is kept, will prevent you from losing light and warmth of heart as the spirit now steadily recedes from the world. The time will come when you will be astonished at the gulf between the light and truth you will comprehend and the darkness of mind of the world.

Be charitable and patient and labor to reach others. They will judge you harshly, but nevertheless be kind to them. They’re going to grow to fear you, but that’s only part of how darkness responds to light. Give them no reason to fear you. The time will come for us to gather, but between now and then, be leaven. Preserve the world. Be salt. Preserve the world, even if it hates you. . .” (Covenant of Christ Conference Closing Remarks, Denver Snuffer Jr., pp.1-2; emphasis added).

In addition to the warning given in 2017 are words of warning given recently in April of 2026:

“Now, it doesn’t matter that you don’t care, that you’ve ignored it, or that it didn’t come to your attention. The Lord’s obligation is to sound the warning. Then the burden shifts [responsibility shifts from Him to us to respond].

If you were really interested in Him and what He’s up to, you would have [past tense] paid attention. You would have done something to inform yourself. Failing to do that, it is not His fault that He is going to proceed with exactly what He has foretold He intended to do. So, you are now accountable. . . So now, think about what is the absolute minimum. What is the most modest? What is the least that could happen to fulfill the prophecies leading up to the second coming of the Lord? Now, His return, all mankind will behold it; but the overwhelming majority will become ashes under the feet of those who are prepared for His coming. The prophecies require that the overwhelming majority never figure out what is happening right now under their noses—because I’m telling you, if you want to see what it is that fulfills the prophecies leading up to the return of the Lord, you had better pay attention to what we’ve been doing, because prophecy after prophecy, promise after promise, foretold event after foretold event has been occurring.

And once again, I repeat to all the world, it doesn’t matter if you notice or you don’t. You have been warned. And it won’t be any more dramatic than what we’re doing now and what I’m saying today. We still have things to do. We can use help, and we can use assistance. But if we don’t get it, we’re going to soldier on, and we’re going to get it done because the Lord is backing us. . . Let me end by just taking a moment to say that it really is true that the Lord is behind what we are doing. He is the author of what’s currently underway. It may seem modest and underwhelming, but I’m telling you, what was happening when Jesus was here appeared modest and underwhelming. Rumors were flying about, and the typical attitude that was held by the religious establishment was that He was some kind of a sorcerer employing the devil’s power to render cheap magic tricks, and that He certainly wasn’t the Messiah.

Well, I’m telling you, God is behind this work. He is the author of the things that have and are going on. The production of our new volume of Scriptures is in itself only made possible by the Lord’s direct help. Many volunteers assisted, but the Lord was directly involved. It is miraculous that we have gotten as far as we have in as little time as it has taken. And we know we are going to soldier on, fully expecting that we’re going to receive a command to build a temple, with every intent of doing so. . . We aren’t trying to co-opt or steal members of any church from any other denomination. We just believe in accepting the truth, in being baptized to follow Christ, and then to pursue the course of truth wherever it takes us. If that allows you to fellowship with a Presbyterian or a Catholic, do so, but be unmistakable about where the truth lies. The truth is HERE, and God’s work has commenced among us. And while there are many corners of the earth on which God is engaged in activities, the fulfillment of the promises and the prophecies are going to happen in a very modest way among this people. . . The game afoot right now does not require us to do anything more than to repent, have faith, be faithful to His purpose, and support His work. We may do that poorly, haltingly. We may do it with regrets every time we lay down at night thinking of what might we have done better that day. Bear on, carry on, soldier on—because the ultimate end of this is a victory, not for us, but a victory for the Lord. Our victory merely consists in being able to survive the burning!

Let me close by bearing testimony that Jesus Christ lives, speaks, is engaged, has His eyes upon all the earth, and many of the details that you think are happenstance in your life are not so. The Lord is involved everywhere, and He is involved in every life.

I bear testimony of that in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.” (This, That, and the Other Thing, Denver Snuffer Jr., pp.14, 17, 20-22; emphasis added).

As with all generations, contemporaries in each unique time bears responsibility for believing and heeding the Lord’s servants of their day. Unfortunately few break traditional bonds to receive those whom God calls to warn and declare the truth. Warnings usually oppose conventional wisdom of the day.

In the second prophecy Joseph Smith quoted earlier is a statement prefacing future events witnessed and foretold by prophets and seers of God. Joseph states:

“Wherefore, we again say, search the revelations of God; study the prophecies, and rejoice that God grants unto the world Seers and Prophets. They are they who saw the mysteries of godliness. . .”

Joseph continues by siting future prophecies familiar to those who “search the revelations of God.” Prophets and seers are aware because they were shown the events and recorded them for the benefit of future generations. It was done by the benevolence of God to encourage us to avoid the same mistakes. Each generation where righteous men bore witness, the Accuser inspired others to oppose true messengers through distraction, deflection, and contradicting the Lord’s witnesses. Responsibility to discern between them rests upon us.

          Each part in this series provides witnesses quoted from scripture. God diligently provides evidence of His involvement in earthly matters through individual lives.

          At the end of Joseph Smith’s list of prophetic events he concludes with the assertion all true servants of God attest to:

“And, fellow sojourners upon earth [mortal men], it is your privilege to purify yourselves and come up to the same glory, and see for yourselves, and know for yourselves. Ask, and it shall be given you; seek and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you” [18]

All mankind is admonished by God’s servants to “purify yourselves” through repentance, humility, and diligence before asking, seeking, and knocking for the Lord to open. Not to suggest there is a spiritual litmus test for purity one must achieve before God responds. The Lord and His servants extend an invitation to engage in a “process” involving His intervention throughout every step, from beginning to end. His servants engaged the process and desire to instruct and nurture through the same. They know from prior experience the subtleties of the process. It begins with our intent to purify ourselves through repentance and remorse for our sins. As we seek to purify ourselves receiving forgiveness prophets and seers offer encouragement and instruction.

The tendency for many is to overlook purification and move directly to asking, seeking, and knocking prematurely. In doing so we follow the pattern of ancient Israel and Moses. Rather than follow the Lord’s servant as he ascends, we passively observe the servant’s ascent while awaiting his return to instruct us. Consequences for our complacency leads to darkened minds.

“President Joseph Smith read the 14th chapter of Ezekiel—said the Lord had declared by the Prophet, that the people should each one stand for himself, and depend on no man or men in that state of corruption of the Jewish church—that righteous persons could only deliver their own souls—applied it to the present state of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—said if the people departed from the Lord [not the institution], they must fall—that they were depending on the Prophet [relinquishing personal responsibility for their salvation, law of Moses, Aaronic covenant], hence were darkened in their minds, in consequence of neglecting the duties devolving upon themselves, envious towards the innocent, while they afflict the virtuous with their shafts of envy” (Smith Jr., Joseph. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith (p. 270; emphasis added). (Function). Kindle Edition.

When God sends servants, whether prophets, seers, or kings, it is never with the intent to absolve us of responsibility for our salvation. The opposite is true. God expects us to embrace responsibility for our salvation, engaging in the process of purification in preparation for conversing with Heaven and the Lord through the veil and entrance into His presence. We are admonished to ask, seek, and knock while engaging the purification process. These steps are collectively one process.

          The three terms of ask, seek, and knock are presumed to be understood but generally are not. That is why “A Glossary of Gospel Terms” is provided. The Glossary provides a detailed explanation to instruct us in the purification process as prescribed by the Lord.

“Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened to you; indeed, everyone that asks, receives, and anyone that seeks, finds, and to the one that knocks, it will be opened (3 Nephi 6:7 CE). “Just a

fter the caution to not give holy things to the unworthy, Christ reminds all of their obligation to ask, seek, and knock. If you will ask, it will be given to you. If you seek, you will find it. If you knock, things will be opened to you. But be careful not to give what is holy to the unworthy. These ideas are related in two ways: First, if you want what is holy, then stop being a dog or a swine. Ask, seek, and knock. Second, if you are one who is qualified [purification] and will receive holy things by your willingness to be repentant, then press forward by asking, seeking, and knocking. If you do, the things which are most holy will be given. For everyone that asketh, receiveth. Really? Everyone? Even you? That is what Christ is saying. However, the manner in which you will receive is illustrated by ‘The Missing Virtue’ in Ten Parables [a book by Denver Snuffer Jr.]. Meaning that the effort to receive what you have asked the Lord could take nearly two decades, and a great deal of internal changing before you acquire what you lack. Receiving may include not only what you’ve asked to receive, but also everything you do not have in order to finally qualify to receive what you seek. What do you associate with findeth? Does it suggest to you active effort, or passive receipt? To find something you are missing (even a small thing) what must you do? If searching is required to locate, then what do you suppose the Lord is implying by the word findeth? What does it mean that it shall be opened? Does opening imply merely a view? Does it suggest also entering in? If it opens to view, and you then fail to enter in, has opening been worthwhile? Has anything been accomplished? Does it suggest that there is activity required of someone who has something opened unto them? It is my view that the words chosen all imply a burden upon the one who asks, seeks, and knocks. They are not entitled to anything just by speaking the words. They must make the effort to search into and contemplate the things they seek. Then they must change and repent of everything amiss in their lives that is revealed to them [purification]. This is to be done before they can see what is to be shown to them. If, for example, a person wants to see the other side of the mountain, they can ask daily for a view to be opened to them without ever seeing the other side. But if the Lord prompts them to take the path to the top, the Lord has given them the means to find and have opened to them the very thing they seek. Provided, of course, they are willing to walk in the path to the top of the mountain. When they remain on the valley floor, asking or demanding more, they are not really asking, seeking, and knocking. They are irritating and ungrateful. The Lord’s small means are capable of taking the one who seeks to the very thing they desire (Alma 17:8). But without cooperation with Him they can receive nothing. The Lord’s small means are how great things are brought to pass (1 Nephi 5:8). But for some people the Lord’s answers are never enough. However, when the humble who ask, seek, and knock follow Him in these small means, they will eventually stand in His presence and partake of eternal life. But not until they have done as all others have done before them.”

Mankind is impatient, wanting quickly what can sometimes only be obtained in patience. Human nature is to rush, but development [purification & knowledge] requires patience. Some things require time and persistence to prepare one for the blessings they seek. Joseph remarked: The things of God are of deep import, and time, and experience, and careful and ponderous and solemn thoughts can only find them out (T&C 138:18). This is the way of God. It is adapted to give all what they lack, even if they are unaware of what they lack. The Father always intends to give to those who ask, seek, and knock, just as Christ explained; the Father knows much more how to give good things to them that ask (3 Nephi 6:8). He will not merely give the thing requested. He will add to it such things as are needed to prepare them to be received. “This, then, is the process: We ask. Without a request, the laws governing things prevent bestowal. We can’t be given until first we ask. When we have asked, the Father will give. He will give every good gift needed, and not just what has been asked (3 Nephi 6:8). If there is (as is almost always the case) a gulf between what you have asked of Him and your capacity to receive it, then He will set about giving you every needful thing to enable you to receive. If you ask for strength, He will provide you with that experience necessary to develop the strength you seek. If you seek for patience you will be given Divinely ordained experiences by Him that are calculated to develop in you what you have sought. He knows you and knows what you need. Whatever is asked of Him, He will set about to ordain. It will come in a perfectly natural progression. It will occur in accordance with both natural and eternal law. If you fight against it, you prolong the time when you will receive what you have asked of Him. If you cooperate, it will flow unto you without compulsory means in a natural progression (T&C 139:6). If you do not ask, it will not be given. If you do not seek, you cannot possibly find. If you are unwilling to knock, the door will remain shut to you. But if you do these things, then you must cooperate with Him as He prepares you to receive what He will bestow. After asking, seeking, and knocking, then a process is invoked in which the Father prepares you to receive. You will receive as soon as He can prepare you by experience, by careful, thoughtful, ponderous thought through time and experiences adapted to give you what is asked. When, at last, you have been adequately prepared, you will have gone through exactly what every other soul before you has experienced to prepare them. There are no shortcuts. There are no exceptions. It is in accordance with laws ordained before the foundation of the world. Everyone who has obtained what you seek will have done so in conformity with the very same laws. The Father will work with you to prepare you to receive what you seek. This is a reaffirmation by Christ of the process and the Father’s role in bringing it to pass. If you trust Him, trust also His Father’s deliverance of you. You will be delivered. You will receive from Him who knows how to bestow every good gift what you have asked of Him” (A Glossary of Gospel Terms, Ask, Seek, Knock, p.22, emphasis added).

God gave man agency and refuses any infringement on His gift. God’s gift of agency is inseparable from accountability. Consequences for our choices are inevitable. Correct choices initiate the “process” of purification. Incorrect choices have consequences causing us to suffer adversely.

          God sending servants to teach by precept and exemplify “the process” was never intended to infringe on or rescind mankind’s agency. God’s intent is for us to become empowered by choosing to purify ourselves in preparation for conversing with Him and being restored to His presence, like Adam and Eve in their original state.

The “accuser” entices mankind to surrender their agency voluntarily through deception and deflection, in opposition to God’s commandments and empowerment “process.”

Increased understanding enables us to learn how God empowers and prepares mankind by enticing them to receive light and knowledge from His servants who teach and exemplify the “process.” Subordinating our agency to any man leads to spiritual regression and darkened minds. Immersing ourselves in the process leads to purification and individual empowerment.

Prophets and Seers

          Before we explore how Mosiah, Benjamin, and Mosiah collectively become a type for Israel’s latter-day gathering it is necessary to understand a term used in their accounts. Most have a rudimentary understanding of these records combined with supposition. One example is the role of a seer. “A Glossary of Gospel Terms” provides greater clarity on seership. We gain a foundation for understanding events in the lives of these kings and their empowerment and advancement of their people.

“The concept captured by the title “seer” involves sight. Seeing is the hallmark of the seer. They have vision. A seer is someone who has knowledge of things which cannot be seen with the natural eye. When Joseph Smith received the Urim and Thummim from an angel, he was told: the possession and use of these stones were what constituted seers in ancient or former times… (JSH 3:3; see also Mosiah 5:13 CE). When anyone has possession of such an instrument, they are, by definition, a seer; the instrument itself allows the possessor to see the past, present, and future. However, it is not necessary to possess this instrument to be a seer. Whenever hidden knowledge is revealed to a person, the recipient is a seer. Whether they have a Urim and Thummim or not, anyone receiving Divine revelation of future or past events has the gift of seership. It remains the calling of a seer to reveal things which are secret or hidden. Seers have a responsibility to teach others or, if their contemporary generation rejects them, to leave a written testimony for future generations. Any people who have a seer among them gain knowledge of things as they are, as they were, and as they are to come [truth defined]. Mankind needs living seers, or they are cut off from one of the gifts intended to guide them. Seership and exaltation are connected. “There is no reason you cannot also receive the gift of seership to guide you as occasion requires. The knowledge of some things requires you to behold the past, present and future.” Seership is a voluntary process; anyone who is willing to follow the path [process] to get there may climb the mountain and see into the distance. Seership is something that all ought to expect will be included in the Lord’s tutelage while they are here. The Lord demonstrates the gift of seership; He provides it as an experience. This can be relayed by giving an instrument, like the Urim and Thummim, or washing the eyes, as in the case of Enoch. The seer is then admonished to use the gift and to “accomplish it as an assignment,” which requires effort on his part to figure it out; since the gift was previously experienced with the Lord, he is left to work out how to do so again. In this sense, seership is ultimately an assignment or a task to be accomplished, but it is one for which a prior pattern has been provided as a gift” (A Glossary of Gospel Terms, Seer, p.314; emphasis added).

Generally the understanding of seership is more narrow than it should be. It is not limited to possessing a Urim and Thummim. Seership is manifest in other ways as well.

As mentioned by Denver Snuffer previously, the Covenant of Christ is a Urim and Thummim if the text opens our spiritual eyes to understand past, present, and future events. This series of papers demonstrates the veracity of Denver’s statement.

          In a prior quotation from Ether a seer [Moroni] speaks directly to Gentiles in our day to warn and instruct for our benefit.

“Now we’ll witness God’s decrees concerning this land, and whoever occupies this land of promise must serve God, or they’ll be swept away when they provoke His full wrath upon them. The full extent of God’s wrath will be provoked when they’ve ripened in iniquity. This is a land that’s specially chosen and better than all other places on earth. That being the case, those who inhabit it must serve God or they’ll be swept away because of God’s everlasting decree. But they aren’t swept away until there’s a fullness of iniquity among the occupants of the land. This is coming to you, Gentiles, so you can know God’s decrees, so you can repent and not continue in your iniquities until the fullness has come, so you don’t provoke the full extent of God’s wrath upon you as the inhabitants of the land have all done before. This is a choice land; and any nation that inhabits it will be free from enslavement and captivity and from all other nations under heaven if they will only serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ, who’s been revealed to you through the things we’ve written” (CofC Ether 1:7; emphasis added).

Consider the source of this warning to the Gentiles. To a person given the vision of a seer, the source of the communication points out a type for the Gentile future. Not Moroni who completes the abridgment, but the seer who first translates the Jaredite record. The type currently under our consideration:

“Zarahemla’s people and Mosiah’s people united [Judah and Joseph], 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 [Babel] 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).  

Moroni’s abridgment of Ether’s record has a sobering warning for latter-day Gentiles. He relates events from the days of the brother of Jared to Gentiles in the last days. At the Lord’s direction Moroni explains problems with the Jaredites causing their extinction. Mormon and Moroni completed the abridgement of the Nephite record. It serves two purposes in the last days. One intends to recover Nephite descendants living in disbelief like Mulochites of Zarahemla. The second is warning Gentiles occupying this land of the Lord’s terms of residence. Chosen by God, this land is the best place for His gospel to take root in the hearts of free people. [19]

          God’s requirement for all people who dwell here is loyalty to Him. He requires obedience to His commandments, repentance, and baptism. Those living on this land must serve God to be preserved. [20] The price of peace and prosperity on this continent is obedience to His terms. Failure leads to destruction, both temporally and spiritually. [21]

The seer, king Mosiah, translated Jaredite records through the Urim and Thummim for their benefit and ours. The records informed the people of God’s required devotion to Jesus Christ and grave consequences if they fail to comply. In addition to the warning given in the Jaredite record to Mosiah and his people, the Gentiles are warned as well. It is a second witness in the Covenant of Christ that destruction awaits those ripening in iniquity on this land. The account of Mosiah and the people of Zarahemla instruct us in how the Lord gathers Israel and how God’s wrath poured out upon the wicked in defense of righteous remnants of Israel and latter-day Gentiles in the last days.

          King Mosiah is the seer and translator of the record and God’s servant [and type] for delivering the Lord’s terms to his people, the people of Zarahemla, latter-day Gentiles, and Lehi’s descendants in the last days.

          Mosiah, his son Benjamin, and grandson Mosiah are three kings and seers whom God grants vision and knowledge. They lead their people through purification, knowledge, and adoption into Christ’s family. This is how Israel is gathered in the last days into the family of God. The divine family in Heaven assists in preserving God’s children on earth. Family saves family. This was God’s preferred government from the beginning. That is why God prefers we refer to Him as “Father.”

[1] “. . . Although David was a king, he never did obtain the spirit and power of Elijah and the fullness of the Priesthood; and the Priesthood that he received, and the throne and kingdom of David is to be taken from him and given to another by the name of David in the last days, raised up out of his lineage” (Smith Jr., Joseph. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith (p. 389; emphasis added). (Function). Kindle Edition).

[2] “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 [Israel] 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 [Gentile] nations, and shall assemble the outcasts [scattered] of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah, from the four corners of the earth. The envy also of Ephraim [birthright, Gentiles] shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah [Israel] shall be cut off. Ephraim shall not envy Judah and Judah shall not vex Ephraim. But they [united Judah and Ephraim] shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines [Israel’s enemies] 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. . .” (RE Isaiah 5:5; emphasis added).

[3] Smith Jr., Joseph. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith (pp. 384-391). (Function). Kindle Edition.

[4] “Our Father who is in Heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come; your will be done on earth, as it is done in Heaven. . .” (RE Matthew 3:29; emphasis added).

[5] “And this greater Priesthood administers the gospel and holds the key of the mysteries of the kingdom, even the key of the knowledge of God. Therefore, in the ordinances thereof the power of godliness is manifest, and without the ordinances thereof, and the authority of the Priesthood, the power of godliness is not manifest unto man in the flesh, for without this no man can see the face of God, even the Father, and live.

Now, this, Moses plainly taught to the children of Israel in the wilderness, and sought diligently to sanctify his people that they might behold the face of God, but they hardened their hearts and could not endure his presence. Therefore, the Lord, in his wrath (for his anger was kindled against them) swore that they should not enter into his rest — which rest is the fullness of his glory — while in the wilderness.

Therefore, he took Moses out of their midst, and the Holy Priesthood also. And the lesser priesthood continued, which priesthood holds the key of the ministering of angels, and the preparatory gospel, which gospel is the gospel of repentance, and of baptism, and the remission of sins, and the law of carnal commandments, which the Lord in his wrath caused to continue with the house of Aaron, among the children of Israel, until John [the Baptist], whom God raised up, being filled with the holy ghost from his mother’s womb. For he was baptized while he was yet in his childhood, and was ordained by the angel of God at the time he was eight days old unto this power: to overthrow the kingdom of the Jews, and to make straight the way of the Lord before the face of his people, to prepare them for the coming of the Lord, in whose hand is given all power” (RE T&C 82:12-14; emphasis added).

[6] “Judas (not Iscariot), asked, Lord, how is it you will manifest yourself to us, but not to the world? Jesus answered and said to him, If a man loves me, he will stand ready, watching for every communication I will send to him; and my Father will also love him, and we will come visit him, and continually abide by his side” (RE T&C 171, Testimony of Saint John 10:13; emphasis added).

[7] “Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together and came to Samuel, unto Ramah, and said unto him, Behold, you are old, and your sons walk not in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us, like all the nations [Gentiles]. But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the Lord. And the Lord said unto Samuel, Listen unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. According to all the works which they have done, since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, in which they have forsaken me and served other gods, so do they also unto you. Now therefore listen unto their voice. Nevertheless, yet protest solemnly unto them, and show them the manner of the king that shall reign over them” (RE 1 Samuel 4:2; emphasis added).

[8] “The fact is that a pillar of fire by night and a pillar of smoke by day is an allusion, an attempt to refer to things we are familiar with to describe things that we are not familiar with. A conduit that reaches up into heaven (as the temporary appearance of the Lord to Joseph in the First Vision) is intended to be a permanent connection at some place. It will be one of the reasons why people say, “Let’s not go up against the people of Zion because Zion is too terrible.” The presence of God is dreadful to the wicked; it’s frightening to them. They get near it, and it convicts them of their unworthiness. They dare not go up. But the pure and the humble and the noble are drawn to it. They will want to be there. And so, that “conduit,” that “fiery pillar,” that “stairway to heaven,” Jacob’s ladder… Comment: The chariot of fire. Denver: …the “chariot of fire”—all of those things are an attempt to describe that heavenly connection, that heavenly presence. Now, to the unworthy and the ungodly looking at it, they may or may not be able to see anything about it, but they will sense extraordinary dread. It will frighten them. To the worthy, there will be something enlightened about the very presence of the place. It will not seem to them to just be another place. It will seem as though the God of heaven has some base established there. That’s when you know that an ensign has been established in the tops of the mountains to which nations will flow saying, “Come, let us go up and learn from the God of Jacob,” because that ensign is actually something godly, holy, edifying, instructive, revelatory, filled with light, and redemptive—and the god who dwells there is going to be the Lord. . .” (Snuffer Jr., Denver C. . The Teachings of Denver C. Snuffer, Jr. Volume 5: 2018: Kindle Edition (The Teachings of Denver C. Snuffer Jr. Readers Edition Series) (p. 41; emphasis added). (Function). Kindle Edition.

[9] “After I Nephi finished teaching my brothers, our father Lehi also said many things to them, recounting to them how the Lord had done great things for them through leaving the land of Jerusalem. He talked to them about their rebellion during the sea voyage and God’s mercy in sparing their lives, so that they weren’t lying at the bottom of the sea. He also spoke to them about the promised land they had been given: how merciful the Lord had been in warning us to flee from the land of Jerusalem. He said: I’ve seen a vision showing me Jerusalem has been destroyed. If we had remained there, we also would have died. . .” (CofC 2 Nephi 1:1; emphasis added).

[10] “. . .And that wicked one comes and takes away light and truth, through disobedience, from the children of men, and because of the tradition of their fathers. . .” (RE T&C 93:11; emphasis added).

[11] “Therefore your [Joseph of Egypt’s] offspring will write, and Judah’s offspring will write. The Lord says: The things your offspring write, and the things Judah’s offspring write, will grow together in order to expose false doctrines, settle disputes, and establish peace among your offspring and bring them, in the last days, to understanding their ancestors and comprehending My covenants. The Lord said: His [Joseph Smith’s] weakness will be made strong. My work will then begin among all My people. I’ll restore you, O house of Israel” (CofC 2 Nephi 2:4; emphasis added).

[12] “And David my servant shall be king over them, and they all shall have one shepherd. They shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them. And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelled. And they shall dwell therein — even they, and their children, and their children’s children for ever. And my servant David shall be their prince for ever” (RE Ezekiel 19:6; emphasis added)

[13] “Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities — all is vanity. What profit has a man of all his labor which he takes under the sun? One generation passes away and another generation comes, but the earth stands for ever. The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, and hastens to his place where he arose. The wind goes toward the south, and turns about unto the north; it whirls about continually, and the wind returns again according to his circuits. All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full; unto the place from which the rivers come, there they return again. All things are full of labor, man cannot utter it; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. The thing that has been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done, and there is no new thing under the sun. Is there anything whereof it may be said, See, this is new? It has been already of old time, which was before us. There is no remembrance of former things, neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come, with those that shall come after” (RE Ecclesiastes 1:1; emphasis added).

[14] “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. 16As 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. 17When 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 3:29; emphasis added).

[15] “I’m Amaleki, Abinadom’s son. I’ll tell you something about Mosiah, who was made king over Zarahemla. He was warned by the Lord to flee from the land of Nephi — and all those who were willing to respond to the Lord’s voice were also warned to go with him into the wilderness. And he did what the Lord commanded him, and all those who were willing to respond to the Lord’s voice went into the wilderness. They were led by continual preaching and prophesying and were constantly admonished by God’s word. They were led through the wilderness by His power, until they came down to the land called Zarahemla. There they discovered a people who were called Zarahemla’s people. Now Zarahemla’s people rejoiced greatly and so did Zarahemla, because the Lord had sent Mosiah’s people with the brass plates containing the record of the Jews” (CofC Omni 1:6, emphasis added).

[16] “But as it was in the days of Noah, so it shall be also at the coming of the Son of Man, for it shall be with them as it was in the days which were before the flood. For until the day that Noah entered into the ark, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, and knew not until the flood came and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be” (RE Matthew 11:11; emphasis added).

“But the earth was corrupt before God and it was filled with violence. And God looked upon it, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted its way upon the earth. And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh has come before me; for the earth is filled with violence, and behold, I will destroy all flesh from off the earth. . .” (RE Genesis 5:12; emphasis added).

[17] “I, the Lord, am angry with the wicked. I am holding my Spirit from the inhabitants of the earth. I have sworn in my wrath and decreed wars upon the face of the earth, and the wicked shall slay the wicked, and fear shall come upon every man, and the saints also shall hardly escape. Nevertheless, I, the Lord, am with them, and will come down in Heaven from the presence of my Father and consume the wicked with unquenchable fire. And behold, this is not yet, but by and by. Wherefore, seeing that I, the Lord, have decreed all these things upon the face of the earth, I will that my saints should be assembled upon the land of Zion, and that every man should take righteousness in his hands and faithfulness upon his loins, and lift a warning voice unto the inhabitants of the earth, and declare both by word and by flight that desolation shall come upon the wicked” (RE T&C 50:8; emphasis added).

[18] “I, the Lord, am merciful and gracious unto them who fear me, and delight to honor them who serve me in righteousness and in truth unto the end. Great shall be their reward and eternal shall be their glory, and unto them will I reveal all my mysteries, yea, all the hidden mysteries of my kingdom. From days of old and for ages to come will I make known unto them the good pleasure of my will, concerning all things pertaining to my kingdom. Yea, even the wonders of eternity shall they know, and things to come will I shew them, even the things of many generations. Their wisdom shall be great and their understanding reach to Heaven, and before them the wisdom of the wise shall perish and the understanding of the prudent shall come to naught. For by my spirit will I enlighten them and by my power will I make known unto them the secrets of my will, yea, even those things which eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor yet entered into the heart of man” (RE T&C 69:2; emphasis added). 

“But great and marvelous are the works of the Lord, and the mysteries of his kingdom which he shewed unto us, which surpasses all understanding, in glory, and in might, and in dominion, which he commanded us we should not write while we were yet in the spirit, and are not lawful for men to utter, neither is man capable to make them known, for they are only to be seen and understood by the power of the holy spirit, which God bestows on those who love him and purifies themselves before him, to whom he grants the privilege of seeing and knowing for themselves, that through the power and manifestation of the spirit, while in the flesh, they may be able to bear his presence in the world of glory.

And to God and the Lamb be glory, and honor, and dominion, for ever and ever. Amen” (RE T&C 69:29-30; emphasis added).

[19] “. . . But God has said: This land will be a land for your inheritance and the Gentiles will also be blessed upon the land. This land will be a land of liberty for the Gentiles, and there won’t be any kings on the land who will oppress the Gentiles. I’ll fortify this land against all other nations. God has said: Those who fight against Zion will be destroyed. Those who try to establish a king in place of Me will perish, because I the Lord, the King of Heaven, will be their king; and I’ll be a light to those who hear My words forever.

Therefore I must destroy secret works of darkness, murder, and abominations so that the covenants I’ve made with mankind can be fulfilled, which I’ll do for them while they’re living on earth. So those who fight against Zion — Jews or Gentiles, enslaved or free, male or female — will be destroyed. God has said: They are the whore of all the earth — those who aren’t for Me are against Me. I’ll fulfill the promises I’ve made to mankind, which I’ll do for them while they’re here on earth” (CofC 2 Nephi 7:2-3; emphasis added).

[20] “. . . But, he said, despite our hardships, we’ve been given a promised land, a land specially chosen over all other lands, a land the Lord God has covenanted with me that my descendants will inherit. Indeed, the Lord has consecrated this land for my children and me forever, and also for those who will likewise be led out of other countries by the Lord’s power. Therefore I prophesy under the influence of God’s Spirit over me, that no one will come to this land unless they’re brought by the Lord’s power. So this land is consecrated to those He’ll bring here. And if they serve Him according to the commandments He has given, it will always be a land of liberty for them; therefore they’ll never be brought down into captivity — but if they are, it will be because of iniquity; because if iniquity abounds, the land will become cursed because of their failure to serve Him. It will always be blessed for the righteous. It’s a wise thing for this land to still be kept from other nations knowing about it. Otherwise, many nations would overrun this land, so there wouldn’t be any place for an inheritance” (CofC 2 Nephi 1:1; emphasis added).

[21] “Then the Angel told me: You’ve seen that if the Gentiles repent, it will turn out well for them. 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 3:26; emphasis added).

Scott Roderick

4/23/2026

Israel Awakes and Arises Part 4.pdf

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