Israel Awakes and Arises : Part 7 - The Lord’s Primary Objective Finale

The Primary Objective the Lord Accomplishes

          When Moses led Israel to Sinai it was to introduce the people into the Lord’s presence. [1] In the beginning of the Restoration Joseph Smith sought to do the same for the faithful in Nauvoo unsuccessfully. During the fullness of the Gentiles the Davidic king gathers faithful Gentiles and scattered Israel. They establish Zion and receive the Lord’s presence. [2] The Lord’s servant follows the pattern set by kings of Zarahemla collectively. They achieve spiritual rebirth through an angel and Benjamin which concludes with the end of the reign of kings through Mosiah, Benjamin’s son. [3] 

          Mosiah, Benjamin, and Mosiah advance their people through two levels of priesthood representation [Spirits of Elias, Aaronic, then Elijah, Melchizedek]. Their process began with a king and seer. The latter-day Davidic servant is not like kings of the Gentiles. His latter-day kingdom is like Christ’s, ‘otherworldly]. [4] The loyalty of king David to the Lord provides covenant protection temporally and spiritually to him and his subjects in the last days. [5] 

          The elimination of the office of king returns Israel to one level of separation between the Lord and man. It begins with the reinstatement of the Aaronic order by covenant including vicarious representation [intercession of a high priest] before the Lord. The people receive direction from the Lord’s prophet/king and he represents himself and them in sacrifice before the Lord. He is directed by the Savior and the people are faithful to the Lord’s teachings through the prophet/king.

          In the second iteration [Spirit of Elijah] people covenant directly with the Lord, are introduced at the veil where personal representation [Melchizedek] between mankind and the Lord is restored. Preparation for speaking directly with the Lord through the veil is accomplished by interacting with Patriarchal Fathers under the Aaronic covenant acting as ministering angels. [6] We “pass by the angels” [Patriarchal Fathers] providing necessary tokens and signs for advancement; at the appropriate time angelic ministrants introduce us at the veil and we begin conversing with the Lord through the veil. When the Lord determines the appropriate time, His hand extends through the veil and draws us into His presence. [7] This is how the Lord fulfills His stated objective:

“. . . that every man might speak in the name of God the Lord, even the Savior of the world” (RE T&C 54:4; emphasis added).

“Behold, the days come, says the Lord, that I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man and with the seed of beast [wheat and tares]. And it shall come to pass that as I have watched over them to pluck up, and to break down, and to throw down, and to destroy, and to afflict, so will I watch over them to build and to plant, says the Lord. In those days, they shall say no more, The [Patriarchal] fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children’s teeth are set on edge —but this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel: after those days [days of wickedness and vengeance], says the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts [spiritual rebirth, “no disposition to do evil but good continually,” king Benjamin], and will be their God and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord — for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, says the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity and I will remember their sin no more” (RE Jeremiah 12:9; emphasis added). 

Fulfillment of the Lord’s objectives in T&C 54 [preface to the D&C] and RE Jeremiah 12:9 is accomplished by covenant with the Lord by a remnant of repentant Gentiles and remnant of Israel. It is the only way Gentiles avoid God’s wrath being poured upon them “without measure.” [8]

          At the end of the Gentile fullness the question for all Gentiles is: “Will I recognize the Lord’s servant and judge him solely by the content of his teachings?” or “Will I heed the words of the “accuser” and obsess over the servant’s weaknesses, refusing a fair hearing of his message?” Opinions of the Lord’s servant should be based on content alone because his words are limited to the words of Christ. [9]

“. . .This is the sign for you: When the things that I’m declaring to you now and after this by the power of the Holy Ghost that are given to you by the Father are then revealed to the Gentiles, and taken as a message through them to you, that is when the Father’s covenant is being fulfilled. You are descendants of Jacob [Israel] and will be scattered by the Gentiles. But the Father will reveal these things first to the Gentiles, then from them to you. It’s the Father’s plan for the Gentiles to be established in this land as a free people through His power, to allow the history and prophecies to come from them to a remnant of your descendants. That vindicates the Father’s covenant with His people, O house of Israel. Therefore the record of these events, and the events that will take place among you after this, will come from the Gentiles to your descendants. But your descendants will first fall away in unbelief because of iniquity. That’s an essential part of the Father’s plan. The covenant requires this record to come from the Gentiles, so the Gentiles will understand His [the Father’s] direct involvement. Then the Gentiles, provided they don’t harden their hearts, will be able to repent and come to Me and be baptized in My name and know the true points of My doctrine, so they can be included with My people, the house of Israel. When these things happen, and your descendants begin to know these things, it will be a sign to let them know the Father’s work is underway, to fulfill the covenant He made to everyone who’s part of the house of Israel. When that time comes, kings will be at a loss for words not knowing what to say, for they’ll see what they were never told about and be forced to consider what they never expected.

At that time, to advance My cause, the Father will begin a work, which will be a great and awe-inspiring work among them. 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 9:11-12; emphasis added).

A natural inclination in that day is to question the focus of the Savior’s words through His latter-day servant. This should not be a mystery because of the pattern followed by His servants in prior times. Moses led Israel to Sinai attempting sanctify his people to enter the Lord’s presence. [10] Jesus instructed His disciples to sanctify themselves. The Lord’s promise was that He and His Father “will come visit him, and continually abide by his side.” [11] The Lord revealed through Joseph Smith His invitation to all mankind how to know Him:

“Truly thus says the Lord: It shall come to pass that every soul who forsakes their sins, and comes unto me, and calls on my name, and obeys my voice, and keeps all my commandments, shall see my face and know that I am, and that I am the true light that lights every man who comes into the world, and that I am in the Father and the Father in me, and the Father and I are one — the Father because he gave me of his fullness, and the Son because I was in the world, and made flesh my tabernacle, and dwelt among the sons of men” (RE T&C 93:1; emphasis added).

Each example given had one objective in mind. Sanctify mankind to repair the separation that occurred at Adam and Eve’s fall, reintroducing mankind to God’s presence.

          When the Lord sends a servant to vicariously represent Him and deliver words of Christ to the Gentiles in the last days, can the substance of his message be anything other than those of prior generations?

          Consider the following spoken March 27, 2021:

“In one sense, the religion of the Fathers is based on a direct connection to God. Reduced to one thought, it is that as long as God is speaking directly to a body of people, giving them commandments, they have the most essential element of the religion of the [Patriarchal] Fathers. If they remain true to that connection, all things can be restored to them. Commandments given to others belong to them, and only commandments God gives to us belong to us. Joseph Smith explained this matter, after referring to the New Testament:

[Al]though we cannot claim these promises which were made to the ancients for they are not our property, merely because they were made to the ancient Saints, yet if we are the children of the Most High, and are called with the same calling with which they were called, and embrace the same covenant that they embraced, and are faithful to the testimony of our Lord as they were, we can approach the Father, in the name of Christ as they approached Him, and for ourselves obtain the same promises. These promises, when obtained, if ever by us, will not be because Peter, John, and the other Apostles…walked in the fear of God and had power and faith to prevail and obtain them; but it will be because we, ourselves, have faith and approach God in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, even as they did; and when these promises are obtained, they will be promises directly to us, or they will do us no good. They will be communicated for our benefit, being our own property (through the gift of God), earned by our own diligence in keeping His commandments, and walking uprightly before Him. (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 66, emphasis added)

This is affirmed in our Scriptures:

I admit that by reading the scriptures, of truth, the saints in the days of Paul could learn, beyond the power of contradiction, that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had the promise of eternal life confirmed to them by an oath of the Lord; but that promise or oath was no assurance to them of their salvation, but they could, by walking in the footsteps and continuing in the faith of their [Patriarchal] fathers, obtain for themselves an oath for confirmation that they were meet to be partakers of the inheritance with the saints in light. If the saints in the days of the apostles were privileged to take the ancients for examples, and lay hold of the same promises, and attain to the same exalted privilege of knowing that their names were written in the Lamb’s Book of Life and that they were sealed there as a perpetual memorial before the face of the Most High, will not the same faithfulness, the same purity of heart and the same faith bring the same assurance of eternal life, and that in the same manner, to the children of men now in this age of the world?

I have no doubt but that the holy prophets and apostles and saints in ancient days were saved in the kingdom of God; neither do I doubt but that they held converse and communion with him while they were in the flesh, as Paul said to his Corinthian brethren that the Lord Jesus showed himself to above five hundred saints at one time after his resurrection. Job said that he knew that his Redeemer lived and that he should see him in the flesh in the latter days. I may believe that Enoch walked with God and by faith was translated. I may believe that Noah was a perfect man in his generation and also walked with God. I may believe that Abraham communed with God and conversed with angels. I may believe that Isaac obtained a renewal of the covenant made to Abraham by the direct voice of the Lord. I may believe that Jacob conversed with holy angels, and heard the voice of his Maker, that he wrestled with the angel until he prevailed and obtained the blessing. I may believe that Elijah was taken to Heaven in a chariot of fire with fiery horses. I may believe that the saints saw the Lord and conversed with him face to face after his resurrection. I may believe that the Hebrew church came to Mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the Heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels. I may believe that they looked into eternity and saw the Judge of all, and Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant. But will all this purchase an assurance for me, and waft me to the regions of eternal day, and seat me down in the presence of the King of kings with my garments spotless, pure, and white?

Or must I not rather obtain for myself, by my own faith and diligence in keeping the commandments of the Lord, an assurance of salvation for myself? And have I not an equal privilege with the ancient saints? And will not the Lord hear my prayers and listen to my cries as soon as he ever did to theirs, if I come to him in the manner they did? (T&C 99:14-17, emphasis added)

Whatever the status of other believers may be today, there are promises that have been given by God directly to us. There is now more revelation and more commandments than at any other time. Beginning with the “Answer to the Prayer for Covenant” and the accompanying Covenant, God has given new commandments. If they are followed, the promises made to this people will increase in light and truth until the perfect day. [12] We are not reading the promises made by God to other people because we have God’s commandments and promises given to us” (Religion of The Fathers, Denver Snuffer Jr., pp.37-38; emphasis added).

Although the Lord’s primary objective has been explained, the response to the Lord’s servant is far from certain. The Gentiles to whom the Lord’s words are given are not as receptive as one might think.

“And when that day shall come shall a remnant [of Israel] be scattered among all nations; but they shall be gathered again, but they shall remain until the times of the gentiles be fulfilled. And in that day shall be heard of wars and rumors of wars, and the whole earth shall be in commotion. And men’s hearts shall fail them [because of “hardness”] and shall say that Christ delays his coming until the end of the world, and the love of men shall wax cold and iniquity shall abound. And when the times of the gentiles is come in, a light shall break forth among them that sit in darkness, and it shall be the fullness of my gospel, but they [Gentiles] receive it not, for they perceive not the light and they turn their hearts from me because of the precepts of men” (RE T&C 31:6; emphasis added).

When the Lord’s servant reveals words of Christ to the Gentiles, the Gentiles harden their hearts against truth because they adopt the precepts of men. [13] The Gentiles reject the Lord’s servant and his message because of prior claims the Lord has given his authority to man. [14] The men claiming God’s authority alter the Lord’s message corrupting it. In effect they practice “revelation by redaction,” rebranding it as modern revelation. Rather than adding light and knowledge from God they subtract. This leads to curses from God. [15]

“Joseph was called to become a minister of salvation when he saw the heavens open. He taught the idea of direct association with Christ as the promised Second Comforter during a visit to Ramus, Illinois on April 2, 1843. After quoting Christ’s promise to not leave His followers comfortless because He and His Father would come to them and take up their abode with them, Joseph explained, “Now what is this other Comforter? It is no more nor less than the Lord Jesus Christ himself.... When any man obtains this last Comforter he will have the personage of Jesus Christ to attend him or appear unto him from time to time” “The appearing of the Father and the Son, in that verse, is a personal appearance; and the idea that the Father and the Son dwell in a man’s heart is an old sectarian notion, and is false.” This appearing of the Father and Son began with Adam, and was intended to continue in every generation. Although the teaching of Christ as the Second Comforter was taught by Joseph, and believed by LDS Mormons, it is now one of the teachings that has dwindled from LDS teaching. In a Boise LDS meeting, church apostle Dallin Oaks denounced the teaching of mortals needing to see the Lord as a “tactic of the adversary.” Following that, the LDS church removed a footnote from their KJV John 14:16 which previously referred to Jesus Christ and replaced it with a reference to “the Holy Ghost.” [16] At the time I wrote the book, The Second Comforter: Conversing with the Lord Through the Veil in 2006, the text explained orthodox LDS belief. Since then, however that sect has abandoned the teaching. If that book were written today by a faithful member of that church, it would have to be revised to reflect the church’s changed view. By leaving the text unchanged it provides a current example of continuing dwindling in unbelief. Changing belief into unbelief happens very quickly. The Second Comforter: Conversing with the Lord Through the Veil was published in 2006 and the doctrine was denounced as a “tactic of the adversary” by an LDS apostle in an official church meeting in 2015, only nine years later.

Joseph Smith’s mission was to recover and restore. He may have seemed every bit an innovator and revolutionary, but the truth is that he was the greatest religious reactionary since Jesus Christ. The recovery through Joseph ended with his and Hyrum’s murder, after which dwindling began. Dwindling in unbelief continued until a group repented and the Lord removed His condemnation in 2017. Now we hope to continue faithful. Christ commanded in the Sermon on the Mount, “Wherefore, seek not the things of this world, but seek first to build up the kingdom of God and to establish his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Religion of the Fathers, Denver Snuffer Jr., pp. 63-64; emphasis added).

Questions for Gentiles at their fullness include, “When Joseph and Hyrum Smith were martyred, is it likely keys given them by God’s voice remain with the religious institution or were they removed as with Moses at Sinai?” The Gentiles reject the “fullness of the gospel” breaking forth “among those who sit in darkness” and “they receive it not” because they are blinded by “the precepts of men.” Is it not more likely greater keys were taken as opposed to passing them on by virtue of position in the institution?

          The fate of latter-day Gentiles rests on how they respond to the Lord’s servant. Nephi saw that day and explained:

“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).

The affliction of the Lord upon unrepentant Gentiles will be at least equal to what they inflicted on Israel when they were scattered. The Lord has warned the depth of His anger will be “without measure” on the unrepentant. Latter-day Gentiles would do well to weigh all voices on the content of their message as opposed to attacks on the character of the messenger. Our fate depends on it, more than his fate based on your judgment.

Summary

          Spiritual progression of people in Zarahemla began with Mosiah who fled the land of Nephi. He was a king and seer with “interpreters” used to translate Jaredite records from the tower of Babel. Mosiah preserved ancient records and added additional records as the Lord made them available. His people from the tribe of Joseph united with Zarahemla’s residents, descendants of Judah. They lived the law of Moses, an Aaronic, preparatory covenant. In terms of Spirits spoken of by Joseph Smith, Zarahemla’s people lived under the “Spirit of Elias.” [17]

          Joseph Smith began as a seer when he was given a “Urim and Thummim,” another name for “interpreters,” [18] and commanded to translate a portion of the Book of Mormon.

January 11, 1844, in Nauvoo, Illinois a meeting was held to form “the Council of Fifty.” In the minutes of that meeting Joseph Smith is referred to as “Prophet, Priest, and King.” The title of king was in the tradition of Mosiah, Benjamin, Mosiah and Jesus. Those who share this title serve others rather than being served. It had less to do with an earthly kingdom and more with a post-mortal kingdom. Joseph Smith laid the foundation for the ascension of Israel thereafter. The ministry of Joseph Smith as an Elias runs parallel to the first Mosiah.

          Benjamin, the second king, spent his life in the service of God for the welfare of his people. Near the conclusion of his life the angel of God appeared to him to deliver a divine message to his people through him. Benjamin, like his father Mosiah possessed records and instruments held by his father. He was commanded to pass the kingdom of Zarahemla to his son, Mosiah. As a witness of the royal conferral, Mosiah gathered his people to the Temple to receive instruction from the angel through Benjamin in his final official act.

          After Benjamin delivered the angels message to his subjects, the people unitedly repented and underwent a baptism by fire and spiritual rebirth. Their hearts were changed through faith in the Son of God. They had no more disposition to do evil but to do good continually. This spiritual rebirth introduced the Spirit of Elijah, the next step in their spiritual progression. [19] In addition to the change of heart they were endowed with greater knowledge. They declared if it was expedient they could prophesy of all things. [20] The change of heart experienced by Benjamin’s people, taking upon themselves the “mind of the Father” constituted a higher covenant and Spirit. [21] The covenant was adoptive in that people experiencing this great change were joined to the family of Christ, His sons and daughters. [22] The angel’s appearance to Benjamin represents a translated being from the priesthood of Enoch, [23] member of the Holy Order [24] appearing to an “heir of salvation” [25] and “chosen vessel.” [26] The angel is doing the work of fulfilling Heavenly Father’s promises to the posterity of Patriarchal Fathers. This is their reason for being sent as ministering angels to save their posterity.

          The Davidic king in the last days continues the pattern set by Benjamin. His kingdom is not established in this world, like Christ’s. The purpose of the Davidic servant is two-fold. Joseph Smith began the Gentile dispensation by laying a foundation in the Spirit of Elias. [27] It was in preparation for a greater work.

The Lord’s servant, David, completes Joseph Smith’s dispensation as John the Baptist did Moses.’ [28] When Joseph’s dispensation concludes, a new dispensation begins. [29] The Spirit of Elijah is introduced [30] and a conduit opens between Heaven and Earth. [31]This is the “ensign” [32] opened to prepare repentant Gentiles and a remnant of Israel for the gathering of Ephraim and Judah as with the kings of Zarahemla.

          After a Temple is constructed in Zion and the New Jerusalem is built, a conduit between Heaven and Earth opens. Truth and righteousness flow from beneath the porch of the Temple [33] because the “powers of Heaven” and Christ reside there. David transitions from “king” to a “prince for ever” to serve the King of Kings. Through these developments the Lord sanctifies His people and draws others to Zion in search of peace, safety and a righteous desire to be nearer to Christ and His servants. This is the work of the “root of Jesse” in the last days.

          The angelic ministrants pass through the “ensign” or fiery corridor of Elijah. They are Patriarchal Father’s from the Holy Order of Priesthood sent to prepare their posterity of God’s promise to converse with the Lord through the veil. Thereafter the Lord ministers to them and at the appropriate time introducing them into His presence and the “Spirit of Messiah.” The Spirits of Elias, Elijah and Messiah represent three levels of ascension between three levels of Priesthood. Elias is Aaronic, Elijah is Patriarchal, Holy Order, and Messiah is conversing with the Lord through the veil followed by being drawn into the Savior’s presence. It is a personal visitation.

          When we recognize redundant patterns in scriptural accounts, we learn how the words of Christ:

“. . . marked the path and led the way,

And every point defines

To light and life and endless day

Where God’s full presence shines.” [34]

Coming Full Circle

          Part 2 in this series addressed a quote by Joseph Smith that relates to the title of this website. It is a fitting conclusion to this series because it summarizes two objectives the latter-day David accomplishes to restore what is missing since the days of Eden. Revisiting Joseph Smith’s quote, we read:

“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.

Anciently king David never obtained the “spirit and power of Elijah” and the “fullness of the Priesthood” or “Holy Order.” David’s failure to receive “the spirit and power of Elijah” and “fullness of the Priesthood” led to his forfeiture of all he received from the Lord in mortality. The Spirit and Power of Elijah included the “sealing power” that preserves God’s gifts to David in the afterlife.

          Ancient David’s failure to obtain the spirit and power of Elijah and priesthood fullness led to the Lord transferring his kingdom and priesthood to someone from his lineage, sharing David’s name in the last days. The assignment of David’s kingdom to his latter-day heir would be meaningless unless latter-day David obtained what ancient David could not. He had to obtain power to seal David’s kingdom and priesthood to himself as well as the portion he obtained through his diligence and faithfulness.

          Of that “fullness of the Priesthood” the Glossary says the following:

“The ‘fullness of the Priesthood,’ which is the Holy Order after the Order of the Son of God [including Adam], is not something that was restored to the church Joseph Smith organized, nor is it publicly available, nor is it intended for everyone. It may serve everyone, but will never be held by everyone.” “The Holy Order is not synonymous with having your calling and election made sure. You can have your calling and election made sure without having the Holy Order. The Holy Order is not synonymous with being redeemed from the fall and returning to God’s presence. That also can happen without having the Holy Order. Nor is the Holy Order synonymous with having the fullness of revelations from before the creation of the world through the end of this cycle of creation. That, also, can be given to a person while they still lack the Holy Order. An individual does not need to possess the Holy Order to be able to enter into a covenant… Further, it is not required for you to be initiated into the Holy Order to become a member of the eternal Family of God. All those who will be exalted will be members. Only a tiny fraction of the Family will experience that in mortality… The Holy Order must return before the Second Coming to re-establish God’s ‘house of order.’ But organizing and ordering for the afterlife will not happen until some time after the Lord’s return. Restoring and organizing God’s Family is necessary because of the disorder caused by the fall of Adam. That disorder has been compounded by additional repeated apostasies from the periodic restorations of the Holy Order. Despite what the Holy Order is not, it is important to understand. Most of our scriptures are the writings of members of the Holy Order… The return of the Holy Order did not happen in Joseph Smith’s day. Because of that failure, the Family or House of God still needs to be set in order. [35]As is always the case, there will need to be a temple prepared for the Holy Order to function.” “The actual purpose of the Holy Order is administering endless lives [sealing power] to the sons and daughters of Adam” (A Glossary of Gospel Terms, Holy Order, pp. 155-156; emphasis added).

The “Spirit of Elijah” and “fullness of the Priesthood” were not revealed to the body of the church when Joseph Smith was alive. The Lord required the Temple in Nauvoo’s completion before the Priesthood fullness and Spirit of Elijah could be fully revealed.

          If this series of papers have been fully reviewed with accompanying footnotes and a modest understanding of the content gained, we should appreciate Joseph Smith’s sense of frustration. The failure of the most informed saints of his day to understand what Joseph sought to share was significant.

“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. The sound saluted my ears—"Ye are come unto Mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels [Patriarchal Fathers], to the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven [sealing power, Priesthood fullness], and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant" (Hebrews 12:22, 23, 24). What would it profit us to come unto the spirits of the just men [Patriarchal Fathers], but to learn and come up to the standard of their knowledge? [turn hearts of the Fathers to their children and children to their Patriarchal Fathers]” (Smith Jr., Joseph. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith (pp. 366-367; emphasis added). (Function). Kindle Edition.

The fact we are coming to understand these doctrines hidden from the world for generations should awaken all, Gentiles and Israel to the work God has commenced in our day. That work ends in the Lord cultivating a “willing people,” prepared to withstand the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and His entourage. “A day in David.”

“Christ, in the days of His flesh, proposed to make a covenant with them, but they rejected Him and His proposals, and in consequence thereof, they were broken off, and no covenant was made with them at that time. But their unbelief has not rendered the promise of God of none effect: no, for there was another day limited in David, which was the day of His power [Spirit and Power of Elijah]; and then His people, Israel, should be a willing people;—and He would write His law in their hearts, and print it in their thoughts; their sins and their iniquities He would remember no more” (Smith Jr., Joseph. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith (p. 13; emphasis added). (Function). Kindle Edition.

We know now far more than Joseph Smith revealed to the early saints. That fact alone should tell us we are in “A day in David.” What remains is to answer the question: “Who Awakes and Arises to become a “willing people” and assemble as God’s family, Israel?”

[1] 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. . .” (RE T&C 82:12-14; emphasis added).

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

[3] “And David my servant shall be king over them [Aaronic], and they all shall have one shepherd. They shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them. 25And 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 [Melchizedek]” (RE Ezekiel 19:6; emphasis added).

[4] “Then Pilate stepped back into the judgment hall and addressed Jesus and said to him, You are the King of the Jews? Jesus answered him, Did you say this to me on your own, or did others tell you to say it to me? Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Your own people and the chief priests have turned you over to me. How do you justify yourself? Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, then my followers would fight to prevent the Jews from taking me as their captive. But my kingdom is not comprised of the Jews. Pilate responded, So you admit you claim to be a King? Jesus replied, It was you that just said I was a king. The reason I was sent into this world was to be a witness of the truth. . .” (RE T&C 171, Testimony of Saint John 11:10; emphasis added).

[5] “. . . Wherefore, I [Enoch] ask you [the Lord] if you will not come again on the earth. 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).

[6] “We still continued the work of translation when, in the ensuing month (May, eighteen hundred and twenty-nine), we on a certain day went into the woods to pray and inquire of the Lord respecting baptism for the remission of sins as we found mentioned in the translation of the plates. While we were thus employed praying and calling upon the Lord, a messenger from Heaven descended in a cloud of light, and having laid his hands upon us, he ordained us, saying unto us, Upon you, my fellow servants, in the name of Messiah I confer the priesthood of Aaron, which holds the keys of the ministering of angels, and of the gospel of repentance, and of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins. And this shall never be taken again from the earth until the sons of Levi do offer again an offering unto the Lord in righteousness. He said this Aaronic priesthood had not the power of laying on of hands for the gift of the holy ghost, but that this should be conferred on us hereafter, and he commanded us to go and be baptized, and gave us directions that I should baptize Oliver Cowdery, and afterward that he should baptize me. Accordingly, we went and were baptized. I baptized him first and afterward he baptized me, after which I laid my hands upon his head and ordained him to the Aaronic priesthood. And afterward he laid his hands on me and ordained me to the same priesthood, for so we were commanded” (RE T&C 1, Joseph Smith History 14:1; emphasis added).

[7] “When Jared’s brother had said these words, the Lord stretched out His hand and touched the stones one by one with His finger. And the veil was taken from the eyes of Jared’s brother, and he saw the Lord’s finger. It was like a man’s finger, like flesh and blood; and Jared’s brother fell down before the Lord because he was afraid. The Lord saw the brother of Jared had fallen to the ground and He said to him: Get up. Why have you fallen down? He answered the Lord: I saw the Lord’s finger and I was afraid He would strike me, because I didn’t know the Lord had flesh and blood. The Lord said to him: Because of your faith you’ve seen that I’ll take upon Myself flesh and blood [future tense]. None of those now living have approached Me with such great faith as you have; otherwise, you couldn’t have seen My finger. Did you see more than this? He answered: No, Lord. Show Yourself to me. And the Lord asked him: Do you believe the words I will speak? He replied: Yes, Lord, I know that You speak the truth, since You’re a God of truth and can’t lie.

When he had said these words, the Lord showed Himself to him and said: Because you know these things, you are redeemed from the Fall. Therefore you’re brought back into My presence, so I show Myself to you. . .” (CofC Ether 1:12-13; emphasis added).

[8] “Behold, this is my authority, and the authority of my servants, and my preface unto the book of my commandments which I have given them to publish unto you, O inhabitants of the earth. Wherefore, fear and tremble, O you people, for what I, the Lord, have decreed in them shall be fulfilled. And truly I say unto you that they who go forth, bearing these tidings unto the inhabitants of the earth, to them is power given to seal both on earth and in Heaven, the unbelieving and rebellious, yea, truly, to seal them up unto the day when the wrath of God shall be poured out upon the wicked without measure, unto the day when the Lord shall come to recompense unto every man according to his works, and measure to every man according to the measure which he has measured to his fellow man” (RE T&C 54:2; emphasis added).

[9] “And because He’s done this, my dear people, have miracles stopped? I tell you: No. 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. Christ has said: If you have faith in Me, you’ll have power to do whatever I consider needed and proper. And He’s said to everyone on earth: Repent and come to Me and be baptized in My name and have faith in Me, so you can be saved” (CofC Moroni 7:6; emphasis added).

[10] “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” (RE T&C 82:13; emphasis added).

[11] “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).

[12] “. . . 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).

[13] “Woe to those who cry out: Everything is fine! Woe to those who follow the worthless teachings of men and deny God’s power and the gift of the Holy Ghost. Woe to those who say: We’ve received enough of the truth and we don’t need any more. In short, woe to all those who shake with anger because of God’s truth. Because those built on God’s rock are glad to receive truth. But those built on a sandy foundation are afraid of falling” (CofC 2 Nephi 12:5; emphasis added).

[14] “. . . And they’ll deny the power of God, the Holy One of Israel. They’ll tell the people: Listen to us and follow our directions. God isn’t around today; the Lord and the Redeemer has done His work, and He’s given men His power. . .” (CofC 2 Nephi 12:1; emphasis added).

[15] “Behold, the Lord makes the earth empty, and makes it waste, and turns it upside down, and scatters abroad the inhabitants thereof. And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest; as with the servant, so with his master; as with the maid, so with her mistress; as with the buyer, so with the seller; as with the lender, so with the borrower; as with the taker of usury, so with the giver of usury to him. The land shall be utterly emptied and utterly spoiled, for the Lord has spoken this word. The earth mourns and fades away; the world languishes and fades away; the haughty people of the earth do languish. The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof, because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore has the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate; therefore, the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left. . .” (RE Isaiah 7:1; emphasis added).

[16] The 1973 edition of the Doctrine & Covenants, section 50, verse 45 said the following:

“And the day cometh that you shall hear my voice and see me, and know that I am.” Next to the word “see” is a footnote “O” with the following references: “For they will hear my voice, and shall see me, and shall not be asleep, and shall abide the day of my coming; for they shall be purified, even as I am pure” (D&C 35:21). “And again, verily I say unto you that it is your privilege, and a promise I give unto you that have been ordained unto this ministry, that inasmuch as you strip yourselves from jealousies and fears, and humble yourselves before me, for ye are not sufficiently humble, the veil shall be rent and you shall see me and know that I am—not with the carnal neither natural mind, but with the spiritual.

 For no man has seen God at any time in the flesh, except quickened by the Spirit of God.

Neither can any natural man abide the presence of God, neither after the carnal mind.

Ye are not able to abide the presence of God now, neither the ministering of angels; wherefore, continue in patience until ye are perfected. Let not your minds turn back; and when ye are worthy, in mine own due time, ye shall see and know that which was conferred upon you by the hands of my servant Joseph Smith, Jun. Amen” (D&C 67:10-14). "This is the end of the vision which we saw, which we were commanded to write while we were yet in the Spirit. But great and marvelous are the works of the Lord, and the mysteries of his kingdom which he showed unto us, which surpass 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 man 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 purify themselves before him; To whom he grants this 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 forever and ever. Amen” (D&C 76:113-119).  “And this greater priesthood administereth the gospel and holdeth 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 men 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 while in the wilderness, which rest is the fulness of his glory. Therefore, he took Moses out of their midst, and the Holy Priesthood also” (D&C 84:19-25).  “Behold, all these are kingdoms, and any man who hath seen any or the least of these hath seen God moving in his majesty and power. I say unto you, he hath seen him; nevertheless, he who came unto his own was not comprehended. The light shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not; nevertheless, the day shall come when you shall comprehend even God, being quickened in him and by him. Then shall ye know that ye have seen me, that I am, and that I am the true light that is in you, and that you are in me; otherwise ye could not abound. . . Therefore, sanctify yourselves that your minds become single to God, and the days will come that you shall see him; for he will unveil his face unto you, and it shall be in his own time, and in his own way, and according to his own will. . . That I may testify unto your Father, and your God, and my God, that you are clean from the blood of this wicked generation; that I may fulfil this promise, this great and last promise, which I have made unto you, when I will” (D&C 88:50, 68,75).  “Verily, thus saith the Lord: It shall come to pass that every soul who forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and obeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments, shall see my face and know that I am;” (D&C 93:1).

“Yea, and my presence shall be there, for I will come into it, and all the pure in heart that shall come into it shall see God” (D&C 97:16).  “And seek the face of the Lord always, that in patience ye may possess your souls, and ye shall have eternal life” (D&C 101:38).  “To have the privilege of receiving the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, to have the heavens opened unto them, to commune with the general assembly and church of the Firstborn, and to enjoy the communion and presence of God the Father, and Jesus the mediator of the new covenant” (D&C 107:19).  “The veil was taken from our minds, and the eyes of our understanding were opened. We saw the Lord standing upon the breastwork of the pulpit, before us; and under his feet was a paved work of pure gold, in color like amber. His eyes were as a flame of fire; the hair of his head was white like the pure snow; his countenance shone above the brightness of the sun; and his voice was as the sound of the rushing of great waters, even the voice of Jehovah, saying: I am the first and the last; I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain; I am your advocate with the Father. Behold, your sins are forgiven you; you are clean before me; therefore, lift up your heads and rejoice. Let the hearts of your brethren rejoice, and let the hearts of all my people rejoice, who have, with their might, built this house to my name. For behold, I have accepted this house, and my name shall be here; and I will manifest myself to my people in mercy in this house. Yea, I will appear unto my servants, and speak unto them with mine own voice, if my people will keep my commandments, and do not pollute this holy house. Yea the hearts of thousands and tens of thousands shall greatly rejoice in consequence of the blessings which shall be poured out, and the endowment with which my servants have been endowed in this house” (D&C 110:1-9). “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8). “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). “And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God” (Acts 7:56). “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2). “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen” (Revelation 1:7). From the 1973 edition of the Standard Works there was a change to the footnote in Doctrine & Covenants 50:45 that quotes Doctrine & Covenants 67:10 and refers to the Topical Guide under the heading: God, Privilege of Seeing. The topical guide contains additional scriptures referring to the personal visitation of God to mankind. Dallin H. Oaks is currently the President of the Church of Jesus Christ also referred to as the Prophet. Prior to his Presidency, while a member of the quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Dallin Oaks made one sweeping statement that contradicts the main tenet of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He may have a variety of reasons for justifying his statement that the doctrine of the Lord making personal appearances to individuals is Satanic, his words are but one reason why the “precepts of men” are the primary reason the Lord cites as the reason the Gentiles reject the “fullness of the Gospel” at the conclusion of the Gentile dispensation. One may only wonder if President Oaks rejection of the personal visitation doctrine espoused by Joseph Smith is because the Savior has never appeared to him.

[17] “The spirit of Elias is to prepare the way for a greater revelation of God, which is the Priesthood of Elias, or the Priesthood that Aaron was ordained unto. And when God sends a man into the world to prepare for a greater work, holding the keys of the power of Elias, it was called the doctrine of Elias, even from the early ages of the world” (Smith Jr., Joseph. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith (p. 385, emphasis added). (Function). Kindle Edition.

[18] “Lights and perfections. It appears from early Church history the term Urim and Thummim was not used until 1835; prior to that, the term applied to the instrument was “interpreters.” The place where God resides is a great Urim and Thummim. This earth, in its sanctified and immortal state, will be made like unto crystal and will be a Urim and Thummim to the inhabitants who dwell thereon, whereby all things pertaining to an inferior kingdom, or all kingdoms of a lower order, will be manifest to those who dwell on it; and this earth will be Christ’s. Then the white stone mentioned in [Revelation 1:12], will become a Urim and Thummim to each individual who receives one, whereby things pertaining to a higher order of kingdoms will be made known; and a white stone is given to each of those who come into the celestial kingdom, whereon is a new name written, which no man knoweth save he that receiveth it. The new name is the key word” (A Glossary of Gospel Terms, Urim and Thummim, pp.353-354, emphasis added).

[19] “Now for Elijah. The spirit, power, and calling of Elijah is, that ye have power to hold the key of the revelations, ordinances, oracles, powers and endowments of the fulness of the Melchizedek Priesthood and of the kingdom of God on the earth; and to receive, obtain, and perform all the ordinances belonging to the kingdom of God, even unto the turning of the hearts of the fathers unto the children, and the hearts of the children unto the fathers, even those who are in heaven [Powers of Heaven]” ( Smith Jr., Joseph. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith (p. 386, emphasis added). (Function). Kindle Edition.

[20] “As this vision closed, the Heavens were again opened to their view, and they 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].

They beheld Michael, the archangel, Gabriel, and Raphael, and divers angels, from Michael or Adam down to the end of time, showing in turns their dispensations, their rights, their keys, their honors, their majesty and glory, and the Powers of their Priesthood; giving line upon line, precept upon precept; endowing them with knowledge, even here a little and there a little; holding forth hope for the work God was yet to perform, even the revelation of all things which are to come upon the earth until the return of the Lord in glory with His holy angels — to pour out judgment upon the world, and to reward the righteous.

And they were unable to take it in; therefore, they were commanded to pray and ask to comprehend by the power of the spirit, to bring all things to their remembrance, even the Record of Heaven which would abide in them. Amen and Amen” (RE T&C 157:30-32; emphasis added).

[21] “. . . 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).

[22] “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).

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

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

[24] “The Holy Order is the channel through which all knowledge, doctrine, the plan of salvation, and every important matter is revealed from Heaven.” Among other things, the purpose of the Holy Order is to put in place a mechanism by which God can reveal from heaven what is necessary for the salvation of man on Earth. In every generation, when God has provided salvation for mankind, it is the Holy Order that is used by God to fix what is broken, restore what has been lost, repair, heal, forgive, and reconnect those who are willing to give heed to the message sent from Heaven to enable mankind to become sons of God. It conveys blessings and information that are withheld from the world. . . Many think that the renaming of the Holy Order to the Melchizedek Priesthood (in order to avoid the too frequent repetition of the name of the Son of God), was done out of respect for the Messiah, Jesus Christ — and that is true enough. But the Holy Order after the Order of the Son of God includes the first man, Adam, who is also identified as a “son of God.” There are other “sons of God.” The Holy Order after the Order of the Son of God makes those who inherit it, by definition, the sons of God. Therefore, in a way, calling it the Holy Order after the Order of the Son of God is a way of identifying the recipient as someone who has become one of God’s sons. . . When the return of the original Holy Order is contemplated, it will involve restoring great knowledge that is hidden from the world. The fathers knew it would be restored in the last days. Joseph Smith also prophesied of its return and explained the forefathers of mankind anxiously anticipated its return. Priesthood, in its most meaningful sense, involves the Holy Order after the Order of the Son of God. The restoration at the end of creation must return to the beginning. Before the return of Christ, everything — including the original Holy Order with all its components — must be restored. That has not yet been revealed to the world. It will return before the Lord comes again in glory. It will be necessary before the return of the Lord for the original Holy Order to exist in all of its ramifications. It must be established on the earth and include all of the rights that originally belonged to Adam. It must be accounted for and returned back to Adam and then to Christ. It will include men and women, as husband and wife. They will be given understanding of things which the world cannot know. Initiation into the Holy Order provides greater knowledge and fortifies the soul for one’s ministry. It includes the right of dominion over all creation — the same right originally given to Adam that belonged to God. The right of dominion over this creation is why God is God. In essence, the Holy Order is to create of flesh and blood a living, mortal surrogate for the Father and Mother. It is the nature of this Holy Order that it is conferred upon the man and woman jointly (see 1 Corinthians 1:44).17 The Holy Order is familial. It does not involve establishing a church but, instead, connecting together the Family of God, or in other words, the Government of God. This can only be done in a temple prepared for that purpose. Because there is still a great conspiracy to destroy the souls of men and to capture this creation, the Holy Order is guarded by carefully qualifying those who receive it and is under God’s control and supervised by Adam and Eve. “The ‘fullness of the Priesthood,’ which is the Holy Order after the Order of the Son of God, is not something that was restored to the church Joseph Smith organized, nor is it publicly available, nor is it intended for everyone. It may serve everyone, but will never be held by everyone.” “The Holy Order is not synonymous with having your calling and election made sure. You can have your calling and election made sure without having the Holy Order. The Holy Order is not synonymous with being redeemed from the fall and returning to God’s presence. That also can happen without having the Holy Order. Nor is the Holy Order synonymous with having the fullness of revelations from before the creation of the world through the end of this cycle of creation. That, also, can be given to a person while they still lack the Holy Order. An individual does not need to possess the Holy Order to be able to enter into a covenant… Further, it is not required for you to be initiated into the Holy Order to become a member of the eternal Family of God. All those who will be exalted will be members. Only a tiny fraction of the Family will experience that in mortality… The Holy Order must return before the Second Coming to re-establish God’s ‘house of order.’ But organizing and ordering for the afterlife will not happen until some time after the Lord’s return. Restoring and organizing God’s Family is necessary because of the disorder caused by the fall of Adam. That disorder has been compounded by additional repeated apostasies from the periodic restorations of the Holy Order. Despite what the Holy Order is not, it is important to understand. Most of our scriptures are the writings of members of the Holy Order… The return of the Holy Order did not happen in Joseph Smith’s day. Because of that failure, the Family or House of God still needs to be set in order. As is always the case, there will need to be a temple prepared for the Holy Order to function.” “The actual purpose of the Holy Order is administering endless lives to the sons and daughters of Adam... ” (A Glossary of Gospel Terms, Holy Order, pp.153-158; emphasis added).

[25] “And the Lord said unto me, John, my beloved, what do you desire? For if you shall ask what you will, it shall be granted unto you. And I said unto him, Lord, give unto me power over death, that I may live and bring souls unto you. And the Lord said unto me, Truly, truly I say unto you, because you desired this, you shall tarry until I come in my glory, and shall prophesy before nations, kindreds, tongues, and people.

And for this cause the Lord said unto Peter, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to you? For he desired of me that he might bring souls unto me, but you desired that you might speedily come unto me in my kingdom. I say unto you, Peter, this was a good desire, but my beloved has desired that he might do more, or a greater work yet among men, than what he has before done; yea, he has undertaken a greater work. Therefore, I will make him as flaming fire and a ministering angel. He shall minister for those who shall be heirs of salvation who dwell on the earth, and I will make you to minister for him and for your brother James. And unto you three I will give this power and the keys of this ministry until I come. Truly I say unto you, you shall both have according to your desires, for you both joy in that which you have desired” (RE T&C 1, Joseph Smith History 13:18-19; emphasis added).

[26] “And because He’s done this, my dear people, have miracles stopped? I tell you: No. 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” (CofC Moroni 7:6; emphasis added).

[27] “. . . And also, those to whom these commandments were given might have power to lay the foundation of this church, and to bring it forth out of obscurity and out of darkness, the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth with which I, the Lord, am well pleased — speaking unto the church collectively and not individually. . .” (RE T&C 54:5; emphasis added).

[28] “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, 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 82:14; emphasis added).

[29] “And when that day shall come shall a remnant be scattered among all nations; but they shall be gathered again, but they shall remain until the times of the gentiles be fulfilled. And in that day shall be heard of wars and rumors of wars, and the whole earth shall be in commotion. And men’s hearts shall fail them and shall say that Christ delays his coming until the end of the world, and the love of men shall wax cold and iniquity shall abound. And when the times of the gentiles is come in, a light shall break forth among them that sit in darkness, and it shall be the fullness of my gospel, but they receive it not, for they perceive not the light and they turn their hearts from me because of the precepts of men.

And in that generation shall the times of the gentiles be fulfilled. . .” (RE T&C 31:6-7; emphasis added).

[30] “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 [Patriarchal] Fathers to the children and the heart of the children to their [Patriarchal] Fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse” (RE Malachi 1:12; emphasis added).

[31] “I know that... well... 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, the chariot of fire, all of

those things are an attempt to describe that heavenly connection, that heavenly presence.

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. So

we don’t have time... If you think about it, Enoch taught for 365 years before his people

were prepared enough to go up, and we have to be prepared enough for them to come

down and not destroy us by the brightness of their presence” (Cursed-Denied Priesthood, Denver Snuffer, p.25; emphasis added).

[32] “. . . And in that day, there shall be a root of Jesse who shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the gentiles seek, and his rest shall be glorious.

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] . . .” (RE Isaiah 5:4-5; emphasis added).

“Question: What is the Root of Jesse spoken of in the 10th verse of the 11th chapter [Isa. 5:4]?

6 Answer: Behold, thus says the Lord: It is a descendant of Jesse [Judah] as well as of Joseph, unto whom rightly belongs the Priesthood and the keys of the Kingdom, for an ensign and for the gathering of my people in the last day” (RE T&C 129:3; emphasis added).

[33] “Afterward, he brought me again unto the door of the house, and behold, waters [revelation, truth] issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward — for the forefront of the house stood toward the east — and the waters came down from under, from the right side of the house at the south side of the altar. 2Then he brought me out of the way of the gate northward, and led me about the way outside unto the outer gate by the way that looks eastward; and behold, there ran out waters on the right side. . . Then he brought me and caused me to return to the brink of the river. 7Now when I had returned, behold, at the bank of the river were very many trees on the one side and on the other. 8Then said he unto me, These waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea — which, being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed. 9And it shall come to pass that everything that lives, which moves, wherever the rivers shall come, shall live. And there shall be a very great multitude of fish because these waters shall come there, for they shall be healed. And everything shall live where the river comes. 10And it shall come to pass that the fishers shall stand upon it from Engedi even unto Eneglaim. They shall be a place to spread forth nets; their fish shall be according to their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceedingly many. 11But the miry places thereof and the marshes thereof shall not be healed; they shall be given to salt: (RE Ezekiel 21:58 & 60; emphasis added).

[34] (“How Great the Wisdom and the Love” LDS Hymn, p.195; emphasis added).

[35] “. . . And it shall come to pass that I, the Lord God, will send one mighty and strong, holding the scepter of power in his hand [Spirit and Power of Elijah], clothed with light for a covering, whose mouth shall utter words, eternal words [Holy Order, Priesthood fullness], while his bowels shall be a fountain of truth, to set in order the House [family] of God, and to arrange by lot the inheritance of the saints, whose names are found, and the names of their fathers and of their children, enrolled in the Book of the Law of God; while that man who was [past tense] called of God, and appointed, that puts forth his hand to steady the ark of God [oversteps his bounds, Spirit of Elias], shall fall by the shaft of death, like as a tree that is smitten by the vivid shaft of lightning” (RE T&C 83:4; emphasis added).

Scott Roderick

5/17/2026

Israel Awakes and Arises-Part 7.pdf

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