“Put On Thy Strength”

          After witnessing a vision of the Savior’s ascension to the Father, Enoch pled with the Lord to know when the earth would rest and if He would return there. The Savior responded:

“ . . . Wherefore, I ask you 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” (RE Genesis 4:22, emphasis added).

We are delusional to disbelieve we will avoid “great tribulation” in the days of “wickedness and vengeance.” A veil of darkness covers the heavens and earth and both shake with great tribulation among men. The Lord will preserve His people but there are provisions He requires of us to qualify for preservation.

“This is what you shall say to the people: “I give to you a name to distinguish you from others, and you shall call one another by this name: ‘Covenant Christians’ because you have and hold a covenant with me that make you my followers deserving of my protection. But my protection does not only defend, but also corrects, reproves, disciplines and guides you along that you may be mine indeed” (God’s Covenant People, Denver Snuffer Jr., p.28, emphasis added).

As “Covenant Christians” the Lord vows to protect us. Included in His promise is the assurance He will correct, reprove, discipline and guide us. It is in His correction, reproof, discipline and guidance we expect to “learn by sad experience.”[1]

          In the midst of darkness covering “the heavens and earth,” the Lord intends to mentor His people, enabling them to penetrate darkness with intense and overwhelming light. A collaboration between heaven and earth sweeps the earth to gather the Lord’s people from its four quarters.

“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 [from heaven] and truth [from the earth] will I cause to sweep the earth as with a flood [to save mankind rather than destroy], 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).

Analysis of this verse will likely account for a large portion of this paper if we are thorough. “Righteousness” is required to handle the “Powers of Heaven.” God only allows those He trusts access to these powers. It is inadequate to acknowledge the existence of this principle without applying it.

“Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen, and why are they not chosen? Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men, that they do not learn this one lesson — that the rights of the Priesthood are inseparably connected with the Powers of Heaven [Patriarchal Fathers][2] and that the Powers of Heaven cannot be controlled nor handled, only upon the principles of righteousness. That they [the rights] may be conferred upon us, it is true, but when we undertake to cover our sins or to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control, or dominion, or compulsion, upon the souls of the children of men in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the Heavens withdraw themselves, the spirit of the Lord is grieved, and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man. Behold, ere he is aware, he is left unto himself . . . “ (RE T&C 139:5, emphasis added).

The Lord sent “righteousness” down from heaven to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery following the Kirtland Temple dedication. “Righteousness” is embodied in the Patriarchal Father’s who, through righteous behavior, harnessed the “Powers of Heaven.” By virtue of their righteousness they obtained the following witnesses:

“ . . . 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 . . .” (RE T&C 157:31, emphasis added).

In the visitation of these righteous “Fathers” to Joseph and Oliver there is a declaration of their rights and privileges, but also the endowment of knowledge from them.

“ . . . “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 . . . ; 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 . . .” (RE T&C 157:30-31, emphasis added).

The sharing of sacred knowledge is only imparted by the “Powers of Heaven” at the Lord’s direction.[3] This endowment from God through the “Father’s” is what Abraham sought to elevate both his righteousness and knowledge.

“ . . . And finding there was greater happiness, and peace, and rest for me, I sought for the blessings of the Fathers and the right whereunto I should be ordained to administer the same. Having been myself a follower of righteousness, desiring also to be one who possessed great knowledge, and to be a greater follower of righteousness, and to possess a greater knowledge, and to be a Father of many nations, a prince of peace, and desiring to receive instructions and to keep the commandments of God, I became a rightful heir, a high priest, holding the right belonging to the Fathers. It was conferred upon me from the Fathers: it came down from the Fathers, from the beginning of time, yea, even from the beginning (or before the foundations of the earth) to the present time, even the right of the firstborn (or the first man — who is Adam — or first Father) through the Fathers unto me. I sought for my appointment unto the Priesthood according to the appointment of God unto the Fathers concerning the seed” (RE T&C 145, Abraham 1:1, emphasis added).

Abraham sought for and obtained his right to anoint others to the  Patriarchal appointment. This enabled him to pass the rights to others from his posterity, like Isaac and Jacob. Attainment of this Priesthood endowed the recipient with power, knowledge, and privileges only obtained from Christ through the Powers of Heaven.

          Among the privileges and rights is to become someone whom the Lord trusts and exercises faith in. Many were adopted and anointed His sons prior to this earth’s existence, agreeing to condescend to test and try mankind.[4] In a recent talk, Denver Snuffer Jr. addressed this subject. He alluded to those who condescend as those whom God has faith in.

“We must conclude that if our hope in God is based upon our faith in Him, God’s hope in our fulfillment of prophecy, promises, and covenants must likewise be based on the same principle of faith. Our hope is predicated upon our confidence in God. It follows, therefore, that God’s hope is predicated upon His confidence in us.

Before this creation, some of God’s sons (and their companions) were identified as “noble and great” and correspondingly also “Gods” before the world was organized. These were chosen before they were born to accomplish work for the benefit of others. They were to be sent into the world, not to be proven or tested, but instead to participate in proving or testing others. They were already known to be true and faithful to God and His plan of salvation.

From this, we can know that God’s hope for the completion of the events needed to fulfill His oaths, covenants, prophecies, and promises rests upon God’s faith in other Gods (the noble and great) who covenanted with Him before the world was organized. He had the confidence and hope that in proceeding with this creation, it would be possible to redeem it and save the souls of mankind sent to live in it. Just as God knew before the world was created that Jesus Christ would deliver it from ruin by His faithful fulfillment of His promises, God likewise knew before the world was created that His servants sent to accomplish other promises would also keep their obligations to Him. 

So, God’s hope is predicated upon promises made by Gods before creation and rests on the same principle as our hope in God. God has faith in the Gods He recognized as being His sons before this cycle of creation in this world. As Joseph taught about these sons of God:

 “Now,” says God, when He visited Moses in the bush, (Moses was a stammering sort of a boy like me) God said, “Thou shalt be a God unto the children of Israel.” God said, “Thou shalt be a God unto Aaron, and he shall be thy spokesman.” I believe those Gods that God reveals as Gods to be sons of God, and all can cry, “Abba, Father!” Sons of God who exalt themselves to be Gods, even from before the foundation of the world, and are the only Gods I have a reverence for. (DHC, 6: 478; TPJS, p. 375.)

The reason for God’s hope is His confidence in the covenants made with the sons of God who exalted themselves before the foundation of the world. He trusts them to help with the work of redeeming mankind. Because of them, He is willing to make promises to mankind, trusting they will be kept. This hope underlies His ability to inspire prophecy. God’s hope in the completion of His plan of redemption is grounded in God’s faith in the noble and great ones He chose before the world “to fulfill and do the work of the Father’s covenants” He made with mankind. (God’s Covenant People, Denver Snuffer Jr., pp.24-25, emphasis added).

Insight into the increased capabilities of those who attain this Priesthood has been laid bare in many miraculous events in scriptural accounts. The Joseph Smith Translation of Genesis 14 accounts for those who ascended, like Abraham, and the powers of God manifest through them.

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

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

In relation to this passage, Denver Snuffer said:

“From this addition, we learn that faith—not priesthood—is the power that stops the mouths of lions and quenches the violence of fire. Also, ordination to the Holy Order comes from the voice of God and is conferred according to God’s will. That will of God is predicated on two things:

● Belief on the name of God in this world, and

● The will of the Son of God before the foundation of this world” (The Religion of Our Fathers, Denver Snuffer Jr., p.11, emphasis added).

Because faith is the power behind Priesthood, the lists regarding faith are examples of additional powers given those who have sufficient faith to attain to this Priesthood.[5]

          Prior to the Savior’s Nephite appearance, we see this Patriarchal Priesthood manifest in Nephi, the son of Nephi, the son of Helaman:

“Nephi, who had been visited by angels and heard the Lord’s voice, had seen angels, and was an eyewitness, then had power given to him to let them know about Christ’s ministry. He was also an eyewitness of the swift fall from righteousness to wickedness and abominations. Because he was troubled at the hardness of their hearts and the blindness of their minds, he went out to preach to them that same year. He boldly testified of the need for repentance and remission of sins through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. He warned them of many things. Because they can’t all be written, and a part wouldn’t be sufficient, they aren’t written in this book. Nephi taught with power and great authority.

They were angry with him, because he truly had greater power than they did. So it was impossible for them to refute the truth of his words. His faith in the Lord Jesus Christ was so deep that angels ministered to him daily. He drove out devils and unclean spirits in Jesus’ name and even raised his brother from the dead after he had been stoned and killed by the people. They saw it with their own eyes and were angry with him because of his power. He also performed many more miracles in the people’s sight, in Jesus’ name” (CofC 3 Nephi 3:9-10, emphasis added).

There are three references to Nephi being visited by angels but the last reference states he was visited by angels “daily.” Daily visitations of angels to Nephi were “Powers of Heaven” ministering to and directing him in his ministry. Nephi exhibited extraordinary powers in addition to the ministry of angels. He was an “eyewitness” to the Savior’s ministry among the Jews. He testified boldly about repentance and the necessity of remission of sins through Jesus Christ. He prophesied and warned of many things, too many to be recorded in his book. Nephi taught with power and authority from God. The people were angry with him because he had more power than they had. His words could not be disbelieved. He drove out devils and unclean spirits in the name of Jesus and raised his brother from the dead. He performed many miracles in Jesus name.

          Some of these gifts were not mentioned in the Joseph Smith Translation of Genesis 14, but there should be no doubt about the source of his Priesthood endowment. In the Patriarchal tradition of Abraham, Nephi obtained this Priesthood from his father in the same manner Abraham received it from Melchizedek.

“Nephi [son of Helaman, father of Nephi] went to return to his own house, pondering about what the Lord had shown him. As he was pondering this, regretting the Nephites’ wickedness, their secret works of darkness, murders, robberies, and all their iniquities; reviewing these in his heart, a voice [the Lord] spoke to him, saying: You are blessed, Nephi, because of the things you’ve done. I’ve seen how you’ve tirelessly declared the word I gave you to this people. You haven’t been afraid of them and haven’t tried to save your own life, but have tried to learn My will and to keep My commandments. Now because you’ve done this so tirelessly, I’ll bless you forever. And I’ll make you powerful in word and deed, in faith and works, so that all things will happen to you as you ask, since you won’t ask anything contrary to My will. You are Nephi and I Am God. I declare this to you in front of My angels as witnesses: You are given power over this people and will strike the earth with famine, disease, and destruction in response to this people’s wickedness. 7Indeed, I give you power that whatever you seal on earth will be sealed in heaven, and whatever you set loose on earth will be set loose in heaven, and so you will hold this power over this people. And so if you say to this temple: Split in two! — it will happen. And if you say to this mountain: Fall down and be leveled! — it will happen. And if you say for God to afflict this people, it will happen. Now I command you to go and warn these people that the Lord God, the All-Powerful One, decrees: Unless you repent, you will be afflicted and destroyed.

Now when the Lord said this to Nephi, he stopped, turned around, and didn’t go to his house, but warned the many people spread across the land about the Lord’s words promising to destroy them if they didn’t repent. Now despite the great miracle of Nephi telling them about the murder of the chief judge, they hardened their hearts and refused to pay any attention to the Lord’s words. But Nephi declared to them the Lord’s word, saying: Unless you repent, the Lord says you will be afflicted and destroyed. When Nephi delivered this message, they still hardened their hearts and ignored what he said. The people mocked him and attempted to seize him so they could throw him in prison. But God’s power was with him, and they were unable to grab him and put him in prison because he was taken by the Spirit and carried away from them” (CofC Helaman 3:19-20, emphasis added).

Nephi, the father of Nephi was acknowledged by the Lord for his tireless efforts to declare the Lord’s words. His objective was to learn the Lord’s will and obey His commandments. Because of his faithfulness the Lord declared promises upon Nephi with angelic witnesses. Lest there be confusion regarding the Priesthood the Lord placed upon Nephi, reference to the sealing power ties this Priesthood to the Priesthood held by Elijah. It is the Priesthood Malachi declared must be sent before the end of the world.

“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 Fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse” (RE Malachi 1:12, emphasis added).

Growing up in the Mormon tradition, it is not uncommon to associate sealings with formal ordinances. When the Lord sends righteousness from Heaven, what knits hearts together is not a singular ordinance, although it plays a part. What unites hearts is receiving a nurturing guide who loves and instructs. In Abraham’s vision of pre-mortality, the Lord refers to the noble and great as His “rulers.” In the context of Abraham and the Book of Mormon, ruler is not a reference to one exercising dominion over others.

“I talked before about the definition of "rulers" in the Gentile world, and that is someone who exercises authority over someone else. In the vernacular of both the Book of Mormon, and in the vernacular found here, "rulers" in the house of God have nothing to do with dominion over someone else. A "ruler" is someone who teaches. A ruler is someone who is able to give an accurate gauge by which to measure things. A ruler is someone who teaches the truth. If you want to be a ruler in the house of God, then you have to be someone who declares and teaches the truth” (A Broken Heart and Contrite Spirit, Denver Snuffer Jr., p.21, emphasis added).

The “Powers of Heaven” teach principles of righteousness to “heirs of salvation”[6] and “chosen vessels.” Their instruction restores hidden knowledge, teaching what is required to ascend the seven steps of Jacob’s ladder. They instruct mortal servants of God who, in turn teach others with some limitations.

Elijah’s Return is Essential and Critical to Fulfilling the Father’s Covenants

          Prior to the Lord’s return the heavens and earth are covered in a veil of darkness or wickedness. Allowing the Lord’s vineyard to continue in this condition leads to destruction. To counter the flood of darkness, the Lord sends righteousness from Heaven and truth from the earth to sweep it. Like a flood, the earth is purged from iniquity and falsehood because the Patriarchal Fathers teach their mortal counterparts the one lesson associated with accessing the Powers of Heaven. They can only be controlled or handled by exercising righteous principles.

          Like Peter, James and John ministering to Adam and Eve after their departure from the Garden of Eden, Patriarchal Fathers are angelic ministrants preparing and introducing us at the veil to converse with the Lord through it and eventually being drawn by Him into His presence. Those who undergo this preparation enter the Lord’s presence with confidence.

          Imagine emotions associated with entering the Lord’s presence, immersed in His love and acceptance. How would you feel toward those who nurtured our development through the seven steps on Jacob’s ladder to enter the presence of Heavenly Father and Mother[7] and the Savior?

“ . . . 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” (RE Genesis 4:22, emphasis added).

The shared embrace, exchanging kisses on the neck. Not between strangers, but family rejoicing while dwelling with the Lord in His abode. A joyous event to contemplate when the Spirit and Power of Elijah opens a permanent portal[8] between Heaven and Earth. Empowering the Lord’s people to overcome wickedness. The conduit opened by Elijah is the passage through which the Patriarchal Father’s descend through and guide us to empowerment on earth and ascent back to God’s throne.

The angel of God showed Nephi a vision of these events. In the days of “wickedness and vengeance,” a people would be given “righteousness” from Heaven.

“Then I looked and saw the whore of the whole earth. She was spread everywhere across the seas, ruling over the whole earth, among all people of every nation, tribe, and language. And I saw the congregation of the Lamb of God; its numbers were few because of the wickedness and abominations of the whore who was spread everywhere across the seas. Nevertheless, I saw that the congregation of the Lamb, who were God’s holy ones [sanctified mortals], were also there throughout the earth; but their presence was small because of the wickedness of the great whore whom I saw. And I saw the great mother of abominations assembled in large numbers all over the earth among all Gentile nations to fight against the Lamb of God. Then I saw the power of the Lamb of God descend upon the holy ones of the Lamb’s congregation  [repentant, sanctified Gentiles][9] and upon the Lord’s covenant people, who were scattered across the earth. They were armed [10]with righteousness and God’s power in great glory” (CofC 1 Nephi 3:28, emphasis added).

Isaiah witnessed the same events described by Nephi. In Isaiah’s words, the prophet explained:

“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 [scattered 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 [the Lord through the “Root of Jesse”][11] shall set up an ensign [see footnote 11] for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah, from the four corners of the earth. The envy also of Ephraim [repentant Gentiles, the Lord’s congregation] shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah [unrepentant Gentiles] shall be cut off.[12] Ephraim [repentant Gentiles] shall not envy Judah and Judah shall not vex Ephraim. But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines [unrepentant Gentiles] toward the west, they [Ephraim, repentant Gentiles, scattered of Israel] shall spoil [conquer, subdue] them of the east [Israel’s enemies] together,[13] they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab [Israel’s enemies], and the children of Ammon shall obey them. And the Lord shall utterly destroy the tongue [spokesman] of the Egyptian [United States] sea [military], and with his mighty wind [14][parting of the Red Sea when Israel is saved from Egypt] he [Root of Jesse] shall shake his hand over the river [Patriarchal Powers of Heaven], and shall smite it in the seven [symbolic of complete, perfection] streams, and make men [Israel] go over with dry feet. And there shall be a highway [15]for the remnant of his people which shall be left from Assyria, like it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt” (RE Isaiah 5:5, emphasis added).

It is not a coincidence these events follow the arrival of the Lord’s servant, the “Root of Jesse.” In fact it is imperative to realize they come about because the “Root of Jesse” or “Davidic king” is the one holding keys for raising the “ensign” and gathering Israel in the last days.

          Enoch and Melchizedek did the same for their people in the days when they and their people were taken up or “translated” to Heaven. The dispensation head received the rights to the Priesthood and their people repented when they heeded the Lord’s warning and were sanctified. In effect, they learned the “one lesson” that the rights of the Priesthood are inseparably connected to the Powers Heaven and can be controlled and handled by them when they are righteous.

          That is why it was appropriate to add Elias Higbee’s question and answer immediately following the Lord’s explanation of Isaiah’s metaphor in the early verses of RE Isaiah 5. Elias’ question was:

“Question: What is meant by the command in Isaiah, 52nd chapter, 1st verse [Isa. 18:7], which says: Put on your strength, O Zion — and what people had Isaiah reference to?Answer: He had reference to those whom God should call in the last days, who should hold the power of Priesthood to bring again Zion, and the redemption of Israel. And to put on her strength is to put on the authority of the Priesthood, which she, Zion, has a right to by lineage; also to return to that Power [righteousness, Powers of Heaven] which she had lost. [16]

Question: What are we to understand by Zion’s loosing herself from the bands of her neck, 2nd verse [Isa. 18:7]?Answer: We are to understand that the scattered remnants [Israel] are exhorted to return to the Lord from whence they have fallen, which if they do, the promise of the Lord is that he will speak to them or give them revelation. See 6th, 7th, and 8th verses [Isa. 18: 7–8]. The bands of her neck are the curses of God upon her, or the remnants of Israel, in their scattered condition among the gentiles” (RE T&C 129:4-5, emphasis added).

Zion comes about when the great and abominable church abandons all subtlety and pretense to war against the Lord and His people. As persecution intensifies among Gentile nations the faithful will be pressed to choose between Babylon or the Lord. Some will succumb to enticements of the spiritually wicked while others use persecution and adversity to steel their commitment to God. It is the epitome of learning by sad experience.

          Enoch and Melchizedek preached repentance and righteousness to their people. The people chose to repent and were led by their dispensation heads in a collective ascension to Heaven. In contrast, Elijah did the same but his people chose to rebel and were unable to ascend with him.

          In the final stanza of this earth’s existence, some will heed the words of the Lord’s servant in the last days. The Lord’s plea to His people in Zion is, “put on thy strength” or reclaim divine power you are entitled to. That strength is the power of the Patriarchal Priesthood.

          In the process of arriving at this conclusion, there has been a partial fulfillment of a separate prophecy. The prophecy of Joseph of Egypt foretells a day when the records of Joseph and Judah grow together.

“Therefore your [Joseph of Egypt’s] offspring will write, and Judah’s offspring will write [Bible]. 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).

In the latter pages of this paper the prophecy of Isaiah 5, 1 Nephi 3, and 3 Nephi 9 & 10 have been woven together to form a tapestry of details leading to a day when Joseph Smith is vindicated and Israel gathered. How many are preserved to witness the establishment of Zion and witness Israel’s gathering becomes a function of our choice to repent and turn to face God.[17]

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

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

“As this vision closed, the Heavens were again opened to their view, and they [Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery] saw and beheld, and were endowed with knowledge from the beginning of this creation to the ends thereof. And they were shown unspeakable things from the sealed record of Heaven, which man is not capable of making known, but must be revealed by the Powers of Heaven.

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” (RE T&C 157:30-31, emphasis added).

[3] “Now, my dear people, I believe you’re wondering a little in your hearts about what you should do after you’ve entered through the way. But why do you wonder over these things in your hearts? 2Don’t you remember I told you that after you had received the Holy Ghost, you could speak the words of angels? Now, how could you speak the message of the angels unless you did it by the Holy Ghost? 3Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; as a result, they speak Christ’s words . . .” (CofC 2 Nephi 14:1, emphasis added).

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

And there stood one among them that was like unto God, and he said unto those who were with him, We will go down, for there is space there, and we will take of these materials and we will make an earth whereon these may dwell. And we will prove them herewith to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them. And they who keep their first estate shall be added upon, and they who keep not their first estate shall not have glory in the same kingdom with those who keep their first estate; and they who keep their second estate shall have glory added upon their heads for ever and ever” (RE T&C 145 Abraham 6:1-2, emphasis added).

[5] See RE Hebrews 1:36-50

[6] “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 [Jacob]. And unto you three I will give this power and the keys of this ministry until I come. Verily 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 13:19, emphasis added).

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

[7] “When any of us arrive at the end of the journey through the seven rungs of Jacob’s ladder, we will discover that the Mother was present throughout that journey. She declared: “I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment.” She is present all along the way through the seven pillars. This recognition of the Heavenly Mother requires wisdom” (Our Divine Parents, Denver Snuffer Jr., p.24, emphasis added).

[8] “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 Jr., p.25, emphasis added).

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

[10] “Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen, and why are they not chosen? Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men, that they do not learn this one lesson — that the rights of the Priesthood are inseparably connected with the Powers of Heaven and that the Powers of Heaven cannot be controlled nor handled, only upon the principles of righteousness . . . “ RE T&C 139:5, emphasis added).

[11] “Question: What is the Root of Jesse spoken of in the 10th verse of the 11th chapter [Isa. 5:4]?Answer: Behold, thus says the Lord: It is a descendant of Jesse as well as of Joseph, unto whom rightly belongs the [Patriarchal] 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).

[12] “ . . . I’ll show them My wisdom [Heavenly Mother?] 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 [Root of Jesse] to set before the Gentiles, it will result exactly as Moses said: They will be cut off from My people who are part of the covenant . . .” (CofC 3 Nephi 9:12, emphasis added).

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

[14]  . . . And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided . . .” (RE Exodus 9:4, emphasis added).

[15] “ . . . He shall command the great deep [Powers of Heaven], and it shall be driven back into the north countries and the islands shall become one land, and the land of Jerusalem and the land of Zion shall be turned back into their own place, and the earth shall be like as it was in the days before it was divided. And the Lord, even the Savior, shall stand in the midst of his people and shall reign [dominion is returned to the Lord at Adam-ondi-Ahman] over all flesh. And they who are in the north countries [scattered of Israel] shall come in remembrance before the Lord, and their prophets shall hear his voice and shall no longer stay themselves, and they shall smite the rocks, and the ice shall flow down at their presence, and a highway shall be cast up in the midst of the great deep [ensign, conduit between Heaven and Earth]. Their enemies shall become a prey unto them, and in the barren deserts there shall come forth pools of living water [what the Savior gave to the woman by the well so she wouldn’t thirst for truth again] and the parched ground [what the Savior sprang up into, Isaiah] shall no longer be a thirsty land. And they [Israel] shall bring forth their rich treasures [records] unto the children of Ephraim [repentant Gentiles], my servants, and the boundaries of the everlasting hills shall tremble at their presence, and there shall they fall down and be crowned with glory, even in Zion, by the hands of the servants of the Lord, even the children of Ephraim, and they shall be filled with songs of everlasting joy [redeeming love]. Behold, this is the blessing of the everlasting God upon the heads of the tribes of Israel, and the richer blessing upon the head of Ephraim and his fellows. And they [Israel] also of the tribe of Judah, after their pain, shall be sanctified in holiness before the Lord, to dwell in his presence day and night, for ever and ever” RE T&C 58:3, emphasis added).

[16] “And again, verily I say unto you, let all my saints come from afar, and send swift messengers, yea, chosen messengers, and say unto them, Come all of you, with all your gold, and your silver, and your precious stones, and with all your antiquities, and with all who have knowledge of antiquities that will come, may come. And bring the box tree, and the fir tree, and the pine tree, together with all the precious trees of the earth, and with iron, with copper, and with brass, and with zinc, and with all your precious things of the earth, and build a house unto my name for the Most High to dwell therein. For there is not place found on the earth that he may come and restore again that which was lost unto you, or which he has taken away, even the fullness of the Priesthood”  (RE T&C 141:10, emphasis added).

[17] “We have problems. Our group clearly includes people with severe personality disorders. Some people have trauma from their past, making it difficult to develop healthy relationships with others. There are people who lack self-awareness and are puzzled when they offend others with inappropriate conduct. Additionally, many of us refuse to ever accept responsibility for our own dreadful behavior. Our infighting suggests that we are not true followers of Jesus . . . There are narcissists, egomaniacs, and aspiring souls who crave recognition because they are hollow inside. There are sexual deviants. At least two men are in prison for sex crimes. I have heard allegations of at least one other man who may also present a sexual threat to children. Our ranks include many who cannot be gathered into a community of peace of one heart and one mind. We have people in our community who are marred by sin and unrepentant. There are foolish people led astray by their egos and ambitions who assert they are entitled to lead others. They ask to be supported by tithes and be given offices or positions of authority. These people are evil, inspired by an adversary who seeks to destroy souls. On the other hand, many men and women have great intellect, knowledge, skills, education, and wisdom. They are willing to help and do things that lift others. The contributions of these people have made possible the many things have been accomplished These include recovering, compiling, and publishing the Restoration Edition of the scriptures, organizing nineteen general conferences and over fifty regional conferences, organizing fellowships and distributing tithing to those in need. It has required a body of faithful believers to accomplish what has been done. However, these accomplishments do not hide what we lack. Clearly, there remain obstacles for us to overcome to be gathered into a community and live in peace with one another . . . As I have considered our few successes and many failures, I have been despairing and quite pessimistic. We still have far too many shortcomings despite all the guidance the Lord has provided. When I learned that rancor and hard feelings still linger over the Guide and Standard, it surprised me. When I saw that women are no more wise, fair, or just than men have been—and saw the rancor they showed one another —I was discouraged and doubted that we could ever gather together and live in peace with one another. We have the same social upheavals in our group as modern Babylon has . . . But in every instance, it is through charity, or the pure love of Christ, that informs the means chosen. For it is His “work and [His] glory: to bring to pass the immortality and the eternal life of man.” Gen. 1:7. These are tools deliberately employed to accomplish God’s will to humble and redeem mankind. It demonstrates God’s charity for mankind . . . Many have openly stated their unwillingness to engage in the work and lack the desire to understand one another. There is little to commend us as a people of Zion . . . After being corrected by the Lord, my pessimism about our condition has been replaced. The Lord does intend to make use of some of us to fulfill His will. However, that will not only include blessing and encouraging us but also disciplining and correcting us. I have no idea how joyful or painful the coming journey will be for any of us. I also do not know how many (or how few) will be there when the journey is completed and the promises are fulfilled. I do have an idea that there has been and will continue to be watchful care taken by the Lord to help a few of us along the remaining journey” (God’s Covenant People, Denver Snuffer Jr., pp. 1-3, 30)

“Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen, and why are they not chosen? Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men, that they do not learn this one lesson — that the rights of the Priesthood are inseparably connected with the Powers of Heaven and that the Powers of Heaven cannot be controlled nor handled, only upon the principles of righteousness. That they may be conferred upon us, it is true, but when we undertake to cover our sins or to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control, or dominion, or compulsion, upon the souls of the children of men in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the Heavens withdraw themselves, the spirit of the Lord is grieved, and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man. Behold, ere he is aware, he is left unto himself, to kick against the pricks, to persecute the saints, and to fight against God. We have learned by sad experience that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion. Hence many are called, but few are chosen.

No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood; only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned, by kindness and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul; without hypocrisy and without guile; reproving betimes with sharpness when moved upon by the holy ghost, and then showing forth afterward an increase of love toward him whom you have reproved (lest he esteem you to be his enemy), that he may know that your faithfulness is stronger than the cords of death; your bowels also being full of charity toward all men, and to the household of faith; and virtue garnish your thoughts unceasingly. Then shall your confidence wax strong in the presence of God, and the doctrines of the Priesthood shall distill upon your soul as the dews from heaven. The holy ghost shall be your constant companion, and your scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth, and your dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto you for ever and ever” (RE T&C 139:5-6, emphasis added).

Scott Roderick

5/19/2025

_Put On Thy Strength_.pdf

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