The End Times Servant - Part 2 : Awake and Arise

The subject of an end times servant has more relevance than many appreciate. It is noteworthy when the resurrected Lord, speaking to the Nephites, quotes a Messianic prophecy from Isaiah and adapts it to His servant.

After Jesus introduces the prophecy of Moses to Nephite survivors, He unfolds a prophecy for future Nephite descendants. He speaks of how “The Holy Ghost will be poured out on the Gentiles through Me.” The effect of the Holy Ghost on latter-day Gentiles empowers them to scatter descendants of Lehi. After the Gentiles receive a “fullness of My gospel” the Gentiles who reject it suffer the same fate they imposed on Lehi’s descendants. The more numerous Gentiles are scattered, and the Lord fulfills the promises made to Israel.

The Gentiles unassimilated into Israel through Lehi’s seed have no claim on lands of inheritance promised to Israel. By divine mandate the roles of the latter-day Gentiles and Israel’s descendants is reversed. The Holy Ghost withdraws from unrepentant Gentiles and Israel’s scattered remnant receive the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Holy Ghost and revival of covenant promises.

“The time will come when the fullness of My gospel will be preached to them [Lehi’s descendants]. And they will believe in Me, that I Am Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and they will pray to the Father in My name. Then their lookouts [watchmen, prophets] will sing the same message together as a chorus, agreeing eye to eye [they are one with the Father and Son]. Then the Father will gather them together again and give Jerusalem to them as an inherited land. Then they’ll break out in joyful song [song of redeeming love], [1] singing together [one heart, one mind, all things common amongst them, no poor] [2] with all the scattered remnants from Jerusalem, for the Father has brought comfort [Holy Ghost] [3] to His people [as He did to the Gentiles], He has redeemed Jerusalem. The Father has vindicated His covenant for all to witness, and everyone to the ends of the earth will see He has saved His people. [4] And the Father and I are united as one. Then this prophecy will be fulfilled: Wake up, wake up again and dress yourself with strength, O Zion. [5] Put on your clean garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city. From now on none of the faithless or uncircumcised [without a covenant with God] will try to enter. Shake all the dust [precepts of men] off yourself, stand up and then rest [of the Lord], O Jerusalem. Take the chains off your neck, [6] O imprisoned daughter of Zion [Jerusalem]. For the Lord declares: You’ve sold yourselves for nothing and you’ll be set free without charge.

For I declare to you that My people will know My name, and on that day they’ll recognize I Am [the Lord] the one who told you about this. And then they’ll say: How beautiful shall His [the servant’s] presence be upon the mountains [nations]! [7] For He brings good news, announces peace, proclaims deliverance, brings salvation, and declares to Zion: Your God reigns! And then the shout will be heard: Depart, depart, get yourself out of there [Babylon, spiritual wickedness], and don’t touch anything unclean, get away and be clean [that bear the vessels of the Lord] before you receive the sacred rites of the Lord. But you can’t act in haste, nor run faster than your ability, for the Lord will lead you and the God of Israel will move you along. You’ll see that My servant will proceed wisely, He’ll [the servant] be exalted and extolled, and be above others. People are astonished at Your [Savior’s] appearance, Your [Savior’s] suffering was greater than any man can endure, for it would kill all other men — so He’ll [Savior] cleanse many nations. The kings will be at a loss for words not knowing what to say because of Him [Christ, the servant acting as proxy], for they’ll see what they were never told, and be forced to consider what they never expected. Now I promise you: All these things will happen exactly as the Father has commanded Me to declare. This will conform to the Father’s covenant with His people; and Jerusalem will again be inhabited by My people, as a land of their inheritance.

I tell you the truth. And I’ll give you a sign to identify the time when these things are about to happen, when I will gather My people, the house of Israel, from their long-scattered state, and will again establish My Zion among them. 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 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 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” (C of C 3 Nephi 9:9-11; emphasis added).

The Gentiles are too prideful when they read Nephi’s prophecy of the last days. Nephi sees the latter-day Gentiles and his observation of the Gentile behavior is under appreciated when he describes the Gentile condition. The Lord gives the Holy Ghost to the Gentiles, and they are the means for scattering Israel.

What is misunderstood is the obstacles blocking the Gentiles in understanding the gospel of Jesus Christ. Nephi sees the Gentiles making “a great many mistakes because of the extremely clear and valuable parts of the Lamb’s gospel that have been removed by that utterly wicked church.” [8] To partially rectify the problem the Lord brings more of gospel to light “which will be clear and very valuable.” The part that is clear and very valuable is a portion of the Savior’s ministry to Lehi’s descendants.

Because of teachings from Joseph Smith and the account of the Savior’s ministry in 3 Nephi, much of the Savior’s gospel is restored, but not all.

In the first part of the End Times Servant papers, it demonstrated Joseph Smith’s frustration at not persuading his contemporary Gentiles to understand the further light and knowledge he attempted to share with them. Joseph was willing to share much of the light the Lord had given him, but the Gentiles were unwilling to receive it because of false traditions and precepts already present in their values.

In addition to the limitations imposed upon Joseph Smith by their prevailing narrative and disbelief, the portion of the Savior’s ministry given to the Gentiles was less than one percent of the Savior’s teachings to Nephite survivors.

“And now not even one percent of what Jesus taught the people can be written in this book. But the plates of Nephi contain most of what He taught the people. I’ve written these few things He taught the people, intending for them to be brought back to this people from the Gentiles, as Jesus has explained. After they get this first to test their faith, if they believe this record, then greater things will be added to them. If they refuse to believe this record, then the greater things will be withheld from them to their condemnation. I was about to write everything that was engraved on the plates of Nephi, but the Lord forbids it, saying: I’ll test the faith of My people. Therefore I’m writing only the things I’ve been commanded to write by the Lord” (C of C 3 Nephi 12:1; emphasis added).

This passage offers a measurable outcome, a test of faith for the Gentiles. One that is either achieved or not. Less than one percent of the Savior’s teachings is present in the Book of Mormon or Covenant of Christ. The Lord’s purpose in giving a condensed version of the Savior’s ministry is to test the Gentiles. The Lord gave them the lesser account with a promise “greater things will be added to them.”

If the Gentiles are faithful and receive the Savior’s account of His limited ministry, more will be added to it. The test for the Gentiles is whether more is given or withheld. In two hundred years after the beginning of the Restoration the Gentiles are left with the realization content remains withheld by the Lord, “to their condemnation.”

My preference is to use the Covenant of Christ when quoting passages but occasionally language from the Book of Mormon is useful on a particular point. Earlier in this paper C of C 1 Nephi 3, a reference to the Gentiles in the last days is made. The same reference found in 1 Nephi 13:34 LDS making an important distinction about the content from the gospel the Gentiles will receive:

“And it came to pass that the angel of the Lord spake unto me, saying, Behold, saith the Lamb of God, after I have visited the remnant of the house of Israel (and this remnant of whom I speak is the seed of thy father), wherefore, after I have visited them in judgment and smitten them by the hand of the gentiles, and after that the gentiles do stumble exceedingly because of the most plain and precious parts of the gospel of the Lamb which has been kept back by that abominable church, which is the mother of harlots, saith the Lamb, I will be merciful unto the gentiles in that day, insomuch that I will bring forth unto them in mine own power much of my gospel which shall be plain and precious, saith the Lamb. . .” (RE 1 Nephi 3:23; emphasis added).

Using the word “much” to describe a subset of the gospel given the Gentiles suggests a significant portion is withheld. “Much” is subjective leaving the quantity of the gospel given the Gentiles incomplete and undefined.

In addition to the abbreviated gospel given the Gentiles, there are times the Lord reveals things to His servants and restricts what they share with others. For example, some content from Heaven is unlawful for mortal man to share with peers. Nephi’s vision contains an example of such content:

“Then the Angel told me: Look! And I looked and saw a man, and he was dressed in a white robe. The Angel said to me: This is one of the Lamb’s Twelve witnesses. He’s been appointed to see and write about the remainder of these things, and also about many other things that have happened. He’ll also write about the end of the world. Therefore the things he will write are proper and true, and they’re written in the book you saw coming from the Jews. When they came from the Jews, or when the book came from the Jews, what was written was clear and pure and extremely valuable and easy for all to understand. The things this witness of the Lamb is to write are many of the things that you’ve seen, and you’ll see the rest. However, you must not write the things you’ll see after this, since the Lord God has ordered the witness of the Lamb of God to write them. He has shown all things to others who have lived, and they’ve written them as well. They’re sealed up to come forward in their correct form to the house of Israel, when the Lord deems it to be the proper time, according to the truth that’s in the Lamb.

I heard and testify that according to the Angel’s word, the name of the Lamb’s witness was John [the Beloved]. I’m forbidden to write the rest of the things I saw and heard. So, I’m satisfied with what I’ve written, and I’ve only written a small part of what I saw. I testify that I saw the things my father saw, and the Angel of the Lord revealed them to me. Now I finish writing about what I saw while I was in contact with the Spirit. And even though everything I saw isn’t written, the things I have written are true. So be it, Amen” (C of C 1 Nephi 3:30-31; emphasis added).

In addition to the commandments given to Nephi limiting what he was to write, there are numerous examples in the Covenant of Christ and Teachings and Commandments where the same instructions apply.

Alma expounded on the Lord’s law governing revelations and the mysteries of God.

“Alma began to elaborate, saying: Many people are given knowledge of God’s mysteries; however, they’re placed under a strict command to only discuss that part of His word He allows to be given to mankind, corresponding to their obedience and diligence given to Him. Those who harden their hearts receive less of His word. Those who don’t harden their hearts are given a greater part of His word, until they understand God’s mysteries. They can be given God’s mysteries until everything is fully known. However those who harden their hearts are given less of His word, until they know nothing about His mysteries. Then the accuser captures them and leads them by his will down to destruction. This is what the chains of hell mean” (C of C Alma 9:3; emphasis added).

The Lord is no respecter of people. He willingly shares with those who seek light and knowledge. He desires all men and women to come to Him to be taught. [9]

“. . . Therefore, why is it that you cannot understand and know that he that receives the word by the spirit of truth, receives it as it is preached by the spirit of truth? Wherefore, he that preaches and he that receives, understand one another, and both are edified and rejoice together. And that which does not edify is not of God, and is darkness. That which is of God is light, and he that receives light and continues in God receives more light, and that light grows brighter and brighter until the perfect day” (RE T&C 50:4; emphasis added).

A perfect day is to enter the Lord’s rest, return to His presence, and discover you are transformed to be like Him. To “rise up” to that end we ascend steps leading to that outcome. Those steps are to receive greater light and truth. We are expected to expand our intelligence and partake of His glory, which is His intelligence. [10]

It is not coincidence the Covenant of Christ shares an account of the brother of Jared and his ascent into the Lord’s presence. So great was the light and truth acquired by this man it was considered the greatest of revelations:

“. . . I’ve [Moroni] been commanded to hide them away again in the ground. I’ve written on these plates the very things Jared’s brother saw. Greater things were never revealed than those things revealed to Jared’s brother. Therefore the Lord has commanded me to write them down and I’ve written them. He also commanded me to seal them up under His care. He has also commanded me to protect the ability to translate them, so I’ve sealed the Interpreters according to the Lord’s commandment. . .” (C of C Ether 1:17; emphasis added).

Revelations shown to the brother of Jared were by Moroni’s estimation the greatest ever revealed to man. Moroni wrote a complete account of the brother of Jared’s revelations, including means for their future translation.

In Moroni’s account of the brother of Jared’s revelations, an offer is extended to two future groups contingent on their righteousness. The first group is a remnant of righteous Gentiles forming the “congregation of the Lamb” described as His “holy ones.” The second group is “the Lord’s covenant people” scattered throughout the earth. [11] 

Two groups mentioned in Nephi’s vision receive power from Heaven because they are “armed with righteousness” and receive “power in great glory.” The glory of God is intelligence or light and truth. For two groups to receive power from Heaven they forsake evil by receiving and applying the “glory of God;” His intelligence. From Moroni’s record, it appears what the Lord intends is for the two groups previously mentioned to “awaken and arise.” Regarding repentant Gentiles Moroni says:

“The Lord told me: They must not go to the Gentiles until they repent of their iniquity and become clean before the Lord. The Lord said: When they [Gentiles] exercise faith in Me, just as Jared’s brother did, so that they become sanctified in Me, then I’ll show them the things Jared’s brother saw, even providing all My revelations to them. This is what Jesus Christ said, who’s the Son of God the Father of the heavens and the earth, and everything in them. . . Come to Me, Gentiles, and I’ll show you the greater things, knowledge that’s hidden away because of unbelief. . . And I’ll visit those who believe the things I’ve spoken by the manifestations of My Spirit. They’ll know and testify; because of My Spirit, they’ll know these things are true, since they persuade mankind to do good. Anything that persuades people to do good comes from Me, because good comes from no one other than Me. I Am the same one who leads people to everything good.” (C of C Ether 1:18-19; emphasis added).

To those Gentiles who receive His words from the Savior’s disciples He promises “all my revelations” are to be given when the Gentiles have faith like the brother of Jared and become sanctified in Christ.

To the scattered of Israel, the Lord makes the following offer:

“. . . Come to Me, O house of Israel, and it will be revealed to you how the Father has great things in store for you from the foundation of creation that you haven’t received because of unbelief. When you move aside the veil of unbelief that causes you to remain in your awful state of wickedness and hardness of heart and blindness of mind, then the great and miraculous things that have been hidden away from you from the foundation of creation will come to you. When you call on the Father in My name with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, then you’ll know, O house of Israel, that the Father remembers the covenant He made to your fathers. Then the revelations I had My servant John write will be understood by everyone. Remember, when you see these things, you’ll know that the time is near when they will be revealed. Therefore when you receive this record, you can know the Father’s work has begun throughout the land. So repent, everyone, throughout the world. Come to Me, believe in My gospel, and be baptized in My name. Because anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved, but anyone who doesn’t believe will be condemned. Signs will follow those who believe in My name. Those who are found faithful to My name on the last day will be blessed, for they’ll be lifted up to live in the kingdom prepared for them from the foundation of creation. I Am the one who has spoken it. Amen” (C of C Ether 1:19; emphasis added).

A warning is given to those who reject these words when the Lord’s servant brings them to light to the Gentiles:

“Let any who fight against the Lord’s word be cursed. And any who deny these things, let them be cursed, as Jesus Christ has said: I won’t show any greater things to them for I Am the one who speaks. At My command, the heavens open and shut, and at My word the earth will shake. At My command, those living on earth will die by fire. Those who don’t believe My words don’t believe My disciples. If you think I don’t speak [“. . . My voice or the voice of my servants, it is the same], decide for yourself; but you’ll know on the last day that I Am the one who speaks.” (C of C Ether 1:18-19; emphasis added).

The greatest peril for the Gentiles in the last days is the assumption they understand more than they do. When God sends His servant the Gentiles make a monumental mistake of assuming equality in the eyes of God applies to equality of understanding. Acquisition of light and truth is self-regulated according to one's heed and diligence to divine law. Not God elevating those He favors.

When prophetic figures are sent by God to their contemporaries of the end times servant the Gentiles presume they know as much or more than His servant. Their presumption is based on overestimating their own intelligence or institutional authority vested in them by title. The same was true in the Savior’s day. To the rabbis, Jesus was a self-educated carpenter and itinerant preacher lacking credibility. Isaiah said there was nothing extraordinary about Him that made Him desirable.

It was not the Savior’s appearance that drew men and women of faith to Him. Through the Savior’s knowledge “shall my righteous Servant justify many, for he shall bear their iniquities.” [12] Jesus had more knowledge than anyone. [13]

Such is the case with all who are sent as messengers for the Lord. In the eyes of their peers they are perceived as weak; but humility draws them to the Lord and His work. [14] They are called because they can be trusted beyond what their contemporaries may be. Through trials and afflictions, His disciples are proven and share a unique relationship with Him.

“This is my commandment: That you love one another as I have loved you. No man loves more than when he is willing to sacrifice his life to save his friends. You are my friends if you do whatever I communicate to you. Beginning now, I will no longer call you my servants because a servant does not share his Lord’s life. But I make you my friends because every thing I received from my Father I have shared and will yet share with you. You did not choose me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that you should progress and become fruitful, that your fruit [those who repent] will testify on your behalf forever, that whatever I direct you to seek from my Father you will be able to obtain. I have taught these things to you to enable you to share my love among one another.

The world will hate you, but you know that it hated me before it hates you. If you belonged to the world, the world would love its property. But because you are not a captive of the world, and I have freed you from the world, the world hates you.

Remember that I told you before that no servant is greater than his Lord. If many have persecuted me, many will also persecute you, but if some few have followed my teachings, some few will follow yours also. The world’s response to you will be because you will act in my name and on my behalf. Those who fight against you are strangers to my Father. If I had not come and testified of the truth to them, they would not be accountable for rebellion, but now they have no excuse for their rebellion. If they hate me, they hate my Father also. If I had not shown to them an example no other man has shown before, they would not be accountable. [the Savior’s ascension to the Father] But they have rebelled after seeing with their own eyes and hearing with their ears the one sent by Father Ahman to them, and have rebelled against us both. Proving men in this way fulfills the prophecy, They hated me without a cause” (RE T&C 171:19-21; emphasis added).

Prior to His crucifixion, the Savior changed His relationship with His disciples. To this point, His disciples were servants. The Lord distinguished His disciples calling them “friends” rather than servants. The Savior’s distinction between the servants and friends emphasized a more intimate relationship between Himself and His disciples. A servant doesn’t share His Lord’s life, but a friend does. The most important aspect of this transition was how the Savior shared everything the Father gave Him with His disciples. They enjoyed elevated status in their relationship. Not because He loves them more, but because of their devotion and diligence in seeking greater light and knowledge.

The world hates them because it hated the Savior before them. However, some believe them as a few believed in Him. The teachings of Christ divide the world between believers and non-believers.

What is underappreciated is the greater knowledge from the Father the Savior shared with His friends. Mysteries withheld from most but reserved for the faithful. There are glimpses of the Father’s hidden knowledge in scripture. Those granted this privilege are placed under strict command not to share certain things.

A case in point was Moroni writing the record of the brother of Jared. He characterized the brother of Jared’s writings as a key to “unfolding all my revelations.” Moroni knew the content of the brother of Jared’s writings but was commanded not to share.

When the end times servant appears, the Gentiles do well to presume he is like the disciples in the days of Jesus’ mortal ministry. As the Lord’s friend, the Lord shares His life with His servant. The Savior shares with the servant the Father’s teachings. The servant adds light and knowledge to the understanding of the Gentiles within strict boundaries.

“The gospel is vast, and only the beginning, introductory part of the restoration was established through Joseph Smith. There is still a great deal left to recover. The task is daunting. Unto what can I liken it to help you see it clearly? I stand beside a great ocean [fullness of the gospel, what the Father shares with the Son and with the faithful] and I cannot convey it to you. I am but a man and all I have is a cup with which to show you. If I labor all my life using my cup I can never convey the ocean to you. Using the limited talent and means I have, and with only a cup at a time, I can never convey enough to allow you to comprehend the ocean’s sheer size [the vastness of the mysteries of God]. My effort mocks the great ocean [of knowledge, God’s glory] because my measure is too modest, comparatively microscopic. Using a cup, how can I ever portray the depth and pressure of the ocean? How can you ever discover its vast range of temperature in my small cup? How will you understand the relation between temperature and current, or the great power of the ocean’s current? How shall I explain the effect of the moon on the ocean’s tides when I have only a cup to declare it to you? How will the great diversity of both plant and animal life living in the ocean ever be understood when I have only a cup to show you? In the top 600 feet of the ocean lives 90% of known oceanic animal life, but the ocean is over 36,000 feet deep. Mount Everest rises 29,000 feet, and the ocean plunges down more than 7,000 feet beyond Everest’s height. If 90% of the animal life we know lives in less than the top 2% of the ocean, how much life is there in the oceans we know nothing about. Life we have not even a hint exists may thrive in abundance in depths completely hidden from our knowledge. The grandeur of Christ’s gospel makes my capacity to declare it pitiful. I confess my inability, and I fear I can never do enough to help this generation to awaken and arise. If I can help you grasp even a little of it, then let me point you to God who can do the rest. Men cannot utter what you need to learn. I am not capable, and it is not lawful. [G]reat and marvelous [great and awe-inspiring] are the works of the Lord, and the mysteries of his Kingdom which he showed unto us, which surpasses all understanding, in glory, and in might, and in dominion, which he commanded us we should not write while we were yet in the Spirit, and are not lawful for men to utter, neither is man capable to make them known, for they are only to be seen and understood by the power of the Holy Spirit, which God bestows on those who love him and purify themselves before him, to whom he grants the privilege of seeing and knowing for themselves that through the power and manifestation of the Spirit, while in the flesh, they may be able to bear his presence in the world of glory. (T&C 69:29). It is conceit that makes you wrongly believe you know something of God’s work. It has been conceit that has motivated some of the schematic divisions by ambitious men and women to inappropriately think they can do better by leading others away. There are still ambitious and foolish people among us who crave the opportunity to lead a following. When such characters succeed, and people depart from us, I let them go in peace and trouble them no more. But the Lord intends to introduce us to the oceans of truth He has in store for those who love Him and purify themselves before Him, to whom He grants the privilege of seeing and knowing for themselves. The Lord requires patience in order for us to possess our souls. The Lord’s pace must be accepted. Pushing it forward or pulling it back will not alter it. He does not share our haste. Haste is yet another mousetrap designed by the adversary to exploit a character flaw. None of us understands our circumstances better than the Lord” (The Perfect Mousetrap, Denver Snuffer Jr., pp.15-17; emphasis added).

The end times servant is honored by the Lord in a way few understand and appreciate. When Samuel anointed David king over Israel, he said the Lord had chosen a man after “His own heart” who would do the Lord’s will. The latter-day David brings the words of Christ as part of the “great and awe-inspiring work” to the Gentiles in the last days. In foretelling the fulfillment of the prophecy of Moses, the Lord honors His servant with the highest praise anyone could hope for. The Lord modifies a Messianic prophecy of Isaiah and applies it to His latter-day servant.

“At that time, to advance My cause, the Father will begin a work, which will be a great and awe-inspiring work among them [Gentiles]. There will be many who won’t believe it, although a man will tell it to them. But the ministry of My servant will be led by My hand; therefore they won’t be able to harm his work, although he’ll be opposed and discredited by them [“marred, but I will heal him”]. 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 [servant is a friend to the Savior, receiving the Father’s words] will give and empower that servant to set before the Gentiles, it will result exactly as Moses said: They [Gentiles] will be cut off from My people who are part of the covenant [Israel]. . .” (C of C 3 Nephi 9:12; emphasis added).

When the Lord’s servant delivers the words of Christ to the Gentiles, he does so by the Father’s power. The Gentiles attempt to discredit him and his work [like the rabbinical class in the Savior’s day, they perceive the servant is a threat to their power and authority]. Like his Lord, he suffers and his work is “marred” but not more than any man as did the Savior. As most Jews rejected Jesus, most Gentiles oppose and mock the servants work but the Lord vows to sustain him. Regretfully, most Gentiles refuse him or the words of Christ he offers. Their refusal of the Lord’s words results in a revival of covenant curses most Gentiles suffer for their rejection.

For those who receive the Savior’s words through the servant, the Lord invites them to a new period of enlightened understanding. The invitation is for them to “awake and arise” from the surrounding darkness as Lehi was led to and partook of the fruit of the Tree of Life. [15]

Awake and Arise!

The beginning of the Restoration through Joseph Smith was intended to be more than an epiphany to enlightenment. It was a call to action once Gentile minds gained understanding. Wisdom is the correct application of knowledge. When Joseph Smith sought to expound the mysteries of godliness it was more than an intellectual exercise. Like the proverbial carrot on a stick to a mule, the Restoration was intended to open our minds to divine possibilities. We are God’s children created in His image with the possibility of becoming transformed into His image literally.

God requires we exercise agency, never using compulsion on anyone. [16] It is incumbent on us to choose to ask, seek, knock, [17] for greater light and knowledge. His revelations are intended for more than stimulating thoughts. His commandments are actionable items opening eternal possibilities.

Like the Jews, latter-day Gentiles have scales of false beliefs blinding their eyes. [18] Those beliefs must be washed away with waves of cleansing light and truth. The process of removing the scales is awakening. The application of those principles of light and truth is arising.

“Joseph restored a faith demanding we awake and arise. We must ask God to remove the scales that blind us. The blinding “scales,” are a darkness, and an incorrect weight and measure. We have no reason to err, because we can ask God for the answer. If our judgment is not just, our dark scales will condemn us. Care is required to correctly distinguish between what is God’s and what is the devil’s. Awake and arise! Shake off the scales that blind you (scales which, like contact lenses, on the one hand; but scales like judging wrongly, on the other hand). You have to judge a matter aright. And if the judgment that you judge is not just, then the scales of your eyes are darkness indeed. (Preserving the Restoration, Denver Snuffer Jr., pp.12-13

A covenant process offered by God is an invitation to do as did Abraham [flee from false traditions of his earthly father]. [19] Awaken from a natural existence on earth to eternal possibilities extending beyond mortality with infinite potential. Awaking from the state of nature to these possibilities is not an overreach for mortal man. It is embracing eternal possibilities through faith in God’s ability to form something out of dust, becoming as He is. Exercising faith in Him, rather than ourselves, increases our confidence in His ability to do what He can and will do. Jesus Christ is His evidence the claims are true.

“Joseph [Smith] is receiving, in this first interview with the angel Moroni [Nephi], [20] an announcement about the first indications of the restoration of God's intent to restore a holy family [on earth as it is in Heaven]. God is telling us what He wants. He—God—wants to have upon the earth again His family [the original meaning of Israel]. But we must respond—we. This is your dispensation; this is your time. You came down here with the intent of living and finding the things that will bring you back. This is your opportunity. Don't let some other group claim that it doesn't belong to you. These scriptures are only going to be fulfilled when enough people awake and arise to realize that it is devolving upon you the obligation to find, to heed, to seek, to search, to pray, to obey, and to form what is necessary in order to fulfill the promises and the covenants that were made to the fathers [the definition of “arise”] . . . And how you sort that out at this point… It’s a challenge that you ought to rise to by making it the subject of prayer and getting revelation. Because there’s a story being told here; there’s a covenant being described here. And there are things in play here that, until you awake and arise and realize what the duties are that are devolving upon you, you don't have any chance of figuring out exactly what a mess we’ve made of the restoration of the Gospel” (Be of Good Cheer, Denver Snuffer Jr., p.26, emphasis added).

In two hundred years since the Restoration through Joseph Smith promises made to the Gentiles if they repent have gone unfulfilled. Christian Gentiles marvel how their Jewish brethren fail to see the scales of unbelief on their own eyes when the Gentiles are certain their vision is 20/20. Both must awake and arise to the degree their own vision is impaired by centuries of false traditions and diluted teachings.

“When a new day dawns, should not a man awaken? What does it profit a man to awaken if he does not arise? Does a man awaken only then to boast in his own conceit that he no longer slumbers, while all around him remain asleep; yet the man arise not from his bed? Where is the benefit in that? The coming day will burn with heat, and those who remain in their beds, either asleep or awake, will be burned. If shade is offered but not taken, there is no benefit to awakening. If His [the Lord’s] servant comes alone, he is rejected for the lack of witnesses. If with a company, he is rejected for having followers. Clothed with the spirit and filled with light, he is rejected as innovating. If he mourns, he is too sorrowful; and if rejoicing, he is too merry. You need only ask, and the Lord will tell you what you need to know” (Questions: blogpost, Denver Snuffer Jr., 12/30/ 2011, emphasis added).

When I left the religious tradition of my fathers after many years of faithful service and devotion; a friend of many years warned me I was in jeopardy of losing my family in time and in eternity. I was struck by the irony of his statement. We raised our children in faith, and all remained devoted to it. Every morning, they woke up to see me researching topics in the scriptures.

The conversation with my friend was saturated in irony for me. To him, I was sacrificing the promise of uniting with my family in the hereafter. To me, I felt the need to do something so dramatic it would cause my family to awake and arise with me. Not to abandon what I knew to be true but alert them to corrupt teachings and practices instituted after the deaths of Joseph and Hyrum Smith.

Nephi was shown our day and foretold of a time when the Lord removes stumbling blocks for Gentiles. Obstacles to their ability to awake and arise.

“If the Gentiles then obey the Lamb of God [His servant], He’ll reveal Himself to them in word and power and in person, in order to remove barriers to their belief, and if they don’t harden their hearts against the Lamb of God, they’ll be included with your father’s descendants — indeed, they’ll be included as part of the house [family] of Israel. And they’ll become a blessed family in the promised land forever [sealing power, Spirit of Elijah]. They won’t be enslaved anymore [false traditions, precepts of men], and the house of Israel won’t be embarrassed anymore. And the great pit dug for them by that utterly wicked church, which the accuser and his followers founded so that he could take people’s souls down to hell — that great pit dug for people’s destruction will be filled with those who dug it, to their complete destruction, says the Lamb of God — not the destruction of the soul, but throwing it into that endless hell [regret, remorse for being deceived]. This is according to the accuser’s imprisonment, and according to God’s justice as well, upon all those who insist on doing wicked and corrupt things in God’s sight” (C of C 1 Nephi 3:25; emphasis added).

Relating to the conversation with my friend, he was focused on a narrative threatening anyone who contemplated leaving. My perspective was in direct opposition to him. Prior to this time, I tightly grasped the shovel handle and aggressively dug a pit my family and I would be buried in. For their sake, more than my own, I decided to follow the sage advice of Will Rogers:

“If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.”

The Lord’s servant offers a lifeline out of the pit we dug for ourselves. If we have faith and courage to take hold of the lifeline and “awake” and “arise,” seeking promises God made to our Patriarchal Fathers the Lord pulls us from the pit to salvation and exaltation. Perhaps sipping from a cup from a vast ocean of God’s knowledge is the best place to begin.

[1] Type for the latter-day gathering of Israel; “Now I ask all you who belong to this congregation: Have you remembered your fathers’ captivity? Have you also remembered God’s mercy and long-suffering toward them? Have you also carefully considered how He rescued their souls from hell? He changed their hearts; He woke them from a deep sleep and they woke up to God. They were surrounded by darkness; but their souls emerged into the light of God’s everlasting word. They were bound by the chains of death and hell, and faced everlasting destruction. So I ask: Were they destroyed? I answer: No, they were not. I also ask: Were the chains of death broken? Were the chains of hell surrounding them removed? I say: Yes, they were removed. And their souls grew in understanding and they sang of redeeming love. I testify they’re saved. Now I ask: What are the conditions for their salvation? On what basis did they hope for salvation? How were they freed from the chains of death and hell? I’ll tell you the answer: Didn’t my father Alma believe in the words taught by Abinadi? And wasn’t he a holy prophet? Didn’t he speak God’s words and my father Alma believed them? Because of his faith, a powerful change happened in his heart. I testify this is all true. He preached the word to your parents, and changed their hearts as well, and they humbled themselves and trusted the true and living God. Then they were faithful until the end; so they were saved” (C of C Alma 3:2; emphasis added). This outcome is repeated when Israel receives the gospel fullness in the last days.

[2] “And from that time forth there were wars and bloodsheds among them, but the Lord came and dwelled with his people and they dwelled in righteousness. The fear of the Lord was upon all nations, so great was the glory of the Lord which was upon his people. And the Lord blessed the land, and they were blessed upon the mountains and upon the high places, and did flourish. And the Lord called his people Zion because they were of one heart, and of one mind, and dwelled in righteousness, and there was no poor among them. And Enoch continued his preaching in righteousness unto the people of God. And it came to pass in his days that he built a city that was called the city of holiness, even Zion” (RE Genesis 4:14; emphasis added).

[3] “These words have I spoken to you while I am still present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost that the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things, and restore to your memory all truth I have taught to you, and the record of Heaven itself” (RE T&C 171, Testimony of Saint John 10:15; emphasis added).

[4] “. . . The kings will be at a loss for words not knowing what to say because of Him [the servant], for they’ll see what they were never told, and be forced to consider what they never expected. . .” (C of C 3 Nephi 9:10; emphasis added).

[5] “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. [Root of Jesse, (see (RE T&C 129:3) and John the Beloved, (see RE T&C 74:14) And to put on her strength is to put on the authority of the Priesthood [Spirit of Elijah and fullness of the Priesthood (Melchizedek)], which she, Zion, has a right to by lineage; also to return to that Power which she had lost” (RE T&C 129:4; emphasis added).

[6] “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 are exhorted to return to the Lord from where 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 129:5; emphasis added).

[7] “Then the Angel of the Lord told me: The Lamb of God says: After I’ve judged the remnant of the house of Israel (referring to your father’s descendants), after punishing them using the Gentiles, I’ll show mercy to the Gentiles. They’ll make a great many mistakes because of the extremely clear and valuable parts of the Lamb’s gospel that have been removed by that utterly wicked church, which is the mother of harlots. But by My power I’ll bring to light for them [Gentiles] more of My gospel, which will be clear and very valuable, says the Lamb. Indeed, says the Lamb, I’ll personally appear to your descendants so they are able to write many things that I’ll provide to them, which will be plain and very valuable. After your descendants are destroyed and fall away in unbelief, along with your brothers’ descendants, these writings will be hidden and protected, to later be delivered to the Gentiles by the gift and power of the Lamb. My gospel will be written in them, says the Lamb — My rock and My salvation. I’ll bless those who then want to bring about My Zion; they’ll have the gift and power of the Holy Ghost. And if they continue faithful to the end, they’ll be raised up on the last day and saved in the everlasting kingdom of the Lamb. Therefore, any who proclaim peace, the joyful news, how beautiful shall be their presence upon the mountains!” (C of C 1 Nephi 3:23; emphasis added).

[8] “Then the Angel of the Lord told me: The Lamb of God says: After I’ve judged the remnant of the house of Israel (referring to your father’s descendants), after punishing them using the Gentiles, I’ll show mercy to the Gentiles. They’ll make a great many mistakes because of the extremely clear and valuable parts of the Lamb’s gospel that have been removed by that utterly wicked church, which is the mother of harlots. But by My power I’ll bring to light for them more of My gospel, which will be clear and very valuable, says the Lamb. Indeed, says the Lamb, I’ll personally appear to your descendants so they are able to write many things that I’ll provide to them, which will be plain and very valuable. . . ” (C of C 1 Nephi 3:23; emphasis added).

[9] “We consider that God has created man with a mind capable of instruction, and a faculty which may be enlarged in proportion to the heed and diligence given to the light communicated from heaven to the intellect; and that the nearer man approaches perfection, the clearer are his views, and the greater his enjoyments, till he has overcome the evils of his life and lost every desire for sin; and like the ancients, arrives at that point of faith where he is wrapped in the power and glory of his Maker and is caught up to dwell with Him. But we consider that this is a station to which no man ever arrived in a moment: he must have been instructed in the government and laws of that kingdom by proper degrees, until his mind is capable in some measure of comprehending the propriety, justice, equality, and consistency of the same” (TPJS., p.51, emphasis added).

[10] “The glory of God is intelligence, or in other words, light and truth. Light and truth forsake that evil one. Every spirit of man was innocent in the beginning, and God having redeemed man from the Fall, man became again, in their infant state, innocent before God. And that wicked one comes and takes away light and truth, through disobedience, from the children of men, and because of the tradition of their fathers. But I have commanded you to bring up your children in light and truth” (RE T&C 93:11; emphasis added).

“The glory of God is intelligence, or in other words, light and truth (T&C 93:11), and is obtained by obedience to law. The word glory refers to intelligence — or knowledge and understanding. “God says this is His work and [His] glory: to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man (Genesis 1:7) — that mankind returns to His presence and with Him partakes of eternal life and exaltation. Since His glory is intelligence, He shares it with us. Glory is shared intelligence” (A Glossary of Gospel Terms, Glory, second edition, p.129, emphasis added).

[11] “. . . Nevertheless, I saw that the congregation of the Lamb, who were God’s holy ones, were also there throughout the earth; but their presence was small because of the wickedness of the great whore whom I saw. And I saw the great mother of abominations assembled in large numbers all over the earth among all Gentile nations to fight against the Lamb of God. Then I saw the power of the Lamb of God descend upon the holy ones of the Lamb’s congregation and upon the Lord’s covenant people, who were scattered across the earth. They were armed with righteousness and God’s power in great glory” (C of C 1 Nephi 3:28; emphasis added).

[12] ”. . . When you shall make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed; he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul and shall be satisfied; by his knowledge shall my righteous Servant justify many, for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong — because he has poured out his soul unto death, and he was numbered with the transgressors, and he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. . . ” (RE Isaiah 19:3; emphasis added).

[13] ”. . . These two facts do exist — that there are two spirits, one being more intelligent than the other; there shall be another more intelligent than they. I am the Lord, your God; I am more intelligent than they all. . .” (RE T&C 145, Abraham 5:4; emphasis added).

[14] ”When I had said this, the Lord told me: Fools mock, but they will mourn. And My grace is sufficient for the meek, so that they won’t find an excuse in your weaknesses. If people come to Me, I’ll show them their weaknesses. I give people weaknesses so they can be humble. And My grace is sufficient for all people who humble themselves before Me. If they humble themselves before Me and have faith in Me, then I’ll make weak things become strong for them. I’ll show the Gentiles their weaknesses. I’ll show them that faith, hope, and charity lead to Me, the Source of all righteousness” (C of C Ether 5:5; emphasis added).

[15] ” While my father was there in the wilderness, he told us: I’ve had a dream, or in other words, I’ve seen a vision. Because of what I’ve seen, I have reason to praise the Lord about Nephi, and about Sam as well. I have reason to think they will be saved along with many of their descendants. But, Laman and Lemuel, I’m very concerned for you. Indeed, it seemed like I saw a dark and gloomy wilderness. And I saw a man dressed in a white robe who stood before me. He talked to me and said I should follow him. As I followed him, I saw I was in a dark and dreary wasteland. After I had traveled for many hours in darkness, I began to pray to the Lord to help me, because of His many tender mercies.

After I had prayed to the Lord, I saw a large and spacious field. Then I saw a tree with fruit that would make people happy. I went and ate some of the fruit, discovering it was sweet beyond measure, better than all that I had ever tasted before. I noticed its fruit was white, brighter than I had ever seen” (C of C 1 Nephi 2:7-8; emphasis added).

[16] ” 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 139:6; emphasis added).

[17] ” Ask and it shall be given unto you, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you; for everyone that asketh, receiveth, and he that seeketh, findeth, and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened (3 Nephi 6:7). “Just after the caution to not give holy things to the unworthy, Christ reminds all of their obligation to ask, seek, and knock. If you will ask, it will be given to you. If you seek, you will find it. If you knock, things will be opened to you. But be careful not to give what is holy to the unworthy. These ideas are related in two ways: First, if you want what is holy, then stop being a dog or a swine. Ask, seek, and knock. Second, if you are one who is qualified and will receive holy things by your willingness to be repentant, then press forward by asking, seeking, and knocking. If you do, the things which are most holy will be given. For everyone that asketh, receiveth. Really? Everyone? Even you? That is what Christ is saying. However, the manner in which you will receive is illustrated by ‘The Missing Virtue’ in Ten Parables.¹ Meaning that the effort to receive what you have asked the Lord could take nearly two decades, and a great deal of internal changing before you acquire what you lack. Receiving may include not only what you’ve asked to receive, but also everything you do not have in order to finally qualify to receive what you seek. What do you associate with findeth? Does it suggest to you active effort, or passive receipt? To find something you are missing (even a small thing) what must you do? If searching is required to locate, then what do you suppose the Lord is implying by the word findeth? What does it mean that it shall be opened? Does opening imply merely a view? Does it suggest also entering in? If it opens to view [awake], and you then fail to enter in [don’t arise], has opening been worthwhile? Has anything been accomplished? Does it suggest that there is activity required of someone who has something opened unto them? It is my view that the words chosen all imply a burden upon the one who asks, seeks, and knocks. They are not entitled to anything just by speaking the words. They must make the effort to search into and contemplate the things they seek. Then they must change and repent of everything amiss in their lives that is revealed to them. This is to be done before they can see what is to be shown to them. If, for example, a person wants to see the other side of the mountain, they can ask daily for a view to be opened to them without ever seeing the other side. But if the Lord prompts them to take the path to the top, the Lord has given them the means to find and have opened to them the very thing they seek. Provided, of course, they are willing to walk in the path to the top of the mountain. When they remain on the valley floor, asking or demanding more, they are not really asking, seeking, and knocking. They are irritating and ungrateful. The Lord’s small means are capable of taking the one who seeks to the very thing they desire (Alma 17:8). But without cooperation with Him they can receive nothing. The Lord’s small means are how great things are brought to pass (1 Nephi 5:8). But for some people the Lord’s answers are never enough. However, when the humble who ask, seek, and knock follow Him in these small means, they will eventually stand in His presence and partake of eternal life. But not until they have done as all others have done before them.”

Mankind is impatient, wanting quickly what can sometimes only be obtained in patience. Human nature is to rush, but development requires patience. Some things require time and persistence to prepare one for the blessings they seek. Joseph remarked: The things of God are of deep import, and time, and experience, and careful and ponderous and solemn thoughts can only find them out (T&C 138:18). This is the way of God. It is adapted to give all what they lack, even if they are unaware of what they lack. The Father always intends to give to those who ask, seek, and knock, just as Christ explained; the Father knows much more how to give good things to them that ask (3 Nephi 6:8). He will not merely give the thing requested. He will add to it such things as are needed to prepare them to be received. “This, then, is the process: We ask. Without a request, the laws governing things prevent bestowal. We can’t be given until first we ask. When we have asked, the Father will give. He will give every good gift needed, and not just what has been asked (3 Nephi 6:8). If there is (as is almost always the case) a gulf between what you have asked of Him and your capacity to receive it, then He will set about giving you every needful thing to enable you to receive. If you ask for strength, He will provide you with that experience necessary to develop the strength you seek. If you seek for patience you will be given Divinely ordained experiences by Him that are calculated to develop in you what you have sought. He knows you and knows what you need. Whatever is asked of Him, He will set about to ordain. It will come in a perfectly natural progression. It will occur in accordance with both natural and eternal law. If you fight against it, you prolong the time when you will receive what you have asked of Him. If you cooperate, it will flow unto you without compulsory means in a natural progression (T&C 139:6). If you do not ask, it will not be given. If you do not seek, you cannot possibly find. If you are unwilling to knock, the door will remain shut to you. But if you do these things, then you must cooperate with Him as He prepares you to receive what He will bestow. After asking, seeking, and knocking, then a process is invoked in which the Father prepares you to receive. You will receive as soon as He can prepare you by experience, by careful, thoughtful, ponderous thought through time and experiences adapted to give you what is asked. When, at last, you have been adequately prepared, you will have gone through exactly what every other soul before you has experienced to prepare them. There are no shortcuts. There are no exceptions. It is in accordance with laws ordained before the foundation of the world. Everyone who has obtained what you seek will have done so in conformity with the very same laws. The Father will work with you to prepare you to receive what you seek. This is a reaffirmation by Christ of the process and the Father’s role in bringing it to pass. If you trust Him, trust also His Father’s deliverance of you. You will be delivered. You will receive from Him who knows how to bestow every good gift what you have asked of Him” (A Glossary of Gospel Terms, Ask, Seek, Knock, second edition, pp.22-25; emphasis added).

[18] ” And there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias, and to him the Lord said in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. And the Lord said unto him, Arise and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus; for behold, he prays, and has seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him that he might receive his sight. Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on your name. But the Lord said unto him, Go your way, for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel; for I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake. And Ananias went his way and entered into the house, and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto you in the way as you came, has sent me, that you might receive your sight and be filled with the holy ghost. And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received sight immediately, and arose, and was baptized. And when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples who were at Damascus” (RE Acts 5:9; emphasis added).

[19] ” My fathers having turned from their righteousness, and from the holy commandments which the Lord, their God, had given unto them, unto the worshipping of the gods of the heathens, utterly refused to hearken to my voice. For their hearts were set to do evil, and were wholly turned to the god of Elkkener, and the god of Zibnah, and the god of Mahmackrah, and the god of Koash, and the god of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. Therefore, they turned their hearts to the sacrifice of the heathen in offering up their children unto their dumb idols, and hearkened not unto my voice, but endeavored to take away my life by the hand of the priest of Elkkener; the priest of Elkkener was also the priest of Pharaoh” (RE T&C 145, Abraham 1:2; emphasis added).

[20] The correction from Moroni to Nephi is in accordance with Joseph Smith’s account in the Joseph Smith Papers.

Scott Roderick

12/17/25

The End Time Servant Part 2.pdf

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