The Father’s Path - Part 1 : “No man cometh to the Father but by me”

          In the 9^th chapter of John Restoration Edition, Jesus responds to Peter’s question: “Where are you going?” The Savior explains to His disciples:

“. . .Where I go, you cannot follow me now, but you shall follow me afterward. . .” (RE John 9:6; emphasis added).

The Savior continues His explanation saying the Father’s kingdom has “many mansions” and He goes to prepare places for His disciples. The same conversation in the Testimony of Saint John has a more complete response to Peter’s question:

“Do not allow your heart to be troubled. You are devoted to God and are also devoted to me. In the journey through my Father’s realms are many stages with temporary abodes. If it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare an abode [residence] for your upward journey. And when I arise [Resurrection], I will prepare places for you [to reside as you ascend], but I will be your companion again and visit each of you, so that where I travel, you may journey to also. [1] And the path I follow upward you know, and the way of ascent you also know. Thomas said to him, Lord, we don’t know where you are going; how can we know the way? You have not told us. Jesus said to him, I am the way, the record of the truth, and the means for Eternal lives, worlds without end: no man comes to the Throne of the Father without me. If you follow me, you will come to the Father’s Throne through me and will thereafter be like him forever.

Philip said to him, Lord, reveal to us the Father and that will be all we ask. Jesus responded to him, Have I been with you this long and you still do not yet know who I am, Philip? Any who see me has seen my Father. [2] How can you ask, Reveal to us the Father? Do you understand that I am in the Father, and the Father is in me? Do you understand that the words that I speak to you came from the Father, who is one with me? Nothing I have done is mine. Understand that the Father, who is one with me, is to be given credit for all I have done or will do. Believe me that I am one with the Father, and the Father is one with me; but if you do not, at least believe through these works. In the name of Father Ahman I declare to you, the individual who trusts me, what I have accomplished he will also. Followers will also accomplish the greater works I do next. Followers will also finish the path, as I am now concluding, at the place my Father dwells. As he helps me, I will help you, and you will accomplish what I have along with the greater sacrifice I have yet to finish. And whatever you shall ask in my name, I will answer, so that the Father may be glorified by the honor shown his Son. If you shall ask any thing in my name, I will answer.

If you love me, stand ready, watching for every communication I will send to you. Remember that I will ask the Father, and he will provide to you another Comforter [Holy Ghost], that he may be by your side endlessly. You will obtain the record of Heaven [their record prior to mortality], the truth of all things which is denied to the world because the world refuses my Father, and therefore they do not know him. But you know him, for he is with you, and shall provide answers to guide you. I will not leave you comfortless. I will stand at your side also.

Yet a little while, and the world will no longer see me, but you will not lose sight of me because I give life, and you shall share in endless lives. You will know that I and the Father are one, and I am one with you, and you are one with me. He that treasures my teachings, and stands ready, watching for every communication I send him, is he who shows love for me. To those who show love for me, my Father will show love to them, and I love all those, and I will personally minister to them.

Judas (not Iscariot), asked, Lord, how is it you will manifest yourself to us, but not to the world? Jesus answered and said to him, If a man loves me, he will stand ready, watching for every communication I will send to him; and my Father will also love him, and we will come visit him, and continually abide by his side.

Whoever claims to love me but does not stand ready, watching for every communication I will send, indeed does not love me. These teachings are not from me, but come from the Father who sent me” (RE T&C 171, Testimony of Saint John 10:9-14; emphasis added).

The modern Gentile world is a world of sound bites. We are inclined to condense content into the smallest common denominator, presuming whatever limited content we digest makes us sufficiently informed on a matter. Expediency and economy are the coin of the realm. Anything requiring deep contemplation is summarily dismissed in favor of broader volumes of shallow content. [3] This practice is diametrically opposed to Joseph Smith’s teachings of what the Lord requires of His disciples.

“A fanciful and flowery and heated imagination beware of; because the things of God are of deep import; and time, and experience, and careful and ponderous and solemn thoughts can only find them out. Thy mind, O man! if thou wilt lead a soul unto salvation, must stretch as high as the utmost heavens, and search into and contemplate the darkest abyss, and the broad expanse of eternity—thou must commune with God. How much more dignified and noble are the thoughts of God, than the vain imaginations of the human heart! None but fools will trifle with the souls of men” (Smith Jr., Joseph. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith (pp. 153-154, emphasis added). (Function). Kindle Edition).

Some reduce the substance of modern Christianity to phrases like, “All Christianity can be condensed to being merciful and harmless.” Others say, “All I have to do is believe, and I will be saved.” Still another: The gospel of Jesus Christ is condensed in “God is love.” There are countless examples expressing numerous requirements to qualify as Christ’s disciples. Truthfully, what Jesus accomplished and taught is impossible for mortal man to comprehend in totality without His revelations. [4]

          Too many reduce Christianity to a series of low hurdles easily cleared while so much is required of Jesus. This “cliff notes” approach is dismissive of the depth of His sacrifice. Embracing a condensed version of Christianity should be insulting to our intellect. It pays little more than lip service to His suffering, pain, and example. Joseph Smith attributes such thinking to “a fanciful and flowery and heated imagination.” Common sense suggests the extraordinary price paid by the Savior for our sins and incomprehensible benefits derived by us from His self-less acts requires much more of us. More than clearing metaphorical six-inch intellectual hurdles in mortality. [5]

Jesus taught in parables before the multitudes, only to delve more deeply into the same content with His disciples privately. [6] In this passage from the Testimony of Saint John the Savior invites us to engage in “careful and ponderous and solemn thoughts” as He prepares His disciples for His great sacrificial suffering and death.

There is a Path for All to Trod

          The Savior explains to Peter and the disciples that He has been and continues on a precise path. The path consists of specific requirements leading to an eventual destination and outcome.

“The steps I take next on the path, you will not be taking now, but you will take those steps later on as you travel the same path” (RE T&C 171 Testimony of Saint John 10:8; emphasis added).

The path Jesus refers to is identified later in John the Beloved’s record:

“Now, therefore, know that Jesus is the Messiah, the Walker in the Path who has proven for evermore that Father Ahman sent Him into the world to prove His Father’s path” (RE T&C 171 Testimony of Saint John 12:21; emphasis added).

The path referred to by the Savior is “the Father’s path.” This path has a dual meaning. It is the only path leading to where the Father dwells in everlasting burnings. [7] It can only be walked with Christ. [8] The learning process involves pursuing required steps arriving where the Father resides. Continuing the path involves purifying and sanctifying ourselves, transforming mankind precisely into His Father’s image and attributes forever. To enter the realm of the sanctified one must be sanctified or removed. [9] They must become godly to reside with God. [10] In a word, perfect. [11]

          In the future His disciples, then and now embark on an upward journey. It involves the Savior leading our ascension to the Father as the Father led His Son. The Son is the only one qualified because of His knowledge [precepts] and [sad] experience. Without Him, (sacrificially and experientially) there is no ascension or transformation for mankind.

Should we follow the Savior on the Father’s path, our journey involves passing through “realms,” “stages,” and “temporary abodes.” It is a path ascending to the throne of the Father. Each level involves experiencing “Eternal lives,” and “worlds without end.” Experiencing Eternal lives [plural] and endless worlds [plural] teaches us through “precept and sad experience.” [12] Following the Father’s path transforms us into the images of the Father and Son of God. [13]

“Even what we envision as the highest heaven [Celestial], is a condescension for those who sit enthroned, able to dwell in everlasting burnings. Else why in section 130 would you be given a white stone that reveals things that pertains to “a higher order of kingdoms,” when you are in the Celestial Kingdom? This is because where you are now, at this moment, in this meeting, hearing my voice in this room today, is about halfway to where you need to grow. It has been almost infinite in the time that has been required to get you here today. Much more will be required before you will arrive at the point at which you will be precisely as Christ became. I might add where Christ has arisen to dwell in everlasting burnings is about halfway to where things ultimately can go in this “higher order of kingdoms” spoken of in Section 130. You say it's necessary in this condition to have a physical body in order to come down here and perform, and you say that rightly. But there are other places beyond this. There are places where, in everlasting glory, the personages dwelling there are of “spirit, glory, and power” like The Father” [14] (Christ: The Prototype of the Saved Man, Denver Snuffer Jr., pp.18-19; emphasis added).

Mankind are eternal beings from before the beginning [pre-mortality] of this earth. [15] The path of the Father is the process by which God ascended to embody all He is in majesty and glory. The Savior, at the direction of the Father, was guided by the Father on the same path leading to His transformation from intelligence to exalted Being. Because “time is only measured unto men,” [16] it is inconceivable for mortal man to comprehend the length of the process because of the constraints of time in mortality. In the economy of God, the amount of time is irrelevant, only the outcome matters. We experienced nearly a finite number of lives to transform ourselves halfway to where Christ has attained. He is halfway to where He will eventually arrive to where the Father is. The Savior’s suffering paid the “eternal” price providing us endless opportunities for progression and transformation into His image for our benefit. His perfect Atonement for mankind ultimately ends in perfecting us over virtually endless periods involving journeys through “realms,” “stages,” and “temporary abodes.” Each level is uniquely designed to provide us with instruction by “precept” and “sad experience” [17] for our learning and comprehension.

“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 [“a portion” (RE T&C 86:4)] of comprehending the propriety, justice, equality, and consistency of the same. . . it is necessary for men to receive an understanding concerning the laws of the heavenly kingdom, before they are permitted to enter it: we mean the celestial glory. So dissimilar are the governments of men, and so divers are their laws, from the government and laws of heaven, that a man, for instance, hearing that there was a country on this globe called the United States of North America, could take his journey to this place without first learning the laws of governments; but the conditions of God's kingdom are such, that all who are made partakers of that glory, are under the necessity of learning something respecting it previous to their entering into it. . .” (Smith Jr., Joseph. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith (p. 55-56, emphasis added). (Function). Kindle Edition).

“When you climb up a ladder, you must begin at the bottom, and ascend step by step, until you arrive at the top; and so it is with the principles of the Gospel—you must begin with the first, and go on until you learn all the principles of exaltation. But it will be a great while after you have passed through the veil before you will have learned them. It is not all to be comprehended in this world; it will be a great work to learn our salvation and exaltation even beyond the grave” (Smith Jr., Joseph. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith (p. 398, emphasis added). (Function). Kindle Edition.

Following the Savior’s walk on the Father’s path leading mankind on an upward progression to where the Father dwells. Jesus is the only one to successfully accomplish this “upward journey” and the only one capable of laying the foundation for guiding us in accomplishing the same. It is incumbent upon us to learn something about the kingdoms of God prior to entering them. We can only become “partakers of His glory” by degrees, grace for grace then grace to grace, precept upon precept. Our ascension is more than journeying to a destination. Our journey with the Lord instructs and transforms us. We become partakers of His glory as we ascend through each level.

          This process involves a great deal more than reciting hollow platitudes as evidence of our discipleship. Examining the Savior’s interactions with His disciples prior to Gethsemane, Golgotha, and His tomb becomes more purposeful. The Testimony of Saint John demonstrates the Lord’s depth of candor as His walk on the Father’s path leads Him to suffering pain and death for the benefit of all.

The Savior’s Instructions to His Disciples

          Jesus explains to His disciples He is leaving to prepare “abodes” or temporary places of residence for them following His death and resurrection. His words of comfort assure them of their upward journey ahead.

“Do not allow your heart to be troubled. You are devoted to God and are also devoted to me. In the journey through my Father’s realms are many stages with temporary abodes. If it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare an abode for your upward journey”

God intends for all to pursue an upward journey involving realms, stages and temporary abodes. Mortality represents one of many “temporary abodes” we have and will experience. Temporary abodes begin with birth, broad experiences, learning, and advancement to other realms and stages. Each designed to offer added light and experience uniquely tailored to our needs. They teach through precept and sad experience.

          The categories represent God’s ability to accommodate His children in their gradual advancement toward perfection. Our pace of progression is a function of our diligence and heed in choosing greater light and knowledge over rejecting it. The first [heed and diligence] leading to faster spiritual progression and the opposite brings regression and darkness.

“And I now give unto you a commandment to beware concerning yourselves, to give diligent heed to the words of eternal life, for you shall live by every word that proceeds forth from the mouth of God [this commandment is literal and precise. [18] Christ literally lived His Father’s commandments to the point of being called the “Word.” We are required to do the same over eons of time, “which [time] is only measured unto men” [19]]. For the word of the Lord is truth, and whatever is truth is light, and whatever is light is spirit, even the spirit of Jesus Christ. And the spirit gives light to every man that comes into the world, and the spirit enlightens every man through the world that hearkens to the voice of the spirit, and everyone that hearkens to the voice of the spirit comes unto God, even the Father. And the Father teaches him of the covenant which the Father has renewed and confirmed upon you, which is confirmed upon you for your sakes, and not for yours only, but for the sake of the whole world.

And the whole world lies in sin and groans under darkness and under the bondage of sin, and by this you may know they are under the bondage of sin, because they come not unto me, for whoever comes not unto me is under the bondage of sin. And whoever receives not my voice is not acquainted with my voice and is not of me. And by this you may know the righteous from the wicked, and that the whole world groans under sin and darkness, even now” (RE T&C 82:18-19; emphasis added).

Mankind is designed as receptacles of truth, light, or the spirit of Jesus Christ. Like a dimmer switch controlling light in a room, the degree of light we possess is self-determining according to the “diligent heed we give to the words of eternal life.”

          Life presents choices to all. The choices may be categorized into two outcomes: choices that edify [add light] and choices that don’t:

“Truly I say unto you, he that is ordained of me [called] and sent forth to preach [chosen] the word of truth by the Comforter, in the spirit of truth [Christ’s Spirit], does he preach it by the spirit of truth or some other way? And if by some other way, it is not of God. And again, he that receives the word of truth, does he receive it by the spirit of truth or some other way? If it be some other way, it is not of God. 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” [20] (RE T&C 36:4; emphasis added).

When Thomas says to the Lord, “We don’t know where you are going; how can we know the way? You have not told us.” Jesus replies, “I am the way [meaning He walks the Father’s path precisely as directed by the Father], the record of truth [the Savior’s exactness in doing as the Father directs means His life and precepts encompass “all truth”], the means for Eternal lives [capitalization of “Eternal” acts as a synonym for the “Father’s” lives. [21] Eternal lives mean you “bring to pass the immortality and eternal life” of yourself, thereafter assisting others in doing the same, worlds without end [worlds without end refers to experiencing as many cycles as necessary to attain perfection (gathering light, truth, spirit) by creating opportunities for those following after]: no man comes to the Throne of the Father without me [the Savior’s sacrifice and direction is essential to proceeding on the Father’s path to His presence]. If you follow me [until you achieve the same exactness as the Savior with the Father] [22], you will come to the Father’s Throne through me [Christ’s direction] and will thereafter be like him forever [living as the Father and Son, bringing to pass the immortality and Eternal lives of man endlessly].”

          God gave us agency to choose. Beginning at the age of accountability we are responsible for our choices between things adding light that are edifying and those causing light to withdraw from us. The first brings joy to those sharing light with those receiving it. Alternatively, choosing things not edifying, blind and withdraw from us truth. The consequences are that we suffer despair and hopelessness. These things are not of God and withdraw light from us. [23] This is how the “accuser” binds us in metaphorical chains of sin. [24]

          For us to walk the Father’s path we must actively seek light, truth and spirit, even the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Eventually, standing as sentinels in search of truth and light, the Son accompanies and directs us on the Father’s path.

[1] “The word that Isaiah, the son of Amoz, saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem; and it shall come to pass in the last days, when the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills, and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, and he will teach us of his ways and we will walk in his paths. For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. And he [the Lord] shall judge among the nations and shall rebuke many people. And they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore” (RE Isaiah 1:5; emphasis added).

[2] “God, who at sundry times and in diverse manners spoke in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he has appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds, who — being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his [the Father’s] person, and upholding all things by the word of his power — when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high, being made so much better than the angels, as he has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they” (RE Hebrews 1:1; emphasis added).

[3] “The Christian churches had the Bible, and the Bible was how they

learned of Christ. But they used the scriptures to teach for doctrines the

commandments of men, because they were unable to penetrate the

meaning. They substituted their own doctrines in place of the Lord’s.

This led to imposing commandments of men. This was a pantomime of

godliness, inauthentic, artificial, a mere imitation. It was not godliness

itself. However, all of their creeds were based in scripture. Other

Christian sects have opposed the entire restoration by claiming that

Mormonism was non-Biblical and therefore heretical. God’s work has

always been attacked by using, quoting, and employing scripture. We

attack one another using scripture to denounce and condemn without any

appreciation of the irony involved.

I have taught against the idea of establishing a church, hierarchy, office, or

any position that commands respect. The adversary has developed the

perfect mousetrap to ensnare the entirety of all social institutions by

corrupting the head. That simple plan for corruption has worked to

imprison, subjugate, control and enslave both the bodies and minds of

mankind ever since Cain introduced the adversary’s system of gaining

power. It is a trap that has turned financial, social, fraternal and religious

organizations into tools to mislead and entrap the minds and souls of

men. In the most benign form, they just distract from salvation through

Jesus Christ into some other good cause. In the most malignant form, they enforce wickedness and subjugation on the controlled population. The single objective is to prevent salvation, and the effect for this world is to preclude Zion.

Look at the churches now in existence. Are they not ALL wrong? If not,

then tell me which one is without corruption. The LDS church has

adopted the false creed that the “brethren cannot lead you astray.” Of all

the creeds that are an abomination in God’s sight, perhaps this one is the

most invidious. It has led very good people to uncritically follow men who

have become corrupted by the cares of this world. Church hierarchies

focus on the needs of the institution which has defeated the central role of

Jesus Christ. The leaders of Christian denominations are not necessarily

(or all) corrupt in the sense that they mean to do evil; but they accomplish

nothing but evil when they follow an institution that teaches doctrines of

men and attempt to gain popularity. Adding, subtracting, altering in any

material way the teachings of Jesus Christ is all that is needed to interfere

with the salvation of men’s souls. Church institutions all contain some

measure of Christ’s Gospel. Correspondingly, they all do some good. But

they also have not, will not, and indeed cannot bring Zion.

Today every church is filled with professors who are all corrupt. Their

corruption varies in degree, but anything less than a living, covenant-based

relationship with God is necessarily corrupt. They all profess the words

spoken by Christ, but do not perform His works. It makes them just like

the hypocrites, scribes, and Pharisees about whom Christ said: “Woe unto

you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for you traverse sea and land to

make one convert, and when he is made, you make him twofold more the

child of hell than he was before — like unto yourselves.” There is

goodness in churches, and that adds to their mischief. Where can we

learn directly from heaven? Where can we find a witness who has peered

into the seven heavens? Who has passed the sentinels that guard the way?

Joseph Smith mentioned in his letter of 11 September 1842, “Michael the

archangel, the voice of Gabriel, and of Raphael, and of diverse angels

from Michael, or Adam, down to the present time, all declaring each one:

Their dispensation, their rights, their keys, their honors, their majesty and

glory, and the power of their Priesthood.” (T&C 151:15-16.) That passing

mention I believe is related to his reported statement of being caught up

to the seventh heaven. Ask yourself; who has passed the sentinel [Patriarchal Fathers] angels

who guard the way? Those who guard the way are likely the same souls

who served while they were mortal in a role where they authored God’s

words that later became our scriptures. . . Godliness humbly

approaches the Almighty in meekness, and shows compassion on their

fellow man. Christ’s example of godliness was described to us in a recent

revelation: “[He] chose to not dispute. When the definition was given, it

was accompanied by the realization the Lord could have disputed every

day of His life with someone. He deliberately chose to not contend. He

was not an argumentative personality.” (T&C 174:1-2.) We are not able to

discuss or resolve issues without becoming argumentative, contentious,

and emotionally distressed. Emotional immaturity keeps us stuck wrongly

believing that discussion, including passionate discussion, is a sin.” (The Perfect Mousetrap, Denver Snuffer Jr., p.7-10; emphasis added).

[4] “And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen” (RE John 11:13; emphasis added).

“In addition to this account, many other things were done by Jesus, which, if they were all written, that library would fill the entire cosmos. Amen” (RE T&C 171, Testimony of Saint John 12:22; emphasis added).

“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. . .” (CofC 3 Nephi 12:1).

[5] “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 [affirms man’s potential to do so], 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 [as did the Savior]; 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. . .” (Smith Jr., Joseph. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith (pp. 55-56; emphasis added). (Function). Kindle Edition.

[6] “His disciples said unto him, Very good, now you are making it clear and not using a riddle. We are certain that you did come from the Father and were sent by him. Jesus answered them, At this moment you are truly committed in this belief, but the time is quickly upon us when you will scatter in fear and leave me alone to face the adversary. Even without you I will never be alone, because the Father remains with me in every trial here. I tell you this beforehand so you will be reassured. In this world there are difficult trials to be faced by my followers, but those who remain devoted will, like me, finish the path and experience the fullness of joy” (RE T&C 171, Testimony of Saint John 10:29; emphasis added).

True disciples of Jesus Christ are those committed to following Him on the Father’s path to the finish. The path involves facing “difficult trials” that cannot be ignored or rationalized away.

[7] “These are the first principles of consolation. How consoling to the mourners when they are called to part with a husband, wife, father, mother, child, or dear relative, to know that, although the earthly tabernacle is laid down and dissolved, they shall rise again to dwell in everlasting burnings in immortal glory, not to sorrow, suffer, or die any more; but they shall be heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ. What is it? To inherit the same power, the same glory and the same exaltation, until you arrive at the station of a God, and ascend the throne of eternal power, the same as those who have gone before. What did Jesus do? Why; I do the things I saw my Father do when worlds came rolling into existence. My Father worked out his kingdom with fear and trembling, and I must do the same; and when I get my kingdom, I shall present it to my Father, so that he may obtain kingdom upon kingdom, and it will exalt him in glory. He will then take a higher exaltation, and I will take his place, and thereby become exalted myself. So that Jesus treads in the tracks of his Father, and inherits what God did before; and God is thus glorified and exalted in the salvation and exaltation of all his children. It is plain beyond disputation, and you thus learn some of the first principles of the Gospel, about which so much hath been said” (Smith Jr., Joseph. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith (pp. 397-398, emphasis added). (Function). Kindle Edition).

[8] “. . .no man comes to the Throne of the Father without me. If you follow me, you will come to the Father’s Throne through me and will thereafter be like him forever” (RE T&C 171 Testimony of Saint John 10:9; emphasis added).

[9] “They also asked me: Does this mean the body’s torment in the days of mortality, or does it mean the spirit’s final state following the death of the earthly body, or does it speak of physical things? I told them it represented both physical and spiritual things; that the time would come when they would be judged for what they did, for the things they did while on earth during their days of mortal life. Therefore if they were to die in their wickedness, they would have to be outcast from spiritual things involving righteousness. They would certainly be brought to stand before God to be judged for what they did, and if the things they did involved filthy thoughts and behavior, they’ll certainly be filthy. And if they’re filthy, it’s impossible for them to live in God’s kingdom; if they did, God’s kingdom would have to be filthy as well. But I tell you God’s kingdom isn’t filthy, and no unclean thing can enter God’s kingdom. So there has to be a place of filthiness prepared for the filthy. There is such a place prepared — that awful hell I’ve spoken about — and the accuser is at the foundation of it. So the final state of a person’s soul is to live in God’s kingdom or to be thrown out because of the justice I’ve explained to you. So the wicked are separated from the righteous and from the tree of life, whose fruit is the most valuable and desirable of any fruit and the greatest of all God’s gifts. This is how I spoke to my brothers. Amen” (CofC 1 Nephi 4:6; emphasis added).

[10] “Jesus spoke these words, and lifted up his eyes to Heaven and said, Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son also may glorify you, as you have given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as you have given him. And this is life eternal: that they might know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I have glorified you on the earth. I have finished the work which you gave me to do. And now, O Father, glorify me with your own self with the glory which I had with you before the world was” (RE John 9:19; emphasis added).

[11] “Therefore I want you to be perfect, just as I or your Father who is in heaven is perfect” (CofC 3 Nephi 5:31; emphasis added).

[12] “Again, let the Twelve and all Saints be willing to confess all their sins, and not keep back a part; and let the Twelve be humble, and not be exalted, and beware of pride, and not seek to excel one above another, but act for each other's good, and pray for one another, and honor our brother or make honorable mention of his name, and not backbite and devour our brother. Why will not man learn wisdom by precept at this late age of the world, when we have such a cloud of witnesses and examples before us, and not be obliged to learn by sad experience everything we know. Must the new ones [Apostles] that are chosen to fill the places of those that are fallen, of the quorum of the Twelve, begin to exalt themselves, until they exalt themselves so high that they will soon tumble over and have a great fall, and go wallowing through the mud and mire and darkness, Judas-like, to the buffetings of Satan, as several of the quorum have done, or will they learn wisdom and be wise? O God! give them wisdom, and keep them humble, I pray (Smith Jr., Joseph. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith (pp. 174-175, emphasis added). (Function). Kindle Edition.

“. . .We are obligated to heed the Lord. We have two choices: We either learn by precept OR by sad

experience. If we learn by precept, then we listen, and we follow the Lord. But when we

reject the Lord’s counsel and ignore His warning, then we learn through sad experience.

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.11; emphasis added).

[13] “I am like a huge, rough stone rolling down from a high mountain; and the only polishing I get is when some corner gets rubbed off by coming in contact with something else, striking with accelerated force against religious bigotry, priest-craft, lawyer-craft, doctor-craft, lying editors, suborned judges and jurors, and the authority of perjured executives, backed by mobs, blasphemers, licentious and corrupt men and women—all hell knocking off a corner here and a corner there. Thus I will become a smooth and polished shaft in the quiver of the Almighty, who will give me dominion over all and every one of them, when their refuge of lies shall fail, and their hiding place shall be destroyed, while these smooth-polished stones with which I come in contact become marred” (Smith Jr., Joseph. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith (p. 346). (Function). Kindle Edition.

“President Joseph Smith remarked—"I am a rough stone. The sound of the hammer and chisel was never heard on me until the Lord took me in hand. I desire the learning and wisdom of heaven alone. I have not the least idea, if Christ should come to the earth and preach such rough things as He preached to the Jews, but that this generation would reject Him for being so rough" (Smith Jr., Joseph. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith (p. 351; emphasis added). (Function). Kindle Edition.

“If a person is meek and humble in heart and confesses by the power of the Holy Ghost that Jesus is the Christ, they must have charity. Because if they don’t have charity, they’re nothing; so they must have charity. Charity is long-suffering and kind; it doesn’t envy or brag; it doesn’t insist on its own way; it isn’t easily angered; it doesn’t keep track of wrongs; it takes no pleasure in evil, but rejoices in the truth; it patiently bears all things, always believes, always hopes, and always endures. So, my dear people, if you don’t have charity, you’re nothing, since charity never fails. Therefore hold firmly to charity, which is the greatest of all. Because everything will pass away; but charity is Christ’s pure love, and it endures forever. Those who are found to possess it on the last day, it will go well with them. So, my dear people, pray earnestly to the Father so you can be filled with this love that He’s freely given to all who are true followers of His Son Jesus Christ, so you can become the sons and daughters of God, so when He appears, we’ll be like Him and we’ll see and comprehend Him, so we can have this hope, so we can be purified, just as He is pure. Amen” (CofC Moroni 7:9; emphasis added).

[14] “There are two personages who constitute the great matchless, governing, and supreme power over all things — by whom all things were created and made, that are created and made, whether visible or invisible, whether in Heaven, on earth, or in the earth, under the earth, or throughout the immensity of space — they are the Father and the Son: the Father being a personage of spirit, glory, and power: possessing all perfection and fullness; the Son, who was in the bosom of the Father, a personage of tabernacle, made or fashioned like unto man, or being in the form and likeness of man, or rather, man was formed after his likeness and in his image — he is also the express image and likeness of the personage of the Father, possessing all the fullness of the Father, or the same fullness with the Father, being begotten of him, and was ordained from before the foundation of the world to be a propitiation for the sins of all those who should believe on his name. . .” (RE T&C 110, Lectures on Faith 5:2; emphasis added).

[15] “Man was also in the beginning with God. Intelligence, or the light of truth, was not created or made, neither indeed can be [Intelligence (a noun) has always existed and is Eternal]. All truth is independent in that sphere in which God has placed it to act for itself, as all intelligence also; otherwise, there is no existence. Behold, here is the agency of man, and here is the condemnation of man, because that which was from the beginning [pre-mortality] is plainly manifest unto them, and they receive not the light, and every man whose spirit receives not the light is under condemnation. For man is spirit, the elements are eternal, and spirit [man] and element [physical body], inseparably connected [resurrection], receive a fullness of joy; and when separated [by death], man cannot receive a fullness of joy. The elements [physical, material] are the tabernacle of God [body], yea, man [spirit and element] is the tabernacle of God, even temples, and whatever temple is defiled [corruption of the spirit and body], God shall destroy that temple” (RE T&C 93:10; emphasis added).

[16] “Now there’s necessarily a period of time between the time of death and the time of the resurrection. Now I wanted to know about what becomes of the spirits of mankind from this time of death to the time appointed for the resurrection. Now whether there’s more than one time appointed for people to rise, it doesn’t matter, because everyone doesn’t die at once, and that doesn’t matter. Everything is as one day with God, and time is only measured to mankind. Therefore there’s a time appointed to people when they will rise from the dead; and there’s a period of time between the time of death and the resurrection” (CofC Alma 19:5; emphasis added).

“. . .Alma replied: This is what I was about to explain. We see that Adam fell by eating the forbidden fruit, according to God’s word. We see because of his fall all mankind became lost and fallen. Now if it had been possible for Adam to have then eaten the fruit of the tree of life, there would be no death and God’s word would have been empty, making God a liar, since He said: If you eat, you will certainly die. And death has come upon mankind, the death mentioned by Amulek, which is the temporal [mortality] death. Nevertheless, mankind is given time to repent. Therefore this life has become a probationary state, a time to prepare to come face to face with God. It’s a time to prepare for the endless state [where there is no designated time and mankind’s progression may continue forever, “endlessly” if they repent] we talked about, which is after the resurrection of the dead. Now if it weren’t for the plan of redemption established at the foundation of creation, there wouldn’t be any resurrection of the dead. But there is a plan of redemption that provides the resurrection of the dead we mentioned” (CofC Alma 9:6; emphasis added).

[17] “Ever keep in exercise the principle of mercy, and be ready to forgive our brother on the first intimations of repentance, and asking forgiveness; and should we even forgive our brother, or even our enemy, before he repent or ask forgiveness, our heavenly Father would be equally as merciful unto us. Again, let the Twelve and all Saints be willing to confess all their sins, and not keep back a part; and let the Twelve be humble, and not be exalted, and beware of pride, and not seek to excel one above another, but act for each other's good, and pray for one another, and honor our brother or make honorable mention of his name, and not backbite and devour our brother. Why will not man learn wisdom by precept at this late age of the world, when we have such a cloud of witnesses and examples before us, and not be obliged to learn by sad experience everything we know. Must the new ones that are chosen to fill the places of those that are fallen, of the quorum of the Twelve, begin to exalt themselves, until they exalt themselves so high that they will soon tumble over and have a great fall, and go wallowing through the mud and mire and darkness, Judas-like, to the buffetings of Satan, as several of the quorum have done, or will they learn wisdom and be wise? O God! give them wisdom, and keep them humble, I pray” (Smith Jr., Joseph. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith (pp. 174-175; emphasis added). (Function). Kindle Edition).

[18] “It is scarcely necessary here to observe what we have previously noticed, that the glory which the Father and the Son have is because they are just and holy beings, and that if they were lacking in one attribute or perfection which they have, the glory which they have never could be enjoyed by them, for it requires them to be precisely what they are in order to enjoy it. And if the Savior gives this glory to any others, he must do it in the very way set forth in his prayer to his Father: by making them one with him as he and the Father are one. In so doing he would give them the glory which the Father has given him; and when his disciples are made one with the Father and the Son, as the Father and the Son are one, who cannot see the propriety of the Savior’s saying, The works which I do shall they do, and greater works than these shall they do, because I go to the Father?

These teachings of the Savior most clearly show unto us the nature of salvation, and what he proposed unto the human family when he proposed to save them: that he proposed to make them like unto himself, and he was like the Father, the great prototype of all saved beings. And for any portion of the human family to be assimilated into their likeness is to be saved, and to be unlike them is to be destroyed. And on this hinge turns the door of salvation” (RE T&C 110, Lectures on Faith 7:15-16; emphasis added).

“So, according to the Lectures on Faith, if you would be saved, you have to be exactly,

precisely what Christ is and nothing else. Now, you've been told all your life that that's

an impossibility. Well, it's an impossibility, in one sense, and it's a mandatory

requirement, in another sense. It's an impossibility because, as it turns out, we all err. All

of us err; we always have. And that's what the atonement was designed to fix—because

He picks that burden up, and He carries it for us.

But the fact that He will carry that burden for us doesn't relieve us—from the moment

that He's taken that away—from then going forward to do good. You can be Christ-like.

You can administer relief to those around you. You can, as He said, clothe the naked,

feed the hungry, visit those who are in prison. Some of the most profound, deepest,

spiritual experiences that I have had recounted to me by people I know, came from

people who go out to the prison in Bluffdale and hold family home evenings with prison

inmates. That ministration/that service elevates the servant. Their heart gets moved with

compassion. Your heart needs to be like Christ's—moved with compassion for others.

And the way you do that is imitative at first. And then it is informed by the experience

later. What begins as imitation, and merely that, finds room within to have genuine

compassion for the needs of others. Christ is the prototype, but you can be like Him.

There are godly people walking around; many of them are elderly. Many of them have

long since forgotten their own needs, and they spend their lives in service of others. You

can find that even within the church with Relief Society Presidents. You can find that

within the church with people who do legitimate-needs home teaching. You don't have to

go find another church in which to serve. You don't have to find new neighbors, and you

don't have to have a new family. That eccentric group of people, that tribe into which you were born—you belong there. You belong there as an example—as an example of

love and compassion.

And you know, the reason why (in the Sermon on the Mount) He says they're going to

speak all manner of evil against you falsely, for my [name's] sake (Matthew 5:11; see

also Matthew 3:14 RE) is not because of anything you've done. It's because down here,

no one believes. No one believes the genuine thing exists. Everyone's heart has been

broken; everyone has been disappointed. Everyone says, "The man I thought was going

to be so great has turned out, instead, to be just another broken ship-wreck." Their

skepticism of you has been earned in this environment by everyone they've ever met.

Therefore, you've got to be different. And you've got to expect their broken heart is

going to be taken out on you until you, at last—and it may require your life to do it—until

you, at last, show that faith can yet exist here.

Let it exist here in you. Let it live and breathe in you. You needn't look for another life/

another opportunity somewhere else far away to go. It's right here; it's in your lap; it's in

your family; it's in your home; it's in your community; it's among all those egotistical,

hard-headed, stubborn Gentiles that we parade around, lauding one another, and

talking about what great things we are. Serve them. Submit to their rule. Do it in a way

that will touch their hearts and be the real thing. Be the real thing. And finally, at last,

there will be those who are worthy to lead.

You need to be like Christ. It is precise. It is exact” (Christ: Prototype of the Saved Man, Denver Snuffer Jr., pp.10-11; emphasis added).

“Even what we envision as the highest heaven is a condescension for those who sit

enthroned, able to dwell in everlasting burnings. Else why in section 132 [130] would

you be given a white stone that reveals things pertaining to a higher order of kingdoms

(D&C 130:10) when you are in the Celestial Kingdom! It's because where you are now

(at this moment, in this meeting, hearing my voice in this room today) is about halfway

to where you need to grow (and it's been almost infinite in getting you here—today) in

order to arrive at the point that you might be able to be as Christ. And where Christ

arises to, in everlasting burnings, is about halfway to where things ultimately can go.

You say it's necessary in this condition to have a physical body in order to come down

here and perform, and you say that rightly. But there are other places beyond” (Christ: Prototype of the Saved Man, Denver Snuffer Jr., p.10; emphasis added).

[19] “Now there’s necessarily a period of time between the time of death and the time of the resurrection. Now I wanted to know about what becomes of the spirits of mankind from this time of death to the time appointed for the resurrection. Now whether there’s more than one time appointed for people to rise, it doesn’t matter, because everyone doesn’t die at once, and that doesn’t matter. Everything is as one day with God, and time is only measured to mankind. Therefore there’s a time appointed to people when they will rise from the dead; and there’s a period of time between the time of death and the resurrection” (CofC Alma 19:5; emphasis added).

[20] “There is nothing more fun, however, than gathering light and truth. We’re sent

down here on a journey in which we are supposed to be getting “added upon.” Those are

the words. That was the goal. We’re gonna send people down to the second estate, and

what’s the goal? The goal is to be added upon. But what are we adding? What are you

adding to yourself that you didn’t have before? You’re adding light and truth. You came

with a certain amount of it. You’re supposed to leave with a greater quantity of it. . . What did He [Christ] do? One of this group/one of this family/one of this assortment of people/one

of them went from grace to grace until He received a fullness [of the Father]. He proved it could be done.

He showed the way. He was called the Only Begotten of the Father. He was called that

because He embodied the word of God. Would you like to know what God the Father’s word

was? Look at Him. Look at the Only Begotten. Did you make it without Him? No, you didn’t.

You didn’t make it here without Him. Christ proved the word of the Father by the things

which He did. As a consequence of Christ doing it, some few others, in turn, were also able

to rise up. And they became “sons of the morning” . . . Did Christ exist? If Christ existed, He had to be free to choose for Himself. This had to be a voluntary act on His part. He had to be willing to receive the light and truth.

Believe it or not, we’re all just talking about the same thing. This is just about personal

revelation. All of it is. And it’s about how you receive light and truth. Because we’re acting

out again here what we acted out once before, and the process is the same here as the

process was there—although here it’s coupled with a lot of illusions that are guaranteed to

make you progress whether you want to or not—it’s coming.

So, when you look at the word of God, what you’re seeing in Christ is the embodiment or

the fulfillment of what the Father said. When Christ defines Himself in 3rd Nephi chapter

11, and He tells you who He is, He can’t tell you who He is without referring to the Father

three times in a very brief introduction: I... suffered the will of the Father in all things from the

beginning [pre-mortality] (3 Nephi 11:11; see also 3 Nephi 5:4 RE), He tells us. He is the word of the Father.

He is the embodiment of the things that the Father would like to have for us. So, why do we

obey the commandments? Why do we follow the process? Why do we want to go from

grace to grace, and how do we open the third eye [beyond the veil] to be able to resonate with and receive light and truth into ourselves from the Being who is defined as light and truth? Our Lord (and we’re talking about Him in the beginning, before the world was), received not

the fulness at first but received grace for grace. And we think grace for grace consists of, “I’m

going to now obey a principle, and as a result of obeying that principle, I will receive the

benefit of the grace that flows from doing so.” And that is true enough. That is a true enough

principle. But it is also truer and more accurate to say: in connection with the long

preparation that preceded the call of Christ to be the Son of God, that grace to grace is also

something that involves the upward scale of a ladder, as Joseph alludes to it.

He was called the Son of God because He received not of the fulness at...first. He was called to

be the Son of God because that wasn’t His status before. Therefore, He had to be called to

be the Son of God. And that was true because He received not of the fulness at...first. . . Long before the Lord assumed the role and the responsibility of descending here and being

the Redeemer of this world, He qualified by grace, doing things that proved—while He was

behind the veil, as you presently find yourselves situated—that demonstrated graciousness

and faith by obedience to the commandments of God. Even though it would be a great while

yet before He (and now you) would rise up to that level, still He lived His life with such

grace that He qualified to receive more and to develop and to move up. . .” (Added Upon, Denver Snuffer Podcast 171; emphasis added).

[21] “. . . Behold, I am God, Man of Holiness is my name, Man of Counsel is my name, and Endless and Eternal is my name also. Wherefore, I can stretch forth my hands and hold all the creations which I have made, and my eye can pierce them also. . .” (RE Genesis 4:17; emphasis added).

[22] “There are two personages who constitute the great matchless, governing, and supreme power over all things — by whom all things were created and made, that are created and made, whether visible or invisible, whether in Heaven, on earth, or in the earth, under the earth, or throughout the immensity of space — they are the Father and the Son: the Father being a personage of spirit, glory, and power: possessing all perfection and fullness; the Son, who was in the bosom of the Father, a personage of tabernacle, made or fashioned like unto man, or being in the form and likeness of man, or rather, man was formed after his likeness and in his image — he is also the express image and likeness of the personage of the Father, possessing all the fullness of the Father, or the same fullness with the Father, being begotten of him, and was ordained from before the foundation of the world to be a propitiation for the sins of all those who should believe on his name, and is called the Son because of the flesh — and descended in suffering below that which man can suffer, or in other words, suffered greater sufferings and was exposed to more powerful contradictions than any man can be. But notwithstanding all this, he kept the law of God and remained without sin, showing thereby that it is in the power of man to keep the law and remain also without sin. And also, that by him a righteous judgment might come upon all flesh, and that all who walk not in the law of God may justly be condemned by the law and have no excuse for their sins. And he being the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth, and having overcome, received a fullness of the glory of the Father — possessing the same mind with the Father, which mind is the holy spirit that bears record of the Father and the Son, and these three are one, or in other words, these three constitute the great matchless, governing, and supreme power over all things, by whom all things were created and made that were created and made. And these three constitute the Godhead and are one: the Father and the Son possessing the same mind, the same wisdom, glory, power, and fullness, filling all in all — the Son being filled with the fullness of the mind, glory, and power, or in other words, the spirit, glory, and power of the Father — possessing all knowledge and glory, and the same kingdom: sitting at the right hand of power, in the express image and likeness of the Father — a mediator for man — being filled with the fullness of the mind of the Father, or in other words, the spirit of the Father, which spirit is shed forth upon all who believe on his name and keep his commandments. And all those who keep his commandments shall grow up from grace to grace and become heirs of the Heavenly kingdom and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ, possessing the same mind, being transformed into the same image or likeness, even the express image of him who fills all in all: being filled with the fullness of his glory, and become one in him, even as the Father, Son, and holy spirit are one” (RE T&C 110, Lectures on Faith 5:2; emphasis added).

[23] “. . . 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).

[24] “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” (CofC Alma 9:3; emphasis added).

Scott Roderick

2/25/26

The Father's Path - Part 1.pdf

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