The Lingering Effects of Past Curses

  While on family vacation in Florida, I was wrestling in the pool with five of my twelve grandchildren. A jovial retired man from Boston stood chuckling as he watched the ensuing struggle. I finally reached exhaustion and called for a time out.   

The man and I talked about our families. Twenty of our twenty-two members were present. After sharing stories about our children, the man who was 76 years old informed me he invested one hundred percent of their funds in technology stocks.

This led to a discussion about investment philosophies and the contrast between our two approaches. For the last ten years it has been wildly profitable to follow his approach. In sharp contrast, our funds are more like Warren Buffet’s, invested primarily in long-term treasury bonds.

My purpose in raising this conversation is not to debate investment philosophies. My reason for caution is the presence of lingering effects of past curses and blessings on this “promised” land. Lands of promise have both blessings and curses. For many, a measure of blessedness is the level of their prosperity. The Lord shared the following promise to Lehi, and Lehi shared it with his sons:

“May you do His will, because His ways are righteousness forever. He has said: To the degree you keep My commandments, you’ll prosper in the land. But to the degree you don’t keep My commandments, you’ll be shut out from My presence . . .” (C of C 2 Nephi 1:4, emphasis added).

To be shut out from the Lord’s presence is to remain in a natural state, separate from God. The natural state of man places mankind in direct opposition to the nature of God.

“. . . Forgiveness comes exclusively through the atonement of Jesus Christ’s blood. Even if it were possible for children to sin, they couldn’t be saved. However, I tell you that they’re blessed. Even though by Adam or by nature they fall, Christ’s blood is sufficient to atone for their sins. I want to share with you that there’s no other way for mankind to attain salvation except through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent. He’ll be the righteous judge. While infants who pass away won’t be lost, mankind must humble themselves and believe in the atoning blood of Christ to avoid damnation. This belief is necessary for salvation and must be held steadfastly. Men and women, in their natural state, are out of harmony with God and have been since the Fall of Adam. This disharmony will continue from eternity to eternity, unless they yield to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, abandon their fallen nature, and become holy through the atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ. [Godly] They should strive to become like a child, humble, meek, patient, and full of love, willing to accept everything that the Lord deems appropriate for them [obedience to His commands guides us individually to acquire divine attributes we lack], as a child obeys their parents” (C of C Mosiah 1:16; emphasis added).

Obedience to God’s commandments is not a function of God showing us His power and authority. His commandments and the Savior’s example direct us toward His plan for our happiness. Willing obedience is a measured way for us to partake of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Through obedience, we gain knowledge through experience.

Joseph Smith provided the following insights into knowledge through obedience to God’s commandments:

“Joseph Smith linked blessings with knowledge. He linked knowledge with obedience to laws. “And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come. There is a law, irrevocably decreed in Heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated — and when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated.” “If we want a blessing, we must find the law upon which the blessing is predicated, and then follow that law. If we do, we get the blessing. There is a majestic simplicity to this orderly procedure. It is from such an understanding Joseph authoritatively declared God was no respecter of persons. Joseph’s declaration made profoundly more sense than what other religionists were teaching. Joseph made this whole process of gaining blessings through knowledge a natural one that grew out of conformity with natural law. Of course, God ordained that natural law.” This whole process is a gift from God. He set the bounds and terms by His grace. So if mankind elects to abide those conditions, they are entitled to receive the grace or blessing He promises. But it still remains a gift. King Benjamin explained this process of keeping commandments, receiving blessings, and remaining in God’s debt in Mosiah 1:8–9. (The term “entitled” is used here to make the point that once man has done his part, God will do His. Man will not go down the road only to find it closed at the end. God keeps His promises)” (A Glossary of Gospel Terms, Blessings, pp.38-39, second edition; emphasis added).

As part of natural law ordained by God, there must be a consequence for disobedience to the same law. If a blessing is linked to obedience to the natural law, a curse becomes the consequence for disobedience to the same law. The justice of God requires opposition in all things.

“The Holy One has established the requirements of the law that impose a fixed punishment opposite to the available happiness. Happiness is the purpose of the atonement. But there must be a balance or opposition for all things. If there were no balance, my first born in the wilderness, righteousness and wickedness couldn’t exist, or happiness and misery, or good and bad. The result would be no contrast but only an unvarying sameness. That being the case, if everything were fixed into the same condition, there would be no difference between life or death, decay or growth, happiness or misery, awareness or unconsciousness. Therefore everything would have been created for nothing — there would have been no purpose resulting from its creation. This failure to have opposites would destroy the wisdom of God and His eternal purposes, and also make the power, mercy, and justice of God mean nothing. If you eliminate law, you must also eliminate sin. And if you eliminate sin, you must also eliminate righteousness. Then if there’s no righteousness, there’s no happiness. And if there’s no righteousness or happiness, there’s no punishment or misery. And if all these plans of God are destroyed, you must also destroy God. If you destroy God, then we wouldn’t exist, and neither would the earth, since there couldn’t have been a creation of things, either to act or be acted upon; therefore all things would have necessarily ceased to exist” (C of C 2 Nephi 1:7; emphasis added).

If obtaining knowledge is linked to obedience to law, disobedience to law leads to a loss of knowledge when divine law is disobeyed. Alma explained the practical application of this principle to the people of Ammonihah:

“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 [disobey the law] receive less of His word. Those who don’t harden their hearts [obey the law] 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 [through unwillingness to obey natural law, their agency and ignorance lead to their subjection] and leads them [by their choice] by his will down to destruction. This is what the chains of hell mean” (C of C Alma 9:3; emphasis added).

Obedience to divinely ordained law lead to knowledge, happiness, and peace through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. They are blessings associated with divine law. In opposition to greater light and knowledge through obedience to divine law, there is a loss of light and knowledge. This is the consequence for disobedience to divine law. It is characterized as “hardening the heart,” a metaphorical way of describing rebellion against God’s plan of happiness.

The consequences of blessings and curses, greater light or withdrawal of light are just because we are given agency to choose and receive according to our own desires. In effect, it is not God sitting on His throne declaring judgments upon us subjectively. God’s judgment is Him restoring to us what we have chosen.

“Now, my son, I have a little more to say about the previously mentioned restoration. Some have twisted the scriptures and have gone far astray about this topic. And I can tell your mind has also been worried about this. So let me explain it to you. I tell you, my son, God’s justice requires the plan of restoration, because it’s necessary for all things to be restored to their proper order. It’s necessary and right, according to the power and resurrection of Christ, for a person’s spirit to be restored to its body and for every part of the body to be restored to itself. And it’s also required by God’s justice for people to be judged based upon their works in this life. If their works were good in this life and if the things they wanted were good, it’s also necessary for them to be restored on the last day to that which is good. And if their works were evil, they’ll be restored to them for evil. Therefore everything will be restored to its proper order, everything to its natural state — mortality raised to immortality, what’s perishable becoming imperishable — raised to endless happiness to inherit God’s kingdom, or to endless misery to inherit the accuser’s kingdom, one on the one hand and the other on the other hand, one restored to happiness according to their desires of happiness — or to good according to their desires of good — and the other restored to evil according to their desires of evil. Because just as they’ve wanted to do evil all day long, in the very same way they’ll have their reward of evil when the night comes. And so it is on the other hand: if they’ve repented of their sins and desired righteousness until the end of their life, in the same way, they’ll be rewarded for righteousness. These are the ones who are redeemed by the Lord. These are the chosen ones who are rescued from that endless night of darkness, and so they will stand or fall. Because they decide for themselves, whether to do good or evil. Now God’s decrees are unalterable. Therefore the way is prepared so that whoever is willing can walk in the [Father’s] path and be saved” (C of C Alma 19:9; emphasis added).

The judgment of God is not Him imposing His will and power upon us or seeking revenge for misdeeds. God’s judgment consists of His just “being” what He is as an example of what we can become. The pain of guilt over what our opportunity is relative to what we were willing to receive is what triggers condemnation.

“. . . They who are of a celestial spirit shall receive the same body which was a natural body, even you shall receive your bodies. And your glory shall be that glory by which your bodies are quickened. You who are quickened by a portion of the Celestial glory shall then receive of the same, even a fullness. And they who are quickened by a portion of the terrestrial glory shall then receive of the same, even a fullness. And also, they who are quickened by a portion of the telestial glory shall then receive of the same, even a fullness. And they who remain, shall also be quickened. Nevertheless, they shall return again to their own place, to enjoy that which they are willing to receive, because they were not willing to enjoy that which they might have received. For what does it profit a man if a gift [from God] is bestowed upon him, and he receive not the gift? Behold, he rejoices not in that which is given unto him, neither rejoices in him who is the giver of the gift” (RE T&C 86:4; emphasis added).

A gift, particularly of this magnitude, offered but refused by the recipient is unappreciated. The giver of the gift offers a “pearl of greatest price,” given at unimaginable sacrifice when rejected, is an act of great offense. To the giver of the gift, the rejection could be viewed as provocative.

The process of faith, repentance, baptism, and the gift of the Holy Ghost invites the faithful to obtain access to the knowledge and mysteries of God if received in its fullness. Rejection of God’s covenant offer does more than stop their progression in accessing light and knowledge, it reinstitutes a withdrawal of light and knowledge already acquired. There are no plateaus, only progression or regression.

Scripture transcends historical significance because of a higher purpose established by God. In its pristine state it contains accounts of those who sought God by striving to walk the Father’s path seeking light and knowledge. Or rejecting God and His servants on the path seeking to teach and exemplify His laws. Those who discern between true and false servants of God reap the benefits and those lack wisdom in their choices reap a metaphorical “whirlwind” of their own making.

As if human nature focuses on the positive and ignores the negative, most attention is given to the areas where we excel. If we are wise, we gain wisdom from responding positively to God’s enticements leading to light and knowledge. When acting responsibly they avoid negative consequences of covenant rejection. Both sides of the proverbial coin inform us on the Father’s path.

The prophet Mormon obeyed a command given him by Ammaron, the Lord’s steward over the records. Speaking to a 10-year-old Mormon, Ammaron commissioned him to retrieve only Nephi’s record and write Mormon’s recollection of events from that day to his 24^th birthday. He was forbidden to touch other records in the hill called Shim.

Mormon’s record began with his 11^th year when his father moved their family to Zarahemla. His recollection of Zarahemla was, “The whole land was covered with buildings; and the people seemed to be as numerous as the sand of the sea.” In the mind of Mormon, this time was the beginning of war between the Lamanites and the Nephites. This is a significant event historically, but to modern readers the more significant application is to view these events from a prophetic context.

Prophetic in the sense the record provides the account of what happened, but more importantly the root cause of what led to these events. They are rooted in disobedience to God’s commandments and loss of light and knowledge. Instead of diligence and obedience, complacency in obeying God’s commandments leads to the opposite of the plan of happiness. Death and destruction.

“. . . But wickedness abounded throughout the land, so much so that the Lord removed His beloved disciples; and the work of miracles and healing stopped because of the people’s iniquity. And there were no gifts from the Lord. The Holy Ghost didn’t come upon anyone because of their wickedness and unbelief. When I was 15 years old, and because I was fairly serious-minded and mature, the Lord visited me, and I experienced and understood the goodness of Jesus. I tried to preach to the people, but my mouth was shut. I was forbidden to preach to them because they had willfully rebelled against God. The beloved disciples departed from the land because of the people’s iniquity. I remained among them, but I was forbidden to preach to them because of the hardness of their hearts. Because of the hardness of their hearts, the land was cursed. And the Gaddianton robbers, who were among the Lamanites, raided the land, so much so the inhabitants began to hide their valuables in the earth; and they slipped away because the Lord had cursed the land, so they couldn’t hold onto them or recover them. There was sorcery, witchcraft, and dark magic; and the power of the Evil One spread throughout the land, as prophesied by Abinadi and Samuel the Lamanite” (C of C Mormon 1:4; emphasis added).

Curses on the land were initiated by prophets that were not contemporaries of the people in Mormon’s day. Still, they became reinstated years later when the Holy Ghost withdrew from the people, and the power of the “Evil One” spread throughout the land because of their loss of knowledge.

Absence of the Holy Ghost and loss of associate gifts play a key role in loss of peace, happiness, and knowledge as noted by the Savior at the conclusion of 3 Nephi:

“Listen all you Gentiles; hear the words of Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, which He commanded me to write about you. He commands me to write this: Turn away, all you Gentiles, from your wicked ways and repent of your evil deeds, your lying and deceiving, your whoredoms, your secret abominations and idolatrous ways, your murders, priestcrafts, envying, and strife, and from all your wickedness and abominations, and come to Me and be baptized in My name, so you can receive a remission of your sins and receive the Holy Ghost, so you can be included with My people of the house of Israel” (C of C 3 Nephi 14:1; emphasis added).

There is a grave misunderstanding regarding Israel’s gathering in the last days. Many believe the gathering refers to the twelve tribes of Israel scattered throughout the earth in the Gentile nations. Their location is without dispute; however, their identity is where the confusion lies. The identity of Israel lies not in the question of genealogy, but spiritual lineage. In the previous quote the Lord designates who qualifies for membership in Israel. It is limited to those who “come to Me and be baptized in My name, so you can receive a remission of your sins and receive the Holy Ghost.” Only those complying with these terms will be gathered as Israel, regardless of literal lineage. That is precisely why God is no respecter of persons and the Atoning Sacrifice is a gift to all mankind. [1]

If we view the previous passage from a prophetic context, it provides a comparative measure to assess our current conditions. It was from this perspective I spoke from when I suggested the man from Boston adjust his portfolio to a more conservative position. Ironically and somewhat serendipitously, the stock market has declined since we spoke last Tuesday. Not to say that points to the end of modern civilization, but it is a reminder that “when” and not “if” we duplicate the pattern of Mormon’s people we may anticipate the return of the same covenant curses. In particular, the inability to maintain our wealth and possessions.  If the man in Boston remained complacent, his net worth was reduced significantly in three days. The Great Depression is an ever-present reminder of the economic devastation from spiritual complacency.

If the prophecies of Abinadi and Samuel the Lamanite were activated in Mormon’s day, it is simply a matter of time before the hardness of heart among the Gentiles leads to similar outcomes.

We have repeatedly been warned our future is to witness and even suffer the outcome as the Nephites and other occupants of the land who hardened their hearts against the Lord and His servants. Three such warnings have been issued, one in 2014, another in 2017, and one this year. The first was unmistakably clear while the second was veiled but nonetheless solemn.

2014

“In September 2014… I want to remind you of something. This was the talk given down in Phoenix, September 14, 2014:

Last general conference the entire First Presidency, the 12, the 70, and all other general authorities and [their] auxiliaries, voted to sustain those who abused their authority in casting me out of the church. At that moment, the Lord ended all claims of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to claim it is led by the priesthood [meaning the leaders who exercise control, compulsion, and dominion, and not the powerless who had no part in the affair]. They have not practiced what He requires. The Lord has brought about His purposes. This has been [done] in His heart all along. He has chosen to use small means to accomplish it, but He always uses the smallest of means to fulfill His purposes. (40 Years in Mormonism, Talk 10, “Preserving the Restoration,” page 8 of the paper)

If you will take a moment to consider the path that has been taken by that church’s leaders since April of 2014, you can see how (in only five years) they have shown, by their decisions, the lack of heavenly guidance. Their trajectory will continue to arc downward. If you doubted my declaration in Phoenix in September 2014, then do not doubt the course taken by those church leaders since then” (Covenant Pattern, Denver Snuffer Jr., p.25; emphasis added).

2017

“Then I [Denver Snuffer] gave some closing remarks in the September 3, 2017 conference that I want to read to you:

Those who have entered faithfully into the covenant this day are going to notice some things. The spirit of God is withdrawing from the world [this mirrors the observation of Mormon, suggesting we are moving toward a similar outcome]. Men are increasingly more angry without good cause. The hearts of men are waxing cold. There is increasing anger and resentment of gentiles. In political terms, it’s rejection of white privilege [this became more apparent beginning in the 2020 Presidential election and the ensuing years]. Language of scripture gives a description of the events now underway and calls it the end of the times of the gentiles. [2] This process, with the spirit withdrawing, will end on this continent as it did with two prior civilizations in fratricidal and genocidal warfare. For the rest of the world, it will be as in the days of Noah in which, as that light becomes eclipsed, the coldness of men’s hearts is going to result in a constant scene of violence and bloodshed. The wicked will destroy the wicked. The covenant, if it is kept, will prevent you from losing light and warmth of heart as the spirit now steadily recedes from the world. The time will come when you will be astonished at the gulf between the light and truth you will comprehend and the darkness of mind of the world. (Closing Remarks, Covenant of Christ Conference, 3 September 2017, pg. 1)

And I ended by saying: May God bless you and send to each of you a growing light and warmth. As the spirit withdraws from the world may it continually shine un-eclipsed on each of you to enlighten your minds and warm your hearts. (Ibid, pg. 2) In the Answer that we received, there was an explanation given to us. It says:

In your language you use the name Lucifer for an angel who was in authority before God, who rebelled, fought against the work of the Father and was cast down to the earth. His name means holder of light, or light bearer, for he had gathered light by his heed and diligence before he rebelled. He has become a vessel containing only wrath and seeks to destroy all who will hearken to him. He is now enslaved to his own hatred. Satan is a title, and means accuser, opponent and adversary; hence once he fell, Lucifer became, or in other words was called, Satan, because he accuses others and opposes the Father. ...there are those who have been Satan, accusing one another, wounding hearts and causing jarring, contention, and strife by their accusations. Rather than loving one another, even among you who desire a good thing, some have dealt unkindly as if they were opponents, accusers and adversaries. In this they were wrong. You have sought to recover the scriptures because you hope to obtain the covenant for my protective hand to be over you, but you cannot be Satan and be mine. (T&C 157:7-10)

I read those excerpts from the talk in Phoenix and from the Covenant Conference in Boise to remind you about what was described in both of those events. There is a process that is underway. [3] People are increasingly accusing, opposing, and fighting with one another without good cause. [4] It is as if they are submitting themselves to listen to obey the spirit of Satan (or the spirit of strife, envy, jarring, accusing). That course is not going to change. I hope it may plateau for a season. There are things we have to do, and we need something other than chaos and warfare, in order to accomplish the things that we need to achieve. But I believe when the command is given, that we’re going to have to act with alacrity if we are going to be able to fulfill the covenants and the obligations that have been promised by God and handed to us to do. But don’t expect the world to get better, and don’t expect organized religions to get better. But hopefully, there will be more and more who come to take refuge among a band of believers who have no hierarchy, office, position, who have only ourselves to fellowship with informally, gathering at one another’s homes, renting (on occasion) facilities like these to meet in larger groups. I intend to continue my efforts among all of those people that I have been working with up to this point. I will continue that labor for so long as I am allowed to participate in any of this. [5] But each of us, similarly, have the same kind of obligation to spread the truth and the knowledge and the scriptures (that we now have) that more accurately recover. We have to go back to what was given to us through Joseph Smith as the foundation, in order to qualify to be able to move forward” [6] (Covenant Pattern, Denver Snuffer Jr., pp.25-27; emphasis added).

2025

“There were more, but I hope these scriptures are enough to teach the point. We are obligated to heed the Lord. We only have two choices: either to learn by precept or through sad experience. If we learn by precept, then we listen and follow the Lord. But, when we reject the Lord’s counsel and ignore His warning, then we learn through sad experiences. Based on the recent communication with the Lord, it appears we will need, and are going to learn, from sad experiences . . . We can learn by precept. That requires us to not only listen to but also to heed the things the Lord says to us. Giving heed does not mean we argue with one another about some particular statement, phrase, or verse, using a teaching to justify our opinions, perceptions, or errors. Giving heed requires us to submit, obey, and respect the Lord’s words as if they are meant to condemn and correct us personally. They are not intended to equip us to criticize our neighbor or justify our ignorant opinion. Seeing the flaws in others is easy. It requires nothing of us. Seeing our own flaws seems to be impossible. The words of the Lord are precepts or teachings intended to bring you down in humility so you can meekly submit to His guidance in all things, not just the things you care about. Alternatively, we can choose to fail by not heeding the Lord’s precepts, instead enduring sad experiences that remind us of our own lowliness. None of us should be proud, thinking ourselves better than our fellow man. We aren’t. We are not even as much as the dust of the earth because the dust we occupy belongs to God. Therefore, we should be grateful for every sad experience and recognize that it is for our good. It is necessary because, for whatever reason, we did not learn by precept. God’s plan expects we will learn from both. Learning by precept is not better than learning by sad experience. They are both essential teachers. The important part is how we learn by sad experience: Do we blame, judge, avoid, react, offend, ignore, resist, refuse? Or do we take accountability, reason, observe, engage, submit, ask, share, listen, pray, fast? After being corrected by the Lord, my pessimism about our condition has been replaced. The Lord does intend to make use of some of us to fulfill His will. However, that will not only include blessing and encouraging us but also disciplining and correcting us. I have no idea how joyful or painful the coming journey will be for any of us. I also do not know how many (or how few) will be there when the journey is completed and the promises are fulfilled. I do have an idea that there has been and will continue to be watchful care taken by the Lord to help a few of us along the remaining journey.

We MUST, but have not, learned to disagree respectfully. We take sides, prejudge, run away from conflict, and prefer being right with man over being right with God. We need to counsel with one another patiently and listen attentively. Some disagreements and differences may take years to work out. We have an “us vs. them” mentality that permeates this movement. It has been on display for years, and is particularly obvious in the weeks leading up to this conference and the women’s conference held yesterday. This is the work, and many of you can’t tolerate or won’t even entertain the idea that God cares about how we work on our relationships as much or more than He cares about our projects . . . Zion is also a byproduct of the process and will never be the result of an achieved goal. Differences and disagreements should not make us enemies or evil. The Lord expects us to learn and grow our ability to respectfully disagree with one another. If we can acknowledge our differences and talk through our disagreements as beloved brothers and sisters who respect each other, we might just experience a remarkable byproduct. But until we are willing to engage in the process, we are only left to endure sad experiences. No matter how patiently the Lord deals with us, we should not be fooled. When we do not learn one way, we will be disciplined in another way. Past events involving God’s people illustrate that when Divine discipline is imposed, many of the people do not survive, and those who do are often humbled by impoverishment, wounded by the violence, and made meek by their hunger and poverty. It saddens me to think we will not all arrive together. But I also have seen how easily offended some of us have been at things that should be cheerfully endured. We should expect chastening. If we cannot endure God’s chastening hand, then we are not worthy of His blessing. I hope that I can prove faithful. But if any of you are there when the Lord brings again Zion, then let your songs of everlasting joy break forth, and the hills tremble at your presence, and God’s pavilion spread over you to shield you from drought and hunger, and let your gratitude in God’s charity sink deeply into your souls” (God’s Covenant People, Denver Snuffer Jr., pp.14, 29-32; emphasis added).

I am perplexed, confused, and frustrated by the process of wrestling with the subject of women’s councils. As I read the above quotes from Denver’s talk and reflected on the many conversations regarding this subject, it occurred to me the initial premise for holding councils may be flawed.

When any council is called by anyone to judge religious and spiritual matters, the purpose is the Lord’s objective. His work and His glory is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. That is first and foremost His purpose. When councils are called, those convening councils represent the Lord vicariously and should seek His judgment as opposed to the logical conclusion of men.

How we view this responsibility determines how the Lord judge's members of the council as well as the offender. If council members view themselves as delegates to mete justice on His behalf, they in turn will be judged by the same standards they judge the offender. That standard should be enough to caution participants to act with an abundance of caution and charity. It is interesting to note that Denver’s words are not original, but echo counsel Joseph Smith gave in an earlier age:

“Ever keep in exercise the principle of mercy, and be ready to forgive our brother on the first intimations of repentance, and asking for 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. [7]

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 man [and women] not learn wisdom by precept at this late age of the world [the wisdom spoken of by Joseph Smith is to be humble, not prideful, not aspiring, “but act for each other’s good, and pray for one another, and honor our brother and make honorable mention of his name, refrain from backbiting and devour our brother.” This is Joseph Smith’s definition of wisdom] 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, or 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” (TPJS., p.150; emphasis added).

The Savior instructed His Nephite disciples they will be judges of their people in the following manner:

“. . . And you should understand you’ll be judges of this people, following the judgment I’ll provide to you, which will be just and true. Therefore what type of men should you be? Truly I say to you: Precisely as I Am . . .” (C of C 3 Nephi 13:1, emphasis added).

Although the preceding counsel was directed toward the Savior’s disciples, the same principles apply to women who assemble to try the standing of men bearing the priesthood. The judgment the Savior requires of them is “His judgment” and if any conclusion other than His judgment is reached, the women in the counsel jeopardize their own salvation because the mercy and charity or lack thereof establishes the same standard of judgment used for them.

We all are in jeopardy of damnation if we judge others harshly. There is ample guilt to go around and if our judgment adversely affects someone else, God’s justice demands the same for us.

This is somewhat of a sidenote to the main theme of this paper. The point to be established is the concept prophecies pronounced by Abinadi and Samuel the Lamanite extend beyond their contemporary times and become re-engaged when our conduct mirrors wicked behaviors manifest in their day. In that sense, curses pronounced by our prophetic progenitors return to afflict us when we harden our hearts and reject the Lord’s commands.

[1] “Anyone can join the party. Anyone can come into this work. Anyone can remain a Catholic or a Presbyterian, a Catholic or a Latter-day Saint. It doesn’t matter. Those things are more like civic clubs. I don’t care if you’re a Rotarian or a Kiwanis Club member—means about the same thing as belonging to any of those organizations. Associate with whoever you like to associate with, but you must accept baptism. You must accept the Book of Mormon. It is a covenant. The covenant must be accepted, and you must help labor alongside those who seek to return Zion” (Covenant Pattern, Denver Snuffer Jr., p.25; emphasis added).

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

And in that generation shall the times of the gentiles be fulfilled. And there shall be men standing in that generation that shall not pass until they shall see an overflowing scourge, for a desolating sickness shall cover the land. But my disciples shall stand in holy places and shall not be moved; but among the wicked, men shall lift up their voices, and curse God, and die. And there shall be earthquakes also in diverse places and many desolations. Yet men will harden their hearts against me, and they will take up the sword one against another and they will kill one another” (RE T&C 31:6-7; emphasis added).

[3] “If the Gentiles then obey the Lamb of God, 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 of Israel. And they’ll become a blessed family in the promised land forever. They won’t be enslaved anymore, 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. 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.

Then the Angel told me: You’ve seen that if the Gentiles repent, it will turn out well for them. You also know about the Lord’s covenants with the house of Israel. And you’ve also heard that whoever doesn’t repent must perish. As a result, if the Gentiles harden their hearts against the Lamb of God, I will afflict them. Because the time will come, says the Lamb of God, when I’ll bring about a great and awe-inspiring work among mankind, one that will be everlasting — one way or the other — either to convince them, resulting in peace and life eternal; or to give them up to their hard hearts and blind minds, bringing about their slavery and temporal and spiritual destruction, under the accuser’s enslavement which I’ve spoken about” (C of C 1 Nephi 3:25-26; emphasis added).

[4] “. . . In truth I tell you: Anyone who welcomes the spirit of conflict doesn’t follow Me, but is following the accuser, who’s the father of conflict. He incites people to angrily fight with each other. This isn’t My doctrine, to incite angry fighting by people. But this is My doctrine, everything like that should end” (C of C 3 Nephi 5:8; emphasis added).

[5] “. . . I tried to preach to the people, but my mouth was shut. I was forbidden to preach to them because they had willfully rebelled against God. The beloved disciples departed from the land because of the people’s iniquity. I remained among them, but I was forbidden to preach to them because of the hardness of their hearts. Because of the hardness of their hearts, the land was cursed . . .” (C of C Mormon 1:4; emphasis added).

“On the 13th of February 2003 I saw the Lord coming in His glory. At first a sign appeared in the heavens, a light emanating from a single point and turning first this way and that. All the world saw it, and men debated over its meaning. At length the light turned upon us and within it was the Lord, showing His glory, with concourses of angels and the hosts of Heaven following in His wake.

And when we saw that it was the Lord we rejoiced and were filled with joy. I turned to my wife and said, Look, it is Christ!, and she said, Yes, it is! And we were filled with joy and peace of mind, for the long awaited day of the Lord had come.

But others were filled with dread. They feared and lamented and wanted the mountains to cover them and hide them from His presence, for he was clothed in red and came in judgment. And Christian ministers knew they had taught falsely and that their faith could not save — and they begged for relief from the Saints.

This caused me to marvel at how this could be. It was given unto me to understand that without the ordinances of salvation through the authorized ministers of the gospel it was not possible for men to shed their sins. And they could not look upon a just and holy Being without being racked with torment and guilt for their sins. And they pled with the Saints to minister to them, but we could not, for we were constrained by the spirit and were forbidden to do so. For this was the day of judgment which the Lord had in His heart, and he was now come to preach His own sermon, clothed in red, and to deliver those who waited on Him and to convict and condemn those who had not” (RE T&C 160:1-4; emphasis added).

[6] “Therefore your [Joseph of Egypt] offspring will write, and Judah’s offspring will write. The Lord says: The things your offspring write, and the things Judah’s offspring write, will grow together in order to expose false doctrines, settle disputes, and establish peace among your offspring and bring them, in the last days, to understanding their ancestors and comprehending My covenants. The Lord said: His [Joseph Smith] weakness will be made strong. My work will then begin among all My people. I’ll restore you, O house of Israel . . . The Lord also told me: I’ll give your descendants also a prophet [Joseph Smith] and make a spokesman for him [when Joseph Smith goes from weakness to strength]. I’ll inspire the one [Joseph Smith} to write the record of your descendants to bless your offspring. And that spokesman will declare that record [when Israel is gathered and Joseph Smith is made strong]” (C of C 2 Nephi 2: 4&6; emphasis added).

[7]  “And now after Jesus had said this, He turned back to the crowd and addressed them again, saying: I warn you not to condemn others so that you aren’t condemned; for the reason you condemn anyone else will be the reason you’re also condemned — your standards for others will be used against you” (C of C 3 Nephi 6:5; emphasis added).

It is curious to note the defendant in question with the existing disciplinary councils stood at the podium at the Arveda Conference and suggested women convene a council on a man performing baptisms with an alternate baptismal prayer. Perhaps his hasty judgment played a role in the councils considering his authority to exercise priesthood.

Scott Roderick

11/19/25

The Lingering Effects of Past Curses.pdf

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