Two Churches

                    The purpose of the website: adayindavid.com is sharing with my family my beliefs informed by years of scripture study, personal experience, and prayer. It is open to all but my target audience has been and continues to be my family.

                    Recently my reflections have been about patriarchal blessings and family. This morning I read the end of 2 Nephi 3 and all of 4. 2 Nephi 3 explains blessings given to Joseph of Egypt passing through to generations of his posterity. The blessings fall to them because of promises made to Joseph of Egypt by the Lord. After addressing detailed blessings inherited by Joseph’s descendants, Nephi includes patriarchal blessings pronounced by Lehi on his family.

                    Lehi began with Laman and Lemuel. He turned to Ishmael’s family, then Nephi’s elder brother, Sam. The account of Joseph of Egypt was incorporated into Lehi’s blessing of his son, Joseph. Nephi concludes the record of Lehi’s blessings by saying:

“After my father had spoken to his whole household according to the feelings of his heart and the Spirit of the Lord in him, his health failed and he died and was buried” (CofC 2 Nephi 4:5).

Absent from Nephi’s record of Lehi’s blessings are those given to Nephi. The only reference to Nephi’s blessings is words spoken to Sam by their father:

“. . . You [Sam] and your descendants are blessed, because you’ll inherit the land like your brother Nephi, and your posterity will be included with his. You’ll be blessed like your brother, and your descendants like his descendants. You’ll be blessed your whole life” (CofC 2 Nephi 4:4, emphasis added).

It is curious Nephi withheld blessings from his record. It may be Nephi felt his blessings were adequately explained in his writings. While pondering reasons for the absence of Nephi’s blessing by his father an answer came to mind. Nephi was shown by the Lord and His angel everything he and his posterity will experience to the worlds end. Because revelations given Lehi were shared by the Lord with Nephi, there was nothing of future events Nephi lacked knowledge of. He received light from God and possessed a greater understanding of the future than his father.

“But on these plates I only write the things within my soul and quotes of the scriptures from the brass plates. My soul delights in the scriptures, and I ponder upon them and write them for my children’s instruction and benefit. My soul rejoices in the things of the Lord, and I continually ponder in my heart what God has shown and told me. Nevertheless — despite the Lord’s great goodness in showing me His great and awe-inspiring works. . . He’s heard my prayer by day and given me knowledge by visions at night. I’ve grown bold through powerful prayers offered to Him by day. I’ve sent up my voice to heaven, and angels have come down and taught me. My body has been carried away on the wings of His Spirit upon very high mountains; and my eyes have seen great things — too great for man — and I was ordered not to write them. . . if I’ve seen such great things, if the Lord — who descends from His high position to help mankind. . . O Lord, I’ve trusted in You and will trust in You forever. I won’t put my trust in the scholarly arrogance of man, because I know those who trust in arrogant fools are cursed. Indeed, those who put their trust in the vain teachings of a man and trust them as if they were truth are cursed. Yes, I know God will give freely and abundantly to those who ask; yes, God will give to me if I don’t ask improperly. Therefore I’ll lift up my voice to You; yes, I’ll cry to You, my God, the rock of my righteousness. I’ll never stop calling out to You, my rock and my everlasting God. Amen” (CofC 2 Nephi 3:7-8, emphasis added).

Lehi’s final blessings on Nephi, though unrecorded, were intimate, private, heartfelt expressions from a righteous father to his faithful son. Details are withheld from Nephi’s record but prophetically Nephi was shown everything concerning his posterity to the end of the world. That was, in effect Nephi’s Patriarchal Blessing from his Heavenly Father.

Coming to this realization, my thoughts were drawn to an exchange I had with a recently called patriarch. I initiated correspondence with the patriarch intending to schedule an appointment to receive a blessing. Many I had spoken with had a wonderful experience and recommended I do the same. Their suggestions were met with a degree of reticence. My original patriarchal blessing was received prior to serving a mission for the LDS church. I was inexperienced in spiritual matters but my deficiency didn’t keep me from recognizing the countenance of the patriarch. It spoke volumes of the man’s righteousness before a word was spoken.

                    The patriarch was small in stature but his countenance glowed in the soft evening light of his living room. I had never been introduced to him, leading me to contemplate how this man could proceed with no prior knowledge of me.

                    Following our brief introduction and conversation he led me to a chair; he turned on a tape recorder and laying his hands on my head, proceeded to bless me. His words poured over me with sparse comprehension of their meaning. As he blessed me, I recall thinking it is clear this man doesn’t know me. It then occurred to me if the words he is speaking are truly inspired, there would have to be life changing experiences ahead. Nothing in his words were remotely close to how I viewed myself. It was as if he blessed someone other than me.

                    When the patriarch closed his blessing, I stood feeling overwhelmed and reflective of the experience. We shook hands and he gently led me to his front door. Diminutive as his stature may have been, his spiritual stature was Goliath like. Without question I stood in the presence of a godly, righteous man. For someone naïve as I was in spiritual matters my observations of him were undeniable because of his righteousness. My experience with Zelph Y. Erekson, Patriarch in the Hillside Stake in Salt Lake City, Utah is forever etched in my mind and heart. I honor and respect him now as if I was in his presence yesterday.

                    Profound recollections of my patriarchal blessing and the inspired accuracy through a lifetime of experience, I felt reluctant about seeking a new blessing. With so many positive endorsements for the new patriarch, I relented and decided to schedule an appointment. In response to my email request I received the following answer:

“I do however want you to know there is an option and you should be aware of this.  I don't know if you've had a blessing from a Patriarch in the LDS church, but if you have it's not necessary for you to receive another from me.  People being people tend to judge between them (the blessings) and come up with who gave the best one.  If you see any of that tendency in yourself you should opt out.  I know many patriarchs in the LDS who I consider to be holy men of God, (and so does God) to get in the middle of any [comparative] contest.  It is totally permissible for you to go directly to God to get a blessing for yourself, just as it will be required for you to go to God to get one for each of your family.  I'm not trying to persuade you or dissuade you, just to let you know your prerogatives.”

The patriarch’s response was inspired. As inspired as I’m certain his blessings are. It was never my intent to compare blessings between two patriarchs. I felt conflicted because I sustained the new patriarch but had no desire to disrespect the blessing of from the original patriarch. The inspired counsel of the new patriarch blessed me with the opportunity of honoring both. In several conversations with those receiving new patriarchal blessings, I am unaware of anyone else receiving the counsel he gave me. Certainly he likely expressed the same sentiment to others, but none I am aware of. By accepting his counsel and withdrawing my request for a second blessing, both patriarchs were honored. The newest by my respecting his counsel and the former by acknowledging his inspiration in the original blessing.

                    Noted earlier, Nephi was given prophetic knowledge regarding his posterity. In effect, a Father’s blessing from Heaven. By providing a written record of his relationship with God, becoming scripture, we are privileged to share in Nephi’s experience. Sharing in Nephi’s experience is a means for God to enlighten our understanding and sharing patriarchal blessings affecting us. Nephi’s written testimony becomes the means for conveying his experience through future generations “as if your descendants called out to them from the dust.” [1] 

The prophecy of Joseph of Egypt and Nephi’s record of Lehi’s patriarchal blessings on his family harmonize with words of the new patriarch when he wrote:

“It is totally permissible for you to go directly to God to get a blessing for yourself, just as it will be required for you to go to God to get one for each of your family.”

          Reviewing Nephi’s personal experience, there is a part relating to my patriarchal blessing:

“. . . But on these plates I only write the things within my soul and quotes of the scriptures from the brass plates. My soul delights in the scriptures, and I ponder upon them and write them for my children’s instruction and benefit. My soul rejoices in the things of the Lord, and I continually ponder in my heart what God has shown and told me” (CofC 2 Nephi 3:6; emphasis added).

The most notably surprising statement in my blessing for me was the following statement:

“I bless you that you may have an increased desire to read the scriptures and that your mind may be enlightened to understand the messages to be found upon the pages of these scriptures.”

At the age of eighteen I had the dubious distinction of never opening scriptures at any time in my life. Sports and social gatherings were the center of my life. Casual attendance at church and no meaningful exposure to seminary explain the reason for my surprise. The likelihood of the fulfillment of that blessing seemed remote.

                    Everything changed at the beginning of the second year of my mission. After a profoundly spiritual experience I was drawn to the scriptures. Access to an teacher in church education paved the way for my immersion into the scriptures. It continues to this day. Content on adayindavid.com is sufficient evidence of that.

                    What drove my interest in the scriptures was the “iron rod” metaphor in Lehi’s dream of the Tree of Life. [2] Simple logic led to the conclusion if the “iron rod” is the word of God, I should be singularly focused on the scriptures for my salvation and salvation of my loved ones. The result from following this lesson from Lehi’s dream after many years has been both gratifying and compelling.

The Greatest Lingering Concerns

                    Nephi witnessed the end of earth’s temporal existence. In the last days he saw two churches emerge.

“When the Angel had said this, He asked me: Do you remember the Father’s covenants to the house of Israel? I replied: Yes. Then He told me: Look and observe that utterly wicked church, which is the mother of abominations, whose foundation is the accuser. Then He told me: There are only two churches: one is the congregation of the Lamb of God and the other is the church of the accuser. Therefore anyone who doesn’t belong to the congregation of the Lamb of God belongs to the other wealthy and corrupt church that is the mother of abominations, and she is the whore of the whole earth” (CofC 1 Nephi 3:27; emphasis added).

In the last days there are two churches only. The first is the congregation of the Lamb and the second is the church of the accuser. Every Christian is convinced they belong to the first. Every Christian is further convinced other religions, including many calling themselves Christian; form the church of the accuser. Making a definitive distinction between the congregation of the Lamb and the church of the accuser is made difficult. The challenge is less difficult when we apply scripture to assist us in making a correct decision.

The Utterly Wicked Church

                    Throughout the angel’s revelations to Nephi are clues to aid in making the distinction between the two. Beginning with titles. The first title given the accuser’s church is “the utterly wicked church.”

The definition of “utterly”:

“Utterly is an adverb that means completely, totally, or to the highest and fullest degree.”           [3] 

The “utterly wicked church” means the church of the accuser has no redeeming value because of its corruption. That is not to say there is no good or truth found there. It is to say they lack enough to save mankind making them “utterly wicked.” Why does the angel consider it saturated in wickedness? Because it teaches a counterfeit version of true Christianity.

The Wealthy and Corrupt Church

                    In addition to being “utterly wicked,” the church of the accuser is described as “wealthy and corrupt.” These attributes are characteristics of the church of the accuser. Wealthy, because they have money and continually seek it. Corrupt, because they alter Christ’s teachings and revelations to persuade believers to follow them because they hold God’s authority and claim they are the sole means to obtain salvation.

                    The characteristic of wealth in the church of the accuser is not pointed to casually. It stands in stark contrast to the Church of Christ when the Savior walked this earth. Christ declared that all men should be perfect [4] as He and His Father are. To the rich man the Lord said:

“And behold, one came and said, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why do you call me good? There is none good but one — that is, God. But if you will enter into life, keep the commandments. He said unto him, Which? Jesus said, You shall not kill. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness. Honor your father and mother. And you shall love your neighbor as yourself. The young man said unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up. What lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If you will be perfect, go sell that you have and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in Heaven; and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions” (RE Matthew 9:22; emphasis added).

The Savior admonished all to seek perfection as embodied in Himself and the Father. He later explained the last great sacrifice required of a righteous man if he is to attain perfection. If a righteous man is to attain perfection, he divorces himself from the material world and gives all proceeds to the poor and follows Christ.

                    The fact Nephi points to wealth as a primary characteristic of the accuser’s church is not insignificant. It is a glaring red flag for people seeking to discern between two churches in the last days. Nephi noted latter-day followers would feel at ease in Zion:

          “Woe to those who disregard the just for something of no value and loudly condemn what’s good and say it’s worthless [this attitude was prevalent in Nephi’s vision], because the time is soon coming when the Lord God will visit the inhabitants of the earth in judgment. And when they’re fully ripe in iniquity, they will be destroyed. However, the Lord of Hosts has said, if the inhabitants of the earth repent of their wickedness and abominations, they won’t be destroyed. But that powerful and utterly wicked church — the whore of all the earth — will fall to the ground in ruins; and its fall will be impressive. Indeed, the accuser’s kingdom must shake. And those who belong to it must be motivated to repent, or the accuser will grab them with his everlasting chains and they’ll become angry and be lost, since at that time he’ll rage in mankind’s hearts and cause them to be angry against all that is good [this addresses the primary concern of this paper]. And he’ll pacify others, lulling them into worldly security [because of their wealth], so that they’ll say: Everything is fine in Zion; in fact, Zion is prospering. [5] Everything is fine! And so the accuser swindles them and leads them away carefully down to hell. And he beguiles others, telling them: There’s no hell. He says to them: I’m not the accuser — because there isn’t one. This is how he whispers in their ears until he imprisons them with his awful chains, from which there’s no rescue. They’re imprisoned by death and hell and the accuser; and all those who have been captured by these will stand before God’s throne and be judged according to their works. From there they’ll go to the place prepared for them — a fiery lake that burns like lava, which is endless torment. Therefore, woe to those who are at ease in Zion!” [Joseph Smith has done more for our understanding of Zion through the Restoration. It is impossible to be at ease in a place you are unfamiliar with conceptually] (CofC 2 Nephi 12:4; emphasis added).

Mother of Abominations

          The greatest abomination a church is guilty of is altering Christ’s gospel from its original intent. Abomination is defined as:

“The use of religion to suppress truth or impose a false form of truth. It involves the religious justification of wrongdoing. That is, something becomes abominable when it is motivated out of a false form of religious observance or is justified because of religious error. Abominable means doing or celebrating something false as a religious sacrament — treating something that isn’t God’s (or even approved by Him) as His. It’s considered blasphemy. It’s repugnant to God, and it ought to be repugnant to mankind. Actions or practices are abominable because they fail to reconnect mankind to God. “It is easy to create abominations; all one needs to do is engage in unapproved religious practices” (A Glossary of Gospel Terms, Abominable/Abomination, pp.1-2, emphasis added).

The rise of the accuser’s church in the days of the Gentiles occurs when the Bible is delivered from the Jews to the Gentiles.

“Then the Angel of the Lord said: You’ve seen that the book came from the Jews [Bible]. When it came from the Jews, it contained the fullness of the gospel of the Lamb, whom the Twelve witnesses testified about. And they testified truthfully of the Lamb of God. So these things were delivered in purity from the Jews to the Gentiles, relating the truth of God. After they’re delivered by the Lamb’s Twelve witnesses, from the Jews to the Gentiles, you see the establishment of that corrupt and utterly wicked church, which is the most detestable of all other churches. For they removed from the Lamb’s gospel many clear and extremely valuable parts and they’ve also removed many of the Lord’s covenants. They’ve done all this in order to corrupt and pervert the right ways of the Lord, to blind people’s eyes and harden their hearts. Therefore you see that after the book has passed through the hands of that corrupt and utterly wicked church, many clear and extremely valuable things are gone from the book, which is the book of the Lamb of God. And after these clear and valuable things are gone, it was passed along to all the Gentile nations.

And after all Gentile nations receive the book, a great number of people make a great number of mistakes that gives Satan power over them. That altered book is what the Gentiles who crossed the sea to escape captivity bring with them. It lacks many clear, understandable things about the Lamb of God. Nevertheless, you see the Gentiles have left captivity and have been liberated by God’s power to independently control the land. The land is better than all other places on earth. The Lord God covenanted with your father to inherit it, and your descendants will mix with your brothers’ descendants and survive. God won’t let the Gentiles destroy all your brothers’ descendants, or leave the Gentiles in the awful blind condition you see that resulted from that utterly wicked church removing the clear and extremely valuable parts of the Lamb’s gospel. Therefore, the Lamb of God says, I’ll have mercy for the Gentiles and will judge and punish the remnant of the house of Israel” (CofC 1 Nephi 3:21-22; emphasis added).

The effect of the utterly wicked church removing the “clear and valuable things” from the Bible accomplishes two of Satan’s objectives. It blinds the Gentiles, causing them to make many mistakes. Mistakes caused by incomplete information coupled with sincere intent. The Gentiles harden their hearts because falsehoods and false practices never produce faith. [6] What it produces is abominations before God, repugnant to enlightened men and women. Like institutionalized adultery referred to as polygamy.

                    The church of the accuser gives birth to abominable doctrines and practices. The Lord declares plainly those words and ordinances ordained by Him are immutable and will all be fulfilled in accordance to His words without variation.

“And again, truly I say unto you, O inhabitants of the earth, for I, the Lord, am willing to make these things known unto all flesh, for I am no respecter to persons and will that all men shall know that the day speedily comes; the hour is not yet, but is nearly at hand, when peace shall be taken from the earth and the Devil shall have power over his own dominion [one of two churches]; and also, the Lord shall have power over his saints, and shall reign in their midst, and shall come down in judgment upon Idumea, or the world.

Search these commandments for they are true and faithful, and the prophecies and promises which are in them shall all be fulfilled. What I, the Lord, have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself. And though the heaven and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by my own voice or by the voice of my servants it is the same. For behold and lo, the Lord is God and the spirit bears record, and the record is true, and the truth abides for ever and ever. Amen” (RE T&C 54:6-7; emphasis added).

Words spoken by the Lord or His servants will all be fulfilled. His words are immutable and not subject to editorial review by mortal institutions claiming His authority. Reasons for introducing the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ relate to “mistakes” the Gentiles make because of truth redacted from the Bible and attendant practices following after.

“Wherefore, the voice of the Lord is unto the end of the earth, that all that will hear may hear: Prepare yourselves, prepare for that which is to come, for the Lord is near and the anger of the Lord is kindled, and his sword [7] is bathed in Heaven and it shall fall upon the inhabitants of the earth, and the arm of the Lord shall be revealed. And the day comes that they who will not hear the voice of the Lord, neither his servants, neither give heed to the words of the prophets and apostles, shall be cut off from among the people, for they have strayed from my ordinances and have broken my everlasting covenant [only those who receive His ordinances and covenant are guilty of these sins]. They seek not the Lord to establish his righteousness, but every man walks in his own way and after the image of his own god, whose image is in the likeness of the world [the accuser’s church doesn’t promote seeking the Lord to establish His righteousness. Their focus is on the preservation of the institution and asserting authority to mediate the salvation of man], and whose substance is that of an idol [preservation of the institution transcends other divine objectives in importance] which waxes old and shall perish in Babylon, even Babylon the great which shall fall” (RE T&C 54:3; emphasis added).

The Lord through Isaiah warned of consequences for those who innovate and alter His ordinances and covenants.

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

In the face of the Lord’s solemn and sobering warning, those claiming authority to represent him declare their true allegiance by their willingness to be cavalier in ignoring His warnings. They alter His established ordinances and ignore or alter covenant obligations.

These acts are not necessarily due to nefarious motives. Often, they are a product of ignorance of doctrine and neglect of the scriptures. Certainly evidence of a lack of divine guidance. They are often unwitting and oblivious in their allegiance to the accuser’s church. Regardless of intent, the outcome leads souls of men to destruction rather than to God. They are triply punished for setting themselves up as lights to their followers. [8] All suffer, but suffering is worse for those claiming divine authority. They bear the sins of those they mislead. [9] To make spurious, unsubstantiated claims of divine authority comes with severe consequences. In effect they place themselves as intermediaries between the person and the Savior. A place enlightened people never seek to occupy.

Whore

                    The description of the “mother of abominations” changes in Nephi’s vernacular to describing her as a “whore.” Giving birth to abominations is not the offspring of a sacred union of marriage. Abominations are the progeny of selling access to her body intended by God to be our most sacred of temples. [10] Surrendering access to what God deems as sacred defiles it; leading to destruction. [11] 

The birth of abominations began when the “utterly wicked church,” the “most detestable of all churches” removed essential truth corrupting the Bible. Taking editorial license with inspired content leads Gentiles into “mistakes” or “abominations” by those benefitting from alterations. From the changes sprang false traditions passed from fathers to their posterity. It introduces one of two strategies the accuser uses to remove light and truth from mankind.

“. . . 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. [12] But I have commanded you to bring up your children in light and truth” (RE T&C 93:11; emphasis added).

Traditions, true or false, are powerful because each passing generation believes conclusions from prior generations. If a child is immersed in light and truth in their youth, they are more inclined toward preserving righteous traditions. [13] The history of the Lamanites in the Covenant of Christ illustrates how false, wicked traditions hardened the hearts of successive generations leading to degradation and genocide. This is at the heart of the Lord’s warning to latter-day generations to prepare. Those willing to commit atrocities will be purged from the earth by burning. This leads us to the fate of the church of the accuser and those affiliated with her:

“And the murderous guilt of that utterly wicked church [14] — the whore of the entire earth — will come back upon their own heads, because they’ll fight among themselves. The swords they wield will fall upon their own heads, and they’ll be drunk with their own blood. And every nation that fights against you, O house of Israel, will be turned against each other. They’ll fall into the pit they dug to ensnare the Lord’s people [false traditions, disobedience to the commandments]. Those who fight against [the real, not purported] Zion will be destroyed. And the great whore that’s corrupted and perverted the right ways of the Lord — that utterly wicked church — will tumble to the dust, and its fall will be complete. The prophet has said: The time is quickly coming that Satan will no longer have power over mankind’s hearts. The time is soon coming that the proud and those who do evil will be like straw; and the time is coming that they will certainly be burned. Indeed, the time is soon coming when the full extent of God’s wrath will be poured out on all mankind, since He won’t allow the wicked to destroy the righteous. Therefore He’ll keep the righteous safe by His power, even if it means that the full extent of His wrath must come while the righteous are preserved by God destroying their enemies by fire. Therefore the righteous don’t need to be afraid, because the prophet has said: They will be saved, even if it requires fire. My brothers, these things are coming soon; there will be blood, fire, and smoke here, covering the face of this land. It will happen to mortal people in this life if they reject the Holy One of Israel. However the righteous won’t be destroyed, because those who fight against Zion are who will be cut off.

And the Lord will absolutely prepare the way for His people. He’ll fulfill the words of Moses, when he said: A prophet will the Lord your God raise up for you, like unto me. You’re to hear Him in all things whatsoever He’ll teach you. And then everyone who won’t follow that prophet will be cut off from among the people. [15] Now I declare to you that this prophet that Moses spoke about was the Holy One of Israel [see footnote 15, the prophecy is fulfilled by a servant delivering the words of Christ to the Gentiles]. Given that, He’ll execute judgment in righteousness. The righteous don’t need to be afraid because they aren’t the ones to be brought to ruin. Instead, it’s the accuser’s kingdom built up by people, and established among those living on earth, that will fall. The time will soon come when the churches built up for profit, built up to gain power over mankind, built up to become popular in the world, and those that try to gratify the lusts of the people and desire worldly things and indulge in all kinds of iniquity — in short, all those that belong to the accuser’s kingdom — they’re the ones who need to be afraid, tremble, and shake. They’re the ones who will be thrown low in the dust. They’re the ones who will be burned up like straw. This is according to the prophet’s words. The time will soon come when the righteous will be cared for like well-fed calves, and the Holy One of Israel will rule in dominion, strength, power, and great glory. He’ll gather His children from the four quarters of the earth and will count His sheep, and they will know Him. And they’ll constitute one fold with one Shepherd; He’ll feed His sheep and they’ll find security in Him. Because of His people’s righteousness, [16] Satan won’t have any power. He won’t be let loose for many years since he won’t have any influence in people’s hearts, because they’ll live in righteousness and the Holy One of Israel will rule. Now I tell you all these things will happen here in this world. But people of every nation, tribe, and language will abide safely with the Holy One of Israel if they only repent” (CofC 1 Nephi 7:4-5; emphasis added).

Nephi wrote this prophecy for the benefit of his people and the Gentiles. He warns all mankind in the last days there are many churches with many motives. Collectively they form the offspring of the “mother of abominations.” He sees them contending with one another to the extent of shedding the blood of their rivals, like Nephites and Lamanites. Amid chaos among the church of the accuser, the Church of the Lamb gathers from among Gentile nations forming God’s family, Israel.

                    As the accuser collectively leads his malevolent offspring in their descent to hell, [17] the righteous gather to be led by the Lord to “grow up as calves to the stall” [18] to lands of their inheritance. The lands are available for gathering Israel because the wicked sweep one another from Israel’s inheritance and the wicked remnant burned.

Conclusion

                    As the church of the accuser descends to the dust, many are faced with weighing where their affiliation lies. Because of the numerosity of choices and strength of familial traditions, many become disillusioned by hypocrisy and contradictions. They arise when men under Satan’s influence innovate and adulterate Christ’s doctrines of salvation. As fallacies of churches of the accuser are exposed, Gentiles turn away from the truth because they realize they are led away from truth and turned to “fables.” [19] Disillusionment and distrust lead to cynicism and hard hearts rather than faith in Christ.

                    When churches of the accuser are exposed, the instinct among followers leads to feelings of betrayal, anger, and bitterness. When those feelings develop, remember Nephi’s prophecy the Lord will not allow the Gentiles to continue to error in doctrine. There are two ways the Lord destroys the wicked. One is to allow them to destroy one another before His judgments destroy them all. His preference is to destroy the wicked by leading them to repent. Most wickedness is caused by ignorance of light and truth. He seeks to reclaim as many men and women as repent and open their hearts and minds. The Father introduces the “great and awe-inspiring work” to gather His family, Israel.

“Then the Angel of the Lord told me: The Lamb of God says: After I’ve judged the remnant of the house of Israel (referring to your father’s descendants), after punishing them using the Gentiles, I’ll show mercy to the Gentiles. They’ll make a great many mistakes because of the extremely clear and valuable parts of the Lamb’s gospel that have been removed by that utterly wicked church, which is the mother of harlots. But by My power I’ll bring to light for them more of My gospel, which will be clear and very valuable, says the Lamb. Indeed, says the Lamb, I’ll personally appear to your descendants [Lehi’s seed] so they are able to write many things that I’ll provide to them, which will be plain and very valuable. After your descendants are destroyed and fall away in unbelief, along with your brothers’ descendants, these writings will be hidden and protected, to later be delivered to the Gentiles by the gift and power of the Lamb. My gospel will be written in them, says the Lamb — My rock and My salvation. I’ll bless those who then want to bring about My Zion; they’ll have the gift and power of the Holy Ghost. And if they continue faithful to the end, they’ll be raised up on the last day and saved in the everlasting kingdom of the Lamb. Therefore, any who proclaim peace, the joyful news, how beautiful shall be their presence upon the mountains! . . . 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 [greater light and truth], 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 [false traditions], 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” (CofC 1 Nephi 3:23, 25-26; emphasis added).

            Nephi sees among the Church of the Lamb of God and His covenant people “holy ones” who are “armed” with “righteousness and the power of God in great glory [see footnote 16].” It is incumbent upon all, Gentiles and Israel to search out and find the Church of the Lamb of God. There numbers are small but the contrast between the two churches grow, making their differences more stark. If Gentiles resist hardening their hearts and cultivate broken hearts and contrite spirits God will lead them to the congregation of the Lamb if they repent. [20]

          The scriptures are the “rod of iron” God provides to aid us in navigating “mists of darkness” impairing our vision of the straight and narrow path. Deceptions keep us from seeing clearly the way to partake of God’s love at the Tree of Life.

          Reviewing Nephi’s prophecies with prayerful reflection, we see plainly keys to discerning between two churches. The church of the accuser is both “wealthy” and “corrupt.” It repeatedly accesses the Lord’s revelations and edits and redacts information valuable, even essential to mankind’s salvation. It did so with the Bible. It has done so with revelations from the Restoration. The church of the accuser declares open war against the Lamb of God and His church.

“. . . And I saw the great mother of abominations assembled in large numbers all over the earth among all Gentile nations to fight against the Lamb of God. . .” (CofC 1 Nephi 3:28; emphasis added)

How does the church of the accuser fight against the Lamb of God? Through lies and accusations. [21] False traditions from prior generations lead many into forbidden paths, often with the best intentions. Intentions aside, we are condemned because God gave us agency and we fail to choose wisely. Divine justice demands personal responsibility and consequences for our choices.

Prophetic Keys to Discerning the Church of the Lamb

1.    The Lord reveals His “arm,” a servant who becomes the means of accomplishing His “great and awe-inspiring” work. The servant reveals the words of Christ to the last days Gentiles. The veracity of his words and teachings coupled with the Spirit of God are his divine credentials. [22] Under the Lord’s guidance, he and a few laborers carry out the labors in the Lord’s vineyard that bring forth fruit. [23]

2.    The Lord reveals more of the Testimony of Saint John:

“And it shall come to pass, that if you are faithful you shall receive the fulness of the record of John. . .” (RE T&C 93:7; emphasis added).

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

3.      The Church of the Lamb of God receives sealed portions of the Book of Mormon:

“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 [Gentiles] 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; emphasis added).

Two hundred years have passed since the Restoration through Joseph Smith began. Three questions stand at the forefront of determining the identity of the Church of the Lamb. First, have any institutions demonstrated the ability to bring to light these scriptures? Second, are any of the institutions claiming Joseph Smith as their founder been successful in accomplishing a “Zion” culture in preparation for the Second Coming? Third, has any institution been able to replicate receiving revelation from God like Joseph Smith. If the keys held by Joseph Smith were truly present, why did the Doctrine & Covenants cease to grow?

The Final Test

          Modern culture provides a commonsense test applying to two churches in the last days. Simply stated, it is known as “The Duck Test.”

“If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck.”

When the mortal history of earth plays out and we view these events retrospectively, unless we have been wise, we will be overcome with shock at how foolishly we neglected our privileges. The Lord said to Joseph Smith:

“. . . the weak things of the world should come forth and break down the mighty and strong ones, that man should not counsel his fellow man, neither trust in the arm of flesh. . .” (RE T&C 54:4; emphasis added).

Resist trusting in the arm of flesh. Trust only in God and flee from institutions claiming His authority with nothing but wealth to substantiate it. Remember:

“If thou wilt be perfect, sell all thou hast and give to the poor.”

The Church of the Lamb resembles this mantra and are those seeking to establish His righteousness and restore Zion in the last days.

          The church of the accuser falls with or without you. As events triggering its collapse unfold, resist hardening our hearts, repent of our sins and search diligently for truth. The Lord will entice all to join the congregations of the Lamb and assist in building Zion.

[1] “The Lord also told me [Joseph of Egypt]: I’ll give your descendants also a prophet [Joseph Smith] and make a spokesman [servant] for him. I’ll inspire the one to write the record of your descendants to bless your offspring. And that spokesman will declare that record. The words he’ll write will be the words that, in My wisdom, I consider important for your offspring to read. It will be as if your descendants called out to them from the dust, because I know their faith. They’ll call out the need for repentance from the dust for their brothers and sisters many generations after they’ve died. Their words will go forth in a way that is a direct, clear message. Because of their faith, their words will go from Me to their brothers and sisters who are your offspring. I’ll make the simplicity of their words result in strong faith as they learn about the covenant I made with your fathers” (CofC 2 Nephi 2:6; emphasis added).

[2] “After He had said these words, He said: Look! And I looked and saw the Son of God mingling as a mortal with mankind. I saw many fall down at His feet and worship Him. Then I realized the iron railing my father saw was God’s word. It led to the source of living waters or to the tree of life, whose waters represent God’s love. I also concluded the tree of life represented God’s love” (CofC 1 Nephi 3:10; emphasis added).

[3] See Cambridge English Dictionary, emphasis added.

[4] “The Law also says for you to love your neighbor, and lets you even hate your enemy. But now I say to you: Love your enemies also, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them who despitefully use you and persecute you, so you may become the children of your Father who is in heaven, for He makes His sun to rise on the evil and on the good. Therefore everything ordained anciently under the Law of Moses has all been fulfilled through Me. Those prior things are over and I implement these new things. 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).

[5] It is noteworthy that those who are “pacified” and “lulled” are the same ones who associate themselves with “Zion.” By noting this distinction Nephi points to those who view their prosperity as God’s endorsement of them as a people. The fact Nephi points to those attributes present in the church of the accuser is viewed dismissively. It is also a reason they “disregard the just for something of no value and loudly condemn what’s good and say it’s worthless.” When the “whore of all the earth” falls to dust they anger out of feelings of betrayal. That betrayal leads to cynicism against all matters of faith. When God invites all mankind to know Him personally, they choose to “trust in the arm of flesh.”

[6] “Let us here observe that three things are necessary in order that any rational and intelligent being may exercise faith in God unto life and salvation.

First, the idea that he actually exists.

Secondly, a correct idea of his character, perfections, and attributes.

Thirdly, an actual knowledge that the course of life which he is pursuing is according to his will. For without an acquaintance with these three important facts, the faith of every rational being must be imperfect and unproductive, but with this understanding it can become perfect and fruitful, abounding in righteousness unto the praise and glory of God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (RE T&C 110, Lectures on Faith, Lecture 3:2-5; emphasis added).

[7] “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil; for we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore, take unto you the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore having your loins girded about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness, and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace — above all, taking the shield of faith, with which you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit (which is the word of God), praying always, with all prayer and supplication in the spirit, and watching unto that with all perseverance and supplication for all saints, and for me — that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel for which I am an ambassador in bonds, that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak” (RE Ephesians 1:25; emphasis added).

[8] “The Lord God Almighty has said: Woe, woe, woe to the wise, the well educated, and the rich who are prideful to their very center, and to all those who preach false doctrines, practice whoredoms, worship idols, and corrupt and pervert the Lord’s right way! They will be thrown down to hell” (CofC 2 Nephi 12:3; emphasis added).

[9] “Again the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, speak to the children of your people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their borders and set him for their watchman, if, when he sees the sword come upon the land, he blows the trumpet and warns the people, then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet and takes not warning, if the sword come and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. He heard the sound of the trumpet and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that takes warning shall deliver his soul.

But if the watchman sees the sword come and blows not the trumpet, and the people are not warned, if the sword come and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand” (RE Ezekiel 16:1-2; emphasis added).

[10] “Food for the belly, and the belly for food, but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God has both raised up the Lord and will also raise up us by his own power. Do you not know that your bodies are the members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them the members of a harlot? God forbid. What? Do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body? For two, says he, shall be one flesh. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. Flee fornication. Every sin that a man commits is against the body of Christ, and he who commits fornication sins against his own body. What? Do you not know that your body is the temple of the holy ghost which is in you, which you have of God? And you are not your own, for you are bought with a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” (RE 1 Corinthians 1:23; emphasis added).

[11] “Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the spirit of God dwells in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are” (RE 1 Corinthians 1:12; emphasis added).

[12] [explanation of the allegory of the Olive Tree in Jacob] “And then they go through things and so we skip to verse 61:  “…call servants, that we [servants] may labor diligently with our might in the vineyard, that we may prepare the way, that I [the Lord] may bring forth again the natural fruit, which natural fruit is good and the most precious above all other fruit.” [That's the whole purpose of the endeavor. And when they call servants in order to help them, the labor of the servants is confined to trying to make the vineyard finally produce fruit again.] Verse 62: “Wherefore, let us go to and labor with our might this last time, for behold the end draweth nigh, and this is for the last time that I shall prune my vineyard.” He tells them again in verse 64: “for the last time, for the end draweth nigh.

And if it be so that these last grafts shall grow, and bring forth the natural fruit, then shall ye prepare the

way for them, that they may grow.” Again in verse 71: “Behold, this is the last time that I shall nourish

my vineyard; for the end is nigh at hand, and the season speedily cometh; and if ye labor with your might

with me ye shall have joy in the fruit which I shall lay up unto myself against the time which will soon

come. And it came to pass that the servants did go and labor with their mights; and the Lord of the

vineyard labored also with them;” [Because the Lord in the last effort, is not going to leave the servants

that he sends, unattended to, by His ministration. This is why in the verses we been reading, and every

location we been at, we find that the personal ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ, direct, immediate and

involved. He continues to remain personally in charge of what is going to happen. But as it begins to

happen these Divinely appointed ministers have to sit back and watch. Because the question isn't, is the

laborer any less, any well prepared, any less capable, any less complete? No, they are truly sent by the

Master. Therefore, the question instead is: What are the branches going to do?]

You can minister all you want to the tree, but the tree has to respond, sometimes to what they

view as offensive pruning, offensive digging, offensive conduct of cutting and moving and grafting.

Sometimes the kindly service requires the blunt statement that what you have here is error. What you

have here is a bundle of false tradition that will damn you.

You can plant the doctrine, you can restore the truth, you can have the Prophet Joseph Smith

declare to you that he wants to be held to account for every word of the testimony that he delivers to

you in a canonized set of scripture. But if you decide that you are going to throw that away, and you will

not allow it to graft in and inform you about the nature of God, and nature of the religion that God is

seeking to deliver to you, then the ministration, and the pruning, and the care, does not result in

producing fruit. It simply results in a rather damaged vineyard, continuing to produce precious little,

other than what is suitable to be gathered in bundles and burned as a consequence of the loftiness of

the people” (Covenants, Denver Snuffer Jr., pp. 16-17; emphasis added).

[13] “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (RE Proverbs 2:364; emphasis added).

[14] “Then I fell to the ground, and I couldn’t open my mouth or use my limbs for three days and nights. And the angel said more things to me, which were heard by my companions, but I didn’t hear them. Because when I heard the words: End your efforts to destroy the congregation, unless you want to be destroyed! I was struck with such great fear and amazement thinking I might be destroyed, that I collapsed and didn’t hear anything else. But I was tortured with eternal torment — my soul suffered to the greatest extent and was tortured by guilt over all my sins. I remembered every sin and all my iniquities, and they tormented me with the pains of hell. Indeed, I could see my rebellion against God and that I hadn’t kept His holy commandments. And I had effectively murdered many of His children by leading them away to destruction — to be clear, my iniquities had been so overwhelming that the very thought of coming into the presence of God tortured my soul with inexpressible horror. I thought to myself: I wish I could vanish and cease all existence, both spirit and body, so I could avoid being brought to stand in the presence of God to be judged for my actions. And now I was tortured with the pains of a damned soul for three days and nights” (CofC Alma 17:3; emphasis added).

[15] “At that time, to advance My cause, the Father will begin a work, which will be a great and awe-inspiring work among them. There will be many who won’t believe it, although a man will tell it to them. But the ministry of My servant will be led by My hand; therefore they won’t be able to harm his work, although he’ll be opposed and discredited by them. Yet I’ll support him; I’ll show them My wisdom is greater than the accuser’s deceitful scheming. Therefore those who won’t believe in My words, and I Am Jesus Christ, which the Father will give and empower that servant to set before the Gentiles, it will result exactly as Moses said: They will be cut off from My people who are part of the covenant. And then you, a remnant of the house of Jacob, will rise up from them. And you’ll be mixed in with them who will outnumber you. You’ll be among them like a lion among his prey in the forest, and as a young lion among the flocks of sheep, who moves unopposed to take down and tear to pieces. Your hand will be against your opponents and all your enemies will be cut down. Yes, woe to the Gentiles unless they repent: For when that day comes, says the Father, I’ll take away your strength from you [Gentiles], and I’ll destroy your security. Your cities will fall and I’ll break open your guarded borders. Your sciences and learning will turn into foolishness, and your false beliefs will cause your failure. I’ll expose the fraud of those in authority, and your trusted institutions will lose everyone’s loyalty. False prophets and false ministers will be brought to shame and humiliation. All lying, deceiving, envying, strife, priestcraft, and whoredoms will come to an end. At that time, says the Father, I’ll cut down anyone who won’t repent and draw near to My Beloved Son to preserve My people, the house of Israel. I’ll take vengeance and unleash My fierce anger on all the unbelieving, beyond anything they expect” (CofC 3 Nephi 9:12; emphasis added).

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

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

[17] “Alma saw that Amulek’s words silenced Zeezrom. Zeezrom realized Amulek caught him lying and misleading, attempting to destroy him. Because Zeezrom was trembling in fear from his guilt, Alma spoke directly to him, confirming Amulek’s words and elaborating and explaining the scriptures beyond what Amulek had covered. What Alma told Zeezrom was overheard by everyone who gathered around them. He said this: Now Zeezrom, your lies and misrepresentations have been exposed. But you haven’t just lied to these people, you’ve also lied to God. He knows all your thoughts and God has revealed your thoughts to us by His Spirit. You see we understand your plan. It was cunning, but follows Satan’s pattern, hoping to use a lie to deceive these people, so you could turn them against us. You expected them to scorn us and throw us out. Now this was your adversary’s plan, and you’ve surrendered, letting him control you. Remember that what I tell you, I tell to everyone. I warn all of you that this was a trap of the adversary he has used to control you. He hopes you follow him and get caught in his chains. He wants your everlasting destruction, which results from letting him control you. . . 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 9:1,3; emphasis added).

[18] “For behold, the day comes that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly shall be stubble. And the day that comes shall burn them up, says the Lord of Hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in his wings, and you shall go forth and grow up as calves of the stall. And you shall tread down the wicked, for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, says the Lord of Hosts” (RE Malachi 1:10; emphasis added).

[19] “I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing in his kingdom: Preach the word, be ready in season. Those who are out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine, for the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears. And they shall turn away their ears from the truth and shall be turned unto fables. But watch yourself in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of your ministry; for I am now about to be offered and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight. I have finished my course. I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day — and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” (RE 2 Timothy 1:10; emphasis added).

[20] “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. 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).

[21] “. . . Your father is the accuser, and you share the envy and rebellion of your father. He was a rebellious destroyer from the beginning, and fought against the truth, because he prefers lies. When he spreads a lie, he advances his agenda. He is the source of deceit in this fallen world. And because I am the Source of truth, you are unable to believe me. Which of you can truthfully show that I have missed the mark? And if I teach the truth, why do you refuse to believe me? Everyone who follows the Most High God hearkens to God’s words. Because you do not follow the Most High God, you cannot hear him” (RE T&C 171, Testimony of Saint John 6:19; emphasis added).

[22] “Truly I say unto you, he that is ordained of me and sent forth to preach the word of truth by the Comforter, in the spirit of truth, 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” (RE T&C 36:4; emphasis added).

[23] “Then the lord of the vineyard sent his servant, and the servant went and did as the lord had commanded him and brought a few other servants. And the lord of the vineyard told them: Get started and work hard in the vineyard. This is the last time I’ll tend my vineyard — the end is near and the harvest is coming quickly. If you work hard with me, you’ll have joy in the fruit that I’ll harvest for myself at the end of the growing season” (CofC Jacob 3:26; emphasis added).

Scott Roderick

8/4/26

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