Unraveling the Prophecy of Malachi and the Mystery of ElijahThe “Root of Jesse”- Part 3
In part 2, John the Beloved is discussed as a latter-day Elias with two objectives. The first objective is “restore all things” and the second is “to gather Israel.” As a translated being, John does not accomplish these missions personally. This is the work of flesh and blood. John’s mission directs a mortal counterpart in accomplishing these tasks.
Prior to giving Malachi’s prophecy to the Nephites, Jesus admonished the Nephites to heed the prophecy of Isaiah.
“Now I tell you that you ought to carefully study these things. In fact, I give you a commandment to study these things diligently, because Isaiah’s prophecies are critical. He clearly focused his prophecy on My people who are part of the house of Israel. Therefore he necessarily prophesied about the Gentiles. And everything he prophesied has happened, or will happen, precisely as he foretold. Therefore pay careful attention to My words. Write down the things I’ve told you. At the time decided by the Father, they will be provided to the Gentiles. And anyone who obeys My words, repents, and is baptized, will be saved. Carefully study the teachings of the prophets, because many of them explain these things” (CofC 3 Nephi 10:4; emphasis added).
When Nephi appeared to Joseph Smith, he quoted prophecies from Malachi concerning the burning of the earth. After quoting Malachi, Nephi turned to Isaiah 11. After quoting Malachi’s prophecy he then quotes Isaiah 11 following a logical order linking these prophecies in their fulfillment. A second conclusion is the Lord intended Joseph Smith to have a role in their fulfillment.
Like Malachi’s prophecy, Isaiah 11 in the King James Version refers to three people with prophetic roles in the last days. The men referred to in Isaiah 11 were explained by revelation to Joseph Smith.
I’ve written extensively about Isaiah’s prophecy in chapter 11 and refer you to those writings for an in-depth explanation of three men mentioned. All three play a role but the third is the primary participant directed by John the Beloved in fulfilling his prophetic role.
By revelation to Joseph Smith the Lord gave the following description of the “Root of Jesse:”
“Question: What is the Root of Jesse spoken of in the 10th verse of the 11th chapter [Isa. 5:4]?
Answer: Behold, thus says the Lord: It is a descendant of Jesse [Judah, Israel’s throne, king David’s father] as well as of Joseph [Ephraim, birthright][1], unto whom rightly belongs the Priesthood [2]and the keys of the Kingdom[3], for an ensign[4] and for the gathering of my people in the last day” (RE T&C 129:3; emphasis added).
Parsing the description of the “Root of Jesse,” there are several elements linking the Lord’s mortal servant to Malachi’s prophecy, the Patriarchal Fathers, and the mission given to John the Beloved to “restore all things” and “gather Israel.”
The “Root of Jesse” has a lineal descent through Judah [Jesse, David’s tribe and right to Israel’s throne] and Joseph [birthright blessings, Ephraim]. Under the head of the “Root of Jesse” the dual lineages consisting of the tribes of Judah and Ephraim unite. Their union begins because the “Root of Jesse” raises an “ensign,” typically characterized by a flag declaring nationality. This metaphor designates a rallying point where the faithful gather. In this example the “ensign” is for Israel’s gathering.
Isaiah says of that day:
“. . . And in that day [last days], there shall be a Root of Jesse who shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the gentiles seek [repentant Gentiles], and his [Root of Jesse’] rest shall be glorious.
And it shall come to pass in that day that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people [5]which shall be left from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. And he [Root of Jesse] shall set up an ensign for the nations [of Israel], and shall assemble the outcasts [scattered] of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah, from the four corners of the earth.[6] The envy also of Ephraim shall depart and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off. Ephraim shall not envy Judah [as heirs to Israel’s throne] and Judah shall not vex Ephraim [because Ephraim holds the birthright from Joseph of Egypt. Envy between the two disappears because the “Root of Jesse” is privileged to hold both under one head]. But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines [Israel’s enemies] toward the west, they shall spoil them of the east together, they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab, and the children of Ammon shall obey [submit to] them. And the Lord shall utterly destroy the tongue [spokesman, leader] of the Egyptian sea [unrepentant Gentiles, military], and with his mighty wind [7] [parting of the Red Sea] he shall shake his hand over the river[8], and shall smite it in the seven streams, and make men go over with dry feet. And there shall be a highway for the remnant of his people which shall be left from Assyria [Israel’s conquerors in Isaiah and Hezekiah’s day] like it was to Israel in the day that he [Moses] came up out of the land of Egypt [Moses delivers Israel from Egyptian captivity by the Powers of Heaven]” (RE Isaiah 5:4-5; emphasis added).
The Root of Jesse is the mortal instrument through whom John the Beloved fulfills his responsibility of gathering Israel and restoring all things including the original Priesthood held by Adam at the beginning.
The restoration of “all things” is accomplished not like a light switch where you go from darkness immediately to light. John’s role as an “Elias” is Aaronic and preparatory. To raise the “ensign” that connects Heaven with earth certain milestones need to be accomplished. Those milestones are preparatory for a “greater work”[9] to come forward.
Before greater things can be revealed there must be a more elevated level of understanding among mortal men. Like Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery, their learning began with the introduction of revelation and scripture. Both are related to John the Beloved’s mission of Elias I’ve written extensively about. John’s work involves restoring the full scope of scripture including those things the accuser removed through the wicked and wealthy church.[10]
The greater work John the Beloved with the Root of Jesse prepare for is the Spirit of Elijah to descend from Heaven to establish a permanent connection to earth. For the connection or “ensign” to be raised, the Root of Jesse delivers the words of Christ to the Gentiles.[11]
After the Gentiles reject the words of Christ by the Root of Jesse they and their institutions lose trust and are destroyed from within.
Roles reverse between the Gentiles and scattered Israel. God’s justice falls upon the Gentiles who reject the words of Christ given to them by the Lord’s servant. Destruction falls upon the unrepentant Gentiles when repentant Gentiles are numbered with Lehi’s descendants and are separated from the wicked.
Together with Lehi’s descendants they establish a New Jerusalem in the America’s.[12] Included in the New Jerusalem will be Zion at the top of a mountain where a metaphorical stairway opens, the Lord accepts the temple and Patriarchal Fathers descend to open the “record of Heaven” to the righteous dwelling there in Zion. With the “record of Heaven” open sanctified Gentiles and Israel have “all things” restored. Including records of the Brother of Jared and sealed records held by John the Beloved:
“Now after they’ve all dwindled in unbelief and only Lamanites remain, who have rejected Christ’s gospel — I’ve been commanded to hide them away again in the ground. I’ve written on these plates the very things Jared’s brother saw. Greater things were never revealed than those things revealed to Jared’s brother. Therefore the Lord has commanded me to write them down and I’ve written them. He also commanded me to seal them up under His care. He has also commanded me to protect the ability to translate them, so I’ve sealed the Interpreters according to the Lord’s commandment. The Lord told me: They must not go to the Gentiles until they repent of their iniquity and become clean [sanctified, prepared to dwell in the presence of those dwelling in “everlasting burnings”] before the Lord. The Lord said: When they [Gentiles] exercise faith in Me, just as Jared’s brother did, so that they become sanctified in Me, then I’ll show them the things Jared’s brother saw, even providing all My revelations to them. This is what Jesus Christ said, who’s the Son of God the Father of the heavens and the earth, and everything in them.
Let any who fight against the Lord’s word be cursed. And any who deny these things, let them be cursed, as Jesus Christ has said: I won’t show any greater things to them for I Am the one who speaks. At My command, the heavens open and shut, and at My word the earth will shake. At My command, those living on earth will die by fire. Those who don’t believe My words don’t believe My disciples. If you think I don’t speak, decide for yourself; but you’ll know on the last day that I Am the one who speaks. And I’ll visit those who believe the things I’ve spoken by the manifestations of My Spirit.[13] They’ll [repentant Gentiles] know and testify; because of My Spirit, they’ll know these things are true, since they persuade mankind to do good. Anything that persuades people to do good comes from Me, because good comes from no one other than Me. I Am the same one who leads people to everything good.” (CofC Ether 1:17-19; emphasis added).
When the Lord’s servant delivers the words of Christ to the Gentiles, it fulfills the prophecy of Moses. Those refusing to accept the words of the Lord’s servant, (they will be “many”)[14] are cut-off from Israel.[15]
In Ether’s prophecy the Lord addresses the time when the Gentiles are “cut-off” from Israel. The Savior warns those who reject His words delivered by His servant will be cursed. Rejection of the Lord and His servants both result in divine curses on those who fail in heeding His warnings.
The Lord performs His “great and awe-inspiring work” many Gentiles reject. When most Gentiles reject the servant they openly “oppose and discredit him.” Gentile opposition to the servant and his message is the line established by the Lord where His curses pour out upon wicked Gentiles. Failing to learn by precept, the Gentiles begin learning by “sad experience.”[16]
When many Gentiles reject the Lord’s servant and the words of Christ he brings to light His wrath kindles against the Gentiles. Covenant curses are poured out upon the Gentiles in fulfillment of Moroni’s abridgment of the record of Ether:
“Now we’ll witness God’s decrees concerning this land, and whoever occupies this land of promise must serve God, or they’ll be swept away when they provoke His full wrath upon them. The full extent of God’s wrath will be provoked when they’ve ripened in iniquity. This is a land that’s specially chosen and better than all other places on earth. That being the case, those who inhabit it must serve God or they’ll be swept away because of God’s everlasting decree. But they aren’t swept away until there’s a fullness of iniquity among the occupants of the land. This is coming to you, Gentiles, so you can know God’s decrees, so you can repent and not continue in your iniquities until the fullness has come, so you don’t provoke the full extent of God’s wrath upon you as the inhabitants of the land have all done before. This is a choice land; and any nation that inhabits it will be free from enslavement and captivity and from all other nations under heaven if they will only serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ, who’s been revealed to you through the things we’ve written” (CofC Ether 1:7; emphasis added).
The Gentiles “ripen in iniquity” when they reject the Lord’s servant and truth revealed by him. The consequences of the Gentile rejection are felt when repentant Gentiles become empowered from on high by the Lord and the Patriarchal Fathers.
“And I saw that God’s wrath was poured out upon that wealthy and utterly wicked church, so that wars and reports of wars arose among the nations and tribes of the earth. As these wars and reports of wars arose among the nations that followed the mother of abominations, the Angel told me: God’s wrath is upon the mother of harlots. You’re a witness to all these things. When the time comes that God’s anger is poured out upon the mother of harlots — the wealthy and utterly wicked church of the whole earth, whose foundation is the accuser — then as that happens it will be part of the Father’s work to vindicate the covenants He has made with His people who belong to the house of Israel” (CofC 1 Nephi 3:29; emphasis added).
Nephi sees there is a link between the wrath of God being poured out upon the Gentiles and His fulfillment of covenant promises made to the Patriarchal Fathers. This link between God’s wrath and the accuser’s imprisonment of the wicked consists of:
“. . .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” (CofC 1 Nephi 3:25; emphasis added).
As the accuser imprisons those engaged in wicked and corrupt things before God, He allows their suffering in the hope at some point they reconsider their conduct and repent.
Recall the manner God intends to fulfill His covenant promises to the Patriarchal Fathers and their posterity:
“. . . They [angels] are obedient to Him, to minister according to His commands, revealing themselves to those of strong faith and of a firm mind in every form of godliness. The responsibility of their ministry is to call people to repentance, and to fulfill and do the work of the Father’s covenants that He’s made to mankind, to prepare the way among people by declaring Christ’s word to the Lord’s chosen vessels, so they can bear testimony of Him. And by doing this, the Lord God prepares the way for the remainder of mankind to have faith in Christ, so the Holy Ghost can have a place in their hearts according to the power of the Holy Ghost. This is how the Father vindicates the covenants He’s made to mankind. . .” (CofC Moroni 7:6; emphasis added).
God intends to complete His work on earth by the efforts of His angels, mortal and immortal, members of the Holy Order who collaborate to fulfill God’s promises to their posterity. Four immortal angels oversee these labors by ministering to sanctified mortals who are “strong of faith and of a firm mind in every form of godliness.” God’s righteous mortal servants can control or handle the Powers of Heaven because of their righteousness.[17] Mortal men matching this description of righteousness are the earthly face of the “great and awe-inspiring work” of the Father.
What is not seen by the wicked are the “Powers of Heaven” behind “chosen vessels” who back their words with power at God’s direction.
“Question: What are we to understand by the four angels spoken of by John, 7th chapter and 1st verse of Revelation [Rev. 2:13]?
Answer: We are to understand that they are four angels sent forth from God, to whom is given power over the four parts of the earth, to save life and to destroy. These are they who have the everlasting gospel to commit to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, having power to shut up the heavens, to seal up unto life, or to cast down to the regions of darkness” (RE T&C 74:8; emphasis added).
The four angels have names and have power over the earth’s elements.
“So, I wanna suggest to you that Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael are known to us as those who have come—though they were part of the El (or, in the plural form, the “Elohim”)—they came, and they served here. They came, and they ministered here:
● Micha-el descended, and he came to the earth, and he was known as Adam in
mortality.
● Gabri-el came to the earth, and he was known in mortality as Noah.
● There is a big debate over the identity of Rapha-el. I’ll tell you what I think, and you
can take it or leave it. Raphael is the name that was given to the man who in
mortality we know as Enoch.
● Now there are four angels who preside over the four corners of the earth. And
Joseph surely knew that. And Joseph mentions the names of three of the four, but he
leaves the fourth one out. And I find the absence of the fourth one rather
extraordinary. The fourth one's name is Uri-el, also one of the Elohim. And although
there are those who will absolutely cry heresy, throw dirt on their hair, and tear
their clothes because they are scholars, and they are bona fide, and they know I'm
talking out of my hat—but I'd remind you Joseph talked out of his hat, too—that
fourth and missing, unmentioned angel is Uriel who, in mortality, was known to us
as John [the Beloved].
Adam is the one in the East, the angel who was considered the one who presides over and has control of the air—which is apt because unto Adam was given the breath of life in the beginning.
Raphael is in the South, and he is associated with the power of fire—which is apt because of his fiery ascent with his people into heaven.
Gabriel is the angel in the West who has the power over water—which is apt because, in mortality, he managed through the Flood.
And Uriel, though not mentioned, is the one who, in the North, has the power over the earth—which is apt because he remains upon the earth, and he is the guardian at one gate, with Elijah at the other end.
But you can take and leave all that as you will. I find the mention here (in this letter by Joseph) of these individuals and these powers—and these four (three of whom are named; the fourth of whom, potentially, is unnamed)—to be interesting, though he does mention divers angels, from Michael or Adam down to the present time” (Priesthood, Denver Snuffer Jr., pp.32-33; emphasis added).
Part 2 ended with the story of Elisha and his servant surrounded by the army of Syria. Elisha was the mortal face of a much broader Heavenly unseen effort as evidenced by fiery chariots filling the mountains around the Lord’s servant. The same is true when the Powers of Heaven join with two righteous groups on Mount Zion to repel the wicked with righteousness.
“. . . 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).
God’s “holy ones,” those belonging to the “Holy Order” are empowered by God to “put at defiance the armies of nations”[18] with the assistance of the four angels and the natural elements they control. All of those elements were present in preparing the Nephites for the Savior’s post-resurrection appearance.
Not all will qualify as “holy ones” in the Holy Order of Priesthood or become “heirs of salvation” or “chosen vessels” prior to God’s wrath being poured out upon the wicked. That comes later when “every man might speak in the name of God” because all will know Him.
To escape God’s wrath before the Savior appeared to the Nephites one requirement had to be fulfilled.
“After the people heard this, they again began to weep and howl because of lost relatives and friends, and for three days this continued. Then in the morning, the darkness dispersed from the land and the ground stabilized, stopped splitting, the terrible groaning stopped, and all the tumult of noises ended. The ground held firmly together once more and stood still. The mourning, weeping, and wailing of the survivors stopped. Their mourning changed into joy and their lamentations changed into praise and thanksgiving to the Lord Jesus Christ their Redeemer. At that point the scriptures spoken by the prophets were fulfilled. It was the more righteous who were saved; they were the ones who received the prophets and didn’t stone them. Those who were spared were the ones who hadn’t killed the holy ones. They were spared and weren’t sunk and buried deep in the ground [Uriel], they weren’t drowned in the depths of the sea [Gabriel], they weren’t burned by fire [Raphael], they weren’t fallen upon and crushed to death, they weren’t carried away in the tornadoes [Michael], and they weren’t overcome by the vapor of smoke and darkness” (CofC 3 Nephi 4:10; emphasis added).
There is one “holy one” [Root of Jesse] sent by God to the Gentiles to deliver the words of Christ. How you choose to react to the “great and awe-inspiring work” the Father does at his hand determines your outcome when God’s wrath is poured out.
[1] “Time and time again, the location of Zion is approved by the Lord in different spots,
precisely because the entirety of North and South America would be an acceptable place to found Zion. But within those general, geographic parameters:
● it must be in the mountains;
● it must be among the natives who were originally here;
● it must be established under the guidance of someone who hails from both the tribe
of Ephraim and is a descendant of Jesse (you can read that in the Doctrine and
Covenants);
● and it will surely come” (Zion, Denver Snuffer Jr., pp.38-39; emphasis added).
“If the original Mormonism needed to recover the fullness that was lost, then to revive an
original, it will require a recovery of what was lost, and more. If recovered, believers will be
able to receive a holy spot, accepted and defended by God. In that place the religion of Adam
will be taught. The promised original religion includes the revelation of everything,
“nothing shall be withheld.” Today’s Mormonism has a great deal withheld, but the religion
of Abraham (and therefore the religion of Adam) included “a knowledge of the beginning of
the creation, and also of the planets, and of the stars, as they were made known unto the
fathers.” The original Mormonism must grow in ancient knowledge and understanding until
their understanding reaches into heaven. Not just spiritual understanding, but also physical
understanding of the layout of the universe. The placement of the lights in the firmament
was for “signs” to man, and therefore were deliberately placed and contain information
originally understood by Adam.
Because of prophecies made to the patriarchal fathers, the right to found this future city of
peace descends from a specific ancient line. There will be an heir descended from both
Jesse and Joseph who will accomplish it. Occupants of the community will likewise have
lineal qualification. The last-day’s Zion is an accomplishment promised earlier to the
patriarchal fathers and it is through their descendants God intends to vindicate the
promises. The result of this alignment will be a priestly city of Zion that will “return to that
power which she had lost” (Was There An Original? Denver Snuffer Jr., p.14; emphasis added).
[2] “In the land of the Chaldeans, at the residence of my father, I, Abraham, saw that it was needful for me to obtain another place of residence. And finding there was greater happiness, and peace, and rest for me, I sought for the blessings of the Fathers and the right whereunto I should be ordained to administer the same. Having been myself a follower of righteousness, desiring also to be one who possessed great knowledge, and to be a greater follower of righteousness, and to possess a greater knowledge, and to be a Father of many nations, a prince of peace, and desiring to receive instructions and to keep the commandments of God, I became a rightful heir, a high priest, holding the right belonging to the Fathers. It was conferred upon me from the Fathers: it came down from the Fathers, from the beginning of time, yea, even from the beginning (or before the foundations of the earth) to the present time, even the right of the firstborn (or the first man — who is Adam — or first Father) through the Fathers unto me. I sought for my appointment unto the Priesthood according to the appointment of God unto the Fathers concerning the seed” (RE T&C 145, Abraham 1:1; emphasis added).
“There is a great gulf separating us from the first fathers of mankind. At the very beginning,
a book of remembrance was kept in the language of Adam. Enoch taught repentance and
knowledge of God using that book of remembrance. Those records were passed down for
generations until Abraham. He learned of the first fathers, the Patriarchs, from those
records. Abraham wrote: “But the records of the Fathers, even the Patriarchs, concerning
the right of Priesthood, the Lord, my God, preserved in mine own hands” (Keep the Covenant: Do the Work, Denver Snuffer Jr., p.2; emphasis added).
[3] “To be able to ask and have God answer (see T&C 141:32; compare T&C 26:20; 82:12; 90:1; 131:5; and 151:12). Joseph Smith used the term keys of the kingdom to mean when a person can ask and receive an answer each time he asks. Those directed by God hold the keys of the kingdom because the kingdom belongs to God, and God must direct its affairs for it to be His. Without revelation to obtain God’s answer, Mormonism is just as adrift in uncertainty as apostate Christianity. They are like Laman and Lemuel who could not understand a revelation given to their father. In response to Nephi’s inquiry as to why they did not ask God, they responded, the Lord doesn’t reveal any such thing to us (1 Nephi 4:2 CE). It takes revelation to understand revelation. That “key” is to sacrifice your life by obedience to God. Man must live humbly and meekly before God, obeying every word that proceeds from Him. They must do this, despite the rage of false religionists who will always condemn the things of God by pretending they, without revelation, can know what God meant, intended, or is doing. They are pretenders and are without authority. They fight against God. A man who has the “keys” must sacrifice all to know God. Immediately following the two letters Joseph Smith wrote from Liberty Jail, he wrote the following (in one of the only talks he ever wrote out), Thus we behold the keys of this Priesthood [the priesthood that belonged to Noah before the flood, the priesthood that warned him about the coming flood and so on] consisted in obtaining the voice of Jehovah, that he talked with him in a familiar and friendly manner, that he continued to him the keys, the covenants, the power, and the glory with which he blessed Adam at the beginning, and the offering of sacrifice which also shall be continued at the last time (T&C 140:16). The keys of the Priesthood — the Priesthood that Noah held, the fullness of the Priesthood, the Holy Order, the version that came down then — consists in obtaining the voice of Jehovah, and He talked with him in a familiar manner. Therefore it is given to abide in you, the Record of Heaven, the Comforter, the keys of the kingdom, the truth of all things, that which quickens all things — which makes alive all things, which knows all things, and has all power according to Wisdom, mercy, truth, justice, and judgment (Genesis 4:9). It’s given to abide in man; it is the Record of Heaven, the keys of the kingdom — the ability to get the voice of Jehovah to tell one the truth of all things, the answer to what one needs. If there is a group of people who claim to hold all of the keys who will tell you plainly that the Lord maketh no such thing known unto us, like Laman and Lemuel (but unlike Nephi, who says, “Have you asked God? He talks to me.”), then one can know for a surety that those claimants do not have the keys. If God won’t talk to them, they cannot have the keys” (A Glossary of Gospel Terms, Keys of the kingdom, pp.182-183; emphasis added).
[4] “The “ensign” that is prophesied to be established—in the context, in the meaning of that
day—had reference to a zodiacal, a constellation, a depiction of the heavens themselves. So,
when an ensign is going to be reared and it’s going to tell you about how to walk in the
paths of God, this is talking about something very, very different than what most of us today
would envision. Zion is going to be a connection between heaven and earth. And at that
place, you will learn of the God of Jacob's ways, and you will walk in His paths—because Heaven and earth will be connected, and the stairway connecting the two will be open. And
the heavens and the earth will be reunited again. And this is going to happen in the top of
the mountains” (Zion, Denver Snuffer Jr., pp.32-33; emphasis added).
“The Lord’s civilization will require His tabernacle at the center. Through it a recovered
religion will be fully developed. God’s house will include a higher law; an education about
the universe and a Divine university will be established. It will be an Ensign in the
mountains, and people from all over the earth will say, “Come, let us go up to the House of
the God of Jacob, He will teach us. We will learn of His paths, to walk in them.” That place
will house a new civilization. There will be no hermit gurus proud of their enlightenment.
No one will offer himself or herself up as some great idol to follow. It will be a place of equality, where people are meek and lowly, serving one another without any attempt to
compete for “chief seats” (Civilization, Denver Snuffer Jr., pp.40-41, emphasis added).
“I know that... well... the fact is that a pillar of fire by night and a pillar of smoke by day is an
allusion, an attempt to refer to things we are familiar with to describe things that we are
not familiar with. A conduit that reaches up into heaven as the temporary appearance of the
Lord to Joseph in the First Vision is intended to be a permanent connection at some place. It
will be one of the reasons why people say, let’s not go up against the people of Zion because
Zion is too terrible. The presence of God is dreadful to the wicked, it’s frightening to them.
They get near it and it convicts them of their unworthiness. They dare not go up. But the
pure and the humble and the noble are drawn to it. They will want to be there. And so that
conduit, that fiery pillar, that stairway to heaven, Jacob’s ladder, the chariot of fire, all of
those things are an attempt to describe that heavenly connection, that heavenly presence.
To the unworthy and the ungodly looking at it, they may or may not be able to see anything
about it but they will sense extraordinary dread. It will frighten them. To the worthy there
will be something enlightened about the very presence of the place. It will not seem to them
to just be another place. It will seem as though the God of heaven has some base established
there. That’s when you know that an ensign has been established in the tops of the
mountains to which nations will flow saying, come, let us go up and learn from the god of
Jacob, because that ensign is actually something godly, holy, edifying, instructive, revelatory,
filled with light, and redemptive, and the god who dwells there is going to be the Lord. So
we don’t have time... If you think about it, Enoch taught for 365 years before his people
were prepared enough to go up, and we have to be prepared enough for them to come
down and not destroy us by the brightness of their presence” (Cursed-Denied the Priesthood, Denver Snuffer jr., p.25; emphasis added).
[5] “Now, my people, since I said that I would prophesy, this is my prophecy: That the things this prophet Zenos said about the house of Israel, comparing them to a tame olive tree, will certainly happen. When He sets about a second time to recover His people, that will be the very last time the Lord’s servants will go out in His power to tend and prune His vineyard — following that, the end will happen quickly. And how blessed are those who have worked diligently in His vineyard! But how cursed are those who will be thrown out to where they belong! And the world will be burned with fire. How merciful God is to us! He remembers the house of Israel, both roots [ancestors] and branches [posterity], and reaches out His hands to them all day long. But they’re a stubborn, quarrelsome people. Nevertheless, all those who don’t harden their hearts will be saved in God’s kingdom” (CofC Jacob 4:1; emphasis added).
[6] “Question: What are we to understand by the four angels spoken of by John, 7th chapter and 1st verse of Revelation [Rev. 2:13]?
Answer: We are to understand that they are four angels sent forth from God, to whom is given power over the four parts of the earth, to save life and to destroy. These are they who have the everlasting gospel to commit to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, having power to shut up the heavens, to seal up unto life, or to cast down to the regions of darkness” (RE T&C 74:8; emphasis added).
[7] “Pharaoh’s chariots and his host has he cast into the sea. His chosen captains also are drowned in the Red Sea. The depths have covered them, they sank into the bottom as a stone. Your right hand [Lord’s servant], O Lord, has become glorious in power [Powers of Heaven]. Your right hand, O Lord, has dashed in pieces the enemy. And in the greatness of your excellence, you have overthrown them that rose up against you. You sent forth your wrath which consumed them as stubble. And with the blast of your nostrils, the waters were gathered together. The floods stood upright as a heap, and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea. The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil. My lust shall be satisfied upon them. I will draw my sword; my hand shall destroy them. You did blow with your wind, the sea covered them, they sank as lead in the mighty waters” (RE Exodus 9:6; emphasis added).
[8] “For God, having sworn unto Enoch and unto his seed with an oath by himself that everyone being ordained after this Order and calling should have power, by faith, to break mountains, to divide the seas, to dry up waters, to turn them out of their course, to put at defiance the armies of nations, to divide the earth, to break every band, to stand in the presence of God, to do all things according to his will, according to his command subdue principalities and powers; and this by the will of the Son of God which was from before the foundation of the world. And men having this faith, coming up unto this Order of God, were translated and taken up into Heaven” (RE Genesis 7:19; emphasis added).
[9] “The spirit of Elias is to prepare the way for a greater revelation of God, which is the Priesthood of Elias, or the Priesthood that Aaron was ordained unto. And when God sends a man into the world to prepare for a greater work, holding the keys of the power of Elias, it was called the doctrine of Elias, even from the early ages of the world” (Smith Jr., Joseph. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith (p. 385). (Function). Kindle Edition).
[10] “I also saw they had a book [Bible]. The Angel asked me: Do you know the book’s purpose? I replied: I don’t know. So He said: It comes from the Jews. And I saw it. And He told me: The book you see is a record of the Jews; it contains the covenants the Lord has made to the house of Israel. It also contains many of the prophecies of the holy prophets. It’s a record like the engravings on the brass plates, except it’s less complete. Still, it contains the covenants the Lord has made to the house of Israel; therefore they’re very valuable to the Gentiles. Then the Angel of the Lord said: You’ve seen that the book came from the Jews. 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).
[11] “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 [Root of Jesse] 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 [fulfillment of RE Isaiah 5:5]. Yes, woe to the Gentiles unless they repent: For when that day comes, says the Father, I’ll take away your strength from you, 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).
[12] “But if the Gentiles repent and hearken to My words and don’t harden their hearts, I’ll establish My congregation among them. And they will enter the covenant and be included with the remnant of Jacob, to whom I’ve given this land as their inheritance. They will join with My people, the remnant of Jacob, and all those of the house of Israel who come, so they can build a city that will be called the New Jerusalem. Then they will join with My people [Israel] who are scattered throughout the land so they can be brought in together to the New Jerusalem. Then the Powers of heaven [Patriarchal Fathers] will come down among them, and I [The Savior] will be with them as well. Then the Father’s work will be underway, when this gospel is preached among the remnant of this people [Israel, God’s Family]. Truly I say to you: At that time, the Father’s work will be taught among the scattered portion of My people, even the tribes that have been lost, whom the Father led away out of Jerusalem. The Father will work with My scattered people, to enable them to come to Me, so they can call on the Father in My name. Truly the work of the Father will be underway in all nations, clearing the way to let His people be gathered home to the land of their inheritance. They will go out from all nations. And they won’t go hastily or at a run, because I will go in front of them, says the Father, and I will guard them from behind” (CofC 3 Nephi 10:1; emphasis added).
[13] “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. . .” (CofC 1 Nephi 3:25; emphasis added).
[14] “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” (CofC 3 Nephi 9:12; emphasis added).
[15] “. . . 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. . .” (CofC 3 Nephi 9:12; emphasis added).
[16] “. . . When it comes to asking the Lord about something on which His teachings are already clear, a person risks receiving permission to do what will ultimately instruct them by sad example that they ought to have followed His earlier teachings. The best example of this is when Joseph requested he be allowed to let Martin Harris take the 116 pages and was told “no.” He persisted, and despite having been told “no,” he asked again and was then told “yes.” The “yes” was not because God had changed His mind, but because Joseph simply refused to learn by anything other than sad experience to respect God’s counsel. (D&C 3; D&C 10: 1-30.)
Therefore, when there is already an instruction on point from the Lord, and we ignore it, the answer we receive may be for our benefit. We may need to learn by sad experience what we might have learned instead by precept and wisdom from the Lord.
It is this kind of experience men repeat by failing to follow God’s counsel. Then, when they might have avoided the sting which follows, they choose instead to suffer. Oftentimes they will blame the Lord for the hardships they brought upon themselves, when, if they had hearkened to the Lord’s counsel in the first place, they would never have had to suffer.
This is why it is so important to study the scriptures. If the answer is in there (and almost everything IS in there) and we do not choose to find it, but to inquire for a new revelation instead, we oftentimes doom ourselves to a sad experience. His counsel should be heeded. When we don’t heed, and ask instead for new or different guidance, we may be given permission to do what He has already told us to avoid. This is one of the great lessons from the lost 116 pages” (Most Answers Are in the Scriptures blogpost, Denver Snuffer Jr., May 18, 2010; emphasis added).
“. . . Why will not man learn wisdom by precept at this late age of the world, when we have such a cloud of witnesses and examples before us, and not be obliged to learn by sad experience everything we know. Must the new ones [apostles] that are chosen to fill the places of those that are fallen, of the quorum of the Twelve, begin to exalt themselves, until they exalt themselves so high that they will soon tumble over and have a great fall, and go wallowing through the mud and mire and darkness, Judas-like, to the buffetings of Satan, as several of the quorum have done, or will they learn wisdom and be wise? O God! give them wisdom, and keep them humble, I pray” (Smith Jr., Joseph. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith (pp. 174-175, emphasis added). (Function). Kindle Edition).
[17] “. . . 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).
[18] “For God, having sworn unto Enoch and unto his seed with an oath by himself that everyone being ordained after this Order and calling should have power, by faith, to break mountains, to divide the seas, to dry up waters, to turn them out of their course, to put at defiance the armies of nations, to divide the earth, to break every band, to stand in the presence of God, to do all things according to his will, according to his command subdue principalities and powers; and this by the will of the Son of God which was from before the foundation of the world. And men having this faith, coming up unto this Order of God, were translated and taken up into Heaven” (RE Genesis 7:19; emphasis added).
Scott Roderick
9/15/2026
Comments