In the last installment, repeating elements relating to the tribes of Judah and Joseph were observed. Joseph Smith as “the Rod” and “the Root of Jesse” [servant] share the same lineal descent, Judah and Joseph. In the prophecy of Joseph of Egypt it was foretold the records of Judah and Joseph “grow together” and the effect confounds false doctrines, establishes peace (as Melchizedek did in Salem) among Joseph’s descendants bringing them to a knowledge of their [Patriarchal] fathers and the Lord’s covenants in the last days.
In RE Isaiah 5:4 the “Root of Jesse,” a descendant of both Judah and Joseph, holds keys to raise an “ensign” for the Gentiles to seek after. The definition of “ensign” from the Oxford Dictionary is: “a flag or standard,[1] especially a military or naval one indicating nationality.” The ensign raised by the “Root of Jesse” draws Gentiles [Ephraim] and Judah [often a synonym for Israel] prior to waging war against the Philistines [Gentile nations, Israel’s enemies].[2]
An example of a relevant type in the war chapters of the Covenant of Christ is a story singled out in a blogpost by Denver Snuffer:
“ . . . Listen to the description of the “other party” that airs nightly on Fox News, MSNBC, CNN, Daily Wire, Newsmax, Washington Post, New York Times, and even the Wall Street Journal. Go to any other news source and compare messages. The messaging is to fear and distrust the rival political party and those who will vote contrary to the viewpoint being advocated.
The ultimate objective of the messaging is exposed in Covenant of Christ. When the leader of one faction wanted to violently overthrow his opponent, it required him to dehumanize his target, and stir up anger to motivate violence: “As soon as Amalickiah obtained the kingdom he began to manipulate the Lamanites against the Nephites [preceded by a treasonous act among the Nephites].[3] Indeed, he appointed men to speak to the Lamanites from their towers accusing the Nephites. In this way, he influenced them against the Nephites, so that in the latter end of the 19th year of the judges’ rule, having carried out his scheme to that point, having been made king over the Lamanites, he also made it his aim to rule over the entire land, and all the people who lived there, the Nephites as well as the Lamanites. So he had advanced his plan, since he had hardened the Lamanites’ hearts and blinded their minds and stirred them up to anger, so much so that he collected a large army willing to attack the Nephites.” Alma 21:31. It was the tools he used that are being used again today to manipulate the public and motivate violence: “Amalickiah had, in this way, been obtaining power by fraud and deceit” (Discussing Covenant of Christ Part 2, Denver Snuffer Jr., August 15, 2024, emphasis added).
Consider Amalickiah a type or example of the Assyrian and Babylonian kings in Isaiah. Conversely, applying the law of opposition, Moroni, captain of the Nephite army is a type for Hezekiah [Judah] and Cyrus [Joseph, Ephraim] in Isaiah.
A way to understand these types is to use the Covenant of Christ account of Moroni and Amalekiah as examples of events repeated in our day. Moroni and Amalekiah were Nephite contemporaries with opposing motivations and objectives. Amalekiah, (like Satan), originally sought to be king over the Nephites and pursued his goal by promising lower level judges greater power when he obtained control over the Nephite kingdom. A secret combination or covenant.
As Amalekiah pursued his objective through deceit and fraud, Moroni pursued an opposing agenda seeking to maintain the freedom and liberty of the Nephites. The details of Moroni's efforts are relevant to the latter-day fulfilment of his counterpart in the Covenant of Christ and the RE Bible. Moroni’s covenant presages a righteous covenant to be established between God and a righteous remnant of Joseph’s seed, countering the satanic secret covenant of Amalekiah.[4]
“Now when Moroni, who was the chief commander of the Nephite armies, had heard of these conflicts, he was angry with Amalickiah. He tore his outer garment and took a piece of it and wrote on it: In memory of our God, our religion and freedom and peace, our wives and children. He fastened it on the end of a pole [ensign, standard] And he put on his helmet, breastplate, and shields and secured his armor around his waist. Then he took the pole with his torn outer garment on the end of it, and he called it the Declaration of Liberty. And he bowed down to the ground and prayed to God with great energy for the blessings of liberty to rest on his fellow Nephites, as long as a group of Christians remained to inhabit the land (because this was what all the true believers of Christ who belonged to God’s congregation were called by those who didn’t belong to the congregation). And those who belonged to the congregation were faithful. All those who were true believers in Christ gladly took upon themselves the name of Christ, or the name of Christians, as they were called, because of their belief in Christ, who was to come. Therefore at this time Moroni prayed for the Christian cause and for the freedom of the land to be upheld.
When he had poured out his soul to God in prayer, he identified all the land south of the land of Desolation[5] — and in short, all the land, both to the north and to the south — as a chosen land and the land of liberty. He said: Surely God won’t allow us — who are despised because we take upon ourselves the name of Christ — to be trampled and killed, until we bring it upon ourselves by our own transgressions. After Moroni said this, he rallied the people, waving the torn part of his garment in the air, so everyone could read what he had written on it, and shouting in a loud voice: Anyone who wants to support this Declaration upon the land, may they come forward with the Lord’s strength and make a covenant that they will defend their rights and religion, so that the Lord God will bless them.
When Moroni had proclaimed these words, the people came running together with their armor secured around their waists, tearing their clothes as a sign, or as a covenant, that they wouldn’t abandon the Lord their God. Or in other words, if they broke God’s commandments — or fell into transgression — and were ashamed to take upon themselves the name of Christ, the Lord would tear them, just like they had torn their clothes. Now this was the covenant they made; and they threw their clothes at Moroni’s feet, saying: We covenant with God that we will have to be destroyed, just like our fellow inhabitants in the land northward [people of Ammonihah] were, if we fall into transgression. He can throw us at our enemies’ feet, just like we’ve thrown our clothes at your feet, to be trampled underfoot if we fall into transgression. Moroni said to them: We are a remnant of Jacob’s [Israel’s] descendants. And we are a remnant of Joseph’s descendants, whose garment was torn into many pieces by his brothers. Now let’s remember to keep God’s commandments, or our clothes will be torn by our brothers and we’ll be thrown in prison or sold or killed. Let’s preserve our liberty as a remnant of Joseph. Let’s remember Jacob’s words before his death. He saw a part of the remnant of Joseph’s garment was preserved and hadn’t decayed. He said: Just like this part of my son’s garment has been preserved, so a part of my son’s descendants will be preserved by God’s power and will be taken to Him, while the rest of Joseph’s descendants will perish, patterned after the remnant of his garment. Now, this makes me sorrowful. Still, I [Israel] have joy in my son, because of that part of his descendants who will be taken to God. This was Jacob’s [Israel’s] language. And now, it’s possible the remnant of Joseph’s descendants who will be lost like his garment are those who have defected from us; and it could be us as well, if we don’t stand firmly in the faith of Christ.
When Moroni had said these words, he went about, and also sent out messages, to every part of the land where there were defections, and gathered all the people who wanted to maintain their liberty, to stand against Amalickiah and those who had defected, who were called Amalickiahites.
When Amalickiah realized Moroni’s people were greater than the Amalickiahites, and when he saw his people doubted the justice of the cause they had undertaken — and fearing he wouldn’t achieve his objective — he took those of his people who were willing and made his way to the land of Nephi” (CofC, Alma 21:7-11, emphasis added).
This series of events form a pattern repeated in our day. It begins with insurrection in the last days led by a man [yet to be determined] desiring to subject all mankind to his rule. Like his master, Satan, He is not content to rule his own country but intends to pursue world domination.
To maintain balance in mortality, the Lord raises up Moroni to counter Amalekiah, or in modern times a Moroni-like figure to oppose the latter-day anti-Christ. The modern version of Moroni is the “Root of Jesse” because he bears the keys of raising an ensign and gathering Israel in the last days.[6]
Jesse is the father of king David, the same who slew Goliath, consolidated Judah with other tribes of Israel, conquered the Philistines and all of Israel’s enemies. His latter-day counterpart accomplishes the raising of ensign[7] and gathering Israel in the last days in the manner of the Savior rather than his ancient royal ancestor.
“Although David was a king, he never did obtain the spirit and power of Elijah and the fullness of the Priesthood; and the Priesthood that he received, and the throne and kingdom of David is to be taken from him and given to another by the name of David in the last days, raised up out of his lineage” (Smith Jr., Joseph. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith (p. 389, emphasis added). Deseret Book Company. Kindle Edition).
When first reading this quote attention may be drawn to the Prophet Joseph Smith unfolding an incredible prophecy of a latter-day heir to king David’s throne rising up. As extraordinary as that portion of the prophecy is, Joseph Smith’s prophecy emphasizes the Spirit of Elijah, and priesthood fullness. Joseph Smith points to a priesthood king David held as well as a priesthood and Spirit he never attained.
David held a lesser Priesthood, presumably Aaronic and the Spirit of Elias. In Joseph Smith’s quote, he associates the “fullness of the Priesthood” with the Spirit of Elijah. King David held the first Priesthood but never rose to the Spirit of Elijah and a Priesthood fullness.
The difference between the Spirits and Priesthoods represents a difference in how the power of God is manifest in each. Both Priesthoods invite divine intervention but power in the lesser involves God strengthening men to literally and physically rise to a particular challenge while the Spirit of Elijah and the fullness of the Priesthood enables the holder to involve the “Powers of Heaven” [Patriarchal Fathers][8] in overcoming their adversaries. The contrast in Priesthoods is seen in the battles and blood spilled by king David and Israel as opposed to Elisha confronting the Syrian kings army.[9] The Priesthood of David led to shedding blood and a prohibition on building a Temple and receiving a Priesthood fullness.[10]
David defeated his adversaries through brute force with his singular focus on building a Temple to the Lord to receive the Priesthood fullness and Spirit of Elijah. After accumulating the necessary materials for the Temple, the Lord rejected David’s offer to construct the Temple. With materials provided by David, the task passed to David and Bathsheba’s son, Solomon.
The distinction between the Priesthoods of ancient David and the latter-day David is subtly noted in Ezekiel’s prophecy. Like the prophecy of Joseph of Egypt, Ezekiel foretells a union between the “sticks” of Judah and Joseph. Following the union of the records, Ezekiel sees the rise of a Davidic king and Israel’s gathering.
“And David my servant shall be king over them, and they [Israel] all shall have one shepherd. They shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them. And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelled. And they shall dwell therein — even they, and their children, and their children’s children for ever. And my servant David shall be their prince for ever.
Moreover, I will make a covenant of peace with them. It shall be an everlasting covenant with them. And I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for ever [sealing power, Elijah]. My tabernacle [resurrected body, “I will be in your midst” (see CofC, 3 Nephi 10:1) ] also shall be with them, yea, I will be their God and they shall be my people. And the heathen [Gentile] shall know that I the Lord do sanctify Israel when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for ever” (RE Ezekiel 19:6-7, emphasis added).
After the records of Judah and Joseph are combined, in verse 6, David presides over Israel as a “king.” Penitent Israel begins walking “in my judgments” and begins enjoying covenant land grants given by God to Jacob [Israel] and other Patriarchal Fathers. These grants are sealed to faithful Israel and her children “for ever.” In a manner of speaking, the covenant blessings endure forever through all generations. Only the Spirit of Elijah and Fullness of the Priesthood ratify these blessings into Eternity.
The covenant status of Israel is declared by the Lord when He tells Ezekiel “I will make a covenant of peace with them,” unlike ancient David who knew little peace in his day. Reference to the Lord’s tabernacle being with Israel is not an allusion to an ancient sacred relic, but to the Savior’s literal resurrected body being in their midst. Thereafter the Lord will be Israel’s God and they, his people “for ever.”
The blessings spanning into Eternity is evidence the latter-day David achieves the Fullness of Priesthood and Spirit of Elijah Joseph Smith said ancient David never obtained.
The day when Ezekiel’s prophecy is fulfilled was mentioned in a letter to an editor of a religious publication written by Joseph Smith.
“Christ, in the days of His flesh, proposed to make a covenant with them, but they rejected Him and His proposals, and in consequence thereof, they were broken off, and no covenant was made with them at that time. But their unbelief has not rendered the promise of God of none effect: no, for there was another day limited in David, which was the day of His power; and then His people, Israel, should be a willing people;—and He would write His law in their hearts, and print it in their thoughts; their sins and their iniquities He would remember no more” (Smith Jr., Joseph. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith (p. 13, emphasis added). Deseret Book Company. Kindle Edition).
The description of the latter-day David and Israel is reflected in the description of Captain Moroni and his contemporaries.
“Now the Nephites were taught to defend themselves against their enemies, even if it required killing. But they were also taught never to go on the offensive, and never to fight with the sword except against an enemy, and only then if it was to preserve their lives. And this was their faith, that by doing so God would give them prosperity in the land; or in other words, if they were faithful in keeping God’s commandments, He would protect them by warning them to flee or to prepare for war, according to the danger they faced. Also they believed God would reveal to them where they should go to defend themselves from their enemies, and by doing so the Lord would protect them. And this was Moroni’s faith. His heart rejoiced in it — not in killing, but in doing good, in preserving his people, in keeping God’s commandments, and resisting iniquity. In truth I tell you: If all men had been, were, and would always be like Moroni, the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever. Indeed, the accuser would never have any power over people’s hearts. He was like Ammon the son of Mosiah, and like the other sons of Mosiah, and like Alma and his sons, since they were all men of God. Now Helaman and his brothers weren’t any less prepared to serve or any less engaged in serving the people than Moroni was: they preached God’s word and baptized all those who were willing to listen to them as a sign of repentance. So they went out; and the people humbled themselves because of their words, so much so that the Lord blessed them [covenant]. And they were free from internal wars and conflicts for about four years” (CofC, Alma 21:34, emphasis added).
Moroni and many leaders of his day were righteous men and valiant preachers of faith. In the last days the latter-day David is a man like unto Moroni and the Savior. He and Israel will be like Melchizedek and establish a kingdom of peace [Salem]. In fact, when ancient David was made king over Judah and Israel, he, like Moroni shared the same title. David’s rise to the throne of Israel foreshadowed a similar event when the latter-day David obtains the same throne.
“Then came all the tribes of Israel to David, unto Hebron, and spoke, saying, Behold, we are your bone and your flesh. Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, you were he that led out and brought in Israel. And the Lord said to you, You shall feed my people Israel, and you shall be a captain over Israel.
So all the elders of Israel came to the king, to Hebron, and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the Lord. And they anointed David king over Israel. David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah” (RE 2 Samuel 1:32-33, emphasis added).
We see from comparing the accounts of Moroni and David many parallels foreshadowing latter-day events with a new David presiding as king over Israel Eternally. In fact, the prophecy of Ezekiel 37 in the King James version of the Bible subtly points to a change in the latter-day David’s title alluding to an advancement in Priesthood.
“And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children’s children for ever: and my servant David shall be their prince for ever” (KJV Ezekiel 37:25, emphasis added).
In verse 24 of Ezekiel 37 David is referred to as king over Israel. In verse 25 the Lord changes David’s title to Israel’s “prince for ever.” This change in title reflects the latter-day David’s rise to the Priesthood Fullness similar to the Priesthood Abraham sought.
“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).
Abraham sought among other blessings to be a “prince of peace.” In Ezekiel’s prophecy of the latter-day David, when he is made king the Lord makes with David and Israel a “covenant of peace,” implying a transition from the title of “king” in the Aaronic Priesthood to the title of “prince for ever” to the “King of Kings” in the Patriarchal Priesthood.
When the latter-day David or “Root of Jesse” makes the transition from king to “prince for ever,” he joins the Holy Order of the Priesthood after the Order of the Son of God. As such, he becomes one with the Father and Son by obtaining the mind of the Father.
“And he being the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth, and having overcome, received a fullness of the glory of the Father — possessing the same mind with the Father, which mind is the holy spirit that bears record of the Father and the Son, and these three are one, or in other words, these three constitute the great matchless, governing, and supreme power over all things, by whom all things were created and made that were created and made. And these three constitute the Godhead and are one: the Father and the Son possessing the same mind, the same wisdom, glory, power, and fullness, filling all in all — the Son being filled with the fullness of the mind, glory, and power, or in other words, the spirit, glory, and power of the Father — possessing all knowledge and glory, and the same kingdom: sitting at the right hand of power, in the express image and likeness of the Father — a mediator for man — being filled with the fullness of the mind of the Father, or in other words, the spirit of the Father, which spirit is shed forth upon all who believe on his name and keep his commandments. And all those who keep his commandments shall grow up from grace to grace and become heirs of the Heavenly kingdom and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ, possessing the same mind, being transformed into the same image or likeness, even the express image of him who fills all in all: being filled with the fullness of his glory, and become one in him, even as the Father, Son, and holy spirit are one” (RE T&C 110, Lectures on Faith, Lecture Fifth, verse 2, emphasis added).
All who believe in the name of Christ and keep His commandments become joint-heirs with the Son of God of all the Father has.[11] They grow from grace to grace and through the “perfect Atonement” of Christ, become perfected heirs of all the Father has. A “prince of peace.” A Fullness of the Priesthood, the Spirit of Elijah and eventually, the Spirit of Messiah or Christ. When the latter-day David ascends to the title of “prince of peace,” he qualifies to share all blessings enjoyed by the Savior by degrees.
That is why the Savior applies a variation of a Messianic Prophecy from Isaiah to His servant who delivers His words to the Gentiles in the last days.
“ . . . But the Father will reveal these things first to the Gentiles, then from them to you. It’s the Father’s plan for the Gentiles to be established in this land as a free people through His power, to allow the history and prophecies to come from them to a remnant of your descendants. That vindicates the Father’s covenant with His people, O house of Israel. Therefore the record of these events, and the events that will take place among you after this, will come from the Gentiles to your descendants. But your descendants will first fall away in unbelief because of iniquity. That’s an essential part of the Father’s plan. The covenant requires this record to come from the Gentiles, so the Gentiles will understand His direct involvement. Then the Gentiles, provided they don’t harden their hearts, will be able to repent and come to Me and be baptized in My name and know the true points of My doctrine, so they can be included with My people, the house of Israel. When these things happen, and your descendants begin to know these things, it will be a sign to let them know the Father’s work is underway, to fulfill the covenant He made to everyone who’s part of the house of Israel. When that time comes, kings will be at a loss for words not knowing what to say, for they’ll see what they were never told about and be forced to consider what they never expected [RE Isaiah 52:15, Ezekiel 18:9-11].
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 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 [RE Isaiah 19:1]; 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” (CofC, 3 Nephi 9:11-12, emphasis added).
When the Savior ministers to the Nephites, He thought it was appropriate to apply a Messianic prophecy from Isaiah to the servant who brings forth His words to the Gentiles in the last days. By applying a variation of a Messianic prophecy to the servant, the Lord both endorses the servants work and elevates his standing from among his brethren. The servant has the laws of God written in his heart and becomes one with the Father and Son. The servant has the mind of the Father or the Holy Spirit. He takes his place among the righteous Patriarchal Fathers and returns Israel to the unified Fullness of Priesthood held by Adam.
“And Adam listened unto the voice of God and called upon his sons to repent. And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son, and he called his name Seth. And Adam glorified the name of God, for he said, God has appointed me another seed instead of Abel whom Cain slew. And God revealed himself unto Seth, and he rebelled not, but offered an acceptable sacrifice like unto his brother Abel. And to him also was born a son, and he called his name Enos. And then began these men to call upon the name of the Lord, and the Lord blessed them. And a book of remembrance was kept, in which was recorded in the language of Adam, for it was given unto as many as called upon God to write by the spirit of inspiration. And by them their children were taught to read and write, having a language which was pure and undefiled. Now this same Priesthood which was in the beginning shall be in the end of the world also (now this prophecy Adam spoke as he was moved upon by the holy ghost) . . .” (RE Genesis 3:14, emphasis added).
From the Covenant of Christ account of Moroni, we have outlined how the Lord intends to accomplish His “awe-inspiring work” to restore Israel and write His laws in their hearts. In the end His chiasm concludes where it began. Righteous men and women calling upon God and He makes Himself known to all mankind.
“Wherefore, I, the Lord, knowing the calamity which should come upon the inhabitants of the earth, called upon my servant Joseph and spoke unto him from Heaven, and gave him commandment, and also gave commandments to others that they should proclaim these things unto the world. And all this that it might be fulfilled which was written by the prophets: 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, but that every man might speak in the name of God, the Lord, even the Savior of the world, that faith also might increase in the earth, that my everlasting covenant might be established, that the fullness of my gospel might be proclaimed by the weak and the simple unto the ends of the world and before kings and rulers. Behold, I am God and have spoken it” (RE T&C 54:4, emphasis added).
[1] “And it came to pass also that he [Moroni] caused the Title of Liberty to be hoisted upon every tower which was in all the land which was possessed by the Nephites; and thus Moroni planted the standard of liberty among the Nephites. And they began to have peace again in the land; and thus they did maintain peace in the land until nearly the end of the nineteenth year of the reign of the judges. And Helaman and the high priests did also maintain order in the church; yea, even for the space of four years did they have much peace and rejoicing in the church” (RE Alma 21:15, emphasis added).
[2] “. . . And in that day, there shall be a root of Jesse who shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the gentiles seek, and his 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 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 shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah, from the four corners of the earth. The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off. Ephraim [birthright] shall not envy Judah [Israel’s throne] and Judah shall not vex Ephraim. But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines [Israel’s enemies, Gentiles] 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 them. And the Lord shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea, and with his mighty wind he shall shake his hand over the river, and shall smite it in the seven streams, and make men go over with dry feet [Moses leading Egypt from Egyptian bondage]. And there shall be a highway [see RE T&C 58:3] for the remnant of his people which shall be left from Assyria, like it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt” (RE Isaiah 5:5, emphasis added).
[3] “All those who refused to listen to Helaman and his brothers’ instruction joined together against their fellow Nephites. Now they were so angry with Helaman and his brothers that they were determined to kill them. The leader of those who were very angry with their fellow Nephites was a large, strong man named Amalickiah. Amalickiah wanted to be a king; and those people who were angry also wanted him to be their king. Most of them were the lower judges of the land who were looking for more power. They had been persuaded by Amalickiah’s promises that if they would support him and establish him to be their king, then he would make them rulers over the people [secret combination]. In this way, Amalickiah persuaded them to begin fighting, despite Helaman and his brothers’ preaching, and despite their great care over the congregation, since they were high priests over the congregation. There were many in the congregation who believed the promises of Amalickiah; therefore they even split off from the congregation. And so the affairs of the Nephites were very precarious and dangerous, despite the great victory they had gained over the Lamanites, and the great feelings of joy they had experienced because the Lord had saved them. So we see how quickly mankind forgets the Lord who is God, how quick they are to commit iniquity and to be led astray by the Evil One. And we also see the great evil that one very wicked man can cause among mankind. We see that Amalickiah, because he was a scheming, corrupt, and articulate man, led astray the hearts of many people to act wickedly, and to attempt to destroy God’s congregation and also the foundation of liberty God had provided to them, or God’s blessing sent upon the land because of the righteous” (CofC, Alma 21:6, emphasis added).
[4] “. . .The doctrine of eternal judgments belongs to the first principles of the Gospel, in the last days. In relation to the kingdom of God, the devil always sets up his kingdom at the very same time in opposition to God . . .” (Smith Jr., Joseph. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith (p. 415, emphasis added). Deseret Book Company. Kindle Edition.
[5] “So Zoram and his sons crossed over to the east side of the Sidon River with their armies and marched beyond the outskirts of Manti into the southern wilderness. They attacked the Lamanite armies, scattering them and driving them into the wilderness. Every one of the Lamanite prisoners was rescued, without a single prisoner killed. They were returned to their own lands. That ended the 11th year of the judges, with the Lamanites removed from the land. Ammonihah’s people were destroyed, every single one, and their great city which they claimed was too strong for God to destroy was gone. In one day it was left deserted and ruined, and dogs and wild animals from the wilderness ate their corpses. However, after many days their dead remains were piled up on the ground and covered with a thin layer of earth. The stench from it was so bad people didn’t go in to reoccupy Ammonihah for many years. It was called Desolation of Nehors, because those who had been killed practiced Nehor’s beliefs; and their lands remained uninhabited. The Lamanites didn’t attack the Nephites again until the 14th year of the judges’ rule over the Nephites. So the Nephites enjoyed continuous peace throughout the land for three years” (CofC, Alma 11:5, emphasis added).
[6] “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 as well as of Joseph, unto whom rightly belongs the Priesthood and the keys of the Kingdom, for an ensign and for the gathering of my people in the last day” (T&C 129:3, emphasis added).
[7] ““For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.” The ensign Isaiah prophesied refers to a zodiacal map, or to the constellations overhead. This is a depiction of the heavens themselves. The ensign to be reared will tell those in Zion how to walk in the paths of God, through the heavens, back into God’s presence. Zion will be a connection between heaven and earth, where those living will learn the ways of the God of Jacob. They will walk in His paths. Heaven and earth will be connected. The stairway connecting the two will be opened. The heavens and the earth will be reunited. This will happen in the top of the mountains” (Snuffer, Denver. Preserving the Restoration, p.277, emphasis added. Mill Creek Press. Kindle Edition).
[8] “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 [Patriarchal Fathers, Powers of Heaven] 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).
[9] “Therefore, the heart of the king of Syria was seriously troubled for this thing, and he called his servants and said unto them, Will you not show me which of us is for the king of Israel? And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king; but Elisha the prophet that is in Israel tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedchamber. And he said, Go and spy where he is, that I may send and fetch him. And it was told to him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan. Therefore sent he there horses, and chariots, and a great host; and they came by night and encompassed the city about.
And when the servant of the man of God was risen early and gone forth, behold, a host encompassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master, what shall we do? And he [Elisha] answered, Fear not, for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed and said, Lord, I pray you, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha. And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the Lord and said, Smite this people, I pray you, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha. And Elisha said unto them, This is not the way, neither is this the city. Follow me and I will bring you to the man whom you seek. But he led them to Samaria” (RE 2 Kings 2:22, emphasis added).
[10] “And David said, Solomon my son is young and tender, and the house that is to be built for the Lord must be exceedingly magnificent, of fame and of glory throughout all countries. I will therefore now make preparation for it. So David prepared abundantly before his death.
Then he called for Solomon his son, and charged him to build a house for the Lord God of Israel. And David said to Solomon, My son, as for me, it was in my mind to build a house unto the name of the Lord my God; but the word of the Lord came to me, saying, You have shed blood abundantly, and have made great wars. You shall not build a house unto my name because you have shed much blood upon the earth in my sight. Behold, a son shall be born to you who shall be a man of rest. And I will give him rest from all his enemies round about, for his name shall be Solomon. And I will give peace and quietness unto Israel in his days. He shall build a house for my name. And he shall be my son, and I will be his father, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel for ever [Spirit of Elijah and the sealing power]” (RE 1 Chronicles 10:14-15, emphasis added).
[11] “For as many as are led by the spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God. And if children, then heirs — heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ, if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be named with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation waits for the manifestation of the sons of God . . .” (RE Romans 1:34, emphasis added).
Scott Roderick
12/13/2024
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