What Became of the Restoration After Joseph Smith : Narrative vs. History
The whole cloth of the Restoration has frayed since the deaths of Joseph and Hyrum Smith. At first slowly but now with increasing speed. History was altered and narratives designed to protect succession claims and covering sin have become increasingly problematic.
Websites, podcasts, and group chats have become alternatives for candid conversations about subjects previously ignored or suppressed. Sharp divisions emerging over “settled history,” seem less settled under an increasingly critical intellectual microscope.
Elder Boyd K. Packer compared religious beliefs to a keyboard of a piano.[1] Each key representing a true doctrinal belief incapable of making music independent of other keys. The same metaphor is useful in explaining current circumstances.
Today the primary differences in the keyboard analogy have shifted from doctrinal beliefs to established narratives contradictory to more recent historical revelations. Historical accounts are more readily accessible through technology. Narratives transforming into established religious traditions are the sheet music. Historical facts are keys on the piano used to play the music.
When sheet music directs the keys on the piano, something less than harmonious music. The sound is syncopated chaos. Established religious institutions are now attempting to harmonize the narrative with contradictory historical revelations. This process may be likened to walking on hot coals barefoot. Attempts are made to preserve and balance claims of divine authority with foibles of human nature. An impossible balancing act ending in failure.
We stand at a crossroads with many choices. Some ignore conflicts to narratives as if to be living metaphors of the three monkeys; hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil. They appear to be oblivious to facts implying evil does not exist. Nephi, in The Covenant of Christ describes the chaos of our day in the following words:
“Woe to those who disregard the just for something of no value and loudly condemn what’s good and say it’s worthless, 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. And he’ll pacify others, lulling them into worldly security, so that they’ll say: Everything is fine in Zion; in fact, Zion is prospering. 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 [of remorse] that burns like lava, which is endless torment. Therefore, woe to those who are at ease in Zion! (CofC 2 Nephi 12:4; emphasis added).
Recalling many occasions reading this passage it was always with the same recency bias. Believing this prophecy referred to all religious and secular institutions outside of the most prominent of the Restoration was always the assumption. Entertaining the concept this scripture could refer to any aspect of the Restoration was inconceivable. To test this theory one need only refer to the Lord’s account of Moses leading Israel from Egyptian bondage. In the Savior’s account of events we learn His perspective of what occurred in those days:
“And this greater Priesthood administers the gospel and holds the key of the mysteries of the kingdom, even the key of the knowledge of God. Therefore, in the ordinances thereof the power of godliness is manifest, and without the ordinances thereof, and the authority of the Priesthood, the power of godliness is not manifest unto man in the flesh, for without this no man can see the face of God, even the Father, and live.
Now, this, Moses plainly taught to the children of Israel in the wilderness, and sought diligently to sanctify his people that they might behold the face of God, but they hardened their hearts and could not endure his presence. Therefore, the Lord, in his wrath (for his anger was kindled against them) swore that they should not enter into his rest — which rest is the fullness of his glory — while in the wilderness.
Therefore, he took Moses out of their midst, and the Holy Priesthood also. And the lesser priesthood continued, which priesthood holds the key of the ministering of angels, and the preparatory gospel, which gospel is the gospel of repentance, and of baptism, and the remission of sins, and the law of carnal commandments, which the Lord in his wrath caused to continue with the house of Aaron, among the children of Israel, until John, whom God raised up, being filled with the holy ghost from his mother’s womb. For he was baptized while he was yet in his childhood, and was ordained by the angel of God at the time he was eight days old unto this power: to overthrow the kingdom of the Jews, and to make straight the way of the Lord before the face of his people, to prepare them for the coming of the Lord, in whose hand is given all power” (RE T&C 82:12-14; emphasis added).
Moses, through the Lord’s miraculous power led captive Israel out of Egypt to Mt. Sinai. The purpose of delivering Israel from bondage was their preparation to ascend the Mount and be introduced to the Lord and receive His knowledge.
When the time came for the Lord to offer the greater Priesthood to Israel, they declined the Lord’s offer of covenant. Rejection of the Lord’s offer of covenant caused His withdrawal of Moses and the greater Priesthood from Israel. To fill the covenant void the Lord instituted the Aaronic covenant or “law of Moses.” The lesser covenant remained until John the Baptist. John was sent to “overthrow the kingdom of the Jews, and make straight the way of the Lord.”
As first-born son of the Aaronic high priest, John, by divine ordination by an angel and birth-right overthrew the leaders of the Jewish religion. It would seem this precedent extinguished all legitimate claims of authority by the established priesthood among Jews in John the Baptist’s day. It refutes all claims of priesthood authority perpetuated by succession assumptions.
When a dispensation head is removed by the Lord through death or translation it is always by design. The Lord is never surprised in these developments. It is always by His design. Assuming that authority from the dispensation head automatically passes to another person in their absence is presumptive and unsupported. The greater Priesthood held by Elijah transferred to Elisha in a compellingly obvious manner. Elijah passed his mantle to Elisha. Witnessing Elijah’s departure by ascension Elisha held the mantle and declared, “Where is the Lord God of Elijah?”
In response to Elisha’s cry the prophet smote the river with his staff and parted the water as evidence of the continuation of Elijah’s authority. Thereafter there was no doubt Elisha bore the mantle of authority because he exercised the same power as Elijah.[2]
Joseph Smith held the same Priesthood as Moses and Elijah. That conclusion is supported in scripture when Joseph of Egypt compares Joseph Smith’s latter-day role to Moses.’[3]
Two hundred years have passed since Joseph and Hyrum Smith were called. Absent the accumulation of wealth and prosperity there is little revelatory evidence the mantle passed from Joseph and Hyrum Smith. Adultery was legitimized, racial prejudice in priesthood ordination was instituted, and fruits of the Restoration by Joseph Smith supported the institutional expansion as his teachings are diluted or ignored by modern successors.
Nephi’s prophecy begins with:
“Woe to those who disregard the just for something of no value and loudly condemn what’s good and say it’s worthless. . .” (ibid).
Devout people proclaiming an association with God adopt a seemingly contradictory attitude. To understand how this attitude is manifest among religious people one need look to how the Jews reacted to John the Baptist and Jesus.
John, through the Aaronic Priesthood prepared the way for the people to accept a new dispensation and final offer of the greater Priesthood covenant through the Savior. Powerful doctrine and extraordinary miracles did not deliver the Lord or His servant from execution.
When a religious institution is heavily entrenched over centuries any servant from God is opposed by the institution as threats to their authority and standing. The Lord and His servant are perceived as adversaries because their teachings oppose the accuser’s kingdom.
In virtually every situation when God withdraws a dispensation head and the greater Priesthood is taken, opposition becomes fierce when the Lord seeks to renew His covenant later. People prove their devotion is to the institution, its narratives, and traditions rather than true doctrine. Some are so devout as to believe they do God a service by opposing, persecuting and killing the Lord’s servants.[4]
When Nephi writes,
“. . . 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” (ibid)
I originally thought that warning is for everyone outside the Mormon tradition. That assumption dismisses the possibility the content speaks directly to those to whom the record was given. If the Lord’s intent was to warn of impending destruction, logically one would believe the warning is given to those in jeopardy rather than those unaware of the threat.
“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” (ibid)
After his warning of a “ripening in iniquity” accompanied by “impending destruction” Nephi directs his comments to a “powerful and utterly wicked church” whose fall is “impressive.” One may delude themselves into thinking he speaks of other religions but an impressive fall suggests the church Nephi refers to achieves substantial notoriety. No one views the fall of a less successful institution as meaningful. Believing Nephi’s warning is directed to lesser institutions is challenged when Nephi provides a clue as to the identity of the church. Nephi exposes them by addressing those who say:
“. . . Everything is fine in Zion; in fact, Zion is prospering. Everything is fine! And so the accuser swindles[5] them and leads them away carefully down to hell” (ibid).
The name “Zion” is unique in Book of Mormon theology and prophecy. Nephi specifically addresses a latter-day people who perceive themselves as citizens of Zion. Not only are they citizens of Zion but they are prosperous residents of Zion. They are convinced of their elite standing before God because of their prosperous conditions. It is proof of their privileged standing before God.[6] Amid great prosperity they fail to recognize how being prosperous also leads to similarities with the “powerful and utterly wicked church.”
Nephi was promised prosperity in this land because of his faith, honesty in approaching the Lord, humility, and obedience to the Lord’s commandments. Prosperity may be achieved without those attributes. But without those attributes’ prosperity can lead to self-delusion and self-righteousness. Prosperity may keep us from realizing the power and utter wickedness of this church are a product of their great wealth and prosperity when faith is deficient, even absent.
Great wealth can translate to power and influence in the material world. People mistakenly believe they qualify as members of Zion because of institutional prosperity as they are carefully led by the “accuser” by “fraud and false representation.” One does well to question what fraud and false representation in the utterly wicked church might look like as its membership are deceived and led by them to hell. The doctrinal possibilities of their deceptions are almost endless.
Nephi Provides a List of Accuser’s Tactics In the Accuser’s Church
Nephi’s description is not a product of speculation. The Lord revealed our day to Nephi by vision. The content of his writings provide detailed observations of the deceiver’s strategies. The following list explains satanic deceptions used to lead all mankind to destruction and hell.
The Lord allows the accuser to conduct these strategies in the hope they will be sufficiently shaken to awaken to the fraud and deceptions. The Lord cannot compel[7] but allows them to follow a course leading to obedience by things they suffer.[8]
“. . .And those who belong to it must be motivated to repent, or the accuser will grab them with his everlasting chains [9] 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. . ” (ibid).
A humble heart acknowledges their weakness and accepts chastening from the Lord and repents. The prideful refuse to acknowledge errors, seek to reassign blame, and anger against those who expose their weakness. Weakness is given to everyone that we may be humble. If we acknowledge our weakness before the Lord, He turns weakness into godly strengths.[10] By His grace we are transformed gradually into His image. Paul explained this process to the Hebrew saints:
“You have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks unto you as unto children: My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when you are rebuked of him, for whom the Lord loves he chastens, and scourges every son whom he receives. If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chastens not? But if you are without chastisement whereof all are partakers, then are you bastards and not sons. Furthermore, we have had fathers of our flesh who corrected us and we gave them reverence. Shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits and live? For they truly for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure, but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness” (RE Hebrews 1:52; emphasis added).
Anger is the fruit of those succumbing to the accuser’s power by submitting to his will. Humility, submission to the Lord, repentance, and overcoming weakness transforms us into the image and attributes of the Savior. When we find ourselves easily incited to anger, it’s time to carefully discern the power we submit to and what outcome that spirit is leads us to.
“And he’ll pacify others, lulling them into worldly security, so that they’ll say: Everything is fine in Zion; in fact, Zion is prospering. Everything is fine! And so the accuser swindles them and leads them away carefully down to hell” (ibid).
In the context of this verse “pacify” is used to describe a state of complacency. And who does Nephi describe as being complacent in this context? Those who believe they are “in Zion” because of their prosperity. A Glossary of Gospel Topics provides the following explanation of Zion historically and prophetically:
“A prophesied last-days community of saints to which the City of Enoch will return, and where Christ will dwell. Originally expected by Mormons to be located in Independence, Missouri, it was later relocated to Nauvoo, Illinois. Late in his life Joseph Smith changed the location to “the whole of North and South America,” predicting it will cover the entire land mass at some point during the Millennial reign of Jesus Christ. Zion consists of people living in harmony with God. It is defined in revelation as the pure in heart (T&C 96:5–7; T&C 101:3; Genesis 4:14–16,19), but prophecy also confirms it will be an actual location and a place of gathering.
Zion and a New Jerusalem will exist before the Lord’s return in glory (see T&C 31:6; 58:3; 31:14-16). God will bring it as His work. Mortal man will labor with Him, but the Lord will be given credit for accomplishing it. No institution exists with the capacity to accomplish Zion. It will be so entirely foreign to this world that the people who come there will be required to adopt a new society, a new way of thinking, a different way of interacting, an entirely new law, a form of government that does not presently exist, an order to their lives that alters everything, and a form of righteousness that is only possible for a society with a new structure. The law of Moses did not produce Zion. The New Testament Primitive Christian church did not produce Zion. Modeling after either of these, as the church established by Joseph Smith did, has likewise not produced Zion. Zion will be produced by a journey begun in equality, pursued by equals, with no man able to command another man’s actions. Persuasion, meekness, unfeigned love, and pure knowledge are the only tools necessary for Zion.
Zion is something that has only been accomplished in the known history of the world by two communities. It is prophesied that there will be a third. What is to be created is something so foreign to this world that there is nothing in the world which can be used to judge its progression. Even the scriptures do not give a blueprint to follow. If they contained the necessary information, Zion would have been established long ago. “God alone will establish Zion. His instructions are vital and necessary for us. Once He instructs us, the Scriptures can then be used to confirm that His direction to us now is consistent with what He prophesied, covenanted, and promised would happen. But the path to Zion is to be found only by following God’s immediate commands to us. That is how He will bring it. He will lead us there. There is no magic, there is no sprinkling fairy dust that will take you to where God is. It does not and cannot happen that way. He will lead us, teach us, command us, guide us, but we have to be the ones who become what He commands. We have to be the ones who do what he bids us do.” The single, all-encompassing topic of Denver Snuffer’s ministry is Zion. “If you go back to the very first book, The Second Comforter: Conversing with the Lord through the Veil, and you read everything I have written beginning there until now…what you will discover is that I have given one continuous exposition. Admittedly it’s long, admittedly it fills millions of words in English, but it is a single exposition. I have been addressing one subject from the beginning until now; it is all one great whole.”
The counterpart to the world (or Babylon, as the scriptures have nicknamed the world) is Zion. The criteria or the description of Zion can be read in Genesis. From that time forth there were wars and bloodshed among them, but the Lord came and dwelt with his people and they dwelt in righteousness (Genesis 4:14). This is an interesting contrast. There are wars and bloodshed, on the one hand, but then there is the Lord dwelling among people who are living in peace and righteousness, on the other hand. And the fear of the Lord was upon all nations, so great was the glory of the Lord which was upon his people (ibid.). It was the glory of the Lord… upon his people that intimidated the wicked. The Lord doesn’t show Himself to the wicked except to destruction, but the Lord shows Himself unto those who are prepared. The glory of the Lord upon [them] is what others find intimidating. And that was the case with these people of Enoch’s Zion. And the Lord blessed the land, and they were blessed upon the mountains and upon the high places, and did flourish (ibid.). That is literal — Zion is not located in a valley, either in the past or in the future. Zion belongs on a high place. The prophecies make this clear. And the Lord called his people Zion because they were of one heart, and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness, and there were no poor among them (ibid.). Of these, the words and the Lord dwelt [among them] are the most important. But He could not do so unless they were united. Becoming one and rising up to receive the proper order of things is but a prelude to the Lord’s presence. “The Lord will fight the battles for Zion, when Zion exists. You will not need to have a weapon’s budget in Zion’s camp. It doesn’t happen that way. The battle to be fought is fought by the Lord. The prophecy given through Joseph Smith about the last days predicts the wicked decide they will not take on Zion, because Zion is too terrible. They will reach that conclusion entirely because of the presence of the Lord there (T&C 31:14). It is not because of munitions. In fact, that same description includes a statement about Zion’s residents. They are those who will not take up arms against their neighbor, but instead flee to Zion. They are the only ones that aren’t killing others.”
Zion will include people who are willing to receive revelations from God and obey commandments. God does this to bless His people. Blessed are they whose feet stand upon the land of Zion, who have obeyed my gospel, for they shall receive for their reward the good things of the earth, and it shall bring forth in her strength. And they also shall be crowned with blessings from above, yea, and with commandments not a few and with revelations in their time — they that are faithful and diligent before me (T&C 46:1). In other words, if any are privileged to stand upon the land of Zion, God will speak to them. He speaks two things for their benefit: first, commandments, and those will be not a few, because they will need a great deal of direction if they are going to be His people; and second, revelations in their time, because they will be ignorant of many mysteries He expects them to one day comprehend. Therefore, one of the characteristics of these people will be their willingness, even alacrity, to receive commandments and revelations. Apparently, the people who are to settle in the New Jerusalem and cause Zion to reappear will need to know not only how to act, but to have the basis to know why they are to act according to the Heavenly pattern — which is not needed for the world but absolutely essential to the creation of Zion.
“Being ‘one’ is required of us for Zion to return. Zion is required for the Lord to dwell among us again. He is going to return to a Zion, no matter how few may be involved. He will come even if only two or three gather in His name (Matthew 9:14). Zion may be small, but it will nonetheless be Zion before He can visit with her.” The significance of Zion is its spiritual endowment. It is the Power of Heaven and not the voting bloc. It is not their big numbers which intimidate the ungodly. Even a handful is sufficient. Righteousness is a power in itself. Zion is the Lord’s work. Getting it will not depend on the goodness or desires of men and women but on their submission to the Lord who intends to accomplish it. “We can’t force it, cause it, bring it, or hope it into existence. What we can do is submit to the Lord in a way that encourages Him to continue to use us for His purposes.” Zion, like our Lord, will receive little attention or regard from the world. The people who will recognize that its foundation is being laid will be very few. While the Jews, Christians, saints, and philosophers look to constantly replenish themselves from the east (see Isaiah 1:6), God will begin His work quietly in the mountains of the West (see T&C 58:3)” (A Glossary of Gospel Terms, Zion, pp.376-379; emphasis added).
The glossary offers an in-depth explanation of Zion and her characteristics. Very little from that explanation affirms prosperity as key to its establishment. Righteousness, obedience, revelation, submission to the Lord, and equality are hallmarks of Zion. The most distinguishing attribute will be the Savior’s presence among her diminutive population.
The power in Zion is not found in extraordinary population. It will be power descending from Heaven enabling her to prevail over the wicked. Her righteousness and divine power causes fear of her and her people.
The people Nephi saw claiming “Zion” are people mired in complacency and mediocrity. In doing so they create their own definition of righteousness and Zion based on their prosperity. Reliance on the dictates of leadership are hallmarks of a false form of Zion. The manufactured version of Zion is an example of “fraud and deceit” persuading modern Gentiles to be complacent. The adversary is “carefully leading their souls down to hell.”
The final deception seen by Nephi among latter-day Gentiles is described as follows:
“And he beguiles[11] 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 [metaphorical consequences of guilt and remorse], which is endless torment. Therefore, woe to those who are at ease in Zion! (ibid).
When we accept there is no accuser, the contra conclusion is there is no God. No God, no devil translates into no consequences for our choices. This is an enticing proposition if true. Nephi affirms there are consequences and there is accountability as well.
Choosing to believe there is no accuser or consequences is a false version of a merciful God willing to overlook our mistakes because of human imperfections. It is both naïve and damning. Unfortunately, those who rest their choices on these false premises tend to evangelize with self-righteous indignation. They view their opinion as enlightened, they proselytize others to convince them to affirm their confirmation bias.
The fallacy in all this is they correctly identify every misstep in the Restoration since the deaths of Joseph and Hyrum Smith. They use the same perpetrators of the missteps as witnesses against the Smith brothers and the Restoration. In effect it’s like seeking testimonies from Egyptians against Moses following the deaths of the firstborn Egyptian children.
This brings us back to the piano metaphor in the beginning of this paper. You can extol the virtues of academics as judges of church history presuming they give support for judging Joseph Smith critically. Those who betrayed Joseph Smith are given unwarranted credibility to support biased agenda’s.
No matter what piano key we choose to emphasize, they are all distractions away from the standard the Lord set for judging His work on earth. That standard is His word from Himself, His servants, and His testimony in the scriptures. You can quote opinions from scholars in complete futility all the way to hell. From the beginning the Lord explained one of His objectives was to warn against relying on others for instruction and guidance:
“Hearken, O you people of my church, says the voice of him who dwells on high, and whose eyes are upon all men. Yea, truly I say, hearken you people from afar, and you that are upon the islands of the sea, listen together, for truly the voice of the Lord is unto all men, and there is none to escape. And there is no eye that shall not see, neither ear that shall not hear, neither heart that shall not be penetrated. And the rebellious shall be pierced with much sorrow, for their iniquities shall be spoken upon the housetops and their secret acts shall be revealed, and the voice of warning shall be unto all people by the mouth of my disciples whom I have chosen in these last days. They shall go forth and none shall stay them, for I, the Lord, have commanded them.
Behold, this is my authority, and the authority of my servants, and my preface unto the book of my commandments which I have given them to publish unto you, O inhabitants of the earth. Wherefore, fear and tremble, O you people, for what I, the Lord, have decreed in them shall be fulfilled. And truly I say unto you that they who go forth, bearing these tidings unto the inhabitants of the earth, to them is power given to seal both on earth and in Heaven, the unbelieving and rebellious, yea, truly, to seal them up unto the day when the wrath of God shall be poured out upon the wicked without measure, unto the day when the Lord shall come to recompense unto every man according to his works, and measure to every man according to the measure which he has measured to his fellow man.
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 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. 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, and whose substance is that of an idol which waxes old and shall perish in Babylon, even Babylon the great which shall fall” (RE T&C 54:1-3; emphasis added).
The Lord warns the world by His voice, the voice of His servants, and His apostles and prophets. The problem for modern Gentiles is their lack of understanding of prophecy in our day. Like the prophecy Nephi spoke of, and reviewed in this paper. The presumption of many professing belief in the Book of Mormon is the Lord’s warning is directed only to those outside the Restoration. Illogical as that assumption may be, much of the institutional membership embrace this interpretation. In essence the latter-day Gentiles blindly become the modern version of the Lord’s chosen people, the Jews. Marginally knowledgeable about Christ but unable to recognize Him or His servants when they are sent to the latter-day Gentiles.
Latter-day Gentiles are unable to see parallels between Sinai and Nauvoo. The covenant rejection and withdrawal by God of His servants and the greater Priesthood covenant.
It is more convenient to dwell on the truly courageous plight of the pioneers than question why the Lord allowed Joseph and Hyrum Smith to be killed. Why the saints were driven from Nauvoo in fulfillment of His warning if they didn’t follow the Smith brothers in a timely construction of the Nauvoo temple.[12]
Prior to tragic events leading to the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith the Lord warned the saints the Priesthood He removed from them could not be Restored without the Nauvoo temple.
“And again, truly I say unto you, let all my saints come from afar, and send swift messengers, yea, chosen messengers, and say unto them, Come all of you, with all your gold, and your silver, and your precious stones, and with all your antiquities, and with all who have knowledge of antiquities that will come, may come. And bring the box tree, and the fir tree, and the pine tree, together with all the precious trees of the earth, and with iron, with copper, and with brass, and with zinc, and with all your precious things of the earth, and build a house unto my name for the Most High to dwell therein. For there is not place found on the earth that he may come and restore again that which was lost unto you, or which he has taken away, even the fullness of the Priesthood” (RE T&C 141:10; emphasis added).
This revelation was given to Joseph Smith January 19, 1841. According to the Lord’s revelation the church “lost” or had “taken away” the “fullness of the Priesthood.” Withdrawal of the Lord’s servant and removal of the “fullness of the Priesthood” is not unprecedented. It occurred before to Israel when they failed to follow Moses to the top of Sinai to be introduced into the Lord’s presence.
Earlier in this paper the Lord’s account of these events explained to Joseph Smith the consequences Israel suffered for refusing the Lord’s offer of the greater Priesthood covenant.
Moses was removed from Israel with the greater Priesthood covenant. Israel was given a lesser, Aaronic covenant known as the Law of Moses. Having spurned the Lord’s invitation to return to His presence, Israel remained under the lesser covenant (because of the Lord’s “wrath” and “anger”) until John the Baptist was sent to “prepare the way” by closing the dispensation started by Moses. The Baptist’s role was to “overthrow the kingdom of the Jews, and to make straight the way of the Lord” in preparation for His coming with the greater Priesthood. The rabbinical class resisted the Lord and the greater covenant to defend their cultural and religious status among the Jews.[13]
In addition to performing saving ordinances of suffering for the sins of the world, Jesus extended the offer of the Priesthood fullness to close the first half of Israel’s covenant opportunity. Thereafter the offer would be extended to the Gentiles inviting them to receive covenant blessings.
“Thus after this chosen family [Israel] had rejected Christ and His proposals, the heralds of salvation [His disciples] said to them, “Lo we turn unto the Gentiles”; and the Gentiles received the covenant, and were grafted in from whence the chosen family were broken off; but the Gentiles have not continued in the goodness of God, but have departed from the faith that was once delivered to the Saints, and have broken the covenant in which their [Patriarchal] fathers were established (see Isaiah 24:5, [same covenant violations repeated by modern Gentiles in the Restoration]); and have become high-minded, and have not feared; therefore, but few of them will be gathered with the chosen family [in the last days]. . .” (TPJS., p.15, emphasis added).
Nephi laid out the covenant template the Lord follows in the last days. He summarized it in the following words:
“. . . At a future time, He’ll reveal Himself to all nations, both to the Jews [Israel] and to the Gentiles. And after He has revealed Himself to the Jews and to the Gentiles, He’ll then appear to the Gentiles and to the Jews. The last will be first and the first will be last” (CofC 1 Nephi 3:24; emphasis added).
Following the Jews rejection of Jesus, the apostles of Jesus were commanded by the Lord to carry the same covenant to the Gentiles where it was initially accepted.
The covenant transition of the Priesthood fullness was triggered by Israel twice rejecting the Lord’s offer of the greater covenant. He then sent the same covenant to the Gentiles through His disciples. Eventually the Gentiles fell short in honoring their covenant obligation and it was withdrawn from them.
Ironically the same outcome occurred when Joseph Smith became the Lord’s servant in offering the greater Priesthood covenant to the Gentiles. It was first offered to them in the beginning of a new dispensation. Like Moses, Joseph Smith was taken with the Priesthood fullness and a lesser covenant remained in place among those following him. Succession in title only led to the same outcome Israel experienced after Moses was removed with the greater Priesthood. Rabbinical like teachings [Journal of Discourses] became the substitute for revelation through the Lord’s appointed servant.
Joseph Smith’s legacy of the Book of Mormon, revelation, and inspired teachings provided a bedrock foundation persisting for two hundred years for those claiming to succeed Joseph. Like ancient rabbinical Jews, much of Joseph’s teachings have eroded and fallen into disrepair and loss because of the absence of revelation.
Modern Gentiles are amid their John the Baptist moment when the Lord’s kingdom established by Joseph Smith is being “wrested” and overthrown from its original founding. The Lord is closing Joseph Smith’s dispensation in preparation for one final offer of covenant to the Gentiles. The decision facing all Gentiles is will they remain devoted to the established religious institutions or will they acknowledge the coming of the Lord’s servant and a final covenant opportunity before they are cut-off from Israel.[14]
In the absence of the fruits of the Spirit,[15] the established institution is left to assert their power through appeals to their authority. As rabbi’s did over their Jewish congregants. Jesus openly manifest His divine authority through the depths of His teachings and power of His faith and Priesthood. No matter how profound the manifestations of His works were, the Jews rejected Him. Why was He widely rejected? Because He was not a product of the established institution and its leadership. He was a self-taught itinerant preacher and carpenter. Self-taught is an incorrect assertion. Jesus was taught by His Father and never deviated from what the Father shared with Him.
This is the crossroads the Gentiles now stand. When the Lord’s servant is sent to overthrow the Gentile kingdom it will be in the same manner demonstrated by John the Baptist and Jesus. His authority is not by virtue of flaunting a divine commission publicly or a chain of succession from Joseph Smith. It will be by his works, his teachings, and his example. He, like Jesus will not be a product of institutional molding. He comes from an unlikely place in a nondescript manner. We will only know him if we are familiar with the Lord’s words in scripture and the Savior’s voice echoing in our ears and resonating in our hearts.
Don’t be so engrossed in parsing interesting subjects that have no life or power to save. They may be right but lacking in redeeming value. Recognize the prophetic landscape in which we now live and awaken to our responsibility when the Lord speaks to the Gentiles through His latter-day servant.
“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 is bathed in Heaven and it shall fall upon the inhabitants of the earth, and the arm [Lord’s appendage] 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. 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, and whose substance is that of an idol which waxes old and shall perish in Babylon, even Babylon the great which shall fall” (RE T&C 54:3; emphasis added).
[1] “The Only True and Living Church,” Elder Boyd K. Packer, October 1971.
[2] “And it came to pass, as they still went on and talked, that behold, there appeared a chariot of fire and horses of fire and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into Heaven. And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father! The chariot of Israel and the horsemen thereof! And he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and rent them in two pieces. He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back and stood by the bank of Jordan. And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters and said, Where is the Lord God of Elijah? And when he also had smitten the waters, they parted here and there, and Elisha went over.
And when the sons of the prophets who were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah does rest on Elisha . . .” (RE 2 Kings 1:11-12; emphasis added).
[3] “Now Joseph, my youngest whom I’ve brought out of the wilderness of my trouble and difficulties, may the Lord bless you forever that your descendants won’t be completely destroyed. You are my child, and I’m a descendant of Joseph, who was taken as a prisoner to Egypt. The Lord made great covenants with Joseph. As a result, Joseph was shown about us, and the Lord promised him that He would raise up righteous descendants of the house of Israel from his offspring — not the Messiah, but a separated branch, who would be included in the Lord’s covenants — and the Messiah would make Himself known to them in the last days in the spirit of power in order to enlighten them. He’ll move them from darkness into light, from dark confusion and being lost into freedom.
Joseph testified truthfully, saying: The Lord who is God will raise up a worthy and chosen seer for my offspring. Indeed, Joseph truthfully said: This is what the Lord told me: I’ll raise up a worthy, carefully chosen seer from your offspring who will be highly regarded among your offspring. I’ll give him a commandment to do a work for your offspring, his brothers and sisters, which will be very valuable to them, restoring them to knowledge of the covenants I made with your fathers. 8And I’ll give him a commandment to only do the work I’ll commission him to do and nothing else. And I’ll regard him as great in My eyes, since he’ll do My work. He’ll be great like Moses, whom I’ve said I would raise up for you, O house of Israel, to set you free. I’ll raise up Moses to free your people from Egypt, but I’ll raise up a seer from your offspring. And I’ll give him power to bring to light My word for your descendants — not only to bring to light My word, but to convince them of My word previously given to them” (CofC 2 Nephi 2:2-3; emphasis added).
[4] “Now I tell you beforehand what to expect to come upon you so you are not surprised, nor will you stumble and fall. They will excommunicate you. The time will even come that the self-righteous who kill you will think that they speak for God. And they will do these things because they cannot do what the Father and I have done. I warn you beforehand that you will face this opposition so that when it happens you will remember and be strengthened. When I first taught, the anger and opposition was directed at me, and because of that, you were not their focus. But now I will return to the one who sent me and they will turn their anger at you” (RE T&C 171, Testimony of Saint John 10:23; emphasis added).
[5] Swindle is defined as: A swindle is the act of cheating, deceiving, or tricking someone out of money, property, or valuables through fraud or false representation, as defined by the Cambridge English Dictionary.
[6] “. . . And the Lord replied: You are blessed, Nephi, because of your faith, having honestly approached Me with a humble heart. And to the degree you keep My commandments, you will prosper and be led to a promised land, one that I’ve prepared for you, a specially chosen land, better than all other places on earth. . .” (CofC 1 Nephi 1:9; emphasis added).
[7] “. . . your bowels also being full of charity toward all men, and to the household of faith; and virtue garnish your thoughts unceasingly. Then shall your confidence wax strong in the presence of God, and the doctrines of the Priesthood shall distill upon your soul as the dews from heaven. The holy ghost shall be your constant companion, and your scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth, and your dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto you for ever and ever” (RE T&C 139:6; emphasis added).
[8] “For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God (that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins) who can have compassion on the ignorant and on them that are out of the way, for he himself also is encompassed with infirmity. And by reason hereof, he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins. And no man takes this honor unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron [speaking of the Aaronic Priesthood]. So also Christ glorified not himself to be made a high priest, but he that said unto him, You are my Son; today I have begotten you. As he says also in another place, You are a priest for ever after the Order of Melchizedek — who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared, though he was a son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered. (This alludes to Melchizedek and not to Christ.)” (RE Hebrews 1:12; emphasis added).
[9] “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 [anger against that which is good] receive less of His word. Those who don’t harden their hearts are given a greater part of His word, until they understand God’s mysteries. They can be given God’s mysteries until everything is fully known. However those who harden their hearts are given less of His word, until they know nothing about His mysteries. Then the accuser captures them and leads them by his will down to destruction. This is what the chains of hell mean” (CofC Alma 9:3; emphasis added).
[10] “When I had said this, the Lord told me: Fools mock, but they will mourn. And My grace is sufficient for the meek, so that they [Gentiles] won’t find an excuse in your weaknesses. If people come to Me, I’ll show them their weaknesses. I give people weaknesses so they can be humble. And My grace is sufficient for all people who humble themselves before Me. If they humble themselves before Me and have faith in Me, then I’ll make weak things become strong for them. I’ll show the Gentiles their weaknesses. I’ll show them that faith, hope, and charity lead to Me, the Source of all righteousness” (CofC Ether 5:5; emphasis added).
[11] “Beguiles is a verb meaning to charm, enchant, or attract someone, often in a deceptive or manipulative way, or to help time pass pleasantly.” (Cell Phone definition of “Beguiled.”
[12] “And truly I say unto you, let this house be built unto my name that I may reveal my ordinances therein unto my people, for I deign to reveal unto my church things which have been kept hid from before the foundation of the world, things that pertain to the dispensation of the fullness of times. And I will show unto my servant Joseph all things pertaining to this house and the Priesthood thereof, and the place whereon it shall be built. And you shall build it on the place where you have contemplated building it, for that is the spot which I have chosen for you to build it. If you labor with all your mights, I will consecrate that spot that it shall be made holy. And if my people will hearken unto my voice and unto the voice of my servants whom I have appointed to lead my people, behold, truly I say unto you, they shall not be moved out of their place.
But if they will not hearken to my voice, nor unto the voice of these men whom I have appointed, they shall not be blessed, because they pollute my holy grounds, and my holy ordinances and charters, and my holy words which I give unto them. And it shall come to pass that if you build a house unto my name and do not do the things that I say, I will not perform the oath which I make unto you, neither fulfill the promises which you expect at my hands, says the Lord. For instead of blessings, you, by your own works, bring cursings, wrath, indignation, and judgments upon your own heads, by your follies and by all your abominations which you practice before me, says the Lord” (RE T&C 141:13-14; emphasis added).
[13] “Nicodemus said to him, If I believe this, can I ascend in this life, or will it be accomplished only in the afterlife? Jesus answered, In the name of Father Ahman I say to you, Except you receive the ordinance of baptism to join the new dispensation, and thereby forsake your sins and receive forgiveness and an outpouring of the Spirit, you will not ascend to God’s presence in this life or the life to come. All who are devoted to the ambitions of the flesh remain imprisoned by the flesh, and those who are born anew through the ordinances, receive the Spirit of Truth, and are able to know the record of Heaven by the Spirit of Truth. Do not question if what I say is true because the Spirit of Truth confers light, knowledge, and understanding of the mysteries of Heaven within every soul who receives it.
Nicodemus replied to him, Why is this not widely known? Jesus answered, Why does a member of the Sanhedrin not recognize that a new dispensation has begun? In the name of Father Ahman I confirm what was told by John the Baptist and I have begun a work that comes from Heaven. But you who lead Israel fight against it and you refuse to humble yourselves. If I offered you a position of respect and authority, as you now hold, you would believe. But because I testify only of heavenly things that require faith and sacrifice, you refuse to believe? I tell you, if you want to ascend to the Heavenly Council, you must first acknowledge and give heed to the messengers sent by them. You can refuse to believe, but you will see in me a sign and remember this saying: When Moses nailed a brass serpent upon a pole in the wilderness, he prophesied of me. And I shall also be nailed upon a tree, and those who believe on me will receive deliverance through my sacrifice, even as Israel was delivered by looking with faith at Moses’ serpent” (RE T&C 171, Testimony of Saint John 2:2-3; 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 [Gentiles]. 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 [Israel]. And then you, a remnant of the house of Jacob, will rise up from them. And you’ll [Lehi’s remnant] 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, 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).
[15] “And your minds in times past have been darkened because of unbelief, and because you have treated lightly the things you have received, which vanity and unbelief have brought the whole church under condemnation. And this condemnation rests upon the children of Zion, even all, and they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon, and the former commandments which I have given them, not only to say but to do according to that which I have written, that they may bring forth fruit meet for their Father’s kingdom. Otherwise, there remains a scourge and a judgment to be poured out upon the children of Zion, for shall the children of the kingdom pollute my holy land? Truly, truly I say unto you, Nay” (RE T&C 82:20; emphasis added).
Scott Roderick
10/16/2026
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