What Joseph Smith Said - Addendum 1 to: “Prophetic Significance of the Covenant of Christ:” - The Gentile Crossroad
- scottrode
- Oct 10
- 26 min read
In my last submission the question of what Joseph Smith knew about his fate and the future of the Church of Jesus Christ he founded was raised. The following are a series of quotes addressing subjects relating to 3rd Nephi references in C of C chapters 9 & 10.
“But I beg leave to say unto you, brethren, that ignorance, superstition and bigotry placing itself where it ought not, is oftentimes in the way of the prosperity of this Church; like the torrent of rain from the mountains, that floods the most pure and crystal stream with mire, and dirt, and filthiness, and obscures everything that was clear before, and all rushes along in one general deluge; but time weathers tide; and notwithstanding we are rolled in the mire of the flood for the time being, the next surge peradventure, as time rolls on, may bring to us the fountain as clear as crystal, and as pure as snow; while the filthiness, flood-wood and rubbish is left and purged out by the way” (The Prophets Epistle to the Church, written in Liberty Prison, Clay County, Missouri, March 25, 1839, TPJS., P.138, emphasis added).
In March of 1839 Joseph Smith expressed concern that “ignorance, superstition, and bigotry” were present in the Church and compared the condition to debris washing into a stream that was [past tense] “the most pure and crystal stream.” This was the contemporary condition of the Church in his day. Joseph declared: “notwithstanding we are rolled in the mire of the flood for the time being,” affirming the corrupted condition of the Church. Following his commentary on current conditions, Joseph Smith held out hope for a day when the metaphorical stream becomes “the fountain as clear as crystal, and pure as snow,” when impurities were “purged out by the way.”
Joseph Smith would not live to see the day when impurities were purged from the stream and the metaphorical “fountain” feeding it pure and crystal water of revelation returns.
“Secondly, it is contrary to the will and commandment of God that those who receive not the inheritance by consecration, agreeable to his law which he has given, that he may tithe his people to prepare them against the day of vengeance and burning, should have their names enrolled with the people of God, neither is the genealogy to be kept or to be had where it may be found on any of the records or history of the church. Their names shall not be found, neither the names of their fathers or the names of the children, written in the Book of the Law of God, says the Lord of Hosts. Yea, so says the still small voice which whispers through and pierces all things, and often times it makes my bones to quake while it makes manifest, saying, And it shall come to pass that I, the Lord God, will send one mighty and strong, holding the scepter of power in his hand, clothed with light for a covering, whose mouth shall utter words, eternal words, while his bowels shall be a fountain of truth, to set in order the House of God, and to arrange by lot the inheritance of the saints, whose names are found, and the names of their fathers and of their children, enrolled in the Book of the Law of God; while that man who was called of God, and appointed, that puts forth his hand to steady the ark of God, shall fall by the shaft of death, like as a tree that is smitten by the vivid shaft of lightning” (RE T&C 83:40, emphasis added).
A stream is most pure at the fountain head where the stream originates. Joseph Smith spoke of a day when the stream polluted in his day becomes “clear as crystal and pure as snow.” It seems no coincidence the Lord sends “One mighty and strong” who holds a scepter, an instrument of a king with power. This king is “clothed with light” like the Nephites who take upon themselves the countenance of the Savior when praying to Him in His presence.[1] The “one mighty and strong" speaks “eternal words” or words of God.[2] Eternal words spoken by the “one mighty and strong” apply to the Lord’s servant in 3 Nephi 9 of the covenant of Christ:
“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 [Gentiles] who won’t believe it, although a man [one mighty and strong] will tell it to them. But the ministry of My servant [one mighty and strong] 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 [Gentiles] 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 [eternal words], it will result exactly as Moses said: They [unrepentant Gentiles] will be cut off from My people who are part of the covenant [precisely as those who receive not the inheritance by consecration, agreeable to his law which he has given . . . , [those who receive not their inheritance by consecration] should have their names enrolled with the people of God, neither is the genealogy to be kept or to be had where it may be found on any of the records or history of the church. Their names shall not be found, neither the names of their fathers or the names of the children, written in the Book of the Law of God, says the Lord of Hosts (RE T&C 83:40)] . . .” (C of C 3 Nephi 9:12, emphasis added).
“Eternal words” spoken by the “one mighty and strong” cause his bowels to become a “fountain of truth,” or revelation flowing through him forming a stream of truth “clear as crystal and pure as snow.” The servant who the Father causes to speak the words of Christ becomes the Lord’s metaphorical line in the sand for the Gentiles. The Gentiles who reject the Lord’s servant and the words of Christ the Father sends him to deliver are cut off from the covenant people, Israel.
This pattern is stated clearly by the Savior when He explains the sign given to descendants of Lehi to know when the Father commences fulfilling His promises to Israel including their gathering.
“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 [Joseph Smith in the role of the Spirit of Elias “writes the record”.[3]] But your descendants [Lehi’s] 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 [Gentiles receive the Book of Mormon at first and then the Covenant of Christ last when the “spokesman” declares it], 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 . . .” (C of C 3 Nephi 9:11, emphasis added).
The Gentiles first receive the Book of Mormon from Joseph Smith at the beginning of the Gentile dispensation. At the end of the Gentile dispensation, the spokesman for Joseph Smith, the “one mighty and strong” speaking “eternal words” filled with “bowels” of truth, being “clothed with light for a covering.” The abundance of revelation and truth flowing from the Lord’s servant cleanses the revelatory stream cluttered with debris from prior generations and the philosophy of men mingled with scripture.
There are two final elements of the “one mighty and strong” relating to the last paper and the papers relating to Isaiah before. First is the statement the “one mighty and strong” “sets in order the house of God” and assigns inheritances in Zion. In the Isaiah papers recently posted, Hezekiah is the type for the latter-day Davidic king from the tribe of Judah. When the Lord reveals the future coming of the “one mighty and strong” I believe the Savior’s language is precise establishing links with past characters and events in Israel’s history. The scepter of power has a dual meaning. The scepter points to a position of royalty and the power means the “one mighty and strong” has done what ancient David could not.[4] He obtained the Spirit of Elijah and its accompanying power and Priesthood fullness.
The “scepter of power” points to the fulfillment of this prophecy by Joseph Smith. Further evidence supporting this conclusion is the phrase “set in order the house of God.” That phrase appears in one example in the Old Testament and applies to Hezekiah sanctifying Aaronic high priests, repairing the temple and inviting Israel to gather to and restore the practice of temple observance established in the days of David. At the conclusion of that chapter, we read:
“So the service of the house of the Lord was set in order. And Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people, that God had prepared the people; for the thing was done suddenly” [5](RE 2 Chronicles 16:12, emphasis added).
Setting in order the house of God in the context of Hezekiah’s account involved repairing the doors of the temple, sanctifying the Levites, (as foretold in Malachi’s prophecy the Lord gave to the Nephites in C of C 3 Nephi 11:1, with an in-depth explanation given by the Savior), and the effort to gather Israel with particular mention of a reluctant tribe of Ephraim, the type for latter-day Gentiles.
The last portion of the “one mighty and strong” prophecy has a strong correlation with the past as well as modern times. Before David was anointed king from the tribe of Judah, Saul from Benjamin was anointed king of Israel. The Lord rejected Saul as king when he exceeded his authority by offering sacrifice reserved for Samuel, the high priest. In effect, Saul “overstepped his bounds” in the manner Joseph Smith warned the early saints to be cognizant of.
In the prophecy of the “one mighty and strong,” a man “who was called of God, and appointed” [like Saul], over-steps the bounds of his authority in the same manner as Saul and Uzzah, a man who touched the ark of the covenant to steady it and keep it from falling from a wagon. The only ones authorized to touch the ark were Levitical and Aaronic Priests. The instant Uzzah touched the ark of God, regardless of the sincerity of his intent, God smote and killed him. The “one mighty and strong” is the replacement for a man who is called and appointed but goes beyond the authority God grants him. Like Uzzah, the man preceding the “one mighty and strong” suffers swift retribution at the Lord’s hand. It will be swift and surprising. Into this void the “one mighty and strong” steps in to do exactly as the Lord commands, never exceeding the bounds set by the Him. This may trigger the judgment foretold by Christ when the prophecy of Malachi is fulfilled in the Covenant of Christ.
“After Jesus explained all the scriptures as one consistent whole to them, He commanded them to teach what He had explained to them. Then He required them to write down the prophecy Malachi received from the Father. After it was written, He explained what it meant. This is what the Father said to Malachi: I’ll send My messenger and He’ll prepare the way before Me [Spirit of Elias], and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to His temple [after the Elias prepares the way, Spirit of Messiah arrives], the messenger of the covenant [“one mighty and strong,” Spirit of Elijah, servant bringing forth the words of Christ, C of C 3 Nephi 10:12] whom you delight in, He will come, says the Lord of Hosts. But who [especially among the Gentiles] can endure the day of His coming? And who will be able to stand when He appears? For He’s like a refiner’s fire and like launderers’ soap [purifies and sanctifies repentant Gentiles]. He’ll sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and He’ll purify the sons of Levi[6] and refine them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the Lord an offering in righteousness [Hezekiah was responsible for sanctifying and refining the Levites (RE 2 Chronicles 16:1-2)]. Then will the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be accepted by the Lord, as in the days of old and as in former years [Hezekiah]. And I’ll [the Lord] conduct a trial in which I’ll testify against their false ministers[7], and against the adulterers, and against those who lie under oath, and against those that cheat the laborer by underpaying his wages, cheat widows, and orphans, and are cruel to foreigners, disobeying Me, says the Lord of Hosts. I the Lord, do not change; that’s why you children of Jacob aren’t already destroyed” (C of C 3 Nephi 11:1, emphasis added).
To prepare the way for the Gentiles and then Israel for the Lord’s coming, the Lord sends His servant, “one mighty and strong.” A servant who brings forth the words of Christ in a work described as “great and awe-inspiring"[8] or “great and marvelous”[9] in the Book of Mormon [RE 3 Nephi 9:12].
To complete the prophecy of the “one mighty and strong,” the subject of assigning inheritances in Zion must be addressed. To explore that subject, the prophecy of Ezekiel explains the combining of the records of Judah and Joseph and the emergence of a latter-day David who has two stages of Priesthood advancement in his reign over modern Israel.
“And David my servant shall be king over them [this is in the context of ancient David who never advanced to the Spirit of Elijah and fullness of the Priesthood. The office of king is head of the Aaronic Priesthood and oversaw the Levites and temporal affairs, the office is both temporal and temporary], and they 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.[10]
Moreover, I will make a covenant of peace with them [Israel]. It shall be an everlasting covenant with them. And I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary [temple, Savior’s body, presence] in the midst of them for ever. My tabernacle also shall be with them, yea, I will be their God and they shall be my people. And the heathen [Gentiles] 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).
In the beginning of verse 6, David is given the title of “king,” the same as his ancient forefather and namesake. It reflects the position and title held by the original David that was limited in its Priesthood and Spirit, to that of Elias. At the end of verse 6, David’s title changes to “prince” and thereafter every title and blessing is given the eternal title of “for ever.” This is the Spirit of Elijah and fullness of the Priesthood ancient David never attained but the latter-day David advances to. This includes the Lord’s “everlasting covenant” of peace and the promise His sanctuary and tabernacle [presence] will abide with them “for ever.”
Thereafter Ezekiel refers to David with the eternal title of “prince.” Under the reign of David, the prince assigns the inheritances of Israel in the concluding chapters of Ezekiel beginning at the temple and moving outward from there. When the temple of Zion is complete and the Spirit of Elijah prevails, the fountain referred to by Joseph Smith flowing from the “one mighty and strong” begins flowing from the East porch of the temple. The rising tide runs from beneath the porch feeds the trees [Isaiah’s metaphor for people, (RE Ezekiel 21:61)] and fish [Savior’s metaphor for people, “I shall make you fishers of men,” (RE Ezekiel 21:60)] eventually the waters of the Dead Sea. (See RE Ezekiel 21:58-67). That is when the stream flowing from the fountain becomes “clear as crystal, and pure as the snow.”
When the prophetic implications of what Joseph Smith said are placed in the context of scripture and prophecy it is clear Joseph’s words were more truth filled than people comprehend. Because of our “ignorance, superstition, and bigotry” we lack understanding to appreciate the full scope of what Joseph Smith attempted to tell us. By speaking in plain and simple terms to tailor his messaging to our understanding, Joseph Smith is perceived as “weak.” [11] That misperception goes away when the Lord sends His servant in the last days to declare what Joseph attempted to teach. In his frustration Joseph Smith said:
“Had I inspiration, revelation, and lungs to communicate what my soul has contemplated in times past, there is not a soul in this congregation but would go to their homes and shut their mouths in everlasting silence on religion till they had learned something.
Why be so certain that you comprehend the things of God, when all things with you are so uncertain . . . That which hath been hid from before the foundation of the world is revealed to babes and sucklings in the last days.
The world is reserved unto burning in the last days. He shall send Elijah the prophet [the Kirtland Temple was dedicated March 27, 1836. One might question why Joseph Smith is speaking of Elijah coming as a future event on August 13, 1843, seven years after the Kirtland Temple was dedicated?], and he [Elijah] shall [but yet to] reveal the covenants of the [Patriarchal] fathers in relation to the children, and the covenants of the children in relation to the fathers” (TPJS., pp.320-321, emphasis added).
The Lord sends a “spokesman” to declare what Joseph Smith has written and early saints failed to understand. At the conclusion of the Gentile dispensation of which we are now immersed, the great test is to discern those who overstep their bounds and distract the followers of Joseph Smith’s Restoration. Their sincere but misguided devotion to a lesser covenant blocks those who desire to follow Joseph Smith from recognizing God’s servant who arises as a “fountain of truth;” to remove the debris from the stream that began with Joseph but became polluted through ignorance of those who believe claims of authoritative succession transcended the necessity to what advance what Joseph Smith started. They teach for commandments the precepts of men, leading astray those who would receive the Lord’s servant if they knew where to find him.
There are additional addendums to be shared that are forthcoming. As I research and write them, my wife reminds me to suggest resources available free of charge to anyone interested. None of these resources are for profit. They are provided by devoted Covenant Christians who donate time, efforts and expense to further the cause of Christ today. We gather independent of any formal institution or leadership. There are no buildings or paid clergy. Tithes remain in fellowships that meet in private homes. Tithing funds are dispersed by collective deliberations to those with need for assistance in the respective fellowships.
Authorized servants of Jesus Christ can be contacted to perform baptisms free of charge for anyone desiring to comply with the terms of the covenant:
This is the Covenant Ordinance offered by the Lord to all who will receive it. Received by revelation to Denver Snuffer Jr., July 2017, and presented for the first time in Boise, Idaho, 3 September 2017, at a Covenant of Christ conference.
Note: This covenant can be received at any time, in any place, by any person who has accepted the Doctrine of Christ. Either an authorized priesthood holder who has previously received The Covenant can administer it, or the recording from the Boise Covenant of Christ Conference can be used. The believer receiving The Covenant may first want to review the words of the Prayer for Covenant before receiving The Covenant. Receiving The Covenant involves having read to them the Answer to Prayer for Covenant, following which they have read to them The Covenant, and then comply with the directions contained therein, answering, Yes, out loud at the appropriate moment.
There are four questions I will read. Please remain seated until the four questions have all been read. If, after you hear all four questions, you can answer, Yes, to all four, then you will be asked to stand and say, Yes, to accept:
First: Do you believe all the words of the Lord which have been read to you this day, and know them to be true and from the Lord Jesus Christ, who has condescended to provide them to you, and do you covenant with Him to cease to do evil and to seek to continually do good?
Second: Do you have faith in these things and receive the scriptures approved by the Lord as a standard to govern you in your daily walk in life, to accept the obligations established by the Book of Mormon and/or Covenant of Christ as a covenant, and to use the scriptures to correct yourselves and to guide your words, thoughts, and deeds?
Third: Do you agree to assist all others — who covenant to likewise accept this standard to govern their lives — to keep the Lord’s will, to succor those who stand in need, to lighten the burdens of your brothers and sisters whenever you are able, and to help care for the poor among you?
Fourth: And do you covenant to seek to become of one heart with those who seek the Lord to establish His righteousness?
If you agree, please stand wherever you are located, either here or in a remote location, to be recognized and numbered by God and His angels.
All those standing please confirm you are willing to accept this covenant by saying, Yes.
Please be seated.
Now, hear the words of the Lord to those who receive this covenant this day:
All you who have turned from your wicked ways and repented of your evil doings, of lying and deceiving, and of all whoredoms, and of secret abominations, idolatries, murders, priestcrafts, envying, and strife, and from all wickedness and abominations, and have come unto me, and been baptized in my name, and have received a remission of your sins, and received the holy ghost, are now numbered with my people who are of the house of Israel. I say to you:
Teach your children to honor me. Seek to recover the lost sheep remnant of this land and of Israel and no longer forsake them. Bring them unto me and teach them of my ways, to walk in them.
And I, the Lord your God, will be with you and will never forsake you, and I will lead you in the path which will bring peace to you in the troubling season now fast approaching.
I will raise you up and protect you, abide with you, and gather you in due time, and this shall be a land of promise to you as your inheritance from me.
The earth will yield its increase, and you will flourish upon the mountains and upon the hills, and the wicked will not come against you because the fear of the Lord will be with you.
I will visit my house, which the remnant of my people shall build, and I will dwell therein, to be among you, and no one will need to say, Know ye the Lord, for you all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
I will teach you things that have been hidden from the foundation of the world and your understanding will reach unto Heaven.
And you shall be called the children of the Most High God, and I will preserve you against the harvest.
And the angels sent to harvest the world will gather the wicked into bundles to be burned, but will pass over you as my peculiar treasure.
But if you do not honor me, nor seek to recover my people Israel, nor teach your children to honor me, nor care for the poor among you, nor help lighten one another’s burdens, then you have no promise from me and I will raise up other people who will honor and serve me, and give unto them this land, and if they repent, I will abide with them.
The time is now far spent, therefore labor with me and do not forsake my covenant to perform it; study my words and let them be the standard for your faith, and I will add thereto many treasures. Love one another and you will be mine, and I will preserve you, and raise you up, and abide with you for ever. Amen” (RE T&C 158).
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[1] When Jesus had prayed this to the Father, He came to His disciples, and they continued to pray to Him without stopping. Yet they didn’t repeat any words, since the things they were to pray for were inspired; and they were filled with hope. Jesus blessed them as they prayed to Him. And His countenance smiled upon them, and the light of His countenance shined on them. They were as bright as Jesus’ countenance and clothes. And its brightness exceeded everything that is white; indeed, nothing on earth could be as brilliantly white. Then Jesus said to them: Pray on. And they never did stop praying. Then He turned away from them again and went a little way off and bowed down on the ground, praying again to the Father: Father, I thank You that You’ve purified these that I’ve chosen because of their faith. I pray for them and also for those who will believe in their words, so they can be purified in Me through faith in their words, like these are purified in Me. Father, I don’t pray for the world but for those whom You’ve given to Me out of the world because of their faith, so they can be purified in Me, so I can be in them as You Father are in Me, so we can be united as one, so I can be glorified in them. When Jesus had said these things, He went back to His disciples, and they prayed to Him intently, without stopping. He smiled upon them again. And they were shining, just like Jesus” (C of C 3 Nephi 9:4, emphasis added).
[2] “ . . . Behold, I am God, Man of Holiness is my name, Man of Counsel is my name, and Endless and Eternal is my name also . . .” (RE Genesis 4:17, emphasis added).
[3] “The Lord also told me: I’ll give your descendants also a prophet and make a spokesman for him. I’ll inspire the one to write the record of your descendants to bless your offspring. And that spokesman will declare that record . . .” (C of C 2 Nephi 2:6, emphasis added).
[4] “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” (TPJS.339, emphasis added).
[5] “After Jesus explained all the scriptures as one consistent whole to them, He commanded them to teach what He had explained to them. Then He required them to write down the prophecy Malachi received from the Father. After it was written, He explained what it meant. This is what the Father said to Malachi: I’ll send My messenger and He’ll prepare the way before Me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to His temple, the messenger of the covenant whom you delight in, He will come, says the Lord of Hosts. But who can endure the day of His coming? And who will be able to stand when He appears? For He’s like a refiner’s fire and like launderers’ soap. He’ll sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and He’ll purify the sons of Levi and refine them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the Lord an offering in righteousness [Hezekiah did the same in 2 Chronicles. He sanctified the Levites.]. Then will the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be accepted by the Lord, as in the days of old and as in former years. And I’ll conduct a trial in which I’ll testify against their false ministers, and against the adulterers, and against those who lie under oath, and against those that cheat the laborer by underpaying his wages, cheat widows, and orphans, and are cruel to foreigners, disobeying Me, says the Lord of Hosts. I the Lord, do not change; that’s why you children of Jacob aren’t already destroyed” (C of C 3 Nephi 11:1, emphasis added).
“Hearken, O you people of my church, says the Lord your God, and hear the word of the Lord concerning you, the Lord who shall suddenly come to his temple, the Lord who shall come down upon the world with a curse to judgment, yea, upon all the nations that forget God and upon all the ungodly among you, for he shall make bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of their God. Wherefore, prepare yourselves, prepare yourselves, O you my people, sanctify yourselves, gather yourselves together, O you people of my church upon the land of Zion, all you that have not been commanded to tarry. Go out from Babylon, be clean that bear the vessels of the Lord. Call your solemn assemblies and speak often one to another, and let every man call upon the name of the Lord” RE T&C 58:1, emphasis added).
[6] “Therefore, as I said concerning the sons of Moses, for the sons of Moses and also the sons of Aaron shall offer an acceptable offering and sacrifice in the house of the Lord, which house shall be built unto the Lord in this generation upon the consecrated spot as I have appointed. And the sons of Moses and of Aaron shall be filled with the glory of the Lord upon Mount Zion, in the Lord’s house, whose sons are ye, and also many whom I have called and sent forth to build up my church. For whoever is faithful unto the obtaining these two priesthoods of which I have spoken, and the magnifying their calling, are sanctified by the spirit unto the renewing of their bodies, that they become the sons of Moses and of Aaron, and the seed of Abraham, and the church, and kingdom, and the elect of God.
And also, all they who receive this Priesthood receive me, says the Lord, for he that receives my servants receives me, and he that receives me receives my Father, and he that receives my Father receives my Father’s kingdom; therefore, all that my Father has shall be given unto him. And this is according to the oath and the covenant which belongs to the Priesthood . . .” (RE T&C 82:16-17, emphasis added).
“There are in the church, well…
Whoso is faithful unto the obtaining [of] these two priesthoods of which I have spoken,
and the magnifying their calling… (Ibid)
See, priesthood is not simply “yada, yada, yada”; “ipso facto”; “conorus mundorum”; there
you are! It requires… See, ya get it, but then, “faithful to obtain”; and then, “faithful to
magnify”—and faithful to magnify it as a calling (calling being an operative word there that
means service)...
...are sanctified by the Spirit unto the renewing of their bodies…
“Sanctified by the Spirit”; “renewing their bodies”—these things have meaning. Perhaps
we'll get to that at some point.
They become the sons of Moses and of Aaron and the seed of Abraham, and the church
and kingdom, and the elect of God.
See, they become—but they become as a consequence of having been sanctified. They
become sanctified because they magnify their calling. They had to first obtain the
priesthood, and the obtaining of the priesthood requires something that is “faithful.” And
you oughta ask yourself, Faithful to what? And always it is faithful to Him, to our Lord, the
One who redeems. All of these things flow together as one continuum. It's not just “I got
ordained.” Doesn't matter that you got ordained. There's a process that’s involved after
ordination in which you follow these steps . . .” (Lecture 5: Priesthood, Denver Snuffer Jr., pp.3-4, emphasis added).
[7] “Truly, truly I say unto you, darkness covers the earth, and gross darkness the minds of the people, and all flesh has become corrupt before my face [July 23, 1837]. Behold, vengeance comes speedily upon the inhabitants of the earth: a day of wrath, a day of burning, a day of desolation, of weeping, of mourning, and of lamentation. And as a whirlwind it shall come upon all the face of the earth, says the Lord. And upon my house shall it begin, and from my house shall it go forth, says the Lord — first, among those among you, says the Lord, who have professed to know my name and have not known me, and have blasphemed against me in the midst of my house, says the Lord” (RE T&C 124:6, emphasis added).
“And when we saw that it was the Lord we rejoiced and were filled with joy. I turned to my wife and said, Look, it is Christ!, and she said, Yes, it is! And we were filled with joy and peace of mind, for the long awaited day of the Lord had come.
But others were filled with dread. They feared and lamented and wanted the mountains to cover them and hide them from His presence, for he was clothed in red and came in judgment. And Christian ministers knew they had taught falsely and that their faith could not save — and they begged for relief from the Saints.
This caused me to marvel at how this could be. It was given unto me to understand that without the ordinances of salvation through the authorized ministers of the gospel it was not possible for men to shed their sins. And they could not look upon a just and holy Being without being racked with torment and guilt for their sins. And they pled with the Saints to minister to them, but we could not, for we were constrained by the spirit and were forbidden to do so. For this was the day of judgment which the Lord had in His heart, and he was now come to preach His own sermon, clothed in red, and to deliver those who waited on Him and to convict and condemn those who had not” (RE T&C 160:2-4, emphasis added).
[8] “At that time, to advance My cause, the Father will begin a work, which will be a great and awe-inspiring work among them. There will be many who won’t believe it, although a man will tell it to them. But the ministry of My servant will be led by My hand; therefore they won’t be able to harm his work, although he’ll be opposed and discredited by them. Yet I’ll support him; I’ll show them My wisdom is greater than the accuser’s deceitful scheming. Therefore those who won’t believe in My words, and I Am Jesus Christ, which the Father will give and empower that servant to set before the Gentiles, it will result exactly as Moses said: They will be cut off from My people who are part of the covenant . . .” (C of C 3 Nephi 9:12, emphasis added).
“Then the Angel told me: You’ve seen that if the Gentiles repent, it will turn out well for them. You also know about the Lord’s covenants with the house of Israel. And you’ve also heard that whoever doesn’t repent must perish. As a result, if the Gentiles harden their hearts against the Lamb of God, I will afflict them. 7Because the time will come, says the Lamb of God, when I’ll bring about a great and awe-inspiring work among mankind, one that will be everlasting — one way or the other — either to convince them, resulting in peace and life eternal; or to give them up to their hard hearts and blind minds, bringing about their slavery and temporal and spiritual destruction, under the accuser’s enslavement which I’ve spoken about” (C of C 1 Nephi 3:26, emphasis added).
[9] “For in that day, for my sake, shall the Father work a work which shall be a great and a marvelous work among them, and there shall be among them those who will not believe it, although a man shall declare it unto them [“refiners fire and launderers soap”] . . .” (RE Book of Mormon, 3 Nephi 9:12, emphasis added).
[10] “ . . . 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).
[11] “Therefore your [Joseph of Egypt] offspring will write, and Judah’s offspring will write. The Lord says: The things your offspring write, and the things Judah’s offspring write, will grow together in order to expose false doctrines, settle disputes, and establish peace among your offspring and bring them, in the last days, to understanding their ancestors and comprehending My covenants. The Lord said: His [Joseph Smith] weakness will be made strong. My work will then begin among all My people. I’ll restore you, O house of Israel” (C of C 2 Nephi 2:4, emphasis added).
Scott Roderick
10/07/25
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