[Editorial note: As I was preparing to post this next portion of the series, I just got a phone call from someone that just spoke to a friend that was at the last Snuffer talk today. They told me that Snuffer is starting his own “group”. (Snuffer has to be careful to not use the term “church” because he has previously promised he would never start a church). Apparently he claims the church lost their priesthood the day they excommunicated him.
I HAVE HEARD ALL OF THIS SECOND HAND. I HAVE NO IDEA IF IT IS TRUE. IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE IF THIS IS TRUE.
The reason I find this interesting is because I consider the Snuffer movement to be a “sign of the times” and a sign that the return of the true servant [,arred Servamt] holding the true keys, is imminent. ]
[Update! It looks like the information I shared above was correct. If you want to get a more detailed summary of what Denver said today, visit Tim Malones blog http://latterdaycommentary.com/2014/09/09/a-few-notes-from-the-mesa-lecture/#comments
Denver thinks he has “wrested” the priesthood away from the LDS church! LOL
I suspect that there will be countless comments on that post tomorrow with deluded followers of Denver gushing at how happy they are that Zion is coming and bearing their testimonies that Denver is the appointed servant to lead the people to Zion. This was all so predictable. It is Jim Harmston all over again, like I said several months ago. We live in amazing times with lots of gullible people that cannot endure sound doctrine. We need to pray for all of these people. heart break is coming and marriages will be destroyed over this sad event. I am not talking about marriages that are broken over the true gospel, I am speaking of marriages that are broken by a false prophet. Nevertheless, I also think that there will be a substantial fall out of Denver’s followers. Many will not be willing to leave the corporate church.]
Gathering up the Strength of God’s House
(The Secret Revelation)
The secret revelation received on June 23rd 1834 is an important piece of the puzzle when it comes to understanding how Zion will be redeemed and the role that the Sons of Jacob (who are identified with the gentiles) will play in gathering the strength of God’s house at the appointed time.
It also explains what Isaiah was speaking about when he says ” AWAKE, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city..”
In order to fully appreciate the significance of the amazing secret revelation that was received during the Zion’s Camp expedition, (one day after the revelation know as Section 105 was received), we need to review a little church history to get the proper context. (This secret revelation was never canonized, it is extremely difficult to find, and it is virtually never referred to by LDS historians and scholars)
The Restoration of the Melchizedek Priesthood
In June of 1831 the Lord restored the true Melchizedek Priesthood to the earth for the first time during Joseph Smith’s ministry. Most Latter day Saints have been kept in the dark about what the Melchizedek Priesthood really is, when and how it was truly restored, and why it needed to be restored.
The truth is that it needed to be restored, in part, so that Zion could be redeemed.
That’s right, the fulness of the priesthood must be restored, in order to redeem Zion. (Beware of false prophets that tell you that the priesthood is not necessary in order to administer the saving ordinances, and redeem Zion in POWER, etc. It is!
The Fulness of the Priesthood was Lost
Sadly, section 124 informs us that the fulness of the priesthood that was restored during the Kirtand period, had been lost by the time the saints got to Nauvoo and it warned the saints that if they were not obedient, they would be forced out of their place and become a scattered people once again..
“For there is not a place found on earth that he may come to and restore again that which was lost unto you, or which he hath taken away, even the fulness of the priesthood.” D&C 124:28
History documents that God gave the saints the opportunity to have this power restored in Nauvoo, predicated on repenting from the abominations they were practicing and the timely completion of the Nauvoo Temple, but the saints stumbled and failed in the effort.
Joseph Smith actually addressed the topic of how this lost priesthood and the scattered gentiles remnants would need to have the priesthood restored to them in the end times.
Joseph revealed the information by providing a commentary on Isaiah 52.
Keep in mind that the term “strength of my house” has direct application to the word “strength” in Isaiah 52:
“AWAKE, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean.
2 Shake thyself from the dust; arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem: loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion.” Isaiah 52:1-2
At a fireside chat with friends in 1838, after the Kirtland apostasy and the loss of the fulness of the priesthood, Joseph explained that the above passages were referring to the elders of the restored church. They are the ones who had been called in the last days to hold the power of the priesthood to bring again Zion.
He acknowledged that the elders of the LDS restoration must repent and return to the power which they had lost!
He acknowledged that the Lord puts curses upon the apostate saints and scattered them among the gentile nations
“Questions by Elias Higbee: What is meant by the command in Isaiah, 52d chapter, 1st verse, which saith: Put on thy strength, O Zion—and what people had Isaiah reference to?
8 He had reference to those whom God should call in the last days, who should hold the power of priesthood to bring again Zion, and the redemption of Israel; and to put on her strength is to put on the authority of the priesthood, which she, Zion, has a right to by lineage; also to return to that power which she had lost.
9 What are we to understand by Zion loosing herself from the bands of her neck; 2d verse?
10 We are to understand that the scattered remnants are exhorted to return to the Lord from whence they have fallen; which if they do, the promise of the Lord is that he will speak to them, or give them revelation. See the 6th, 7th, and 8th verses. The bands of her neck are the curses of God upon her, or the remnants of Israel in their scattered condition among the Gentiles.”
As you can see, the Elders of the LDS restoration movement stumbled and fell, yet Isaiah foretells that they will awake and put on their strength and return to the power they had lost. The evidence points to the fact that the repentant Gentiles of the LDS restoration movement, will return and put on the power of the priesthood that was anticipated during the solemn assembly at the Kirtland Temple. When they return, they and the righteous and repentant of the seed of Lehi will unite together and throw down the “towers” and “strongholds” of the enemy.
But I digress, if you are not familiar with the amazing events that took place during the special conference at the Morley Farm when the Melchizedek priesthood was restored in 1831, you should read the series on that topic. I don’t have time to reiterate all of the specifics in this series. Be aware, however, that if you are unaware of the gathering of the priesthood brethren to the special conference and restoration of the Melchizedek priesthood that was commanded in section 48, virtually every revelation from section 52 on, in the D&C is indecipherable in its full meaning because of a lack of proper context. Therefore, your reading of the D&C is largely in vain without this understanding.
You can learn more about this event and the Melchizedek Priesthood by reading the following articles:
Searching for the Holy Order and 23 High Priests
(additional parts of the series are available for those desiring to delve deeper)
To summarize, during that conference, 23 men were ordained High Priests according to the calling of God’s own voice out of the heavens.
Remember, we are not speaking about the priesthood ordination related to Peter, James and John in 1829, as is taught in the church. We are speaking of something altogether different that the corporate church has obscured, misinterpreted, and largely covered up.
At this amazing conference, three of these new High Priests had the heavens opened and saw the Son standing on the right hand of the Father. These High Priests now held a higher priesthood power and authority than any priesthood offices previously restored by angels, including that of “elder” and “apostle”. Again, this priesthood of the High Priests, was essential for establishing Zion.
Directly after that conference, Section 52 was given and the Lord paired up most of these newly ordained high priests with other priests and elders, and directed them to go on missions while en route to the land of Zion, where the Lord identified the place of the New Jerusalem temple and would consecrate the land in fulfillment of the ancient Abrahamic land covenant. This land was to be the land of their inheritance, just as it was to be the inheritance of the righteous portion of Lehi’s descendants.
According to Section 52, the two groups of people the land of Zion is to be consecrated for, are:
- The Remnant of Jacob
- Those who are heirs according to the covenant
The “Sons of Jacob” will merge with the “Remnant of Jacob”
From modern revelation, it is made apparent that faithful latter day saints who are the “Sons of Jacob” who are “identified with the Gentiles” and “heirs according to the covenant” will be merged with the “remnant of Jacob” who are the faithful descendants of Lehi. These two general branches of Israel, which will include the righteous Nephites that Christ visited, will jointly build the holy city and establish Zion and enjoy the blessings thereof.
Zion and Jerusalem (Kirtland )
Shortly after this expedition to the “land of Zion, the Lord divided up the Latter day Saints who were geographically gathering together into the bonds of the “new covenant“, into two separate and distinct geographical locations. Just as there were two sister cities of Zion and Jerusalem anciently, in the Old World, there would be two sisters cites in the New World.
The area in and around Jackson County, Missouri, was organized into a church led by a high council of High Priests, with David Whitmer serving as the President of the Church in Zion. Additionally, the area in and around Kirtland Ohio, (cryptically referred to as “Jerusalem” in sections 109 and 124) was organized into a “stake of Zion” which was also led by a High Council of High Priests, Joseph Smith acting as President, prophet, seer and revelator.
Seeking the Face of God
One of the main admonitions of the newly ordained high priests was to seek the face of the Lord. Clearly, they had been ordained to the office of high priest, but had not obtained to the fulness of the office.
They were being tried and tested. Only upon faithfulness could they transcend the veil of unbelief and enter into the presence of God.
Those that proved themselves faithful would have the heavens parted and would come into the presence of God and eventually receive the fulness of power. Later revelations would indicate that although many of these 23 original high priests (and others that were called after the special conference) had been “called” to be High Priests, not all of them had been “chosen” to be high priests.
1 VERILY, thus saith the Lord unto you whom I love, and whom I love I also chasten that their sins may be forgiven, for with the chastisement I prepare a way for their deliverance in all things out of temptation, and I have loved you—
2 Wherefore, ye must needs be chastened and stand rebuked before my face;
3 For ye have sinned against me a very grievous sin, in that ye have not considered the great commandment in all things, that I have given unto you concerning the building of mine house;
4 For the preparation wherewith I design to prepare mine apostles to prune my vineyard for the last time, that I may bring to pass my strange act, that I may pour out my Spirit upon all flesh—
5 But behold, verily I say unto you, that there are many who have been ordained among you, whom I have called but few of them are chosen.
6 They who are not chosen have sinned a very grievous sin, in that they are walking in darkness at noon-day.
Shortly after the special conference, many of the newly called high priests became anxious and discouraged about not seeing the face of God. Jealousies arose between several of the High Priests.
In section 67 given about five month after the calling of the first High Priests, the Lord promised the High Priests that they would see God if they would strip themselves of fear and jealousy:
10 And again, verily I say unto you that it is your privilege, and a promise I give unto you that have been ordained unto this ministry, that inasmuch as you strip yourselves from jealousies and fears, and humble yourselves before me, for ye are not sufficiently humble, the veil shall be rent and you shall see me and know that I am—not with the carnal neither natural mind, but with the spiritual.
11 For no man has seen God at any time in the flesh, except quickened by the Spirit of God.
12 Neither can any natural man abide the presence of God, neither after the carnal mind.
13 Ye are not able to abide the presence of God now, neither the ministering of angels; wherefore, continue in patience until ye are perfected.
It is really important to realize from the above passage that many of these noble high priests who had been called by the voice of God to be high priests, had not yet proven themselves worthy of seeing angels, let alone the face of God. Although most of these souls had probably sacrificed a hundred times more for the kingdom than anyone living on the earth today, they were still stumbling because of fear and jealousy.
Detecting Contemporary False Prophets
It also becomes apparent from the scriptures and from the history of the church, that once the true church of Christ is established on the earth, a priesthood holder generally does not see God until they are called by the voice of God to be High Priests and have complied with the law of consecration.
This is very instructive for those of us that are hearing claims from people in this generation when the true church of Christ has fled back into the wilderness. People who have not yet been recipients of the true baptism by the proper authority, and have not been called by the voice of God to be a High Priest, and have not been called into consecration, can’t just bypass God’s established protocol that has been set up in the last days, and start getting their calling and election made sure. Anyone making this claim is simply showing their ignorance, arrogance and how deluded they are.
Section 50 provides a sobering reminder to us that false spirits are abroad in the earth, deceiving many who feel they are more righteous and have sacrificed more for the kingdom than these amazing high priests that struggled to obey God during the ministry of Joseph Smith. False angels and false Christs can and do appear to deluded souls that do not have a strong foundation in the scriptures.
Contention Between HIgh Priests
When the High Priests that were called to gather to Zion first entered into the land of Zion, they were not as sober and faithful as they needed to be. They were commanded to not tell the world about the sacred cause of Zion or to boast about their plans of establishing Zion. Because of their boasting, persecution was eventually brought upon them. They were not faithful in those commandments. Eventually, when persecution from the “unbelieving gentiles” became severe, those of the high council in “Zion” became somewhat frustrated and disenchanted with Joseph Smith and his brethren in Kirtland because they could not understand why Joseph and the other brethren were not in Zion facing the persecution with them. They also felt that Joseph was becoming an unjust dictator.
During a period of about 18 months there were extreme hard feelings, jealousies and quarrels between the high council of high priests in the land of Zion and the high council of High Priests in the stake of Zion in Kirtland. During that time, several letters were exchanged between the two groups of high priests that contained accusations.
Letter from Joseph Smith to William W. Phelps
One of the letters was the following one from Joseph Smith to William W. Phelps which references letters that Joseph had previously received from some of the High Priests in Zion [spelling has not been corrected, it therefore looks much like the way I write LOL]:
Kirtland January 11— 1833
Brother William [W. Phelps]
I Send you the Olieve leaf which we have plucked from the tree of Paradise, the Lords message of peace to us, for though our Brethren in Zion, indulge in feelings towards us, which is are not according to the requirements of the new covenant yet we have the satisfaction of knowing that the Lord approves of us & has accepted us, & established his name in kirtland [p. 18] [f]or the salvation of the nations, for the Lord will have a place for from whence his word will go forth in these last days in purity,
for if Zion, will not purify herself so as to be approved of in all things in his sight he will seek— another people for his work will go on untill Isreal is gathered & they who will not hear his voice must expect to feel his wrath,
Let me say unto you, seek to purefy yourselves, & also all the inhabitants of Zion lest the Lords anger be kindled to fierceness, repent, repent, is the voice of God, to Zion, & yet strange as it may appear, yet it is true mankind will presist in self Justification until all their eniquity is exposed & their character past being redeemed, & that which is treasured up in their hearts be exposed to the gaze of mankind, I say to you— (& what I say to you, I say to all) hear the <warning.> voice of God lest Zion fall, & the Lord sworeswear in his wrath the inhabiteints of Zion shall not enter into my rest,
The Brethren in Kirtland pray for you unceasingly, for knowing the terrors of the Lord, they greatly fear for you; you will see that the Lord commanded us in Kirtland to build an house of God, & establish a school for the Prophets, this is the word of the Lord to us, & we must— yea the Lord helping us we will obey, as on conditions of our obedience, he has promised <us> great things, yea <even> a visit from the heavens to honor us with his own presence, we greatly fear before the Lord lest we should fail of this great honor which our master proposes to confer on us,
we are seeking for humility & great faith lest we be ashamed in his presence, our hearts are greatly greaved at the spirit which is breathed both in your letter & that of Bro G—s [Sidney Gilbert’s] the wery spirit which is wasting the strength of Zion like a pestalence, and if it is not detected & driven from you it will ripen Zion for the threatened Judgments of God, remember God sees the secret springs of human action, & knows the hearts of all living, Br suffer us to speak plainly for God has respect to the feelings of his saints & he will not let them be tantalized with impunity
tell Br. G—t [Gilbert] that low insinuations God hates, but he rejoices in an honest heart and knows better who is guilty than he does, we send him this worning [warning] voice & let him fear greatly for himself lest a worse thing overtake him, all we can say by way of conclusion is, if the fountain of our tears are not dried up we will <still> weep for zion, this from your brother who trembles greatly for Zion,— and for the wrath of heaven which awaits her if she repent not,——
I am not in the habit of crying peace, when there is no peace, and knowing the th[r]eatened Judgments of God, I say Wo,— unto them who are at ease [p. 19] in zion fearfulnes will speedily lay hold of the hypocrite, I did not expect that you had lost Commandments, but thought from your letters you had neglected to read them, otherwise you would not have writen as you did, it is in vain to try to hide a bad spirit from the eyes of them who are spiritual for it will shewe itself in speaking & in writing as well as all our other conduct, it is also useless to mak[e] great pretentions when the heart is not right before God, for God looks at the heart, and where the heart is not right the Lord will expose it to the view of his faithful saints,
we wish you to render the Star as interesting as possable by setting forth the rise progress and faith of the church, as well as the doctrine for if you do not render it more interesting than at present it will fall, and the church suffer a great Loss thereby——
Joseph Smith Jr [p. 20]
It is difficult to imagine how the High Priests in Zion must have felt when they read the above epistle from Joseph Smith. In it we find a very revealing quotation from the Book of Mormon:
“I am not in the habit of crying peace, when there is no peace, and knowing the th[r]eatened Judgments of God, I say Wo,— unto them who are at ease [p. 19] in zion”
Wow.
We latter day saints often quote from 2nd Nephi 28 and Mormon 8 assuming that those passages of chastisement are directed at us, the modern church. Although much of it is “applicable” to us, most of this content is not literally speaking about us. It is speaking about the early saints of the LDS restoration. They are the ones that polluted the holy church of God back in Kirtland. Those of our generation, long after the restored church fled back into the wilderness, inherited an apostate imitation of the restored church.
2nd Nephi 28 and Mormon 8 are primarily chastising the saints of the restored church as they were stumbling during the 3 1/2 year period between June 1831 and the end of 1834, as they ultimately rejected the fulness that was being offered them. That was the time that they should be been seeking and obtaining the spiritual rebirth that the Nephites obtained during Christ’s visit to them in 3rd Nephi.
The modern church has greatly underplayed this great truth.
“All is well in Zion”
Notice how Joseph Smith is making reference to the following passage from 2nd Nephi 28 as it directly and literally applied to the High Priests in Zion who were attempting to establish Zion:
“And others will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, that they will say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well—and thus the devil cheateth their souls..
Therefore, wo be unto him that is at ease in Zion!
Wo be unto him that crieth: All is well!
Yea, wo be unto him that hearkeneth unto the precepts of men, and denieth the power of God, and the gift of the Holy Ghost!”
Those passages cannot possibly have a literal application to us, because we don’t live in Zion and we are not making a valid attempt at establishing Zion. The modern church has long last lost the desire for Zion.
At the beginning, the High Priests in Zion were at ease and thinking that all was well in Zion.
Imagine how the High Priests in the land of Zion that had been rebelling against Joseph Smith and making accusations against him must have felt when they were presented the “olive Leaf” revelation which is now called section 88. In that revelation, God accepts the offering of Joseph Smith and some of his fellow High Priests in Kirtland and tells them that their names have been entered into the book of the sanctified! The Lord even sends them the “other comforter”!
Shortly after Joseph Smith sent the above letter to brother Phelps, and probably before the High Council in Zion could respond to it, Sidney Rigdon called for a conference of the Ohio high priests to address the situation and reinforce the scolding that Joseph had given the High Priests in Zion, by drafting a follow up letter from a council of High Priests in Kirtland.The following summary is taken from the “historical introduction” in the Joseph Smith Papers project:
” Sidney Rigdon called for a January 1833 conference of Ohio high priests as part of an effort to resolve the disruptive quarrels and petty wrangling that had marred the relationship between church leaders in Missouri and Ohio for eighteen months. A revelation dictated in late September 1832 containing a brief, pointed chastisement of the Missouri members, and recent contentious letters from William W. Phelps and Sidney Gilbert in Missouri had brought the matter to a head.
The conference sanctioned JS’s letter of 11 January 1833 to William W. Phelps while commissioning Orson Hyde and Hyrum Smith to draft an epistle—this letter—in answer to the letters received from Phelps and Gilbert. This collective response helped put to rest the Missouri leaders’ charge that JS sought for monarchal power.
Hyde and Hyrum Smith wrote this letter from Kirtland, Ohio, to the Missouri bishop, his council, and the inhabitants of Zion, Jackson County, Missouri. Frederick G. Williams transcribed this letter into Letter Book 1.”
Letter from a Conference of High Priests to the Saints In Zion
Here is the letter of chastisement to the High Priests in Zion from the High Priests in Kirtland that was drafted by a committee composed of Hyrum Smith and Orson Hyde. It provides a pretty good summation of many of the issues at play between the two groups of high priests:
Kirtland Mills Geauga Co, Ohio Jany. 14—1833
From a conference of 12 High Priests to the Bishop his councel and the inhabitants of Zion, Orson Hyde and Hyram [Hyrum] Smith being appointed by the said conference to write this Epistle in obedience to the commandment given the 22 & 23 of Sept last [Section 84] which says “But verily I say unto you all those to whom the kingdom has been given from you it must be preached unto all them that they shall repent of their former evil works for they are to be upbraided for their evil hearts of unbelief and your brethren in Zion for their rebellion against you at the time I sent you.”
Bro Joseph & certain <others> have writen to you upon this all important subject, but you have <never> been apprised of these things by the united voice of a conference of those high priests that were present at the time this commandment was given, we therefore Orson & Hyram the committe appointed by said conference to write this Epistle having received the prayers of sdconference that we might be enabled to write the mind & will of God upon this subject, now take up our pen to address you in the name of the conference, relying upon the arm of the Great Head of the Church, in the commandment above alluded to the Children of Zion were all, yea even evry one under condemnation, and were to remain in that state until they repented and remembred the new covenant even the Book of Mormon and the former commandments which the Lord had given them, not only to say but to do them and bring forth fruit meet for ther Fathers Kingdom otherwise. [p. 20] there remaineth a scourge & a judgment to be poured out upon the children of Zion, for shall the children of the Kingdom pollute my holy land I say unto you nay—
The answers received from those letters which have been sent to you upon this subject have failed to bring to us that satisfactory confession and acknowledgment which the spirit of our Master requires— we therefore feeling a deep intrest for Zion & knowing the judgments of God that will come upon her except she repent; resort to these last, and most efficient means in our power to bring her to a sense of her standing before the most High,
At the time Joseph Sidney [Rigdon] & Newel [K. Whitney] left Zion, all matters of hardness and misunderstanding were settled and buried (as they supposed) and you gave them the hand of fellowship but afterwards you brought up all these things again in a sensorious spirit accusing Bro Joseph in rather an indirect way in of seeking after Monarchal power and authority, this came to us in Bro Carrolls [John Corrill’s] letter of June 2d.,
We are sensable that this is not the thing Bro J is seeking after, but to magnify the high office and calling whereunto he has been called and appointed by the command of God and the united voice of this Church, It might not be a miss for you to call to mind the circumstances of the Nephites and the Children of Israel rising up against their prophets and accusing them of seeking after Kingly power &c— and see what befel them and take warning before it is to[o] late
Bro [Sidney] Gilberts letter of Dec 10th. has been received and read attentively, and the low, dark, & blind insinuations which were in it were not received by us as from the fountain of light, though his claims and pretentions to holiness were great, we are not unwilling to be chastened or rebuked for our faults but we want to receive it in Language that we can understand, as Nathan said to David, Thou art the man
We are aware that Bro Gs is doing much, and a multitude of business on hand but let him purge out all the old leaven and do his business in the spirit of the Lord. and then the Lord will bless him <otherwise the frown of the Lord will remain upon him—> There is ma[n]ifestly an uneassness in Bro G, and a fearful ness that God will not provide for his saints in their last days and these fears lead him on to covitousness, This ought not so to be, but let him do just as the Lord has commanded him and then the Lord will open his coffers, and his wants will be liberally supplied, But if this uneasy covetous disposition be cherished by him the Lord will bring him to poverty shame, and disgrace,
Bro [William W.] Phelps letter is also received of Dec [p. 21] 15th and carefully read, and it betrays a lightness of spirit that ill becomes a man plased in the important and responsable station that he is placed in;— If you have fat beef and potatoes eat them in singleness of heart. and boast not yourselves in these things
think not Brethren that we make a man an offender for a word this is not the case, but we want to see a spirit in Zion by which the Lord will build it up, that is the plain solem and pure spirit of Christ;
Bro Phelps requested in his last letter that Bro Joseph should come to Zion, but we say that Br J. will not settle in Zion until she repent and purify herself & abide by the new covenant, and remember the commandments which have been given her, to do them as well as say them
You may think it strange that we manifest no cheerfulness of heart upon the reception of your letters, you may think that our minds are pregudiced so much that we can see no good that comes from you, but rest assured brethren that this is not the case,
We have the best of feelings, and feelings of the greatest anxiety for the welfare of Zion we feel more like weeping over Zion than we do like rejoicing over her, for we know the judgments of God that hang over her and will fall upon her except she repent and purify herself before the Lord and put away from her evry foul spirit— we now say to Zion this once in the name of the Lord, Repent! Repent! Awake! Awake! put on thy beautiful garments before you are made to feel the chastning rod of him whose anger is kind[l]ed against you, let not satan tempt you to think we want to make you bow to us to domaneur over you for God knows this is not the case our eyes are watered with tears and our hearts are poured out to God in prayer for you that he will spare you and turn away his anger from you,
There is are many things in the last letters from Brs G and P. that are good and we esteem them much, The Idea of having certain ones appointed to regulate Zion and travling Elders have nothing to do with this part of the matter is something that we highly approbate, and you will doubtless know before this reaches you why Wm McLelin [William E. McLellin]opposed you [p. 22] in this move—
We fear there was something in Bro Gilberts when he returned to this place from N York last fall in relation to his Bro William that was not right, For Bro G was asked 2 or 3 times about his Bro W, but gave evasive answers, and at the same time he knew that William was in Cleaveland, but the Lord has taken him we merely mention this that all may take warning to work in the light for God will bring evry secret thing to Light,
we now close our Epistle by saying unto you the Lord has commanded us to purify ourselves, to wash our hands and our feet that he might testify to his father and our Father to his God & our God that we are clean from the blood of this Generations and before we could wash our our hands and our feet we were constrained to write this letter,
Therefore with the feelings of inexpressable anxiety for your welfare we say again Repent Rep[en]t or Zion must suffer, for the scourge and judgments must come upon her, Let the Bishop read this to the Elders that they may warn the members of the scourge that is coming exept they repent.
Tell them to read the Book of Commandments [and Book of ] Mormon and obey it, read the commandments that are printed and obey them. yea humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that peradventure he may turn away his anger from you, tell them that they have not come up to Zion to sit down in idleness neglecting the things of God, but they are to be dilligent and faithful in obeying the new covenant,
There is one clause in Br Joseph Letter which you may not understand. that is this if the people of Zion did not repent the Lord would seek another place, and another people, Zion is the place where the Temple will be built, and the people gathered but all people upon that holy Land being under condemnation, the lord will cut off if they repent not and bring another race upon it that will serve him, The Lord will seek another place to bring forth and prepare his word to go forth to the nations, and as we said before so we say again Bro Joseph will not settle in Zion [p. 23] except she repent and serve God and obey the new covenant with this explanation the conference sanctions Bro Joseph letter—
Brethren the conference meets again this evening to hear this Letter read and if it meets their minds we have all agreed to kneel down before the Lord and cry unto him with all our hearts that this epistle & Bro Js. and the revelations also may have there desired effect and accomplish the things whereunto they are sent and that they may stimulate you to cleans Zion that she mourn not,
Therefore when you get this know ye that a conference of 12 High Priests have cried unto the Lord for you and are still crying saying spare thy peopl[e] O! Lord and give not thy heritage to reproach, We now feel that our garments are clean from you, and all men, when we have washed our hand & our feet & hands according to the commandment
We have written plain at this time but we believe not harsh, Plainly Plainness is what the Lord requires and we should not feel ourselves clean unless we had done so, and if the things we have told you be not attended to you will not long have occasion to say or to think rather that we may be rong in what we have stated
Your unworthy brethren are determined to pray unto the Lord for Zion as so long as we can shed a tear the sympathising tear, or feel any spirit of to supplicate a throne of Grace in her behalf, The School of the Prophets will commence if the Lord will in 2 or 3 days, a general time of health with us the cause of God seems to be rapidly advancing in the eastern country countries, the gifts begining to break forth so as to astonish the world, and even believers marvel at the power and goodness of God,
Thanks be rendered to his holy name for what he is doing, We are your unworthy brethren in the Lord & may the Lord help us all to do his will that we may at last be saved in his kingdom——
Orson Hyde
Hyram Smith [p. 24]
tell them that they have not come up to Zion to sit down in idleness neglecting the things of God, but they are to be dilligent and faithful in obeying the new covenant,
The Lord will Seek another Place and Another People
The following excerpt from the above letter has caused some latter day saints to assume that the members and leaders of the restored gentile church lost their inheritance in Zion and that the Indians or some other race, will have to rise up and destroy the gentiles and build the city of Zion:
“There is one clause in Br Joseph Letter which you may not understand. that is this if the people of Zion did not repent the Lord would seek another place, and another people, Zion is the place where the Temple will be built, and the people gather ed but all people upon that holy Land being under condemnation, the lord will cut off if they repent not and bring another race upon it that will serve him, The Lord will seek another place to bring forth and prepare his word to go forth to the nations, and as we said be fore so we say again Bro Joseph will not settle in Zion [p. 23] except she repent and serve God and obey the new covenant with this explanation the conference sanctions Bro Joseph letter—”
The above clause was a conditional warning and does not provide an accurate assessment based on promises that the Lord would eventually make to the high priests in the land of Zion. The Lord later corrected Joseph Smith on this subject. Here is an unconditional promise from the Lord that came shortly after the above letter was drafted that needs to be understood:
“I have decreed that your brethren which have been scattered shall return to the lands of their inheritances, and shall build up the waste places of Zion.”
Although that unconditional promise never materialized during their mortal lives, according to God’s own testimony, it will still happen. The repentant high priests that attempted to redeem Zion will be returned to the earth to build up the waste places.
Clearly, the righteous portion of the Zion High Priests and their connections will be restored to the lands of their inheritance.
The Lord continues:
12 For after much tribulation, as I have said unto you in a former commandment, cometh the blessing.
13 Behold, this is the blessing which I have promised after your tribulations, and the tribulations of your brethren—your redemption, and the redemption of your brethren, even their restoration to the land of Zion, to be established, no more to be thrown down.
14 Nevertheless, if they pollute their inheritances they shall be thrown down; for I will not spare them if they pollute their inheritances.
15 Behold, I say unto you, the redemption of Zion must needs come by power;
16 Therefore, I will raise up unto my people a man, who shall lead them like as Moses led the children of Israel.
17 For ye are the children of Israel, and of the seed of Abraham, and ye must needs be led out of bondage by power, and with a stretched-out arm.
18 And as your fathers were led at the first, even so shall the redemption of Zion be.
19 Therefore, let not your hearts faint, for I say not unto you as I said unto your fathers: Mine angel shall go up before you, but not my presence.
20 But I say unto you: Mine angels shall go up before you, and also my presence, and in time ye shall possess the goodly land.
21 Verily, verily I say unto you, that my servant Joseph Smith, Jun. is the man to whom I likened the servant to whom the Lord of the vineyard spake in the parable which I have given unto you.
22 Therefore let my servant Joseph Smith, Jun. say unto the strength of my house, my young men and the middle aged—Gather yourselves together unto the land of Zion, upon the land which I have bought with money that has been consecrated unto me.
As you can see, Joseph Smith was given the commandment to gather the “strength of the Lords house”
Ok, as you can see, by the time that the brethren from Kirtland and Zion united together to form Zion’s camp for the purpose of fulfilling the commandment to redeem Zion in 1834, the Kirtland High Priests had enjoyed some prominent blessings and endorsements from God while the High Priests from Zion had been chastised and humiliated.
Indeed, the revelation that Joseph Smith sent the High Priests in Zion declared that Joseph and some of his High Priest associates had had their names recorded in the book of the sanctified and had been given “another comforter”, while the High Priests from the land of Zion stood condemned before God.
Nevertheless, according to the word of God that would later be given in section 103, the repentant High Priests in Zion would be given the promise that they would some day be returned to receive their inheritance.
Now that we have that historical background and setting, you need to carefully read all of section 105 to prepare you for the secret revelation that is contained below. I am only going to provide a short snippet in this post.
In section 105, given during the Zion’s Camp expedition, the Lord made the following declaration:
“There has been a day of calling, but the time has come for a day of choosing; and let those be chosen that are worthy.
36 And it shall be manifest unto my servant, by the voice of the Spirit, those that are chosen; and they shall be sanctified;
37 And inasmuch as they follow the counsel which they receive, they shall have power after many days to accomplish all things pertaining to Zion.”
What very few members of the church know, is that on the following day, the Lord listed, by name, 15 of the priesthood brethren that had now been “chosen” as well as “called”.
Here is the revelation given which can be found at this link:
“A Council of High priests met according to revelation in order to choose some of the first Elders to receive their endowments being appointed by the Voice of the spirit through Br. Joseph Smith, jr. President of the Church of Christ.”
Proceeded First:
Edward Partridge—Is called & chosen and is to go to Kirtland and receive his endowment with power from on high—And also, stand in his office as Bishop to purchase lands in the land of Missouri.
W. Phelps—Is called and chosen, and it is appointed unto him to receive his endowment with power from on high & help carry on the printing establishmentin Kirtlandtill Zion is redeemed.
*Isaac Morley is called and chosen and it is appointed unto him to receive his endowment with power from on high & assist in gathering up the strength of the Lord’s house and preach the Gospel.
*John Corrill The same as Isaac Morley.
John Whitmer Is called and chosen, and it is appointed unto him to receive his endowment {with power} in Kirtland with power from on high—And continue in his office.
David Whitmer Is called and chosen and it is appointed unto him to receive an endowment in Kirtland with power from on high—And to stand in the office that is appointed unto him.
*A. S. Gilbert—Is called and chosen and it is appointed unto him to receive his endowment from on high in Kirtland—And to assist in gathering up the strength of the Lord’s house and to proclaim the everlasting gospel until Zion is redeemed—
*Peter Whitmer, jr. is called and chosen and it is appointed unto him to receive his endowment in Kirtland with power from on high and to assist in gathering up the strength of the Lord’s house and proclaim the Gospel.
*Simeon Carter is called and chosen and it is appointed unto him to receive his endowment in Kirtland, with power from on high, and to assist in gathering up the strength of the Lord’s house; and proclaim the everlasting Gospel.
*Newell Knight is called and chosen and it is appointed unto him to receive his endowment in Kirtland with power from on high and to assist in gathering up the strength of the Lord’s house, and preach the Gospel.
Thomas B. Marsh (h) is called and chosen and it is appointed unto him to receive his endowment in Kirtland with power from on high, and his office made known hereafter.
Lyman Wight is called and chosen, and it is appointed unto him to receive his endowment in Kirtland with power from on high—And return to Zion and his office shall be appointed unto him hereafter.
*Parley P. Pratt (h) is called and chosen and it is appointed unto him to receive his endowment in Kirtland with power from on high and assist in gathering up the strength of the Lord’s house, and proclaim the gospel.
*Christian Whitmer is called and chosen and it is appointed unto him to receive his endowment in Kirtland with power from on high and assist in gathering up the strength of the Lord’s house, andpreach the gospel.
*Solomon Hancock is called and chosen, and it is appointed unto him to receive his endowment in Kirtland with power from on high and proclaim the everlasting Gospel and assist in gathering up the strength of the Lords house.
Notice that ALL FIFTEEN of the men listed in this revelation were High Priests!
Secondly, notice that ALL FIFTEEN of these men were from the church in Zion!
Finally, God is acknowledging their sacrifice and giving them the promise that they will unite with their fellow High Priests from the church in Kirtland to redeem Zion when the appointed time comes.
Nine of them were specifically “called and chosen” to help gather the strength of God’s house!” when the appointed time comes!
Brother Gilbert Struck Dead
One of the nine that is to gather the strength of God’s house was brother Gilbert. He was the one most prominently singled out in the letters from Joseph and the Twelve High Priests in Zion as having been possessed with an evil and accusative spirit. For that reason, it is curious that he was among those that were called and chosen by the Lord to help gather the strength of the Lord’s House and redeem Zion.
Even more curious is the fact that directly after being among the elite group of High Priests chosen, he replied that he would rather die than preach the gospel to the gentiles that had persecuted and abused him in the land of Zion. God apparently took this fellow at his word and struck him dead as one of the casualties of the cholera plague that hit Zion’s camp directly after the second revelation was given.
Will he be forgiven and return with his brethren in the 3rd watch?
My money says he will.
Time will tell.
We are in no position to judge and none of us have any idea what kind of persecution this fellow endured.
This secret revelation proves that the “Sons of Jacob” who are “Identified with the Gentiles” will not only participate in the redemption of Zion, they will, under the direction of Joseph Smith, play a leadership role in gathering the army of Israel that will warn the wicked to repent and then tread down the unrepentant wicked.
This revelation proves that the parable of the redemption of Zion was still in effect after the Zion’s Camp failure. The prophecy will still take place exactly as it is prophesied of in sections 101 and 103!
Joseph will return with the repentant high priests from Kirtland and Zion who are the Sons of Jacob that are identified among the gentiles. These are the gentiles that will repent, that the Book of Mormon speaks of
Joseph still holds the keys of the gathering!
Zion will be redeemed!
Keep Watching
Because I am Watching 