Quick Review
In part one we reviewed a deeper, contextual interpretation of Malachi 3:1 based on the fact that the previous two chapters were identifying ancient and latter day Israel as being in an apostate condition;
“..the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the [false] covenant, whom ye delight in.”
As we can see from a deeper, contextual interpretation of Malachi 3, it hardly makes sense that an apostate people are delighting in the true covenant… obviously, they would be delighting in a false covenant…
In part two we reviewed the hard reality that the accepting of a false covenant by the Saints in the 2nd watch followed the breaking of the everlasting covenant that had been revealed and ultimately rejected by the church collectively during the 2nd watch,
Isaiah reveals that the true Covenant would be broken by latter day Israel. Additional related scriptures reveal that an atonement offering would be made by the Seer, the Spokesman and others that would prolong the days of latter day Israel on the earth until the 3rd watch shines forth, similar to the atonement that Moses and Aaron made anciently for Israel. Nevertheless, because the reestablishment of the everlasting covenant will largely be rejected during the 3rd watch as well, the earth is defiled and during the 3rd watch, the curse goes forth and the inhabitants of the earth are burned;
“The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.” Isa 24
Of course, as with virtually all prophecies, the one above has a dual fulfillment. The everlasting covenant was rejected in the 2nd watch and many will reject it again in the 3rd watch when the Marvelous Work begins and the fulness of the scriptures are brought forth, nevertheless, a remnant will repent and be pulled out in the 3rd watch BEFORE the final judgments hit.
Isaiah prophesied about the refuge of lies that would need to be swept away and the false covenant that would need to be disannulled as the Lord begins his marvelous work, his strange work, even his strange Act;
“Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place. And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it. From the time that it goeth forth it shall take you: for morning by morning shall it pass over, by day and by night: and it shall be a vexation only to understand the report. For the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it: and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it. For the Lord shall rise up as in mount Perazim, he shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon, that he may do his work, his strange work; and bring to pass his act, his strange act” Isaiah 28
Again, as we reviewed in the first and second parts of this series we find that things are not always as they appear in the scriptures from a surface reading, hence the admonition to “search” the scriptures…. for the hidden treasures.
We know that Satan will possesses the vessels of wicked men in the last days and will work through them to deceive people.
He will do this using a false covenant/endowment involving signs and tokens and, eventually, lying wonders.
He will do this with a false covenant which is after the manner of the covenant that Satan and Cain originally entered into. This covenant will be a sign and token of the secret combinations that rule the governments and economies of the world as well as the religions of the world. The secret handshake of the secret societies is being swapped between bankers, politicians, those wearing the black robes in the judicial system and those wearing the white robes in various religions across the world.
According to ancient prophecy, apostate Israel will have been seduced into a false covenant before the man of sin returns and makes his final appearance.
One cannot defend themselves from the enemy and his devices if one does not know who the enemy is and what his devices are.
In 1831 section 38 warned the Saints that the enemy was already combined and meeting in the secret chambers to bring about the destruction of the church. Months later Joseph Smith prophesied that the “Man of Sin” (Satan) would be revealed at the special conference at the Morley Farm bringing to pass the fulfillment of the prophesy contained in 2nd Thes verse 3.
This brought to pass the beginning of the “falling away” of the latter day church as foretold in that verse,
“Let no man deceive you by any means for that day shall not come except there come a falling away first and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition”
At the Morley Farm, at the time that the fulness of the everlasting covenant was shining forth upon some, Satan was possessing others. The special conference at the Morley Farm was the beginning of the prophesied time by Moses when the Saints would realize a great blessing and a great cursing.
The revealing of the man of Sin in verse 3 was to result in the falling away, or apostasy of the latter day saints. According to a prophecy that Joseph uttered to several people, the man of sin prophecy took place at the Morley Farm in 1831!
This is amazing since Verse 4 appears to be applicable during the same general time period as verse 3, in the 2nd watch.
It informs us that the events at the Morley Farm and the beginning of the falling away and rejection of the fulness of the gospel would ultimately result in the events mentioned in verse 4.
This would indicate that the common, protestant interpretation of a man of sin/son of perdition standing in a temple and commanding people to worship him is not an accurate interpretation. (no surprise there!)
Another way to interpret verse 4 in the context of what grew out of the rejection of the fulness of the gospel and the true spiritual endowment that was offered at the Morley Farm, and what eventually took place during the laying of the foundation in the 1830-40’s is that a strange temple ritual enactment would take place wherein an actor is sitting in the temple, acting as if he is God! Telling the Saints how to worship God.
Actors are recruited to play each member of the Godhead.
Additionally an actor is playing the role of Satan and acting in behalf of Satan, the great man of sin.
History indicates that indeed, within a little over a decade of when the falling away began, the apostate Saints did formulate an enactment within their temples where actors would take on the roles of the three members of the Godhead. Additionally, another actor would imitate Satan for the purpose of putting the Latter Day Saints under a curse… under the power of Satan, by covenant.
In the temple ritual enactment the participating initiates knowingly and willingly agree to have themselves placed under the power of the man of sin if they fail in any way to live up to the covenants they agree to. (this appears to put them under the preparatory gospel and the law of works instead of the law of grace)
Amazingly, the ceremony requires people, after willingly entering into covenant to be bound under the power of Satan if they violate any of the other covenants they make in any way, to enter through a veil by taking the hand of an unseen entity who is not revealed to the initiate until after they enter into their presence and it is to late to turn back.
With these bazaar historical events in mind, notice Verse 4
“Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God shewing himself that he is God”
While verse 3 and 4 are speaking about an event in the 2nd watch, later in the chapter, in verse 8 we are informed that at a later time, in the 3rd watch, God will ultimately destroy the wicked anti-Christ who is possessed by Satan as a result of this false covenant.
“AND then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming. Even him whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and sign and lying wonders.”
This is pretty sobering because it reveals that the mystery of iniquity is Satan possessing mortals to do his evil deeds and to deceive people.
Verses 9 through 12 explain that God uses people to try and deceive the Saints. He allows the man of sin to inhabit the souls of men via the principle of possession. It appears there is one person in particular, who comes forth during the 3rd watch, showing the works of Satan and showing signs and wonders.
God allows Satan to work through people via the principle of possession to test the Saints to see if they will honor and obey the established laws of God or if they will follow false brethren, false gods and false doctrines. God does this to prove those who are righteous and those who are wicked by seeing who will honor God’s law despite the seductive miracles used to lead people to leave the truth and worship false Gods. (See Deuteronomy 12:32 and also part six of four steps in losing your innocence article)
When the Saints reject the truth, God sends them strong delusion that gets them to believe a lie
continuing on in 2nd Thess.-
“Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”
Understanding the Vital Elements of Satans Covenant
To better understand what this false covenant is that people will be seduced into at the time of the end, we must go to the time of the beginning to study the originating covenant.
We have done this to some extent already in this series and other posts however, we need to refresh our memories in laying the foundation for the rest of this post.
Who was the first human to be identified as the Son of Perdition?
It was Cain, the first murderer.
“For from this time forth thou shalt be the father of his lies; thou shalt be called Perdition; for thou wast also before the world.”
Cain was a Son of Perdition BEFORE he was ever born into this earth life.
“And it came to pass that Cain took one of his brothers’ daughters to wife, and they loved Satan more than God.
And Satan said unto Cain: Swear unto me by thy throat, and if thou tell it thou shalt die; and swear thy brethren by their heads, and by the living God, that they tell it not; for if they tell it, they shall surely die; and this that thy father may not know it; and this day I will deliver thy brother Abel into thine hands.
And Satan sware unto Cain that he would do according to his commands. And all these things were done in secret.
And Cain said: Truly I am Mahan, the master of this great secret, that I may murder and get gain. Wherefore Cain was called Master Mahan, and he gloried in his wickedness.” Moses 5
The above account is so incredibly important in understanding Satan and how he interrelates with his minions.
It describes in vivid detail how he commits his disciples to obey him.
The elements described in that original covenant can be tailored for different purposes but at the deepest levels of the secret societies, it virtually ALWAYS involves a blood oath whereby one swears by their neck/head upon the penalty of death… and the greatest underlying secret is that one can get gain through secret murders or assassinations.
Once the other dark manipulations and conspiring efforts fail, then the secret act of murder is unleashed.
Those who have studied about the the secret society behind all secret societies understand that our government and the governments of the world along with the central banks that control the monetary systems of the world are currently controlled by secret combinations that use variations of this covenant.
The secret covenants of secret societies usually incorporate
-secret signs and tokens
-special handshakes
-oaths pertaining to the taking lives, etc.
the taking of other peoples lives through assassination for the purpose of getting gain is the foundation upon which the CIA is built.
Our own government sponsors secret organizations that specialize in the art of assassination… all for the purpose of gaining and retaining power and getting gain.
Many people have been “suicided” by various secret organizations as well as the secret cabal that does Satans bidding for him.
Virtually every organization and institution of any size is heavily influenced by the great combination that originates in the bowels of the Great and Abominable Church of the Devil or one of its subsidiaries.
False Brethren
Secret Combinations infiltrate Gods New Testament Church
The fact that God warned the Saints in section 38 that Satan’s minions were planning their destruction should not surprise us. It happened during New Testament times.
In the 2nd chapter of Galations the apostle Paul exclaims,
“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another Gospel; which is not another ; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed”
Paul’s dismay at the fact that the Saints he had worked with had been led away from the truth is followed by the following observation,
“..and that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they night bring us to bondage..”
May I suggest that Paul is not attributing the cause of apostasy to naivete or well intentioned, but misinformed converts. He is making an incredible accusation here.
He is identifying a covert operation of the enemy.
He believes that a clandestine operation had successfully planted spies and agents of destruction within the church membership among the new converts!
These amazing passages almost read like a spy novel based in ancient times.
Paul attributes supernatural powers to those who have infiltrated the church.. suggesting that they have seductive powers of persuasion given them by Satan,
“O foolish Galations, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth...”
False Brethren
Secret Combinations infiltrate Gods Restoration Church
The book of Mormon prophesies that in the latter days, the gentiles will stumble because of conspiring men who have altered the word of God in the Bible. Eventually, because much of the truth has been taken from the Bible when it goes forth among the Gentiles, remnants of the Satanic endowment that began with Satan and Cain will infest the latter day Gentile church,
20 And the Gentiles are lifted up in the pride of their eyes, and have stumbled, because of the greatness of their stumbling block, that they have built up many churches; nevertheless, they put down the power and miracles of God, and preach up unto themselves their own wisdom and their own learning, that they may get gain and grind upon the face of the poor.
21 And there are many churches built up which cause envyings, and strifes, and malice.
22 And there are also secret combinations, even as in times of old, according to the combinations of the devil, for he is the founder of all these things; yea, the founder of murder, and works of darkness; yea, and he leadeth them by the neck with a flaxen cord, until he bindeth them with his strong cords forever.
23 For behold, my beloved brethren, I say unto you that the Lord God worketh not in darkness.
24 He doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world; for he loveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw all men unto him. Wherefore, he commandeth none that they shall not partake of his salvation.”
The above passages are clearly prophesying that the secret acts of darkness that started with Satan and Cain will be found among the Gentiles of the LDS foundation movement.
Notice that in the same passages describing how the Gentiles deny the power of God, that the infiltration of secret combinations also are found among them.
Is it any wonder that within about few short years after the Saints deny the priesthood of God that was restored at the Morley Farm, that the Danite secret combination is established in the church after it is forced to flee from Kirtland… as a way for the church to protect itself from enemies and take spoils from them… to get gain?
Is it any wonder that shortly after that, the church embraces the ancient esoteric order of masonry that had originated with the endowment that Satan initiated Cain with?
The Book of Mormon had warned that this sinister false covenant would be introduced into the Lords true Church.
Note how the parable described in section 86 reiterates what Paul had observed and explains how the New Testament Church would eventually be driven into the wilderness of apostasy after the apostles died off because Satan plants the tares among the wheat to choke the wheat.
The tares obviously began choking the wheat even before the apostles had all died off. It then confirms that in the latter day church the same thing would happen during the foundation movement.
1 Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you my servants, concerning the parable of the wheat and of the tares:
2 Behold, verily I say, the field was the world, and the apostles were the sowers of the seed;
3 And after they have fallen asleep the great persecutor of the church, the apostate, the whore, even Babylon, that maketh all nations to drink of her cup, in whose hearts the enemy, even Satan, sitteth to reign—behold he soweth the tares; wherefore, the tares choke the wheat and drive the church into the wilderness.
4 But behold, in the last days, even now while the Lord is beginning to bring forth the word, and the blade is springing up and is yet tender—
5 Behold, verily I say unto you, the angels are crying unto the Lord day and night, who are ready and waiting to be sent forth to reap down the fields;
6 But the Lord saith unto them, pluck not up the tares while the blade is yet tender (for verily your faith is weak), lest you destroy the wheat also.
7 Therefore, let the wheat and the tares grow together until the harvest is fully ripe; then ye shall first gather out the wheat from among the tares, and after the gathering of the wheat, behold and lo, the tares are bound in bundles, and the field remaineth to be burned.”
Now is a good time to review a passage in the Book of Commandments that warned that if the Saints hardened their hearts against Gods word, .. he would turn them over to Satan..
And thus, if the people of this generation harden not their hearts, I will work a reformation among them, and I will put down all lyings, and deceivings, and priestcrafts, and envyings, and strifes, and idolatries, and sorceries, and all manner of iniquities, and I will establish my church, like unto the church which was taught by my disciples in the days of old.
And now if this generation do harden their hearts against my word, behold I will deliver them up unto Satan, for he reigneth and hath power at this time, for he hath got great hold upon the hearts of the people of this generation: and not far from the iniquities of Sodom and Gomorrah, do they come at this time: and behold the sword of justice hangeth over their heads, and if they persist in the hardness of their hearts, the time cometh that it must fall upon them. Behold I tell you these things even as I also told the people of the destruction of Jerusalem, and my word shall be verified at this time as it hath hitherto been verified.. ” (originally contained in section 5)
What better way to deliver Gods people over to Satan than for the secret combination to infiltrate the Church and help in the initiation of the Saints into a secret oath patterned after the original one made between Satan and Cain?
Remember how Paul used the term “false brethren” to describe evil men who had been intentionally planted within the church in a clandestine operation for the express purpose of destroying it? Latter day revelation reveals that Joseph Smith would also rub shoulders with false brethren,
“If thou art called to pass through tribulation; if thou art in perils among false brethren; if thou art in perils among robbers; if thou art in perils by land or by sea..”
This brings us back to the incredible warning in section 38.
Although we have read it so many times over the years, hopefully the reality of just how literal it is may sink in a little more with the foundation that has just been laid.
God reveals an incredible mystery about a secret combination that is already organized and making plans to infiltrate the church and destroy it,
“Verily I say unto you, ye are clean, but not all; and there is none else with whom I am well pleased;
11 For all flesh is corrupted before me; and the powers of darkness prevail upon the earth, among the children of men, in the presence of all the hosts of heaven—
12 Which causeth silence to reign, and all eternity is pained, and the angels are waiting the great command to reap down the earth, to gather the tares that they may be burned; and, behold, the enemy is combined.
13 And now I show unto you a mystery, a thing which is had in secret chambers, to bring to pass even your destruction in process of time, and ye knew it not;”
God is telling the Saints that the Enemy is combined!
The enemies of the church are well organized!
They are aware of the restoration of the church of Christ and they have been in the secret chambers plotting the destruction of it!
Unbe-freakin-lievable!
The Lord continues revealing this incredible mystery,
And again, I say unto you that the enemy in the secret chambers seeketh your lives.
29 Ye hear of wars in far countries, and you say that there will soon be great wars in far countries, but ye know not the hearts of men in your own land.
30 I tell you these things because of your prayers; wherefore, treasure up wisdom in your bosoms, lest the wickedness of men reveal these things unto you by their wickedness, in a manner which shall speak in your ears with a voice louder than that which shall shake the earth; but if ye are prepared ye shall not fear.
31 And that ye might escape the power of the enemy, and be gathered unto me a righteous people, without spot and blameless—
32 Wherefore, for this cause I gave unto you the commandment that ye should go to the Ohio; and there I will give unto you my law; and there you shall be endowed with power from on high;
33 And from thence, whosoever I will shall go forth among all nations, and it shall be told them what they shall do; for I have a great work laid up in store, for Israel shall be saved, and I will lead them whithersoever I will, and no power shall stay my hand.”
As we have documented in other posts, although the Saints did assemble in Ohio to receive the Law and although some of them did receive true spiritual endowments from on high at the Morley Farm, at various times during the school of the prophets and at the dedication of the temple, the Saints collectively failed to ultimately receive the final group endowment that is promised to take place in the last days. (which the New Testament refers to as the “Promise of the Father“)
They also ultimately failed to gather and consecrate and were therefore overcome by the enemy in the secret chambers. The establishment of Zion was to be the refuge that would ultimately purge the tares from among them and protect the righteous Saints from having their power scattered by the enemy.
Now, let me ask a few uncomfortable questions.
Were there some early converts to the church who had previously been involved in secret organizations that swore secret oaths?
Is it possible that some of them were planted by the enemy in secret chambers that the Lord had warned about? Is that not exactly what happened during the 1st watch, as documented by Paul?
It is interesting to note that some of the early converts had deep ties into the dark practice of masonry before joining the church.
It appears that many of these early converts either suspended or hid their involvement in secret societies during the first six years of Joseph Smith ministry when he was preaching about the evils of such fraternities.
During that time the book of Mormon was referred to by some as an anti-masonic book because of the warnings it contained about secret oaths and secret combinations… yet when the Saints finally fled to Nauvoo, a great doctrinal reversal took place within the leading brethren of the church and masonry was embraced and encouraged within the church.
Once Masonry was publicly embraced by the leadership, these early masonic converts jumped back into the dark practices without skipping a beat. There is reason to believe that some of these Saints were in fact false brethren and that they may have had direct or indirect ties to Albert Pike, the Father of Jesuit Masonry in America who was, according to some accounts, a Satanist. According to several accounts, he was one of the most evil, insidious characters that ever came forth from the bowels of hell.
Gods ordinances are not done in secret, they are done openly.
With these precepts in mind, it is interesting to note the warning given by Apostle William Smith, the only surviving brother of Joseph Smith and his associates, regarding his belief that secret oaths and covenants among the leading brethren resulted in their overthrow leading up to the time of the martyrdom and succession crisis;
“We do most solemnly protest against the doctrine of secret oaths and covenants and we also view this as among the principal causes that have overthrown our brethren…” (Zions STandard March 24, 1848 “A Voice from the Smith Family”)
Emma Smith astutely warned that “it was secret things which had cost Joseph and Hyrum their lives” (William Clayton Journal)
The ominous warning from William Smith came just a few years after the following prophecy in section 124
“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 fulfil the promises which ye expect at my hands, saith the Lord. For instead of blessings, ye, by your own works, bring cursings, wrath, indignation, and judgments upon your own heads, by your follies, and by all your abominations, which you practise before me, saith the Lord.”
Secret Societies and the False Covenant become a Stumbling Block
Please understand that the practice of swearing by ones neck upon the penalty of death and the associated blood oaths, originated with Satan, not with the true God of Israel.
The passages we reviewed from the Book of Moses reveals that Satan is the originator of blood oaths upon the swearing by ones neck/throat upon the penalty of death.
Yes, there are well meaning LDS apologists, who are defenders of the “church” and the “institution” rather than defenders of the “gospel” that would have you believe that God originally created blood oaths and the swearing by ones neck as part of the fulness of the Gospel. They would have you believe that Satan copied the main elements contained within the Masonic rituals from God’s true covenant, but this is one of the most insidious lies ever perpetuated.
Ask them to prove this in the scriptures.
They cannot.
You can search in vain throughout the inspired version of the Bible, the Book of Mormon and Modern Revelation but you will never find a covenant/endowment that involves these insidious practices that was authored or authorized by the one true God of Israel.
The fulness of the Gospel is simple and strait forward. It is practiced in the light, not in darkness. It has never involved blood oaths, swearing by ones neck, secret handshakes, different ways of taking life or assassinating people, etc.
One might ask, why then did God not make it more clear in the Bible that oaths, penalties, secret hand shakes, flowing robes and swearing by ones neck are not part of the fulness of the Gospel?
I suspect the answer is that he originally did. But the more detailed and graphic warnings about avoiding the secret covenants crafted by Satan had been removed from the bible when it passed through the hands of the Whore.
That is one of the reasons it became a stumbling block to the Gentiles.
Please note the following statement from the passage in Ether,
“And the Gentiles are lifted up in the pride of their eyes, and have stumbled, because of the greatness of their stumbling block..”
Do you remember what the stumbling block was?
Among other things, it was that much of the plain and precious truths had been taken out of the Bible! That is why the Gentiles stumble!
This is why the book of Mormon teaches about and warns against the secret oaths administered by Satan but the Bible doesn’t!
The Book of Mormon provides additional warnings about secret combinations, documenting their existence in ancient America and providing a sobering warning to those of modern America,
15 And it came to pass that thus they did agree with Akish. And Akish did administer unto them the oaths which were given by them of old who also sought power, which had been handed down even from Cain, who was a murderer from the beginning.
16 And they were kept up by the power of the devil to administer these oaths unto the people, to keep them in darkness, to help such as sought power to gain power, and to murder, and to plunder, and to lie, and to commit all manner of wickedness and whoredoms.
17 And it was the daughter of Jared who put it into his heart to search up these things of old; and Jared put it into the heart of Akish; wherefore, Akish administered it unto his kindred and friends, leading them away by fair promises to do whatsoever thing he desired.
18 And it came to pass that they formed a secret combination, even as they of old; which combination is most abominable and wicked above all, in the sight of God;
19 For the Lord worketh not in secret combinations, neither doth he will that man should shed blood, but in all things hath forbidden it, from the beginning of man.
20 And now I, Moroni, do not write the manner of their oaths and combinations, for it hath been made known unto me that they are had among all people, and they are had among the Lamanites.
21 And they have caused the destruction of this people of whom I am now speaking, and also the destruction of the people of Nephi.
22 And whatsoever nation shall uphold such secret combinations, to get power and gain, until they shall spread over the nation, behold, they shall be destroyed; for the Lord will not suffer that the blood of his saints, which shall be shed by them, shall always cry unto him from the ground for vengeance upon them and yet he avenge them not.
23 Wherefore, O ye Gentiles, it is wisdom in God that these things should be shown unto you, that thereby ye may repent of your sins, and suffer not that these murderous combinations shall get above you, which are built up to get power and gain—and the work, yea, even the work of destruction come upon you, yea, even the sword of the justice of the Eternal God shall fall upon you, to your overthrow and destruction if ye shall suffer these things to be.
24 Wherefore, the Lord commandeth you, when ye shall see these things come among you that ye shall awake to a sense of your awful situation, because of this secret combination which shall be among you; or wo be unto it, because of the blood of them who have been slain; for they cry from the dust for vengeance upon it, and also upon those who built it up.
25 For it cometh to pass that whoso buildeth it up seeketh to overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations, and countries; and it bringeth to pass the destruction of all people, for it is built up by the devil, who is the father of all lies; even that same liar who beguiled our first parents, yea, even that same liar who hath caused man to commit murder from the beginning; who hath hardened the hearts of men that they have murdered the prophets, and stoned them, and cast them out from the beginning.
26 Wherefore, I, Moroni, am commanded to write these things that evil may be done away, and that the time may come that Satan may have no power upon the hearts of the children of men, but that they may be persuaded to do good continually, that they may come unto the fountain of all righteousness and be saved.” (ether 8)
The Secret Brotherhood of the Founding Fathers of this Nation
One of the main purposes for this part of this series is to focus on the role that the false covenant plays in prophecy and specifically, in America.
We are going to address the implications of this secret combination at the time of the founding of this nation, at the time of the LDS foundation movement and at the time of the ushering in of the Marvelous Work in the third watch.
As we get deeper into our searching of the scriptures it becomes even more apparent that God, and sometimes God’s servants frequently utter cryptic statements that have a surface meaning that hides the deeper interpretation… just as we noticed with regard to Mal 3.
Here is another example of a cryptic statement that perhaps has two meanings,
“And for this purpose have I established the Constitution of this land, by the hands of WISE men whom I raised up unto this very purpose, and redeemed the land by the shedding of blood.” (101:80)
Our Sanitized version of the gospel and church history along with the sanitized version of the history of this nation would indicate that many of the founders of our nation including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and others were wise in the sense that they were Godly men of high morals and receiving inspiration from the only true God.
However, I would suggest that there is another definition of “wise” that might be a little more appropriate for those looking beneath the surface… for those looking for hidden treasures of knowledge regarding the origins of our great nation.
Another definition of wise, according to the 1828 Strongs, is
“Skilled in arts, science, philosophy, or in magic and divination. 2 Samuel 14.”
The Hebrew lexicon provides addition clarity to this particular definition
“shrewd, crafty, cunning, wily, subtle“.
Could it possibly be that God involved shrewd, crafty, cunning men to found this nation? Is it possible that he used men that were skilled in arts, science, philosophy and divination?
Is it possible that God allow a combination of both Godly men and ungodly men to create a constitutional foundation that could either become a blessing or a cursing depending upon the cumulative righteousness of the people of this nation and how vigilant they would be in participating in the process and watching out for their God given rights?
You are no doubt aware that George Washington was participating in and highly influenced by masonry and that he and his brethren in the esoteric arts were in fact backed by a secret society that had a secret agenda for America.
The picture below shows him in his masonic apron,
The pic below is a Statue of Washington in his masonic apron,
What many people don’t realize is that it appears that there were secret societies that were backing many of the founding fathers in their quest to break away from England. This backing very possibly came in the form of both funding and philosophy. The philosophy had to do with the secret worship of Lucifer and the belief that America was a nation destined to bring forth the luciferian anti-Christ embodied in human form at a predetermined time and place.
Benjamin Franklin is known within our sanitized version of American history, among other things, for his great wisdom and morality.
Here is a sample of the cunning wisdom that Franklin displayed in a private communication to a close friend as he opined on the art of fornication,
This transcript is courtesy of the American Philosophical Society and the Yale University Library
6. Because the Sin is less. The debauching a Virgin may be her Ruin, and make her for Life unhappy.
7. Because the Compunction is less. The having made a young Girl miserable may give you frequent bitter Reflections; none of which can attend the making an old Woman happy.
8. [thly and Lastly] They are so grateful!!
Thus much for my Paradox. But still I advise you to marry directly;
being sincerely
Your affectionate Friend.
B. Franklin
This letter is just one example of how wise and pious Old Ben really was.
It should be a sobering reminder to us of what God meant when he said he raised up “wise” men.
Let us review a little more about this very wise man. The following brief is taken from the same site as the above letter,
“Franklin was appointed the agent of Colonies of Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and New Jersey in 1757, to the court of England. While in this position, he began his friendship with Sir Francis Dashwood (Lord Le Despencer), who was the founder of the Medmenham Monks. This later became known as the Hell Fire Club. Dashwood was at one point the Postmaster of England, at a time when Franklin was Postmaster of the Colonies. They first got to know each other on Franklin’s trip to England in 1752.
In 1765, Franklin was again asked to return to England as the representative of the Colonies to Great Britain. Franklin’s exposure to the Hell Fire Club is described as follows by Cecil B. Currey, in Road to Revolution, Benjamin Franklin in England, 1765-1775:
“… Franklin knew Le Despencer very well. He was fully aware of an enterprise which the Englishman had been conducting for some years more or less surreptitiously, known as the Hell Fire Club. Its activities were familiar to Franklin and he occasionally joined in them… In his youth, Le Despencer had been a member of … rakes’ groups. In later years, … he determined to form a secret society that would express his interest in architecture, literature, and religion. Only the cleverest and most humorous of his friends would be asked to join. … The perfect location for such a society was soon found. Only six miles from the baron’s estate, on the bank of the Thames River near Marlow in Buckinhamshire, lay the ruins of Medmenham Abbey. It had been founded by Cistercian monks in 1145. The abbey was well located in a grove of trees, which nearly concealed it from view. The nearest road was some distance away, but members would be able to approach it easily in private boats… and … could return to their homes in complete privacy. … Workmen were sent in and the abbey was rebuilt and the grounds landscaped … to make them into a `garden of lust.’
Marble pillars were erected on which were carved pornographic inscriptions in bastard, or `macaroni’ Latin. Small Grecian-styled temples were put up here and there. The groves were filled with statuary in indecent poses. … Hollowed from a hill was the Cave of Trophonius. A fresco within it pictured sexually robust animals, a crowing cock, and a laughing nun… The buildings were designed also to carry out the theme of sexuality. … To one side of the main door sat a statue of Harpocrates, the god of silence… Opposite was … Volupian Angerone, goddess of secret passion. Rooms adjacent to the chapel were designed to heighten the sexual utility of the place. There was a Roman Room, its wall hung with paintings copied from ancient and indecent Roman frescoes. Also on the walls were paintings of famous English prostitutes… Small statues of Egyptian gods and goddesses sat in niches in the walls. The abbey’s library was situated near the Roman Room. It supposedly contained one of the most complete collections of pornography in England…
Somewhere between 1752 and 1755, Dashwood … opened his society, known as the Medmenham Monks, and later referred to as the Hell Fire Club. For his monks there was to be a goodly number of nuns… – the main reason many belonged to the club. Most were prostitutes… some were local girls wanting excitement, but many were ladies of society. Of the last group, one of the best known was Lady Mary Wortley Montagu. Many nuns were wives, mothers, sisters, or the betrothed of members… The members, or monks, were `dabblers in art and literature’, and many were among the most prominent men in the kingdom. There were two orders of monks; the superior and the inferior – twelve superiors and perhaps as many as forty to fifty inferior members. …
… superior members included … Lord Sandwich…John Wilkes…Charles Churchill A group with a membership of this scope … could wield tremendous power should they wish to act in unison for political ends. It was for this reason that Benjamin Franklin became a monk … sometime after his arrival in England in 1765. … Sir Francis had a huge and elaborate cave dug in the side of a hill on his grounds. It was in this underground headquarters that the monks met after 1762. …
… Franklin wrote…: ‘The exquisite sense of classical design, charmingly reproduced… whimsical and puzzling as it may be in its imagery, is as evident below the earth as above it.’ … Others known to be present at the time were Lady Mary Wortley Montague, and the household of Frederick, Prince of Wales. …” (Currey)
I am not qualified to pass judgment on any individuals as far as what their current standing is before God nor what their final reward will be nor do I desire to do so, however, we all have a responsibility to avoid setting ANY mortals as our idols and we have a responsibility to scrutinize the works and the teachings and the fruit that they bring forth lest we and our posterity be deceived.
There in now evidence coming forth that suggests that many of the founding fathers were part of an elite group who intended the constitution and bill of rights to exclusively protect their rights and the rights of their posterity and not to the equal rights of all people. This would explain the apparent contradiction in the fact that many of them continued having slaves despite the curious wording in some of the inspired documents they wrote.
Perhaps this is why the Lord admonished the Saints to BEFRIEND the law which is the constitutional law of the land,
“Therefore, I, the Lord, justify you, and your brethren of my church, in befriending that law which is the constitutional law of the land”
The need to befriend the constitutional law implies that there was not currently a friendship between the Saints and the constitutional law of the land at that time.
In section 38 the Lord proclaims “Wherefore, hear my voice and follow me, and you SHALL be a free people, a ye shall have no laws but my laws when I come for I am your lawgiver, ad what can stay my hand?”
If the laws of the land were current friendly towards the saints and if they were currently a free people because of them, why was the Lord telling them that they would be made FREE at a future time by following after him?
Could it be that sinister powers were already controlling the nation back at that time?
The fact that people like Washington, Jefferson and Franklin and most of the Presidents of the United States were involved in secret societies should be a red flag in light of what the book of Mormon and the Book of Moses reveals.
I am not suggesting that all of the founding fathers of this nation were evil. I am not even suggesting that all of the ones involved in masonry were knowingly conspiring in behalf of the dark forces..
Many may have been deceived into their involvement into the secret societies simply believing their involvement would provide them with the connections they needed to promote their agenda.
One of the very few Presidents of the United States that at least sounded the warning voice and gave lip service to the importance of not allowing secret societies and secretiveness to infiltrate government was John F. Kennedy.
Despite the fact that he had loose personal morals, he seemed to understand and appreciate the principles of liberty and he refused to take orders from the Jesuit/Masonic powers that were controlling the currency of the United States.
The following speech he gave, was given just days before that secret organization assassinated him.
The words he spoke were deeply profound.
Kennedy was so hated by the Whore because of his love for freedom and his desire to break free from the various tentacles of the Whore, and Bush Jr. was so loved by the Whore (even though he was not a baptized catholic at the time) that at a Catholic sponsored breakfast, Bush was facetiously referred to as the first Catholic president of the US, blatantly neglecting the fact that Kennedy had served as a US president many years before Bush.
The Whore rejected Kennedy as one of their own and embraced Bush. (Bush has since converted to Catholicism)
I encourage you to listen to this brief talk. It is one of the the greatest speeches ever given by a US president.
The following video might be of interest as well.
The word “wise” is used in two different ways in the scriptures. One must discern by the context and by the spirit which definition is being used.
For instance, notice how it is used in the following passages in section 52,
Yea, a supper of the house of the Lord, well prepared, unto which all nations shall be invited.
“First, the rich and the learned, the wise and the noble;
And after that cometh the day of my power; then shall the poor, the lame, and the blind, and the deaf, come in unto the marriage of the Lamb, and partake of the supper of the Lord, prepared for the great day to come.” (See section 58 and also Isa 25, 34, 39 Ezek 21, Zeph 1)
Two completely different groups of people are being described in the passages above.
The first group comes to the great supper first.
You must do some key word searches to see what really happens when the rich, learned, wise and noble come. Once you realize who they are, you realize that the term “wise” is referring to people who are “Skilled in arts, science, philosophy, or in magic and divination. These are people who are “shrewd, crafty, cunning, wily, subtle“.
After God deals with them and feeds their carcasses to the birds, he then gathers the second group of people unto the marriage of the Lamb.
In recent times several authors such as Dan Brown, Tom Horn and others have begun revealing bits and pieces of truth about the fact that a secret organization was very much involved in the founding of this nation. They had very specific plans for it. those plans have to do with the bringing forth of a kingdom… and it is not the kingdom of the only true God! It is the kingdom of the Devil.
This is why section 38 informed Joseph that the secret combination wanted to destroy the Church of Christ. They wanted to prevent the kingdom of God from rolling forth.
One of the greatest masons produced by America was Albert Pike.
According to internet sources, Albert Pike was a Harvard graduate and was said to be a genius. He was able to read and write in 16 different languages. During his life he was a poet, philosopher, frontiersman, soldier, humanitarian and a philanthropist. In short, he was “Skilled in arts, science, philosophy, or in magic and divination. He was “shrewd, crafty, cunning, wily, subtle“.
He was also a 32 degree Mason and was a top leader in the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan.
Among other things, Albert Pike was said to be a Satanist, who indulged in the occult. It was said that he possessed a bracelet which he used to summon Lucifer and had communication with him. Due to his communicating with the devil, Pike received a vision which he described in a letter that he wrote to Mazzini dated August 15, 1871.
Many people dispute the credibility of the supposed vision that he had, however, if it has been fabricated, it seems to have been a pretty lucky guess by someone.
In this letter, Pike describes three world wars that will occur in the future. World War Three pits the christian world against the Muslim World.
Much more could be said in this article to fill in the blanks about what the founding fathers had in mind and how the kingdom of the God of this world is to be ushered in… additionally much more could be said to connect the dots between the relationships between the secret fraternities in England and other foreign countries and those in America during the war with England.
Other dots could be connected between the secret organization in the bowels of the Vatican and the various secret organizations that it controls. More could be said about the secret organizations and witchcraft that have guided the white house and other governing bodies of this nation, as well as the role played by Pike and other Americans, including LDS masons.
But it is really not necessary…. you get the idea.
The thing you need to realize is that in the very near future two separate kingdoms are going to emerge on this earth as they become complete.
One is currently waiting for the missing cornerstone.
The other is currently waiting for the missing capstone.
In closing out this topic, let me suggest that many prophesies and warning have a dual application.
I have said in a previous post that many of the revelations that Joseph Smith received have a dual fulfillment. They are just as applicable when the first laborers of the last kingdom return as they were back when they were given during the 2nd watch.
Gods revelations give us a pattern in all things.
The following words of admonition and everything else contained in section 38 may be just as applicable when Joseph returns as it was when it was given.
Please read them very carefully in the context of what is happening in today’s world,
“Verily I say unto you, ye are clean, but not all; and there is none else with whom I am well pleased;
11 For all flesh is corrupted before me; and the powers of darkness prevail upon the earth, among the children of men, in the presence of all the hosts of heaven—
12 Which causeth silence to reign, and all eternity is pained, and the angels are waiting the great command to reap down the earth, to gather the tares that they may be burned; and, behold, the enemy is combined.
13 And now I show unto you a mystery, a thing which is had in secret chambers, to bring to pass even your destruction in process of time, and ye knew it not;”
And again, I say unto you that the enemy in the secret chambers seeketh your lives.
29 Ye hear of wars in far countries, and you say that there will soon be great wars in far countries, but ye know not the hearts of men in your own land.
30 I tell you these things because of your prayers; wherefore, treasure up wisdom in your bosoms, lest the wickedness of men reveal these things unto you by their wickedness, in a manner which shall speak in your ears with a voice louder than that which shall shake the earth; but ifye are prepared ye shall not fear.
31 And that ye might escape the power of the enemy, and be gathered unto me a righteous people, without spot and blameless—
32 Wherefore, for this cause I gave unto you the commandment that ye should go to the Ohio; and there I will give unto you my law; and there you shall be endowed with power from on high;
33 And from thence, whosoever I will shall go forth among all nations, and it shall be told them what they shall do; for I have a great work laid up in store, for Israel shall be saved, and I will lead them whithersoever I will, and no power shall stay my hand.”
Don’t think for one minute that the enemy is not watching closely for the return of the Servants and ready to try to prevent the ushering in of the Kingdom of God.
Beware of secret combinations in high places.
Be watching waiting and willing to repent and be baptized and be gathered out when the appointed time arrives.
I read “The Hiram Key” I can’t remember the Authors, But they linked the freemasons to the Qumran sect that wrote the Dead Sea Scrolls; The knights Templar; The Rosslyn Chapel in Scotland. It was a very interesting history of the how Freemasonry became what it is. I don’t feel it is as “evil” as you put it forth to be. My thoughts were that there was something much more sinister benieth Freemasonry. You also had an LDS guy who did a study on Joseph Smith and Freemasonry. He was the director of some institute in Utah. I read that, and found that very interesting.
So, what I am saying is…I don’t think Freemasonry is the culprit. I don’t know how to explain all the handshakes going on out there in Corporate America (even including our beloved prophets participating in such)
I read the writing of a guy who calls himself “Eleazer”
http://webspace.webring.com/people/np/potai/tempbook2.htm
several years ago. I was very impressed. And the feeling I got after reading what he had written was that the “end” of the current endowment is to leave it and not go back. So… I haven’t gone back to the temple. And after reading and researching what you have put out, I feel even stronger in my stand.
Anyway, I got a patient, so got to go.
Love Monster-
Yes I agree that there is a deeper more sinister group behind it, in fact I made reference to it.
Masonry was latched onto and used by the secret society behind all other secret societies which is clearly identified in the Book of Mormon.
The main point I was making in reference to FM is that the basic elements contained in those fraternal societies, ie, the secret handshakes, signs and tokens, swearing by the neck, etc. NEVER originated from the plain and simple gospel of Christ imho.
I believe 99% of those involved in FM are fairly decent people who have been duped… they are doing it for fellowship and to get ahead in the world.
It is only a very small handful of people at the top that are involved in the deeper more sinister group.
I have “The Hyrum Key”. It was an interesting read. It has been a long time since I have read it.
Thanks for dropping by between patients.
Watcher
Hope this not out of context, but since they both involve hands. I have not found one sourcein the standard works of how the servants would lay on hands for gift of the Holy Ghost. Curiously baptizing is word for word. Yet the LoH was conveniently, not heard by the crowd. Nor was it revealed later.
1 THE words of Christ, which he spake unto his disciples, the twelve whom he had chosen, as he laid his hands upon them—
2 And he called them by name, saying: Ye shall call on the Father in my name, in mighty prayer; and after ye have done this ye shall have power that to him upon whom ye shall lay your hands, ye shall give the Holy Ghost; and in my name shall ye give it, for thus do mine apostles.
3 Now Christ spake these words unto them at the time of his first appearing; and the multitude heard it not, but the disciples heard it; and on as many as they laid their hands, fell the Holy Ghost.
(Book of Mormon | Moroni 2:1 – 3)
37 And the multitude heard not the words which he spake, therefore they did not bear record; but the Disciples bare record that he gave them power to give the Holy Ghost. And I will show unto you hereafter that this record is true.
(Book of Mormon | 3 Nephi 18:37)
If it were written would it look something like this?
Having authority given me of Jesus Christ, receive the Holy Ghost in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
However the true gospel is ministered, I just hope I can recognize it.
HS(silent reader)
Havensong-
That is a great observation.
Thank you for sharing it!
I hope to touch on this topic in the final part of the Innocence Series.
I love the following comment you made because it speaks to a very important topic/concept that I will be attempting to address in the last post-
“If it were written would it look something like this?
Having authority given me of Jesus Christ, receive the Holy Ghost in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.”
I love how you have made the ordinance of laying on of hands consistent with the ordinance of baptism… there is something very significant in that wording.
I don’t know what the wording will be exactly, but your suggestion is certainly worth considering!
The New Testament has a very unorthodox account of how the Savior gave the holy ghost to the apostles by breathing on them.
Another thing I have been pondering is this… we usually think that the “gift of the Holy Ghost” is actuated on a personal, case by case basis, directly after baptism or some time thereafter, depending on worthiness, however it was long after the Savior gave the holy Ghost to the apostles in the NT that he commanded them to tarry and wait for the “promise of the Father” which took place on the day of Pentecost.
Could it be that one part of the full baptism involves a group event such as what happened on the day of Pentecost?
Bottom line, I agree with you,
“However the true gospel is ministered, I just hope I can recognize it.”
Thank you so much for the article, Black and White Robes, it has been very interesting, thought provoking, and left me with some question. I have listed them below.
1. my first question has to do with the words, “power to seal on earth and in heaven.” The LDS church teaches you have to be sealed by proper authority for your marriage to continue into the next life. Is this true that you have to be sealed? And if so, how does that come about seeing that they (the LDS church) do not have proper authority at this time and the temples are corrupt (secret combinations)?
2. In the scriptures the saving ordinances always spoken about are baptism and the holy ghost. If I am understanding correctly, baptism is a three part event. Does the LDS church conduct the baptismal ordinances fully and properly? Do they have the proper priesthood authority to perform those baptisms?
3. When the Marvelous Work rolls forth and Joseph and others return to finish their work, will the saints that are gather be righteous people regardless of religion or only righteous LDS member?
Any thoughts or scriptures to ponder regarding these question would be great. Thanks
Wow
Great questions!
“1. my first question has to do with the words, “power to seal on earth and in heaven.” The LDS church teaches you have to be sealed by proper authority for your marriage to continue into the next life. Is this true that you have to be sealed? And if so, how does that come about seeing that they (the LDS church) do not have proper authority at this time and the temples are corrupt (secret combinations)?”
That phrase from section one is paraphrasing other passages of scripture as well, such as Helaman 10:7, which provides an interesting type of how the promise of the fulness of priesthood is granted from God upon faithfulness and magnifying ones priesthood.
The concept of being elected into the fulness after magnifying one’s priesthood, as described in section 84 can be seen in Helaman 10. Perhaps an earlier version of the concept is derived from Matthew 16:19 and similar passages that speak of the power to “bind” and “loose” on earth and in heaven.
It is my belief that the Holy Spirit is what seals people up to eternal life. In some instances, where the Lords true church has been established, the Holy Spirit works through God’s anointed servants and they seal people up to life or damnation as directed by the Spirit.
With regard to your question, first of all, having to do with those that are not on the earth when the fulness is on the earth OR that have not had the fulness offered to them, Joseph Smith recieved this very comforting bit of intelligence shortly after the restored fulness was lost:
“…All who have died without a knowledge of this gospel, who would have received it if they had been permitted to tarry, shall be heirs of the celestial kingdom of God; Also all that shall die henceforth without a knowledge of it, who would have received it with all their hearts, shall be heirs of that kingdom; For I, the Lord, will judge all men according to their works, according to the desire of their hearts.”
Interestingly, everyone living right now falls under the above category.
In the near future, that will change dramatically and the warning voice will go forth in power from the first laborers of the last kingdom who have been ordained and anointed unto that calling and unto the calling of redeeming Zion. (sorry Denver 😉 ) At that time, everyone that hears the warning will be accountable for the decisions they make.
I am not convinced that there is a specific marriage sealing ordinance that is necessary outside of when the Holy Ghost seals a person up to eternal life. I believe that at that time, that person and their soulmate, are guaranteed to become complete and whole again. If they are not equally yoked (spiritually) to someone in this life, a partner will be provided, from the foundation of the earth. The temple marital sealing traditions that we currently have, did not originate from the scriptures, rather, they appear to have originated with the spiritual wife doctrine that infested the condemned church in Nauvoo.
Just my opinion.
“2. In the scriptures the saving ordinances always spoken about are baptism and the holy ghost. If I am understanding correctly, baptism is a three part event. Does the LDS church conduct the baptismal ordinances fully and properly? Do they have the proper priesthood authority to perform those baptisms?”
In some of the passages it sounds like the full baptism is a two part event, in others, it sounds like a three part event. In one of my posts I document from the words of Joseph Smith where he appears to break the baptism of water, fire and the Holy Ghost into three separate parts. The main thing is for the person who has entered into the waters of baptism to yearn for the spiritual rebirth that needs to follow the baptism of water. It is essential that the spiritual rebirth be recieved. The water baptism is not enough.
It is my opinion that the current corporate church only has the portion of Aaronic priesthood that baptises people under the law of Moses. A good example of this is Nephi who was performing baptisms BEFORE Christ descended in 3rd Nephi. He was then given POWER to baptise everyone again by Christ after Christ physically came to them. That does not mean that his first baptisms were not accepted of God, indeed, it appears that the portion of the repentant Nephites that were not destroyed at the coming of Christ in 3rd Nephi, were those that believed and came forth into the waters of baptism under the law of Moses.
Another possible example is Sidney Rigdon. There is reason to believe that God accepted the baptisms he was performing before he joined the church, while he was being inspired to prepare so many of the Kirtland saints for the restoration. nevertheless, he and all of his congregation needed to be baptised again when they joined the restored church.
This is why the baptism performed by the LDS church can be a real blessing in the lives of people if they are sincere and making a personal commitment to Christ and using the ordinance to prepare their hearts and minds for the greater baptism.
“3. When the Marvelous Work rolls forth and Joseph and others return to finish their work, will the saints that are gather be righteous people regardless of religion or only righteous LDS member?”
Zion will absolutely be composed of all of the pure in heart regardless of what part of apostate Christianity they come from.
There is strong reason to believe that a large percentage of the LDS are actually decendants from the Jews who rejected Christ during New Testament times and they are going to have an unfortunate repeat of what their forefathers did when the servants return. This is why so few members of the church are sincerely searching for the truth and in their hearts they hate those who are raising the warning voice.
I believe some of the most noble people of the House of Israel that are mingled among the gentiles are outside of the corporate church right now because they find modern mormonism to be repugnant for a multiplicity of reasons. They are not willing to give the Book of Mormon any significant credance because the apparent “fruits” of the restoration are filthy underneath the outward cover.
There is a parable that Christ gives about a King that was having a great wedding banquet in Matthew 22 and also in Luke as I recall. Those who had been invited refused to come. The king realized that those who were invited did not deserve to come to it. Because of this the King sent his servants to the street corners to invite everyone that was willing to come, good or bad. I am reminded of this when I think about the fact that precious few Latter day Saints appear to be sincerely searching for more than what they have inherited from the false tradtions of their fathers. 😦
As with everything else on this blog, the reader needs to keep in mind that the views expressed are views of a poor pathetic religious heretic. 🙂
I stumbled upon your blog at a pivotal point in my life. I am a convert of 10 years of faithful activity in the Church. I married a woman who was raised in the church, but slipped into inactivity in the later part of her teenage years. She started the process of repentance about the time I started taking the discussions. We were in our mid twenties. Life was good and really the only reason I accepted the challenge from the missionaries to pray about the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith was because I wanted to give it an honest chance. When I received the answer to my prayers it was life changing. The strength in which the Holy Ghost testified to me was undeniable. I have had so many powerful experiences in the Church. I live in the Bible belt where members of the LDS Church are scarce in comparison to other religious groups. Where ever you go, you are most likely the only member of the Church present. People who are members of the Church in my area are mostly converts. Most of us didn’t grow up in the Church. We are active because of the great conversion we have went through, not because of the traditions of our fathers. I feel it is this reason I have been blessed to be associated with great leadership in the Church. I have had wonderful Bishops that were truly inspired of God. I have had great Stake leaders. I truly felt the Holy Ghost testify to me when they spoke. This leads me to my problem. I am an ex aircraft mechanic and for the past 12 years or so I have worked as an industrial electrician. I have never been satisfied with just using something like a tool or piece of equipment, without having a strong desire to understand how something works the way it does, and why. I feel the same way about the gospel. There have been many things about the history of Joseph Smith and the early Church that have not set well with me. It is this need for a better understanding that lead me to your blog. I find the posts on your blog very thought provoking and enlightening. Your views on the three watches, the apostasy of the Church today as well as the Atonement Joseph made for the latter day Saints are close to bringing peace and understanding to me. The problem is I can’t understand why God would be so confusing. I can’t picture God as the author of such confusion. Even at this last General Conference my wife and I were moved to tears by some of the talks. Every time I listen to conference the Holy Ghost gives me a strong witness of the truthfulness of what is said. If the Church is indeed in such an apostate state, then how can I have experienced so many wonderful things? There is so much that is good in the Church, that even if what you say is true I can’t see how God would hold people accountable for being deceived by it. It seems like an unfair sort of trap that God has set and I can’t in my mind believe in a God that would author such confusion, yet I can’t reach a satisfactory understanding of the transgressions that took place in the early part of the Church.
Thirsting for knowledge-
Your comments have triggered about a thousand thoughts and responses in my mind all at once… I will share a few of them right now and then go back to bed for a while. I may respond again later.
First- In my efforts to address the general topics I feel compelled to address, I seldom address the positive aspects of the latter day church. I do believe there is much good that comes out of it. It has a calling.
However the truly good stuff that comes out of it can be directly linked to the goodness of God and the Holy Spirit, not to a correlated religious bureaucracy.
The apostles that ended up taking over the leadership of the church in the succession crisis in Nauvoo had been given the mandate to send the testimony of the “name of Christ” to the world and to publish the Book of Mormon and the revelations to the world.
Why?
So that for the next four generations, the pure in heart like you, who are THIRSTING FOR KNOWLEDGE, can receive the KNOWLEDGE OF THE FULNESS OF THE GOSPEL, receive the preparatory life changing experiences that this knowledge can bring and that you have experienced, and enable you to begin preparing your heart and your mind for when the actual fulness returns to this earth.
Praise God that the missionaries brought you a knowledge of the Book of Mormon, the D&C, and a knowledge of the fulness of the gospel. But it will all be vain if you never actually get past the KNOWLEDGE of the fulness and actually get the FULNESS.
Praise God that you have had the preparatory life changing experiences. Will you stop there or will you embrace the fulness when it returns?
Do you give credit to the church, or to God, for the life changing experiences that you have received?
Is it the Holy Spirit that is your guide in conjunction with the scriptures or is it a religious institution and the arm of flesh that guides you?
You said: “Most of us didn’t grow up in the Church. We are active because of the great conversion we have went through, not because of the traditions of our fathers..”
Let me ask you a question. Were you “converted” to the Gospel of Jesus Christ or to the latter day church?
Wherein is your “testimony” rooted?
The “church” leaders and membership were originally given the mandate to take a message to the world. Have you been converted to the messenger or the message?
To the extent that you have embraced the message contained in the Book of Mormon and Modern Revelations and have come unto Christ and are striving to take the Holy Spirit as your guide, the messenger has been a great blessing in your life regardless of its shortcomings, and you will be called out of Babylon when the time comes.
To the extent that you have embraced the messenger and put your faith in the messenger instead of embracing the message, the messenger will be your undoing and will be a curse to you.
You said
“There is so much that is good in the Church, that even if what you say is true I can’t see how God would hold people accountable for being deceived by it. It seems like an unfair sort of trap that God has set and I can’t in my mind believe in a God that would author such confusion, yet I can’t reach a satisfactory understanding of the transgressions that took place in the early part of the Church”
That statement indicates to me that you have drifted from the Holy Word of God in the scriptures into the delusional BS that is taught in the church. You might want to take advantage of being in the Bible Belt and visit a good old fashioned Bible preaching Baptist Church or Church of Christ where they still teach the sobering truth that we are living in a dark and a deceiving spiritual dimension where the craftiness of Satan is working full time to deceive and damn your soul.
Please notice with sobriety what Paul is warning the saints of his time about:
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel..“”
I served a mission in the Bible Belt for two years and I can tell you that there are parts of of the Bible and Book of Mormon that Mormons have become blinded to. It is ironic that you live in the midst of the Bible Belt and yet you appear to have lost touch with some of the core teachings of the Bible.
In the church one has a tendency to think that all is well in Zion, even when Zion does not exist. The church provides a happy warm fuzzy delusional place to live and forget about the great delusion we are living in.
Here is one of the serious problems with the Mormon world view. Modern Mormons have lost sight of the reality that the fall of Adam has thrust us into a deep spiritual deception and into a fallen world that Satan is the God of.
Do you realize that we are in a spiritual war right now?
This is not some happy little stage of a plan of salvation that you can just glide through doing your home teaching, listen to inspiring talks, and then receive your crown of salvation. This is a very serious spiritual warfare that is taking place right now. Satan wants to delude, deceive and sift you.
The next time the thought enters your mind that you don’t want to believe in a God that would put you though such a deception, I encourage you to ponder what the “wiles of the Devil” are.
Ponder the powers of the rulers of the darkness of this world.
Ponder the spiritual wickedness that exists in high places.
Ponder how and why the restoration of the gospel took place in the first place and how all of that interrelates to Gods warning for the latter day saints in section 38 that the enemy in the secret chamber was already aware of them and was plotting their destruction.
Ponder the fact that the ONLY remedy for avoiding the plot was to receive the LAW and the ENDOWMENT of power from on high.
Are you living the law?
No.
Have you received the endowment of power from on high?
No.
Do you think that the inspired local leaders of the church or the corporate executives in SL are going to save you from the “principalities” and “powers” of Satans world that desire to destroy your soul?
I think you are “thirsting for knowledge” for a reason.
Despite your wonderful experience in the church, something deep deep inside you is not at peace.
You didn’t find this blog while searching for the conference talks of Thomas Monson, you were looking for answers..
Maybe you are on the way to finding some of them..
I love you.
Prove all things, hold fast to that which is true. 🙂
I am looking for a scripture reference and wanted to see if you could help? In Moses 5:29, where Cain swears an oath to Satan, this scriptures has always been a red flag for me in regards to our temple ceremonies. However as a life long member I’ve always been told, “Satan likes to copy Gods ordinances” Is their a scripture reference to prove that Satan copies Gods ordinances, or is this just another Mormon doctrine answer given to members?
Thanks –
I am not aware of a scripture that specifically states that. Perhaps one of the readers can enlighten us.
Joseph did say that the true ordinances should never be altered.
I think the general original concept from which the notion that satan copies God’s ordinances comes from the passages of scripture that tell us how close the false messengers can appear to true messengers and even how Satan can appear as an angel of light
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
In one of josephs discourses he said Satan will tell nine falsehoods to perpetuation one lie.
He also said that when the last generation of time begins in the third watch, that when the true servants of the Lord return, “..false prophets always arise to oppose the true prophets, and they will prophesy so very near the truth that they will deceive almost the very chosen ones..”
This is why, when I see the rising up of people claiming to have seen God and claiming to have a message from God, yet they are clearly clueless about basic doctrine and history and critical elements of the gospel, I get concerned.
With regard to the possibility that Satan’s covenant with Cain and swearing by the neck, which God clearly forbids in the BofM and the Bible, all you need to do is to look to see if a true ordinance of salvation ever had to do with swearing by ones neck.
If it did, it would have been between God and Adam, yet revealed scripture informs us that the Gospel Joseph Smith revealed is the original Gospel that Adam had and preached to his posterity.
It had to do with faith and repentance and the baptism of water, fire and the Holy Ghost…. no swearing by the neck to be found!
Since there is absolutely no place in the four standard works that were accepted by the church and endorsed by God as of section 124 in 1841, it is a pretty safe bet that swearing by ones neck never had a legitimate place in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
In my humble opinion..
Watcher,
Thank you so much for taking the time to reply to my post. I feel both uplifted and chastised at the same time 🙂 . I do however feel you have made some inaccurate assumptions about me. In my youth I grew up going to many different Church’s. I have been to Baptist, Methodist and non denominational Church’s. There was a lot of good in those Church’s, but to me their biggest down fall was trusting in the arm of flesh (what the preacher said) rather than searching out the truth for themselves. My youngest brother was Baptized at one of the local community Church’s a few years ago. I took my daughter’s with me to the service on the Sunday he was Baptized. The service was so theatrical with all the lights and band playing that my young daughters thought they were at some type of concert.
I do realize the power Satan has to influence and lead astray the inhabitants of this earth. I don’t for one second underestimate that. Here is where I have my biggest hangup. Maybe you can enlighten me on this. You and I both can agree that the Book of Mormon is true. We both agree that the Holy Ghost is the means by which we know this is true, as well as the means for knowing other truths. I am very sensitive to the influence of the Holy Ghost. If indeed the modern day Mormon Temple ceremony involved a Satanic covenant would it be fair to say that the presence of the Holy Ghost would be absent there? The same Holy Ghost that testified to my very soul of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon is the same Holy Ghost I have felt while in the Temple. How can this be? I have had experiences before where the influence of the Holy Ghost left me, such as reading material that was geared toward discrediting the Book of Mormon. When reading this material the absence of the Holy Ghost was very apparent. The feeling of emptiness hit so hard and fast that it was nauseating. This is not the feeling I get when I go to the Temple. This is what I mean when I say that it is hard for me to see God as the author of this type of confusion. I know you will be tempted to say that maybe I am not really feeling the influence of the Holy Ghost, but I assure you I know what that influence feels like.
5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things. Moroni 10:5
How can God use the same Holy Ghost that testifies of truth to lead people into darkness?
Thirsting-
I am sorry I made you feel chastised. Some of your comments hit a nerve with me and I get pretty passionate sometimes. I think you are a remarkable person and I am amazed at the experience you are going through right now.
I think one of the most difficult topics to discuss is the one that you just brought up regarding the Holy Spirit and how one seems to feel the same validation for experiences like the temple as one felt in gaining a testimony of the Book of Mormon.
In one of my posts, Mrs Watcher shares an experience about how she prayed and got a spiritual witness that I was deceived when I told her about some things I had learned about the current state of the church. Then, when I asked her to read a few scriptures that documented why I felt the way I did, and then pray about it again, she got, what felt to her like the exact same spiritual source, confirming what I had told her. In other words, she got the exact opposite answer from what she thought was the same source.
That experience was obviously deeply disturbing to her.
On the one hand it was a very positive and informative experience because it demonstrated that what the Lord told Oliver Cowdery was true, one needs to study out the facts before praying about something, not just randomly pray about something without being as scripturally informed as possible.
On the other hand, she learned first hand just how deceptive things can be. That is a very scarry, humbling, sobering feeling.
Perhaps this is why Joseph Smith put such a huge emphasis on how we can get saved only as fast as we acquire knowledge.
I have found the same thing to be true. Our knowledge, or lack of it, colors our thought processes and also our ability to get revelation.
I don’t think God is the author of confusion but I do think he is allowing us to be tested and tried by Satan who is the author of confusion.
I think I understand how you feel and I empathize. When I first began to have my eyes opened about a lot of these things it was so foreign to how I had been programmed to think about God and how he operates.
When I first read the passage in section 4 of the Book of Commandments where God threatens to “deliver” the Saints over to Satan I had to really do some soul searching about whether I wanted to believe in a God that would actually do that.
I eventually decided that I should not be worrying about what Kind of God I wanted to believe in, I just wanted to accept the only true God based on whatever terms he was revealing himself to be. It is not for me to judge God or choose to disbelieve him because I don’t think he should an author of such confusion, etc.
Thirsting, I think you have taken in, an awful lot of information in a short period of time that is challenging a lot of your preconceived notions. I would encourage you to continue thirsting for knowledge and searching out the true nature and character of God, but do it at a pace that feels right.
I encourage people to empower themselves by prayerfully reading and understanding the scriptures for themselves without being guided by lesson manuals and human teachers telling you how to interpret God’s word. That goes for my interpretations of the scriptures as well. Obviously, ultimately, you will be responsible for you and how you discerned the truth.
All I am saying is that in my opinion, your initial conversion was a wonderful thing in your life and the church has provided a platform for you to learn about the scriptures while also presenting to you things that are not congruent with the scriptures.
I think you are possibly at a crossroads in your spiritual journey… you basically have two general choices at this point. One is to consider your initial conversion and membership in the church to be your entryway into the kingdom with the ongoing need to stay loyal to the church, and true to everything you have learned in the church OR you can view your initial conversion and membership in the church to be a starting point that is leading you to your next level of spiritual understanding and preparation for the greater light that will shine forth in the third watch.
I wish you well in your search for truth as you thirst for knowledge.
Watcher
Watcher,
I apologize for the way my initial post came across. It wasn’t meant to challenge your ideas. It was merely an outward expression of the inner turmoil that is plaguing my sole. I plan to carefully read and ponder your other blog. I think one reason for what so many of us have gone through is that when we are converted we are asked to pray about the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith. We never pray about the condition of the current LDS Church. Once we receive the strong witness of the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith we then logically assume that the current Church must be true. I am not ready to jump in the rabbit hole just yet, but I do have a good view of the first few feet of it.
Best wishes to you and Mrs. Watcher.
Thirsting for knowledge
Oh my goodness! There is no need for apology on your part! Your first comment was fabulous! The reason it hit a nerve with me is because it was honest and profound, every word of it.
Thank you for visiting and sharing your thoughts and feelings!
Watcher
Wondered if you could help me with a reference. I was on LDS.org and read the following passage “On Easter Sunday, April 3, 1836, during the Jewish Passover, the Lord appeared to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in the Kirtland Temple, accepting His house. Priesthood keys were then restored through three ancient prophets: Moses, the keys to the gathering of Israel; Elias, the dispensation of the gospel of Abraham; and Elijah, the sealing keys.” I am wondering where this information is correct? Did Moses, Elias, and Elijah resort what the the church claims they did? Do we have scripture or quotes from Joseph on the subject? Did the Lord accept the Kitland temple as his house? and did the defiling of it come after the Lord appeared. Looking for truth!!!!
Thanks
The notion that Joseph got the sealing keys from Elijah during the visit mentioned in section 110 is a false doctrine that was started by Orson Pratt in 1859 when he delivered a sermon titled “Elijah’s Latter day Mission.
A careful reading of section 110 shows that Elijah did not deliver any keys on that occasion, rather, Elijah proclaims that the keys spoken of in verse 12 had been committed, showing that the time had fully come in which the prophecy of Malachi had all been fulfilled, which had included a previous bestowing and revealoing of priesthood and keys “by hand”, as indicated in Malachi and also as further clarified in the previous visit of Moroni to Joseph Smith.
In a future part of the Snuffer rebuttal I am going to explain in detail what the secret Elijah doctrine is as contained in the Inspired Version and it will prove that section 110 really did take place and is a true revelation.
The sealing keys are part of the patriarchal priesthood which Joseph had long before 1836.
This is why Hyrum had the sealing keys in section 124 (verses,93 & 124) even though the fulness of the Gospel had been lost from the earth by that time (verse 28).
The Lord did accept the Kirtland Temple as an acceptable offering from the latter day saints.
We know that the temple was defiled sometime after the visitation and before or on the day that a fight eventually broke out in the temple.
Watcher,
One of my initial comments hit a nerve with you (after reading much more of your blog I can see why it hit a nerve) pertaining to the area of the United States that I attend Church in and the influence that has on the type of members I am around. I bring it back up because I think it is the primary reason for the question I am about to ask. It’s difficult to explain, but really members of the Church in my area are exposed to a whole different Church than the members in Utah. Most of us came from a heavy up bringing in other Christian religions and we have built upon that foundation to form what we are now. We don’t really get exposed to the down falls that are present in the corporate Church. Until reading it on your blog, I had no idea the Church had built the mall that everyone is so upset about. In other words we get a much more sanitized experience of the Church than Utah members. There is a huge focus on Gospel principles and generally the deeper doctrine is left in the dark. This brings me to my question. I know that the Spiritual Wife Doctrine exists. I am just having trouble fitting it in to what the Church teaches today. I know that there is a belief that eventually men will have to be sealed to multiple wives in order to reach the highest level of the Celestial Kingdom. However I have never seen this doctrine in any of the Church manuals that I have taught from, nor any of the other material put out in the modern Church. I have been to the Temple many times and never has that been mentioned to me there either. Where am I missing this? Or is it that the current day Church is quietly trying to move away from this teaching.
Yes, the church is trying to distance itself from many of the false doctrines from the Brigham Young era.
You bring up an interesting point about people in the mission field not knowing about certain high profile events in “Zion”. I am not sure if that is bad or good. LOL
If the Church still believes in this Doctrine, when is it that these extra sealings are supposed to happen? Is it in this lifetime?