It did not take long to hear back from the Canadian who sent me the email.
Here is his reply:
Thanks, Watcher, for your (most prompt) response. I wasn’t sure if I would receive a reply.
I was not able to find the copy of the timeline you work from in your four-part YouTube series you recorded six years ago on the ministry of Joseph Smith Jr and the secret history of Mormonism in your onewhoiswatching WordPress blog, utilizing the search feature. Some images don’t load onto my laptop for some reason. Maybe it’s a problem with the operating system which was installed on my previously-owned laptop. Hence my request that you send the pdf via email. If the pdf isn’t easily available, that’s okay. We’ve pretty much moved past the timeline involving Joseph Smith’s mortal ministry anyway, eh?
Your YouTube series covered the most important & pertinent history anyway. As important as THE HISTORY is to lay the foundation of prophetic narrative and context, I’m mostly interested in what’s prophesied to happen from between 2001 AD until the beginning of the third watch. I believe that you and I share a presumption that, although we are all now walking in darkness and that the wheat & the tares are fully ripening together to maturity, there are those who are vigilant & watching for the return of the Lord Christ Jesus in secret (like a thief in the night) in the third watch of the night. Instead of there being any spiritual enlightenment in our day, perhaps all of us are presently spiritually benighted until the wicked one is revealed / unveiled. I assume though that Jesus will still help us during the time of “the son of perdition” as written in 2 Thessalonians 2.
The Man of Sin
1Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled by letter, except ye receive it from us; neither by spirit, nor by word, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 3 Let no man deceive you by any means; for there shall come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4Who 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. 5Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 6And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work, and he it is who now worketh, and Christ suffereth him to work, until the time is fulfilled that he shall be taken out of the way. 8 And then shall that wicked one be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming. 9 Yea, the Lord, even Jesus, whose coming is not until after there cometh a falling away, by the working of Satan with all power, and signs and lying wonders, 10And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (KJV and JST)
In my communication with JP Pratt, he wrote “I’ve been bit before by trying to cram too much down people’s throats before they are ready. I’m not sure of all that the 2 Thes ‘powerful delusion’ is, but it could certainly include the LDS Church having gone over to the Dark Side, which they have long ago!… I can tell you that the LDS Church becoming part of the Great and Abominable is what is meant by the prophecy that ‘were it possible, even the very elect will be deceived.’ Also too much for the article [“The Great LDS Test”, 19 August 2021].
Even though it’s God who sends the strong (or powerful) delusion to those that perish (because the did not receive the love of the truth), I think that it behooves us to discover & expose what this delusion is in the spirit of the test of our faith and in the spirit of Doctrine & Covenants section 123: 12 “For there are many yet on the earth among all sects, parties, and denominations, who are blinded by the subtle craftiness of men, whereby they lie in wait to deceive , and who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it — 13 Therefore, that we should waste and wear out our lives in bringing to light all the hidden things of darkness, wherein we know them; and they are truly manifest from heaven — 14 These should then be attended to with great earnestness.”
Perhaps this is the reason that the Lord is allowing us to walk in darkness, that we might gain some intimate awareness of the tares, the sower of the tares, the hidden things of darkness, the wiles of the devil, principalities, powers, the rulers of the darkness of this world, spiritual wickedness in high places. I mean, how many of us — who are believers in Christ and who have been baptized — see ourselves as blind as per “And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind. And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also? Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth” (John 9: 39-41)? Regarding what’s happening in the here and now (versus what has already happened historically), I admit to my blindness and I certainly admit that my sin “remaineth”, i.e. I am not sanctified and I have not had my calling & election made sure. Far from it.
I apologize for the miscommunication regarding any desire on my part to discuss whether or not Joseph and Hiram Smith (and others who had previously been sanctified and had their calling & election made sure) practiced polygamy in Nauvoo. That was a discussion I was having with JP Pratt, but not a discussion which I necessarily wanted to continue with you. Your explanation as to why polygamy is a subject matter/topic you do not wish to re-visit is sufficient.
Regarding your statements “You cannot fully understand why the actions and teachings of the Nauvoo Joseph Smith contradicted the actions and teachings of the Kirtland Joseph Smith until you understand Joseph Smith’s role as an intercessor who bore the sins of an apostate people just as Moses did anciently. You need to understand that the atonement statute was a literal enactment of a future event involving Joseph and Sidney”: I wholeheartedly agree with you. I certainly don’t have as thorough a knowledge of Joseph Smith’s role — when “Joseph’s eyes were covered and their sins [i.e.of the saints, of latter day Israel] were placed upon him [Joseph Smith] and he began acting out their transgressions” — and Sidney Rigdon’s role as you do and their future roles after they return from the dead, but I seem to have a smidgen of innate sense of various atoning sacrifices as necessary to make intercession for one’s people. Suffice it to say that (I presume that) you and I are on the same page here.
Regarding your statements “Regarding a correspondence regarding prophecy, I am always willing to initially engage with people depending on my time commitments and whether or not the conversation seems to be fruitful. We can certainly engage and see where it leads us. If the conversation is interesting, I may post it without revealing your name”: On the one hand, I’m not even sure what the specific prophecies ARE (which are presently extant) which discuss this present transition period between the end of the fourth generation after Joseph was killed and the beginning of the third watch of the night when the Lord again returns in secret like a thief. Was 9/11 prophesied? The Great Recession of 2008? Covid-19? If there are no prophecies, either because the prophecies are sealed or because we are all blind men walking in darkness without a functioning high priesthood, then it stands to reason that you and I cannot have a fruitful conversation. Your thoughts?
On the other hand, I presume that the following might be relevant. “And then shall my revelations which I have caused to be written by my servant John be unfolded in the eyes of all the people. Remember, when ye see these things, ye shall know that the time is at hand that they shall be made manifest in very deed. Therefore, when ye shall receive this record ye may know that the work of the Father has commenced upon all the face of the land. Therefore, repent all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me, and believe in my gospel, and be baptized in my name; for he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned; and signs shall follow them that believe in my name” (Ether 4:16-18 and if “this record” Jesus Christ commanded Moroni to write about concerns our present day, just prior to the beginning of the third watch of the night or if “this record” refers to the writings of Mahori Moriancumer which will not be revealed until men have faith like unto Mahori Moriancumer) and The Revelation of John, a servant of God, which was given unto him of Jesus Christ, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass, that he sent and signified by his angel unto his servant John, Who bore record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. Blessed are they who read, and they who hear and understand the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein, for the time of the coming of the Lord draweth nigh”
(Revelation 1: 1-3, JST). Your thoughts about discussing the book of Ether and Revelation in each others’ contexts and what applies to the here and now?
On the third hand, perhaps everything which groups of two or more discuss about prophecies concerning our present time just prior to the beginning of the third watch of the night — and still during our “little season” of chastisement and learning — might be conjecture and speculation and ignorance, instead of being founded on the scriptures. Perhaps all of our chastisement & learning during these present times (i.e. just following the four generations after Joseph was marred / martyred — which I presume was the “atonement offering” which “delayed the judgments of God” until the beginning of the seventh thousand years of the earth’s temporal existence and which atonement offering “enables the final restoration of the fulness to take place after a ‘little season’ of chastisement and learning” [your words in a description of the secret history of Mormonism, period two]) is personal and private — because revelation is confined to what individuals spiritually discern in their minds and their hearts — as individuals are uniquely refined, disciplined and taught. Your thoughts?
In short, I’m not very confident as to how to even begin a discussion on the prophecies regarding our days prior to the beginning of the third watch of the night.
I was heartened and encouraged to read that “[you] loved John Pratt and have a soft spot in [your] heart for him and feel that he was very sincere in his beliefs although he was very confused and very deceived.” Regarding Ether 4:16-18 and if “this record” and “these things” the Lord Christ Jesus commanded Moroni to write about concerns our day, just prior to the beginning of the third watch of the night, or if Moroni was exclusively writing about the future revelation of “the very things which the brother of Jared [Mahonri Moriancumer] saw” which will only come forth after the Gentiles exercise faith like Mahonri Moriancumer’s: JP Pratt wrote in December 2019 “This prophecy [in Ether chapter four] appears to be referring to something in the sealed plates which will come forth before the vision of Jared. The context implies that the revelation, which [is] called the Book of Revelation in the Bible, that the revelation of John will come forth from the sealed plates at a time before the vision of Jared. It will not come in a time when people have the faith of Jared, but rather when they need to repent and follow Jesus and believe in His words. The vision of Jared is in the sealed plates to be opened by the Savior, but this vision of John is also sealed and yet is to come forth sooner… That conclusion came just from the Book of Mormon, and to my knowledge, no one has ever noticed that before this year [my emphasis]. So did you already know that? Have you ever heard it taught that the sealed part of the plates contain the revelation given to John the Revelator? And did you know that when that book appears it will be a sign that its revelation is about to be fulfilled?” It’s certainly fine with me if you wish to dismiss or discard or reject or deny the relevance of “what appears” or what “the context implied” to JP Pratt, because JP Pratt was someone who “was very confused and very deceived.” I’m not interested in discussing questions which JP Pratt raised — if JP Pratt was confused and deceived in your mind — when JP Pratt is already dead and cannot be part of the discussion. This simply is a subject matter / topic which I wish that I could have talked with JP Pratt about, not necessarily a topic (or trying to answer questions) which I think would be fruitful for you and I to discuss or a topic which I believe you might desire to search, ponder, pray about, contemplate.
When having a fruitful discussion of prophecy — in this case Moroni’s and the Lord’s commentary on abridgement of the book of Jared as the book of Ether in the book of Mormon and what it has to do with the the revelations given to John, a servant of God, being fulfilled in “very deed” (and I’m a witness of such a partial fulfillment) — it would sure be nice to know when “the work of the Father has commenced upon all the face of the land.”
I look forward to any future correspondence. ”
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Ok, there is quite a bit to unpack here.
Here is the first snippet where my friend asks for my thoughts=
“On the one hand, I’m not even sure what the specific prophecies ARE (which are presently extant) which discuss this present transition period between the end of the fourth generation after Joseph was killed and the beginning of the third watch of the night when the Lord again returns in secret like a thief. Was 9/11 prophesied? The Great Recession of 2008? Covid-19? If there are no prophecies, either because the prophecies are sealed or because we are all blind men walking in darkness without a functioning high priesthood, then it stands to reason that you and I cannot have a fruitful conversation. Your thoughts?”
I do think there are numerous prophecies pertaining to the transitionary period we are currently in which is preliminary to the ushering in of the “third watch of the night” (marvelous work & dispensation of the fulness of times).
Some of the prophecies cover the entire four generations from Joseph Smith’s time to the present. Others speak recent events such as the ones you mentioned.
The problem is that the meaning of most of the prophecies are indeed “sealed” from the understanding of most people. We worship a God who has secrets. He reveals his secrets to his prophets, however they do not always reveal His secrets to the world. It is up to each of us to search the scriptures for “hidden treasures of knowledge”.
You made the following statement:
If there are no prophecies, either because the prophecies are sealed or because we are all blind men walking in darkness without a functioning high priesthood, then it stands to reason that you and I cannot have a fruitful conversation. Your thoughts?
I would say that both statements are true.
The meaning behind the prophecies are sealed from the understanding of most people. However the reason they are sealed from their understanding is because they are blind and walking in darkness.
You previously mentioned how we are “walking in darkness” and that we are “blind“.
One of the remarkable prophecies that explains why we are walking in darkness and blindness is found in 2nd Nephi 27 (Also JST Isaiah 29)
4 For behold, all ye that doeth iniquity, stay yourselves and wonder, for ye shall cry out, and cry; yea, ye shall be drunken but not with wine, ye shall stagger but not with strong drink.
5 For behold, the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep. For behold, ye have closed your eyes, and ye have rejected the prophets; and your rulers, and the seers hath he covered because of your iniquity.
I would suggest that the above text is speaking about both the unbelieving and believing gentiles as well as the Jews. It is referencing both those living at the time of Joseph Smith’s ministry as well as those that have inherited the false traditions of their fathers.
Sadly, those that actually committed the “transgression” that broke the everlasting covenant, (Isaiah 24) were the so-called believing gentiles who actually entered into the everlasting covenant and then sinned against it (3 Nephi 16:10). Those believing gentiles are referred to as the latter day saints.
Again, the prophecy begins with those living at the time of the restoration and continues up to the present time. It includes the apostate factions of the latter day restoration living in our current generation.
Although it was the saints living at the time of Joseph Smith that sinned against the fulness and broke the everlasting covenant, are those of us that are deluded into thinking that we have the fulness and that modern leaders hold all of the same power and authority that Joseph Smith held, not complicit in the great lie and transgression?
The prophetic text informs us that God poured out a spirit of deep sleep upon them (us?) and they (us?) have become drunk because they (us?) have closed their eyes and rejected the prophets.
We currently live during the time when “all of the nations of the Gentiles and also the Jews” are “drunken with iniquity and all manner of abominations“. (vs 1)
A truly sad thing about the prophetic text in 2nd Nephi 27 is that it reveals that the apostate latter day saints who do not repent, will be classed among the “nations that fight against Zion“.
In other words, the apostate latter day saints are part of the Great and Abominable Church of the Devil.
I want to now key in on something really profound that John Pratt told you:
“This prophecy [in Ether chapter four] appears to be referring to something in the sealed plates which will come forth before the vision of Jared. The context implies that the revelation, which [is] called the Book of Revelation in the Bible, that the revelation of John will come forth from the sealed plates at a time before the vision of Jared. It will not come in a time when people have the faith of Jared, but rather when they need to repent and follow Jesus and believe in His words. The vision of Jared is in the sealed plates to be opened by the Savior, but this vision of John is also sealed and yet is to come forth sooner… That conclusion came just from the Book of Mormon, and to my knowledge, no one has ever noticed that before this year [my emphasis]. So did you already know that? Have you ever heard it taught that the sealed part of the plates contain the revelation given to John the Revelator? And did you know that when that book appears it will be a sign that its revelation is about to be fulfilled?”
I agree with John.
There is a remarkable event that must take place among the Gentiles that virtually nobody knows about because it has been hidden. It has been sealed from the understanding of men.
It will take place BEFORE the sealed plates with the vision of Jared comes forth.
At this time the words of a different sealed book containing mysteries will finally be revealed and these words that had previously been sealed will contain a revelation from God. Even the same revelation that had been given to John the revelator. The sealed words in the sealed book have been written to the gentiles and will play a remarkable role in the ushering in of the marvelous work.
This event that John Pratt was trying to understand will mark the beginning of the marvelous work and a wonder.
Ok. Lets stop for a minute. Since readers of my blog are listening in on this conversation, I don’t want to just blurt out the answer because I know from past experience that most would reject the truth unless more of a foundation is laid.
Therefore, I want to take a short break from the above discussion and ask you a few questions.
These questions will lay the foundation for the answer to what John Pratt was dancing around..
I will ask these questions in my next post.
In the meantime, let me ask you (and the readers of this blog) a another preliminary question. Did you know that there is a commandment from God that is expressly attached to the opening of the marvelous work and a wonder?
In other words, there is something we are commanded to do when the marvelous work and a wonder begins that the saints living at the time of Joseph Smith were incapable of doing.
Did you know that the commandment has a cursing and a blessing attached to it?
Do you know what the commandment is?
If anyone knows the answer, please feel free to send me the answer if you know what it is.
Keep Watching.
onewhoiswatching [at] gmail [dot com]
Because I am Watching 