Urgent–From Price Publishing Regarding Evidence that Mauricio Bergers “Golden Plates” Were Fabricated

I recently got the following notice about the connection between the Mark Hofmann Anthon forgery and the Gold Plates of Mauricio Berger

 

Urgent–From Price Publishing

 

INDISPUTABLE

Evidence That Mauricio Berger’s “Golden Plates” Were Fabricated Using Convicted Murderer/Counterfeiter Mark Hofmann’s 1980 “Anthon Transcript” Forgery

&

That His “Sword of Laban” Is Fake

Because His Pictures Show Three Completely Different Objects—

None of Which Match Nephi’s Description

Copyright 2018

 

Available over the counter

Price Publishing Company

915 E. 23^rd St., Independence, MO 64055 

816-461-5659

or Download free color copy at

http://restorationbookstore.org/Brazil_Plates_Labans_Sword_v2-3.pdf

Making the Connection Between Mark Hofmann and Mauricio Berger

Mrs. Watcher and I just got back from a week long vacation.

During our travels we visited Catalina Island and Ensenada Mexico.

We had a glorious time.

Just before I left for the trip I was informed that the six witnesses had returned from Brazil and were unified in their belief of Mauricio’s claims about the Angel Moroni and the Gold Plates.

While on vacation I got a few interesting emails from readers on various topics. Some had to do with the Mauricio Berger drama-controversy. On the way back home I listened to the most recent Q&A featuring Bob Moore and Kelvin Henson.

A Really Bizarre Energy and Methodology to this Movement 

I must say, it strikes me as being odd that they did not have all six witnesses speak at this meeting all fired up and co-testifying. In fact, the vast majority of them did not even show up to the meeting… how weird!

I realize that some may have lived an hour or two away from the place this meeting was held, but my goodness, they are claiming that the sealed portion is being translated! As the chosen witnesses, one would think that they would want to be involved in the first public meeting since they had returned from Brazil.

Everything about this entire movement from the very beginning up until now just seems low-energy and very bizarre to me. I still remember how Elder Joseph F. Smith went off on a tangent about how good the food was in Brazil during his testimony about his trip to Brazil to meet Mauricio and hold the Gold Plates.

What the heck?

I was thinking to my self,

‘you are announcing to the world that the most important prophetic global event prophesied of in scripture has begun and one of the highlights of your visit to Brazil was the food?!?!’

Finally the six witnesses have been chosen and have returned from Brazil and yet only two of them are passionate and supportive enough to show up to the first public Q&A?

Something fishy is going on.

Anyway, I just get a strange feeling about the methodology of how this movement is rolling out and the strange, lethargic spirit of the people involved in this event and how they are representing what they consider to be the great last work.

Signs and Wonders

While giving his testimony, Kelvin told a story about a dream that Mauricio had had of him, which miraculously revealed that Kelvin enjoyed listening to rock and roll and had long hair as a teenager. In the dream Kelvin was hitchhiking and was picked up by Mauricio.

According to Mauricio, neither of them seemed to know where they were going. (frankly, that was the most inspired and revealing part of the dream that Mauricio had as far as I am concerned. )

I personally found Mauricio’s dream about Kelvin to be quite unremarkable.

Why?

Because the work of the adversary usually has these kinds of spiritual phenomena associated with it. In fact I recently made the comment to someone that miracles can be expected from this latest scam if it is being inspired by Satan.

French missionary apostasy of 1958

Case in point: Many decades ago a very close relative of mine was called to be the mission president of a mission in France.

When he arrived, a testimony meeting was held with the existing office staff including an elder who had been an assistant to the former Mission President.

During the testimony meeting that missionary stood up and bore a powerful testimony of the Savior and then proceeded to share a dream he had had in which he had previously seen the new Mission President and his wife and their home and various activities taking place in their lives just prior to his new mission call as the Mission President.

In his testimony he described in vivid detail what the home looked like and specific details about the new Mission President’s family that nobody could have known.

The dream and the magnetic personality of the Assistant to the President absolutely astonished and overwhelmed the new Mission President. He was impressed beyond words with this young spiritual giant. Naturally the new Mission President was only too glad to retain this remarkable visionary leader as one of his own Assistants. What the new Mission President did not know is that the AP had been secretly recruiting other missionaries into a secret inner circle of initiates.

To make a very long story short, this very charismatic Elder was secretly attempting to lead many of the other missionaries into a secret higher spiritual path which included the practice of spiritual wifery. Eventually, nearly one third of the mission accepted the heretical teachings of this person. Ultimately, quite a few Elders and Sisters refused to repent and ended up being excommunicated and sent home dishonorably from their missions.

Needless to say, my relative who was a humble, good hearted person who simply wanted to serve the Lord as a mission president was humiliated and heart broken. He had been deceived primarily because he initially accepted the “signs and wonders” of spiritual phenomena as the basis of his witness from the Lord for putting his trust in a certain person.

Although we know that there are valid signs and wonders that accompany the true Christian faith, Satan also provides lying signs and wonders to deceive people:

22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. (Mark 13:22)

8 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:

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,

10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. (2nd Thess 2:8-10)

One of the profound lessons we learn from the LDS apostasy into the dark practice of polygamy, is that the practice was introduced after the saints had rejected the fulness, and it was based on the evidence of “signs and wonders” instead of the authority of the word of God.

When people were approached to live this ancient practice that were skeptical, instead of providing scriptural evidence to validate the practice, they were simply promised signs and wonders… such as an appearance of an angel, or the delivery of a sermon with a cryptic narrative relating to polygamy, etc.

Frankly I am unimpressed with spiritual signs and wonders if they are not accompanied with sound doctrine from the holy word of God.

What does God’s holy word have to say about how the Marvelous Work and a Wonder will take place? That is my primary focus in discerning the claims of Mauricio Berger and I have already documented many of them.

I was Contacted by One of the Six Witnesses

Shortly before I went on vacation I was contacted by a person who informed me that they had read some of my posts on Mauricio Berger and his claims. They told me they believed the claims of Mauricio but they still wanted to know what the returned missionary had disclosed to me. Unfortunately I could not divulge that information to him. Even though I had never communicated with this person, his name seemed familiar to me. Finally I remembered where I had heard it.

One of my sources in Missouri had provided me with a list of the names of the six witnesses and his name was on that list.

I informed this person that I was aware that he was one of the six who had been chosen to be witnesses.

I am impressed that the person had the gumption to engage me and ask me for additional information, even though he was a believer in the claims of Mauricio.

We had a good exchange and he informed me that he remained unconvinced that the claims were false, but wanted to be informed about the issues as much as possible.

At the conclusion of our communications he said

“Are you offended if the work in Brazil turns out to be legit and all the experts are wrong?”

This was my reply-

“I will not be offended at any way that God decides to begin the Marvelous Work. He is the one in charge, not me.

That said, I have been studying this topic for three decades and if the Brazil narrative was true, it would negate all of the [unconditional prophesies and promises] God has promised about the Marvelous Work, so I don’t think I will loose any sleep wondering if Mauricio is telling the truth.”

So Far the Mauricio Movement Has Been a Real Yawner

I wasn’t really intending to blog about the Mauricio Berger scam again because it is such an obvious fraud and it has not been getting any serious traction. I also don’t want to give it any more publicity. Nevertheless, I have now decided to blog about it some more for two reasons.

One is that according to my wordpress analytics, there has been a significant jump in interest in the topic now that the witnesses have returned from Brazil and are claiming to be unified in their witness.

Secondly, one of my readers from the RLDS tradition has sent me some game-changing information linking the Gold Plates of Mauricio Berger to the forgeries of the notorious counterfeiter, Mark Hofmann. In my opinion, this new information provides conclusive empirical evidence that the plates represent a blatant forgery.

As amazing as this empirical evidence is that I am going to share with my readers, I want to emphasize that the most important evidence is found in the unconditional prophecies about the Marvelous Work which are contradicted by the claims of Mauricio.

A Brief Summary of the Mark Hofmann Debacle

To set the stage for the remarkable observation that was shared with me, I need to briefly review the story of Mark Hofmann for those not familiar with him.

Mark Hofmann was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on December 7 1954. As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints, he became interested in LDS Church history and purchased his first historical item: a five dollar Kirtland Safety Society Note signed by Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon.

In November of 1976 he was called to serve and LDS mission in the England Southwest Mission.

In June of 1978 he gave a photocopy of an account of a second anointing ceremony in the LDS temple to Sandra Tanner, a high profile anti-Mormon author and bookstore owner.

In April of 1979 he wrote a college essay in the form of a letter to his mother in which he is very critical of the historical policies of the LDS church.

(He would later admit during his trial that he had lost his testimony of the church when he was 14 years old.)

In April of 1980 Hofmann begins activating an elaborate plan to deceive the LDS church by claiming to have discovered the “Anthon Transcript” which had supposedly been stuck between the pages of a 1688 edition of the King James Version of the Bible.  He would be successful in selling the document to the LDS church by exchanging it for the following items valued at $20,000:

• Five dollar Mormon gold coin minted in 1850.
• A first edition of the Book of Mormon
• Several examples of pioneer Mormon Currency

Below you will see what most people consider to be a credible depiction of the true Charles Anthon transcript which I have recently blogged about in conjunction with the claims of Blair Bryant. Following that, you will see the Hofmann Forgery of it.

In the forgery, Mark Hofmann creatively places random characters from the authentic document in a vertical pattern instead of horizontally. In a few places, he also deviates from the original characters and creates his own.

Hofmann eventually confessed to fabricating his document.

The Authentic Copy of the Anthon Transcript

The Hofmann Forgery of the Anthon Transcript

His forgery was good enough to fool the Prophets and Seers & scholars of the LDS church.

Mark Hofmann fooling the modern Prophets and Seers of the LDS Church

The finding and selling of that forgery made Mark Hofmann somewhat of a celebrity in Mormon circles and propelled him onto a remarkable career as one of the most prolific counterfeiters and forgers of all time.

On January 8 1981 Mark Hofmann was arrested for stealing a bag of slicked almonds from a grocery store in Salt Lake Valley.

In February of 1981 Hofmann shows a fabricated copy of the Joseph Smith 3rd blessing to both the RLDS church and the LDS church. Once again Hofmann sells a fictitious historical document to the LDS church for $20,000 in trade.

The LDS church turns around and trades the document to the RLDS church for an 1833 Book of Commandments. Shortly thereafter, President Wallace B. Smith of the RLDS church announces that a team of experts has tested the Joseph Smith 3rd blessing and established it’s genuineness.

The White Salamander Letter

Between 1982 and the end of 1983 Hofmann buys, sells and secretly produces a myriad of historical items. Soon after that, Hofmann donates a letter from Thomas Bullock to Brigham Young to the LDS church. He finally conceived the idea of creating the infamous “Salamander letter”.

The letter presented a controversial view of Joseph Smith that contradicted the orthodox view of the LDS church. It spoke of Joseph Smith’s involvement in “magic” and also challenged the commonly accepted storyline about Joseph Smiths’ recovery of the Gold Plates.

The letter claimed that when Joseph Smith dug up the plates, a salamander appeared to Joseph Smith and transformed itself into a spirit that refused to allow Joseph Smith to obtain the plates unless his brother Alvin was with him. Since Joseph’s brother Alvin was dead, that was a difficult request. It is believed that Hofmann conjured up that narrative based on a related storyline in another church history document.

Hofmann’s salamander letter also drew upon legends that various animals had supernatural powers.

It created much discussion and debate inside and outside of the church. It was accepted as authentic by some experts and collectors but rejected by others.

It was a brilliant idea by Hofmann who realized that the church was willing to pay substantial amounts of money for controversial documents to shelve them, rather than have them floating around and being scrutinized by the religious community and by anti-Mormons who are always looking for ways to embarrass the church.

Even the LDS Church was reluctant to pay a high price for the document. Because of this, Hofmann suggested that perhaps there were wealthy church members willing to purchase the document and donate it to the church. This idea was embraced by the church and the document was purchased by Steven Christensen and Gary Sheets.

Hofmann had asked $50,000 for the document by finally settled for $40,000.

That year in a general conference of the Church, Bruce R. McConkie gave a warning to members who conduct or support historical research which is threatening to the faith of other members.

The Salamander Letter and related incidents began a string of events that resulted in many more fascinating dealings by Hofmann, including the claim that he had one of the “kinderhook plates”. The transactions he became involved in resulted in millions of dollars although he always seemed to have financial problems. During this same period of time, some people are beginning to question just how realistic it is for a very young person who was new to such a sophisticated industry to come in contact with so many historical documents.

Mark Hofmann on Trial for Murder

In hindsight, it seems strange that alarm bells were not sounding much earlier. Hofmann was taking a big risk to be kicking out so many document sales and purchases in such a short period of time. However his own ego and need for finances motivated him to create one scheme after another after another. This flame was fanned by a wealthy church that wanted to purchase and then hide the more controversial and faith challenging historical documents that surface.

It appears to me as if, as time went on,  a closer scrutiny of the ridiculously large volume of historical documents that Hofmann had become involved in, in such a relatively short period of time began to cause some doubt in the minds of some individuals.

All of this dealing in fraudulent documents led to the Hofmann’s 1985 desperate attempt to avoid exposure by creating deadly pipe-bombs and murdering  Steven Christensen and Kathleen Sheets. He would be arrested in 1986. A much more complete timeline of events can be found here.

It is remarkable that Mark Hofmann became so proficient in fabricating so many historical documents that were not detected by the so-called experts of our day. To say that his forgeries made a huge impact on those studying the life of Joseph Smith Jr and the LDS restoration movement, would be an understatement.

As a master forger, Hofmann deceived a number of renowned document experts during his short career. Some of his forgeries were accepted by scholars for years, and an unknown number of them may still be in circulation.

In the words of one journalist,

“His forgeries live on and his forgeries keep claiming new victims.”

Another journalist prophetically opined –

“One hundred years from now people will still be coming up with things from Hofmann.”

Is it possible that another deception is currently taking place based in part on the forgeries of Mark Hofmann?

I think the answer is a resounding YES!

In part two of this post, I will show pictures of the gold plates that Mauricio claims to have received from the Angel Moroni and will show that some of the character arrangements engraved on them were unequivocally taken from the Mark Hofmann forgery and not from the original.

Again, this connection between Mark Hofmann and Mauricio Berger was brought to my attention by another person that I don’t even know. I am simply providing it to my readers because I believe it provides empirical evidence that Mauricio’s claims are false and the plates he is showing people are fabricated based on the forgery of Mark Hofmann.

Mauricio’s plates that he is showing to authenticate his claims, actually testify against his claims and expose the fraud that is being committed!

Obviously, we already know the claims are false because they do not conform to the prophecies pertaining to the final work of restoration. Nevertheless, the physical evidence that will be provided may be helpful to those who are not as familiar with prophecy as they would like to be.

Keep Watching

Weighed in the Balance and Found Wanting: The Claims of Mauricio Berger- The Gentiles Bring forth and Translate the Last Records

In the last segment of this series, we addressed the Jewish tradition that the first six thousand years would be broken into three equal segments consisting of two thousand year periods.

I shared my belief that Hosea may have been referring to the dividing of the six thousand years into what called three “days”.

He spoke about how God’s people would be “torn” in the first “day” but would be “revived” and “raised up” in the third day.

(I made a mistake in the chart and in the summation of that prophecy in my last post which has since been corrected)

We discussed how Paul and Peter accurately declared that they had entered into the “last days” and the “last times” when the gospel Invitation was extended to the “Gentiles”.

I pointed out that the term “last days” is synonymous with the term “days of the Gentiles” according to the Book of Mormon and that the “Days of the Gentiles” lasts until the Gentiles repent and come sanctified before the Lord. (The term “days of the Gentiles” should not be confused with the term “times of the Gentiles)

I pointed out that only those that accept the book of Mormon and the revelations brought forth through the prophet Joseph Smith as contained in the Doctrine and Covenants could understand the details of what would take place during the “days of the Gentiles”, namely, the three part invitation to the Gentiles.

One of the major disconnects that I have with the religious worldview and prophetic narrative being presented by Elder Smith, Seventy Moore, and Mauricio Berger, is that the either don’t believe the revelations in the D&C or they take them lightly.

The last days, or days of the Gentiles began with the New Testament apostles taking the gospel to the gentiles, it continued through the prophet Joseph Smith during his “first commission”, and it will culminate during his “second commission” when the final restoration of all things takes place.

In the previous post I provided a link to an article that contained 16 separate revelatory declarations pertaining to the mind-blowing fact that Joseph Smith and his associates would return from the dead to complete their commission. Ancient and modern scripture needs to be read together synergistically for the true prophetic narrative to emerge.

The prophet Isaiah gives a davidic lamentation in Isaiah 49 about the Davidic servant, Joseph Smith Jr., who will gather Israel in the end times.

3 And said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified.

4 Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with the Lord, and my work with my God.

5 ¶ And now, saith the Lord that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, and my God shall be my strength.

6 And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.

In the lamentation, God’s Davidic servant acknowledges that he has “labored in vain” to gather Israel.

That is how many people feel about the first ministry of Joseph Smith. It appears that he labored in vain and failed to gather God’s people and redeem Zion.

That false assumption represents the foundational premise in the prophetic narrative that Elder Smith, Seventy Moore and Mauricio Berger are suggesting.

According to the lamentation in Isaiah 29, God informs his servant that fails in his first attempt to gather Israel, that he shall yet be glorious in the eyes of the Lord. This covenant servant is given to be the “light of the Gentiles“. He will yet represent the Lord’s salvation to the “end of the earth“.

This same covenant servant had previously been identified in Isaiah 42. He is the one who will bring judgment to the Gentiles. He is the one that brings the LAW to the Gentiles.

He is given for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles:

1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.

2 He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.

3 A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.

4 He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.

5 ¶ Thus saith God the Lord, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:

6 I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;

7 To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.

Compare the above wording in Isaiah 42 and 49 with the prophetic declaration in D&C 45:

9 And even so I have sent mine everlasting covenant [servant] into the world, to be a light to the world, and to be a standard for my people, and for the Gentiles to seek to [him], and to be a messenger before my face to prepare the way before me.

10 Wherefore, come ye unto [him], and with him that cometh I will reason as with men in days of old, and I will show unto you my strong reasoning.

The Davidic covenant servant made his first attempt to gather Israel back in the 1830’s.

His first attempt failed because of the wickedness of latter day Israel.

The covenant servant had to make an intercession for God’s apostate people just as Moses made an intercession for ancient Israel.

Just as Moses and Aaron sinned in their intercessory role, Joseph and his associates also committed intercessory transgressions.

The intercession resulted in an interim missionary work that took the KNOWLEDGE of the fullness of the Gospel to the “dispersed of Judah” and the “outcasts of Israel”.

When the final restitution of all things takes place, the covenant servant will return and complete his commission.

Notice that the first wave of the second invitation to the Gentiles began with the New Testament Apostles taking the gospel to the Gentiles directly after the resurrection of Christ.

Many of the New Testament Gentile saints entered into covenant and obtained the promise of eternal life at that time.

“And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.” ( verse 48)

Following the eventual collective apostasy of the New Testament Church, the LDS restoration movement of the 1830’s once again began extending the second invitation to the Gentiles.

During that second wave of the second invitation, some of the Gentile saints became sanctified through the fulness of the Gospel and also obtained the promise of eternal life-

“..the angels rejoice over you; the alms of your prayers have come up into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth, and are recorded in the book of the names of the sanctified, even them of the celestial world.

Wherefore, I now send upon you another Comforter, even upon you my friends, that it may abide in your hearts, even the Holy Spirit of promise; which other Comforter is the same that I promised unto my disciples, as is recorded in the testimony of John.

This Comforter is the promise which I give unto you of eternal life, even the glory of the celestial kingdom..” (D&C 88:2-4)

Nevertheless, just like the collective body of Christ in New Testament times eventually went into the wilderness of darkness, the restored church once again went into apostasy.

The gentiles could not collectively live the fullness of the gospel, which includes the law of consecration. This is because the Lord was allowing the wheat and tares to grow together until the harvest was fully ripe.

In a letter sent in 1833 to Mr Saxton, a newspaper editor, Joseph Smith revealed that his early ministry in Kirtland, represented the tail end of the same dispensation that had begun with the New Testament Apostles.

He declared that the New Testament saints had departed from the faith and broken the covenant:

Thus after this chosen family had rejected Christ and his proposals the heralds of salvation said to them. “lo I we turn <un>to the gentiles,” and the gentiles received the covenant and were grafted in from whence the chosen family were broken off but the Gentiles have not continued in the goodness of God but have departed from the faith that was once delivered to the saints and have broken the everlasting covenant in which their fathers were established (Saxton Letter)

Once the saints of the LDS restoration rejected the fullness of the Gospel, the impending Judgments of God began to fall upon the world.

In the Saxton Letter, Joseph Smith noted and boldly declared that in order to escape the impending judgments people of that generation must received the saving ordinances and enter into the “new covenant” of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He warned that the governments of the world were about to be thrown into “confusion and division” (these prophetic descriptive aptly characterize the state of the world we are now living in!);

The Lord has declared to his servants some Eighteen months since that he was then withdrawing his spirit from the earth, and we can see that such is the fact for not only the churches are dwindling away, but there are no convers[i]ons, or but very few, and this is not all, the governments of the earth are thrown into confusion & division, and distruction to the eye of the spiritual beholder seemes to be writen by the finger of an invisable hand in Large capitals upon almost evry thing we behold——

And now what remains to be done under circumstan[c]es like these, I will proce[e]d to tell you what the Lord requires of all people high and Low, rich and poor, male and female, ministers & people professors of religeon, and nonproffessors in order that they may enjoy the holy spirit of God to a fulness, and escape the Judgments of God which are almost ready to burst upon the nations of the earth—

Repent of all your sins and be baptized in water for the remission of them, in the name of the father, and of the son, and of the Holy Ghost, and receive the ordinance of the laying on of the hands of him who is ordained and sealed unto this power, that ye may receive the holy spirit of God, and this according to the holy scriptures, and of the Book of Mormon; and the only way that man can enter into the Celestial kingdom. These are the requesitions of the new Covenant or first principles of of the Gospel of Christ;

Joseph Smith informed his readers that the Western tribes of Indians were descendants of Joseph who was sold into Egypt and that the land of America is the promised land that ALL TRIBES OF ISRAEL WILL GATHER TO:

The Book of Mormon is a record of the forefathers of our western Tribes of Indians, having been found through the ministration of an holy Angel translated into our own Language by the gift and power of God, after having been hid up in the earth for the last fourteen hundred years containing the word of God, which was delivered unto them,

By it we learn that our western tribes of Indians are desendants from that Joseph that was sold into Egypt, and that the Land of America is a promised land unto them, and unto it all the tribes of Israel will come. with as many of the gentiles as shall comply with the requesitions of the new co[v]enant.

Joseph Smith was revealing a novel concept that had not been taught by protestant prophecy scholars. Namely, that ALL of the tribes of Israel would gather to America.

Continuing on, he reiterated that the tribe of Judah would go to the “old Jerusalem, City of Zion” that will be built up IN AMERICA!

But the tribe of Judah will return to old Jerusalem, The City, of Zion, spoken of by David in the 102 Psalm will be built upon the Land of America
 and the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to it with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads, and then they will be delivered from the overflowing scourge that shall pass through the Land But Judah shall obtain deliverence at Jerusalem see Joel 2. 32. Isaiah 26, 20 & 21, Jer. 31, 12, Psalm 50. 5, Ezekiel 34, 11, 12 & 13,

[Note: Modern commentaries and histories have changed the comma to a period after the word “Jerusalem” in the above quote to make it appear as if the latter day Jerusalem is still located in the Old World, on a separate continent from the latter day Zion in America.

I have written extensively on this topic and provided additional documentation to back this astonishing claim. You can read about it at this link. ]

In the letter to Mr. Saxton, Joseph Smith warned that there was a short window of time for the world to repent and enter into the safety of Zion before t judgments and calamities and overflowing scourge overtake them

And now I am prepared to say by the authority of Jesus Christ, that not many years shall pass away before the United States shall present such a scene of bloodshed as has not a parallel in the hystory of our nation pestalence hail famine and earthquake will sweep the wicked off this generation from off the face of this Land to open and prepare the way for the return of the lost tribes of Israel from the north country—

The people of the Lord, those who have complied with the requsitions of the new covenant have already commenced gathering togethe[r] to Zion which is in the State of Missouri.

Therefore I declare unto you the warning which the lord has commanded me to declare unto this generation, rembring [remembering] that the eyes of my maker are upon me and that to him I am accountabl for evry word I say wishing nothing worse to my fellow men then their eternal salvation therefore fear God, and give glory to him for the hour of his Judgment is come, <Repent ye> Repent, ye and imbrace the everlasting Covenant and flee to Zion before the overflowing scourge overtake you

Shortly after giving these ominous warnings the saints who had been gathering to the land of Zion were cast out of it by the unbelieving Gentiles that inhabited the land.

Shortly thereafter, Joseph declared that the Lord had revealed to him that something NEW must be done for the temporal salvation of the saints.

“God revealed to me that something new must be done for the salvation of His Church.”

This “something new” was a revelation to send missionaries to England to preach the gospel.

Following that, God commissioned the quorum of the Twelve Apostles to cross the great waters and seek those of the House of Israel. (See D&C 118)

“And next spring let them depart to go over the great waters, and there promulgate my gospel, the fulness thereof, and bear record of my name..” And next spring let them depart to go over the great waters, and there promulgate my gospel, the fulness thereof, and bear record of my name. And next spring let them depart to go over the great waters, and there promulgate my gospel, the fulness thereof, and bear record of my name.” (See D&C 118)

This interim missionary work was the literal fulfillment of Christ’s prophecy in 3rd Nephi 16 wherein he prophesied that after the Gentiles rejected the fullness if the gospel, the KNOWLEDGE of the fullness of the gospel would be taken to the House of Israel:

Below I am going to break down the prophecy of Christ into three distinct historical events. The first two have taken place. The last one is about to take place.

The prophecy of Christ in 3rd Nephi details this exact sequence:

Part 1- The Gentiles Reject the fulness that is offered for 3 1/2 years between June 1831 and December of 1834

“And thus commandeth the Father that I should say unto you: At that day when the Gentiles (Latter day restored church of Christ) shall sin against my gospel, and shall reject the fulness of my gospel, and shall be lifted up in the pride of their hearts above all nations, and above all the people of the whole earth, and shall be filled with all manner of lyings, and of deceits, and of mischiefs, and all manner of hypocrisy, and murders, and priestcrafts, and whoredoms, and of secret abominations; and if they shall do all those things, and shall reject the fulness of my gospel, behold, saith the Father, I will bring the fulness of my gospel from among them.”

Part 2- The “knowledge” of the fulness of the gospel is taken from the Gentiles to the House House of Israel: Joseph Smith declares that the Lord has revealed to him that “Something new must be done for the salvation of the Church”. He then established foreign missions to take the “knowledge of the gospel” to the “Outcasts of Israel and the dispersed of Judah”. Thousands of converts began flowing into Nauvoo and eventually to Utah.

Following the succession crisis, the quorum of the Twelve and their converts of the latter day Jews that joined the church took over the leadership positions of the church. Gentile leaders such as Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon, William Marks and William Law were replaced by Brigham Young and his brethren, an eventually from converts from across the great waters.

The Gentiles no longer had priesthood power over the remnants of Judah. The kingdom of Judah was secretly re-established in the last days and is now disguised as the church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints.

And then will I remember my covenant which I have made unto my people, O house of Israel, and I will bring my gospel unto them.

And I will show unto thee, O house of Israel, that the Gentiles shall not have power over you; but I will remember my covenant unto you, O house of Israel, and ye shall come unto the KNOWEDGE of the fulness of my gospel.

Part 3- In the third watch, the original Gentile servants of God will return and repent at the conclusion of the acceptable atonement offering. The fulness of the gospel will then be restored and the dispensation of the fulness of times and the Marvelous work will be ushered in and the righteous and repentant among both houses of Israel during the last four generations will be reunited in fulfillment of prophecy.

“But if the Gentiles will repent and return unto me, saith the Father, behold they shall be numbered among my people, O house of Israel.”

BTW the above passages have been altered a little bit from the original Book of Mormon. Notice how the phrase “fullness of the gospel” was removed in one passage:

Greater emphasis and clarity was given to the fact that it was the “fullness of the Gospel” that the restoration saints would reject.

Grafting in the Natural Branches

The missionary work that began taking place across the great waters AFTER the Gentiles had rejected the fullness, resulted in the grafting in of the natural branches as documented in the book of Jacob.

As a result of this interim missionary work, tens of thousands of converts began to come to the knowledge of the fulness of the Gospel that is contained in the Book of Mormon.

First they began to flow into Nauvoo. Later they would flow into Utah.

The prophet Joseph Smith clarified that the Elders being sent to foreign lands were engaged in seeking a different tribal demographic that those of Joseph and Eprhaim that had mingled among the Gentiles. He identified them as the Outcasts of Israel and the Dispersed of Judah,

“If there is anything calculated to interest the mind of the Saints, to awaken in them the finest sensibilities, and arouse them to enterprise and exertion, surely it is the great and precious promises made by our heavenly Father to the children of Abraham; and those engaged in seeking the outcasts of Israel, and the dispersed of Judah, cannot fail to enjoy the Spirit of the Lord and have the choicest blessings of Heaven rest upon them in copious effusions.” (Joseph Smith Jr., Discourses of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 195. )

In previous posts we have discussed how the tribal demographics of the restored church began to change once the saints of the restored church rejected the fulness of the Gospel and the dispensation of the Gospel of Abraham was secretly ushered in.

In fulfillment of ancient prophecy, Joseph Smith was beginning to re-established the House of David and the kingdom of Israel 

(Pic taken from the Book, Solving the Prophet Puzzle)

Many of the early Gentile Kirtland saints who were remnants of the tribe of Joseph, who had mingled among the gentiles, began to fall away from the church after the attempt at consecration and Zion failed. Others left the church during the Nauvoo period as a result of the succession crisis.

Nevertheless, the new converts to the church from across the great waters, of the dispersed of Judah and the outcasts of Israel began flooding into Nauvoo as a result of the secret ushering in of the dispensation of the gospel of Abraham and the secret bestowal of the keys of the gathering from Moses.

The book of Mormon informs us that the “Jews” that would gather to America and be united with the gentile church would only “begin to believe” in Christ:

7 And it shall come to pass that the Jews which are scattered also shall begin to believe in Christ; and they shall begin to gather in upon the face of the land; and as many as shall believe in Christ shall also become a delightsome people. 2 Nephi 30:7

The reason that the dispersed of Judah were only being given the KNOWLEDGE of the fullness, instead of actually entering into the fullness of the covenant, is because their New Testament fathers had rejected the covenant, placing the salvation of the gentiles before them. They would need to wait until the “times of the Gentiles” comes in again before they would be able to accept the fullness.

It is important to understand that Joseph Smith Jr., the covenant servant of the Lord, needed to make an intercession for God’s apostate people once they rejected the fulness of the Gospel.

This resulted in something new needing to be done for the temporal salvation of the church. It resulted in a secret appearance of Christ, Moses, Elias, and Elijah. This event that took place in the Kirtland Temple on April 3 1836, resulted in the keys of the Gathering of Israel being transferred from Moses to Joseph and Oliver.

The Dispensation of the Gospel of Abraham initiated the taking of the knowledge of the fulness of the gospel to the latter day Jews that Joseph Smith referred to as the “dispersed of Judah”.

It began a “little season” of learning and chastisement for God’s people who needed to wait until the final restoration of all things when God’s covenant servant would return to complete his commission and set up a standard for the Gentiles to come to.

Nearly one decade after Joseph Smith Jr. had informed a newspaper editor Noah Saxton in 1833, that the judgments of God were to soon fall upon the nations, requiring the elect of God to accept the fullness of the Gospel and flee to Zion, he wrote another letter to newspaper editor John Wentworth in 1842.

In the letter he detailed the rise of the Church of Christ in the latter days in which no mention of pending judgments was acknowledged.

Indeed, the narrative was that the new missionary work to foreign nations would continue on despite religious persecution until the truth of God has sounded in every ear and the purposes of God have been accomplished.

“Persecution has not stopped the progress of truth, but has only added fuel to the flame, it has spread with increasing rapidity, proud of the cause which they have espoused and conscious of their innocence and of the truth of their system amidst calumny and reproach have the elders of this church gone forth, and planted the gospel in almost every state in the Union; it has penetrated our cities, it has spread over our villages, and has caused thousands of our intelligent, noble, and patriotic citizens to obey its divine mandates, and be governed by its sacred truths.

It has also spread into England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales: in the year of 1839 where a few of our missionaries were sent over five thousand joined the standard of truth,there are numbers now joining in every land.
Our missionaries are going forth to different nations, and in Germany, Palestine, New Holland, the East Indies, and other places, the standard of truth has been erected:

 no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing, persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished and the great Jehovah shall say the work is done.

What happed to the desolating scourge that was falling upon the nation and the need to quickly flee to Zion?

The answer is that Joseph Smith made an atonement offering intercession for latter day Israel just as Moses had made an atonement offering intercession for ancient Israel when God was about to wipe ancient Israel off the face of the earth.

 

This radical change in tone and message from the Sexton Letter in 1833 to the Wentworth Letter in 1842, is evidence that the pending judgments of God that were speedily approaching in 1833, had been adverted by the intercession that had been made.

The Final Restoration Comes through the Gentiles

The Book of Mormon agrees with the New Testament and the D&C about the Gospel coming from the Gentiles to the rest of the world in the final restoration.

Indeed, the title page of the Book of Mormon reveals that the sealed portion that was sealed up by the hand of Moroni, would eventually come forth and be interpreted by way of the Gentile

Wherefore, it is an abridgment of the record of the people of Nephi, and also of the Lamanites—Written to the Lamanites, who are a remnant of the house of Israel; and also to Jew and Gentile—Written by way of commandment, and also by the spirit of prophecy and of revelation—Written and sealed up, and hid up unto the Lord, that they might not be destroyed—To come forth by the gift and power of God unto the interpretation thereof—Sealed by the hand of Moroni, and hid up unto the Lord, to come forth in due time by way of the Gentile—The interpretation thereof by the gift of God.

The plates that were written, sealed up, and hid up unto the Lord by the hand of Moroni will come forth.. BY WAY OF THE GENTILE.

The above passage is literally speaking of the final time that the sealed portion comes forth and translated, not just the preliminary time that Joseph Smith brought forth the unsealed portion.

Lest you think that the title page is just Joseph Smith’s opinion, this is what Joseph Smith informs us about the title page

“the title-page of the Book of Mormon is a literal translation, taken from the very last leaf, on the left hand side of the collection or book of plates, which contained the record which has been translated, the language of the whole running the same as all Hebrew writing in general; and that said title page is not by any means a modern composition, either of mine or of any other man who has lived or does live in this generation” (History of the Church, 1:71).

Joseph Smith wanted us to know that the declaration in the title page of the Book of Mormon about the sealed plates coming forth for the last time from the Gentile, was not a speculative commentary on his part. It was a “literal translation, taken from the very last leaf, on the left hand side of the collection or book of plates”

With that in mind, lets take a look at 1st Nephi 14:1-2

1 And it shall come to pass, that if the Gentiles shall hearken unto the Lamb of God in that day that he shall manifest himself unto them in word, and also in power, in very deed, unto the taking away of their stumbling blocks—

2 And harden not their hearts against the Lamb of God, they shall be numbered among the seed of thy father; yea, they shall be numbered among the house of Israel; and they shall be a blessed people upon the promised land forever; they shall be no more brought down into captivity; and the house of Israel shall no more be confounded.

The Stumbling Blocks will Be Taken Away from the Believing Gentiles

It is at the very end of the 2nd invitation that the Gentiles repent and have their stumbling blocks taken away! That is the day of POWER when the fullness of the priesthood is restored to the earth. We have not yet arrived at that last part of the second invitation.

The parable of the Olive Trees in Jacob informs us that God’s repentant Gentile servants from the 2nd Watch, will return to the vineyard with the Lord of the vineyard in the third watch. (See Jacob 5:70-72)

The Word went forth During Joseph’s First Commission
The Fulness of Power Emerges During Joseph’s Second Commission

The above passages reveal that AFTER the “WORD” has gone forth during Joseph Smith’s first ministry, it will finally go forth in “POWER” and in “VERY DEED” at a later time.

(Helaman 10:5-6 informs us that being mighty “in word and in deed” means having fullness of priesthood power wherein you can command the elements)

It is at that day that the righteous gentiles of the 2nd watch return, that the unrighteous Gentiles of our generation will have the opportunity to repent and be gathered in with the repentant seed of Lehi and perhaps other remnants of the House of Israel.

(Pic taken from the Book, Solving the Prophet Puzzle)

A contextual Book of Mormon keyword search of the word “deed” links the above time when the word goes forth in power and deed to the mighty servant of the Lord mentioned in 2nd Nephi 3:24

24 And there shall rise up one mighty among them, who shall do much good, both in word and in deed, being an instrument in the hands of God, with exceeding faith, to work mighty wonders, and do that thing which is great in the sight of God, unto the bringing to pass much restoration unto the house of Israel, and unto the seed of thy brethren.

Clearly, the above passage is simply reiterating that Joseph the Seer who is previously detailed in that chapter, is the one that brings forth the work in both word and power and deed. A careful study of the “Joseph the Seer” narrative in 2nd Nephi 3 and JST Genesis reveals that it is not referring to Joseph’s ministry in the 1800’s. It is referring to a future ministry when he confounds all false doctrines establishes peace and completely restores Israel.

Sadly, many students of the Book of Mormon can’t see the connection and they assume that the servant being spoken of in 2nd Nephi 3:24 is someone other than Joseph the Seer. They often assume that it is some Jew or Lamanite that comes to complete the work that Joseph the Gentile Seer began.

Since “Berger” is probably a Jewish name (Ashkenazi), Mauricio may be deluded into thinking that he is the servant mentioned in the above passage.

The Term Gentile Can be Confusing

One of the confusing issues that needs to be parsed out when reading the book of Mormon relative to the role of the Gentiles in the end times is that the term Gentile is used in numerous ways. Context is everything.

First of all, the Book of Mormon differentiates between the  “believing” and “unbelieving” Gentiles.

Secondly, sometimes times the believing Gentiles are righteous, other times they stumble and fall into apostasy.

Thirdly, sometimes the Gentiles of Joseph Smith’s era are being referenced while other times the Gentiles of our era are being referenced.

Lastly, and perhaps this is one of the most confusing things, sometimes the narrative has to do with the repentant Gentiles of the LDS restoration movement (known as the first laborers of the last kingdom) are returning to preach to the wicked Gentiles of our time!

Mauricio’s Narrative is not Congruent with the Scriptures

As you can see, the true prophetic narrative documented in scripture and the history of the LDS restoration regarding what actually took place during Joseph Smith’s first ministry and what will take place in the future, is quite different from the prophetic narrative that Elder Smith, Seventy Moore, and Mauricio Berger are postulating.

They have a very convoluted and incorrect view of the Gentile and they do not understand the role of the Gentile in the last and final work of restoration

God’s covenant  servant, Joseph Smith Jr., who was identified with the gentiles (D&C 109:6 ) is going to return and complete his commission. This is what the unconditional promises and prophesies in the Doctrine and Covenants proclaim

The First (Jew) Shall be Last and the Last (Gentile) Shall be First

One of the most prolific passages to explain that the first records (Bible) come forth from the Jews, and the LAST RECORDS come forth through the Gentile is found in 1 Nephi 13.

It begins by noting that the Gentiles who attempted to bring forth Zion during the first commission of Joseph Smith Jr., will endure to the end and be lifted up at the last day.

They will eventually publish peace and stand upon the mountains.

It informs us that the first records that come forth from the Jews (the Old and New Testaments) will be followed by all of the LAST RECORDS that will be brought forth by the Gentiles. (Including the sealed portion)

Notice that the final records finally CONVINCE the Gentiles of the truth :

37 And blessed are they [the Gentiles] who shall seek to bring forth my Zion at that day, for they shall have the gift and the power of the Holy Ghost; and if they endure unto the end they shall be lifted up at the last day, and shall be saved in the everlasting kingdom of the Lamb; and whoso shall publish peace, yea, tidings of great joy, how beautiful upon the mountains shall they be.

38 And it came to pass that I beheld the remnant of the seed of my brethren, and also the book of the Lamb of God, [The Bible] which had proceeded forth from the mouth of the Jew, that it came forth from the Gentiles unto the remnant of the seed of my brethren.

39 And after it had come forth unto them I beheld other books, which came forth by the power of the Lamb, from the Gentiles unto them, unto the convincing of the Gentiles and the remnant of the seed of my brethren, and also the Jews who were scattered upon all the face of the earth, that the records of the prophets and of the twelve apostles of the Lamb are true.

40 And the angel spake unto me, saying: These last records, which thou hast seen among the Gentiles, shall establish the truth of the first, which are of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, and shall make known the plain and precious things which have been taken away from them; and shall make known to all kindreds, tongues, and people, that the Lamb of God is the Son of the Eternal Father, and the Savior of the world; and that all men must come unto him, or they cannot be saved.

41 And they must come according to the words which shall be established by the mouth of the Lamb; and the words of the Lamb shall be made known in the records of thy seed, as well as in the records of the twelve apostles of the Lamb; wherefore they both shall be established in one; for there is one God and one Shepherd over all the earth.

42 And the time cometh that he shall manifest himself unto all nations, both unto the Jews and also unto the Gentiles; and after he has manifested himself unto the Jews and also unto the Gentiles, then he shall manifest himself unto the Gentiles and also unto the Jews, and the last shall be first, and the first shall be last.

The Jews were the first to receive the invitation and the Gentiles second.

Both groups stumbled

The Gentiles of Ephraim and Joseph will be the first to collectively enter into covenant and gather to Zion, the Jews will be second to enter into a Gospel Covenant and gather to the “Old Jerusalem” that is located in America. (See Doctrine and Covenants 133:13 and Ether 13:10-11)

Again, the Jews are not allowed to enter into covenant until after the Gentiles do. This is why the Jews that began to believe during the Nauvoo era were only given the KNOWLEDGE of the fullness instead of the fullness. They will not collectively be allowed to enter into a Gospel covenant until AFTER the Gentiles have collectively entered into the fullness of the Gospel covenant. I will be dedicating a post to elaborate on that issue.

Many latter day saints erroneously assume that the prophecies about “establishing of the truth of the Bible” and eliminating “contention” was fulfilled when the first portion of the Book of Mormon came forth during Joseph first ministry.

This is not true because there is still confusion and contention even among the latter day saints and the factions of the RLDS church.

The following passage from 1st Nephi 3:11-13 reveals that it is the Seer Joseph Smith Jr., that will ultimately bring forth the final records that will confound all of the false doctrines, lay down all contentions, and establishing peace.  That certainly has not happened yet and will not happen until Joseph the Seer returns and his weakness has been made strong:

11 But a seer will I raise up out of the fruit of thy loins; and unto him will I give power to bring forth my word unto the seed of thy loins—and not to the bringing forth my word only, saith the Lord, but to the convincing them of my word, which shall have already gone forth among them.

12 Wherefore, the fruit of thy loins shall write; and the fruit of the loins of Judah shall write; and that which shall be written by the fruit of thy loins, and also that which shall be written by the fruit of the loins of Judah, shall grow together, unto the confounding of false doctrines and laying down of contentions, and establishing peace among the fruit of thy loins, and bringing them to the knowledge of their fathers in the latter days, and also to the knowledge of my covenants, saith the Lord.

13 And out of weakness he shall be made strong, in that day when my work shall commence among all my people, unto the restoring thee, O house of Israel, saith the Lord..

The only way for the above prophecy to come to pass and for Joseph Smith Jr. to bring forth all of the last records so that all false doctrines and contentions will be done away with, is for him to return and for the unconditional promises and prophesied in the Doctrine and Covenants to come to pass.

It is quite remarkable and tragic that Elder Joseph Smith and all of the other high profile descendants of Joseph Smith Jr. that I am aware of reject the notion that their progenitor Joseph Smith Jr. is going to return and complete is commission and the prophecies about him.

If you reject the scriptures that came forth through Joseph Smith the Gentile Seer, then you have denied revelation and have rejected the divine calling of God’s servant and the LDS restoration movement and you may as well become a protestant sect just like the Community of Christ has done.

More serious inconsistencies in the Mauricio claims to come

Keep Watching

 

 

Weighed in the Balance and Found Wanting: The Claims of Mauricio Berger

Ok, my turn.

I want to thank all of the respondents who submitted their emotional responses and their “strong reasons” based on scripture for believing or disbelieving the claims of Mauricio.

Let me begin by saying that if I were to judge the claims of Mauricio Berger based on the apparent sincerity, humility and integrity of Elder Joseph Smith and Seventy Bob Moore, I would probably gladly accept the veracity of the prophetic narrative they are bearing witness to.

But that is not how I judge the truthfulness of these kinds of claims.

It is easy to get sidetracked by hyper focusing on sincerity, and good honest intentions. It is also easy to focus on whether the meeting took place in Brazil and whether a person named Mauricio produced some tangible items for Elder Smith and Seventy Moore to see and hold.

Those events are very believable to me and in my opinion, probably did take place.

But that is a very small aspect of the issue at hand.

In fact, it is almost insignificant if you consider the fact that the originating story teller is a mysterious person that we have not been able to meet or hear for ourselves.

So far, we have not even heard him testify on video or seen pictures of the artifacts. Even if Mauricio did have some artifacts given to him by messengers from another realm, the next question has to do with whether they were angels of darkness or light. Satan can send angels of light and produce miraculous counterfeits.  (see 2 Corinthians 11:14)

Joseph Smith’s First Vision was Not Unique

Several decades ago while I was doing some research in the LDS Church Historical Library, I came upon some old newspaper articles that were written just PRIOR to Joseph Smith’s first vision experience.

These articles contained the testimonies of others who claimed to have seen God and were told that their generation needed to repent. They had a shockingly similar narrative to the first vision story that Joseph Smith would eventually tell. If my memory serves me correctly, these people were considered humble and sincere by those that knew them.

At first glance this information kind of unnerved me. Upon further reflection, it made perfect sense.

Satan usually creates lots of confusion and deception just prior to God’s work going forth. Joseph Smith warned that-

“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–“

Satan loves to pray upon the humble, simple, honest men of integrity who are not very knowledgeable. He can do this because they are often extremely gullible.

Section 76 notes that it is the “honorable men of the earth who are deceived by the craftiness of men” (and also easily deceived by Satan, I might add.)

We live in interesting times of deception

During the last few decades we have witnessed numerous people make astonishing claims.  Jim Harmston began proclaiming himself to be the reincarnation of Joseph Smith. He finally graduated to being  God the Father in the flesh.

Sterling Allen came along after that and also claimed to be the Father. His claim was much more colorful as he openly proclaimed that he was suffering from a lust addiction.

We have seen people like Robert Crossfield and Art Bulla bring forth additional “thus sayeth the Lord” revelations.

Christopher Nemelka, who claims to be the reincarnation of Hyrum Smith has brought forth what he claims to be the sealed portion.

Then there is Denver Snuffer, who by revelation from the Most High has been designated as “David“.

This Davidic Servant and his disciples have determined that the scriptures that Joseph Smith brought forth (and were sustained by the church), have not been kept pure and thus, are not credible and sufficient. Hence, he and his followers have decided to revamp them with Snuffer’s own teachings and revelations included in the revised editions. The LDS churches attempt to silence Snuffer when he began crossing the line fell on the deaf ears of a ginormous ego.

The Meteoric Rise and Fall of Mike Stroud

Mike Stroud is a dynamic gospel doctrine teacher who has been studying and teaching the gospel for 30 years. He has risen to fame in what he refers to as the “remnant movement” and his podcast enjoys literally thousands of visitors.

He has made some pretty outrageous claims about translated beings walking around, the visitation of angels and his communications with “holy men”. He has spoken of the church only being an Aaronic institution and has referred to the Snufferites as good people who he cannot condemn.

I blogged about him and the bifurcated remnant movement a few weeks ago. Another person at wheat and tares also blogged about him as well.

It is not clear whether those two blog posts were instrumental in bringing his notoriety and teachings to the attention of the brethren or not. However, he has been paid a visit from people in high places and has been silenced.

He has now offered a very contrite and humble public apology for some of the things he has taught and he has taken his podcast down.

                  Elder Joseph Smith, Seventy Bob Moore and Mauricio Berger

We now have some new players claiming that the tangible gold plates have been returned to the earth by the angel Moroni. They are essentially claiming to be God’s representatives in ushering in the Marvelous Work. They come to us from our brethren of the LDS Reorganization in conjunction with a mysterious foreigner that we have not yet had the opportunity to  meet or listen to.

Nobody would be happier for the Marvelous Work to begin than me.

I have been waiting and watching for this event for a long time.

Elder Joseph Smith, a direct descendent of our beloved Joseph Smith Jr., and his spokesman, Seventy Bob Moore, have testified that a mysterious person in Brazil has shown them the Gold Plates, Interpreters and the Sword of Laban.

How can we know if they are telling the truth?

How To Avoid Being Deceived

If you do a keyword search in the scriptures about how to avoid being deceived, you will find some really good admonitions.

One is found in Section 43

3 And this ye shall know assuredly—that there is none other appointed unto you to receive commandments and revelations until he be taken, if he abide in me.

4 But verily, verily, I say unto you, that none else shall be appointed unto this gift except it be through him; for if it be taken from him he shall not have power except to appoint another in his stead.

5 And this shall be a law unto you, that ye receive not the teachings of any that shall come before you as revelations or commandments;

6 And this I give unto you that you may not be deceived, that you may know they are not of me.

7 For verily I say unto you, that he that is ordained of me shall come in at the gate and be ordained as I have told you before, to teach those revelations which you have received and shall receive through him whom I have appointed.

It is a serious thing to accept the teachings and commandments of a person who claims to be God’s servant if he has not come in through the “gate” that is being spoken of in the above passages. One is actually violating a LAW of God when one accepts the teachings of a revelatory imposter as if they are true commandments from the Lord.

One of my favorite set of declarations about the coming deception and how to avoid it is found in JST Matt 24

5 And Jesus answered, and said unto them: Take heed that no man deceive you;

6 For many shall come in my name, saying—I am Christ—and shall deceive many,, 9 And many false prophets shall arise, and shall deceive many..

22 For in those days there shall also arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders, insomuch, that, if possible, they shall deceive the very elect, who are the elect according to the covenant…

37 And whoso treasureth up my word, shall not be deceived, for the Son of Man shall come, and he shall send his angels before him with the great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together the remainder of his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

He who has treasured up the word of God will not be deceived.

One of the reasons why I invited my readers to submit their assessments of the claims that are being made is because I wanted everyone to have the experience of discerning the claims based on their knowledge of the scriptures that they have read, studied, searched, pondered and treasured up.

It is my hope that this exercise has been a sobering experience that will motivate people to recommit to searching the scriptures at an even deeper level.

In Acts 17 we are informed that the “more noble” of the saints were those that “searched the scriptures daily”:

11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

The next set of passages I want to spotlight are found in Section 45

56 And at that day, when I shall come in my glory, shall the parable be fulfilled which I spake concerning the ten virgins.

57 For they that are wise and have received the truth, and have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide, and have not been deceived—verily I say unto you, they shall not be hewn down and cast into the fire, but shall abide the day.

 

I believe the above passage is greatly misunderstood and actually becomes a stumbling block for many.

Have You Taken the Holy Spirit As Your Guide?

While there is always some level of personal revelation that is available to us through the light of Christ and the intermittent visitations of the Holy Ghost, I have come to believe that the term “taking the Holy Spirit as you guide” probably means something different than most people assume.

You will notice from the above passages that those that take the Holy Spirit as their guide, have done so at the completion point of the literal fulfillment of the parable of the Ten Virgins.

We have not reached that time in history yet.

I believe that taking the Holy Spirit as you guide may actually have to do with a state of being that is only enjoyed AFTER a person receives the Gift of the Holy Ghost from the true servants that will be returning with the fullness of the priesthood.

I believe that signs will follow those that have received of the fullness. (kjkj

Three Different and Distinct Potential Deception Points

It is easy to get sucked into the emotion and drama of what is being presented by Elder Smith, Seventy Moore and brother Mauricio Berger. But it is critical to remember that there are three different and distinct possible deception points to this story.

While few people appear to question the sincerity of Elder Smith and Seventy Moore, there are still two big questions left to answer.

Is the mysterious Mauricio fabricating the story?

And even if he sincerely got the artifacts from an angel, was the angel sent from God or from the dark side?

Using the Scriptures as the Measuring Yardstick

The truth is that you cannot rely strictly on a person’s testimony when discerning something of this nature.

One must rely on the prophetic template provided in the Holy and Infallible word of God.

So let’s review the prophetic narrative that Elder Smith and Seventy Moore are promoting and see if it fits with what has been revealed in the scriptures.

My contention is that the prophetic scenario being presented, represents a radical departure from the prophetic narrative in scripture. It simply does not square with what the Lord and His prophets have promised us will take place.

I realize that many people do not take the unconditional promises and prophesies contained in the revelations received by Joseph Smith seriously. Many doubt that God’s prophesies in modern revelation will be fulfilled. They think that God really doesn’t know for sure how things will play out and that he is just prognosticating what he thinks and hopes might take place based on his past experience.

I disagree.

The God I worship has all time, past, present and future continually before his eyes and he knows what will happen in the future because he has seen it.

He does not live in time, he lives in eternity.

He does not lie or make mistakes when giving unconditional promises about the future.

Furthermore, the prophesies contained in the Bible and Book of Mormon also testify against the prophetic narrative being presented.

With that in mind, let’s review the prophetic narrative that we are getting from Joseph, Bob, and the mysterious Mauricio to see if it squares with the promises and prophecies in the word of God.

The “Second Invitation”

I have provided below, a screen print of the “Second Invitation” page that has been published to keep people informed about this work.

I must admit that the bold title of “Second Invitation” followed by the supporting scriptural passage just below it,  is a powerful synopsis of the prophetic narrative that they are bearing testimony to:

Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. (Matt 22:8)

The scriptures do indeed inform us that there would be two invitations extended and that the first call will be rejected and a second call would be extended to and accepted by a different group of people.

The passage that is being quoted appears to crystalize and support the message that Elder Smith, Seventy Moore, and Mauricio Berger are spreading, namely that the LDS Gentile restoration through the ministry of Joseph Smith Jr failed to bring forth the redemption of Zion. The invitation that was sent during Joseph’s ministry was not accepted.

We gentiles of the LDS restoration find ourselves in a state of disunity and confusion nearly 200 years after the first vision and the preaching of the restored gospel (invitation) that followed.

We now find ourselves in a state of hidden darkness wherein we think we are so enlightened even though we are devoid of the spiritual gifts that always testify of Gods true church.  Many, including myself, believe the heavens have been sealed shut until the true servants return.

The Old Testament foretold that God’s people would forsake and break the covenant in the latter days causing the Lord to hide his face from us for a season:

16 ¶ And the Lord said unto Moses, Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers; and this people will rise up, and go a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land, whither they go to be among them, and will forsake me, and break my covenant which I have made with them.

17 Then my anger shall be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide my face from them, and they shall be devoured, and many evils and troubles shall befall them; so that they will say in that day, Are not these evils come upon us, because our God is not among us?

18 And I will surely hide my face in that day for all the evils which they shall have wrought, in that they are turned unto other gods. (Deut 31:16-18)

Arguably there is not one single “righteous” gentile for God to continue the work through.

Logically it makes sense that God would now call a more righteous group of people to begin the Marvelous Work with.

Apparently, Elder Joseph Smith warned the Gentiles of the restoration 21 years ago that they had a small window of opportunity to step through in which to accept the first invitation and unify and build up the kingdom of God. This is his claim:

Some​ ​of​ ​you​ ​who​ ​don’t​ ​know​ ​me​ ​too​ ​well,​ ​I’ve​ ​worked​ ​for​ ​21 years​ ​to​ ​bring​ ​the​ ​saints​ ​together.​ ​I​ ​started​ ​with​ ​the​ ​Waldo​ ​Sermon.​ ​21​ ​years​ ​ago​ ​wherein​ ​the Lord​ ​told​ ​them​ ​they​ ​had​ ​a​ ​window​ ​of​ ​opportunity​ ​to​ ​step​ ​through,​ ​lay​ ​aside​ ​their​ ​differences,​ ​find common​ ​ground,​ ​and​ ​begin​ ​to​ ​build​ ​up​ ​the​ ​kingdom​ ​of​ ​God.​ ​​ ​And​ ​for​ ​the​ ​most​ ​part,​ ​it​ ​went​ ​in one​ ​ear​ ​and​ ​out​ ​the​ ​other.​ ​And​ ​this​ ​is​ ​what​ ​he​ ​[Moroni​ ​or​ ​Mauricio]​ ​is​ ​referring​ ​to

Since we gentiles failed to respond to that first invitation, a second invitation is now being offered through a foreign people in a foreign land. At least, that is the narrative being offered.

According to the testimony of Mauricio, the marvelous work will now begin in Brazil, then fill all of Latin America and then central America and then at last, it will arrive once again in North America:

But​ ​there​ ​is​ ​no​ ​way​ ​to​ ​get​ ​​ ​your​ ​people​ ​back​ ​together​ ​in​ ​one​ ​flock​ ​in​ ​your​ ​country .​ ​For​ ​their​ ​is​ ​much​ ​strife​..​ ​​among​ ​the​ ​Latter-day​ ​Saints​ ​in regard​ ​to​ ​the​ ​other​ ​churches​ ​which​ ​in​ ​one​ ​have​ ​been​ ​divided​ ​into​ ​many.​ ​

But​ ​God​ ​will​ ​do it​ ​from​ ​Brazil​ ​until​ ​it​ ​fills​ ​all​ ​Latin​ ​America,​ ​Central,​ ​and​ ​finally​ ​to​ ​arrive​ ​again​ ​in​ ​the​ ​lands of​ ​the​ ​north​ ​where​ ​the​ ​people​ ​of​ ​the​ ​covenant​ ​is​ ​counted​ ​as​ ​being​ ​a​ ​great​ ​multitude.. (Statement made on Bob Moore’s Facebook page by Mauricio Berger)

Once again, to summarize the prophetic scenario being presented by Joseph, Bob, and Mauricio, the first invitation was extended through the prophet Joseph Smith Jr. and rejected by the saints of the LDS restoration.

Disgusted with us Gentiles, God has now chosen another people to extend the second invitation through. A more humble and teachable people located in Brazil is now being used to initiate the Lord’s work.

The marvelous work and a wonder will now proceed to fill the whole earth beginning in Brazil.

But wait a minute.

I see a huge problem with this storyline

It seems to me that the foundational scripture being used to synthesize and characterize the prophetic narrative being offered has been greatly misinterpreted.

Let’s securitize the scriptural premise that this story is predicated on.

Lets review once again the passage found in Matt 22 and get a little context.

The following passage and associated parable only shows up in one of the gospels.

Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.

The parable is well known.

Few people disagree with the general interpretation.

You will recall that Jesus was addressing the wicked Jewish Chief Priests and Pharisees.

He was speaking to them in parable.

The parable revealed that there was going to be a great wedding feast and that just two invitations would be extended.

The parable informs us that the first invitation will be rejected. The second will be accepted.

The Jews Rejected the Invitation, The Gentiles will Accept it

The parable reveals that the first invitation was given to the JEWS (Remnants from the ancient Kingdom of Judah)

They collectively rejected it by rejecting Christ.

After they rejected it, the invitation was extended to the Gentiles (the scattered remnants of the ancient Kingdom of Israel)

THE PARABLE INFORMS US THAT THE GENTILES  WILL CONTAIN BOTH GOOD AND EVIL,

So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests

NEVERTHELESS, THEY WILL ACCEPT THE INVITATION TO ATTEND THE FEAST!

That’s right, according to God’s holy and infallible word in parable and other supporting scripture, the Jews collectively rejected the first invitation and the Gentiles and a few other stragglers will ultimately accept the second invitation.

That is the simple and unmistakable message given in the parable.

Perhaps one of the most notable confirmations and summations of what the parable meant, was revealed by Paul and Barnabas in their response to the envious Jews when they saw the gospel invitation being extended to the Gentiles:

45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.

46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

47 For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.

48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

It would appear that the “invitation to the wedding” refers to the “word of God” that contained the good news of the gospel covenant and a literal gathering.

Paul informs us that the first invitation to the Jews was rejected. It was followed by an invitation to the Gentiles. The Book of Mormon reiterates that Gentiles that repent are the covenant people of the Lord and Jews who do not ultimately repent will be cast off-

“For behold, I say unto you that as many of the Gentiles as will repent are the covenant people of the Lord; and as many of the Jews as will not repent shall be cast off; for the Lord covenanteth with none save it be with them that repent and believe in his Son, who is the Holy One of Israel” (2 Ne. 30:2).

As you can see, Elder Moore’s use of the parable in Matthew 22 to support his “second invitation” storyline is extremely problematic.

He is superimposing a false interpretation upon the prophetic parable.

Joseph Smith Jr.’s ministry and the LDS restoration movement that began in about 1830 did not represent the first invitation that is mentioned in the parable.

I believe it actually represents an extension of the second invitation to the New Testament Gentiles that was extended through the New Testament apostles.

The Jews Rejected the Covenant- The Gentiles Accept it

Joseph Smith Jr. revealed that the difference between the first invitation to the Jews and the second invitation to the Gentiles is that the Jews of the New Testament collectively never entered into covenant. Conversely, the Gentiles of the New Testament did!

This  covenant has never been established with the house of Israel nor with th[e] house of Judah for it requires two parties to make a covenant and those  two parties must be agreed or no covenant can be made.

Christ in the  days of his flesh proposed to make a covenant with them but they rejected  him and his proposals and in consequence thereof they were broken off  and no covenant was made with them at that time but their unbelief  has not rendered the promise of God of none effect..

Thus after this chosen family had rejected Christ  and his proposals the heralds of salvation said to them. “lo  I we turn <un>to the gentiles,” and the gentiles received the covenant and  were grafted in from whence the chosen family were broken off (Saxton Letter)

The Gentiles Stumble

It is fascinating to realize that even though there were some individual Gentile saints of the New Testament Church that were “ordained to eternal life“, the scriptures inform us that collectively, the Gentile church during New Testament times, as well as the restored Gentile church in 1830, would temporarily stumble and fall into apostasy. (1 Nephi 13:29,34 2 Nephi 26:20)

Even though the scriptures inform us that the Gentiles will stumble, they also inform us that towards the end of the “days of the Gentiles“, the “times of the Gentiles” will be ushered in again and they will repent.

And when the times of the Gentiles is come in, a light shall break forth among them that sit in darkness, and it shall be the fulness of my gospel; (D&C 45: 28)

The believing Gentiles will become clean and sanctified in the Lord:

For the Lord said unto me: They [the ancient records] shall not go forth unto the Gentiles until the day that they shall repent of their iniquity, and become clean before the Lord.

And in that day that they shall exercise faith in me, saith the Lord, even as the brother of Jared did, that they may become sanctified in me, then will I manifest unto them the things which the brother of Jared saw, even to the unfolding unto them all my revelations, saith Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of the heavens and of the earth, and all things that in them are. (Ether 4:6-7)

[thankfully, a great mystery is revealed in both the New Testament and the Book of Mormon informing us that in the latter days, the Jews that begin to repent shall be gathered in.

“And the day that he shall set his hand again the second time to recover his people, is the day, yea, even the last time, that the servants of the Lord shall go forth in his power, to nourish and prune his vineyard” (see Romans 11:25-27 & Jacob 4-6)]

The purpose of this blog post is to show what the scriptures tell us about the gentiles so that we can see that the claims of Mauricio are NOT congruent with God’s holy word.

“The Last Days” = “The Days of the Gentiles”

The Book of Mormon reveals that the term “last days” is synonymous with the term “days of the Gentiles” (not to be confused with the term “times of the Gentiles“)

1 But, behold, in the last days, or in the days of the Gentiles—yea, behold all the nations of the Gentiles and also the Jews, both those who shall come upon this land and those who shall be upon other lands, yea, even upon all the lands of the earth, behold, they will be drunken with iniquity and all manner of abominations— 2 Nephi 27:1

The New Testament Apostles Announced the Beginning of the “Last Days”

Following the resurrection of Christ the New Testament Apostles were given the commission to take the gospel to the gentiles. At this time, both Paul and Peter made statements declaring that they had entered into the “last days“, or “last times“.

1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Hebrews 1:1-2

 

19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Peter 1:19-20

Some people erroneously assume that the “last days” did not begin until some time after the dark ages ended. For this reason they are critical of those declarations by Paul and Peter, assuming that they were mistaken.

The truth is that Christ’s apostles knew exactly what they were talking about and were speaking under the influence of the Spirit.

The “last days“, “last times” and “days of the Gentiles” began at the time of the resurrection of Christ when the Gospel was taken to the Gentiles and the invitation to the Gentiles continues in waves, until the restitution of all things.

It was directly AFTER the Jewish nation rejected the first invitation and crucified Christ,  that the messianic era began and the second invitation was extended to the Gentiles.

According to Jewish tradition the probationary period of this earth was to last for 6,000 years divided into three increments. Each increment has a two thousand year duration.

Here are two translations from the Talmud:

‘It was taught in the school of Elijah: The world will endure 6000 years — 2,000 years in chaos, 2,000 years with Torah, and 2,000 years will be the days of the Messiah’ (‘Talmud,’ Sanh.97a).

The Tanna debe Eliyyahu teaches: The world is to exist six thousand years. In the first two thousand there was desolation;  two thousand years the Torah flourished; and the next two thousand years is the Messianic era (Babylonian Talmud: Sanhedrin 97a).

The prophet Hosea appears to agree with the three, two thousand year increments.

He refers to these 2,000 year increments as “days“, giving descriptives to identify what takes place in the first and third days-

I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early.

Come, and let us return unto the Lord: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.

After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.

Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth. Hosea 5:15, 6:1-4

According to Hosea, during the first “day“, his people were “torn”.

Eventually the kingdom of Israel was created from the posterity of Jacob (Israel) (The second Kingdom of Israel would eventually mingle among the Gentiles, and the Kingdom of Judah, who would become known as the Jews)

Both Tribal demographics go into apostasy.

The promise is that the two divided kingdoms led by Ephraim and Judah would one day acknowledge their offence and seek the face of the Lord.

Hosea notes that AFTER the first two “days” God would revive them.

It would be in the beginning of the third “day” that the second invitation was to initially be sent forth to the Gentiles and other remnants of Israel by the New Testament Apostles.

In the third “day” those that accept the covenant will be revived and “raised up” to live in his sight..

As you can see, the first two days (four thousand years) came to an end when the Jews collectively rejected the Gospel invitation and crucified Christ.

Following the resurrection of Christ, the second invitation was extended to the Gentiles. Peter and Paul fully understood this and that is why they accurately declared that they were living in the “last days” and the “last times“.

Three Separate and Distinct Waves of the Second Invitation

Up to this point, we have used ancient scripture to document that the “last days” and the “Days of the Gentiles” began directly after Christ’s resurrection when the New Testament apostles began extending the second invitation to the Gentiles. The “day” of the Gentiles lasts for two thousand years and culminates in the raising up of the elect.

Frankly, many Christian prophecy scholars are familiar with the fact that the last days and last times did in fact begin with the invitation to the Gentiles in the New Testament times.

But they don’t know the details of what takes place during the last two thousand years which is referred as the “last days” and the “last times“.

They are unfamiliar with the doctrine of the three watches. This is because they don’t have the Book of Mormon and the revelations that came through the instrumentality of the prophet Joseph Smith.

Modern Revelation Reveals the Secrets

The great secret of how the second invitation goes forth to the Gentiles three different an distinct times, can only be fully understood by those that accept the revelations that were brought forth by the Prophet Joseph Smith.

To me, it is a red flag that Elder Smith, Seventy Moore, and Mauricio Berger, do not quote from modern revelation very much if at all.

If they had treasured up the remarkable secrets revealed in modern revelation, they would not have been so deceived.

The following declarations by God regarding the prophetic content in the revelations he gave to Joseph Smith are as follows:

The voice of warning shall be unto all people, by the mouths of my disciples, whom I have chosen in these last days. And they shall go forth and none shall stay them, for I the Lord have commanded them.

Behold this is my authority, and the authority of my servants and my preface unto the book of my commandments, which I have given them to publish unto you, O inhabitants of the earth.

Wherefore, fear and tremble, O ye people, for what I the Lord have decreed in them (Joseph and his Brethren that published the revelations) shall be fulfilled…

Search these commandments, for they are true and faithful, and the prophecies and promises which are in them shall all be fulfilled…

..What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.

For behold, and lo, the Lord is God, and the Spirit beareth record, and the record is true, and the truth abideth forever and ever. Amen. (D&C 1:3-7,37-39)

Elder Smith, Seventy Moore, and Mauricio Berger apparently do not believe in the “prophesies and promises” contained in the Doctrine and Covenants. It appears that they either don’t believe it, or they don’t take it seriously and literally.

The above passages are declaring that the founding fathers of the restored church that received and published the revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants, will be the ones to return and gather God’s elect during the Marvelous Work and a Wonder.

Only those who have the faith to take the revelations that were received through Joseph Smith, seriously and literally are blessed with the ability to understand generally how things will unfold during the “last days” which are the “days of the Gentiles“.

Much of what we have covered in this blog during the last nine years (and in the book), has used the revelations received through Joseph Smith to establish the fact that the second invitation to the gentiles goes forth in three different and distinct waves of missionary work.

The first wave of the second invitation to the Gentiles began with the New Testament apostles.

Following the apostasy of the New Testament Gentile Church, Joseph Smith once again restored the church and extended the second invitation to the Gentiles of his day.

After the fullness was rejected by the latter day saints, Joseph Smith announced that something new must be done for the salvation of church and the apostles of the LDS restoration began an interim missionary work that was to last for a little season of learning and chastisement. We are still living during this little season.

During this time the KNOWLEDGE of the fullness gospel has been taken to the House of Israel.

According to Joseph Smith, remnants from the “dispersed of Judah” and the “outcasts of Israel”  began flowing into Nauvoo and eventually to Utah under the direction of Brigham Young and the quorum of the Twelve, while many if not most of the gentile saints of the Kirtland era chose to not follow Brigham Young and his brethren.

Because of this, there is a distinct difference between the tribal demographic of the Utah Saints and the branches of the restoration the came from the RLDS tradition.

The third and final wave of the second invitation is about to begin, as illustrated below-

The yellow part of the graphic represents the two thousand year “day of the Gentiles”.

Clearly, the prophetic narrative being promoted by Smith, Moore and Mauricio is not congruent with the prophetic storyline contained in God’s holy word.

In future blog posts I will touch on some additional scriptural and prophetic problems with the claims that have been made by Mauricio Berger.

The Lord has promised that the records will come forth from the Gentiles to the rest of the world.

They will be translated by the Gentile Seer who has been given the proper keys and commission to do so.

The Marvelous Work and a Wonder will begin here in North America, currently the land of the Abrahamic Covenant .

I have previously provided 16 separate and distinct revelations pertaining to Joseph Smith Jr.’s commission to return to the earth and usher in the dispensation of the fullness of times. Our brethren of the restoration would do well to review them and do some soul searching about what they believe.

I invite Elder Smith, Seventy Moore, and Mauricio Berger to enter into a public dialogue with me to defend their claims and respond to the additional challenges that I will be providing to their claims.

 

Keep Watching

 

Weighed in the Balance: The Claims of Mauricio Berger- Part Two

You Heard About it First From the Watcher.. LOL

I first published a blog titled “Did the Marvelous Work Begin on April 6th 2007?” informing my readers about this event on October 31st.

On November 1st I published a follow up post on the topic because of the amount of interest the first blog gendered. In it I invited my readership to share their feelings and opinions about the testimonies of Elder Smith and Seventy Moore, promising to publish them on a future post.

On November 4th I published a post titled “Weighed in the Balance: The Claims of Mauricio” In it I briefly summarized  some of the views of the leaders of the movement  and catalogued the comments that had been sent in from my readers up to that point in time.

In this post, I am providing virtually all of the comments made by all of the respondents.

I typically get about a 10% response from readers when I ask for feedback on something. This exercise was not different. Out of about 200 subscribers, I have 22 respondents.

I want to thank everyone who took the time to respond.

In the final post of this series I will share my own opinion About the claims of Mauricio Berger with scriptures to support it.

Hopefully this will be an Exercise in Sobriety

One of the things that all of the commenters have in common is belief in LDS restoration movement and the coming forth of his Marvelous Work. We have all been anxiously waiting and watching for the events of the Lord’s coming as we have been admonished to do in scripture.

While it is a good thing to be waiting and watching, as the scriptures admonish us to be, the yearning inside for an anxiously anticipated event to happen can sometimes affect our judgment. That is something we need to be cautious about.

Another thing to be cautious about is if we have an expectation of how we think things will play out that is set in stone, we may be overly critical of a work that the Lord is overseeing. Just because we are familiar with the prophecies, does not mean that we understand them fully.

Realizing that most of the responders have been studying and pondering the scriptures and the history of the church for many years and have an above average understanding of the Marvelous Work that they have been anticipating, it should by sobering to all of us to see that there is no consensus as to whether these claims are true or not.

The vast majority of the responders, regardless of whether they have represented themselves as skeptics or believers, are still pondering and searching and have not reached a final decision on this matter.

I believe there is much we can all learn from this exercise.

Keeping My Ear to the Ground

You may have wondered how in the world I found out about a somewhat obscure meeting held in Independence MO within just hours of it being held.

Particularly when I was not even familiar with the RLDS faction that it took place among.

I have some dear friends that live in Missouri who have been patiently watching and waiting for the Marvelous Work to began nearly as long as we have. They somehow heard about the meeting and attended the evening session wherein the testimony of Seventy Bob Moore was given.

The wife of this couple is the one that contacted me by email. She is listed as respondent #1 in the listing of opinions that I will be providing in this post.

Interestingly, even though she initially seemed somewhat excited and hopeful, after pondering things over through the lens of modern revelation, she has since rejected the viability of Mauricio’s claims. Nevertheless, to my surprise, the larger portion of respondents from my blog readers seem to be embracing the claims as being true.

The Testimony is Going Viral

Prior to Elder Smith giving this testimony, the average number of views on the video channel of the Zarahemla Branch fluctuated between 30 and 60, with about 60 official followers. Nearly two weeks later, there have been over about 8,000 views!

Even though news of the testimony is going viral, acceptance of it among the differing factions of the RLDS branches seems to be struggling to gain any serious traction thus far from what I can gather. This is not surprising given the enmity that has existed because of differing interpretations on doctrine.

Besides, familiarity breads contempt.

I would guess that the percentage of believers among my readers is significantly higher than the percentage of believers among the RLDS factions in Missouri.

An Attempt to Not Prejudice You

By the time I got through listening to the testimonies of Elder Joseph Smith and Seventy Bob Moore, I had formulated a very strong opinion about the prophetic viability of the narrative they shared.

I began preparing a post to inform my readers about this most interesting and timely current event and share my opinion about the claims being made. However, that little voice inside my head told me to hold back my opinion and allow my readers to listen to the testimonies, evaluate them, and openly share their opinions BEFORE I present my conclusions.

This is what I have tried to do, even though my views should be obvious to my long time readers.

The Results are In

“Produce your cause, saith the Lord; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob.” Isaiah 41:21 

 “Wherefore, let them bring forth their strong reasons against the Lord.” D&C 78:8

As promised, I am now going to share the results of the survey I took regarding what I am going to call, for lack of a better term “The Claims of Mauricio Berger“.

This is going to be a long post because I am sharing the feedback of 22 people.

Although some of their remarks are short and to the point, some of their comments are long, involving multiple email exchanges.

Some of the emails will not make total sense because they are referencing some of my email responses to them which I do not want to post, for purposes of trying to save my own opinions and reasoning for the final post.

Realizing that some of my readers are not invested in this event enough to labor through all of the comments, I am going to first provide a chart that places the opinions of each respondent in one of three categories.

In the chart below I have assigned a number to each commenter to provide anonymity and to show the order in which the comments came in.

In the chart, the M and F refer to the gender of the commenter.

The asterisk represents those who seemed to change their opinion or fluctuate widely in their opinion.

The word “Correspondence” identifies those that have personally made contact with Elder Smith, or Seventy Moore, or one of the leaders of the Zarahemla Branch. I suspect that some of my commenters have offered financial assistance while others that speak the language have offered to go to Brazil as interpreters.

It would not surprise me at all if one or two of my readers were to become one of the additional six witnesses that are to be called to visit Brazil and meet Mauricio and see the plates.

Obviously, the “not sure but hopeful” category covers a very broad spectrum.

At one end of the spectrum are those that mostly believe but are still processing the information and waiting for additional information and confirmation before they fully commit as a believer.

At the other end of the spectrum there are those that are very skeptical but cannot bring themselves to completely deny it.

I want to apologize in advance for any mistakes and misrepresentation I may have made in cataloguing your comments.

I have tried to remove all names to provide anonymity and have taken the liberty of editing some of the emails when sensitive information was involved.

Group Decision Making

I am providing this feedback from respondents because I think it is informative and might be helpful to those who are trying to sort all of this out.

Some of the responders shared opinions that seemed to be based solely on  “feelings” they got when they shared their testimonies, others backed up their opinions with scripture.

Years ago, Mrs Watcher shared an experience that she had trying to discern the truthfulness of something without studying it out first in God’s holy word. The experience was quite frightening and sobering. If you have not read her story, I would encourage you to do so.

“I will tell you in your mind and in your heart”

As you can see from the chart above, a clear consensus has not been reached nor would it make any difference if one had been made. The ability to discern the Lord’s work should never be left up to others. We must all stand or fall on our own ability top receive personal revelation. Discerning the truth for an individual has never been a democratic process

Democracy is not how revelation works.

I took a course on “group decision making” during the short time I was in college and it was fascinating to see the dynamic and associated challenges of trying to reach a group consensus. Just ask the Snufferites who are experiencing the frustrating challenge of making group decisions.

During the LDS restoration, the process ordained by God was for the Lord to give council and instructions through his designated prophet. Once the revelation was received and made public, the primary purpose of the vote of common consent, in my opinion,  was-

1) to provide a checks and balances method of identifying a false revelation, and

2) to bind the saints and make them accountable once they raised their hands in support of the revelation and any counsel and instructions contained therein.

The Sincerity and honesty of Elder Smith
and Seventy Moore has not been Challenged

It is interesting that most of the respondents believe that Smith and Moore are sincere and honest people who truly believe what they are saying. It is generally believed that the trip did take place, Mauricio does exist, and the artifacts in question were seen and held.

 

Respondant #1

Just a quick note to share a link with you guys. 
av.zarahemlabranch.org/w/josephbrazil

This is a link to two meetings held at the Zarahemla Branch Church in Independence, MO Sunday October, 29, 2017.

We were notified of the evening meeting late in the afternoon and made the trip to Independence to hear the details of a report of Joseph Smith, a descendant of Joseph Smith, Jr. and Bob Moore, of their recent trip to Brazil.
A report that entails a visit from the angel Moroni, the Gold Plates, the Interpreters and the sword of Laban.

Thought you would find this an interesting listen.  We haven’t listened to the morning meeting yet but it is in our plans when Steven finishes the  cold frames in the Greenhouse as it will be very cold tonight.

We love you guys and pray that God is watching over you and your family while you are watching and waiting for the Third Watch Marvelous Work!

Your fellow watchers & waiters

Follow up email

I have been giving a great deal of thought and made it a matter of prayer, about this new information that has been delivered by Joseph Smith & Bob Moore..  I applaud the humility & sincerity of Joseph Smith & brother Bob Moore in witnessing what they experienced in Brazil and what they have been instructed to do. 

However, the Spirit has previously witnessed to me through the scriptures that Joseph Smith, Jr. holds the keys of the kingdom, and a dispensation of the gospel for the last times; and for the fullness of times.(D& C 27:13)

13 Unto whom I have committed the keys of my kingdom, and a dispensation of the gospel for the last times; and for the fulness of times, in the which I will gather together in one all things, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth;

And in D& C 90:2 (speaking to Joseph Smith, Jr.)

2 Therefore, thou art blessed from henceforth that bear the keys of the kingdom given unto you; which kingdom is coming forth for the last time.  3 Verily I say unto you, the keys of this kingdom shall never be taken from you, while thou art in the world, neither in the world to come;

Also in JST Genesis 50: 7-33 The lord speaks of a choice seer, in the last days,  that will be raised up who shall be like unto Moses. who will bring forth the word and then secondly to convince them of the word which shall have already gone forth among them.. 

vs. 30.  And again, a seer will I raise up out of the fruit of thy loins, and unto him will I give power to bring forth my word unto the seed of thy loins; and not to the bringing forth of my word only, saith the Lord, but to the convincing them of my word, which shall have already gone forth among them in the last days; 

31 Wherefore the fruit of thy loins shall write, and the fruit of the loins of Judah shall write; and that which shall be written by the fruit of thy loins, and also that which shall be written by the fruit of the loins of Judah, shall grow together unto the confounding of false doctrines, and laying down of contentions, and establishing peace among the fruit of thy loins, and bringing them to a knowledge of their fathers in the latter days; and also to the knowledge of my covenants, saith the Lord.

32 And out of weakness shall he be made strong, in that day when my work shall go forth among all my people, which shall restore them, who are of the house of Israel, in the last days.

33 And that seer will I bless, and they that seek to destroy him shall be confounded; for this promise I give unto you; for I will remember you from generation to generation; and his name shall be called Joseph, and it shall be after the name of his father; and he shall be like unto you; for the thing which the Lord shall bring forth by his hand shall bring my people unto salvation.

D& C 101: 43-61  Sets forth the parable of the vineyard, where in The Lord’s Servant is given specific instructions concerning the redemption of Zion. 

43. And now, I will show unto you a parable, that you may know my will concerning the redemption of Zion. 

44. A certain nobleman had a spot of land, very choice; and he said unto his servants:   Go ye unto my vineyard, even upon this very choice piece of land….

55. And the lord of the vineyard said unto one of his servants:  Go and gather together the residue of my servants…5

6.  And go ye straightway unto the land of my vineyard, and redeem my vineyard; …

61 And this shall be my seal and blessing upon you…a faithful and wise steward in the midst of mine house, a ruler in my kingdom…and after many days all things were fulfilled.

In D& C 103:  Joseph Smith, Jr. is identified by the Lord as the servant of the vineyard in the previous parable. 

13…your redemption, and the redemption of your brethren, even their restoration to the land of Zion, to be established, no more to be thrown down…

14.  Behold I say unto you, the redemption of Zion must needs come by power; 

16.  Therefore, I will raise up unto my people a man, who shall lead them like as Moses led the children of Israel. 

17.  For ye are the children of Isarel, and of the seed of Abraham, and ye must needs be led out of bondage by power, and with a stretched out arm. 

18. And as your fathers were led at the first, even so shall the redemption of Zion be. 

21.  Verily, verily I say unto you, that my servant Joseph Smith, Jun. is the man to whom I likened the servant to whom the Lord of the vineyard spake in the parable which I have given unto you.

In addition to these scriptures in D& C 29 (which was given to Joseph Smith, Jr. and six elders)  They were given the charge to gather the elect. 

7. and ye are called to bring to pass the gathering of mine, elect; for mine elect hear my voice and harden not their hearts;

8 Wherefore the decree hath gone forth from the Father that they shall be gathered in unto one place upon the face of this land, to prepare their hearts and be prepared in all thins against the day when tribulation and desolation are sent forth upon the wicked.  ….

10.  For the hour is nigh, and that which was spoken by mine apostles must be fulfilled; for as they spoke so shall it come to pass;

For some people this may all seem a mute point since Joseph Smith, Jr. was killed on June 27,1844.  But, the spirit has witnessed to me that Joseph Smith, Jr. will be raised up to complete the work that God has given him to do. 

He laid the foundation of the gospel, translated the Book of Mormon, brought forth many revelations from the Lord, identified where Zion would be built and revealed what would be required to establish Zion. 

We read of angels coming to visit the earth to assist with the marvelous work in the last days.  I believe that Joseph Smith, Jr. will be one of the chief among them.  (See D& C 103:11-21) 

11 But verily I say unto you, I have decreed that your brethren which have been scattered shall return to the lands of their inheritances, and shall build up the waste places of Zion. 

12 For after much tribulation, as I have said unto you in a former commandment, cometh the blessing.  

13 Behold, this is the blessing which I have promised after your tribulations, and the tribulations of your brethren—your redemption, and the redemption of your brethren, even their restoration to the land of Zion, to be established, no more to be thrown down.  

14 Nevertheless, if they pollute their inheritances they shall be thrown down; for I will not spare them if they pollute their inheritances.  

15 Behold, I say unto you, the redemption of Zion must needs come by power; 

16 Therefore, I will raise up unto my people a man, who shall lead them like as Moses led the children of Israel. 

17 For ye are the children of Israel, and of the seed of Abraham, and ye must needs be led out of bondage by power, and with a stretched-out arm. 

18 And as your fathers were led at the first, even so shall the redemption of Zion be.  

19 Therefore, let not your hearts faint, for I say not unto you as I said unto your fathers: Mine angel shall go up before you, but not my presence.

20 But I say unto you: Mine angels shall go up before you, and also my presence, and in time ye shall possess the goodly land.  

21 Verily, verily I say unto you, that my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., is the man to whom I likened the servant to whom the Lord of the vineyard spake in the parable which I have given unto you.

So, I am looking for the return of the early saints as well as the return of Joseph Smith, Jr. to be restored to their lands which were purchased in Jackson County Missouri.  For Joseph to lead the redemption of Zion by Power and a stretched out arm.

My heart yearns for Zion, to be established in the heartland of America, in the state of Missouri, as God has instructed.  I for one know that God did not make a mistake, he did not change his mind about Joseph Smith.  And all that God has promised will be fulfilled concerning Joseph Smith, Jr.  Even if that means raising him up from the grave!!!!

Therefore, I can not put my support behind Brother Joseph Smith, the descendant of Joseph Smith, Jr. in this work to bring forth the sealed portion of the Book of Mormon, in Brazil. 

I do agree wholeheartedly that we here in America have a great need to repent!  That there are many humble people throughout the world who are seeking to do the will of the Lord.  

All the true in heart will be gathered to Zion.   But, I also feel that Satan is working over time to thwart the work of God.  He is the great deceiver.   

I wish that all of this information coming forth about the angel Moroni, the plates, the interpreters, and the sword of Laban were true. 

So, much of it rings true because we are waiting for additional scripture to be revealed, and for the sealed portion of the Book of Mormon to be translated, and for the establishment of Zion. 

But, in order to support this work I would have to deny what the Holy Spirit has witnessed to me, concerning the prophet Joseph Smith, Jr. and the keys and work that has been given to him.

There is also the priesthood authority question that looms huge for me as well.  According to D&C 124:28  the Lord makes it clear that the Saints had lost the fullness of the priesthood. (by 1841)

28 For there is not a place found on earth that he may come to and restore again that which was lost unto you, or which he hath taken away, even the fulness of the priesthood.

In order for the Priesthood to be restored the Saints were given the charge to build the Nauvoo Temple and the Nauvoo House, within the time given them.  If they would do it, then their baptisms, washings & annointings would be acceptable to the Lord and they would not be moved out of their place.
 
29 For a baptismal font there is not upon the earth, that they, my saints, may be baptized for those who are dead— 

30 For this ordinance belongeth to my house, and cannot be acceptable to me, only in the days of your poverty, wherein ye are not able to build a house unto me.  

31 But I command you, all ye my saints, to build a house unto me; and I grant unto you a sufficient time to build a house unto me; and during this time your baptisms shall be acceptable unto me. 

32 But behold, at the end of this appointment your baptisms for your dead shall not be acceptable unto me; and if you do not these things at the end of the appointment ye shall be rejected as a church, with your dead, saith the Lord your God. 

33 For verily I say unto you, that after you have had sufficient time to build a house to me, wherein the ordinance of baptizing for the dead belongeth, and for which the same was instituted from before the foundation of the world, your baptisms for your dead cannot be acceptable unto me;  

34 For therein are the keys of the holy priesthood ordained, that you may receive honor and glory. 

35 And after this time, your baptisms for the dead, by those who are scattered abroad, are not acceptable unto me, saith the Lord. 

36 For it is ordained that in Zion, and in her stakes, and in Jerusalem, those places which I have appointed for refuge, shall be the places for your baptisms for your dead. 

37 And again, verily I say unto you, how shall your washings be acceptable unto me, except ye perform them in a house which you have built to my name?  

38 For, for this cause I commanded Moses that he should build a tabernacle, that they should bear it with them in the wilderness, and to build a house in the land of promise, that those ordinances might be revealed which had been hid from before the world was.      

45 And if my people will hearken unto my voice, and unto the voice of my servants whom I have appointed to lead my people, behold, verily I say unto you, they shall not be moved out of their place.

According to my understanding of these scriptures and of history.  They were moved out of their place, driven out of Nauvoo,  because they failed to live the Law of Consecration, build the temple & the Nauvoo House. 

The fulness of the Priesthood was not restored at that time and there has been no subsequent revelation of its restoration, . and the prophet, Joseph Smith, Jr. was taken out of their midst.  As was the case with the children of Israel when they failed to come into the presence of God and become His people. 

Moses was taken out of their midst, and they were left to wander in the wilderness until the unbelieving generation had all died off. 

Moses appeared to Joseph and restored priesthood keys to him, as recorded in the D&C:11 

11 After this vision closed, the heavens were again opened unto us; and Moses appeared before us, and committed unto us the keys of the gathering of Israel from the four parts of the earth, and the leading of the ten tribes from the land of the north.

So, I must continue to watch and wait for The Lord’s Servant of the Vineyard,  for the one Like unto Moses, the bearer of the keys of the kingdom, whose right it is to redeem Zion!

May God grant us all the righteous desires of our hearts and may he cover us all with the mantle of Charity that His Spirit can work on our hearts and minds and bring us to a state of one heartedness and one mindedness.  That we may all meet one day in Zion!

A humble, hopeful, follower of Christ!

Respondent #2 (Five Emails)

1st email

O my, Watcher, you received this on the day after the message was delivered? If so, that is astounding. Your watching is paying off!

I know of this group. Bob Moore is one I know because in the 1980’s my mother sent me dozens and maybe hundreds of teaching tapes about the restoration groups especially as we separated from the CoC.

Funny, but I’ve been investigating a possible move to the Independence Mo. area and to the Blue Springs city, where the Zarahemla Restoration branch is located.

I have listened to Joseph Smith’s presentation and am listening to the evening discussion now. This is stunning in the scope of the claim and the facts of seeing and handling the gold plates, the sealed portion, the interpreters and the sword of Laban.

But also, the representation that a portion of the sealed portion will be translated and sent to the Independence area for publication.

I had not heard anything about this, however I am aware of an effort to bring the restoration groups together under a leadership called the Pastors in Zion.

We must prayfully address these claims and I will be checking in with my local sources back there.

Thank you so very, very much for sharing this information.

2nd Email

Dear Watcher,

I have typed out a transcription of the email so we could refer to the specifics. Here is the best I could do. There are several ? in the text where I had difficulty making out the word.

I also interlineated the scriptures cited in the email.

Bro XXXX

======================

    I have a lot to say, Mr. Smith, but as I do not know how to speak and write in English, I hear that the Google translator will transcribe a phrase, otherwise causing confusion, that can be read by you. So I’ll briefly summarize the facts so you can keep tract of what happened to us and what we want with you.

        I do not understand all of your scriptures, your doctrines, but I will use the Bible and the text of your scriptures that appears in the site http://www.centerplace.org.

        It all started April 6, 2007. It was the eve of Easter. I had climbed a hill alone to pray to God in the desire to get some answers to my questions. During the trip I was lost in the woods closed? until sunset and night came and the darkness of the trees was larger than an enclosed room and, without a flashlight, I could not move from that place. Fear, at that time, took over my senses, making me feel like a dark force was overwhleming me. When a light appeared through the tees pushing away the fear that surrounded me soon a character involved in that light called me by name and said not to be afraid. He identified himself as an angel of God with the name of Raphael. Which years later I could see, in one of his writings, that he visited Joseph Smith Jr.. [This is from LDS DC 110:21b, this is the LDS DC in Portuguese which is the only one they have.]

        On this occassion, the angel Raphael made, with his hands, light to illuminate the whole forest so that I could reach the top of the hill where I received a visitation of another celestial being which I will not report here with this email but will leave for another occassion. [JS then said that later on he learned that this being was Moroni because at this time Moroni began to work with these people.]

        The being who was waiting for me at the top of the mountain, then prescribed, more than once, the text of Isaiah1 two through nine, so that it was etched in my memory. [Following is the text referred to.]

        1:2 Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth; for the Lord hath spoken; I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.

        1:3 The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib; but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.

        1:4 Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters; they have forsaken the Lord, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.

        1:5 Why should ye be stricken anymore? ye will revolt more and more; the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.

        1:6 From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores; they have not been closed; neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.

        1:7 Your country is desolate, your cities are burned with fire; your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers.

        1:8 And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city.

        1:9 Except the Lord of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah.

    He told me that he appeared to me because of my great faith and righteousness and that my prayer had touched the feelings of him who rules the whole universe. But he required me to return to that same place, no longer alone, but accompanied by three other men who would approach me for Bible study and that we should go back there once every year until ten years had passed. And so we did. Until we came to understand what God expects us to do.

        Your [JS] contact was revealed to us in this last time which was January 21st of this year, 2017. We were told on this occassion that we went up the hill, that the Lord was moving his Hand to restore Zion to its place determined by him in a place chosen to be the New Jerusalem in Missouri. He said that the churches which bear his name had strayed from their covenants making the arm of flesh their strength. He showed us that the remnant quoted by him to me the first time, in the words of Isaiah 1:9, to be the branches of the restoration. However, he affirmed that even among the branches of the Restoration, there were certain divergencies of opinions and that they are not altogether one of heart and mind. Therefore the Lord looks with appreciation to you, Mr. SmithJ and to your congregation for he has seen your labor and the intent of your heart.

        [JS said that he has worked for 21 years to bring the saints together beginning with the Waldo sermon wherein the Lord said that they had a window of opportunity to step through and to find common ground and to work together and begin to build up the Kingdom of God. For the most part the sermon went in one ear and out the other.]

        But there is no way to get your people back together in one flock in your country. For there is much strife and repugnent? among latter day saints in regard to the other churches which in one have been divided into many. But God will do it from Brazil until it fills all Latin America, Central, finally to arrive again in the lands of the North where the people of the covenant is accounted as being a great multitude. Rev. 7:9 [quoted below]

        7:9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;

        In relation of what the Lord requires of us with you is that a congregation directed by you here in Brazil be established and be in commune with other branches of the restoration because the Holy Spirit will operate by in our midst entering? increasing? in many chapels of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints for there are many people in that denomination that the Lord intends to seep for himself as he did in the past when the Nephites preached to the Lamanites. Our work therefore is therefore is similar to that of Alma who preached among the wicked people of King Noah converting his member to the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

        The Lord allowed the powers of darkness to take over the regency of the greatest church of the saints of today but he intends to seek his own chiefs from this spot so that the prophecy of Ia 60:22 will come.

        60:22 A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation; I the Lord will hasten it in my time.

    What we initially desire is the baptism of your hands or an authority sent to us from you for this purpose and to obtain the gift of the Holy Ghost in order to fulfill our ministry fully as promised to us by the heavenly beings.

        We are willing to separate our tithes from now on to achieve this goal which is not ours only, but of our Lord, Jesus Christ. We were told that you would be our leader as long as you lived. Amen

    [End of email]

(3rd email)

Dear Watcher,

I found another video which was a week, or less, before the sermon of Joseph F. Smith. Here is the link:

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/109178834

Bob Moore talks about the Brazil experience, but not in detail, choosing instead to say that Brother Smith is the primary witness and it was hoped that that testimony would be given within the coming week. (It was.)

Because I believe that this video may contain important information about the second invitation issue, I’m going to send the link now. However, I have uncovered prior efforts by Bob Moore and Joseph Smith relative to attempts to bring unity between some of the restoration break aways from the RLDS/CoC and the Temple lot faction. I’m going to cover that info in a different email.

(4th email)

Dear Watcher,

I have been out here in California since 1965 with relatively little face to face interaction with the saints struggling with the take over of the RLDS leadership and the changing of that body into the CoC which, I understand, has been accepted into the World Council of Churches.

Once thousands of saints fled the apostate RLDS/CoC, they tended to stay connected in their own groups and simply renamed their groups.

Along the way a number of local leaders tried to  find a way to unify the restoration branches and they began the JCRB, Joint Conference of Restoration Branches.

As best I can tell, Bob Moore was working with several churches, a Bickertenite branch, an LDS congregation, and the Temple Lot church where Joseph F. Smith is a member. I believe that Bob Moore tried very hard to get the JCRB to accept Joseph as a voting member of the conference. This caused some dissent and I don’t really know if Joseph was ever accepted for voting.

Nonetheless, it is clear that Moore and Smith developed a working relationship despite coming from very different organizations.

Here is some info found on an internet report:

JCRB Seventy Bob Moore

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/39711977

In Retrospect, Where Have We Been

Bob Moore, around 45 minutes into his presentation, reveals that there are ties with three organizations, Church of Christ Temple Lot (Joseph F. Smith and some others), Bickertonites preaching in JCRB congregations, and that Richard Kohn is working with Utah LDS.  Bob Moore is working with Joseph F. Smith with some Utah LDS and have a pending agreement to work in harmony with a congregation of LDS in a nearby area near Independence.  He says,

“We intend to do that”.

Question to Bob “Where is the LDS congregation?”

Bob, “I can’t identify that, I get people in trouble.”

It is apparent that Bob Moore is a stronger personality and that Joseph defers to Moore.

What is becoming clearer is that we simply don’t know enough about the communications from Brazil to either Smith or Moore. In his sermon, Smith referred to several emails between the BG and himself.

We know that in the second video, the Q&A, Moore gave an introduction in which he described what the two of them knew before they went to Brazil.

But we have no record of the ongoing emails. Did the BG tell Smith/Moore that they had the artifacts before they went down there? Frankly, it sounded to me like they did not know that in advance. But no one asked exactly when did you first know that they claimed to have the BOM plates, Laban’s sword and the interpreters?

Anyway, I just wanted to pass this on.

5th Email

Dear Watcher,

My wife, who is licensed as a marriage and family counselor, but who is not a member of any of organization deriving from the original JS, Jr. Church of Jesus Christ, watched both the sermon testimony of Joseph Smith and the Q&A evening service.

She said that she actually felt sorry for Joseph because it was apparent that he has a good heart, but that he could be manipulated. Should any of his story turn out to be false, it will likely cause Joseph serious physical problems.

The narrative story, when pieced together, presents some questions/problems for which we do not have sufficient information to resolve.

1.    Joseph’s testimony was that his first contact with the Brazilian Group came by way of an email from Mauricio. The email had to have been prepared subsequent to 1/21/17 because Mauricio’s email said that Joseph’s contact was given to them on that date. Presumably it was Moroni who gave the contact information to them. However, the email address was to a generic address, which was owned by Bob Moore.

Q:     Did Joseph have an individual email address on or before 1/21/17?

Q:    Who first received the email sent to the generic address?

Q:    Was the email read by someone, other than Joseph, before it was delivered to him?

Q:    Has the email from Mauricio been saved digitally or in printed form?

Q:    Was the reading by Joseph, on Sunday morning, a direct quoting of the email received at the generic email address?

2,    Also, concerning the ongoing emails between Smith, Moore and Mauricio. Smith referred to emails about ongoing questions from Mauricio.

Q:    Are these communications being conducted by emails?

Q:    Are these emails being collected and will they be made available for review?

Q:    Are other forms of communication being used?

Q:    Will all forms of communication be made available for review?

3.    The smashing of the interpreters. This was described in some detail especially as to the fragments which were saved. Personally, if I had artifacts given to me by an angel, I would NEVER smash any part of the gift. One does not have to look through the interpreters if one fears the result. But to destroy? I think not.

4.    The antipathy towards the LDS church was jarring, especially when the message of Joseph said how he has spent 21 years trying to build bridges and bring groups together. Related to this concern is the apparent belief that the RLDS (now restoration branches) is the “True” church with no seeming recognition that the entire original church was rejected and slipped into apostacy.

Reading JFS’s biography shows that his father left the RLDS in 1925 and joined up with the Temple Lot people. This is a significant date because it was in 1925 that the “Supreme Directional Control” doctrine of RLDS Pres. F. M. Smith, led to a major split off of RLDS membership.

5.    Many awake saints believe that we are in end times events and that the Marvelous Work and a Wonder is something we are looking for at any moment. But we must be alert to watch for any of Satan’s deceptive practices. Having the BOM gold plates, interpreters and sword of Laban surface in Brazil, Porto Alegra, rather than the Promised Land raises a “red flag.” This development will create even more division among believers who are and will be advised to gather to Zion. Now, there will be questions about gathering to South America, Brazil. So, was Mauricio deceived? His comrades?

6.    During the Q&A evening meeting, questions were asked about pictures of the artifacts. It was stated that Mauricio’s group took pictures of both Smith and Moore holding the Plates. Where are those pictures? If they were taken digitally, they are already “out there” and will likely surface at some point. Did Mauricio send emails with digital photos attached to Smith or Moore? If so, will they show the pictures?

7.    Additional witnesses also bear on the bona fides of this experience. We are told that there are to be additional witnesses to be named by the Lord. Who is the prophet who is to receive those names? It seemed that it is Joseph F. Smith, although I do not recall him expressly saying he is the one. Should not witnesses also be selected from LDS, CoC as well as Restoration Branches? Looks like a bit of a nightmare to handle the selection process without a Prophet.

8.    We are told that Mauricio’s group will handle the translation of the sealed portion, a least a part of it, but what happened to the promise to Oliver Cowdery that he would have a translator’s role in future revealing of hidden records?

9.    Why the angel Raphael? Not mentioned in the Bible, but referred to in LDS DC 110:21b. But, what about Joseph Smith, Jr., to whom the keys of the Kingdom, which was coming forth for the last time, were given to him and “. . . shall never be taken from . . .” him in this world and “neither in the world to come; . . ..” LDS DC 90:2-3 Is JS,Jr. simply out of the loop?

10,    What about the parable of the wheat and tares? The gathering of the wheat was to come by separating the tares and the wheat sheaves were to be gathered into the barns. Yet, this experience suggests that the Lord has given up on those in North America because they are hopeless. JFSmith read from Mauricio’s email:

“But there is no way to get your people back together in one flock in your country. For there is much strife and repugnent? among latter day saints in regard to the other churches which in one have been divided into many. But God will do it from Brazil until it fills all Latin America, Central, finally to arrive again in the lands of the North where the people of the covenant is accounted as being a great multitude. . . .”

Is this the way the Lord fulfills his parable? By simply abandoning the prior work? Is the Lord to ignore those who have awakened to their awful circumstances and are trying to understand what they are to do? Are we to understand that our efforts will not be needed until all of South and Central America is converted? This just does not seem right to me.

11.     What about the promises made to the First Laborers in the Lord’s vineyard? They only laid the foundation and their work was cut short of finalization. Were they not promised that yet their voices would be raised in warning to the great and notable cities of North America? If so, has the Lord decided now to leave these brethern on the sidelines and give the fulfillment of their efforts to others? There is no prophetic announcement of this so far as I can see.

There are many other points that could be raised, but without a lot more information and some prophetic explanations, I’m just not buying this story yet. So far we have been essentially told, “Trust us, we are telling you the truth.” But I trusted the leadership of the RLDS who then later joined the World Council of Churches, declared the BOM not historical and authoritative, took the name of Jesus Christ out of the Church name, de-emphasized Joseph Smith, Jr., and adopted open communion, same sex marriage, and other non-scriptural doctrines. Trust is a necessary, but not sufficient, basis for belief.

If Brothers Smith and Moore were seeking our assent to the truth of their report, much more is needed. How do we know that they even went to Brazil? How do we know they met with Mauricio and others? Where are the pictures of their meeting with the Brazilian Group, the baptisms, and other interactions? Where are the pictures of the angelic donated artifacts? Where is Mauricio’s explanation of why he smashed the interpreters? Was he admonished by Moroni for having done so? Where is the prophet of God to declare what God is doing especially in the context of promises made in the D&C?

It would be marvelous and wonderful if the second invitation is being made and that the Lord’s hand is moving to both execute judgment upon the wicked and to extend salvation to the more righteous. But so far we have only Joseph F. Smith’s statement that he is the man who has declared this to us. There is much yet to be learned.

Respondent #3

Watcher,

Thanks for sharing those videos.  If this is true, this is of supreme importance.

Kind of incredible, but not sure what to think. I always thought the restoration would happen here in America.

I’m studying 2 Ne. 3 to see how what he said Moroni said it should be interpreted works out or not.

Right now my mind is dark and can’t see it. I’m going to take another pass at it later.

One thing that did come to mind when Elder Joseph Smith was speaking of his priesthood being pure and handed down was D&C 86:10

10 Therefore your life and the priesthood have remained, and must needs remain through you and your lineage until the restoration of all things spoken by the mouths of all the holy prophets since the world began.

Feel free to share your thoughts on the matter.

2nd Email

This is what I received from them:

XXXX,

As I am sure you can imagine, there are some pretty significant demands on Brother Bob and Joseph’s time and that will probably continue for the near term. Joseph lives about three hours from Independence so he is not readily available “in person” in our area (Independence, MO) and Bob is leaving Friday for a couple of week mission trip to Sri Lanka.

We have been visiting some about holding a larger gathering in Independence similar to the one you perhaps viewed on UStream so that the testimonies can be shared to a larger group as well as offering an opportunity for more dialogue and discussion and perhaps even some worship. Right now, we only have the idea but no plans. I could, however, imagine that we might do something in early December. We’ll have to wait until Bob returns to discuss further and make the plans. I will hang on to your note and let you know.

Additionally, I think it will be important to have an online vehicle of some sort where up-to-date information can be shared. It will be too much to keep so many informed just through eMail. We have the ability to do that, I just need to get it rolling and am going to start that dialogue with a few this evening.

Brad Gault

3rd Email

Watcher,

I’ve read 2 Ne. 3 and JST Gen 50 and listened to the part where Bob is teaching what Moroni says about Elder Joseph Smith today being the spokesman and of the loins of Joseph Smith, Jr.

I can’t see it. I have a stupor of thought just writing about it.

Here’s the hand written account of my research.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/wcas1xxxtfdvidu/2%20Ne.%203.pdf?dl=0

I found some good gems while doing this research project.

Here’s one:

Bob Moore says that Moroni taught that 2 Ne. 3:11 speaks of Jospeh Smith III being the one referred to of convincing them of the word that had already gone forth with his contributions of the Inspired Version of the Bible and other commandments.

11 But a seer will I raise up out of the fruit of thy loins; and unto him will I give power to bring forth my word unto the seed of thy loins—and not to the bringing forth my word only, saith the Lord, but to the convincing them of my word, which shall have already gone forth among them.

Well in the Inspired Version of the Bible in Gen. 50:30 there’s an addition to that verse that changes things. I believe the addition is so significant that it can’t possibly be referring to JS3.

30 And again, a seer will I raise up out of the fruit of thy loins, and unto him will I give power to bring forth my word unto the seed of thy loins; and not to the bringing forth of my word only, saith the Lord, but to the convincing them of my word, which shall have already gone forth among them in the last days;

What you’ll find interesting in the JST Gen 50 account of the promises given to Joseph in Egypt is the fact that “latter days” and “last days” are used a total of four times. Two times each.

It appears to me that the term latter days when it is used has reference to the 2nd Watch or LDS Restpration Movement while the term last days has reference to the 3rd Watch or last time prior to Christ’s second coming in glory.

So for me it’s a stretch to say that 2 Ne 3:11 has reference to JS3 during the latter days segment of this prophesy when the scripture in JST Gen 50:30 says it takes place during the last days.

That’s just one of many inconsistencies that I found in the message delivered when compared against the Holy Word of God.

Can’t wait to see what you and others have written.

4th email

Thanks. [responding to one of my email responses]

I wanted to believe, but I can’t deny the revealed revelations.

I don’t know how people are going to survive all the coming deceptions when they want to discount the current revelations.

Looking at just the BoM it’s hard to see the deception, but when looked at in harmony with all revealed word, aka JST.

Also, why did it take Moroni 10 years!! That’s where I got lost the first time.

Anyway, thanks for sharing.

5th Email

Watcher,

https://secondinvitation.org/2017/11/04/a-word-from-joseph/

This is a link to their blog. I find it interesting that his way of combating any of the negative press that’s out there about his trip to Brazil is for them to leave it alone and see if it dies on its own and, he makes no mention of any of the artifacts that he personally handled while on his trip. He only defends the fact that he went there to give baptize and ordain.

I find that very suspect. Why he would not defend his testimony.

Respondent #4

Email #1

Watcher: Well…My initial instinct is to believe Elder Joseph Smith http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/109371953.

I will ask the lord for a confirmation straight away. Too many signs have already been given for me to ignore it. I am certain our mutual friend and brother (XXX  XXXXXXXX) knows him, and I would like XXXX to weigh in on the subject if he can.

Given your background, you probably have met him yourself. I trust you would not have shared the video with us unless you thought there is likely something there.

The order and manner of the roll up to Missouri sounds approximately right from teachers like XXXX XXXXXX and XXX XXXXXXXXXXX. The timing of dark things happening simultaneously in Washington sounds right. Even the Dream Mine sign of the wheat sounds right.

Having a descendant of Joseph Smith announce it sounds right to me. I dunno how much better timed this can be. God bless you in your work.  Your friend,  XXXXXX

 Email #2

I sent an email to joseph[at]reorganizedChurch.org

Elder Joseph: I listened to your testimony tonight. I believe you. I love you and the Lord. I am here in Utah if you need anything. There are 100s upon 100s of us prepared by the Lord to assist you. Herah for Israel.  XXXX  XXXX, Friend of XXXX  XXXXXXX.

Bob Moore sent the following to me (by mistake)

Joseph: I received this email from a person in Utah.  I know XXX XXXXXX.  He is involved in a group, many of whom are LDS members.  They believe that they need to obey parts of the Law of Moses.  XXXX invited me to join that group several years ago.  I told him that I choose to live by faith in Jesus Christ instead of obedience to a dead law of works.  I do not know if this person and the people to whom he refers are part of that group or not.  Let me know how this contact works out. Bob

Note: I don’t think Bob Moore understands Eskdale

XXX called cautioning me to hold my fire and to not jump off a cliff without a parachute. He told me he would provide 2 parachutes to make sure. I had a good laugh.

Hello: I have just now had an interesting chat with XXXX  XXXXXXX regarding Elder Joseph F Smith (former Hedrickite apostle). XXXX said he has a parachute for me and wants me not to jump just yet as he investigates on the ground. I sent an email the Elder Joseph F Smith and got a reply back from his spokesperson, Bob Moore.

This is a fascinating journey of discovery.

The sword of Laban. The interpreters. The sealed portion. It’s like a safari. For sure, my friend XXXX knows I have a tendency to jump first and ask questions later, so back to work and Babylon I go. BTW… My brother said I am like the “eye of mordor” ever looking and watching LOL, but I told him that honor goes to Watcher. To be frank, the more opposition I hear about Joseph F Smith, the more I like him.  Love from XXXX

I called my like-minded friends. Only one (a mutual friend) was very interested. The rest are waiting.

XXXX called again to say a tornado of activity at Independence was sweeping through the Restoration Branches stating mostly only the young people have accepted the testimony of JFS.

Brother Bob: It looks like your forward to Elder Joseph went to my email instead. Please forward my original inquiry to Joseph F Smith again if you don’t mind. BTW… I happened to chat with XXXX while he traveled from Eskdale back to Independence today. He said you and Joseph have caused quite a stir at Independence, and I certainly hope so. I admire your courage to just say what you saw and not equivocate about it. Other than my noising your testimony around, I have not heard any other account of it from anyone else in Utah yet. I will keep my ear to the ground. God Bless you, XXXX XXXXXX 

Note: This is a lot of fun, and I still want it to be true very much. When I heard the testimony, I considered it to be true. Some of your posts caution about asking folly questions to the Lord. Oliver Cowdery was warned to do more than just ask. I get it. I’m working on it.  Thanks for sending the link.

Email #2

 I replied to Bro Bob who sent me an apology for mis directing his forward to jsf.

I listened to your testimony tonight. I believe you. I love you and the Lord. I am here in Utah if you need anything. There are 100s upon 100s of us prepared by the Lord to assist you. Herah for Israel.

Friend of XXXX XXXXXXXXX.

Bob. Great, thank you so much! I know XXX and Fred Larsen and all the members of the House of Aaron at Eskdale utah, but I grew up LDS. No. I am not a member of the group spoken of but I have great love and admiration for them. Not for their great understanding of the Book of Mormon, but for a joyful  reason given me from the Spirit.

When I write of 100s upon 100s prepared, I am referencing a loose movement of LDS members being groomed to live in small communities of believers with the Lord only as shepard. I am a member of 6 such families which are meeting regularly.  We have our differences as I hear you do. We pattern ourselves after the Kirtland school of the prophets.

We are learning the refinement process of ascension to be in God’s presence. We are as Levites (my understanding) and will eventually become the sacifice before the Lord ourselves as found in Malachi.

It’s all about restoring the House of Israel in my opinion. I have told XXXX in the past; the Lord must have loved all you all first because he scattered you first.

I believe your message of unity because it makes sense. I sense you have gone through hell and back with what I am just now learning are “Restoration Branches.”

We dont have a scatter problem in LDS world. We have a a glue problem that wont let any idea in but our own. My sense is you and Joseph are opposites that way. There is much to learn for all of us who think we have it figured out and that’s why i am hopeful in what you are doing.

Show quoted text

Brother Bob:

It looks like your forward to Elder Joseph went to my email instead. Please forward my original inquiry to Joseph F Smith again if you don’t mind.

BTW… I happened to chat with XXX while he traveled from Eskdale back to Independence today. He said you and Joseph have caused quite a stir at Independence, and I certainly hope so. I admire your courage to just say what you saw and not equivocate about it. Other than my noising your testimony around, I have not heard any other account of it from anyone else in Utah yet. I will keep my ear to the ground.

God Bless you,

Email #3

Correct. Some of the rumors around the “Restoration Branches” is the “large sum of money” charge. Mauricio has NOT asked for money that I know about and neither has JFS. To produce a 60# set of plates would have taken $1,400,000 cash. Recently tungsten has been used to fake gold bars, which if applied here, is only $1,200 to to build a fake that would heft like gold and may be the origin of the schmutzy black grime???  LOL. More difficult would be filling 68 leaves with strange characters without any apparent origin.

Email #4

Watcher:

Tungsten comes in foil which means it is flexible:  https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Tungsten-foil-can-be-made-as_60569394424.html?spm=a2700.7724857.main07.30.4e0da080rGqdW1&s=p

And, of course, tungsten can be plated with gold: http://www.tungstenaffinity.com/Gold-Plated-Tungsten-Rings-s/306.htm

Unfortunately, seeing gold plates is not enough in this age to prove anything. It makes me sad.

Email #5

Correct. Some of the rumors around the “Restoration Branches” is the “large sum of money” charge. Mauricio has NOT asked for money that I know about and neither has JFS. To produce a 60# set of plates would have taken $1,400,000 cash. Recently tungsten has been used to fake gold bars, which if applied here, is only $1,200 to to build a fake that would heft like gold and may be the origin of the schmutzy black grime???  LOL. More difficult would be filling 68 leaves with strange characters without any apparent origin.

Email #6

Spanish chemists discovered the metal tungsten in the 1700s. Does that mean the Nephites could have been shown it? Maybe. But…Still bugging me is the baptisms by fire and the loving people. Deceivers don’t get those experiences. Can Joseph F Smith discern a deceiver?

Email #7

All that said….  Please put me down as a believer in what has been shared so far from the 2 videos. I only know one other person in my circles who agrees with me. All other oppose me. What a wonderful time to live!

Email #8

Watcher: Thanks for your post this morning. Your summary of positions wasn’t well understood by me, but you must be some kind of savant in ways.  I hope you are not offended.

BTW… It was instructive for me to read the Book of Ether again today. I’m sure you have already done so.

FYI Below with a newsy greeting from the ZB pastor

Hi XXXX

Brother Bob left Friday for a mission trip to Sri Lanka. (It was planned before he and Joseph went to Brazil.) He won’t return until Nov 18 but I expect that when he does that we’ll organize something here in the area in a larger venue so that more can attend.

We have quickly tossed together a web site to keep all up-to-date as these events unfold:

http://www.secondinvitation.org

When we get something scheduled, we’ll post a notice there.

We absolutely welcome inquires and interest from the LDS community.

Brad

Email #9

Dear Brad G.:

I have heard there isn’t much affinity between the Utah Church and Josephites especially from older members. I can easily pick up on the rancor regarding the “apostate” member of the Brazil group who joined the LDS and became a problem for Mauricio. In Utah we are so dang full of ourselves we hardly notice anyone else at present, so I can understand.

As a child we gossiped about RLDS and we spoke of some day returning on foot to Missouri, but as the years have passed, more and more temples have been built without a clear reason. As details of church history emerged since the 1980s (i.e. follies of polygamy and witholding priesthood from blacks) there were and are a few on the Left who are becoming atheists; those few on the Right have doubled down on Joseph Smith, the Book of Mormon and Lectures on Faith.

We (conservative seekers) mostly are looking to ascend into Christ’s presence as promised by Joseph and we cast off the remnants of not-for-this-telestial-world doctrines that Brigham probably got from Joseph but never understood them well. The whole nexus of polygamy and our temple rites came from Brother Brigham’s memory. The law of adoption itself was a tumble of misunderstandings and has resulted in our temple ordinances.

When Brigham saw Joseph in a dream (1847), the most important question he had was regarding what to do with adoption.  It was a mess with priesthood holders in Nauvoo striving to get the biggest spiritual family they could by being “sealed” to one another with the highest priesthood holder at the top of a pyramid. Joseph didn’t answer him directly but told Brigham to have us live by the Holy Ghost and we would be directed right.

We kept up our nutty behavior, but it has all evolved and devolved down to the mostly sanitized versions observed today. Sadly, somewhere along the trail, Second Comforter principles were obscured and forgotten even though the Doctrine of Christ is clearly taught in the Book of Mormon (2nd Nephi). I don’t see anyone in Missouri yet teaching it, but it will be again in my opinion. Both sides of the rockies kept part of the restoration in their own way, and it’s still alive! Moreover I know over 100 priesthood men in my circles who have studied in a School patterned after Kirtland. There are many more than 100.

It reminds me of the promises in Malachi about refining the priesthood of Levi and an offering being made before New Jerusalem. That offering is probably latter-day men and women repenting and purifying themselves and the priesthood for a restoration of God’s house. Our centrally controlled leadership do not like us studying and talking about it, and thus many have been disciplined including me (my temple recommend was cancelled).

I still go to church, but it’s like God has swept my mind clean of all traditions. Left are the doctrines given us by Joseph mostly before Kirtland. Therefore we have faith in one yet to come Mighty And Strong. We believe Adam-ondi-ahman was an event many of us saw in vision having taken place 23 Sept 2017. Therefore the story coming out of Brazil is perfectly timed and independently offset as another witness of its veracity.

We are all descendants of Joseph’s work. Does Joseph F Smith ever talk about including us in the mountains and across the world?

Brad’s response

Would very much agree that we need to be watchful. The Joseph Smith Ministries site was built quite a number of years ago. Brother Bob Moore built it and maintains it for Joseph. He publishes a monthly newsletter and you find the archive of those on the site. It was an outgrowth of powerful testimony that Joseph has that he had a calling to try to help unite the Restoration and its many portions. I linked the site because we are getting questions about who Joseph is and the site does give some background on him.

Brad

Email # 10

Watcher:

The man behind the curtain seems to be the JCRB http://conferenceofbranches.org/.  At least that is the suspicion of several (more than my initial contact). JCRB is a faction from a fraction as they say. Fred Larsen was hugely dissed by them at one time and the Zarahemla Branch was at the center; or so it seemed.

Bob Moore got his Seventy title from the JCRB which now has apostles and they seem to be angling toward getting a prophet. Will that goal now be derailed by JFS or will it be supported by him. That is the hanging chad question at Independence.

What I still like is the veracity of both JFS and Bob Moore. JFS kept saying “this is not about starting another church.” Seventy Moore kept saying “Joseph is the Lord’s spokesman.” If Seventy Moore has designs to conscript the hapless JFS it won’t work if this all is of God. If Bob is just another articulate apostle Paul, we have a winner. Maybe the JCRB and Remnant Church will unite to support JFS. That would be a good thing if it’s as true as I want it to be.

Email 11

Bob Moore has approved this message from him for circulation

XXXX

All of us who believe the latter-day message are also bound by the denominational traditions that separate us.  Everyone of those denominations failed at one point, so it makes little sense to defend any of them.

There is nothing to lose if one has already lost the favor of God.  There is everything to gain if a person loses the things of the world and gains God’s favor.  The titles of men and their accolades have no comparison to the sweet presence of the Holy Spirit.

Whenever the Spirit of God moves in power, it prepares people beforehand to receive it.  I am glad that there is a group that the Lord prepared in Utah.  I expect that there are others elsewhere.

Later this moth I will talk to Joseph about the wisdom of coming to Utah to meet the group of whom you speak.  I will also let you know the next time Joseph speaks publicly.

I want to elaborate on uniting the people without organizing them.  I mean by that statement that Joseph is not planning on creating a church organization that people join.  Everyone comes from the background that they are currently in.  The unifying ingredient is the testimony that the sealed portion is about to come forth and the Lord must have a unified people in the Land of Zion to received and publish its translation as well as build the Temple.

The spokesman for the translator is Joseph F. Smith.  He is the person to guide those who believe and seek unification.  That may mean that he receives revelation from God on necessary items to help that unification happen.  We are promised that the Lord will pour His righteousness on the believers who come together.  This is the real miracle, that when the Lord pours His righteousness on us, He will make us one.  The differences that keep us apart will evaporate and we will happily do what the Lord wills.

At some point organization must come, but it will be after the believers are unified.  If the Lord spoke through Joseph and revealed how to organize before there is unity, many people would refuse to come together.  Unity must proceed the revelation.

We cannot build the temple without organization.  I am a home builder.  You cannot have a bunch of people from different trades show up all at once and expect them to build something that stands.  There must be key people in charge and functioning.

When that organizing comes, Joseph will be the spokesman, but it will come through the means and consistent with the fashion that the Lord has already established.  No one will doubt it, but rejoice in how consistent and true to His word our Lord is.

May the Lord bless you and those with whom you associate as you better prepare for the glorious days ahead.  I look forward to our continued communications and especially the time that we meet.

Bob

Email #12

Watcher:

The Independence rumor mill is working overtime at the center place of Zion. I got the following text this afternoon: “will it make any difference to you if the seekers in Brazil are former LDS members … or … if Mauricio also contacted someone else in January? Developing!!”

Additional Misc emails

Some of the buzz out of Independence tonight is: 1) Why would the circle of unity extend to only a few “Restoration Branches,” 2) Why would Temple Lot Hedrikites be included at all, 3) why would there be bashing of others (including the ‘apostate’ LDS), 4) why was Joseph and Bob broad-sided without advance awareness of what he was getting into, 5) why doesn’t Mauricio accept the D&C, 6) why was sword even there… on and on.

My group of friends, 9:1, have concluded Joe and Bob (and Mauricio) were all duped by an angel of light (Raphael, Moroni, 3 Nephites) masquerading to embarrass the LDS Church. Everyone’s ox is gored.

My final question back to my friends was: Can an angel of light produce physical gold plates?, smashed interpreters?, loving people?

I plan to wait for more evidence. It looks to me like all the “Restoration” is in need of unity and charity in a big way. If it’s real, the Lord will help us get over ourselves. It has to happen sooner or later anyway. In order for a masquerade to be perpetrated, the drama will need to continue for quite some time. Our Brethren won’t get wind of it for a while if the past is an indicator of how they will react.

Thanks for sharing it on your blog in the first place,

Respondent #5 

Pretty amazing stuff happening.

Those poor people. [referring to the Q & A Session]

I like how all they could ask the witnesses was about the plates, their shape, feel, dimension etc.

None of them asked them important doctrinal questions.

Another evidence of the times. I wonder if Denver is going to jump on this train? That would be an interesting twist.

2nd email

I felt something dangerously close to the Spirit of God as I watched Elder Joseph Smith’s testimony. I now feel that this is the work of Satan and not man. The individuals in Brazil are speaking with a messenger from the other side, but it is not an angel from heaven.

If they were speaking with Moroni– once a year the last ten years!– they would have a much better idea what’s going on.

I almost bought that Elder Joseph Smith held a priesthood which was “pure” enough to baptize the group in Brazil. I was disappointed that he did not confer the gift of the Holy Ghost at the waterside, as the Lord has recommended (D&C 52:10) and that they never got on their knees for the blessing of the sacrament.

Still, these incongruities were small, especially if this is a prepatory work like Sidney Rigdon pre-1830.

The dealbreaker was that Elder Joseph Smith ordained the soon-to-be prophets to the Melchizedek priesthood.

This was proof that they are not speaking with Moroni. Moroni would have, of course, told them that they must sacrifice all things and enter into the law of consecration before being ordained to the high priesthood.

But even so, just because Elder Joseph Smith lacks the gift of discernment, it doesn’t mean that the golden plates haven’t been delivered to someone. Until a translation comes forward, I feel we must remain open to the possibility it is of God.

3rd Email

I wanted to see what a Snufferite thought of Brazil, so I sent the video links to XXXX  XXXXXX

Here’s his response:

No, I hadn’t heard of this. I listened to one of the testimonies. Very interesting.

My current inclination is that this is a hoax, though I admit I don’t know much about it. Certain parts of the story don’t hold up to examination, in my opinion. I do believe the gentlemen are telling the truth, and that they saw what they said they saw. But I’m not sure the plates, sword, and interpreters are genuine. Too many inconsistencies and questionable details.

But time will tell, won’t it?

Respondent # 6

Elder Smith and Seventy Moore’s sincerity cannot be questioned.

They both obviously believe in what they are sharing.

They both swear that they saw and handled the plates, sword, and interpreters.

I have no reason to question their claims based on their sincerity.

I even reached out to them via their website to offer my services as they plan to return to Brazil a second time (I speak Portuguese).

If it is true that Moroni has given the plates to Mauricio in Brazil then that is a sad commentary that the Lord couldn’t find even one worthy servant in the U.S. to continue with the Restoration where he left off.

According to Elder Smith and Seventy Moore we will soon have the translation of the sealed portion to study and contemplate.

That will be one additional piece of evidence for the rest of the world, in addition to their own first-hand witness.

Respondent #7

Hi Watcher,

Here’s my two cents worth on the reports from Elder Joseph Smith and Seventy Bob Moore of the Zarahemla Branch and their report of activity in Brazil:

1. Even though I’ve never heard of them before, they seem humble, sincere, credible and believable.

2. Their story and the story of those in Brazil seem to fit at least some scriptural patterns (outside the established religious mainstream, small humble group, fire in bosom, angelic visitations)

3. At the moment, I’m inclined to believe them.  So far, so good – let’s proceed to the next step

4. There don’t seem to be any big red flags which scream out STOP

Respondent #8

Bogus. The spirit feels like a lead thump. Not the voice or the Spirit of the God I follow.

Gold plates can appear…”demon assisted” magic abounds. It’s not about the witnesses or the objects, it’s about the message  https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=J_UvpPc6rfg&feature=share

Respondent #9

Hello Watcher,

It has been a long time since I have reached out to you. I have still been here following your post and I am still watching and waiting patiently for the servants to return and the Lord to reveal his hand once again on the earth.

Okay this could turn into a long email but I am determined to make it short so wish me luck on that. My initial impression of the events happening with the Zarahemla Branch and the community down in Brazil is that these people are extremely sincere and without a doubt good people.

There were several things that Elder Joseph Smith and Seventy Bob Moore said that I found extremely interesting because in someways they connected to some of the things you have talked about in a few of your post.

Here are my two big concerns about what they are saying and how they are saying it.

First of all were are the servants and second of all were is the power?

As I was listening to them talk about how Elder Joseph is the Moses spoken of in the Book of Mormon and Seventy Bob Moore is the Spokesman that did not sit well with me at all.

I believe the scriptures are clear on who those two individuals are and even if we have that part wrong my next question would be were is your power and authority.

I did not sense anything different from these two men other than what you typically get from other spiritual leaders on this earth.

I do not say that to belittle them in anyway but I am absolutely convinced that when the Lord extends his hand a second time that it will not be done or started by normal men.

The problem we keep running into with all of these different groups that claim they have found the truth or that the Lord is speaking to them is that they are all trying to save themselves by changing slowly over time.

They are all claiming that if they can just live their life in such a way that they Lord will eventually reveal to them the next step and his work will continue forward.

There seems to be a feeling that they will somehow be able to morph into what the Lord needs them to be. I get the same sense with this group as well.

One more point I wanted to add and I believe that only people who are extremely familiar with your post and blog would feel this way.

I absolutely could care less about if there was actual gold plates or not. I was more interested in what they were saying and if it lined up with the scriptures. I believe we live in a world were deception comes in all forms and fashion and if someone is going to be persuaded by physical objects alone then they are in a world of trouble. With that being said I absolutely loved how he described the plates (pretty cool)!

Anyways I could be totally wrong and I will definitely continue to keep my eyes, ears, and heart open the best way I can but so far I feel the need to be cautious with this one. I look forward to getting your official thoughts soon as well.

Respondent # 10

Hi, Watcher,

Here are my thoughts on the new development regarding the marvelous work.

To start with, I have been researching Book of Mormon chapters involved with “commence the work”.  Here is my list: 1 Nephi 14, 2 Nephi 2, 2 Nephi 30, 3 Nephi 21 up to verse 21, 3 Nephi 21 after verse 21, Mormon 3, and Ether 4. 

I divided the 3 Nephi chapter because there was a chapter division in the original Book of Mormon at that place.  The word “commence” ties all these sections together, so each part reveals a portion of what we are looking for in the fulfillment of prophecy “at that day”. 

The first thing that caught my attention is how accurately the time we live in is being described, not just in general, but in the specific events playing out on the news. 

Since the signs in the heavens (blood moons, solar eclipse, and Rev 12 star alignment) we have seen tempests, floods, fires, earthquakes, bloodshed, plague, and I think the famine is soon to come.  There are wars and rumors of wars, but more significantly, hidden things of darkness are being made known.  (Hollywood scandals, JFK assassination papers released, people not believing the LV shooting false narrative, Clinton corruption investigations, etc.)  This tells me this is the season to be watching, so we are not caught unaware as the warnings and invitations are extended to anyone who will repent.

If we are correct about the time, a couple other things to be watching for are sealed books coming to light (2 Ne 29-30) and the work of the servant/seer (2 Nephi 3)

I realize that most people in the LDS church think these things came to pass in the days of Joseph Smith jr.  However, for all the good it has done us, the work is still to be done. 

We have copies of the Book of Mormon, but its message is still sealed for most people, and many members of the church have testimonies of neither the book nor the seer. 

I found it extremely interesting that the video covered an interpretation of some 2 Nephi 3 verses that I had been pondering the day before.  The is an extremely hard chapter to parse because the names and pronouns are nearly impossible to keep track of. 

Admittedly, I know nothing about Joseph Smith III whom the speakers said is the seer in that chapter, but I would disagree strongly on that point because it doesn’t fit the history. 

Verse 14 says: Behold, that seer will the Lord bless, and they that seek to destroy him shall be confounded…  That has to be Joseph Smith, whose name is spoken both good and evil of.  (I don’t think that difference kills the relevance of the angel’s teachings because it could simply be a misunderstanding based on translation problems) 

I was interested to hear the modern Joseph Smith say he was identified as the spokesman from that chapter.  That will be tested as he begins to speak and we have some fruit to test.

The thing that really caught my attention about the presentation was based on my reading of what needs to happen, based on the 3 Nephi 20-21 verses. 

“Behold, my servant shall deal prudently. He shall be exalted and extolled and be very high.  As many were astonished at thee — his visage was so marred, more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men — so shall he sprinkle [JST- gather] many nations.” (3 Ne 20:43-45)

And

“But behold, the life of my servant shall be in my hand; therefore they shall not hurt him, although they shall be marred because of them. Yet will I heal him, for I will show unto them that my wisdom is greater than the cunning of the devil. Therefore it shall come to pass that whosoever will not believe my words — which am Jesus Christ — which the Father shall cause him to bring forth unto the Gentiles and shall give unto him power that he shall bring them forth unto the Gentiles, it shall be done even as Moses said: they shall be cut off from among my people which are of the covenant.” (3 Nephi 21:10-11) 

According to how I read these passages, Joseph Smith Jr. is the servant who is marred.  The descriptions of him since the early days of the restoration have been sufficient to keep most people from taking a good look at the work he brought forth, even the Book of Mormon. 

We used to call people who spread those rumors anti-mormon, but now the church is at the head of the pack in spreading the “facts” about the prophet to their own members, who might be the only ones who care enough to be offended anymore by it. 

I felt very strongly that part of the work of the Father will be to confound those who deny the work by rejecting the Book of Mormon and the prophet Joseph.  In the days to come, we will see a reversal of opinion, the servant will be healed.

  The Book of Mormon is the means by which the Father will do his work.  Those who accept it and its message will be numbered among the covenant, and those who reject it will be cut off.  In order for this to happen, there needs to be something that happens. 

When I heard the presentation, I thought — This might be that thing.  Do I know it? Not yet, I am waiting to see what will be said and printed in the months to come, but it could be the missing piece of the puzzle I have been looking at recently.

The other thing that was said in the videos that caught my attention was about gathering and unity.  It makes sense to me that part of the work will involve healing breaches, such as between members of various restoration branches, and even between native American tribes.  That seems right to me. 

It also makes sense of the passage which says,

“Then shall their watchmen lift up their voice; and with the voice together shall they sing, for they shall see eye to eye.  Then will the Father gather them together again and give unto them Jerusalem for the land of their inheritance.”

  Those are my thoughts. Thank you for bringing this to our attention. I have not yet found anything that is contrary to my understanding of the scriptures, but there has not been much shared yet. 

It was fun to hear about the objects (plates and sword), but as someone mentioned, those are simply signs.  What really matters is whether we are seeing prophecy fulfilled. Right now I am inclined to give it the benefit of the doubt and continue to watch as things progress.

Respondent #11

Wow, those videos are interesting. How incredible it would be if it was true. I think if we were to have the traslation of some of the sealed portion, it would be helpful. When you read Snuffer’s translation, it’s so obvious that it is not real.

I thought of the scripture the last shall be first and then first shall be last when considering that maybe the church started out in North America, and will be revealed anew in South America.

When looking at the http://www.centerplace.org I see they have some things like the version of the first vision of Joseph Smith seeing 2 beings. So, it seems to me they have some incorrectness. I wish someone who spoke Portuguese could go to Brazil and really find out what they believe. So fascinating they were told not to join the L.D.S. church. Also that the L.D.S. church had sent a spy and they were trying to get the gold plates. I would believe this.

I don’t see why anyone would do this for a hoax.

Respondent #12

1st Email

He immediately contacted the Zarahemla branch through their website and offered his assistance. below is some of the correspondence

Thank you for your help. I received a phone call from Joseph, and had a wonderful visit with him about scripture and prophecy. He spent 12 years in Idaho a short distance from my ranch in the timber industry… Toward the end of our conversation he suggested that I talk to Bob Moore and also suggested that I make contact with him through you.

2nd Email

Watcher, thought I would let you know that I received a phone call from Joseph Smith and visited with him for 30 minutes this morning.

I watched your video links yesterday, including  the previous Sunday’s video of Bob Moore’s preface sermon from Amos and the Old Testament and intimations of Sundays further information…

This morning I emailed through contact info on their website.Brad Gault the Zarahemla branch pastor responded and forwarded my questions and inquiries to Joseph. I then received a call within a couple of hours…

3rd Email

Joseph Smith returned my call inquiry Tuesday October 31,10 AM. I forwarded the  emails so it would preface this response. The beginning of my conversation with Joseph Smith I tried to intimate that I am a student of the Scriptures and worthy of his time and actual consideration of my request.

The first question” Is Mariceo’s email available?” He then quizzed me about my knowledge of the great lengths that were taken to procure the plates through stratagem or force from his great grandfather.

He then rehearsed a similar dissertation as he did in his congregational video how Mariceo’s home was ransacked and the LDS implication.

Joseph said Any message to Mariceo could be given to him to forward.

This seemed a little strange to me since they mentioned families and names in the Sunday meetings of virtually all who were baptized. Seems to me and email address would not jeopardize their security anymore than their first names to an entire congregation and world, rather than to an earnest inquirer… at least in my mind.

I told Joseph that I thought to learn directly from the first witness was very important and I was willing to go with my interpreter and friend to Brazil to overcome the language barrier with scriptural understanding and familiarity to make sure all of Moroni’s information was disseminated correctly to the people rather than rely on Google or a young girl who’s been educated in English by television…

My mind went immediately to the story, as I recall the Colesville saints and section 27 revelation sending Joseph to them before going to the Ohio, because they had great faith and they were practicing their understanding of the law according to Acts 2 and he needed to help clarify the finer points to a sincere group before the official revelation of the law was given.

This happening in December 1830 and the law being given after they went to the Ohio in the first part of February… and them being sent to Thompson and the amalgamation of two different mindsets. The train-wreck didn’t last a couple weeks and they were sent on to Zion…

Joseph and Bob lead us to believe this people is similar to the Colesville Saints. Section 68 shows me that a people ready for Zion have isolated themselves from the blood, sins and iniquities of the world and that there children can be baptized at age 8 because they have not been influenced by Babylon.That they have been taught to read through the Scriptures and the requirements of “reception of the word” (2 Nephi 31)and baptism in section 20 can be accomplished at eight years old, unlike anyone exposed to Babylon outside of a stake of Zion that would require fruit meet for repentance, thus an older age of accountability and repentance from the blood and sins of the exposure to the world and it’s condemnation.

Mariceo refused they reported, to learn English so the dissemination of this information to the world came through a child educated by the god of this worlds filth promoter, television and Google translate which I won’t even go into???

Joseph quizzed me about whether I studied the Joseph Smith translation. I then talked to him about section 43 and the deception promised if all of Joseph’s words from God including the Joseph Smith translation were not used to ready ourselves for the second coming.

Also the deception of the 10 virgins in section 45 and again the three ways we can be deceived in section 46 and included the deception in section 50 and 52. I did this without sections because restorationist’s use a different version of the Doctrine and Covenants.

He didn’t really respond and didn’t seem to be familiar with the many deception warnings and indicated that according to Scripture that their fractions were the only ones that had been taken back to Zion for inheritance.

I asked Joseph how familiar he was with the 1833 book of Commandments and  the February completion of the Joseph Smith translation,the printing press,the 14 issues of the Star.

I was going to mention chapter 4. “turned over to the buffetings of Satan”and the reasons for the destruction of the printing press. He interrupted me and went on a dissertation that Joseph had a copy and that the story of the printing press and the book of commandments being picked up by the children out of the street was completely false.

I ask him about whether he was familiar with the John Whitmer History and Ebenezer Robinson’s history. He said he had heard of them.I went into Ebenezer Robinson and the edition of the Book of Mormon, he didn’t respond like he knew what Robinson testified.

I went on to a different subject and asked him about false prophets in our day according to Jeremiah 23 and Isaiah, Matthew 23 and headed toward Matthew 24:5 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. He interrupted and ask if I was familiar with Jeremiah 18? I told him I had it ,what part? He had me read the beginning verses and said that “this is what is happening in Brazil now…So he made it again another vessel,…”

He seemed very familiar with his talking points but not so much about anything I mentioned.

I asked Joseph about his life. He shared about his dad being a Temple lot Church apostle and himself being ordained an elder in the church in 1953, Eventually becoming disenfranchised because they were not interested in the restoration of Zion and building the temple.

I ask him about the break up of the RLDS and Community of Christ and restoration RLDS fractions in 1984 and if it was caused by the leadership being educated in other religious colleges and coming back indoctrinated and  thinking protestant believes would be more popular?

He said “that and…” he went into his famous speech to the 1100.  He was told by God to give a message( i’m not sure if he said or if I just assumed )to the Temple lot Church he had left,and the RLDS Restorationists he had joined.

He rehearsed similar to the morning meeting Sunday.The mandate from God was to repent, put down their differences and establish Zion. He said “They rejected and would not do it “

I’m going to have to watch the video again to see if he in his brief mention of his sermon that building the temple was included at that time.

The reason I mention this is the old mandate in his message from God to deliver is very similar to the message from the angel now. I’m not sure if this is Multiple witnesses over years or it is a continued desire and reason for him leaving the Temple lot church and then receiving a message from the Lord and now bolstered by the story of an angel on his original complaint???

He asked me what part of Idaho I was from. I told him, he then related how he spent 12 years working as a feller for the mill at Horseshoe bend Idaho, not far from where we farm.

Joseph then told me he had an appointment and that I should speak to Bob more about questions I had. He intimated that Bob was more familiar with some than he.

I ask him how to get a hold of Bob and he said through the pastor.

Joseph seems sincere and very believable.

Just a few scriptures that come to mind, and the Restoration Church.  My understanding of sewing new cloth on an old garment or new wine into old bottles doesn’t seem possible that the Lord would use an existing corrupt church,not to say he will not worn them. I know they don’t think they are corrupt ,he quoted the Doctrine and Covenants about their fractions being return to the land of their inheritance.

Christ shows Moroni and he informs us in Mormon 8 also Nephi in 2 Nephi 28 all churches in the last days will be corrupt… “and your churches ,yea, even every one, have become polluted…”

Will the sealed portion of the Book of Mormon be printed by a corrupt church???

I could go on and on but my final assessment is that I have not received from the Lord a confirmation.Until that happens I will await their promise of the sealed portion being  translated by Mariceo and delivered to them at the Restorationist Church for printing and dissemination. I then will test it with what I have received through The Holy Word of god.

John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; The flesh profiteth nothing; the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

D&C 18:3 … behold, I give unto you a commandment, that you rely upon the things which are written;

D&C 43:2 For behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, that ye have received a commandment for a law unto my church, through him whom I have appointed unto you to receive commandments and revelations from my hand.

3. And this ye shall know assuredly-that there is none other appointed unto you to receive commandments and revelations until he be taken, if he abide in me.

4. But verily, verily, I say unto you, that none else shall be appointed unto this gift except it be through him; for if it be taken from him he shall not have power except to appoint another in his stead.

5. And this shall be a law unto you, that ye receive not the teachings of any that shall come before you as revelations or Commandments;

6. And this I give unto you that you May not be deceived, that you may know they are not of me.

This covers most of the conversation with Joseph. If I can make time I will give my opinion on the meetings and the concerns like the scriptural description of the sword of Laban, and their description and condition of the sword presented, also the interpreters being broken by Mariceo??? And other questions.

4th Email

Watcher, I wanted you to know that Elder Joseph F Smith called me this morning November 7, at 7:50. He said he called to inform me of a website, second invitation.org.

This call was not solicited nor have I had any contact with him since his first call.  Bob Moore emailed me last week and said he would get back in touch and call me for a discussion after his two week trip abroad.

I did take the opportunity to quiz Joseph. 25 minutes

Why was he chosen? Why are these Brazilians given the opportunity to establish Zion?

I asked if our iniquities are the reason for the offering of Zion to another people.

I am somewhat taken back with the call out of the blue…seems so strange, but I’m not sure that he wasn’t just calling from a recall number from previous calls, not sure if he knew exactly who or where I am located.

I am in the middle of seeding grain before frost so when I get some time I will try to put the questions and answers together a little better.

Did you happen to read on the Zarahemlabranch.org website under Question Time,Discrepancies Answered , the responses by Bob Moore to the Book of Mormon rejection letter circulated by Larry Mannering?

In one of your emails you had mentioned Bob Moore’s sincerity and study.

You forwarded me a video that showed a question and answer…

This written (Discrepancies Answered) shows Bob Moore’s views as written better than he was able to articulate them verbally.I was wondering whether this is where you formulated your assessment of Bob’s scriptural understanding?

5th Email

Watcher I agree with your assessment of scripted and the buying in from the temple lots. You were being generous when you said how many people viewed before Sunday last.

Joseph also or Bob, might be counting on the Orthodox temple lots that would not go along with the rejection of the word.

Somewhat similar to the massive amount of mormons silently rejecting the Salt Lake City’s injection of oxyProtestantism.

This morning when I was questioning Joseph I ask him about many different dates including when he was in Idaho in connection with his leaving the temple lot church, his father, mother, births ,deaths etc. etc. He doesn’t seem to be very good with dates,I could give you the specifics, but just my opinion.

In that date category one thing that I did not realize until my query this morning, Joseph left the Temple lot church very recently, less than five years… He qualified it with that he was not in with them for many years, as when they rejected the Doctrine and Covenants and Joseph Smith translation and included as reasons for his joining the Zarahemla branch.

His answer to why him ?, he said that his priesthood was the purest form from Joseph Smith Junior… His grandfather Alexander Hale Smith and his father Arthur was probably the reason for Moroni’s referral.

Another one of my questions, about iniquity, scripturally being the reason for the Brazilians being offered Zion, to see about his understanding of why… He went back to his story of 21 years since his sermon and its contents being rejected by 1100 and that setting their differences aside and coming together.

Nothing about being sanctified by the word… Cleansed from the blood and sins of this generation, or iniquity being the reason for the separation from God etc. etc.

I also quizzed him more about the sword of laban and plates.

I have been intrigued that he says the plates were smooth no engravings felt by touch, but could be seen. In my inquiry he said that there were some of them that had engravings he could feel toward the end where the seal band was??? Verrrrry interesting…

In the conversation he mentioned again having six more witnesses. I ask how one would be considered, he informed me that it would come from the Lord and said he would put my name in..lol. I replied I could be the witness for the west…lol

I also ask if he was considering taking somebody that was fluent in Portuguese?

He said maybe, but it worked pretty well with Google and a 14-year-old educated by the TV, and again mentioned how he was impressed with her being able to learn English from subtitles

Respondent #13

Mr. Watcher my is XXX. I’ve watched both videos, and I would like to add my testimony of what was told.

I believe it with all my heart but saddened somewhat from the q&a session.

There’s still unbelief and what felt like a contentious spirit after what both gentlemen testified of. That blew my mind.

Are we still part of a perverse generation that ask for proof from testimonies that ooze the Spirit of God? Hope some day this will change. As I yearn to be part of Zion.

Respondent #14

I’m still processing my thoughts after watching the videos – I expect a month from now my answers will be slightly different than now. But here are my thoughts at the present time:

Claims of seeing the plates, sword, and interpreters.

For me this intellectually interesting, but not something that I can build my faith on. I’m sure Satan can craft some exquisite items too. And since I don’t know what the real ones look like, their testimony of these items can’t be tested.

That being said, I did notice that while each one tended to focus on different aspects of the items, and their descriptions used different terminology, there didn’t seem to be a time where they contradicted each other. Especially during the Q&A session when random questions were asked and they alternated answering them. They hadn’t memorized a common script, yet their differing descriptions didn’t seem to contradict.

In general, I believe they both saw some plates, a sword, and a broken “interpreter”. Whether those items were the real deals or not is another question that I can’t answer.

Claims regarding the Brazilians

“God couldn’t work with us in the north because of our hard hearts, so he is working with the people in the south.” Ouch. But definitely believable. 3 Nephi 21:22-24 opens the door for the remnant of Jacob to take the lead, and we need to be numbered among them if we want to participate. Did a remnant of Jacob make it down to Brazil? We’ll see.

The proof is in the pudding

Until they actually DO THE WORK, it’s all just a story. When they produce new scripture from the sealed portion, and we can search it, compare it, and test it, and pray about it, then I will be in a position to take a stand. Brigham’s Section 132 is pretty easy to detect. Denver’s new stuff is also easy to test against the established word. One day someone will produce something that holds up under scriptural scrutiny – and I look forward to that.

The one thing that really struck me (positively) was the advice they gave to those of us in the north about what to do next. It would have been a perfect time to produce the 10 Step Plan to Prepare for Zion™. And it seemed like some of the people in the audience was hoping for that. Instead, they refused to give a list and told people to stop focusing on differences and just love everyone. Develop the level of charity that the Brazilians have. Do the things you already are supposed to be doing. Nice.

The other issue is that Ether 4 says the sealed portion won’t come out until the Gentiles repent. Have we repented? The previous paragraph would indicate that we haven’t. How many have to repent before God reveals the sealed portion? Are a handful of people in Brazil repenting enough for the Lord? Those are questions I don’t have answers to…yet.

Respondent #15

Watcher,

Thanks for sending out your post and the links to this presentation.

I am very happy to have watched all three hours or so of it.

The theme of the message in the videos is repentance and love for God and one another.

Those who delivered are humble and sincere.

This is the message of scripture, delivered in an appropriate, gentle way.

Many patterns I recognize.

I believe the message is divine.

I have prayed about this and will continue to do so.

Like you, I do not wish to be deceived, but as of this moment, I feel as though God’s hand is in this work.

I want to know more about it.

What about you?

Respondent #16

I believe that the what is being reported about this group in Brazil shows that the Lord is working with many people. His efforts are not with only one group. When Zion is assembled, it will be many different groups that can live together in love and peace. I thought it was interesting to hear in the question and answer session from Jeff Folley about the representatives from 150 Indian tribes that are also moving forward in fulfillment of their prophecies.

Click on this link to hear Jeff Foli’s testimony about the 150 Indian tribes that are also moving forward in fulfillment of their prophecies

Respondent #17

Sorry I didn’t respond earlier so my weigh in could be included in your follow up post.  I must confess I found bros Smith and Moore to be very credible.  I wish the leaders in Utah were as humble and guileless. 

I was very sobered by their testimonies and have been driven to self examination as to my readiness for potential participation in such momentous events and find myself very wanting. 

Because of that I’m not sure I can say I was hopeful as much as fearful, and because of that probably more believing than skeptical. 

Upon reading your follow up I see that despite the credibility of Smith and Moore, there is plenty to be skeptical of in their testimonies.

I just read Searcher’s Oct 2015 post For a Small Moment Have I Forsaken Thee and Aug 2015 What It Means To Be Sealed and if i understand them correctly, it appears that JS intimated that Elijah would yet come again and restore the sealing keys that were lost when the gentiles rejected the fulness. 

I don’t believe that was part of the testimonies of Smith and Moore.  I also don’t ever recall hearing from JS or anywhere else in scripture, that Moroni would return with the BOM artifacts to usher in the fulness.

Respondent #18

Watcher,

Since you are keeping score on how your readers think\feel about the claims made by Brothers Joseph and Bob concerning their Brazil trip, put me down as an active LDS, neutral, but hopeful.

I believe both Joseph and Bob are sincere and well intended; however, I’m concerned that their desire to reunite the saints and establish Zion, while a good righteous desire, could well allow them to be deceived (just as it could for many of us). 

As I have thought and prayed about their testimony, the only inspiration I have received is that I don’t have enough information yet to truly ponder and ask if it is true.  We haven’t yet seen the fruits, which will allow us to weigh it against the word of God.  So until we do, I will remain neutral.

I have included a list of Pros and Cons for the information we do have.

Pros:

1) all references in the Book of Mormon for the brass plates and the plates of Nephi, both large and small, refer to the plates being engraven.  In fact, Jacob even comments on how difficult it is to engrave on the plates.  However, neither Mormon or Moroni mention engraving, rather they talk about writing or have written on the plates.  I had never noticed this before, until Bro Bob mentioned that the plates he handled were not engraven but were written upon.  So the question becomes did Mormon and Moroni use a different technology to write upon the plates?  The three and eight witnesses both mention the plates were engraven.  There could be two explanations:

– Webster 1828 definition of engrave also includes “to impress”

– What plates did the witnesses see?  I still can’t find any reference to whether the plates of Mormon and the small plates of Nephi were two separate set of plates or one set of plates.  Mormon wrote that he put the small plates with his plates.  Does that mean that he physically unbound the small plates and then put them on the same rings as his plates, or just put them with his plates.  In D&C 10, the Lord speaks as if Joseph already had the small plates or knew of the small plates when he tells him to translate them rather than retranslate the Mormon abridgment.  My point is, if the small plates were bound together with the plates of Mormon, then the witnesses may have been referring to those plates when they mentioned the engraving on the plates.

Why I list this as a Pro is that I have read\listened\searched the Book of Mormon countless times, and I would have said with 100% surety that the Mormon plates were engraven as Jacob mentioned.  Showing the plates to two experienced believers with writing rather than engraving is such a blatant, rookie mistake, yet if one reads what both Mormon and Moroni wrote, it supports written not engraven for the Mormon plates. (Do a word search for engrave and then written\wrote and you will see what I mean).

2) the interpretation of 2N chapter 3 and JST Genisis 50 that Bob have is as good as any that I have heard.  I have always thought that it refers to more than just Joseph Smith Jr.  It’s hard to see how the Moses reference is for more than the OT Moses, but it could be dual fulfilment for our time.

3) In both D&C 110 and 124 the Lord bestows on Joseph Smith the same promise\blessing as Abraham, that through him and his seed the whole world will be blessed.  I’ve wondered many times what exactly that meant.  It could be a fulfillment of that promise if Joseph F Smith turns out to actually be the spokesman that brings the good news to Zion.

4) If the Lord uses the plain and simple to confound the wise and learned, then I don’t think He will find a better vessel that Joseph F. Smith (that sounds a little judgmental, but I meant it as a compliment.  I believe him to be a good, sincere, simple man).

5) This would be an ironic twist and a great test for those of us that are 4-5-6 generation members.  Really!?!? The Lord called someone from Latin America to be His end time servant?!?  The pride of Ephraim would indeed be tested!

6) Isaiah contains multiple references of hard hearts, ears that can’t hear, calling and no one would answer.  I found three references where the Lord could find “no man”.  It’s not inconceivable we have been so corrupted by our culture\TV\Movies\Entertainment that the Lord needs to go outside of Zion (US) to find someone that will listen and then call us to repentance.

7)  Both gentlemen mentioned the sweet Spirit they felt while in Brazil.  Since both are mature and well versed in the scriptures, I assume that they know what the Spirit feels like and are familiar with it.

Cons:

1) Why the sword of Laban?  Joseph Smith saw the sword, but I can’t find any reference to him having physical possession of it.  And if the sword of Laban, why not the Liahona too?

2) conflicting testimony: Maurico only does as commanded, yet he was commanded to learn English but refused to do it.

3) I can’t find any references to any servant coming from the South. All references seem to be from the East (but then again, that was one of the arguments used against the Savior, there wasn’t any prophesies of a prophet from Nazareth).

4) Joseph’s email is found on the Zarahemla Branch website, so it might not be quite the miracle that they sent him an email as they made it sound.

Don’t know if any of these made any sense to you or not, but as I mentioned above, for the time being I will with hold judgment and taste of the fruit that comes out of it and then let the Holy Spirit be my guide.

Thanks for all you do,

Respondent #19

[Complete Rejection: This communication took place in person and I did not record the conversation. It was rejected primarily on claimed discrepancies to the claims they found in modern and ancient revelation.]

Respondent #20

[ absolute rejection: This communication took place over the phone and I did not record the conversation. It was based on perceived contradictions in the Book of Mormon]

Respondent #21

Holy CURVEBALL Batman!!

 

FANTASTIC stuff!!

 

Count me as fascinated, incredibly intrigued, and skeptical, but still open until more evidence comes in.

 

Some thoughts –

 

3-4 Ether seem to indicate that the sealed portion will not be revealed until AFTER his people have repented, become clean and shown faith like the Brother of Jared  …. (not as a means to bring them to repentance)?

 

But how Will this happen from our current state? (By return and powerful preaching of first servants?). Which brings us to-

 

How would this dovetail with return of the first servants?  Could this be a precursor to their return ( supposed to other way around)?

 

Angel instructed him to learn English- he REFUSES!!??  (May be much more to that story)

 

Plates not “engraved”?  Or could engraving be part of method to enable “writing” the black characters on plates?

 

He broke the interpreters because he believed it might be if the Devil??!!!!  Need more of that story/ background

 

They took pictures on their cellphones of the  Americans with the plates??  And Americans didn’t get any?

 

All talk of burning bosoms/chests

– I’ve heard it taught that Satan can cause a burning in your bosom but he can’t give you peace that passeth understanding, pure knowledge, love, etc. (which are the fruits of spirit most often mentioned in scriptures).

 

-D&C scripture on BiB is very specific to Oliver and translation.

-On the other hand the disciples’ hearts “burned within them” when they walked with Christ unawares on road to Emaus and NT teaches that our God “is a burning fire” and his ministers “are as flames of fire”

 

Dying to hear reasons of those who immediately and emphatically reject it!

 

Respondent #22

Hello watcher sorry for my slow response, but I’ve been pondering the testimonies of brothers Smith and Bob since you sent them. My initial feelings are that what Elder Smith says is true and that he speaks without guile, however, something about Bob and whoever was conducting the Q&A session doesn’t sit right with me and I haven’t been able to figure out why.

So, I’ve been investigating the remnant branches movement and their priesthood authority claims. I have to admit that I discounted the whole RLDS movement without investigating them in as much detail as polygamous groups because I knew that they had built a temple in Independence without it being the time or proper place to do so, and because they have recently rejected the Book of Mormon in order to be accepted by mainstream Christianity, thus I never took their claims of authority seriously enough to investigate them.

Hence, I have been investigating their claims in greater detail. On the one hand President Marks joined them in the beginning and he was basically the only one who defended Brother Sydney so I see the possibility that they like the Utah church have some remnant of the priesthood through him.

But weather their priesthood is more pure as claimed by Mauricio I’m not sure yet. So while I hope sincerely that what they said is true and I believe brother Smith, the other testimonies seem somewhat suspect to me because I believe that God would clearly call a prophet or send Joseph to translate the sealed portion based on my reading of the scriptures.

So, I’m left wondering if this is satan trying to gain the temple lot for himself by mimicking the Lord putting forth his hand for the second time. So for now I will keep treasuring the word and wait to see their publication when it comes forth. In any case this shows we are close because it is either of the Lord or of satan, and if of satan he knows what is coming soon and is trying to derail it. If it is of the Lord it will come to pass.

 

 

Ok.. Now that I have given everyone the opportunity to speak their peace, let me just say that I am shocked and appalled that so many of my readers are so gullible and unfamiliar with what the scriptures say about this topic.

You can read my views on this here

 

 

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BTW

 

The following documents have been sent to me

Joseph F Smith RLDS

Zarahemla Branch JFS Q&amp;A (1)https://secondinvitation.org/2017/11/04/a-word-from-joseph/

 

 

 

 

Frankly.. Part 3

In the last episode of this series, I posted the following question to my Canadian friend and the readers of this blog, “what is the great commandment and related blessing and cursing that takes place just BEFORE the marvelous work takes place.”

God actually gives a commandment that precedes the beginning of the marvelous work and a wonder. Just when the marvelous work is ABOUT to come forth, a commandment is to be obeyed that prepares the elect for the marvelous work.

I believe this commandment has already been actuated and it represents one of the amazing signs of the end times.

I invited my friend and my readers to search the revelations to see if they can identify what this great commandment is that is preliminary to the beginning of the marvelous work.

I got some amazing responses from readers of this blog and my Canadian friend which I will briefly post later in this installment.

[Editorial Note: For those that prefer to listen to Mrs Watcher read the post, click on this link to the video which is posted on our youtube channel. https://youtu.be/dP3xaFPlTNo ]

The answer to the above question that I am looking for, is pertinent to my conversation with my Canadian friend for two reasons.

Firstly, he wanted to know about prophecies that are taking place right now, just before the marvelous work begins.

Secondly, he shared with me a conversation he had had with the late John Pratt wherein Pratt had discerned from the end times prophecies in Ether that something very significant needed to come forth before the mysteries in the sealed plates would be unsealed. He seemed to want to know how the Ether text relates to our timeframe and if Pratt had uncovered something significant.

The Claims of John Pratt

John Pratt claimed to my friend that he had found something cryptically embedded in the Ether text that very few if any people have ever noticed and elaborated on before.

I agree.

I think Pratt did find something quite significant.

Pratt’s contention was that there would be a record that would come forth BEFORE the sealed portion of the plates containing the vision of the brother of Jared would be opened.

This record would prepare those that believe the words of Jesus, for the marvelous work and for the unfolding of the revelation that the brother of Jared had seen.

Regarding this record, Pratt said: “It will not come in a time when people have the faith of [the brother of ] Jared, but rather when they need to repent and follow Jesus and believe in His words.

I agree with those observations of Pratt’s.

I believe they are profound and true.

A record will come forth which contains the words of Jesus. This record will help people to repent and will prepare them for the events of the 3^rd watch.

However, I don’t agree with Pratt’s assumption that the words of Christ that would come forth to prepare the people for the vision of the brother of Jared, was the record of John..

nor was it referring to the book that Mauricio Berger has published.

The text in Ether does not say that the record of John would come forth from the gold plates.

At this point let me emphasize that I love John Pratt and this response to his comments and beliefs is not personal.

This is about the interpretation of prophecy and doctrine and about sound doctrine and ultimately, about the salvation of souls.

Anytime someone is making profound claims about the scriptures and claiming to have authority and/or trying to persuade people to join a religious movement, the interpretations of doctrine and prophecy they are presenting need to be scrutinized on their own merit.

That is all I am attempting to do.

I am scrutinizing the interpretations that Pratt was presenting as he was proselytizing people to join the fringe movements that he was involved in.

Although I am not personally trying to get anyone to join a fringe group, I think all my readers need to scrutinize my scriptural interpretations as well.

In the words of Paul, “prove all things, hold fast to that which is true“.

I believe Pratt’s interpretation of the content in the Book of Ether was adversely influenced by the book that Mauricio Berger has published which Berger Claims was taken from the gold plates.

In other words, I believe Pratt was digging deep into the prophetic text in Ether to find justification and validation for Mauricio Bergers Book.

During his search, Pratt did in fact find some remarkable information that was hidden in the text.

The question is, did Pratt accurately interpret the cryptic text.

Naturally, if Pratt’s interpretation and belief is correct, he and Mauricio Berger would both be playing a remarkable role in the Rolling forth of the marvelous work.

I am going to demonstrate what I believe the cryptic text in Ether is really talking about.

As I have searched the text that Pratt is speaking about, I believe the words of Ether are informing us that a record of Christ’s words would be revealed at the time when the prophecies of John in the Book of Revelation are being unfolded in the eyes of the people.

I believe that the prophecies in the Book of Revelation are being unfolded in the eyes of the people right now!

This means that the record containing the words of Christ is currently being revealed or will be completely revealed in the near future.

It also means the marvelous work is about to begin!!

Read the text in Ether about the revelation written by John!

16 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.

17 Therefore, when ye shall receive this record [which contains my words] ye may know that the work of the Father has commenced upon all the face of the land.

There are two things that identify when the “work of the father” commences.

One is the unfolding of the prophecies contained in the Book of Revelation which I believe is happening right now.

The second thing is the coming forth of a record that contains the words of Christ.

Are we not seeing the prophecies in the Book of Revelation unfolding before our very eyes right now?

Clearly the old Babylon system is beginning to fall.

In the eyes of the worldly, we have a “new normal” and the “old normal” will never return. Freedoms are being taken away. Free enterprise and capitalism are being destroyed.

Babylon is falling and the foundation has been laid for the mark of the beast system which follows. Numerous other prophecies in the Book of revelation have already been fulfilled and are in the process of being revealed and are about to be fulfilled.

The Time of Division and Separation Has Begun

The parables that Christ gave speak of a great division and separation that will take place in the last days. This is depicted in the parable of the wheat and the tares and the parable of the ten virgins. Although the division and separation will ultimately result in a physical separation and gathering out of the elect, I believe it begins with a philosophical division and I think we are seeing a great polarization taking place right now. It has to do with freedom and with a strong delusion that God has sent upon the people. People will either become convinced and converted to the gospel of peace and life eternal or they will be delivered over to the hardness of their hearts.

The book of Mormon speaks a great division among the people at the time of the Marvelous Work:

7 For the time cometh, saith the Lamb of God, that I will work a great and a marvelous work among the children of men; a work which shall be everlasting, either on the one hand or on the other—either to the convincing of them unto peace and life eternal, or unto the deliverance of them to the hardness of their hearts and the blindness of their minds unto their being brought down into captivity, and also into destruction, both temporally and spiritually, according to the captivity of the devil, of which I have spoken. 1 Neph 14

But what is the book that needs to come forth that contains the words of Christ?

That is the sixty-four dollar question.

Many of you already know the answer to the question

To those that don’t know the answer, I think the answer will blow your mind if you can comprehend it.

I have been speaking about it for many years now with very little success because like the Jews, we Gentiles have a tendency to look past the mark and overlook the obvious.

I am hopeful that the time is at hand when people will begin to have their eyes opened to a sealed record that they have held in their hands for a long time. A sealed record that is currently being unsealed through the work of the Father.

“My Words”

Before we drill down and the identity of the record which contains the literal words of Christ, I want to deconstruct part of the prophecy in Ether by showing a keyword pattern in it.

In verse 7 the Lord speaks about unfolding all of his revelations.

In verse 8 the Lord warns that those that contend against the “Word of the Lord” would be accursed.

In verse 9 the Lord refers to “my word“.

In verse 10 the Lord once again speaks of the importance of believing “my words”

In verse 11 the Lord speaks of the importance in believing the “things which I have spoken”

Please notice the keywords “my words” contained in the prophecy of Ether because they will lead us into the Doctrine and Covenants and then back into the Book of Mormon:

10 And he that believeth not my words believeth not my disciples; and if it so be that I do not speak, judge ye; for ye shall know that it is I that speaketh, at the last day.

11 But he that believeth these things which I have spoken, him will I visit with the manifestations of my Spirit, and he shall know and bear record. For because of my Spirit he shall know that these things are true; for it persuadeth men to do good. (Ether 4)

The active ingredient in the prophetic narrative is-

“My words”

There is going to be a record that contains “my words“.

It is true that all standard works that we sustain as scripture contain the words of Christ. However, there is one that stands out among all of the rest because it is unique. It is unique in that it contains long word for word revelations directly from Christ in the words of Christ. Most other canons of scripture usually only provide smaller snippets of Christ’s words, mingled with the inspired words of prophets and historians.

This book containing the words of Christ comes forth BEFORE
the
marvelous work begins and BEFORE the vision of the brother of Jared comes forth
that contains the words of Jesus Christ.

“Give Heed to My Word”

So what is the grand commandment that is to be obeyed just before the marvelous work comes forth. It is revealed in the Doctrine and Covenants-

1 A great and marvelous work is about to come forth unto the children of men.

2 Behold, I am God; give heed unto my word, which is quick and powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword, to the dividing asunder of both joints and marrow; therefore give heed unto my words. D&C 6:2 (see also Rev 1:16, 2:12, 2:16 regarding the two edged sword)

That great commandment of the Lord that is to be obeyed BEFORE the Marvelous Work is ABOUT to take place is to give heed to the words of Christ!

Notice how the Lord reiterated the above commandment to four different people, four different times in the Doctrine and Covenants:

Section 4 Joseph Smith Sr	Section 6 To Oliver Cowdery	Section 11 To Hyrum Smith	Section 12 Joseph Knight Sr	Section 14 To David Whitmer
1 Now behold, a marvelous work is about to come forth among the children of men. 2 Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day.	1 A great and marvelous work is about to come forth unto the children of men. 2 Behold, I am God; give heed unto my word, which is quick and powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword, to the dividing asunder of both joints and marrow; therefore give heed unto my words.	1 A great and marvelous work is about to come forth among the children of men. 2 Behold, I am God; give heed to my word, which is quick and powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword, to the dividing asunder of both joints and marrow; therefore give heed unto my word.	1 A great and marvelous work is about to come forth among the children of men. 2 Behold, I am God; give heed to my word, which is quick and powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword, to the dividing asunder of both joints and marrow; therefore, give heed unto my word.	1 A great and marvelous work is about to come forth unto the children of men. 2 Behold, I am God; give heed to my word, which is quick and powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword, to the dividing asunder of both joints and marrow; therefore give heed unto my word.

As you can see, the commandment is given when the marvelous work is ABOUT to come forth. It is to give heed to “my word” (the words of Christ)

This amazing commandment to mankind, was reiterated four times to four different people and each set of passages commands us to give heed to God’s word two different times!

So what is the blessing that is associated with the commandment to give heed to the words of Christ?

According to the prophecy in Ether 4 it is to be visited with the manifestation of Christ’s spirit

11 But he that believeth these things which I have spoken, him will I visit with the manifestations of my Spirit, and he shall know and bear record. For because of my Spirit he shall know that these things are true; for it persuadeth men to do good.

Interestingly, if we do a keyword search on the above passage, we will be taken to a very similar passage in section 5 of the Doctrine and Covenants which links the concept of believing on the words of Christ with the blessing of being visited with the manifestation of my spirit.

16 And behold, whosoever believeth on my words, them will I visit with the manifestation of my Spirit; and they shall be born of me, even of water and of the Spirit—

Of course those that reject the words of Christ, are cursed. (more on that in a later installment)

Is it a coincidence that section 5 of the Doctrine and Covenants also used the terms “my words” that are used in the prophetic text in Ether?

Lets look at the keyword pattern-

5 Verily, I say unto you, that woe shall come unto the inhabitants of the earth if they will not hearken unto my words;

6 For hereafter you shall be ordained and go forth and deliver my words unto the children of men.

7 Behold, if they will not believe my words, they would not believe you, my servant Joseph, if it were possible that you should show them all these things which I have committed unto you.

8 Oh, this unbelieving and stiffnecked generation—mine anger is kindled against them.

10 But this generation shall have my word through you;

11 And in addition to your testimony, the testimony of three of my servants, whom I shall call and ordain, unto whom I will show these things, and they shall go forth with my words that are given through you.

15 And the testimony of three witnesses will I send forth of my word.

16 And behold, whosoever believeth on my words, them will I visit with the manifestation of my Spirit; and they shall be born of me, even of water and of the Spirit—

17 And you must wait yet a little while, for ye are not yet ordained—

18 And their testimony shall also go forth unto the condemnation of this generation if they harden their hearts against them;

Section 5 is very cryptic because a surface reading of it suggests that it is singularly addressing word of the Lord in the Book of Mormon and the three witnesses that will testify of the Book of Mormon.

However, I would suggest that cryptically imbedded in that text of section 5 is the use of the term “my word” as it relates to the revelations coming through Joseph Smith. The text is addressing the Book of Mormon
and the revelations to Joseph Smith that contain “my word”

Notice how the text says, “this generation shall have my word through” Joseph Smith”

While that above passage may be applicable to the translation of the Book of Mormon, it more specifically pertains to the literal words of Christ that came through Joseph Smith. The next passage speaks of the three witnesses of those words of Christ

11 And in addition to your testimony, the testimony of three of my servants, whom I shall call and ordain, unto whom I will show these things, and they shall go forth with my words that are given through you.

I am simply observing that the three witnesses that are mentioned in those passage are witnesses of the word
of God
that is coming forth through Joseph Smith. It is arguably speaking of the three witnesses of the Doctrine and Covenants!

Interestingly, the three witnesses mentioned in the above passages were ORDAINED pertaining to that specific calling of being three witnesses.

Were the three witnesses of the Book of Mormon actually ordained to be witnesses of the book of Mormon?

Conversely, were the three witnesses of the revelations that Joseph was bringing forth ordained to that calling?

I am not saying that the Book of Mormon does not have three witnesses. It clearly does.

I am simply reading the above text without bias from the orthodox interpretation of those passages.

I could be wrong.

You decide.

Did the Doctrine and Covenants have Three Witnesses?

In the original Doctrine and Covenants, a preface was provided which declared that the Doctrine and Covenants was the “foundation of the Church” and that it has been “granted for the salvation of all that believe“.

It was signed by Joseph Smith and three other witnesses. Oliver Cowdery, Sidney Rigdon, and Frederick G. Williams.

Notice how the prophet Joseph Smith referred to the revelations contained in the Doctrine and Covenants as the “book of Revelations” and identified them as the “foundation of the church” and placed a temporal value on them to be greater than the riches of the whole earth, and they were given for the “salvation of all that believe”

In the last, which was held at Brother [John] Johnson’s in Hiram, after deliberate consideration, in consequence of the book of Revelations, now to be printed, being the foundation of the church in these last days; and a benefit to the world, showing that the keys of the mysteries of the Kingdom of our Savior, are again entrusted to man, and the riches of eternity within the compass of those who are willing to live by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God: therefore the conference priced the Revelations to be worth to the church, the riches of the whole earth, speaking temporally. The great benefits to the world, which result from the Book of Mormon and the Revelations, which the Lord has seen fit, in his infinite wisdom, to grant unto us for our salvation, and for the salvation of all that will believe, [HC 1:235]

In the preface of the Doctrine and Covenants Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery, Sidney Rigdon and Frederick G. Williams made the following declaration:

We do not present this little volume with any other expectation than that we are to be called to answer to every principle advanced, in that day when the secrets of all hearts will be revealed, and the reward of every man’s labor be given him.

In Section 1 of the Doctrine and Covenants verses 7-13 it testifies that all the scriptures are true, including the Book of Mormon and “commandments” in the Doctrine and Covenants. It declares that the world will be judged by the by the joint testimony of these records.

It is commonly taught that the Book of Mormon is the record of a fallen people who rejected the fulness of the gospel and therefore the greater things were sealed up and hidden from them because of their unbelief.

I would suggest that the Doctrine and Covenants is also a record of a fallen people who rejected the fulness of the gospel and therefore the greater things were sealed up and hidden from gentiles of the Latter day restoration because of their unbelief.

In section 84 the Lord chastised the saints for taking lightly both the Book of Mormon and the revelation Joseph smith was receiving

52 And whoso receiveth not my voice is not acquainted with my voice, and is not of me.

53 And by this you may know the righteous from the wicked, and that the whole world groaneth under sin and darkness even now.

54 And your minds in times past have been darkened because of unbelief, and because you have treated lightly the things you have received—

55 Which vanity and unbelief have brought the whole church under condemnation.

56 And this condemnation resteth upon the children of Zion, even all.

57 And they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon and the former commandments which I have given them, not only to say, but to do according to that which I have written—

Most members of the church and even members of LDS fringe groups often quote or paraphrase the above passages putting total emphasis on taking lightly the Book of Mormon while completely omitting the joint significance of the “former commandments” (revelations given to Joseph Smith)

In future episodes of this series, I will prove from scripture that the Doctrine and Covenants is the record which contains the words of Christ that the book of Ether prophesies about.
It is a record in which many mysteries have been sealed up and hidden from the gentiles because of unbelief. It is going to be unsealed when the mysteries in it are unfolded to those that have the faith to believe the unconditional prophecies and promises in it.

It is commonly understood that the Doctrine and Covenants speaks of and therefore testifies of the inspired nature of the Book of Mormon.

However, I would suggest that the Book of Mormon also testifies of the Doctrine and Covenants as we have just witnessed in the Book of Ether.

Further, Christ prophesies of the coming forth of the Doctrine and Covenants in 3^rd Nephi!

All we need to do is use the keywords “my words” as discussed in the Ether text and in section 5 of the Doctrine and Covenants and it takes us to the following prophecy by Christ

9 For in that day, for my sake shall the Father work a work, which shall be a great and a marvelous work among them; and there shall be among them those who will not believe it, although a man shall declare it unto them.

10 But behold, the life of my servant [Joseph Smith] shall be in my hand; therefore they shall not hurt him, although he shall be marred because of them. Yet I will heal him, for I will show unto them that my wisdom is greater than the cunning of the devil.

11 Therefore it shall come to pass that whosoever will not believe in my words, [The Doctrine and Covenants]
who am Jesus Christ, which the Father shall cause him to bring forth unto the Gentiles, and shall give unto him power that he shall bring them forth unto the Gentiles, (it shall be done even as Moses said) they shall be cut off from among my people who are of the covenant. (3^rd Nephi 21)

Unbe-freakin-lievable!

Is Christ actually prophesying to the Nephites about the future coming forth of the Doctrine and Covenant to the Gentiles?

I think that a contextual reading of it using the testimony of related scriptures suggests that it is.

You decide for yourself.

It is interesting that Christ references Deuteronomy 18 (and quoted in Acts 3:22-23) which prophesied that Christ would be a prophet raised up like unto Moses and warns us that we should hearken to his words:

The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;

A keyword search of “my words” takes us to the second part of that prophecy in Deuteronomy 18 which speaks of Joseph Smith also being raise up like Moses.

In that prophecy, Christ identifies the uniqueness of the book of scripture that Joseph Smith will bring forth and how Christ will put His words in Joseph’s mouth.

18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; [Doctrine and Covenants] and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.

19 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.

I realize these interpretations probably go against what you have been taught by the orthodox church dear reader.

I don’t necessarily expect readers of this post to accept the suppositions provided herein. However, if you can only desire to believe these concepts, and then prayerfully search the scriptures you may have some epiphanies that will help to prepare your heart and your mind for the marvelous work that is about to come forth.

I think you will find the remaining episodes to be very compelling and thought provoking.

BTW

Regarding those that responded to my question about the great preliminary commandment-

One of the readers that responded to my question suggested that the law of consecration was the commandment that would be given when the marvelous work begins.. I agree that it will be an integral part of the marvelous work. However, I was looking for the commandment that is given BEFORE the marvelous work starts. I can see in re-reading my posts that I was not real clear about that in some places.. I apologize for the ambiguity of my question. Thank you for that comment! It is true that consecration will be very important and will possibly weed a lot of tares out from among the wheat.

Another reader suggested that the great commandment would be to REPENT! I can’t argue with that.. Faith and repentance are the first commandments of the gospel invitation and among the very first admonitions of the Lord when the restoration took place. Joseph was commanded to teach nothing but repentance to that generation.. I suspect that a degree of humility and repentance is required before we can exercise faith in God’s word and then heed the word of God.

Another person pretty much gave me a condensed version of how the marvelous work will take place. In it he included obeying the word of God and all of the commandments including faith repentance, baptism of water fire and the Holy Ghost and consecration… WOW.. talk about cover all of the bases!

Another person just responded and he nailed it.. Interestingly, he nailed it using different scriptures than the one I used.. it is so magnificent how God tells us things many times and in many ways but he is always consistent.

Lastly, my Canadian friend also responded with several very good ideas and one of them also was the corrected answer yet from different passages than the ones I had in mind.

Thanks to all who responded..

“Frankly, there’s nothing that I have read or listened to from you which would invite a well-reasoned dispute with you”

I have been getting some interesting messages from people lately.

This is the latest one that came in today:

Thank you for your “Because I Am Watching” WordPress blog and your “Three Watches” blogspot blog and your YouTube channel and your book “Solving the Prophet Puzzle”.

Impressive scholarship and even more impressive exhortation to search the scriptures.

Kudos.

Frankly, there’s nothing that I have read or listened to from you which would invite a well-reasoned dispute with you, as two different persons search & interpret the scriptures together.

Conversation via email would be a blessing.

Personally, I enjoy learning via conversation as much as via solitary study. I get very little fellowship with the saints — although I doubt that the Lord Christ Jesus & holy heavenly Abba Father sees any of us presently as genuinely “saintly” — here in the rural region of the west central Kootenays.

I was in email correspondence with John P. Pratt just before his death last 12 October 2021. The last subject of our short email correspondence was if Joseph Smith Jr did or did not practice polygamy.

JP Pratt referenced this footnote: “The Saints Herald 51:305, quoted by Richard and Pamela Price, ‘Joseph Smith Fought Polygamy’ (Independence, MO: Price Publishing, 2014), vol. 2, p. 167. These three volumes provide a rich source of research defending the belief that Joseph never practiced polygamy.

While he may have done so his early years, possibly in the case of Fanny Alger, he apparently discovered the practice was wrong and fought against it in his later years. Again, just because a prophet does something, that alone does not make it right!” from Pratt’s article, [he then referenced one of Pratt’s articles]

(I fully realize that name-dropping JP Pratt won’t impress you, although you personally & privately might have been impressed with some of his [inspired?] scholarship, assuming that you read from Pratt’s blog from time to time.)

Might you please send me a pdf copy of the timeline you work from in your four-part series on the ministry of Joseph Smith Jr and the secret history of Mormonism? Thanks in advance.

We’re living in amazing times, eh Watcher? I was recently pondering about 9/11 in 2001 and the great recession (and financial crash) of 2008 seven years later (which might have put into motion the need for the World Economic Forum to accelerate their [so-called] “great reset” and their transhumanist fourth industrial revolution)

and now what’s happening fourteen years later in 2022 with everything associated with Covid medical tyranny (including mandates to get jabbed, health passports [which sure reminds me of Nazism], what’s in the shots which interacts with high-frequency 5G radio spectrum radiation).

All of this has me wondering what’s going to transpire during the next twenty-one years — presuming that we live that long — and how soon the marvelous work and a wonder / the dispensation of the fullness of times / the restoration following all of the foundational preparations will come to pass.

I turn 65 this year (obviously I have no clue as to your age) and I figure that — looking at how long my parents and grandparents lived — there’s a decent chance that I’ll be around for another twenty-one years, the Lord be willing.

I’d like to discuss specific prophecies associated with our present timeframe, if that’s of interest to you as a historian. If you require more background information from me about me prior to a deep dive into historical prophecies about what’s happening in the here and now, just ask.

Would you enjoy another email correspondence with the likes of me, or are you too busy, or are you disinterested?

Sincerely,

XXXX X XXXXXX

XXXX British Columbia

Canada

This was my Reply”

“Hi XXXX

It is good to hear from you.

You can get a copy of the timeline from my onewhoiswatching blog.

I loved John Pratt and have a soft spot in my heart for him and feel that he was very sincere in his beliefs although he was very confused and very deceived. It is unfortunate that he became involved with the Snufferite scam and the Mauricio Berger scam.

Regarding polygamy-

 I have read all of the information on both sides of the debate.

I realize that publicly Joseph Smith denied living polygamy and that people like Pamela Price and all of her disciples on the issue have been able to make a compelling argument that he never did.

I have also read all of the testimonies of all of Joseph Smith’s closest associates and confidants (even those that did not believe in the principle but testified that he practiced it) as well as the countless testimonies of the women he had relationships with, claiming that he did live it. Those testimonies also make a compelling case to the contrary.

Both sides make a compelling case drawing from credible historical sources.

 To me the tie breaker is determined by prophecy, which clearly testifies that Joseph’s eyes became covered because the saints of the restoration rejected the fulness of the gospel.

Once the saints rejected the fulness, Joseph’s eyes were covered and their sins were placed upon him and he began acting out their transgressions.

[Prophecy testifies that Joseph has not permanently fallen from his calling. He will return and complete all of the unconditional promises and prophesies about him]

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 as documented in the Old Testament was a literal enactment of a future event involving Joseph and Sidney and their associates..

This is not just about polygamy.. it has to do with Joseph Smith’s involvement in secret orders, and his false teachings about the nature and character of God which contradicted the previous revelations that Joseph had been given… etc., etc., etc.

I am tired of discussing the polygamy issue with people..

If you have read all of my documentation on the topic, both historical and prophetic, and still don’t get it, there is nothing I can for you.. . You will simply need to wait until God’s servants return and provide the report that will astonish people.

So, regarding polygamy, you and I can simply agree to disagree on that issue, if in fact you agree with the Price thesis.

Regarding an email 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..

I hope you are doing well

May the Lord bless you in your study of God’s word.”

I don’t know if I will hear back from him, but if I do, and if the conversation seem instructive, I will make a series out of it.

Keep watching

Essential Oldies but Goodies Part Nine: “Simply Types and Shadows or the Literal Fulfillment?”

In relation to the book I am working on about the prophetic history of Mormonism, I have been going through all of my old posts and categorizing they by topic.

This document will provide a quick and easy way for me to find relevant links that will provide detailed documentation to the one page summaries that I will be providing.

The listing of prophetic snippets that will require one page summaries is now over 100 and the list continues to grow each day.  I am really enjoying the project because I am seeing things I have never seen before in the revelations that Joseph Smith brought forth.

When I get done categorizing the links to past  articles according to topic, I will provide it in a pdf for those that have complained about how difficult it is to navigate the hundreds of articles on this site.

I think this pdf will be very helpful in navigating the site and finding specific topics that one is looking for.

Essential Oldies but Goodies

Some time ago I started a series that highlights some of the more important topics and more popular posts that I have written. I call it Essential Oldies but Goodies

Since I have forgotten many of the posts I have written, even including the more popular ones, I often identify likely posts and articles for inclusion into this series by simply looking at my blog analytics to see which posts seem to be hitting a nerve with people.

This often happens when other bloggers refer people to my blog and provide links to my articles.

This is how I got the idea on which article to highlight for this edition of the series. It is  titled:

Simply Types and Shadows or the Literal Fulfillment? Part Two: 16 Prophetic Evidences in Modern Revelation of Joseph Smith’s Return

You can access the article in the above link.

My Analytics led me to John Pratt

When my analytics showed lots of people reading that blog post, it caused me to re-read it. It took me several paragraphs before I remembered writing it. LOL (I think I may have written a similar post and that is why I had forgotten this one)

My growing dementia is a really interesting thing in that it seems to only effect certain types of memories and it seems to fade in and out depending on sleep patterns and diet.

Anyway, it turns out that the person that is currently directing people to that old post, is John Pratt.

He is using the documentation in that post in conjunction for his latest article promoting his belief that that Joseph Smith returns in the third watch.

More specifically he postulates that Joseph Smith has returned in the person of Mauricio Berger.

I appreciate John’s passion for the gospel and his endless research that results in lots of thoughtful articles that cover a diverse number of topics mostly having to do with ancient calendars.

It is also nice of him to give credit to people for their contribution to scholarly topics.

Thank you John.

John Pratt’s article can be viewed here.

Since it is about 200 years since the first vision, I think it is appropriate to share the work that John Pratt did in conjunction with John Lefgren regarding their research into the actual date of the first vision.

I have no idea if their findings are accurate but I applaud them for the research they have done and their interest in really important topics. It is exciting to think that we are celebrating the 200th anniversary of the first vision.

.

 

Listing of previous Essential Oldies

Essential Oldies but Goodies Part Eight: The War in Heaven did not take place in the pre-existence… and “first estate” means mortal probation.

Essential Oldies but Goodies Part Seven:  Documenting God’s Relationship with His People in the Latter days

Essential Oldies but Goodies Part Six: The Law of Adoption and the Sealing Principles

Essential Oldies but Goodies Part Five: Discovering the Doctored Covenants and then the Interpretive Revisions and then the changing of the Ordinance    

See Also COMMANDMENTS-DOCTRINE-COVENANTS Part One
COMMANDMENTS-DOCTRINE-COVENANTS Part Two

Essential Oldies but Goodies Part Four: “Seven Seals and a Paradisaical Millennium”

Essential Oldies but Goodies Part Three: A Mystical Look at the LDS Restoration Movement

Essential Oldies but Goodies Part Two: Be Ye Therefore Perfect.. right now

Essential Oldies but Goodies Part One The Succession Crisis

Doctrine of Nehor Part 2

(Youtube recording of this post provided below)

This topic is very polarizing because it strikes at the very essence of a person’s deeply rooted and very emotional beliefs about the hereafter.

Many of us have acquired a firm set of beliefs about whether or not it is essential to accept the fulness of the gospel, during mortal probation in order to inherit eternal life.

We have established beliefs about the resurrection and the judgment and how all of this effects our true eternal status.

Because this is so polarizing, the feedback I have gotten has been somewhat mixed.

One fellow who read my first post while on vacation responded thusly:

“I have rarely read something that is so completely mistaken… As Joseph taught ” God is more liberal in his views and boundless in his mercy and blessings than we are willing to believe or accept”…

Some of his complaints will be addressed during this series.

I hope I did not ruin his vacation. After all, you only get so many vacations during mortal probation!

Also a few people question the interpretation of “worlds without end“. They seem to feel that the definition of the term that I provided was strictly dependent on how Joseph defined it. I did not mean to imply that Joseph Smith was the last word on what the correct definition is. Many Biblical Christians have taught that the phrase World (s) without end is an idiom that means “forever”. That was an established belief long before Joseph Smith came along.

It appears that some people do not think that anything Joseph Smith said during the Nauvoo years is trustworthy. Perhaps I am partly responsible for that based on some of the things I have said in the past. However I feel that what I have said has been misinterpreted. I do believe Joseph taught a few things incorrectly during the Nauvoo era as part of his calling as the intercessory servant, but I still think he taught some true things as well. Discernment is essential.

On a more positive note, my post seems to have resonated with a few people. One comment is as follows:

Great post, Watcher.

For the last couple months I’ve been trying to complete two articles in regards to the doctrine of baptisms for the dead and the concept of multiple probations. I believe neither are properly understood…and I doubt that even, I, myself have clarity on the matter.

Regardless, we really must try and work these things out because a false understanding of them really are doctrines of the devil.

I decided to not post my article about multiple lives within a singular probation but find it prudent to do so quickly. Not only is Mauricio Berger introducing it via John Pratt, but Julie Rowe’s movement has embraced it full-heartedly.

The bottom line is what Nephi said in Nephi 10:20-22, in which you remark:

“We have been given a set probationary period of time in which to lay claim upon our eternal reward by the thoughts we think, our ability to discern truth from error through the Holy Ghost, and the actions we take in this life. The scriptures teach that If we seek to do wickedly and are found to be unclean before the judgment-seat of God, we will be cast off FOREVER.”

This is clearly the belief the Lord wants in the forefront of our mind.

And praise God that I have removed myself from being open-minded to the idea that the kingdoms of glory are temporary.

Here is another comment-

Dear Watcher,

I just finished listening to your recommended sermon from Pastor Andy Stanley. It was inspiring and I thank you so much for the tip.

Also, it seems to me that your ministry is taking flight to a patriarchal level wherein you are counseling and leading the way to tremendous truths. I had thought that one of your finest ministries was the post concerning the mystical understanding of the original church fulfilling the prophecies of Daniel. However, you have now embarked on a new series which I can see rivals even that tour de force. I refer to your recent “The Doctrine of Nehor Part 1”. There are so many questions which I had following my work on Section 76 that you addressed. Why does 76 refer to the three glories as beyond description yet says that the terrestrial and telestial worlds without end can never achieve the celestial kingdom? Why does 76 refer to the ministry to the two lower levels of glory from those of the celestial if there is no possibility of progression to a higher glory? And the BOM explanation that the three levels of glory are characterized by the celestial law of mercy, the law of Justice and finally the law of judgment. Fantastic and I await your part 2 and 3 with great anticipation.

As always, thank you for your steadfastness, your scholarship, your love of the scriptures and your integrity. You are a mensch!

As you can see, my interpretation of scripture on this topic resinates with some but certainly not all.

In part one of this series we discussed the doctrine of Nehor and how he taught that nobody needed to fear or tremble about salvation because everyone will eventually be saved in the highest Kingdom of God.

Others have since taught variations of that heresy including the multiple mortal probation theory which is the red-headed stepsister of the doctrine of Nehor.

Some believe that everyone will graduate from glory to glory in the eternities until they ultimately reach the highest glory to dwell in the presence of the Father.

We reviewed some very definitive passages of scripture from section 76 in our first installment showing that kingdom jumping will not be an option in the hereafter.

As previously mentioned, some do not believe that “Worlds without end” means what many bible scholars and Joseph Smith seemed to believe that it means. While I believe that it does mean that, it really doesn’t matter because I believe there is much stronger evidence than that one passage.

In that first installment we used section 76 as our primary foundational text to parse through while integrating additional evidences from other scriptural sources.

In this installment, I had planned on using section 88 as our primary foundational text while integrating additional supporting evidences from other scriptural sources. However I have been sidetracked!

Somehow I happened upon the words of Christ himself regarding this topic.

While I love the words of Christs apostles and disciples, I feel that the words of Christ sometimes strike even deeper at the heart of the matter and certainly carry greater credibility.

So I have decided to review some very pertinent teachings of Christ in this installment and then cover Sections 88 and 77 in later installments.

First I want to review two narratives spoken directly from the words of Christ from the New Testament and Book of Mormon. These narratives are very blunt and direct with no mincing of words in authoritatively declaring that few people will ultimately inherit eternal life in the kingdom of the Father.

The first two texts address the “strait gate” and “narrow way” that “leadeth to life” construct which informs us that “few there be that find it” and that after “night cometh… no man can work“:

Christ’s Words in the New Testament

22 ¶ Repent, therefore, and enter ye in at the strait gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction; and many there be who go in thereat.
23 Because strait is the gate and narrow is the way that leadeth unto life; and few there be that find it. (JST Matthew 7)

Christ’s Words in the Book of Mormon

32 But behold, it sorroweth me because of the fourth generation from this generation, for they are led away captive by him even as was the son of perdition; for they will sell me for silver and for gold, and for that which moth doth corrupt and which thieves can break through and steal. And in that day will I visit them, even in turning their works upon their own heads.

33 And it came to pass that when Jesus had ended these sayings he said unto his disciples: Enter ye in at the strait gate; for strait is the gate, and narrow is the way that leads to life, and few there be that find it; but wide is the gate, and broad the way which leads to death, and many there be that travel therein, until the night cometh, wherein no man can work. (3^rd Nephi 27)

Few will inherit eternal life. That is what a simple-minded person like me gets from the above words of Christ. I suspect there will be those that derive something entirely different from those passages. Thankfully we all have our agency to interpret scripture as we see fit.

Notice that once night cometh, no more work can be done. I don’t know how it could be said more clearly and understandably. I guess we can debate when in the timeline of events “night” has reference to, but frankly, it doesn’t really matter because regardless of where you want to place it, it proves that there is a definitive cut off point beyond which there is no progressing into greater glory or kingdom.

Another powerful and closely related construct in the New Testament that mirrors the above declarations from Christ is demonstrated in the interchange between Christ and the rich man.

Christ was approached by the rich man who asked “Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”

After speaking about various commandments that one should keep, which the rich man had apparently been keeping throughout his life, the final reply from the Savior to the rich man was, “One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.”

21 And the man was sad at that saying, and went away grieved; for he had great possessions.
22 ¶ And Jesus looked round about and said unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of my Father!

In answer to his question, “what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”, the rich man was told that he must “sell whatever thou hast and give it unto the poor“, which I suspect was another way of admonishing the fellow to enter into consecration which is part of gospel law. Further, he was to take up his cross, and follow the Savior.

The term “take up the cross” is an interesting one since Christ had not yet been hung on the cross!

It has been suggested by some Bible scholars that Roman crucifixion (and the carrying of the cross that preceded it) was a well-known form of punishment and that the phrase was a common expression. It is interesting to note that Christ had already predicted his own death, although not with specificity of method.

The term seems to imply that true followers of Christ suffer affliction in this life because of their consecrated life and devotion to Christ. Conversely, they will be lifted up to be saved from the wrath of God at the last day. Yet the doctrine of Nehor would have us believe that even those that don’t take up their cross and live consecration and follow the Savior in this life will somehow end up enjoying the fulness of the Father in the presence of the Father. Is that really consistent with what Christ said?

The bottom-line of the LDS restoration movement IMO is that the saints were commanded to take up their cross, enter into the gospel law which includes consecration, and follow Jesus.

As a collective group, they did not do it and hence, the Lord delivered them and the world over to Satan. Of course it is not a strict parallel with the rich man as the Lord has informed us that Satan played a significant role in hindering his servants (D&C124:49) and that many of those saints will yet come forth victoriously at a later time. (D&C 101:1-3)

The Lord has sent a “strong delusion” upon his apostate people. It is only in our delusional state of darkness that we could be confused and arrogant enough to think that most people, including those that reject the gospel and steal and cheat and commit adultery and murder, are going to eventually dwell in the presence of the Father after the judgment of this probationary experience. If that is the case, there are countless scriptures that are wrong and have no credibility.

At this point, there may be some that are feeling fearful because of all of the people who have not received of the fulness of the gospel and priesthood.

Please remember that during God’s strange act and marvelous work, amazing things are going to take place that will allow EVERYONE who has accepted Christ in their heart and who would have previously accepted the fulness of the gospel in the flesh, had it been offered, to receive the baptism of water, fire and the Holy Ghost BEFORE the first trump. We know this is the case because the first fruits of the resurrection will all be sealed up to God during the sixth seal, prior the sound of the first trump.

“Kingdom of God” vs “Kingdom of my Father”

In the last post I noted that the terms save, saved and salvation are not always used the same way and hence become stumbling blocks for those that think they are. I would suggest that the same is true with the term “kingdom of God“.

Notice how JST of Mark 10 inserts Kingdom of my Father in the place of the term kingdom of God in only one of the three consecutive times in three consecutive verses, that the term is used.

This strongly suggests that the two phrases are not always synonymous, and that Kingdom of God does not always necessarily represent the highest kingdom where the father dwells. Rather, it appears to sometimes refer to a kingdom of glory rather than the kingdom of the Father. Again, context is critical.

Mark 10:21 And the man was sad at that saying and went away grieved; for he had great possessions.

Mark 10:22 And Jesus looked round about and said unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of my Father! [changed from kingdom of God]

Mark 10:23 And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus spake again and said unto them, Children, how hard is it for them who trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!

Mark 10:24 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

One could interpret the above passages to be saying that they who will not give up their riches will not enter the Kingdom of the father and will even have a difficult process getting into a kingdom of glory.

Cast into the Fire

Lets return back to the words of Christ in Matthew 7. A few passages after verses 22 and 23, the Lord explains that those that bringeth not forth good fruit will be cast into the fire.

Matt 7:26 Even so, every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

Matt 7:27 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit; neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

Matt 7:28 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire.

Matt 7:29 Wherefore, by their fruits ye shall know them.

Matt 7:30 Verily, I say unto you, It is not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, that shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven.

Matt 7:31 For the day soon cometh that men shall come before me to judgment, to be judged according to their works.

Matt 7:32 And many will say unto me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name; and in thy name cast out devils; and in thy name done many wonderful works?

Matt 7:33 And then will I say, Ye never knew me; depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Those that don’t bring forth “good fruit” during mortal probation will be “cast into the fire“.

These keywords will take us to the well-known wheat and tares construct in scripture that we are going to review.

A Few Questions to Ponder

But first, let me ask a few questions about your current perception of the wheat and tares narrative.

Do you think Christ is speaking about the importance of bringing forth good fruit during this mortal probation or during the eternities after this probation?

The answer to that should be obvious.

Here is another question to ponder.

If you needed to identify out of the four categories of beings itemized in section 76, which ones are cast into the fire that Christ and the parable speaks of, where would you draw the dividing line?

Do you believe the only ones cast into the fire at the last day are the Sons of Perdition?

Timing is Everything in Understanding the Correct Context

This is where the timeline of this earth as revealed in the Book of Revelation and clarified in section 77 becomes very helpful in gaining critical context.

If the parable of the wheat and tares was speaking about the very end of time after the “little season” is completed, then the graph below would probably be an accurate depiction of who is ultimately cast into the fire. This is because, in the ultimate sense, it will only be the sons of Perdition that are cast off.

However, Christ’s words and the related parable of the wheat and the tares is not referring to the end of the earthly timeline that follows the little season.

It is referring to the end of mortal probation and the beginning period of the seventh thousand years.

We know this because the parable identifies the “end of the world” and the “destruction of the wicked” as taking place in the day of Christ’s return which is the time of harvest.

40 The reapers are the angels, or the messengers sent of heaven.

41 As, therefore, the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so shall it be in the end of this world, or the destruction of the wicked.

42 For in that day, before the Son of Man shall come, he shall send forth his angels and messengers of heaven.

43 And they shall gather out of his kingdom all things which offend, and them which do iniquity, and shall cast them out among the wicked; and there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

44 For the world shall be burned with fire.

45 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Hence the above graphic is not congruent with scripture.

If you are like me, you have possibly assumed that the dividing line that separates the wheat from the tares in the parable, at the time of harvest, is depicted in the following graphic.

After all, both the terrestrial and celestial beings described in sections 76 and 84 come forth and are redeemed while the rest of the dead live not again until the thousand years are ended.

Sadly, even the above graphic is not congruent with scripture.

I am going to suggest, that the dividing line of who is cast into the fire that shows up in the scriptures is at the sound of the trump of the first resurrection, making the followings graphic the accurate depiction.

Pretty sober thought, no?

God’s Wrath is What Cleanses and Purifies the Wicked

As documented in the last post, everyone besides those that are lifted up at the sound of the trump are not justified and are therefore, wicked and cast into the fire.

.While that may seem shocking to some, I have come to view the wrath of God that is the fire that the tares are cast into, in a very different way than I once did. I now realize that God’s wrath is not only an extension of his justice and judgment, it is also a reflection of his mercy.

Why?

Because it is his wrath that cleanses and purifies the terrestrial spirits that refused to repent. This was the warning in section 19.

One must accept the fulness while in the flesh aor suffer at the last day.

And yet, the fire prepares those that come forth at the second trump to be cleansed and ultimately abide the day of his coming . It is his wrath that prevents the second death from ultimately have full and final power over them.

I believe the terrestrial glory that they inherit after their pain and suffering is an indescribably joyful and blissful state.

That is the wonderment of section 76.

It takes the topic of damnation and God’s wrath that is repeatedly addressed in the New Testament and Book of Mormon, and provides a much greater and deeper context. It reveals that the heaven or hell narratives in the New Testament and Book of Mormon are not necessarily describing what we think they are describing in the long term, eternal sense.

Everyone but the First Fruits of the Resurrection must be Cleansed by God’s Wrath

Keyword searches that I have performed pertaining to the topic of being cast into the fire, explain that the narrative parallels the end times timeline and it actually identifies EVERYONE accept for the elect of God that are quickened, as those that will be cast into the fire.

There are countless evidences of this that you can search out for yourself. I encourage you to do an extensive search of the “cast in the fire” narrative as it relates to the Savior’s words and the parable of the wheat and the tares as I will not have time to cover many of them.

The allegory in the Book of Jacob chapter 5 covers this cast into the fire narrative extensively and at the end of the allegory in Chapter 6 it provides a summary of who is cast into the fire as it integrates the themes of justice and mercy into the explanation:

5 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I beseech of you in words of soberness that ye would repent, and come with full purpose of heart, and cleave unto God as he cleaveth unto you. And while his arm of mercy is extended towards you in the light of the day, harden not your hearts.

6 Yea, today, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts; for why will ye die?

7 For behold, after ye have been nourished by the good word of God all the day long, will ye bring forth evil fruit, that ye must be hewn down and cast into the fire?

8 Behold, will ye reject these words? Will ye reject the words of the prophets; and will ye reject all the words which have been spoken concerning Christ, after so many have spoken concerning him; and deny the good word of Christ, and the power of God, and the gift of the Holy Ghost, and quench the Holy Spirit, and make a mock of the great plan of redemption, which hath been laid for you?

9 Know ye not that if ye will do these things, that the power of the redemption and the resurrection, which is in Christ, will bring you to stand with shame and awful guilt before the bar of God?

10 And according to the power of justice, for justice cannot be denied, ye must go away into that lake of fire and brimstone, whose flames are unquenchable, and whose smoke ascendeth up forever and ever, which lake of fire and brimstone is endless torment.

11 O then, my beloved brethren, repent ye, and enter in at the strait gate, and continue in the way which is narrow, until ye shall obtain eternal life.

The casting into the fire takes place upon those that rejected the opportunity to accept Christ while in the flesh. It is predicated upon bringing forth fruit “during the light of day“. Those that are nourished by the good word of God during this probation in flesh, yet bring forth evil fruit must be hewn down and cast into the fire.

Thank goodness for section 76 and other revelations that inform us that the wrath of God does not last forever with regard to those that qualify to inherit a telestial or terrestrial glory. The term “endless torment” refers to the exquisiteness and indescribable depth of the torment, not the duration.

Christ warned in section 19 that all those who do not repent during this probation in flesh must suffer.

I am sure that none of us can even begin to comprehend what that suffering would be like, but Section 19 and 76 and other passages in Isaiah and other scriptures give us the loving assurance that AFTER the pain and suffering takes place, most of God’s created beings will be redeemed from the suffering and enter into eternal bliss. Each will enjoy a kingdom of glory! Indeed, in the next installment we shall learn that each of us will return to the specific glory in which we were organized or from which we were organized.

All Men Must Repent While in the Flesh or Suffer

Notice the amazing sequence contained in the following passages from section 19;

1) Everyone that does not repent while in the flesh will suffer
2) But the torment of those that suffer is not endless. It will come to an end.
3) Nevertheless, the term “eternal damnation” is used “more expressly than other scriptures” to warn people for his names glory

A Great Mystery is Revealed with Regard to Two Specific Terms

4) The term “endless punishment” and “eternal punishment” simply means “God’s punishment” because God is endless and eternal.

1 I am Alpha and Omega, Christ the Lord; yea, even I am he, the beginning and the end, the Redeemer of the world.

2 I, having accomplished and finished the will of him whose I am, even the Father, concerning me—having done this that I might subdue all things unto myself—

3 Retaining all power, even to the destroying of Satan and his works at the end of the world, and the last great day of judgment, which I shall pass upon the inhabitants thereof, judging every man according to his works and the deeds which he hath done.

4 And surely every man must repent or suffer, for I, God, am endless.

5 Wherefore, I revoke not the judgments which I shall pass, but woes shall go forth, weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth, yea, to those who are found on my left hand.

6 Nevertheless, it is not written that there shall be no end to this torment, but it is written endless torment.

7 Again, it is written eternal damnation; wherefore it is more express than other scriptures, that it might work upon the hearts of the children of men, altogether for my name’s glory.

8 Wherefore, I will explain unto you this mystery, for it is meet unto you to know even as mine apostles.

9 I speak unto you that are chosen in this thing, even as one, that you may enter into my rest.

10 For, behold, the mystery of godliness, how great is it! For, behold, I am endless, and the punishment which is given from my hand is endless punishment, for Endless is my name. Wherefore—

11 Eternal punishment is God’s punishment.

12 Endless punishment is God’s punishment.

13 Wherefore, I command you to repent, and keep the commandments which you have received by the hand of my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., in my name;

14 And it is by my almighty power that you have received them;

15 Therefore I command you to repent—repent, lest I smite you by the rod of my mouth, and by my wrath, and by my anger, and your sufferings be sore—how sore you know not, how exquisite you know not, yea, how hard to bear you know not.

16 For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent;

17 But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I;

18 Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink—

19 Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men.

20 Wherefore, I command you again to repent, lest I humble you with my almighty power; and that you confess your sins, lest you suffer these punishments of which I have spoken, of which in the smallest, yea, even in the least degree you have tasted at the time I withdrew my Spirit.

The above narrative is somewhat Chiastic in that it begins informing us that we must repent or suffer and ends with the warning that we must repent or suffer.

God was speaking to his servants, not to the world of skeptics and unbelievers.

Can it really be possible that everyone except those who are quickened and caught up in the first resurrection will suffer the wrath of God?

Regarding this great question, I want to point something out about section 76

As you all know, Sidney Rigdon wrote the text found in section 76 in behalf of himself and Joseph soon after they had the vision. He wrote it while in the spirit at the command of God. Joseph obviously agreed with everything that Sidney wrote as he probably was present when it was penned, probably proofed it for accuracy, and was on the committee to have it published and canonized.

We are informed by statements from Joseph and Sidney that they were shone much more than what was written. Clearly, God did not necessarily want everything publicly revealed that Joseph and Sidney saw so some restraint and prudence was used in writing down a summary of the vision.

Here is where it gets kind of curious and interesting. Later on in Nauvoo, Joseph decided to write his own description of the vision in poemic form.

A side by side comparison of Joseph’s poem with Sidneys text in section 76, shows that Joseph followed the exact same sequence of topics in his poem as Sidney had written without any contradiction.

So why did Joseph feel impressed to write his own version of the vision?

I would suggest that even though his poemic version ends up agreeing with and being a second testament of what Sidney wrote, he also used it to insert some clarifications not included in section 76.

One example of this is the clarification that Satan was a “Godified” being in the presence of God when he fell.

Section 76	Joseph Smith Poem of 76
25 And this we saw also, and bear record, that an angel of God who was in authority in the presence of God, who rebelled against the Only Begotten Son whom the Father loved and who was in the bosom of the Father, was thrust down from the presence of God and the Son,	21. And I saw and bear record of warfare in heav’n; For an angel of light, in authority great, Rebell’d against Jesus, and sought for his pow’r, But was thrust down to woe from his Godified state.

We could probably do an entire post on the implications in that clarification but that is beyond the scope of this topic.

Another very significant clarification that Joseph Smith inserted that does address this topic is as follows:

Section 76

Joseph Smith Poem of 76

57 And are priests of the Most High, after the order of Melchizedek, which was after the order of Enoch, which was after the order of the Only Begotten Son. 58 Wherefore, as it is written, they are gods, even the sons of God— 59 Wherefore, all things are theirs, whether life or death, or things present, or things to come, all are theirs and they are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s. 60 And they shall overcome all things. 61 Wherefore, let no man glory in man, but rather let him glory in God, who shall subdue all enemies under his feet. 62 These shall dwell in the presence of God and his Christ forever and ever. 63 These are they whom he shall bring with him, when he shall come in the clouds of heaven to reign on the earth over his people. 64 These are they who shall have part in the first resurrection. 65 These are they who shall come forth in the resurrection of the just. 66 These are they who are come unto Mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly place, the holiest of all.

45. They’re priests of the order of Melchisedek [sic.], Like Jesus, (from whom is this highest reward,) Receiving a fulness of glory and light; As written: They’re Gods; even sons of the Lord. . 46. So all things are theirs; yea, of life, or of death; Yea, whether things now, or to come, all are theirs, And they are the Savior’s, and he is the Lord’s, Having overcome all, as eternity’s heirs. 47. ‘Tis wisdom that man never glory in man, but give God the glory for all that he hath; For the righteous will walk in the presence of God, While the wicked are trod under foot in his wrath. 48. Yea, the righteous shall dwell in the presence of God, And of Jesus, forever, from earth’s second birth For when he comes down in the splendor of heav’n, All these he’ll bring with him, to reign on the earth. . 49. These are they that arise in their bodies of flesh, When the trump of the first resurrection shall sound; These are they that come up to Mount Zion, in life, Where the blessings and gifts of the spirit abound. 50. These are they that have come to the heavenly place;

Oh my GOSH!!!

Joseph is clarifying that when the celestial souls are quickened and caught up. EVERYONE ELSE ON EARTH WILL HAVE BEEN TRODDEN UNDER FOOT IN GOD’S WRATH INCLUDING THE TERRESTIALS.

I had already arrived at that conclusion from doing lots of keyword searches and yet I have vacillated back and forth on this over the years because of the traditions of my fathers in which I have been so entrenched.

The above insertion is incredibly validating to my other keyword searches.

Further, Joseph is pointing out that it is only the righteous from the first resurrection that arise in their bodies of flesh at the coming of Christ in his glory. Everyone else is dead and in their disembodied spirits.

This is our Segway into another uncomfortable topic and associated paradigm shift.

Joseph reveals that everyone that is not lifted up into the cloud at the first trump is no longer in a body of flesh!

Is that a contradiction to what we have been taught?

Aren’t the terrestrial people resurrected into bodies of flesh at the sound of the second trump?

Aren’t both the celestial souls and the terrestrial souls both resurrected into immortality during the sounding of the first two trumps?

No!

Section 88:99 informs us that the terrestrial inhabitants of this earth will all be disembodied spirits when the second trump sounds. More on this to come.

Proxy Baptisms for those who are to be Judged According to men in the Flesh

We have addressed the fact that receiving the testimony of Jesus in the flesh during our walk by faith according to the grace of God is quite different than receiving the testimony of Christ in the spirit world after having rejected the gospel in the flesh. They do not merit the same eternal reward.

Some have supposed that receiving the testimony of Jesus and having proxy baptisms done AFTER the walk of faith after having rejected the gospel in the flesh is just as good as receiving it in the flesh and hence, they will eventually dwell in the highest glory with the father.

Scripture does not seem to substantiate that theory.

Section 88 details in chronological order what happens to the four categories of souls at the time of Christ’s coming in the clouds of heaven.

First, the celestial souls are quickened and caught up into the cloud to descend with Christ. This includes those that are living on earth at that time in their physical bodies as well as the righteous souls who had previously died that come forth.

Clearly, the righteous souls such as Joseph Smith’s older brother Alvin who will be saved in the celestial kingdom will be among those that are restored to their mortal body, then receive the baptism of water, fire and Holy Ghost, then are quickened and lifted up at the sound of the trump.

Those like Alvin are not classed among those that must be judged according to men in the flesh while in their disembodied spirits. People like Alvin that would have accepted the gospel will in fact be resurrected back into their mortal bodies and will be baptized for themselves and received the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost before being quickened and caught up to descend with Christ.

One of the profound things this reveals is that spiritual rebirth must take place in mortality, IN THE FLESH before the end of the sixth seal. In fact the Book of Revelation informs us that the 144,000 who are the first fruits of the resurrection are all sealed up during the sixth seal, during mortal probation.

This is why it is so important to realize that these people that come forth in the first resurrection will first be restored to their MORTAL BODIES before being quickened and caught up. We have covered these concepts before but perhaps the significance of the chronology has not been fully appreciated.

Notice the following profundities from the Book of Mormon:

Alma 11:45 informs us that we are first resurrected into our mortal body before we are raised in our immortal body.

45 Now, behold, I have spoken unto you concerning the death of the mortal body, and also concerning the resurrection of the mortal body. I say unto you that this mortal body is raised to an immortal body

First we are raise in our mortal bodies then we are quickened from our mortal bodies to our immortal bodies.

 

Alma 12:20 reiterates that men will be resurrected from their mortal body, not from their disembodied spirit:

20 But there was one Antionah, who was a chief ruler among them, came forth and said unto him: What is this that thou hast said, that man should rise from the dead and be changed from this mortal to an immortal state, that the soul can never die?

There is a very significant progression here.

These passages in Alma in conjunction with what we have previously covered, are stating that we gain a mortal body in this probation, then we are eventually raised up again in our mortal body. The elect are quickened and lifted up in the first resurrection.

The details of this progression differ depending on which category a soul is in.

Judged According to Men in the Flesh

I want to point out something very curious that you may not have noticed.

After the celestial souls come forth out of their graves to be quickened from their mortal bodies to be “lifted up” into the cloud the next passage of scripture chronologically informs us that those who must fall under the law of justice will be judged according to men in the flesh:

99 And after this another angel shall sound, which is the second trump; and then cometh the redemption of those who are Christ’s at his coming; who have received their part in that prison which is prepared for them, that they might receive the gospel, and be judged according to men in the flesh.

I am going to confess that for many years I interpreted the above passage to suggest that this group are being judge according to the flesh because they were men in the flesh.

Wrong!

I had assumed that they had come forth in the resurrection with bodies of flesh because of preconceived notions based on the false traditions of my fathers.

But that is not what the above passage is saying.

It is informing us that after the rapture of the elect, every single person remaining is now dead. They are disembodied spirits, including those that are classified as the terrestrial. They are no longer in their physical bodies. This is confirmed in verse 101 of section 88 which transitions to the next two divisions of people by saying “and these are the REST of the dead….”. In other words everyone in the previous group that was not raptured up is DEAD.

How can this be possible?

Weren’t they previously resurrected back to their mortal bodies when the second trump sounded? Why are they all dead when the second trump sounds?

These terrestrial souls that come forth at the sound of the second trump are in their disembodied spirit bodies because they have all been trodden under foot in the wrath of God.

Another way to confirm this is by comparing the passage in section 88 to how the exact same phrase is used in 1^st Peter 4 and Section 76.

The phrase; “judged according to men in the flesh” clearly means that those in their disembodied spirits will be judged according to those who are in the flesh. This might just be the most powerful, yet subliminal baptism for the dead passage in the scriptures.

1st Peter 4 (JST) Referring to New Testament times	Section 76 Referring to New Testament times	Section 88 Referring to the end of the sixth seal
5 Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. 6 Because of this is the gospel preached to them who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live in the spirit according to the will of God.	71 And again, we saw the terrestrial world, and behold and lo, these are they who are of the terrestrial, whose glory differs from that of the church of the Firstborn who have received the fulness of the Father, even as that of the moon differs from the sun in the firmament. 72 Behold, these are they who died without law; 73 And also they who are the spirits of men kept in prison, whom the Son visited, and preached the gospel unto them, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh;   74 Who received not the testimony of Jesus in the flesh, but afterwards received it.	99 And after this another angel shall sound, which is the second trump; and then cometh the redemption of those who are Christ’s at his coming; who have received their part in that prison which is prepared for them, that they might receive the gospel, and be judged according to men in the flesh.

1^st Peter and Section 76 are making specific reference to the disembodied spirits in prison at the time of Christ’s resurrection during New Testament times. Those spirits had to have the gospel preached to them in the spirit world and they were at the mercy of their baptismal work being done by men who were in the flesh.

Section 88 is revealing something quite mysterious and profound.

After everyone comes forth at the coming of Christ, every single person that remains after the lifting up of the elect during the beginning of the 7^th seal, is brought forth to be judged is a disembodied spirit, they are not in their final resurrected body, yet.

I realize this may go against everything you have ever been taught. But I challenge you to search these things out.

Here is a harsh reality that few people understand.

Everyone living on the earth at the time of Christ’s coming in glory that is not quickened and lifted up in the resurrection of the JUST at the first trump, will be found to be under condemnation.

They are not justified by the atonement because they did not fully accept it.

They will be trodden under the foot of man or destroyed in the flesh by the wrath of God, leaving them as disembodied spirits

The righteous elect that “arise in their bodies of flesh” (lifed up) will “walk in the presence of God” while all the rest are categorized as “wicked” because they are still unclean and under condemnation. They will be “trod underfoot in his wrath“.

Praise God almighty that after they suffer for their sins, they will be cleansed and redeemed and blessed with an inheritance in a kingdom of glory!

The takeaways from this installment are as follows:

1. Christ himself has told us that FEW will enter into the strait gate to obtain eternal life in his Father’s Kingdom.
2. The saints of God that obtain the testimony of Christ while in the flesh will gain a greater inheritance than those that reject it in the flesh and later gain the testimony of Jesus as disembodied spirits
3. Everyone that is not lifted up at the first trump will experience the cleansing wrath of God, although the sons of perdition will not even become clean as a result of the wrath. Hence they will inherit a kingdom of darkness instead of a kingdom of glory.

In our next installment we shall see additional proof that only few will dwell with the Father in his kingdom. Additionally, we shall see why it is impossible according to celestial physics and God’s economy for a telestial or terrestrial spirit to eventually rise up to the highest glory of the Father.

More to come, keep watching

 

PS For those sending emails or making comments, I will be out of the country for about a week and am not sure what kind of Internet access I will have.

 

Update on the Brazil Deception Part 4: Additional Information about the Brazil Gold Plates Movement

We are back from vacation. We had a wonderful time although my ebike broke 😦

In this post we will consider more of the problematic issues with the Mauricio Berger saga and we will continue reviewing more of the amazing details that Bob Moore has disclosed

Let’s review some really important observations that Bob Moore made in his initial response to my email to Tyler Crowell.

First of all, Mauricio had prophesied that the sealed portion would result in unity among those that believed in the Brazil Plates and the storyline presented by Mauricio about Moroni’s visit. However, just the opposite took place. Great contention and division followed among the witnesses and followers.

Secondly, Joseph F. Smith began organizing a church and calling apostles which was apparently outside of the instructions that had supposedly been given by Moroni. Strangely, Joseph F. Smith exercised his newly ordained position as a high priest (even though he has spent his life teaching people that there was not to be high priests in the church.)

Next, Bob noticed some inconsistencies in the instructions that Mauricio was sending to the American believers. Some of them blatantly contradicted scripture.

Another observation shared by Bob was the fact that Joseph’s plan to organize a new church was disrupting the branch that Bob and Brad were participating in.

Bob noted that when he began reading the translation, before it was even published, he could see discrepancies and that it was not of a divine origin.

“On March 10, I believe that I was divinely instructed to research when Elasah traveled to Babylon as an ambassador for King Zedekiah.  During that trip, he took a letter from Jeremiah to the captives.  I discovered that Elasah went in the fourth year of Zedekiah’s reign, but the translation states that it was in the first year.  That proved to me that the translation is false.
I wrote my concerns to the witnesses on several occasions, but to no avail.  At the end of March, just after the translation was released, I posted my testimony concerning the translation.  I am attaching it, as well as two longer articles that are mentioned in my testimony.”

I will be making links to the documents made available by Bob in this series.

Bob also observed the uninspired instructions from Mauricio on what to name the new church:

“Joseph followed the instructions from Mauricio and named the new church, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  Those instructions promised that the name was in the open domain and had been divinely preserved so Joseph could use it for the restructured church.  However, the Secretary of State for Missouri dissolved that corporation because it perpetrated fraud on the state.
This event is clear evidence to me that the instruction that Mauricio gave and which he said came from Moroni is false.”

All of this information is critical information for people to understand that are currently involved in this deception and for anyone else that is considering participation.

Notice one of the key observations that Bob made:

 

Worse yet, for me, was a statement that I had made while in Brazil printed in the translation in two places, both as if inserted and out of context with the surrounding narrative.  I had made that statement to Joseph several times in Mauricio’s presence.

The reason that I found this observation by Bob so interesting is because this is exactly what happened to me!

Mauricio has a tendency to observe other people’s observations and beliefs and then incorporate them into his fabricated text in the sealed portion. I think he does this thinking it will add to the credibility of his text in the mind of the person that the idea was taken from.

I want to now draw people’s attention to a prophetic speculation that I made in my blog back one June 10^th 2018. In that post, I speculate that the book sealed with seven seals spoken of in the 5^th Chapter of Revelation is the sealed portion of the Book of Mormon, with six of the seals being hidden under the top seal.

After you read the snippet from my blog, read the snippet from the so-called sealed portion translation from Mauricio which was published in 2019.

As you can see, Mauricio, or whoever did the fabrication, plagiarized the concept not only of the book sealed with seven seals being synonymous with or inside of the sealed record that Joseph Smith had, but even addressing the concept of six of the seals being covered over and hidden by a larger seal, explaining why the seven seals are never mentioned by Joseph Smith Jr. or any of the witnesses.

Is it just a coincidence that the concept from my blog shows up shortly afterwards in Mauricio’s translation?

I don’t think so.

It was a matter of public record that Mauricio has been a reader of my blog as demonstrated by the fact that Mauricio had directed Bob Moore to one of my blog posts to substantiate the fact that the sealed portion would come forth in multiple parts.

In an email Bob Moore had sent to me shortly after the Brazil movement began to emerge in America, he said. “He (Mauricio) gave me some instructions that he said were from the Holy Ghost.. He wanted me to study it..  I noticed on that blog that you discussed how the sealed portion would come in two parts.. He said that the Holy Spirit told him that the blog contained enlightening material..”

As you can see, Mauricio has a history of observing what various people say, and then uses that information to either conform his storyline, or imbed the information into his translation text.

He has done this with Bob Moore and myself.

It is quite apparent that Mauricio is simply making stuff up along the way as he integrates plagiarized concepts from others into his narrative. Similarly, when Joseph F. Smith noted some problematic parts of Mauricio’s translated text, Mauricio claimed that errors had been made when translating the translated text into English and then he corrected the text to make Joseph happy.

Woops. Moroni was not speaking to the Gentiles in Moroni 10!

Another major blunder I noticed as I was parsing through the supposed sealed Book of Mormon translated by Mauricio is found on pages 15-19.

According to the words of Moroni in Mauricio’s new translation, the Book of Mormon that was translated by Joseph Smith Jr., was “written unto the Gentiles and sealed again unto the Lord..” and this next portion brought forth by Mauricio is once again brought forth to the gentiles . The narrative informs us that we are living “in the last days, yea in the days of the gentiles“.

While directing his remarks to the gentiles, about the gentiles, Moroni declares-

“and I exhort you again if God deems it prudent for you to read these records, if you have only the desire to understand the truth about them and from your heart meditate on their words, then I axhort you to ask God, the eternal Father, in the name of christ, if these things are not true, and if you ask with a sincere heart and with a true intention to know, having faith in Christ, then He ill manifest to yo the truth of them by the power of the Holy Spirit, for through the Holy Spirit you may know the truth of all things..”

Did you catch that? Moroni is telling the Gentiles that he is once again exhorting them with the same promise he gave them previously in Moroni 10 that Joseph Smith Jr. translated.

Just one very big problem with that.

Moroni was not speaking to or exhorting the Gentiles in Moroni 10. He was speaking to and exhorting his brethren the Lamanites:

1 Now I, Moroni, write somewhat as seemeth me good; and I write unto my brethren, the Lamanites; and I would that they should know that more than four hundred and twenty years have passed away since the sign was given of the coming of Christ.

2 And I seal up these records, after I have spoken a few words by way of exhortation unto you [Lamanites].

3 Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.

4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.

How in the world could Moroni have forgotten who he was addressing in Moroni 10?

Obviously the counsel on how to divine the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon is applicable to everyone, but that is not the point. The point is that the words of counsel and exhortation were literally being directed to the Lamanites in the Book of Mormon, yet in Mauricio’s translation of the next part of the record, Moroni is claiming that the original exhortation given in Moroni 10 was directed to the Gentile!

Does Moroni have a bad memory? I don’t think so. I think it is Mauricio  (or his ghost writer) that has a bad memory.

But I digress.

In this part of the series I want to focus on the insider information provided by Bob Moore.

After I got the response from Bob Moore last week, I responded with a few more questions looking for further clarification on where he stands with regard to this Brazil Movement.

Here is what my email said:

Bob-

Thank you for providing additional information to be considered by those not closely associated with the movement. It is my understanding that I am free to share the information you have given me in this and future emails and attachments in my blogs and podcasts although you are opting to not do a recorded and interview.

I have not yet read the attachments so forgive me if my current questions are answered more clearly in those.

I understand that you feel that instructions given by Mauricio from Moroni were not followed closely and properly

I understand that you feel that those involved in the movement have been continually buffeted by contention, accusations, and division which seems to have become somewhat of a pattern for groups who have attempted to unify in the past.

What is not clear to me is where you currently stand with regard to Mauricio, Moroni, and the validity of the plates.

It is difficult for me to entertain the comparison between previous splinter groups that have simply made attempts to reorganize efforts and unify, with the Brazil Plates movement since the claims of the Brazil movement involve the emergence of angels and the golden plates of the restoration movement of the 1800’s , etc.

Do you still maintain that the Plates are authentic?

Do you still maintain that Mauricio is a true servant of God called to bring forth the plates and the last great work?

Do you still feel that Joseph F. Smith is a descendent of Joseph Smith Jr who has been divinely appointed by God?

Do you accept the divine calling of this Chenery (sp??) woman who seems to have emerged as a divinely called high profile leader in the movement?

Did Joseph F. Smith ever call people to be apostles like he said he was going to and if so, do you accept that action?

If the answer is yes to any/all of those questions, it leaves me with cognitive dissonance since the prophetic written word of God does not inform us that God would make another attempt at his great last work of restoration and fail at it. Prophecy informs us that when God sets his HAND the second time to recover his people it will be successful and will unite the hearts of the elect.

I am baffled if you are still maintaining the validity of the plates and/or Maurcio’s divine calling after the crazy events and inconsistencies that have taken place.

BTW my email was put on an email list that you have recently responded to. It was placed on the list without my permission. I assume it was XXXX XXXX that put my name on it. I have never been associated with those people [on the list] and don’t know the vast majority of them.

My gut feeling is that many of the people on that list are more excited about creating community and starting any movement that seems viable than worrying about sound doctrine and checking the validity of the claims having to do with angels and plates. XXXX XXXX claims that he “believes all things” which enables him to participate in competing movements with conflicting beliefs. This mentality mystifies me and represents a gross misunderstanding of the original source from which the snippet comes from.

 Essentially it sounds like you are withdrawing participation from Mauricio’s movement because of contention and lack of cohesion rather than the fact that the work is fraudulent .

I thank you in advance for providing further clarification to the above questions.

Here is the response I got from Bob

Watcher

I understand that what I write and send by email is in the open domain.  You have the right to quote from them.  Thank you for confirming that understanding.

I need to modify one point.  I wrote that Joseph enlarged the witness group in November 2018.  I need to add that he was following instructions that he received from Mauricio.

Mauricio gave several instructions that he said were from Moroni, some from the three visitors, and some from inspiration.  Two of the Brazilian witnesses earnestly counseled Joseph.  In my opinion, Joseph did not follow that counsel.  I also believe that he misinterpreted one statement in “Moroni’s Transcript,” which are also called the “Words of Moroni.”  I pointed out my concerns to Joseph and the witnesses.

The contention, accusations, and divisions that I mentioned refer to the actions of many people in the Restoration Branch Movement.  It is important to note that Mauricio testified to Joseph and me when we were in Brazil during October 2017 that our testimony concerning the plates would unite three groups: the Temple Lot Church, the Remnant Church, and the Restoration Branches.  I understood that the promised unification would happen before the translation was completed.  Others thought it would happen because of it.  I must also add that at that point, the translation was to be what turned out to be 42 plates.  What was printed is suppose to be only from 18 plates.  The rest was “lost.”

Since most of the American witnesses came from the Restoration Branch Movement and their primary testimony was to the three fellowships mentioned above, their testimony precipitated added contention and condemnations within that group.  However, contention and division also happened among the witnesses.  Those who remained in the translation study group after November could easily accuse Brad and me.  They stated such in the preface to the translation; but division also happened within the group that still supports the translation.

I understand your confusion about how the Brazilian episode fits into the other attempts to organize and unify splinter groups of the RLDS Church.  I am not sure my explanation will help.  Let it suffice for me to say that other groups claimed revelations and angelic visitations.  None claimed access to the Book of Mormon plates.

Now to answer your questions:

Do you still maintain that the Plates are authentic?

I have no explanation for the plates.  The plates are real and bespeak antiquity.  I doubt that they were forged, but I am no expert. They could be another set of ancient plates, but all this is conjecture.  I have no other explanation than what I said.  There is a slight possibility that they are the Book of Mormon plates, but it is inconceivable to me now.  If they are divine, they have been misused.

Do you still maintain that Mauricio is a true servant of God called to bring forth the plates and the last great work?

I believed Mauricio when he testified that angels appeared to him and that Moroni gave him the plates.  His subsequent actions, the words from Moroni, and his translation have proven his claims to not be true.  I need to add that in the beginning Mauricio said that he could receive no revelation for the saints in Zion, which I interpreted as meaning America.  I understood that he was called to translate the plates.  He also taught that disasters and war would befall America as Zion emerged, which would sever communication between him and the saints in Zion.  At that time, his task was to lead believers from South America through Central America to join the saints in Zion after it emerged.  I understood these factors were the limits of his prophetic ability, but that idea was only implied.

Do you still feel that Joseph F. Smith is a descendent of Joseph Smith Jr who has been divinely appointed by God?

I believe the unconditional promise given Joseph Smith, Jr. (D&C 107:18 RLDS and 124:58), “In thee, and in thy seed, shall the kindred of the earth be blessed.”  In keeping with that promise, I believe that Joseph Smith III was appointed to succeed his father and that Fred Smith, Israel Smith, W. W. Smith, and Wallace Smith were properly appointed and ordained as president and prophet.  Wallace Smith still holds that position, although he has laid down the mantle and said that he will not take it up again.  Like Wallace Smith, Joseph F. Smith is the great-grandson of Joseph Smith, Jr.  He has a right, if worthy, to either the office of president and prophet, or presiding patriarch, but he must he called by revelation through a previous prophet.  In my mind, as long as Wallace lives, the revelation must come through him.  It is possible and scripturally valid that Joseph Smith, Jr. could return (like Moroni did) and reorder the Restoration.

Do you accept the divine calling of this Chenery (sp??) woman who seems to have emerged as a divinely called high profile leader in the movement?

I know Bobbi Chinnery.  My wife saw her talking to Joseph after the March 31, 2018 meeting in which the witnesses testified about their experiences in Brazil.  We understood that her involvement with Joseph would cause problems.  When Joseph realized how she tried to manipulate him, she visited Mauricio.  I think that is why Mauricio added her to the study group.  I also heard that she received a calling through Mauricio, but I do not know what it is.  I do not think that Moroni visited Mauricio or authorized him to call or ordain anyone.  I do not recognize any of his ordinations.

Did Joseph F. Smith ever call people to be apostles like he said he was going to and if so, do you accept that action?

Joseph called and ordained apostles, I think seven.  I do not know who actually ordained whom.  I did not attend.  I do not believe that Joseph has authority to call or ordain any apostles and do not accept those ordinations.  Neither do I accept any re-ordinations that have happened (if any) in the Restructured Church.

Before closing, I would like to clarify why I withdrew from the effort of the witnesses to restructure the church.  These factors are in the order that they affected or confirmed my decision.

1. The Words of Moroni said, in my opinion, that a restructuring of the church should happen after unity is achieved.  After March 31, 2018, the emphasis was on restructuring the church instead of unity.

2. I am absolutely certain that forming another church structure will fail.  From a Restoration Branch Movement perspective, 9 previous attempts failed.  One was led by a descendant of Joseph Smith, Jr.  The Lord has not prospered any of them and I do not believe that the Lord will prosper this tenth one.

3. I do not believe that the Restoration begun by Joseph Smith, Jr. has failed and another restoration is needed.

4. I believe that both the Aaronic and Melchisedek priesthoods remain on earth, having properly descended by authorized priesthood ordaining others, thus forming an unbroken chain of authority back to Joseph and the angel.

5. The translation, in my opinion, is not of God.

Contention and lack of cohesion were not factors.  I do believe the Savior’s saying, “By their fruits ye shall know them” (Matt 7:29 IV, 7:20 KJ).  I also believe the revelation; “If ye are not one, ye are not mine” (D&C 38:6a RLDS, 38:27 LDS).  The fruit of the Restoration Branch Movement has been and continues to be rebellion and argumentation.  I participated in the contention and jarrings that have afflict it.  It must stop.  I have decided to cease and desist, not only within that group, but among all those who profess belief in the Restoration as begun by Joseph Smith, Jr.  Like the Anti Nephi-Lehis who feared that they might pick up their weapons of war unless they were buried, I have tried to limit my discussions about differences to only facts and not people; and in written form where possible.  I prefer to try to find points in common and work on developing relationships around common beliefs.

I hope that these clarifications are helpful.

Bob.

Again, Bob has provided additional insider information and added some clarity as to what he currently believes regarding Maurico Berger, Joseph F. Smith, and the other witnesses and the Gold Plates.

Thank you for that Bob.

I have other contacts in Missouri that tell me that Joseph F. Smith has also arrived at the conclusion that Mauricio is not a true prophet and that his story is fabricated, however, this event has given Joseph a platform on which to establish his own power-base as a prophet so he is keeping a low profile with regard to how he feels about Mauricio and the translation.

Regarding Bob’s statement about Bobbi Chinnery-

“I know Bobbi Chinnery.  My wife saw her talking to Joseph after the March 31, 2018 meeting in which the witnesses testified about their experiences in Brazil.  We understood that her involvement with Joseph would cause problems.  When Joseph realized how she tried to manipulate him, she visited Mauricio.  I think that is why Mauricio added her to the study group..”

I appreciate Bob’s willingness to respond to questions. I don’t have many more simply because I think we have a pretty clear pictures of the major events of the movement.

It is my understanding from some of my other sources that Bobbi did in fact go to Brazil to visit Mauricio and his family for several weeks against the wishes and admonitions of Joseph F. Smith.

While there, she showered Mauricio with thousands of dollars and bought him a car.
I can only assume that her generosity was financed from the donations generated through the initial website that she and Joseph F. Smith made.

It is no wonder that Bobbi has been called to an important position within the new movement.

Mauricio, when you read this post, I have the following question for you. Do you plan on visiting America in the near future?

If so, could you please bring the money with you that you duped people out of? I suspect some of them would like to have it back

BTW

Here are the links to the three documents Bob Moore provided me in his email response for those that would like additional information.

Letter to Branch re Restructuring

Testimony of Bob Moore

Book of Moses- Bob Moore

 

 

Update on the Brazil Deception Part 3: Bob Moore Provides Clarity as to Where He Stands

I have been meaning to give another update on the Brazil Gold Plates Drama for sometime but had to many other things on my mind and some health issues to address.

Since I am leaving for a four day vacation tomorrow, I do not have time to do justice to this topic in just one blog post so I will begin with a portion of this update tonight and continue when I return from vacation or perhaps while on vacation.

John Pratt Challenges Denver Snuffer AGAIN

One bit of interesting news regarding this Brazil drama is that John Pratt, a high profile and highly regarded member of the Snufferite movement appears to have had somewhat of a revelatory parting of the ways with Denver Snuffer.

Pratt is a prolific LDS writer who writes primarily about sacred calendars. He has spoken at one of the Snuffer gatherings.

I surmise Pratt’s defection from the Snufferite movement based on the fact that Pratt appears to have converted over to the Brazil Plates movement, joining the likes of Jonathan Felt, Russell Y Anderson, and an LDS author that prefers to slither around in the background without publicly revealing what he really believes.

All of these folks appear to have been followers of Denver at some point in time. Perhaps some are taking a double-minded approach and participating in both groups.

Pratt has recently written an article in support of the claims made by Mauricio Berger.

Since Denver Snuffer has refused to endorse or embrace the claims of Mauricio Berger and since Mauricio Berger has failed to accept Snuffers innuendos that he is the Davidic servant of end times prophecy, both fringe movements that claim divine revelation are not in harmony with each other and cannot both be true.

Pratt’s conversion to Mauricio Berger’s movement places Snuffer between a rock and a hard spot. He is now officially damned if he supports the new fledgling movement from Brazil and damned if he doesn’t.

The last time Pratt took issue with Denver Snuffer, it was pertaining to the legitimacy of D&C 110.

After Denver Snuffer suggested to his flock that it was not a valid revelation and that the event never took place, Pratt used his mind numbing gyrations having to do with sacred calendars, constellations and Zodiac Ages to prove that it was a true revelation based on the date that the event took place. ( April 3rd 1836)

Because of Pratt’s huge popularity among the Snufferites, Denver was apparently concerned about being exposed as a false prophet resulting in a mass defection from his followers so he quickly produced a revelation from God altering much of the content of Section 110 as it was originally recorded in the D&C.

Denver’s new revelation (which can be read here) confirmed that a vision was received on that date by Joseph and Oliver in the Kirtland Temple behind the veil. The new revelation read similarly to the first half of what is in Section 110. However, the major alterations started in the second half which expunged the visits of Moses (to deliver the keys of the gathering of Israel), Elias (to deliver the keys of the Dispensation of the Gospel of Abraham) and Elijah (to declare that the time has fully come as spoken of by Malachi).

As per the new revelation, it was simply the accuracy of the details of the event contained in Section 110 that were at issue.

This revelatory maneuver enabled Denver to save face and for John Pratt to enjoy a prophetic endorsement of his article.. all without disrupting the Snufferite movement which is now struggling to recruit new followers.

It will be fun and fascinating to see how Denver responds to this new challenge from Pratt. Perhaps another authoritative revelation is in store!

An Unexpected Contact from Tyler Crowell

I was contacted by Tyler Crowell, one of the eight witnesses, on June 1st. This is what his email said

“Hello watcher

Would you like to have a conversation about the sealed book of Mormon?

Have you and your friends been able to study and pray concerning what is written?”

I assumed that Tyler was hoping that my views about the movement he was involved in had softened and was hoping for more publicity through my blog or a podcast.

My first response was as follows:

Tyler,

I’m on my way to my grandsons soccer game right now and will get back to you later but I am open to the possibility of perhaps recording a Skype session interview with you..

..Hope all is going well for you.

Talk to you later.

My next response was as follows:

I am back.

In answer to your question, I have the book and I have read a short portion of it but have not read the whole thing. It is very difficult and painful for me to read.

I find that when I begin reading God’s word in the true scriptures, I cannot put it down and I am filled with the spirit. Yet when I try to read the so-called sealed portion, I get bored and my mind wonders and I am filled with darkness.

 I have found a few serious problems with it.

One of them has to do with the fact that the person who fabricated it plagiarized a novel prophetic concept from my blog.

While I feel that the novel concept that I introduced may possibly be inspired and true, I am not flattered nor impressed that it is validated in Mauricio’s sealed portion.

I think that plagiarizing a prophetic speculation of mine was bad form and probably an attempt to appeal to my ego and get me to convert.

I remain more convinced than ever that you have been deceived.

Since my blog was the first that I am aware of to cover the story about the Brazil Plates and since some of the delusional followers of the Brazil movement came from my readership, I feel like I probably should do a follow up article which I am planning to do.

However, if you would like to be interviewed and to have an opportunity to bear your testimony and give an update on things from your perspective, and to point out any reasons why you think the published sealed portion of Mauricio’s is inspired, I would be willing to give you that platform. (providing that you have skype and that I can get it to work from my end. The only attempt I have done in recording a skype conversation did not produce a high quality sound recording and I am not sure why.)

Obviously, I would share my belief that the work is a fraud, but I would be a respectful and fair minded interviewer and would allow you to present your side of the story without interruption.

 If you do not feel good about the interview after it is done, I will not publish it for people to listen to, however it would either be published in its entirety or not at all, I would not be willing to edit anything out in order to get your ok to publish it.

If you truly feel that you are involved in God’s marvelous work, you should not feel intimidated at the opportunity to have an open discussion about it.

Since your movement is having a difficult time picking up traction, I think you would be wise to try to get more exposure. I continually get people coming to my site who are googling keywords having to do with the Brazil Plates movement.

Anyway, let me know if you would have any interest n doing the interview..

I have not heard back from Tyler. However, I copied Joseph F. Smith and Bob Moore when I replied to Tyler.

To my astonishment, I got a detailed reply from Bob Moore!

Here is what he said:

Dear Watcher

From my perspective, the witnesses who returned from Brazil in March 2018 did not follow the instructions that we received.  The primary source of those instructions, according to Mauricio, was a transcript of a lengthy set of instructions given by Moroni on January 17, 2017.  At that time, Mauricio said that Moroni told him to write Joseph F. Smith and invite him to come to Brazil.  Only a small portion of those words were sent to the witnesses.

When the 8 witnesses first gathered after our return in March 2018, there was disagreement.  It grew and by May I found myself in the minority.  The first Sunday in August I believed that if the witnesses did not resolve their differences before an upcoming event, division would occur.  I emailed my concerns.

Mauricio wrote the witnesses about some of the differences that were happening.  I interpreted those emails as support for many of my concerns, but those emails did not resolve any of the problems.  As Joseph began meetings that led to the organization of the church he now leads, I withdrew, believing that it violated the instruction that I mentioned above.  Joseph thought it fulfilled those instructions.  I understand why he thinks that way.

The deciding factor for me came about the first of November.  I had already seen some anachronisms in the instructions that Mauricio was sending.  What he sent in November was worse and contradicted scripture.

I had hoped that the witnesses could help me with the issues that I had with the instructions that Mauricio gave, but that did not happen.  When we met in November, we were to begin reading the translation, but I needed to resolve those issues before beginning that task and hoped that could be accomplished.

Unfortunately, Joseph had enlarged the group.  I could not bring up my concerns within that larger group without violating the confidential agreement that the witnesses had made.  The additional participants also contradicted (at least in my mind) the instructions that we received.  I withdrew from the group.  Brad Gault did, too.

Joseph’s plan to organize the new church was disrupting the branch that Brad and I attended.  We issued a joint statement about our concerns.  I am attaching a copy to this email.

I asked if I could read the translation while it was being printed.  They allowed it.  I read it from a screen during three sessions and took no notes.  That cursory reading clearly showed that the words were not divine.

I immediately noticed that parts of the Book of Moses were taken from the Ethiopian Book of Enoch.  I simply do not believe that angels had sex with women, as that spurious rendition of Enoch’s writings states.  There were other unscriptural teachings.

Worse yet, for me, was a statement that I had made while in Brazil printed in the translation in two places, both as if inserted and out of context with the surrounding narrative.  I had made that statement to Joseph several times in Mauricio’s presence.

On March 10, I believe that I was divinely instructed to research when Elasah traveled to Babylon as an ambassador for King Zedekiah.  During that trip, he took a letter from Jeremiah to the captives.

I discovered that Elasah went in the fourth year of Zedekiah’s reign, but the translation states that it was in the first year.  That proved to me that the translation is false.

I wrote my concerns to the witnesses on several occasions, but to no avail.  At the end of March, just after the translation was released, I posted my testimony concerning the translation.  I am attaching it, as well as two longer articles that are mentioned in my testimony.

Joseph followed the instructions from Mauricio and named the new church, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  Those instructions promised that the name was in the open domain and had been divinely preserved so Joseph could use it for the restructured church.  However, the Secretary of State for Missouri dissolved that corporation because it perpetrated fraud on the state.

This event is clear evidence to me that the instruction that Mauricio gave and which he said came from Moroni is false.

I notified the witnesses.  One suggested that the reason was due to corporate law and not trademark law—that the name could still be used.  I have asked an official for the state of Missouri how I can obtain a more detailed explanation regarding the dissolution, but I just did that.

As I stated in my testimony, I believe that all the witnesses are honest men who are trying to do what they think is right.  The Restoration Branch movement, which came out of the RLDS Church, has been continually buffeted by contention, accusations, and division.

By my count, this new church that Joseph leads is the tenth one to emerge.  Most are defunct and those not are dying.  In the beginning, I believed that the testimony from Brazil was true and the needed catalyst to draw the saints together, at least those in the Restoration Branch movement.  It was a false hope.

I do not want to participate in the contention and accusations that grips the Restoration Branch Movement.  For that reason, I have chosen my words carefully.

Even with that caution, they may offend some who might complain that I have mischaracterized something.  Since I do not believe that I can exercise the same care in casual conversation, I do no wish to be interviewed.  I will, however, answer in writing any questions that you ask, if I can.  I will let the attached, this email, and any future emails suffice.

Thank you for asking.

I appreciate your forthrightness.

Bob

Many of us have desired to have clarity as to where Bob Moore stands and what the issues were that caused his name to be dropped as a witness.

I think the above email speaks for itself and provides a significant amount of additional detail.

I congratulate Bob for catching all of the discrepancies that he has observed and for having the intestinal fortitude to speak out about the discrepancies to the other witnesses, and for bringing these issues out in the open for the general public to consider.

Thank you Bob for your courage and integrity. I am sure this series of events has been very difficult for you.

Dear readers, if you think that email from Bob was interesting and informative, wait till you read the attachments that he sent me.

To be continued…

Keep Watching..  😉

We Need to be Found in the Book of Remembrance

Shortly after I began taking the scriptures more seriously and literally and understanding the doctrine of the three watches, I began to wonder what saints of our generation should be doing. After all, it became apparent that the law of God that had been revealed through Joseph Smith in Section 42 had been broken.

The fulness of the gospel had been rejected.

The fulness of the priesthood had been takem from among the saints

The church that had come forth out of the wilderness had fled back into the wilderness.

The saving ordinances of the gospel were no longer available in their fulness.

Waiting and Watching

When the Savior told his apostles that he would come as a thief in the night three different times before his final coming in glory, he admonished them to be found waiting and watching for his secret return. I also knew from the scriptures that during this interim time prior to the last restoration, referred to as a little season, we need to be studying God’s word so that we will avoid being deceived when the time comes for the wise to take the holy spirit as their guide when the offer is extended by the true servants of the Lord.

Nevertheless, I had been wondering if there is anything else that we need to be doing to have our names and actions recorded in heaven.

It later became evident to me that we need to be searching the scriptures. But I continued to wonder if there is anything else.

One of the sections of scripture that I believe addresses this topic is found in the 12^th chapter of Daniel. Leading up to chapter 12, chapter 11 refers to the general time frame that we are living in and about to transition into is called the “time of the end”

Chapter 12 begins with three passages that are very revealing:

1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

These passages inform us that at the time of the end, Michael will stand up. During this timeframe there will be a time of trouble in the world which will be the greatest time of trouble that the world has ever witnessed. It is during this time that God’s people will be delivered just prior to or during the time of great tribulation.

Interestingly, these people that will be delivered during the time of trouble will be identified by virtue of the fact that their names will be “written in the book“.

Hmm. Which book?

Can we get into the book during a time when we cannot get our calling and election made sure, or enjoy the second comforter, which always follows AFTER getting one’s calling and election made sure?

More on that in a minute.

Blessed are those the Wait

Later in this chapter we are informed that the righteous will be purified, made white and tried while the wicked will do wickedly. Those that are wise shall understand-

10 Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.
12 Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.

Those that wait are blessed.

What does that mean? I suspect that it refers to a time of great deception where false prophets are seducing the gullible and foolish who don’t search and understand the scriptures, to join heretical movements that offer a false promise of Zion and salvation.

I have noticed that there are lots of fringe Mormons that frantically run around getting involved in lots of false religious movements. I even know of a man that sustains Denver Snuffer as a prophet of God at the same time that he is promoting Mauricio Berger and Joseph F. Smith as prophets of God.

I am mystified that he can believe in and follow two different movements that are clearly teaching conflicting narratives and being led by different false spirits and false prophets that are receiving contrary revelations. One movement claims that Zion will be established in Missouri, the other movement claims it will not be established in Missouri! The other differences are too numerous and off topic to mention. Clearly, each movement is getting their revelation from a different god.

People who are confused and anxious often use the shotgun approach, hoping to be found among the correct splinter group by virtue of the fact that they have joined all of them. They remind me of people that run around joining every new multi-level pyramid scheme hoping to be in the one that explodes and makes them wealthy.

But the parable of the ten virgins that is subliminally imbedded in the above passages in Daniel informs us that the wise shall wait for the true servants because they understand. No need to cover their bases by prematurely joining every group there is.

Those that Fear the Lord and Speak Often
to Others that Fear the Lord

But what about the book that is mentioned in the twelfth chapter of Daniel? How do we get in it? While reading one of G.azelems disruptive musings I was reminded of a passage of scripture in the Malachi 3 that I had blogged about years ago. Frankly, this passages blows my mind:

16 ¶ Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.

17 And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.

18 Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not. 

Unbe-freakin-lievable!

The Lord overheard those that feared him and spake often one to another!

Their names were written in the Book of Remembrance for that express reason.

Calling and Election and receiving the Second Comforter (which ALWAYS follows AFTER Calling and Election) is not a prerequisite for getting into the Book of Remembrance!!

What a fascinating and revelatory passage.

It sheds additional light on the above passages in Daniel about the importance of being wise and having understanding during a time of apostacy, but it takes it one step further. It informs us that during the very time that we are living in, we can get our names written in the BOOK OF REMEMBRENCE by fearing the name of the Lord and speaking with others often that also fear the Lord.

By doing a keyword search with the phrase “make up my jewels” we find that it also addresses why the saints of the failed Zion of the LDS restoration will still be “spared” at the time that Christ returns to make up his jewels in the 3^rd watch.

Compare the above passages in Malachi with the promise of God to the saints that failed in their attempt at Zion-

1 Verily I say unto you, concerning your brethren who have been afflicted, and persecuted, and cast out from the land of their inheritance—

2 I, the Lord, have suffered the affliction to come upon them, wherewith they have been afflicted, in consequence of their transgressions;

3 Yet I will own them, and they shall be mine in that day when I shall come to make up my jewels.

4 Therefore, they must needs be chastened and tried, even as Abraham, who was commanded to offer up his only son.

People that feared the Lord and thought upon his name and spake often to others that feared his name, are entered into a book of remembrance to be made jewels at a later time.

Those are the qualifying points of being entered into that particular book of remembrance. Calling and election sure is not requisite for getting into that book. Being among those that successfully establish Zion is not requisite for getting into the book.

Those that feared the Lord during an unsuccessful group attempt at Zion, or even during a time when the fulness and the saving ordinances were not on the earth can have their names entered into the book.

Make no mistake about it, calling and election is critical before the 3rd watch comes to an end. But it comes at the proper time.

Ultimately consecration during this probation is essential. We are informed in Lectures on Faith and other places in the scriptures that we must be a gathered and consecrated people during the final restoration BEFORE this probation is over.

Section 85 also speaks of the Book of Remembrance. It informs us that you must first be in the book BEFORE you can receive an inheritance when consecration takes place.

9 And all they who are not found written in the book of remembrance shall find none inheritance in that day, but they shall be cut asunder, and their portion shall be appointed them among unbelievers, where are wailing and gnashing of teeth.

It warns that during times when the fulness is on the earth and consecration is administered by true servants of God, you must be willing to consecrate or you cannot have your name enrolled.

3 It is contrary to the will and commandment of God that those who receive not their inheritance by consecration, agreeable to his law, which he has given, that he may tithe his people, to prepare them against the day of vengeance and burning, should have their names enrolled with the people of God.

It promises us that one mighty and strong will return and set in order the house of God and arrange their inheritances:

7 And it shall come to pass that I, the Lord God, will send one mighty and strong, holding the scepter of power in his hand, clothed with light for a covering, whose mouth shall utter words, eternal words; while his bowels shall be a fountain of truth, to set in order the house of God, and to arrange by lot the inheritances of the saints whose names are found, and the names of their fathers, and of their children, enrolled in the book of the law of God;

8 While that man, who was called of God and appointed, that putteth forth his hand to steady the ark of God, shall fall by the shaft of death, like as a tree that is smitten by the vivid shaft of lightning.

We have been given an unconditional promise that God’s anointed servants from Joseph Smith’s first commission will return to gather, prepare and consecrate God’s people and prepare them for the day of tribulation and desolation:

7 And ye are called to bring to pass the gathering of mine elect; for mine elect hear my voice and harden not their hearts;

8 Wherefore the decree hath gone forth from the Father that they shall be gathered in unto one place upon the face of this land, to prepare their hearts and be prepared in all things against the day when tribulation and desolation are sent forth upon the wicked.

9 For the hour is nigh and the day soon at hand when the earth is ripe; and all the proud and they that do wickedly shall be as stubble; and I will burn them up, saith the Lord of Hosts, that wickedness shall not be upon the earth;

Praise God for the holy scriptures that we have inherited from the latter day foundation movement that took place during Joseph Smith’s first commission! Praise God for technology that enables us to miraculously sift through the millions of people on this earth to find other people that fear the Lord so that we can speak often with them about the Lord and his miraculous work.

Update on the Brazil Deception

I realize that very few of my readers care about or are following the events surrounding the Mauricio Berger Brazil Scam.

Thank goodness for that!

Everyone knows that the readers of this blog are among the most educated, sincere, illuminated, charming, good looking, athletic, prudent, illuminated, responsible, gracious, unassuming, stupendous, illuminated, brilliant, sophisticated, long suffering, diligent, illuminated, humble, penitent, and lovable people upon the earth.

Oh… and did I remember to acknowledge just how illuminated you all are?

Nevertheless, I do have a few readers from the RLDS tradition who have some degree of curiosity about the deception that is currently taking place in Missouri.

For the reason, I periodically provide updates about what is taking place.

The Price Publishing Company has recently published a very revealing article about the Brazil Movement. It is interesting for several reasons.

One is that it provides a view of the Brazil claims through the eyes of RLDS scripture (which includes revelations by Joseph Smith the 3rd.) to show inconsistencies. It is a very real challenge for an Ex-Mormon to become the religious leader of numerous RLDS factions and to produce doctrine that is consistent to their religious world-view. This is  because he is not intimately familiar with accepted scripture in that religious construct.

Another is that it validates what we have all suspected, that Bob Moore has had a serious doctrinal  and philosophical falling out with Joseph and Mauricio. It reveals that Bob Moore and Brad Gault have notified their congregation that they have serious concerns about the movement (that they were instrumental in getting lots of people involved in BTW.)

The article also shows how the revelations received by Mauricio have been changed and modified to make them conform to legitimate criticisms that people have had about them.. (the Mormon church would refer to these divine contradictions as “progressive revelation”)

Another possible response that Joseph and Mauricio may want to consider when responding to these contradictions is to simply deny making any changes. It has worked well for the LDS church in the past.

Fabricating Scripture

I am reminded of an event in the history of the restoration when a few elders were not sure if they could fully endorse all of the revelations that Joseph was presenting to be sustained by the church and canonized as scripture. The Lord invited the wisest among them to do his best to fabricate a revelation.

He made the attempt and he only embarrassed himself.

That is exactly what is happening to Joseph F. Smith and Maurico Berger, they are embarrassing themselves.

Welcome to the world of false prophets.

It is truly a pisser to speak in the name of the Lord when he has not spoken to you.

Those that search the scriptures and treasure up the word of God have no problem parsing the fabricated revelations of false prophets to discern a deception.

I am told that the following link does not work in certain search engines.

Click to access Brazil_Faction_New_Name_Paper.pdf

 

 

God’s holy and infallible word assures us that God has given the saints the kingdom.

I got a fascinating email from a fellow watcher the other day.

He had read an article by a Snufferite claiming that the kingdom of God has finally been ushered in.

This birth of the Kingdom supposedly took place on September 3rd 2017 when the Snufferites held a conference and entered into covenant in Boise Idaho.

The Snufferite star gazer opined that the September 23rd 2017 sign in the heavens was the one spoken of by John the Revelator and that it was somehow pointing back to the previous Snufferite meeting to validate that it represented the birth of the kingdom:

“Thus, it appears that the prophecy in the Book of Revelation has been fulfilled when the covenant from God was accepted, resulting in the birth of the Kingdom of God.”

Here is the email that my friend sent me,

Good morning Watcher,

I continue to devour the podcasts of the  “three tenors” and found the last one with the historical documents identifying Sidney Rigdon’s commission as nearly as important as the Morley farm conference in 1831. I had just re-read your articles on Sidney a week or so before this podcast and was extremely grateful for that added substance.

But, once again I note that the RLDS restoration groups seem generally unaware of Sidney’s commission, and certainly I was. So this is another great addition to the teaching needed among those groups.

I read this morning John Pratt’s 1/5/19 article, entitled “Kingdom of God Born.” In it he identifies the event with the 2017 Snuffer Covenant Conference. This problematic for me because I have been somewhat “put off” by Snuffer’s writings.

I am really excited about Pratt’s exegesis on the meaning of the constellation alignments in September of 2017 and I agree with him that the birth of the Kingdom of God will most likely go unnoticed by the World and even by most persons. (This is the reason why I go to the Kirtland newspaper, at the beginning of each month and look to see whether there is any report of “suspicious” activity involving the Temple or those servants who might be in the process of finishing the work started previously. So far, the Temple seems unmentioned.)

I am also questioning whether Bro. Pratt has a correct handle on the location of the New Jerusalem and Zion. He seems to believe that they are located in Independence, Mo while I have adopted the notion that both Independence and Kirtland are significant locations.

Anyway, if you have not seen his latest article, I’m sure you will find it of interest and I just wanted to alert you to it.

As always, I so appreciate the tremendous work you have done in plowing the fields of our history and the searching of the written words. I pray for your continued strength and ministry from the Holy Spirit.

XXXXX

 

This was my reply to my friend (with a few clarification added):-

Great to hear from you XXX

In the opening declarations of the article John Pratt says this:

“Joseph’s first attempts to found the Kingdom of God failed“.

 Never does he say that Joseph later was successful or that he would later be successful at some time I the future. Only that Joseph Smith failed and that the kingdom was never established during Joseph’s ministry.

In other words, all of Joseph’s attempts ended in failure prior to his death, requiring a new servant and a new work of restoration.

        That belief is a trademark belief of the Snuffer Movement.

They don’t believe that the kingdom was given to Joseph and the restoration saints nor do they believe that Joseph laid the foundation for a future work.

Period.

They think the LDS restoration failed to establish the kingdom and that Joseph Smith categorically failed in his mission to lay the foundation of the kingdom that would come forth in power at a later time.

They don’t accept the unconditional declarations from God that the kingdom had been given to the saints nor the unconditional prophecies about Joseph returning to complete his commissions and lead the kingdom forth in power.

Therefore according to their paradigm, another Davidic servant (namely Denver Snuffer) needs to come and clean up the mess that is left of the failure. 

This basic premise that Joseph failed and the kingdom was never established is believed by virtually all of the fundamentalist offshoots and all of the emerging false prophets.

The followers of Mauricio Berger and Joseph Frederick Smith have the same false paradigm.

They also believe that Joseph failed to establish the kingdom. Hence, they think they need Mauricio Berger and Joseph Frederick Smith to clean up Joseph Smith Jr’s mess and to fulfill the commission of establishing Zion that the Lord had initially given to the restoration saints. 

The narrative that Joseph failed and the kingdom was not established is not congruent with prophecy and scripture.  

All you need to do is do a keyword search on the word “kingdom” in the D&C and you will find unequivocally (from the mouth of two or three witnesses) that the kingdom WAS established during Joseph’s ministry and that the keys of that kingdom were to remain with Joseph and his associates while they were in this world and even into the next world after they die.

They needed to retain the keys of the kingdom that had been given until they return to complete the unconditional promises given to them.  

Lets do some keyword searching and look at the holy word of God to see if they failed to bring forth the kingdom, or if in fact the kingdom was established in preparation for the fulness to shine forth at the appointed time after the gentiles stumble and eventually repent.

Here are some notable snippets about the kingdom in chronological order- 

1- In Dec of 1830 (Section 35) the Lord told the first elders that the kingdom had been given to them and would be theirs until he comes “quickly” ( A keyword search on “come quickly shows that it is referring to his last coming to judge the nations) .

 26 Lift up your hearts and be glad, your redemption draweth nigh. 27 Fear not, little flock, the kingdom is yours until I come. Behold, I come quickly. Even so. Amen. 

2- In Jan of 1831 (Section 38) The Lord again verified that the kingdom was theirs and that the enemy would not overcome the kingdom (even though the saints would stumble and the emergence of the kingdom in power would be delayed) 

9 Wherefore, gird up your loins and be prepared. Behold, the kingdom is yours, and the enemy shall not overcome. 

3= In October of 1831 (Section 65) a revelatory prayer revealed that in a future time, one would be sent down from heaven who is mighty and powerful, warming people to prepare for the way of the Lord. It informs us that the gospel will roll forth to the ends of the earth from the keys of the kingdom that had been committed unto man on the earth, a clear reference to the LDS restoration work of Joseph Smith’s ministry. 

1 Hearken, and lo, a voice as of one sent down from on high, who is mighty and powerful, whose going forth is unto the ends of the earth, yea, whose voice is unto men—Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

 2 The keys of the kingdom of God are committed unto man on the earth, and from thence shall the gospel roll forth unto the ends of the earth, as the stone which is cut out of the mountain without hands shall roll forth, until it has filled the whole earth.

3 Yea, a voice crying—Prepare ye the way of the Lord, prepare ye the supper of the Lamb, make ready for the Bridegroom.

 4- Then in December of 1832 (Section 88) the Lord informs Joseph and his associates that they are the first  laborers in the LAST KINGDOM!!!!!

It was later explained that Brigham and his brethren of the Twelve were not the first laborers and that they were responsible to tarry in the mission field and take the knowledge of the gospel to the dispersed of Judah and the outcasts of Israel until it was time for Joseph and the first elders to complete their work. .

..And I give unto you, who are the first laborers in this last kingdom, a commandment that you assemble yourselves together, and organize yourselves, and prepare yourselves, and sanctify yourselves; yea, purify your hearts, and cleanse your hands and your feet before me, that I may make you clean..

..that ye may be prepared in all things when I shall send you again to magnify the calling whereunto I have called you, and the mission with which I have commissioned you..

..Therefore, tarry ye, and labor diligently, that you may be perfected in your ministry to go forth among the Gentiles for the last time, as many as the mouth of the Lord shall name, to bind up the law and seal up the testimony, and to prepare the saints for the hour of judgment which is to come;..

..Verily, I say unto you, let those who are not the first elders continue in the vineyard until the mouth of the Lord shall call them, for their time is not yet come; their garments are not clean from the blood of this generation..

5- In March of 1833 (Section 90) the Lord informs his servants, that the kingdom they had been given was coming forth for the LAST TIME and that the keys of that kingdom would not be taken from them in this world or the next.  

2 Therefore, thou art blessed from henceforth that bear the keys of the kingdom given unto you; which kingdom is coming forth for the last time. 

3 Verily I say unto you, the keys of this kingdom shall never be taken from you, while thou art in the world, neither in the world to come; 

Notice that the keys they had been given were to the LAST kingdom that was coming forth. 

6 And again, verily I say unto thy brethren, Sidney Rigdon and Frederick G. Williams, their sins are forgiven them also, and they are accounted as equal with thee in holding the keys of this last kingdom;

As you can see, the narrative being given in the revelations joseph received is consistent in saying that the LAST kingdom had been given and established among Joseph and his brethren and that those same men would retain the keys to the kingdom that they had been given so that they can eventually see it to its final conclusion.

Did the fulness of the last kingdom flee from the earth with those that held its keys when the holders of those keys were killed?

It appears as if the answer is Yes.

But the kingdom was still established, the keys were given, the stewardship was established, and that kingdom that was given to Joseph Smith and the saints will return and go forth in power as prophesied.

It is difficult for people to comprehend the fact that even though the saints were temporarily overcome, the kingdom wasn’t! .

The book of Daniel documents this narrative in the 7th chapter but first, lets look at an amazing observation provided in Section 109.

 6- In March of 1836 (Section 109) it is revealed that the Kingdon that God had established among the saints was the kingdom set up “without hands” that is prophesied of in the Book of Daniel: “

Remember all thy church, O Lord, with all their families, and all their immediate connections, with all their sick and afflicted ones, with all the poor and meek of the earth; that the kingdom, which thou hast set up without hands, may become a great mountain and fill the whole earth; That thy church may come forth out of the wilderness of darkness, and shine forth fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners; (verse 72-3)

Section 109 uses the exact language from the Book of Daniel to establish the fact that the kingdom Daniel prophesied of that would be set up “without hands” was the same kingdom that was restored to the earth through Joseph Smith. According to the Book of Daniel, this kingdom would eventually smite the image of Babylon with is composed of iron and clay and break it in pieces.

The book of Daniel observes that the kingdom would be established among the saints and “shall not pass away” and “shall not be destroyed“.

Yet it notes that after the kingdom is given to the saints, “the ..horn made war with the saints and prevailed against them UNTIL the ancient of days came and judgment was given to the saints of the most high..”

As you can see from the “kingdom” scriptures in the D&C as well as the prophetic narrative in Daniel, there was not a complete failure to establish the kingdom. The kingdom was established and it will eventually go forth. There is no need for a completely different servant to be called so that he could start everything all over again. We are simply awaiting the appointed time when the ancient of days will return and judgment will be given to the saints of the restoration so that those holding the keys of the kingdom can finalize their work.

What is the significance of the Dispensation of the Gospel of Abraham?

With all of this in mind, one might ask how all of this relates to the ushering in of the dispensation of the Gospel of Abraham in 1836 (Section 110)  and the commission to the quorum of the Twelve to “send forth my word to the ends of the earth” (Section 112) and to the message of the gospel across the great waters (Sections 118). C

Clearly, God was moving forward in having his word taken to the nations of the earth regardless of the fact that the saints of the restored church had stumbled and were in a state of apostasy.

This begs the question, what authority were the Twelve functioning under if the fulness of the priesthood had been taken?

Section 112 informs us that-

“the keys of the dispensation that ye have received , have come down from the fathers , and last of all, being sent down  from heaven unto you”

As you can see, the missionary responsibilities of the Twelve during their interim missionary assignment did not require the fulness of the priesthood which had been lost, rather, their priesthood assignment at the time was based on the patriarchal, evangelical priesthood.

Even though the fulness of the priesthood was taken and the keys of the kingdom stayed with Joseph when he died, there was a remnant of “authority”  that would remain on the earth after Joseph was killed.  It was held by the quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

Interestingly, the authority that they held was not just patriarchal. It was a “written” authority with power of its own as we shall see.

7- In January 1841 (Section 124)  the Lord declares that the Twelve held the “Keys” to open up the “authority of my kingdom” upon the four corners of the earth and to every creature. 

 128 Which Twelve hold the keys to open up the authority of my kingdom upon the four corners of the earth, and after that to send my word to every creature. 

It is really remarkable that the church had been pronounced to be under condemnation back in 1834, then in 1841 (Section 124) the Lord acknowledges that the fulness of priesthood had been taken from the saints and that they were practicing abominations before him, and yet, the Lord was providing provisions for an ongoing missionary work that would continue to this present time.

The missionary work continues to be conducted under the direction of the quorum of the Twelve. 

 So what exactly is meant by the word “authority” and the phrase “authority of my kingdom” in the above passage?

I am going to suggest that it is not referring to a priesthood ordination.

It is referring to something different than you might suppose.

I would suggest that definition #7 in the 1828 Websters reflects the meaning of what was being said.

 

In essence, “authority” as used in the above passage, is a “written authority“.

 

It refers to books that contain written “precedents” and “official declarations”  which influence the opinions of others.

In other words, it is referring to the written precedents and official declarations contained in the scriptures that joseph Smith brought forth as well as the existing scriptures that he had corrected. The Book of Mormon and revelations that Joseph brought forth represents the oracles of God and the written “authority of God’s Kingdom”.

That is the authority that the Twelve were supposed to take to the world.

There is power and authority in the written word of God.

A prophecy contained in Section 43 informed the saints that although Joseph would take the keys of the kingdom into the next life when he dies, the “oracles” of God (which constitutes the written authority of God’s Kingdom) would remain on the earth:

 

 Verily I say unto you, the keys of this kingdom shall never be taken from you, while thou art in the world, neither in the world to come;

Nevertheless, through you shall the oracles be given to another, yea, even unto the church.

And all they who receive the oracles of God, let them beware how they hold them lest they are accounted as a light thing, and are brought under condemnation thereby, and stumble and fall when the storms descend, and the winds blow, and the rains descend, and beat upon their house.

 

These oracles or scriptures that the Twelve were to take to the house of Israel is also what was being referred to in the prophecy in 3rd Nephi 16:10-13.

 

It says the knowledge of the gospel (authority in the written oracles of God) will be taken to the House of Israel after the Gentiles sin against the fulness of the gospel.

 

Eventually, the Gentiles will repent and the fulness will return with the kingdom that had been established four generations earlier.

 

The narrative about the LAST kingdom all throughout scripture testifies against Denver Snuffer  or Mauricio Berger or anyone else being a new Davidic servant that is sent to clean up Joseph Smiths failure.

You can cry and moan and complain all you want to about how the modern church is conducting the affairs of their little kingdom, but you cannot get around the fact that they have continued on in the original commission given to Brigham Young and the Twelve, to take the written authority of God’s kingdom to the world. Don’t take the written authority of God’s Kingdom lightly.

A Few Important Updates on the Claims and Vicissitudes of the Brazil Plates Movement

The latest news from the Brazil Golden Plates scam is that the translation from the sealed portion is about to come forth for all to read and ponder. This will apparently take place after the witnesses have all had the opportunity to read and study it.

In my opinion, Mauricio Berger’s claims about the Brazil Plates have categorically been proven to be false. Both from empirical evidence with respect to the verified forgeries from the Hoffman manuscript and more importantly, from the blatant inconsistencies of the claims that have been exposed by the word of God.

Nevertheless, there is a remnant of die-hards that still keep the movement alive, and this unfolding drama is instructive and worth monitoring because there is much to be learned from it with regard to how cults are formed and how cult personalities rise to prominence. It shows how Satan deceives the gullible who are not seasoned in the word of God.

Interestingly, the movement seems to be struggling to gain traction among most of the RLDS offshoot branches. The movement has had a similar lack of appeal to mainstream Mormons although there is a very small group of Mormons that have bought what Mauricio is selling. Two of the three movers and shakers of this heretical group are actively promoting this movement. The third person is a prolific author who has made a visit to Missouri and is apparently getting ready to promote the movement as well.

On August 18th of this year a “Solemn Assembly and Conference” was called by Joseph F. Smith. At that conference it was agreed upon that Joseph F. Smith would be ordained as the prophet of the movement at another special conference to be held on September 23rd. Another very important conference was held after that.

Two of the eight witnesses, Bob Moore and Brad Gault failed to make themselves available for either conference. They were conspicuously missing because of scheduling conflicts.

Bob Moore, one of the original masterminds of this spectacle, and Brad Gault, the presiding “high priest” of the Zarahemla Branch (which  initially was the group of people that Joseph had been affiliating with and preaching to), appeared to be having a cold war of sorts with the very dominant and strong handed Joseph.

Among other things, it appears as if the cold war was over the High Priest controversy.

Bob and Brad believe in the calling of High Priest and the restoration of the high priesthood during the ministry of Joseph Smith Jr.. In fact Brad has been ordained to be a High Priest. Conversely, Joseph F. Smith has been preaching for many years that Christ was the last great high priest and that there were not to be any men ordained to that office after that. Joseph believed that Joseph Smith had been deceived about the calling of the high priests at the special conference at the Morley Farm.

Naturally, Joseph F. Smith questions many of the things Joseph was doing in during the early years of his ministry, including the revelations he brought forth.

Joseph apparently believes that Joseph Smith Jr. had been a fallen prophet. Apparently Joseph has been echoing the sentiments made by David Whitmer in his address to believers of the Book of Mormon.

When I personally spoke to Joseph, he informed me that he planned to do away with the calling of High Priest among those that come from the RLDS tradition when he sets his newly formed church in order.

Interestingly, even though Bob Moore has not been very supportive of Joseph F. Smith for several months, he continued to outwardly affirm his belief in the movement.

This is what he said to me in an email when I quizzed him about the High Priest controversy and the apparent cold war he was having with Joseph F. Smith:

“..I remain convinced that the plates in the possession of Mauricio Berger are the same plates that Joseph Smith used in the translation of the Book of Mormon.  From what I understand, the translation of the part that we saw unsealed is nearing completion, both the English and the Portuguese.  

I realize that the testimony Joseph F. Smith and I originally bore implies some significant and direct divine interventions to achieve the promises that we were given and about which we bore testimony.  

The truthfulness of our testimony rests on our Lord fulfilling His promises.  In particular, it requires him to pour out His righteousness as promised in the Book of Mormon:

‘And it came to pass that I beheld that the great mother of abominations did gather together in multitudes upon the face of all the earth, among all the nations of the Gentiles, to fight against the Lamb of God.  And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld the power of the Lamb of God, that it descended upon the saints of the church of the Lamb, and upon the covenant people of the Lord, who were scattered upon all the face of the earth; and they were armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory’ (1N 3:229-231 RLDS).

Believers in the latter-day work that Joseph Smith, Jr. began are thoroughly divided into various camps to such an extent that unification of understanding, let alone organization, is not possible without this descent of righteousness.  

I still believe and bear the same testimony that I did last October.  Until the descent of righteousness, differences will remain, even when some wish to be unified.

That disunity (as well as distrust caused by the circulation of rumors and gossip) has led to inaccurate and false conclusions.. I truly care about Joseph…

..I was on a mission to assist the church in another country when the “conference” occurred in August.  That was the reason I was not there.  Last Sunday, I fulfilled a commitment that I made in early August to preach.  I would also like to point out that I have attended all the meetings of the eight witnesses, except for when I was out of the country.  I plan to continue doing so.

Bob”

As you can see, Bob is now finally acknowledging that many of the prophetic events that his movement claims to be ushering in cannot proceed until the “power of the Lamb of God” descends “upon the saints of the church of the Lamb, and upon the covenant people of the Lord, who [are] scattered upon all the face of the earth”

I applaud him for this.

This was my reply to Bob expressing my skepticism:

“Bob

I guess I am going to need to ask you to forgive my mistrust also.

How likely is it that you (and Brad) would both find it more important to fulfill speaking assignments and other errands that can easily be changed instead of attending to those two very important conferences of historic and prophetic significance (if the claims of the movement are true)?

I am finding it very hard to believe what you are telling me, however, I will provide your declaration, word for word in my write up if you want me to.

Here is what I believe is really happening. Apparently you still believe in the testimony of Mauricio and in the veracity of the plates. I get that and I don’t doubt your statement of continued belief..

..However the evidence is overwhelming that you and Joseph have had a falling out. It appears to be over the validity of the high priest issue and possibly other things including his role in all of this and his plans for setting the church in order.

Perhaps that is what you were alluding to when you said that differences will continue until the “descent of righteousness” takes place. If it is, and you are simply downplaying the degree of disunity that is taking place, then perhaps what you are saying is accurate and you are simply being a team player and putting on a good game face for the movement.

It is my understanding that the ordination did not take place on the 23 and that Joseph has called a new conference to take place in April in Utah. . Is that incorrect also? I am sure you have been appraised of what went on even though you were conveniently not in attendance.

I also heard that he is going to appoint twelve apostles. Is that also a false rumor?

I appreciate your willingness to respond…  My blog seems to be the one that many people look to for information regarding the movement that you and Joseph have been instrumental in starting.

Watcher”

This was Bob’s reply to my skepticism regarding his inability or unwillingness to change his schedule to be able to attend the conferences that Joseph had called:

“..you apparently believe that my participation in the mission to train the priesthood and other church leaders, as well as visit the branches in one of four nation in which I help direct missionary work, should have been abandoned because of Joseph’s July announcement about an August conference.

 In so doing, you dismiss the preparation of others involved in the mission, including the vacation dates that they obtained, and my commitment to the church leaders there.  

What about the prepayments for renting the training facilities?  Then, you conclude that my participation indicates a rift.  What response can I make to that determination?

Bob”

Apparently there is no other person capable of filling Bob’s shoes in the priesthood assignments that he has been given prior to the conferences called by Joseph F. Smith. He seems to feel that these responsibilities are of greater importance than the unfolding of the great work that he claims is taking place.

I have inside sources that have informed me that there has been tension between Bob and Joseph. At first I could not figure out why Bob had distanced himself from Joseph and yet continued to state that all is well and the work was true.

However I believe I have it figured out now.

Some of my inside sources have been telling me that Bob had been emailing Mauricio and discussing the High Priest controversy with him. Apparently Mauricio sided with Bob on the high priesthood controversy and assured Bob that he would deal with Joseph.

Eventually Mauricio sent a revelation to Joseph that he had received from the Lord. The revelation validated the office of high priest!

To Mauricio’s surprise, Joseph rejected the revelation.

But the story gets better.

Joseph flew to Brazil to meet with Mauricio and discuss things.

While discussing the revelation with Mauricio,  Joseph apparently pointed out a few things in the revelation that were not consistent with his understanding of things. The reply of Mauricio is that the revelation had been corrupted and that it originally did not contain the questionable content. This helped Joseph save face regarding his rejection of the revelation. This is what Joseph says about the incident on his website:

“..on August the 3rd Mauricio sent me a revelation and I rejected it. And I got chastised for doing that. But when it came to me the Spirit was not there. And I laid it before the Lord and I said,

‘Lord if this is of you, you give me a confirmation.’

And he would not. The Lord gave me no confirmation. And the people kept mentioning that to me. Some people, not everyone, some people.   So when I got to Brazil, when I had the opportunity, I took that revelation that I had been given in English and I took Mauricio off into a room and Tyler , Bobbi and Kelvin too, came with me. And he begin to read it. And he said,

‘Well, this is true and this, well that’s not true. That’s only half true.’

And he went through the whole thing and showed that it had been corrupted. So I was justified. That’s one for me. Now he has sent another one. It is rewritten and it is around somewhere.

While in Brazil, Mauicio reiterated that the calling of High Priest was valid and that Moroni had ordained Mauricio to that office and had instructed Mauricio to ordain Joseph to that office.

On Joseph’s website, he shares that his initial response was to get up and walk out of the meeting:

..Sam Gould.. has worked with me for 35 years to try to convince me that the high priesthood was of the Lord. I have fought him and I have fought against believing in the high priesthood. And that belief was still strong when I went down there.

I was adamant that no one was going to ordain me to the high priesthood. And that was the directions that was given to Mauricio by the angel. That he ordained Mauricio to the high priesthood and directed him to ordain me to the high priesthood.

So in the service, as I sat in the chair, and they begin to talk about it in Portuguese, and they had a man there that was interpreting into English, but to my poor ears his English was as bad as (my) Portuguese. But at least he was trying.

Then there was Tyler was trying to help and Kelvin. But the thing in my mind was confusion. And God is not the author of confusion. This had me so wound up that in my mind I said, “I’m going to get up and walk out of here.”

In fact, I pulled my feet back and got hold of the chair arms and I was ready to catapult myself out of that meeting. And a voice spoke to me, as loud as any amplifier could make it in my mind. And he said,

“If you leave this service, you will destroy my work.”

I sat back in my chair and I said,

‘Lord, thy will be done, not mine. Whatever you give me, I will operate with the best of my ability to perform the work that you’ve called me to do.’ “

As you can see, Joseph’s first impression was to just get up and walk out of the meeting when he was being told that the office of High Priest was a valid office and that he needed to be ordained a high priest.

One can only imagine the conflict that Joseph F. Smith was experiencing. If he rejected the office of High Priest, he would have to publicly admit that he had been besnookered by Mauricio and his fabricated claims.

How humiliating would that be?

One the other hand, if he accepted Mauricio’s claim that the office of high priest is an authentic office it proves that Joseph F. Smith has not been very inspired and has been a false teacher regarding this very important doctrinal and priesthood issue for much of his adult life!

Joseph was between a rock and a hard spot.

Indeed, even to this day, Joseph must be wondering what other claims of David Whitmer that he has spent much of his life parroting that are also false?

It will be interesting to see if this recent turn of events will mend the breach between Bob and Joseph.

Anyway, there has been much confusion over what is really taking place in this movement because Joseph, Bob and Brad are all very evasive about the obvious contention that has been taking place between them.

Because of the many rumors floating around, I also contacted Tyler Crowell several weeks ago and asked for clarification.

Tyler is one of the eight witnesses. I asked him if he could confirm the rumors about Bob and Brad becoming disaffected from the movement.

This was my email to him

Tyler

It is apparent that there has been a falling out between Joseph F. Smith and the leaders of the Zarahemla Branch. Can you provide any details? Will Bob Moore and Brad Gault be having their names removed as witnesses?

Hope all is going well for you.

This was his reply:

Dear brother,

In spite of my weaknesses and frailties I have been mercifully blessed with the intercession of the Holy Spirit which causes me to greatly rejoice. I hope the same is true for you also.

As yet we who see through a glass darkly use our own human understanding and traditions as a lens to perceive what God sees perfectly in entirety. As you are aware different men have different understandings and interpretations of specific prophetic timelines and events.

But I hope in spite of varying perspectives we all still labor for the same cause. Those who have a witness from the Holy Spirit that this work is of God, such as the eight witnesses, as well as those who wait for confirmation can all labor according to their faith and diligence to bring souls to Jesus.

If you desire to have the intentions of Bob or Brad you will have to ask them. From what I know their testimony stands firm.

As you can see, Tyler’s response seems to suggest that ALL of the witnesses including Bob and Brad are still strong in the emerging movement dispite differing perceptions pertaining to prophetic timelines, events and doctrines. Yet he ultimately refers me to Bob and Brad for their own word on the matter regarding their intentions about their future involvement. Kind of a mixed message.

He then took the opportunity to ask me if I would be willing to post on my blog Mauricio’s responses to my accusations about him:

I am glad you chose to write to me because I would like to ask you if you are willing to allow a reply to be posted to your readers of the accusations you have made?

Since you have spoken in behalf of Mauricio I am sure you would want your readers to have the opportunity to read for themselves his response to your assertions.  

I anxiously await your reply. 

This was my response:

I find it very hard to believe that their silence and absence from the last conference is just a coincidence or apathy towards the work.

Regarding your request, absolutely.

I will post his responses to my assertions. I think all sides of an issue should be able to state their case. I hate to give him publicity, but it is only fair to state his responses.

Obviously I reserve the right to respond to his responses.

I am glad you are doing well.

So, I am going to publish Mauricio’s responses to my accusations at the end of this post. Anyone interested in his replies are welcome to read them.

First I want to share an interesting email I got from an anonymous group of people who claim to live in Missouri that are quite close to this situation and very familiar with the personal life and history of Joseph F. Smith.

Here is what the email says:

“There have been activities in the last nine months that concern several people who are observing the Brazil movement and the sealed portion of the Book of Mormon; concern due to certain actions which have wrought discord instead of the promised unity, corrupting some hearts against others, and undermining the good intentions of others.

We continue to observe a rebellious spirit that seems to emanate from Joseph Fredrick Smith., the great-grandson of Joseph Smith Jr., who was recently acknowledged as prophet by the group in Brazil. These observations brought to mind the character of Joseph Fredrick’s 2^ndgreat uncle, William Smith.

There were good reasons that William Smith, brother to the Prophet Joseph Smith Jr., was often chastised by the Lord and at length rejected by the brethren from the office of patriarch after the deaths of his brothers and finally excommunicated.

He allowed himself to be ruled by his passions, pride, and ego. This reflection has come to surface in the minds of several who have been keeping an eye on the claims coming from Brazil and the restructuring of a new search. We have sat back and watched, prayed, considered, attended some meetings, yet tried to do so with our spiritual eyes for it is that vision that keeps us balanced. 

Since it was declared that the gold plates, including the sealed portion, had supposedly been delivered to Mauricio Berger in Brazil, events have been unfolding that show similarities between William Smith and Joseph Fredrick Smith that should give many cause to step back and see things with their spiritual eyes and not be taken by the awe and splendor that their human eyes afford them, for such splendor is wrought through lenses which distort and skew reality. 

Here are just a few notes of interest concerning William:

1)   William felt he was important and should be highly placed.

2)   Contended with those who did not agree with him, at length turning to the people to rally behind him, undermining the leadership.

3)   Felt that he knew more about the direction of the church than those surrounding him, primarily after Joseph’s death, and continually attempted to show the leaders that they were in error.

4)   His pride outweighed his reason. Joseph told him that if he could not learn to control his passion and put it under foot, he would not be welcomed into the kingdom of heaven.

5)   Was not a team player, wanted more authority than he was given.

6)   Resentful, articulate, and abrasive.

7)   1845- After being ordained a patriarch he made public expressions of harmony with the brethren, while in private letters and conversations, he resorted to name calling and accusations.

8)   After Joseph’s death, William bounced from one group to another in an attempt to exert his authority but to no avail.

9)   May 1845, sought the support of the people because he felt his right to lead was being unfairly challenged.

10) Parley P. Pratt objected to sustaining William as an apostle in 1845 because he, “aspires to uproot and undermine the legal presidency of the church that he might occupy the place himself.”

11) George Albert Smith said of William, “he has a pattern of building himself up on the merits of others.”

12) William’s brother, Joseph the Prophet said that William was “a fierce lion who will neglect the more weighty matters until his head is bowed down with sorrow.”

13) The blessing he received while in Missouri speaks of his prideful heart and rebellious spirit.

*This information was taken from the book United by Faith, and the following websites: https://www.lds.org/ensign/1979/09/joseph-smiths-brothers-nauvoo-and-after?lang=eng

William Smith Problematic Patriarch https://www.dialoguejournal.com/wp-content/uploads/sbi/articles/Dialogue_V16N02_13.pdf

One cannot deny that there are many similarities here between William and Joseph Fredrick Smith. Anyone who has been close to the events unfolding in Holden, Blue Springs, and other areas, know of the unrest and division which has been increasing. 

There is another thought which must be taken into consideration as well; where is the family of Joseph F. Smith in the matters at hand? Through the journals and writings of William’s own siblings and those who witnessed his behaviors, we have a good accounting of what he was driven by and that, despite being a good man, he heeded his own passions and ego rather than the more weighty matters of the church and building up the kingdom.

It leads to the question of Joseph Fredrick Smith’s own family. Has anyone thought or wondered where they are? Why are they not rallying behind what he is doing? What are their thoughts? What insights would their reflections offer that we do not see? For the heart of the man who is seen in the home reveals the true nature of that man.”

*end of anonymous email

This is really quite a remarkable email from an anonymous group of people who have been watching the events of this movement very closely.

Having read a little bit of history about William Smith, and also having heard from several informants close to the situation about Joseph F. Smith’s history of jumping around from group to group until his dominant personality burns bridges, I must admit that the comparison is striking.

If my personal beliefs would allow it, I would have to strongly consider the possibility that Joseph F. Smith is the reincarnation of William Smith!

I found the above email very interesting and the comment about Joseph F. Smith family possibly not supporting his claims of being a prophet or his claims about the authenticity of the Brazil plates.

That really caught my interest.

In regard to that I became aware of a book written by one of Joseph’s daughters which I am currently reading. I am now about half way through it. It is a real eye opener about the life and character of Joseph F. Smith.

Regarding William Smith, one of the most fascinating parts of LDS history that I have found over the years is the little known fact that William Smith was not originally chosen to be a member of the quorum of the Twelve apostles by the witnesses of the book of Mormon who had been given the mandate from the Lord to chose the Twelve.

After the witnesses of the Book of Mormon fulfilled their calling from the Lord to chose Twelve men to be apostles and submitted their decisions to Joseph Smith, they were pressured by Joseph Smith into replacing Phineas Young who had originally been chosen by the witnesses, with Joseph Smith’s brother William Smith!

Here is an excerpt from the book “Lost Apostles, Forgotten Members of Mormonism’s Original Quorum of the Twelve Apostles” by Shepard and Marquardt:

“In the behind-the-scenes negotiations, Joseph Smith had rejected on nomination: Phineas Young, Brigham Young’s brother, in favor of Josephs own brother, William. Cowdery wrote to Brigham Young in February 27, 1848:

‘At the time the twelve were chosen in Kirtland, and I may say before, it had been manifested that brother Phineas was entitled to occupy the station as one of that number,; but owing to brother Joseph’s urgent request at the time, Brother David and myself yielded to his wishing and consented for William to be selected contrary to our feelings and judgment and to our deep mortification ever since’

About two decades later in 1854, Phineas spoke to a group of church leaders in Salt Lake City about how his call to the quorum had been cancelled. According to Wilford Woodruff, Phineas Young said that he was the first that was chosen in the organization of the quorum of the Twelve Apostles but brother Joseph said he wished I would let Wm. Smith have that place so I gave way to him. 

It is very telling that Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer felt deep mortification about being pressured into changing their inspired choice of Phineas Young to that of William Smith.

That is a very interesting historical tidbit that few people know about. Here is another quote from the Book that encapsulates Williams perceived character-

“Historian and educator Paul M. Edwards, second-great-grandson of Joseph Smith, caught the essence of William Smith’s character when he wrote: ‘William B. Smith was a difficult man. Like so many who feel denied power and recognition, he was probably best described as being his own worst enemy, … William had the habit of saying what was on his mind, and as a very active and concerned man, he was often in the midst of controversy'”

The book concludes its remarks about William Smith as follows:

“After Joseph and Hyrum Smth were assassinated, William found he was less able than before to control his acerbic tongue or need to dominate others. Brigham Young did his best to accommodate the volatile apostle but eventually shunted him to the children’s table, so to speak, for which William set about trying to convince the other branches of the Restoration to recognize him as his brother’s rightful heir.

He ended up being excluded from all the churches and engaging in the exchange of insults that were even shriller than his past examples of character assassination. He managed to find peace only in old age when his nephew, Joseph III, was wise enough to keep him at arm’s length.”

 Again, some of the parallels between the very dominate, controversial and sometimes caustic personalities of William Smith and Joseph F. Smith are uncanny. ”

But I digress.

The anonymous group of people who sent me the email brought up a very important observation. Why is it that the family members of Joseph F. Smith who know his character the best, are not rallying around him and supporting his quest to become the prophet to finish the work that Joseph Smith started?

Is it possible that this anonymous group of insiders know something that we should know about the very telling family life of Joseph F. Smith?

When Joseph Smith Jr. was called to be a prophet, his parents and most of his brothers and sisters were very supportive of his claims because they knew the integrity of his soul.

Where do Joseph F. Smith’s children fit into his quest to become prophet?

Those who have decided to sustain Joseph F. Smith as a prophet should do their “due diligence” and make sure they are comfortable with his history.

Here are the responses from Mauricio in regard to the accusations I have made to his claims:

Clarifications by Mauricio A Berger – 05.23.2018 (English)

Throughout my life, many people passed by me, day after day. But only a few of these people are in my memory and I will carry them forever in my heart. Among these people there is one in particular, my friend, Jader.

Recently an acquaintance of social networks has passed me a link: https://onewhoiswatching.files.wordpress.com/2018/04/final-mauricio-blog-10.pdf where the “watcher” of site makes numerous accusations about me, from deceiver and falsifier. This does not really make a difference for me, because I me feel as Joseph Smith Jr. it when he related his story and among his words I highlight some to express what I feel about all of this:

“However, it was nevertheless a fact that I had beheld a vision. I have thought since, that I felt much like Paul, when he made his defense before King Agrippa, and related the account of the vision he had when he saw a light, and heard a voice; but still there were but few who believed him; some said he was dishonest, others said he was mad; and he was ridiculed and reviled. But all this did not destroy the reality of his vision. He had seen a vision, he knew he had, and all the persecution under heaven could not make it otherwise; and though they should persecute him unto death, yet he knew, and would know to his latest breath, that he had both seen a light and heard a voice speaking unto him, and all the world could not make him think or believe otherwise. So it was with me. I had actually seen a light, and in the midst of that light I saw two Personages, and they did in reality speak to me; and though I was hated and persecuted for saying that I had seen a vision, yet it was true; and while they were persecuting me, reviling me, and speaking all manner of evil against me falsely for so saying, I was led to say in my heart: Why persecute me for telling the truth? I have actually seen a vision; and who am I that I can withstand God, or why does the world think to make me deny what I have actually seen? For I had seen a vision; I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it, neither dared I do it; at least I knew that by so doing I would offend God, and come under condemnation. I had now got my mind satisfied so far as the sectarian world was concerned” — Joseph Smith —History 1:24-26 LDS.

In a similar way I can say that my mind is already satisfied with regard to the sectarian world and their opinions regarding to this work. But there is something to be said about my friend Jader who needs to be recorded here and in the story that will be drawn from that event with the restoration of the gospel.

So I am willing to clarify some things through this message.

But first, I must make a few remarks about the “watcher” accusations about the facts. First, I it has proved to those who seek the truth that such artifacts exist. No man who could have falsified such evidence would be in his right mind to invite eight unknown witnesses to come to his house and test its truth if it were not true. In addition, all eight witnesses are members of some restoration church in the United States, which, of course, would make any charlatan avoid coming to Brazil with the possibility of checking artifacts up close. In fact, most, if not all, wanted only one thing, make sure they were not being deceived. Yet, they all departed with conviction of what they saw when they returned to the United States, with complete certainty of the plates. Doubt, if it existed, did not last in their hearts, not only for the materials that proved to be reliable, but also for the confirmation of the Holy Spirit which he was spilled in all of them here in Brazil.

In its turn, what can I say about the for the accusations highlighted raised by the “watcher”?

By the accusation raised by the “watcher” that I falsified the plates by the Mark Hoffman document, I can say that such an argument only proved even more that the plates in my possession are true.

According to material that the eight witnesses elaborated to understand this coincidence, exist is at least two letters written by Professor Charles Anthon, whose content coincide comes with the description of the last plaque and corroborates with the description of his letters, in which Charles Anthon describes that he saw characters arranged in vertical columns and at the end of the document there was a circle divided into several compartments, adorned with several strange marks. It is logical to assume that Joseph Smith designed this document of Anthon from the last record plate that I showed the eight witnesses. I would not have been able to forge that, since I, like many Latter-day Saints here in Brazil, had no knowledge of this descriptive letter of Anthon, because in short, what is presented to us by the LDS church is that the characters that Martin Harris showed Charles Anthon are those available on the internet, but that second the information I later obtained from the eight witnesses, not match what Professor Anthon mentioned. —https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthon_Transcript.

That is, this argument raised against me proves even more the veracity of the plates, since such descriptive figures are in agreement with the reports of the past. If there were no such last plaque, however close it may seem to Hoffman’s counterfeit, then they would in fact be false. Because Anthon’s description proves that at some point Joseph Smith Jr drew from the gold plates something similar to what is contained in the last plate of the records that the eight witnesses saw.

What do I have to say about the widespread issue of where Mark Hoffman would have copied his paper?

There are some arguments to be considered, especially one that mentions that Mark Hoffman at some point had access to a fragment of the document described in the letters of Charles Anthon, and from then on he forged an entire document to have more monetary value and obtain higher profit from its sale. However, for me the question is simpler than it seems: The Lord our God possesses a real enemy of the invisible and extremely intelligent and powerful world to influence the minds of men, just as he influenced Mark Hoffman to act obscurely among his similar. (Joseph Smith—Históry 1:16 LDS). This enemy, as everyone understands, has lived among humans for thousands of years and has undoubtedly seen Mormon handling the last plate as he may have seen the original Joseph Smith-produced document that Martin Harris took to Charles Anthon. That is the most plausible answer! At the present time and knowing that the sealed part would soon be exposed to the world with the birth of Mauricio Berger, he found in the figure of Mark Hoffman a counterpart to falsify the said document, using in the forger’s thoughts only the original characters that he retained in his remembrance, already with the intention of interrupting the work of the Lord when it began to occur again among the people of the church in the present day.

As for the following question raised by the “watcher” that Joseph Smith Jr. will return to complete the paper, which he says on his website, which has been announcing this idea for years to his readers, and therefore, according to him, I must having copied his idea, when surprised he reads in an email sent by me to a young man from the LDS church stating that Joseph would come back to finish the job. It was then that the so-called “watcher”, perhaps afraid of that I can copy your ideas, tries to manipulate his readers into thinking that I am hiding my personal beliefs from Brother Bob, who according to the “watcher”: Bob not believe in the return of Joseph. Here I confirm again what I said in the e-mail, I know by revelation of Moroni that Joseph will return to finish the job and not because I have read in some place something similar. Yes, he will come, but not in the way the “watcher” testifies, that Joseph will rise again to complete the work, not least because the scriptures do not mention resurrection in the case of that return. But behold, I say unto, that it shall be done in a way no one shall perceive, as it was in the days of Jesus when the Jews also awaited Elijah’s return, but as Jesus taught his disciples, Elijah came in the figure of John Baptist, but no one recognized him. This is so true that in Joseph Smith’s inspired version of the Bible, exactly in the text of Mark 9: 3 mentions that Moses and Elijah were on the mountain of transfiguration, and confirms that this Elijah was indeed John the Baptist. Lastly, if this is the main point of the question, So I say it is a simple fact to understand, because there has been a parallel in the history of the gospel, but still, it is one of the mysteries that the Lord will not make known to ordinary men, but only to his prophets. In this case I regret to inform you that the idea of the “watcher” regarding Joseph’s return is similar to what happened to the Pharisees in the meridian of the times, when they were waiting for Elijah’s return, but they did not realize that Elijah was there among them.

Now, finally, I want to talk about Jader. First of all, I want to reinforce his character by saying that I have not known any man more just, more distinct, and true than the Jader.

In his commentary, Jader mentions that Mauricio has been talking about that he Jader, broke the seer’s stones. First he just came to this comment because someone behind the questions passed the wrong information to him, and because he is very correct in his way, must have thought that I’m spreading lies about he, because he never had access to the stones. On the other hand, whoever passed this distorted information to Jader, lied to him and entangled him in a web of deception. The “Questions and Answers” video is widely available to all interested parties at this link below since the first visit of Joseph and Bob to Brazil, where Bob tells in detail that I, Maurício Artur Berger, broke the seers stones with my own hands. It was only on this occasion on 10/29/2017 that the history of the stones broke was known by the general public. — 10.29.2017 Zarahemla Branch Open Forum – Questions & Answer

On the other, if they asked me, if Jader exerted some influence to break the stones the way I broke them? So the answer is yes! Jader was always a friend who taught me a lot about loving the truth above all things, and made me see situations that sometimes we do not realize its real meaning. In this case, it was Jader, who somehow caught my attention so that I would ascertain the facts in order to see if I was not being deceived by the devil, and with that in mind, and weakened by losing the friendship of my best friend, I acted compulsorily in relation to the feelings that struck me in those days, coming to break the stones, because of the sadness and the doubt he raised in my heart, because of the things that Jader had told me about the lie of satan. The hard words that Jader told me about the lie of Satan, was for the same reason that made Jader move away from me, and I never hid from anyone that I made a mistake with Jader and with God in that regard, when I asked Jader to tell his bishop that he had seen the angel Moroni and the plates, when in fact he had never seen. This point goes into the second charge of the site where Jader responds that I asked him for it, and it was precisely at this point that he came to believe that everything was a lie. I did not see any problem in asking him this because I was quite sure that one day Moroni would show the plates to him personally, because the promise of being one of the three witnesses was his and not Brother Valdeci Machado. Maybe Jader is right when on the site he says that I am arrogant because after my excommunication I felt the desire to show LDS church that they were wrong about me but could not show the plates to Jader, time after he received an email from one of the three men who were on the mountain I requested this him. But for knowing the character of the Jader already predicted that he would move away, however, I asked anyway, for I was sure that as soon as Moroni confirmed everything, he would not be disappointed with me. But he did not allow himself that opportunity.

Jader also mentions in this same comment that I already have the translated material completely. In fact, while Jader was at my side, he saw a part of the translation being made from a context that was not in the Book of Mormon that he knows, this context was a translated portion of Lehi’s book. After that, I had to deposit the plates in a hole at the top of the hill, shortly thereafter, I, Jader and Joni, climbed the mountain once more to see if I took the plates from the hole where I had put it, but one a huge stone was laid on top of the site, making it impossible for him to be removed at the time, after which I asked him to trust that the plates would be shown to him by the angel Moroni at the end of the ten years from 2007 to 2017, the year in which Moroni of in fact it showed for the three witnesses. Therefore, I never had all translated material, because I only had the plates again in January 2017, and resumed the translation work only after the eight witnesses came to Brazil earlier this year of 2018.

As I said, Jader is an extremely correct person, and I agree with him to maintain his position in defending his truth, for each one will be judged by what he has. And since many things have become undesirable in my person for him, for I am flawed and imperfect, then I do not see how he can have other position concerning me at this stage in which this story in which he has been involved unfolds. However, I insist that the questions to Jader were questions disguised by someone who made him think I was using his name to make him a bad character. Be that as it may, I believe that if the right questions are asked, he will also speak the truth about them. There is even an email from him dated June 29, 2011 that includes a testimony with his words that say:

“I also testify that I know these things are true because I had the privilege exactly on February 4, 2008 to see a group of renowned spirits at the top Acute hill. I want you all to know that I Jader and Brother Mauricio we were ministered and visited on December 25, 2008 also on the Acute Hill by the three Apostles of the Lord, by Simon Peter who holds the keys of the kingdom of his church and together with him James and John. I say this and I tell everyone and I confirm and without shadows of doubt that I speak and believe in what I have seen and know and that all listen and pray to the Lord so that their minds are opened and their hearts are touched. Knowing this I close saying that this is the will of our Savior Jesus Christ to be thus manifested the designs of God and the Holy Spirit, and I do and I leave this Testimony in the name of the Great, Mighty and Redeemer of humanity the Savior Jesus Christ. Amen”.  (Jadar – June 29, 2011)

I do not believe, for a single moment that he allowed himself to be influenced by me at the time he wrote this testimony, because he was always a man of great character to be influenced for someone. Because of this character, I do not believe that in the present time he will let himself be influenced to change his previous testimony. This would be contrary to their high moral standards. I believe that he can say at the present time that they were manifestations of the devil, because, that is what he believes today, that I have been deceived. But I do not think he would say he’s never seen anything.

Finally, to conclude my opinion on the subject posted by the “watcher,” I know that Jader now thinks that the three men who appeared to us at the top of the mountain, whom I supposed at the time to be Peter, James and John are for him only three common men, similar to us, made from of flesh and bones, who coincidentally climbed the mountain that day at a late hour and stayed there no more than fifteen minutes and then left. But if you ask Jader what those men actually did and spoke in those 15 minutes, surely Jader will confirm these words of mine:

1º they asked to pray with us.

2º spoke of his master healing people only with his shadow.

3º they said that they were from Paraiso, which could be a nearby city of the city of Agudo, but also, could be the literal Paradise.

4º They also said that it was the first time they had climbed that mountain, which is impossible in the middle of the bush and the night for someone who does not know the way.

5º Although we saw a light approaching when they arrived, we did not see them light any lantern in the darkness of the night to go away and to go down the mountain.

6º Apart from all this there is there were a storm approaching quickly from the top, there was no escaping it, and I told Jader that we should go down, when one of them said, calm down. If you just believe it, it rains around and the storm does not even touch you. So we spent the night there, and in fact, the storm passed around us with a lot of wind shaking the trees of the mountain, but nothing happened to us.

7º We did not see them drinking water when they arrived among us, or having some canteen or backpack that could contain water so they could hydrate, so little showed signs of fatigue, which was impossible for a man of flesh and bones as we arrive up there on the mountain without feeling exhausted and thirsty for water.

Here is a question: if they were just three ordinary men, do not you think, in the least strange that they go up at night and stay there only 15 minutes after such an intense walk to reach the top and the time they were there, spoke about the subject that led me and Jader to that place, coming to pray with us?

Lastly, it does not matter much to me on which side Jader is at this moment and how much he believes me to be a false prophet, what matters to me is the character of my friend Jader. It matters that their morality remains untouched, though these malefactors try to persuade him with questions elaborated with distorted facts of the current history. Because, I have been told, on at least two occasions, one before Jader departs from me and another afterwards, that he will in future be a key player in this work. Therefore, when I think of my friend Jader raising an accusation against this work, it is like thinking of the story of Paul, who was as whole and zealous as Jader is in defense of the truth. But when God called Paul to embrace his cause, then that zealous man for his traditions bowed to the ground to recognize the truth that was right among those whom he accused of apostasy.

As for the “watcher” and the other sectarians who accuse me of this or that, I mean that I am not angry with them. I have pity before, just as Jesus took pity on those who crucified him because they did not really know what they were doing. Similarly, I, Maurício Berger,  I’ll be praying for those who persecute me and try to disfigure the image of this work, because indeed they do not know what they do. Amen!

Mauricio A Berger – 05.23.2018

 

A Review of What the Book of Mormon Tells us about the Eschatology of the Latter day Jews: Part Two

This series is about the true eschatology of the Jews

In part one of this series we briefly discussed the fact that the gathering of the Ashkenazi Jews to the Old World Jerusalem in the 1940’s was not in fulfillment of Bible prophecy. It is a smokescreen that has been creating a diversion.

The true gathering of the Jews began gathering to America in the late 1830’s as documented by revelation in D&C 109, 110, and 118 which matches us with the prophecy of Christ in 3 Nephi 16.

We also discussed the  Blood Curse that is still upon the posterity of the Jews that crucified Christ and we documented why neither Jews nor Gentiles are allowed to see the face of God or personally converse with him face to face during this time of “hidden darkness” until AFTER the ushering in of the final great work of the last generation.

We observed Peter’s declaration that God has not altogether cast away his people the Jews and the fact that God was still going to reclaim them and graft them into the Olive tree.

The great mystery pertaining to the Jews includes the fact that God was to set his hand (his Davidic servant) a first time to reclaim them which began during the Nauvoo era of the LDS restoration followed by the setting of his hand a second time (by his same Davidic servant)  when the Marvelous Work begins.

The Format

In order to do justice to the concepts we will be covering in this series, I have decided to devote each part of this series to just two or three prophetic segments of the Book of Mormon that we will be parsing and measuring.

Hopefully this will give the reader plenty of time to ponder and digest the content and avoid becoming overwhelmed with the details in each segment and the correlation and crosspollination between related passages that provide synergistic clarity.

We will parse the relevant sections of the Book of Mormon chronologically with regard to the keyword “Jew”, however we will jump to other relevant sections when keywords emerge that direct us to other pertinent prophecies that don’t use the word “Jew”. It should be remembered that many of the earlier prophecies in the Book of Mormon will need the added clarity of later Book of Mormon prophecies to be fully understood and appreciated.

In this part of the series we will cover 1st Nephi 10 which reveals that the Jews will be recovered in the latter days AFTER the Gentiles receive the fulness of the gospel. Other prophecies that we will be parsing in future posts will further reveal and clarify that it will be after the Gentiles receive and reject the fulness.

The second prophetic segment we will parse is in 1 Nephi 13. It reveals that the Book of the Lamb first comes forth in purity from the Jews to the Gentiles and then becomes corrupted because the great church will take many of the plain and precious things out of it.

Eventually, it comes forth again in purity from the Gentiles to the Jews. The coming forth of the Book of the Lamb in its purity from the Gentiles to the Jews appears to be the beginning of the Marvelous Work and a Wonder. Following that, “other books” come forth from the Gentiles that convince the various factions of latter day Israel that the Gospel is true.

Since the keyword “convincing” emerges in 1 Nephi 13 which points to the “Joseph the Seer prophecy” in 2nd Nephi 3, (and the JST of the Bible) we will include that prophetic segment in this post as well (even though it does not specifically contain the word Jews)  because it reveals that it is Joseph the Seer of the latter days that God uses to bring forth the Book of the Lamb of God and the “other books” that convince people of the truthfulness of the Book of the Lamb of God.

Format for this series

Each prophetic segment that we parse will have a three part format. First I will provide the passages to be parsed and measured for the convenience of those who may be reading the blog without easy access to their scriptures.

Secondly, I will chronologically summarize what I get out of the passages, relative to the eschatology of the Jews, in bullet point fashion. This will give readers the opportunity to compare their observations with mine.

Lastly, I will provide a short commentary and a “this is important because” takeaway.

At the end of the series I will merge all of the bullet point observations pertaining to the Jews into one large chronological bullet point listing.

This will connect many of the pieces of the puzzle and give detail and clarity on the eschatology of the Jews from the prophetic viewpoint of the Book of Mormon.

It will show beyond question that the commonly believed eschatology of the Jews is false and that the gathering of the  Ashkenazi Jews to the Old World Jerusalem that began in the 1940’s is a total smoke screen that is not fulfilling the prophetic narrative of the real Biblical Jews.

From this it will become apparent just how far off the generally accepted narrative is that is taught by Catholic, Protestant and Mormon prophecy scholars.

House Cleaning Issues

Comment Section

The comment section reflects that some of the newer readers are struggling with such a dramatic prophetic paradigm shift.

That is to be expected.

It is truly difficult to expunge the traditions of our fathers from which we have been so strongly indoctrinated. One of the most compelling challenges to the true narrative has to do with a statement that Joseph Smith apparently made about the Old World Jerusalem and the prophecies contained in the Book of Zechariah. I will address those issues at a later time.. possibly in this series.

If you are a new reader, please hang in there and learn how to do keyword searches so that you can free yourselves from the interpretations of man.

Becoming Self Actualizing in Reading God’s Word

On the other hand, it is gratifying to see that there are some that have caught the vision of keyword searches and of the empowerment that comes from learning how to read and interpret scripture for oneself instead of relying on others. I loved the following comment by a person that has mastered the art of keywords searches:

This is one of my favorite subjects from your writings. I look forward to part 2. Thank you so much for sharing your years of scripture study.

After I found your blog nearly 2 years ago, I started doing word searches and the scriptures totally opened up for me; I no longer needed to read the interpretations of men because the scriptures interpret and define themselves.

Every time I taught Relief Society, I would encourage the sisters to do word searches. I always used the scriptures as my source material for my lessons rather than Conference talks and Church publications. That’s probably why the R.S. President asked me to “dumb down” my lessons. I was released shortly after that, and put in charge of activities. 😕

Praise God almighty! Those are the words of a person that does not need anyone to teach her anymore because she has a personal relationship with the holy and infallible word of God!

Three Profound Descriptives Pertaining to the Jews

The Book of Mormon gives three descriptives pertaining to the Jews of the latter days which will be helpful in understanding the eschatology of the Jews. They are as follows:

• Persuaded to believe
• Begin to believe
• Knowledge of the Gospel

Rather than stating that the Jews are “converted” during the first time that God sets his hand to recover his people, or that they experience the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost and are CONVERTED to the fulness, we are informed that they are persuaded to believe. In other words, it is primarily an intellectual belief rather than a mystical, miraculous changing from the natural man into a new creature.  This is consistent with the descriptive “Begin to believe“.

Instead of stating that they believe, it says they begin to believe without ever providing any indication that they come to a full belief during this first grafting in process. This is consistent with the descriptive “knowledge of the gospel“.

There is a profound difference between being converted to the actual fulness of the gospel, vs. receiving a knowledge of the gospel.

In other words, the process of beginning to believe is strictly academic with none of the spiritual gifts and spiritual change of heart that is brought about by the Holy Ghost.

Compare those descriptives of how the Jews receive the gospel to the descriptives used with regard the reception of the Gospel by the Gentiles”

The book of Mormon informs us that Christ “should make himself manifest, by the Holy Ghost, unto the Gentiles“.

Big difference.

That is confirmed by a study of church history. During the early Kirtland years spiritual fruits were emerging among the Gentile saints with speaking in tongues, healings, visions, revelations, etc.

Conversely, during the Nauvoo years when the latter day Jews began flowing into the church, those spiritual fruits were coming to a close and the testimony of the Jews was based on theory and principles of persuasion rather than a spiritual epiphany..

One powerful case in point is a knowledge based testimony expressed by new Jewish convert named Joseph Fielding whose family came across the great waters to be grafted into the church and would eventually play a vital role in the leadership of the Jewish church.

In April of 1844 the church was experiencing a time of contention and apostacy within the church. Some of Joseph’s closest associates from the Kirtland era were questioning some of the doctrines Joseph was spouting and calling Joseph Smith a fallen prophet. The Church was collectively devoid of the spiritual gifts and the heavens were closing during the Nauvoo era.

At this time, Joseph Smith gave the notorious King Follett sermon in which he claimed that God had once been a mortal man on an earth and had gone through a plan of salvation just like we are going through. He would claim that God the father was NOT an unchangeable God from eternity to eternity and that there had been countless Gods that had preceded him.

Following the sermon, Joseph Fielding, one the new Jewish converts from across the great waters was ecstatic at what he hears and proclaimed

April 6th-44

“I have evidence enough that Joseph is not fallen…Our anual Conference bigan and continued 4 Days Joseph,s Discourse on the Origin of Man, the Nature of God and the Resurrection was the most interesting Matter of this time and any one that could not see in him the Spirit of Inspiration of God must be dark, they might have known that he was not a fallen Prophet even if they thought he was fallen.

As you can see, the teachings by Joseph Smith in the King Follett sermon regarding the origin of man and the nature of God were deemed to be illuminating and revelatory by this new convert. He viewed this information of proof that Joseph was not a fallen prophet.

Contrast this reaction by a Jewish convert who was just beginning to believe in Christ, with the reaction of William Law who was a  member of the first presidency.

William Law along with his brother, the Fosters and the Higbees exclaimed that “some of the most blasphemous doctrines” were preached including the heresy that there were “other gods as far above our God as he is above us“.

The point is that at a time when the new Jewish members that were coming into the church from across the great waters should have been seeking the Holy Ghost and enjoying the gifts of the spirit, they were simply taking a left brain approach and judging things based on what they considered to be revelatory “knowledge” that was being shared.

The above descriptives provide a remarkable profile of the latter day church and all of their fragments. Spiritual gifts are not even anticipated in the modern church. Priesthood is simply a term for ecclesiastical “authority” and what a man’s status and privileges in the church are. “Power” in the priesthood is no longer being experienced.

Understanding these things sheds a whole lot of light about why things are the way they are with modern day Mormonism.

Let the Parsing Begin!

Ok..

Now it is time to begin chronologically parsing what the Book of Mormon tells us about the  eschatology of the Jews.

Please do this with me instead of just reading about my personal deductions from personal word searches.

The purpose of this post is not for you to believe what I believe, it is for you to learn how to search for yourself and arrive at your own deductions.

Please feel free to challenge me using scripture, in the comments section or through email (onewhoiswatching [at] gmail.com) if you think I have misinterpreted any of the prophecies that we are going to review.

Using the same standard search techniques you may arrive at different interpretations and deductions than I will arrive at.

It is your interpretations and deductions that should matter to you, not mine.

As one reader of my previous post said who was getting ready to blog about his evaluations of my interpretations, “prepare to have your doctrine measured“.

If you do not employ word search techniques and technology in your scripture study you need to learn how to do it.

If you do not have a favorite scripture search site or software, use the search engine on the LDS church website.

There is something insidiously delightful about using the churches search engine to identify all of the false doctrines that they teach. 😉

For those that are new readers and unfamiliar with doing word searches, I am going to go through some basics to help you get started.

Step 1

Go to the search engine at LDS.org and type the word “jew” into the search engine

Step 2

When you hit enter

You will notice that the word shows up 1119 times in the four standard works

 

Step 3

Change the setting to “sort by book” which means search chronologically.

In my opinion, you should never use the default setting of searching by relevance because relevance can only be determined subjectively through inspiration and context, not by technological parameters.

Step 4

In this particular search, we want to identify a general narrative within the Book of Mormon. For this reason, we are going to limit the search to the Book of Mormon instead of searching all of the standard works

This will lower the number of scriptures snippets to parse through, from 1119 to 70.

From here on out you simply take a quick look at each reference for context to see if it contains the topic and information you are looking for.

This process may seem laborious and overwhelming at first but the more familiar you become with the process and with the scriptures, the faster you will be able to sift through the various passages and go through the process.

It is amazing how quickly you can cover a huge amount of text to find the needles that are hiding in the haystacks.

From this point forward in this post I am simply going to review the sections of the Book of Mormon that I find relevant to the topic.

I am going to be cherry picking and choosing only those passages that I think directly related to the topic at hand..

You should not rely on my parsing.

Do you own!

Again, email me or make a comment on this post if you think I have missed an important section of scripture or misinterpreted what is being said in the ones I find pertinent.

Relevant Scriptural extract #1

The first extract I have found to parse using this simple methodology is found in 1 Nephi 10

I am providing the text below for those that do not have their scriptures handy.

It will be followed by my own bullet point listing of prophetic observations primarily pertaining to the eschatology of the Jews. Those observations that are in conflict with the commonly accepted prophetic narrative that is taught by prophecy scholars will be noted in red text.

After parsing the following text for yourself, create your own bullet point listing of prophetic takeaways. Then compare your list with mine.

1 And now I, Nephi, proceed to give an account upon these plates of my proceedings, and my reign and ministry; wherefore, to proceed with mine account, I must speak somewhat of the things of my father, and also of my brethren.

2 For behold, it came to pass after my father had made an end of speaking the words of his dream, and also of exhorting them to all diligence, he spake unto them concerning the Jews—

3 That after they should be destroyed, even that great city Jerusalem, and many be carried away captive into Babylon, according to the own due time of the Lord, they should return again, yea, even be brought back out of captivity; and after they should be brought back out of captivity they should possess again the land of their inheritance.

4 Yea, even six hundred years from the time that my father left Jerusalem, a prophet would the Lord God raise up among the Jews—even a Messiah, or, in other words, a Savior of the world.

5 And he also spake concerning the prophets, how great a number had testified of these things, concerning this Messiah, of whom he had spoken, or this Redeemer of the world.

6 Wherefore, all mankind were in a lost and in a fallen state, and ever would be save they should rely on this Redeemer.

7 And he spake also concerning a prophet who should come before the Messiah, to prepare the way of the Lord—

8 Yea, even he should go forth and cry in the wilderness: Prepare ye the way of the Lord, and make his paths straight; for there standeth one among you whom ye know not; and he is mightier than I, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose. And much spake my father concerning this thing.

9 And my father said he should baptize in Bethabara, beyond Jordan; and he also said he should baptize with water; even that he should baptize the Messiah with water.

10 And after he had baptized the Messiah with water, he should behold and bear record that he had baptized the Lamb of God, who should take away the sins of the world.

11 And it came to pass after my father had spoken these words he spake unto my brethren concerning the gospel which should be preached among the Jews, and also concerning the dwindling of the Jews in unbelief. And after they had slain the Messiah, who should come, and after he had been slain he should rise from the dead, and should make himself manifest, by the Holy Ghost, unto the Gentiles.

12 Yea, even my father spake much concerning the Gentiles, and also concerning the house of Israel, that they should be compared like unto an olive tree, whose branches should be broken off and should be scattered upon all the face of the earth.

13 Wherefore, he said it must needs be that we should be led with one accord into the land of promise, unto the fulfilling of the word of the Lord, that we should be scattered upon all the face of the earth.

14 And after the house of Israel should be scattered they should be gathered together again; or, in fine, after the Gentiles had received the fulness of the Gospel, the natural branches of the olive tree, or the remnants of the house of Israel, should be grafted in, or come to the knowledge of the true Messiah, their Lord and their Redeemer.

Bullet point observations pertaining to the Jews:

• After the Jews and the great city of Jerusalem are destroyed in Old Testament times, many Jews would be “carried away captive into Babylon“.
• Eventually the Jews would be brought back out of captivity to once again possess the land of their inheritance in the Old World Jerusalem.
• After being gathered back to the Old World Jerusalem the Lord God would raise up a Messiah among the Jews
• After the gospel would be preached among the Jews by the Messiah, they would dwindle in unbelief and slay him and become scattered again.
• After they slay the Messiah, he would be raised from the dead and make himself manifest to the gentiles by the Holy Ghost.
• After the Jews (house of Israel) are scattered following the crucifixion in the meridian of time, they will be gathered again in the latter days to America (see verse 13) AFTER the Gentiles had received the fulness of the gospel.

The proper interpretation of the final bullet point can be difficult without additional context that is provided later in the Book of Mormon which will provide clarification.

It will be made apparent in future snippets that God would set his hand TWICE to recover his people. It is the LDS restoration movement in the latter days, in America where the Gentiles receive the fulness of the Gospel and where the Lord sets his hand the first time to recover the Jews.

It will be further clarified that it is the same land of America where the Gentiles receive the fulness of the Gospel that the Jews (House of Israel) will be gathered to, to be grafted into the later day church. It will be clarified that the gathering begins happening shortly after the Gentiles receives the fulness in the 1830’s, not in the 1940’s as is commonly believed by apostate Christianity.

This prophecy provides the first major discrepancy between the commonly accepted narrative and the true narrative provided in the Book of Mormon.

The Jews are gathered to America in the latter days, not the Old World.

This is important because it reveals that the gathering of the Ashkenazi Jews to the Old World Jerusalem beginning in the 1940’s does not represent the fulfillment of prophecy regarding the gathering of the Jews in the latter days.

It is also significant because it helps to identify who the real Jews are.

Those that don’t understand this will not be able to correctly discern what is happening here in America.

Relevant Scriptural extract #2

The next section of scripture I have found to parse is found in First Nephi 13.

1 And it came to pass that the angel spake unto me, saying: Look! And I looked and beheld many nations and kingdoms.

2 And the angel said unto me: What beholdest thou? And I said: I behold many nations and kingdoms.

3 And he said unto me: These are the nations and kingdoms of the Gentiles.

4 And it came to pass that I saw among the nations of the Gentiles the formation of a great church.

5 And the angel said unto me: Behold the formation of a church which is most abominable above all other churches, which slayeth the saints of God, yea, and tortureth them and bindeth them down, and yoketh them with a yoke of iron, and bringeth them down into captivity.

6 And it came to pass that I beheld this great and abominable church; and I saw the devil that he was the founder of it.

7 And I also saw gold, and silver, and silks, and scarlets, and fine-twined linen, and all manner of precious clothing; and I saw many harlots.

8 And the angel spake unto me, saying: Behold the gold, and the silver, and the silks, and the scarlets, and the fine-twined linen, and the precious clothing, and the harlots, are the desires of this great and abominable church.

9 And also for the praise of the world do they destroy the saints of God, and bring them down into captivity.

10 And it came to pass that I looked and beheld many waters; and they divided the Gentiles from the seed of my brethren.

11 And it came to pass that the angel said unto me: Behold the wrath of God is upon the seed of thy brethren.

12 And I looked and beheld a man among the Gentiles, who was separated from the seed of my brethren by the many waters; and I beheld the Spirit of God, that it came down and wrought upon the man; and he went forth upon the many waters, even unto the seed of my brethren, who were in the promised land.

13 And it came to pass that I beheld the Spirit of God, that it wrought upon other Gentiles; and they went forth out of captivity, upon the many waters.

14 And it came to pass that I beheld many multitudes of the Gentiles upon the land of promise; and I beheld the wrath of God, that it was upon the seed of my brethren; and they were scattered before the Gentiles and were smitten.

15 And I beheld the Spirit of the Lord, that it was upon the Gentiles, and they did prosper and obtain the land for their inheritance; and I beheld that they were white, and exceedingly fair and beautiful, like unto my people before they were slain.

16 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld that the Gentiles who had gone forth out of captivity did humble themselves before the Lord; and the power of the Lord was with them.

17 And I beheld that their mother Gentiles were gathered together upon the waters, and upon the land also, to battle against them.

18 And I beheld that the power of God was with them, and also that the wrath of God was upon all those that were gathered together against them to battle.

19 And I, Nephi, beheld that the Gentiles that had gone out of captivity were delivered by the power of God out of the hands of all other nations.

20 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld that they did prosper in the land; and I beheld a book, and it was carried forth among them.

21 And the angel said unto me: Knowest thou the meaning of the book?

22 And I said unto him: I know not.

23 And he said: Behold it proceedeth out of the mouth of a Jew. And I, Nephi, beheld it; and he said unto me: The book that thou beholdest is a record of the Jews, which contains the covenants of the Lord, which he hath made unto the house of Israel; and it also containeth many of the prophecies of the holy prophets; and it is a record like unto the engravings which are upon the plates of brass, save there are not so many; nevertheless, they contain the covenants of the Lord, which he hath made unto the house of Israel; wherefore, they are of great worth unto the Gentiles.

24 And the angel of the Lord said unto me: Thou hast beheld that the book proceeded forth from the mouth of a Jew; and when it proceeded forth from the mouth of a Jew it contained the fulness of the gospel of the Lord, of whom the twelve apostles bear record; and they bear record according to the truth which is in the Lamb of God.

25 Wherefore, these things go forth from the Jews in purity unto the Gentiles, according to the truth which is in God.

26 And after they go forth by the hand of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, from the Jews unto the Gentiles, thou seest the formation of that great and abominable church, which is most abominable above all other churches; for behold, they have taken away from the gospel of the Lamb many parts which are plain and most precious; and also many covenants of the Lord have they taken away.

27 And all this have they done that they might pervert the right ways of the Lord, that they might blind the eyes and harden the hearts of the children of men.

28 Wherefore, thou seest that after the book hath gone forth through the hands of the great and abominable church, that there are many plain and precious things taken away from the book, which is the book of the Lamb of God.

29 And after these plain and precious things were taken away it goeth forth unto all the nations of the Gentiles; and after it goeth forth unto all the nations of the Gentiles, yea, even across the many waters which thou hast seen with the Gentiles which have gone forth out of captivity, thou seest—because of the many plain and precious things which have been taken out of the book, which were plain unto the understanding of the children of men, according to the plainness which is in the Lamb of God—because of these things which are taken away out of the gospel of the Lamb, an exceedingly great many do stumble, yea, insomuch that Satan hath great power over them.

30 Nevertheless, thou beholdest that the Gentiles who have gone forth out of captivity, and have been lifted up by the power of God above all other nations, upon the face of the land which is choice above all other lands, which is the land that the Lord God hath covenanted with thy father that his seed should have for the land of their inheritance; wherefore, thou seest that the Lord God will not suffer that the Gentiles will utterly destroy the mixture of thy seed, which are among thy brethren.

31 Neither will he suffer that the Gentiles shall destroy the seed of thy brethren.

32 Neither will the Lord God suffer that the Gentiles shall forever remain in that awful state of blindness, which thou beholdest they are in, because of the plain and most precious parts of the gospel of the Lamb which have been kept back by that abominable church, whose formation thou hast seen.

33 Wherefore saith the Lamb of God: I will be merciful unto the Gentiles, unto the visiting of the remnant of the house of Israel in great judgment.

34 And it came to pass that the angel of the Lord spake unto me, saying: Behold, saith the Lamb of God, after I have visited the remnant of the house of Israel—and this remnant of whom I speak is the seed of thy father—wherefore, after I have visited them in judgment, and smitten them by the hand of the Gentiles, and after the Gentiles do stumble exceedingly, because of the most plain and precious parts of the gospel of the Lamb which have been kept back by that abominable church, which is the mother of harlots, saith the Lamb—I will be merciful unto the Gentiles in that day, insomuch that I will bring forth unto them, in mine own power, much of my gospel, which shall be plain and precious, saith the Lamb.

35 For, behold, saith the Lamb: I will manifest myself unto thy seed, that they shall write many things which I shall minister unto them, which shall be plain and precious; and after thy seed shall be destroyed, and dwindle in unbelief, and also the seed of thy brethren, behold, these things shall be hid up, to come forth unto the Gentiles, by the gift and power of the Lamb.

36 And in them shall be written my gospel, saith the Lamb, and my rock and my salvation.

37 And blessed are they who shall seek to bring forth my Zion at that day, for they shall have the gift and the power of the Holy Ghost; and if they endure unto the end they shall be lifted up at the last day, and shall be saved in the everlasting kingdom of the Lamb; and whoso shall publish peace, yea, tidings of great joy, how beautiful upon the mountains shall they be.

38 And it came to pass that I beheld the remnant of the seed of my brethren, and also the book of the Lamb of God, which had proceeded forth from the mouth of the Jew, that it came forth from the Gentiles unto the remnant of the seed of my brethren.

39 And after it had come forth unto them I beheld other books, which came forth by the power of the Lamb, from the Gentiles unto them, unto the convincing of the Gentiles and the remnant of the seed of my brethren, and also the Jews who were scattered upon all the face of the earth, that the records of the prophets and of the twelve apostles of the Lamb are true.

40 And the angel spake unto me, saying: These last records, which thou hast seen among the Gentiles, shall establish the truth of the first, which are of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, and shall make known the plain and precious things which have been taken away from them; and shall make known to all kindreds, tongues, and people, that the Lamb of God is the Son of the Eternal Father, and the Savior of the world; and that all men must come unto him, or they cannot be saved.

41 And they must come according to the words which shall be established by the mouth of the Lamb; and the words of the Lamb shall be made known in the records of thy seed, as well as in the records of the twelve apostles of the Lamb; wherefore they both shall be established in one; for there is one God and one Shepherd over all the earth.

42 And the time cometh that he shall manifest himself unto all nations, both unto the Jews and also unto the Gentiles; and after he has manifested himself unto the Jews and also unto the Gentiles, then he shall manifest himself unto the Gentiles and also unto the Jews, and the last shall be first, and the first shall be last.

Bullet point observations for 1 Nephi 13

• In the latter days the Gentiles go forth out of captivity upon the many waters to the “land of promise” in America.
• The Book of the Lamb of God that proceeded forth out of the mouth of a Jew was carried among the Gentiles to the land of promise. It was a “record of the Jews“.
• When the book first came forth, it went forth from the Jews to the Gentiles in purity and contained the fulness of the Gospel of whom the 12 apostles bear record.
• After the book went forth, the great church corrupted the book and have taken many plain and precious parts of the gospel of the Lamb and many covenants.
• The Gentiles that came forth out of captivity to America would be given power over the seed of Lehi whose ancestors had hidden up many plain and precious things to come forth to the Gentiles by the power of the Holy Ghost, (including the Book of the Lamb of God).
• Nevertheless, the Gentiles would remain in darkness after coming to America because of the plain and precious parts of the gospel that had been taken out of the Book of the Lamb.
• Eventually the Gentiles would temporarily “stumble” (during Joseph Smith’s ministry) but would eventually bring forth many plain and precious things that had been hidden up when the Marvelous Work begins in the future.
• The Book of the Lamb of God would be among the many plain and precious things that are hidden up by the seed of Lehi. It would be taken in its purity to the seed of Lehi by the Gentiles.
• After the Book of the Lamb of God that had been hid up in its purity comes forth to the Gentiles by the power of the Holy Ghost and goes forth to the Jews and seed of Lehi, “other books” would come forth.
• These “other books” would convince the Gentiles, the Seed of Lehi and the Jews that are once again scattered upon the face of the earth of the truthfulness of the records of the prophets and the Twelve apostles and of the gospel of Christ.

One of the takeaways in the above narrative that pertains to the eschatology of the Jews, is that the Jews become “convinced” of the truthfulness of the gospel of Christ while they are in a scattered condition during the latter day days.

This is very important because it is completely contrary to the current belief that the Jews have been gathered in the Old World Jerusalem and have still not collectively begun to believe in Jesus Christ!

The following passage from 1 Nephi 13 provides key words that link up to the “Joseph the seer” prophecy in 2 Nephi 3.

38 And it came to pass that I beheld the remnant of the seed of my brethren, and also the book of the Lamb of God, which had proceeded forth from the mouth of the Jew, that it came forth from the Gentiles unto the remnant of the seed of my brethren.

39 And after it had come forth unto them I beheld other books, which came forth by the power of the Lamb, from the Gentiles unto them, unto the convincing of the Gentiles and the remnant of the seed of my brethren, and also the Jews who were scattered upon all the face of the earth, that the records of the prophets and of the twelve apostles of the Lamb are true.

Compare those passages to the following ones in 2 Nephi 3.

11 But a seer will I raise up out of the fruit of thy loins; and unto him will I give power to bring forth my word unto the seed of thy loins—and not to the bringing forth my word only, saith the Lord, but to the convincing them of my word, which shall have already gone forth among them.

The prophecy in 2 Nephi 3 proves that it is the “Joseph” in that  “Joseph the Seer” prophecy that brings forth the books that convince the people that the Book of the Lamb of God is true.

The prophecy concerning Joseph Smith Jr. in D&C 90 proves that Joseph Smith Jr. is the seer spoken of in 2 Nephi 3, that will return to the vineyard to bring forth the other books that do the convincing.

Interestingly, the prophecy about Joseph the Seer in the Book of Mormon would never have come up in our key word search of the word “Jew” since that word is not found in the chapter, although the phrase “loins of Judah” is used. This is why it is generally so important to not limit a search to just one keyword. It is amazing how one keyword search will identify another keyword which in turn identifies another and on and on.

By comparing 1 Nephi 10 with 1 Nephi 13, and integrating 2 Nephi 3 into the equation for context and clarity, we now know that the “word which shall have already gone forth among them” is not referring to the corrupted king James version of the Bible or even the Joseph Smith translation of the Bible. It is referring to the Book of the Lamb of God that had originally come forth from the Jews to the Gentiles in purity.

It is AFTER the Marvelous Work and a Wonder begins and the Book of the Lamb of God goes forth from the Gentiles in its purity that the “other books” referred to in 1 Nephi 13 which are mentioned above as the bringing forth of “my word“,  that will come forth to convince the remnants of God’s people that the Book of the Lamb of God is true!

How does it come forth again in purity?

The scriptures inform us that it had been recorded and hid up by the seed of Lehi and that it will be translated by the latter day Seer spoken of in 2nd Nephi 3 and D&C 90.

By parsing through and connecting the prophecies contained in 1st Nephi 10, 1st Nephi 13, and 2nd Nephi 3 we now have the ability to accurately measure the interpretation and claims of Mauricio Berger regarding the “Joseph the Seer” prophecy in 2nd Nephi 3.

The following interpretation by Mauricio Berger regarding the “Joseph the Seer” prophecy (2 Nephi 3 [LDS] and 2 Nephi 2 [RLDS]) was provided by Bob Moore with an updated revision provided on December 26th 2017:

Lehi continues with Joseph’s prophecy. It contains an second description of a seer. “But a seer will I raise up out of the fruit of thy loins; and unto him will I give power to bring forth my word unto the seed of thy loins; and not to the bringing forth my word only, saith the Lord, but to the convincing them of my word, which shall have already gone forth among them. Wherefore, the fruit of thy loins shall write; and the fruit of the loins of Judah shall write; and that which shall be written by the fruit of thy loins, and also that which shall be written by the fruit of the loins of Judah, shall grow together, unto the confounding of false doctrines, and laying down of contentions, and establishing peace among the fruit of thy loins, and bringing them to the knowledge of their fathers in the latter days; and also to the knowledge of my covenants, saith the Lord. And out of weakness he shall be made strong, in that day when my work shall commence among all my people, unto the restoring thee, O house of Israel, saith the Lord. And thus prophesied Joseph, saying: Behold, that seer will the Lord bless; and they that seek to destroy him, shall be confounded: for this promise, of which I have obtained of the Lord, of the fruit of thy loins, shall be fulFilled. Behold, I am sure of the fulFilling of this promise. And his name shall be called after me; and it shall be after the name of his father. And he shall be like unto me; for the thing which the Lord shall bring forth by his hand, by the power of the Lord shall bring my people unto salvation” (2N 2:17-30).

While most people believe that this portrayal further describes Joseph Smith, Jr., it contains aspects that do not apply to him:

1) He would not only bring forth the Lord’s word, but also convince them of the word that had already been given to them;

2) He is blessed by the Lord so that those who try to destroy him are confounded;

3) His name will be Joseph, the same as his father;

4) What he brings will extend peace and salvation to the Lord’s people. While Joseph Smith, Jr. revealed the word of the Lord, both in the Book

While Joseph Smith, Jr. revealed the word of the Lord, both in the Book of Mormon and the in latter-day revelations, he did not not convince any of the words that the Lord had already given them. No revelation had proceeded him, except perhaps the Bible, which those to whom he came already believed. Neither were the enemies of Joseph Smith, Jr. confounded so that that did not destroy him. His enemies murdered him. Joseph Smith, Jr. did not bring peace to his followers. Instead, they were expelled from the land of Zion and driven from city to city.

On the other hand, Joseph Smith III, the son of Joseph Smith, Jr. and designate of his father as his successor, met all four characteristics. He gathered many faithful believers who had been misled by ambitions and aspiring leaders and had lost their faith in the latter-day message during the dark and cloudy day. He convinced them of the truthfulness of the work that his father began, more by his conduct than his instruction. He also brought new revelation, properly interpreted those received by his father, especially ones defining the duties and functions of quorums, and published the Inspired Version of the Bible, a correction that His father had compiled.

The Lord also blessed Joseph III with an honest and humble demeanor. Even his opponents confessed that he returned virtue and integrity to Mormonism. His steady, pragmatic leadership brought peace and salvation to the members of the church that he led and won the respect of many opponents of the angel message. No one sought his life and when he died at age 86, thousands of saints who had safely returned to the lands from which the original church had been forcibly removed a generation before celebrated his accomplishments. He had restored dignity to his father’s name, which name he also carried. Moroni declared that this second seer is Joseph III.

As you can see, Mauricio claims that Moroni informed him that Joseph Smith III was the Seer that is referred to in the prophecy that brought forth the word and convinced the seed of Joseph of the word that had already gone forth

“..and not to the bringing forth my word only, saith the Lord, but to the convincing them of my word, which shall have already gone forth among them.”

We now know from parsing and correlating several sections of prophecy in the Book of Mormon that the word that is first brought forth is the Book of the Lamb of God in its purity!

Additionally, we now know that the translation and publishing of additional ancient “books” following the coming forth of the Book of the Lamb of God, is what convinces the seed of Joseph of the truthfulness of the Book of the Lamb of God!

Clearly, Joseph Smith III never translated and brought forth the Book of the Lamb of God in its purity nor did he translate and bring forth “other books” to convince the seed of Joseph of it’s truthfulness.

By using keyword search technology to parse and compare and correlated the prophecies in the book of Mormon, we are able to get a much more complete and accurate understanding of the prophetic narrative.

We can also expose the false interpretation of the prophecy that was given by the false prophet Mauricio Berger.

As we continue to parse additional relevant snippets from the Book of Mormon, we shall see that the latter day Jews first BEGIN to believe while in a scattered condition. Then God sets his hand the first time to recover them to the latter day Land of their inheritance in America. That began happening during the Nauvoo era of Joseph Smith’s ministry.

Following that initial gathering to America, the latter day land of their inheritance, the latter day Jews who call themselves latter day saints, are once again scattered into stakes all over the world by the modern church.

Finally, when the marvelous work begins, God will set his hand the second time to recover his people and they will finally become gathered again and eventually be converted to the gospel.

An important takeaway is that the Book of the Lamb of God first goes forth from the Jews to the Gentiles in purity. It then becomes corrupted by the great church and is taken by the Gentiles to the promised land. Eventually the uncorrupted Book of the Lamb of God that had been hidden up by the seed of Lehi comes forth among the Gentiles to be taken to the Jews and the seed of Lehi.

These prophetic snippets in the Book of Mormon provide critical pieces of the puzzle when it comes to understanding the eschatology of the Jews.

By themselves these three prophecies may seem short and somewhat lacking in detail and context, however, when cross referenced and combined, they take on greater clarity.

As we continue parsing through additional prophecies that pertain to the Jews in the Book of Mormon, the skeleton will take on flesh and the missing pieces of the narrative will emerge and come together in clarity.

The Book of the lamb of God first came forth from the Jew to the Gentile. It was eventually corrupted by the Great Church. In the latter days, it will come forth in its purity once again from the Gentiles to the Jews and the seed of Lehi.

This has not happened yet.

It appears as if it must happen BEFORE the sealed portion is opened and translated.

After the Book of the Lamb of God comes forth from the Gentiles to the Jews, it will be followed by other books that will come forth through the Gentiles by the power of God.

These other books will convince the remnants of Israel of the truthfulness of the Gospel of Christ.

 

 

 

 

Wo unto Those who deny the High Priesthood and Office of High Priest

I have blogged about the controversial claims of Mauricio Berger out of Brazil who says he was visited by the angels Gabriel and Moroni. He says he has received the gold plates from which the Book of Mormon was translated. He now has eight witnesses from America that have seen and held the plates.

His ever changing and fantastic story includes the fact that he smashed one of the interpreters in a fit of doubt and rage.

He also claims that the Lord needed to use  a Brazilian like him to begin the last great work because there is not one righteous gentile in America to do the work.

After his claims were rejected by the LDS Church and the Temple lot church, he has sat around doing virtually nothing for over a decade while waiting for someone to show some interest in his story.

Finally, Bob Moore and Joseph F. Smith, took an interest in the claims of Mauricio Berger and decided to visit Brazil and drink some Kool-Aid with Mauricio.

Bob Moore is from the RLDS tradition. I believe Joseph F. Smith was raised in the Church of Christ Temple Lot tradition although he seems to have bounced around and has been speaking from time to time at Bob Moore’s Zarahemla branch.

Inconsistent with the Prophetic Narrative in Scripture

I have demonstrated in past blog posts that the claims being made are contrary to the prophetic narrative in scripture regarding the coming forth of the Marvelous Work and a Wonder.

The great last work of the Lord will come forth through the Gentiles, from the heart of America, God’s covenant land where Christ visited the posterity of Lehi and where the LDS restoration through the prophet Joseph Smith took place.

The last great prophetic work of God does not begin in Brazil.

The next translation to come forth will not be from the sealed portion, it will be more words of the Nephite prophets to the Jews and Gentiles and it will be instrumental in a mass conversion of the seed of Lehi.

The Lords last prophet that holds the keys to the things that are sealed will be the same prophet that began the process and brought forth the Book of Mormon. It will be none other than Joseph Smith Jr. the Seer.

Bob Moore has been Setting the Stage for this Drama in His Books

In previous blog posts I have shown that the emerging storyline with regard to Mauricio’s American counterparts, Bob Moore and Joseph F. Smith, coincidently fits the past prophetic surmising’s of Bob Moore who has authored books on prophecy and previously attempted to start a new church. He has been saying for years that a descendent of Joseph Smith like his contemporary, Joseph F. Smith, needs to be the prophet that finishes the work that Joseph Smith Jr. began.

Using the Hofmann Forgery to Fabricate the Gold Plates

I have pointed people to the amazing research done by the Price Publishing in showing that an entire segment of the Hofmann forgery shows up in the fabricated plates that Mauricio has shown to the world.

While important spiritual things having to do with God’s mysterious work should never ultimately be judged solely on empirical evidence, one should always be using a healthy dose of inspired logic and a reasonable degree of critical thinking in the light of scripture as they parse through the claims of those that claim to be God’s chosen mouth piece.

Judging those who claim to be Prophets according to the Doctrine they Teach

In this post, I want to focus on the doctrinal beliefs and declarations of the emerging prophet of the American arm of this new movement.

His name is Joseph F. Smith.

Joseph F. Smith is a direct descendent of Joseph Smith Jr.

He recently conducted a missionary tour in Utah to proselytize the Mormons. 

During his recent trip to Utah, I had occasion to personally speak with him at a park where he was sharing his story and answering questions.

I was curious to see how well he was being received by the Utah Mormons so I drove down from Idaho and was riding my ebike around the park observing the very small group of people who came out to see him and hoping to hear in additional information about his claims.

Towards the end of the day, I noticed that he was sitting by himself as the group began to disperse and separate into a few smaller groups.

At this time I road my ebike up to the table where he was sitting and initiated a conversation with him. Of course he did not know that I am the “Watcher” and the writer of this blog.

We were both very cordial to each other.

I must say he is a delightful and very likeable person who appears to be very sincere and transparent about the work he is involved in. 

During the conversation he revealed some things to me that really shocked me.

He informed me that while in Brazil, he was commanded to return home to the Zarahemla Branch to see if he could find seven people in that congregation that would be willing to sustain him as a prophet of God.

To his dismay, when he returned home, Pastor Brad Gault of the Zarahemla Branch refused to bring that nomination to a vote among the congregation.

I was a little bit surprised that Joseph was sharing this very personal information with me and I was even more surprised to hear that Pastor Gault was refusing to allow Joseph to obey the mandate that he had been given.

I asked him why Pastor Gault was refusing to allow him to be sustained as a prophet by the Zarahemla Branch.

I told him that I had been under the impression that Pastor Gault was one of the eight  witnesses that had been to Brazil and held the plates and testified that the work was true.

Joseph F. Smith’s response to me was astounding.

This is what he said to the best of my memory. ( I am paraphrasing)

He said, “Yes Pastor Gault is a believer and one of the witnesses of the gold plates, but he and Bob Moore are scared of me and don’t want to bring the vote before the Zarahemla Branch”

“Why are they scared of you?” I asked.

Because, he said, “They know that my prophetic calling requires me to set the church in order and they know that I do not believe in the office of High Priest and that I will do away with it if the Lord tells me to… When this happens they will be humiliated because some of their leaders have been claiming to be High Priests!”

Pastor Gault and several other leaders of the Zarahemla Branch, as well as some of the leaders of some of the other restoration branches claim that they have been ordained to be high priests. 

I was surprised at what I was hearing.

“Why don’t you believe in the office of high priest? ” I asked.

His reply was “I believe that Jesus was the last great high priest and there were not supposed to be any High Priests called after that”

Oh! I said, “So you agree with what David Whitmer said after he apostatized from the restored church and became critical of Joseph Smith. You think Joseph Smith was deceived by Satan in 1831 when he restored the office of High Priest!”

He just smiled at me with a twinkle in his eye.

(Those who are not familiar with the criticisms levels against Joseph Smith Jr. by David Whitmer can read his expose at this link)

I was flabbergasted to realize the this literal descendent of Joseph Smith Jr. had accepted the teachings (or at least arrived at the same conclusions ) of David Whitmer.

After David Whitmer apostatized from the restored church, he became disenchanted with Joseph Smith and he claimed that Joseph Smith Jr.. had been deceived by Satan into  establishing the office of high priest.

Here is what David Whitmer had to say about the restored church ordaining high priests:

“..the next grievous error’ which crept into the church was in ordaining high priests in June, 1831. This error was introduced at the instigation of Sydney Rigdon. The office of high priest was never spoken of, and never thought of being established in the church until Rigdon came in.”

“As to the High Priesthood, Jesus Christ himself is the last Great High Priest, this too after the order of Melchisedec, as I understand the Holy Scriptures….” (An Address to All Believers in Christ)

David Whitmer eventually claimed that Joseph Smith was only called to translate the Book of Mormon and that he was not authorized to restore God’s church nor was he authorized to bring forth the revelations that are contained in the Doctrine and Covenants.

Much of what motivated David Whitmer after the spirit of the Lord began to depart from him was the humiliation that he experienced as the officiating High Priest in the land of Zion when they failed in their attempt to redeem Zion. Another issue is that he was jealous of Sidney Rigdon who became a counselor to Joseph Smith in the first presidency of the church shortly after his conversion.

I have previously blogged about these events and the doctrinal errors of David Whitmer in the following post. See the following link.

Crushing David Whitmer’s Stumbling Block

 

As you can see, it appears as if brother Joseph F. Smith has been highly influenced by the teachings of David Whitmer which is really unfortunate.

Getting Sustained by Seven People from the Zarahemla Branch

I asked Brother Smith how Bob Moore and Pastor Brad Gault were going to facilitate  him in keeping the commandment of getting a sustaining vote of seven people from the Zarahemla Branch.

He informed me that Bob and Pastor Gault said they could comply with the commandment by simply getting seven sustaining votes from the eight witnesses of the gold plates to sustain him.

I said to Brother Joseph, “But there are not seven members of the Zarahemla Branch among the eight witnesses of the gold plates, “Do you think that is acceptable to the Lord?”

His reply was an emphatic No!

He said he felt like that would be cutting corners and not  being strictly obedient and that would put them on the same path as the saints that became condemned during the ministry of Joseph Smith Jr.

Shortly after Joseph F. Smith returned to Missouri he gave a talk at one of the restoration branches and according to some testimonies , he publicly questioned the legitimacy of the office of High Priest in that talk as well, which confirms what he told me!

Why am I sharing this conversation with you?

Because we have a man in our midst who is a descendant of Joseph Smith Jr. who is claiming the role of prophet.

He is planning on setting the church in order.

He is teaching that Joseph Smith was deceived in restoring the office of High Priest.

It therefore behooves us to evaluate the doctrine that he teaches to see if it is consistent with the scriptures and with the true history of Mormonism.

Was Joseph Smith Jr. deceived when the office of High Priest was restored?

Here is the testimony of Joseph Smith himself about the event that took place in June of 1831 at the Morley Farm: 

“…the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood was manifested and conferred for the first time upon several of the Elders. It was clearly evident that the Lord gave us power in proportion to the work to be done, and strength according to the race set before us, and grace and help as our needs required.” History of The Church, 1:175-177

So who is correct about the legitimacy of the restoration of the Melchizedek Priesthood and the office of High Priest? Is it Joseph Smith Jr. the prophet of the restoration or Joseph F. Smith his descendent?

Joseph F. Smith has just Called for a Solemn Assembly

Joseph F. Smith has just called for a Solemn Assembly to take place in August wherein I suspect he plans on having himself sustained as the prophet of the new organization in America. Perhaps it will be at this assembly that he will attempt to set the church in order and do away with the office of High Priest. 

I suspect that during the sustaining vote, he plans on accumulating at least seven sustaining votes from people from the Zarahemla Branch so that he can complete the mandate that he was given when he was in Brazil.

This is the announcement he has posted on his blog post

Joseph F Smith, Great Grandson of Joseph Smith Jr.,  calls all those who believe in Zion, and especially those who have an interest in the events transpiring out of Brazil, to a Solemn Assembly in Independence, Missouri.   Date – August 18^th 2pm-5pm & August 19^th  2pm-5pm.   Exact location -to be announced shortly.

The Restoration of the Melchizedek Priesthood and Office of High Priest

The Irony in all of this is that Joseph F. Smith quotes from Section 84 of the Doctrine and Covenants in his recent blog post wherein he calls for a Solemn Assembly.

Section 84 was received by Joseph Smith four months AFTER the Melchizedek priesthood and the office of high priesthood was restored through the instrumentality of the prophet Joseph Smith!!!

If Joseph F. Smith is correct about Joseph Smith Jr. being deceived about the Melchizedek Priesthood and the office of High Priest, then Joseph Smith would have been a fallen prophet at the time that section 84 was written and Section 84 would be a false revelation or at least its credibility would be very questionable! Why is he authoritatively quoting from it?

Of course we know that the revelation is true and it is one of the most important revelations ever received.

In Section 84, the Lord makes reference to the restoration of the Melchizedek Priesthood and the office of High Priest that had just been confirmed upon the seven men receiving the revelation.

He also gives a blood curdling warning to all of those that fail to come unto that priesthood that had just been restored:

42 And wo unto all those who come not unto this priesthood which ye have received, which I now confirm upon you who are present this day, by mine own voice out of the heavens; and even I have given the heavenly hosts and mine angels charge concerning you. Doctrine and Covenants 84:42

Those who discount the validity of the office of High Priest that the Lord restored to the earth through the prophet Joseph Smith Jr., would do well to study the above passage carefully and do some serious soul searching before they deny that priesthood and office.

You will notice that the priesthood that had been previously “received” by Joseph Smith and six others,  and was being “confirmed” upon them that day, was being confirmed by the voice of God out of heaven, not by men or angels.

Notice the similar wording in JST Genesis 14 speaking about the Melchizedek Priesthood

26 Now Melchizedek was a man of faith, who wrought righteousness; and when a child he feared God, and stopped the mouths of lions, and quenched the violence of fire.

27 And thus, having been approved of God, he was ordained an high priest after the order of the covenant which God made with Enoch,

28 It being after the order of the Son of God; which order came, not by man, nor the will of man; neither by father nor mother; neither by beginning of days nor end of years; but of God;

29 And it was delivered unto men by the calling of his own voice, according to his own will, unto as many as believed on his name. JST Gen 14

As you can see, the JST version of Genesis 14 informs us that the Melchizedek priesthood COVENANT is not bestowed by man or angels but rather it must be bestowed by the voice of God from heaven.

Section 84 continues on to reveal a great secret.

It informs us that the Melchizedek Priesthood Covenant that had been previously “received” in June of 1831 and then “renewed” and “confirmed” upon them on September 23 1831, was confirmed upon those seven men not only for their own sakes, but for the sake of the whole world!

“…the Spirit enlighteneth every man through the world, that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit;  and everyone that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit, cometh unto God, even the Father;    and the Father teacheth him of the covenant which he has renewed and confirmed upon you, which is confirmed upon you for your sakes, and not for your sakes only, but for the sake of the whole world..”

As you can see, the Melchizedek Priesthood Covenant will eventually be entered into by everyone “that hearkeneth to the voice of the spirit“

It is that Melchizedek Priesthood Covenant that enabled Joseph Smith and his brethren to lay the foundation of the church and of Zion.

It is that same priesthood that will enable Joseph Smith and the first laborers of the last kingdom to return and finish the work that God has given them.

The Book of Revelation informs us that there will be 144,000 servants of God that will be sealed in their foreheads:

1 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.

2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,

3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.

4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

 

In another revelation provided in the Doctrine and Covenants the Lord reveals that the 144,000 will have the Father’s name written in their foreheads:

17 For behold, the Lord God hath sent forth the angel crying through the midst of heaven, saying: Prepare ye the way of the Lord, and make his paths straight, for the hour of his coming is nigh—

18 When the Lamb shall stand upon Mount Zion, and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand, having his Father’s name written on their foreheads.

Finally, in section 77 of the D&C, a great secret is revealed. It informs us that the 144,000 will all be High Priests!!

11 Q. What are we to understand by sealing the one hundred and forty-four thousand, out of all the tribes of Israel—twelve thousand out of every tribe?
A. We are to understand that those who are sealed are high priests, ordained unto the holy order of God, to administer the everlasting gospel; for they are they who are ordained out of every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, by the angels to whom is given power over the nations of the earth, to bring as many as will come to the church of the Firstborn.

The 144,000 servants of God are High Priests!!!

As you can see, the Melchizedek Priesthood and the office of High Priest did not end with Jesus Christ in the New Testament. David Whitmer and Joseph F. Smith are wrong about that which shows that they are not being led by the spirit of the Lord.

They are teaching a doctrine of devils.

Very few people know very much about the true, secret history of Mormonism and about the true restoration of the Melchizedek Priesthood. In fact most Mormons have erroneously been taught that the Melchizedek priesthood was restored by Peter James and John in 1830.

Without this knowledge it is difficult to have the proper context in reading the D&C.

If you don’t understand what happened at the special conference at the Morley Farm that was held in June of 1831 and the impact that that priesthood restoration had upon the restored church and will have on the entire world, you will be deceived by false prophets that don’t even understand their own church history.

The restoration of the Melchizedek Priesthood was not Sidney Rigdon’s idea.

It was divinely initiated by the Lord.

In February of 1831 the Lord gave a revelation (See D&C 44) mandating that Joseph Smith and the leading elders of the church should be “called together” from the east, west, north and south. In the revelation it was promised that if they exercised faith, the Lord would “pour out his spirit” upon the assembly.

That promise was fulfilled and three people saw the Father and the Son and the Melchizedek endowment and covenant was bestowed along with the office of High Priest.

I have provided a series on what happened at the special conference at the Morley Farm wherein the Melchizedek Priesthood and the office of High Priest was restored.

I implore you to read it and gain a testimony that the Melchizedek COVENANT and the  office of High Priest is to be bestowed upon all of the elect of God who are referred to in scripture as the first fruits.

1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.

2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:

3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.

4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.

 

 

Searching for the Holy Order and 23 High Priests Part One

Searching for the Holy Order and 23 High Priests Part Two

 

 

 

The Eternal Law of Certification and Record Keeping Part 2

Before continuing with part 2 of this series about the eternal law of certification and record keeping there are some house cleaning issues to take care of.

Mike Kennedy

Last year I did a post about Mike Kennedy. Mike is apparently the first descendant of Joseph Smith Jr. to receive what the church erroneously claims to be the Melchizedek Priesthood.

According to Mike, the church has given him a special lifetime calling to seek out and gather, or unify, the remnants of the posterity of Joseph Smith Jr. and to be somewhat of a special emissary of the church in that capacity.

My wordpress analytics is showing that a large number of people have been viewing that article, largely due to someone placing a link to it on their facebook page. I can only assume that someone from the RLDS tradition has shared the article with their friends and that they find it interesting since their theology puts a big emphasis on the importance of Joseph Smith’s posterity in playing an important role in the end times scenario.

Prophecy informs us that an end times Davidic Servant will be instrumental in gathering Israel and redeeming Zion. Some students of the restoration believe that Joseph Smith was a lawful heir of the Davidic lineage even though part of his true heritage had been hid from the world in Christ (D&C 86:9 & 113:1-6)

Because of this, some people within both the LDS and RLDS traditions believe the Davidic Servant spoken of in prophecy will be a descendent of Joseph Smith.

As we progress further into this series we will find that some of the mysteries revealed in section 128 just might unlock the meaning of the Davidic prophecy about the opening of the sealed book found in Revelation Chapter 5.

Since there are several new subscribers from the RLDS tradition who are now reading this blog, it occurs to me that there may be others who would find the article about Mike Kennedy interesting.

Here is the link to that post.

Another related post that has recently became popular for the same reason is this one I did about the Secret Davidic Bloodline.

Mauricio Berger

Secondly, for those of my readers who are drinking the cool-aid coming out of Brazil about the angel Moroni and the gold plates, I have created a pdf with additional information that I have not previously provided.

I don’t want to dedicate an entire post to this topic because most of my readers are not following the movement anymore and I don’t want to give this scam more publicity than it deserves.

Nevertheless, I know of a couple of my readers who are not grounded in scripture and they seem to be tossed to and fro with every wind of hearsay and heresy, and they are stumbling over the claims of this movement.

It is my hope that this pdf might provide a voice of reason to them and provide a historic template for why the claims of Mauricio Berger seem to miraculously match the past proclamations and speculations of Bob Moore before the claims of Mauricio became public.

The Savior gave a stern warning to beware of false prophets because following them and their teachings can be spiritually detrimental.

The pdf can be viewed here. Final mauricio blog 10

No More Rain by OneWhoIsSearching

In the past I have blurbed a few times about one of the few blogs that I follow. It is called OneWhoIsSearching. This person has been given a few gifts that are blessing the lives of people in understanding church history and doctrine. He covers some of the same topics I do but with greater clarity and brevity.

His tremendous ability to articulate concepts in written form is only exceeded by his ability to dig deep into LDS church history and search the scriptures in documenting the truths that he is bringing to light.

In his last post he continues to tease us about his forthcoming book by sharing a chapter from it.

It is just magnificent. Read and weep.

It is titled No More Rain

Cumorahland Summer TOUR Last Call!

As you all know, I am a firm believer that the events in the Book of Mormon took place primarily in North America. Because of this, I am generally supportive of the efforts of Wayne May regardless of how accurate his specific geographical speculations may be.

I have also enjoyed the work of documentary film maker Ryan Fisher and his Nephite Explorer series. I just noticed that they are sponsoring a Summer tour.

“Last call for our Cumorahland Summer Tour. Come join Wayne May and Ryan Fisher on a detailed tour of the last land of the Nephites. Explorer archaeological sites, natural wonders and meet Native tribes whose history is from the Book or Mormon. We start in Kirtland Ohio and work our way to the Hill Cumorah pageant. Registration will be closing soon so if interested email us at: Ryan@nephiteexplorer.org”

More info:

http://www.NephiteExplorer.com

Watch the tour video here:

Watch Cumorahland Summer Tour Video

Dissecting and Parsing Modern Revelation

Mrs Watcher and I began doing a podcast series on modern revelation nearly two months ago. In the introduction to that series, we began dissecting and parsing section one of the Doctrine and Covenants which the Lord designated as the “preface” to that canon of scripture. In that podcast we identified the following four prophetic themes in that section:

1- (Verses 1-10) When the final work of restoration begins, the voice of warning will go forth in power by God’s disciples who were called and ordained to that work during Joseph Smith’s ministry and the LDS restoration movement. Those who have the faith to believe the unconditional promises of God as provided in the Doctrine and Covenants can know exactly who those authorized servants are that will go forth for the last time. This enables one to easily detect the imposters that claim to have authority to do that work.

2- (Verses 11-16) It was prophesied in that revelation that the saints of the restoration would stray from the ordinances and break the everlasting covenant. In short, they would rejected the fullness of the gospel just as Christ prophesied that they would in 3rd Nephi. During my last nine years of blogging I have provided countless posts which document the fact that this took place within just a few years after that revelation was given. Here is just one of many posts that provides a brief chronology of historical events that took place during Joseph Smith’s ministry.

3- (Verses 17-28) The everlasting covenant that was established and broken during Joseph Smith’s ministry will be REESTABLISHED when the final restoration begins.

4- (Verses 29-39) The first laborers of the last kingdom were given power to lay the FOUNDATION of the TRUE AND LIVING CHURCH during Joseph Smith’s ministry. Those same disciples will also bring it forth AGAIN out of darkness and obscurity when the final work begins.

In part two of the podcast series that we were recording, after getting through a few verses of section one, we got a phone call and had to put our recording on pause. We then had some visitors knock on our door. Following that we got distracted and had a series of events take place in our lives. Some of them were happy events that included a cruise to Mexico. Some were devastating, resulting in some significant financial losses. Nevertheless, we are working on regaining our equilibrium and hope to finish that recording very soon.

Those who have subscribed to our youtube channel will be getting a notification about that next podcast soon. We are sorry about the delay.

Comments Reactivated

A few years ago I was able to document the fact that the LDS Church uses paid  shills as online influencers.  The corporate church has them monitor blogs such as mine that reveal doctrinal and historical truths that do not reflect kindly on the official sanitized history of the church and the false doctrines and traditions handed down by well meaning (and sometimes not so well meaning) church fathers.

They make comments to try and challenge or soften the hard reality of just how serious our current dilemma really is.

Because of the shills, I began to question if I wanted comments activated on my blog.

Additionally, it became very time consuming to monitor and reply to comments, delete spam, and prevent commenters from hijacking the comment thread.

Because of these issues, I decided to deactivate the comments section of this blog and simply invite people to email their comments and observation to me at onewhoiswatching [at] gmail.com. I would then share some of the conversations in my notable emails series which has worked well.

Nevertheless, I have recently received suggestions from readers to reactivate the comment section. They claim that some of the most informative information in this blog can be found in the comments section of my older posts. They feel that the observations, questions, answers and overall interaction that takes place there is very helpful in drilling down on the topics I cover.

For this reason, I have decided to reactivate the comments again for a while to test the waters. Comments will be monitored and only allowed if they are sincere, edifying, and on topic. Obviously, those that disagree with my interpretations are encouraged to challenge anything I say as long as they provide thoughtful scriptural and historical documentation to back up their challenges.

On with the Show

Ok, on with part 2 of this series on section 128 and the eternal law of certification and recording of the saving ordinances of the gospel.

Revelatory Letters

As previously observed, the revelatory content in section 128 is taken from a letter that Joseph Smith wrote while running and hiding from his enemies.

The revelatory process is multidimensional. It takes place in many different ways.

Although many revelations came as a result of a direct question or historic event that required a revelation, some of the revelations that came to Joseph Smith came as a result of his pondering and meditating upon a subject that he desired greater clarity on.

This would be the impetus for the heavens to open and send a revelatory download, as demonstrated in section 76 which took place while Joseph and Sidney were working on the inspired version of the Bible:

19 And while we meditated upon these things, the Lord touched the eyes of our understandings and they were opened, and the glory of the Lord shone round about. Doctrine and Covenants 76:19

Letter writing seems to have been another springboard for receiving the revelatory download. In a sense, letter writing is just a written form of sharing one’s ponderings with others.

Joseph would sometimes begin writing a letter to a fellow laborer in the ministry or to the saints in general, regarding his doctrinal and prophetic ponderings and in the midst of writing the letter, the spirit would fall upon him and he would begin to prophesy or to reveal new doctrine.

Section 128 is not the only revelatory download that emerged in the middle of letter writing. Other profound revelations uttered by Joseph Smith are extracted from letters that he wrote.

Writing from Prison

A few of these revelatory letters came while he was in prison.

I find some poetic justice in that.

As the intercessory servant who took upon himself and acted out the sins of modern day Israel, just has Moses had done anciently, he apparently sinned as part of his ineffable intercession and therefore, found himself in prison. Some of his visits to jail were unjustified. Others were arguably justified according to the laws they were laboring under.

As aptly foretold in ancient scripture, Joseph Smith, as the end times Davidic Servant spoke presumptuously.

He sinned against the wife of his youth.

His transgressions resulted in his being chastened by the rod of man

But the poetic profundity of the situation does not end with his revelatory stints in prison. As we shall see later in section 128, the prophetic topic of setting the prisoners free was heavily on his mind as it well should have been.

“Let the dead speak forth anthems of eternal praise to the King Immanuel, who hath ordained, before the world was, that which would enable us to redeem them out of their prison; for the prisoners shall go free”

As we continue connecting doctrinal and prophetic dots found in Sections 124 and 128 and other passages with ancient prophecy, we shall see that the setting free of the prisoners by God’s Mighty and Strong Davidic Deliverer is a major theme of end times events.

Was joseph Smith being arrogant to think that he and his brethren were the ones who would set free the prisoners on the other side of the veil during the marvelous work?

Or will he and his brethren be among those prisoners?

I would suggest BOTH.

As a prisoner in the Liberty Jail, Joseph penned some letters that have remarkable revelatory content in them.

Section 122, in my humble, heretical opinion, contains a prophecy stating that Joseph would be cast into the jaws of hell AFTER being killed.

The prophecy heavily implies that he would be “dragged to prison and thine enemies prowl around thee like wolves for the blood of the lamb.”:

“cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep [sea] ; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to HEDGE UP THE WAY; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good“.

I would suggest that the above snippet was not allegorical. It was chronologically literal.

A conspiracy of masonic murderers ( including some fellow Mormons) did in fact pass the death sentence upon him and murder him while he was in prison. Clearly, that part of the prophecy took place.

In the next chronological prophetic snippet, he is informed that following his death, the very jaws of hell would gape open to receive him into the deep [sea]. (this will take on more significance when we review the prophecy in Revelation chapter 5.)

Prophecy informs us that God’s servant(s) will return from the dead to have their filthy garments removed. (Zech 3:3-4) His/their return in filthy garments would imply that their time spent on the other side of the veil was not necessarily spent leisurely sipping Champaign in paradise while in the heavenly realms.

In the prophecy, Joseph is reminded that the Savior had descended below all who had gone before him, and had suffered beyond anything humanly possible.

The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?

Indeed Christ did descend below them all. After suffering and being scourged and being crucified for the sins of the world, he descended downward to visit the spirits in prison. Christ actually had prophesied of his up and coming fulfillment of the prophecy when he read the following words of Isaiah to his home congregation:

18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, [to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. (Luke 4:18-20 and Isaiah 61:1 rendering)]

Upon hearing the words read to them and realizing Christ was referring to himself, the members of his ward tried to kill him. One has to wonder if his local bishop, high priest leader and home teacher were among the mob seeking his life. Christ mystically eluded them because the time of his crucifixion had not fully come.

After his crucifixion, Christ preached deliverance to the captives, and set at liberty them that are bruised and opened the prison to them that are bound. , (Luke 4 & Isaiah 61:1)

The remarkable thing about the words of Isaiah that Christ applied to himself is that they were to have a dual fulfillment, as do most prophecies.  The prophecy would take place during the meridian of time and again in the end times when Zion is established.

Isaiah 24

I suppose that there are those that would challenge my interpretations above. They would submit that all  passages about freeing the prisoners in prison had reference to Christs work in the meridian of time.

There is a huge problem with that assumption.

Chapters 42 and 49 in Isaiah are clearly speaking about the servant of the Lord, not the Lord himself. Furthermore, they are speaking about an end times event, not a meridian of time event.

Isaiah 42 and 49 are not the only prophetic chapters in Isaiah that speak of the freeing of the prisoners during the end times..

Pay close attention to the passages in Isaiah 24. They are clearly speaking about the very end times when the earth shall reel to and fro. At this time, many shall be shut up in prison and will eventually be visited

19 The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly.

20 The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again.

21 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth.

22 And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited.

23 Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the Lord of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously

More on the prophetic narrative of setting the prisoners free later in this series, right now I want to touch on another revelatory letter written during the Kirtland era. It was written on November 27, 1832. The prophet appears to have had a revelation in the midst of writing the letter. This is how we got section 85.

The letter begins thusly, ( this and much of the letter was not canonized):

Brother Wm <​W​> Phelps

 I say brother because I feel so from the heart and altho it is not long since I wrote a letter unto you yet I feel as tho<​ugh​> you would excuse me for writing this as I have many things which I wish to communicate some things which I will mention in this letter which are laying <​great​> with weight upon my mind

Whilst writing the letter, Joseph began to prophesy. This and some other parts of the letter were canonized:

6 Yea, thus saith the still small voice, which whispereth through and pierceth all things, and often times it maketh my bones to quake while it maketh manifest, saying:

7 And it shall come to pass that I, the Lord God, will send one mighty and strong, holding the scepter of power in his hand, clothed with light for a covering, whose mouth shall utter words, eternal words; while his bowels shall be a fountain of truth, to set in order the house of God, and to arrange by lot the inheritances of the saints whose names are found, and the names of their fathers, and of their children, enrolled in the book of the law of God;

8 While that man, who was called of God and appointed, that putteth forth his hand to steady the ark of God, shall fall by the shaft of death, like as a tree that is smitten by the vivid shaft of lightning.

The use of the term “one mighty and strong” in Joseph’s inspired utterance in this letter is taken from Isaiah 28 and is speaking of the same prophetic narrative. Clearly, this has reference to the Davidic Servant who will at some point in time show forth the fullness of priesthood power.

Interestingly, section 85, like section 128, addresses the importance of RECORD KEEPING.

1 It is the duty of the Lord’s clerk, whom he has appointed, to keep a history, and a general church record of all things that transpire in Zion, and of all those who consecrate properties, and receive inheritances legally from the bishop;

2 And also their manner of life, their faith, and works; and also of the apostates who apostatize after receiving their inheritances.

In section 128 Joseph reveals that the “books” that the dead will be judged out of, contain the “records” of the saving ordinances and covenants that people faithfully observed and participated in while entering into. Those records of the saving ordinances are the “works” that people are judged by.

The fact that there are multiple books to be opened possibly indicates that there are multiple ordinances and or covenantal observances, (the true definition of WORKS as per John’s words in the Book of Revelation) that need to be entered into, certified and recorded. Along with baptisms for the dead and living, there may well be other observances that will need to be recorded and certified by witnesses, earthly or otherwise.

Multiple Books to be Opened

The presence of multiple books as opposed to a singular book might also represent the documentation of the various levels of God’s laws and appointed glories, ie, celestial, terrestrial and telestial law.

Clearly, Baptisms for the living and for the dead need to be certified and recorded into the authorized book on earth so that they can be entered into the authorized books in heaven.

According to section 85, the law of consecration also needs to be recorded.

According to the revelation, if one does not consecrate and have it faithfully recorded, they will not be in the “book of remembrance“:

all they who are not found write [written] in the book of remmemberance shall find none inheritence in that day but they shall be cut assunder and their portion shall be appointed them among unbelievers where is wailing and gnashing of teeth (spelling not corrected)

That warning was followed up by a sobering reminder that God was speaking through Joseph Smith and that God would fulfill his promises:

“..these things I say not of myself therefore as the Lord speaketh he will also fulfill..”

According to what the Lord revealed to Joseph Smith, the written records on earth make possible the written records in heaven and that is the essence of what the Lord meant when he gave men the power to bind (seal) on earth and in heaven through priesthood keys, associated covenants, by virtue of the recording thereof .

19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Matthew 16:19

18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall abind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Matthew 18:18

Indeed, whatsoever you [bind, seal, or] record on earth shall be recorded in heaven:

8 Now, the nature of this ordinance consists in the power of the priesthood, by the revelation of Jesus Christ, wherein it is granted that whatsoever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Or, in other words, taking a different view of the translation, whatsoever you record on earth shall be recorded in heaven, and whatsoever you do not record on earth shall not be recorded in heaven…

9 It may seem to some to be a very bold doctrine that we talk of—a power which records or binds on earth and binds in heaven. Nevertheless, in all ages of the world, whenever the Lord has given a dispensation of the priesthood to any man by actual revelation, or any set of men, this power has always been given.

Hence, whatsoever those men did in authority, in the name of the Lord, and did it truly and faithfully, and kept a proper and faithful record of the same, it became a law on earth and in heaven, and could not be annulled, according to the decrees of the great Jehovah. This is a faithful saying. Who can hear it?

We learn from section 85, that the consecration of properties and the obtaining of legal inheritances must be conducted by the authorized “bishop” in Zion who is-

“the man that God has appointed in a legal way agreeable to the law given to organiz[e] and regulate the church and all the affairs of th[e] same; from the bishop

Further, the consecration and obtaining of legal inheritances must be faithfully recorded by the Lord’s Clerk.

It would appear, from a composite reading of sections 85, 128 and other related sections, that the records on earth of those who are baptized and live the law of consecration are entered into the books in heaven, spoken of by John the Revelator.

This may all seem like the legalistic overkill of the natural man and his version of the gospel of works, but it is simply eternal law that was established before the foundation of the world. Who are we to judge the expediency of what God has required for the plan of salvation to be justified?

Their Names Enrolled with the People of God

In my humble opinion, section 85 gives a blood curdling warning that every orthodox Mormon should take very seriously.

It informs the saints that those who have not entered into the law of consecration are not allowed to have their names enrolled with the people of God or to have their genealogy kept or found in any of the records of the church: 

3 It is contrary to the will and commandment of God that those who receive not their inheritance by consecration, agreeable to his law… should have their names enrolled with the people of God.

4 Neither is their genealogy to be kept, or to be had where it may be found on any of the records or history of the church.

5 Their names shall not be found, neither the names of the fathers, nor the names of the children written in the book of the law of God, saith the Lord of Hosts.

Did you catch that?

If you have not faithfully entered into the true law of consecration and received your inheritance from the true Bishop, as outlined in the Doctrine and Covenants, you cannot have your name enrolled with the people of God and your genealogy is not to be kept or found on any of the records of the church!

Holy Sh*t!

Why do Mormons spend so much time doing endless genealogical research and work for the dead when they have no authority to do so and it is to no avail?

The Mormon Church is claiming to have the Melchizedek Priesthood.

They are claiming to have valid Bishops.

They claim to have the authority and mandate to be doing valid baptisms for the dead

These are serious claims with serious consequences.

They are doing genealogy work and work for the dead even though nobody living today has the Melchizedek priesthood nor has anyone today entered into the true law of consecration according to the protocol given by the holy word of God.

Bottom-line: Section 85 informs us that genealogy work by those who have not literally consecreated according to God’s protocol, under the true Melchizedek Priesthood and a valid Bishop, is not accepted by God and is contrary to the word of God.

Who can hear this?

Are some of the “Books” Exclusively Witnessed from Heaven?

I am guessing that eternal law may also require records kept by angels on the other side of the veil who can witness spiritual things that other mortals cannot. In my opinion, it is not just the physical act of water baptism that needs to be recorded in heaven. We know that the spiritual rebirth of fire and the Holy Ghost must take place, which follows the offering of a broken heart and contrite spirit:

20 And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit. And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost, even as the Lamanites, because of their faith in me at the time of their conversion, were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not. 3 Nephi 9:20

For this reason, it is not unreasonable to suspect that one of the books contains the record of those who have offered up a broken heart and a contrite spirit and thusly been born of fire and the Holy Ghost.

“Not only to say, but to do”

One of the reasons that Mormons are moving forward with baptisms for the dead and genealogy work, is that they have been deceived into thinking they are living the higher law.

Despite having rejected the fullness of the Gospel and having failed to live the law of consecration (and having been rejected as a church with their dead), is the fact that the Brigham Young Masonic Temple Ritual requires the saints to give lip service to the law of consecration. This lulls them into a sense of false security, thinking that they are living the law of consecration even though they are  not.

Here is how the covenant is administered in the Masonic LDS Temple:

We are instructed to give unto you the law of consecration as contained in the book of Doctrine and Covenants, in connection with the law of the gospel and the law of sacrifice, which you have already received. It is that you do consecrate yourselves, your time, talents, and everything with which the Lord has blessed you, or with which he may bless you, to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, for the building up of the kingdom of God on the earth and for the establishment of Zion.

All arise.

Each of you bring your right arm to the square.

You and each of you covenant and promise before God, angels, and these witnesses at this altar, that you do accept the law of consecration as contained in this, the book of Doctrine and Covenants [he displays the book], in that you do consecrate yourselves, your time, talents, and everything with which the Lord has blessed you, or with which he may bless you, to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, for the building up of the kingdom of God on the earth and for the establishment of Zion.
Each of you bow your head and say, “Yes.”

That will do

Notice that even though “endowed” Mormons make the promise to “accept” the “law of consecration as contained” in the “Doctrine and Covenants”, and to “consecrate.. everything… to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints”, it is just an empty promise because they do not really consecration everything. Aside from a corrupted form of tithing, they retain the remainder of their riches to use as they desire while the poor among them continue to suffer financially.

Class distinction is a core reality in modern Mormon as both rich and poor mingle among each other in the church. They do not become temporally equal as commanded by God. Without temporal equality there cannot be spiritual equality.

“I say unto you, be one; and if ye are not one ye are not mine.” (D&C 38:27)

4 For a permanent and everlasting establishment and order unto my church, to advance the cause, which ye have espoused, to the salvation of man, and to the glory of your Father who is in heaven;

5 That you may be equal in the bonds of heavenly things, yea, and earthly things also, for the obtaining of heavenly things.

6 For if ye are not equal in earthly things ye cannot be equal in obtaining heavenly things;

7 For if you will that I give unto you a place in the celestial world, you must prepare yourselves by doing the things which I have commanded you and required of you.

8 And now, verily thus saith the Lord, it is expedient that all things be done unto my glory, by you who are joined together in this order; (D&C 78 See also D&C 104)

Nobody actually consecrates everything to the church and nobody actually receives their inheritance from the Bishop.

 ..not only to say, but to do

As previously documented in a post, there is no reason for a valid bishop to exist without a valid bishop’s storehouse.

The Lord in his infinite foreknowledge knew that the condemned church would take LIGHTLY his commandments and go into apostasy.

He warned them that they were to KEEP THE FORMER COMMANDMENTS, (including consecration) NOT ONLY TO SAY, BUT TO DO!

God knew in advance that the modern corporate church would give lip service to living consecration without actually doing it.

Here is the warning and condemnation given in section 84:

54 .. your minds in times past have been darkened because of unbelief, and because you have treated lightly the things you have received—

55 Which vanity and unbelief have brought the whole church under condemnation.

56 And this condemnation resteth upon the children of Zion, even all.

57 And they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon and the former commandments which I have given them, not only to say, but to do according to that which I have written—

58 That they may bring forth fruit meet for their Father’s kingdom; otherwise there remaineth a scourge and judgment to be poured out upon the children of Zion.

59 For shall the children of the kingdom pollute my holy land? Verily, I say unto you, Nay.

There are many LDS fringe groups that love to quote the above passages but emphasize or only focus on remembering the New Covenant and the Book of Mormon.

They misinterpret what “New Covenant” has reference to in this passage and conveniently neglect to stress the importance of the  FORMER COMMANDMENTS given by the Lord through Joseph Smith. Those former commandments are represented by the revelations contained in the Doctrine and Covenants which includes the LAW OF CONSECRATION .

The living of the law of consecration by saints in past generations is documented in the “New Covenant” (New Testament) and the Book of Mormon which is a companion testament to the New Testament. These canons of scripture validate and document the law from a historical point of view.

Both Testaments document that the saints of God that enter into covenant must become ONE and have all things in common temporally. Nevertheless, the “former commandments” given to the restoration saints contain the commandment from God for them to live it!

Inspired Writing

Sections 85 and 128 represent a fascinating form of inspired writing from which revelation emerges and both of them emphasize the importance of Keeping RECORDS that can be certified by the mouth of two or three witnesses.

Section 85 came during the Kirtland era that I refer to as the revelatory sweet spot of Joseph’s 15 year ministry when the fullness of the gospel was on the earth and the vast majority of the revelations were pounding down upon Joseph’s head.

As you can see from the graphic below, 105 canonized revelations rained down upon the head of Joseph Smith during a short 5 1/2 year period in the early Kirtland years while there were only about 14 canonized revelations that were received during the last 7 1/2 years of the Nauvoo era.

Section 128 on the other hand, came during the Nauvoo era at the tail end of his ministry when the heavens were closing and darkness was overcoming the saints.

When I first began comparing the teachings and personal life of Joseph Smith during the Kirtland era with the teachings and personal life of Joseph Smith during the Nauvoo era, I was perplexed because I saw two different Joseph Smiths.

I referred to this conundrum as the Nauvoo dilemma.

It has since been revealed to me that Joseph Smith was simply acting out the sins of apostate Israel as the Davidic intercessor.

Interestingly, Joseph Smith was warning the world of impending judgments that were about to take place during the Kirtland years, yet during the Nauvoo years he completely changed his prophetic rhetoric and spoke of the missionary work that was to take place over the unforeseeable future.

The reason for this is because his intercessory offering delayed the impending judgments for four generations.

As documented in scripture, Joseph Smith was a latter day Moses, who was making a temporal atonement offering for latter day Israel and taking their sins upon his own head.

He did this much the same way that Moses offered himself as an atonement offering for ancient Israel, causing Moses to sin before the Lord. This resulted in Moses not being allowed to cross over into the promised land. (I realize this is repetitive to many of my readers, but I have several new readers that need this foundational information)

Joseph Smith was showing signs of acting out the sins that were being placed upon his head.

The Joseph Smith of Kirtland vs. the Joseph Smith of Nauvoo

Indeed, the historical Joseph Smith of the Kirtland era was quite different from the historical Joseph Smith of the Nauvoo era-

The Kirtland Joseph was very merciful to all those that hated and challenged him and he was confident in the Lord.

The Nauvoo Joseph became extremely angry, fearful, condemning and paranoid.

The Kirtland Joseph and the Book of Mormon he brought forth warned the saints against involvement in secret orders with secret oaths, including Masonry. For this reason the Kirtland Saints refused to participate in Masonry.

The Nauvoo Joseph allowed the Danites to exist and he became a Mason, while encouraging his brethren to enter into the craft. He also utilized secret forbidden oaths and signs in the Council of Fifty.

The true spiritual endowment that had accompanied the restored church when the fullness was on the earth was replaced with a corrupt, outward, temple ritual patterned largely after the ritual in the Satanic Masonic craft.

The Kirtland Joseph and the revelations he brought forth admonished the saints to live the law of consecration and warned about the urgency of living it and the consequences of breaking that covenant.

The Nauvoo Joseph prevented the Saints from trying to re-establish it. When the saints approached Joseph with the desire to once again attempt living the law of consecration Joseph told them the time was not right. He prevented the saints from attempting to reestablish the covenant that had been broken and took personal responsibility for them not attempting it again.

The Kirtland Joseph taught the Biblical doctrine of God. He canonized Lectures on faith which taught the biblical character and nature of God and how there is only one true God who has been God from everlasting to everlasting.

It appears that the Nauvoo Joseph taught (in the King Follett and other sermons)  that God the Father was once a mortal man who worked out his salvation like a countless array of other Gods that went before him. That heresy contradicts the Bible, Lectures on Faith, and the very scriptures Joseph had been instrumental in bringing forth.

The Kirtland Joseph and the revelations he brought forth stressed fidelity and the importance of the celestial marital doctrine of monogamy.

The Joseph of Nauvoo appears to have taught and practiced some sort of spiritual wife doctrine that involved the sealing of multiple wives to one man.

There is an overwhelming amount of evidence and prophecy to suggest that the Nauvoo Joseph transgressed before the Lord because the saints of the restoration rejected the fullness. As an intercessory servant he transgressed and had to die for his intercessory offering.

Prophet Worship

One of the serious sins among believers in the LDS restoration is the idolatry of prophet worship.

The belief that a true prophet can never sin or lead anyone astray is insidious and unscriptural.

Many people feel that every single thing that Joseph taught and did was categorically correct simply because he was a true prophet of God. Although we latter day saints outwardly reject the doctrine of infallibility, we secretly believe it.

The prophet Joseph Smith made the following statement:

“This morning . . . I visited with a brother and sister from Michigan, who thought that ‘a prophet is always a prophet’; but I told them that a prophet is a prophet only when he was acting as such” (Joseph Smith,_History of the Church, 5:265).

According to David Whitmer Joseph Smith asked the Lord why his revelation to sell the copyright to the Book of Mormon failed.

“Joseph reportedly enquired of the Lord through the Urim and Thummim and, according to Whitmer, received a revelation that stated, Some revelations are of God: some revelations are of man: and some revelations are of the devil (Joseph Smith Papers)

Few Mormons realize that the Lord sometimes uses his prophets to test his people by allowing them to teach things that are contrary to the Holy Word of God. Those who have not learned to test every revelation and trust in the Word of the Lord instead of the Arm of Flesh can easily be deceived.

Even when a prophet is functioning as a true prophet, they can have misguided speculations about doctrines that God has not yet revealed to them. Beyond those basic facts about prophets, Joseph Smith had a special calling as an intercessory prophet who took upon himself and acted out the sins of apostate Israel. All of this has already been documented in previous posts and cannot be rehashed here.

The amazing thing about the dark time in Nauvoo is that Joseph continued to bring forth some amazing truths that were ultimately canonized even though few people pay attention to them or understand them.

Continuing with section128-

10 And again, for the precedent, Matthew 16:18, 19: And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

11 Now the great and grand secret of the whole matter, and the summum bonum of the whole subject that is lying before us, consists in obtaining the powers of the Holy Priesthood. For him to whom these keys are given there is no difficulty in obtaining a knowledge of facts in relation to the salvation of the children of men, both as well for the dead as for the living.

12 Herein is glory and honor, and immortality and eternal life—The ordinance of baptism by water, to be immersed therein in order to answer to the likeness of the dead, that one principle might accord with the other; to be immersed in the water and come forth out of the water is in the likeness of the resurrection of the dead in coming forth out of their graves; hence, this ordinance was instituted to form a relationship with the ordinance of baptism for the dead, being in likeness of the dead.

13 Consequently, the baptismal font was instituted as a similitude of the grave, and was commanded to be in a place underneath where the living are wont to assemble, to show forth the living and the dead, and that all things may have their likeness, and that they may accord one with another—that which is earthly conforming to that which is heavenly, as Paul hath declared, 1 Corinthians 15:46, 47, and 48:

The above passages have some very profound, yet subtle information in them. For instance, the Lord is telling Peter that he will be given the keys of the kingdom of heaven.

I believe that is the only place in the standard works where those keys and that term is expressly used. So please don’t confuse the term “kingdom of Heaven” with “kingdom of God on earth” or the many variations that have reference to the kingdom of God on earth. They are not the same.

Why is this important?

Because there is a HUGE difference between the KEYS of the Kingdom [of God on earth] that Joseph Smith got from John the Baptist, vs. the keys of the kingdom of God in heaven that Christ gave to Peter.

One could argue that those who were ordained to the Melchizedek Priesthood at the Morley Farm that magnified their calling had been given the keys of the kingdom of Heaven, but I am not sure if that can be definitively proven or if an additional anointing from the Lord is required.

What we do know is that the ultimate fruits that should accompany the fullness of priesthood and the true church we not present within just a few years after the fullness was restored.

The grand secret, as pointed out by Joseph Smith, is in obtaining the “powers” of the Holy Priesthood so that one can open the heavens and get answers to questions.

The introduction to the concept of Baptism for the Dead has been an extremely controversial one. The first time the concept is mentioned in scripture is in 1 Corinthians 15.

The first time it shows up in modern revelation is in section 124. Yet the first known sermon when Joseph Smith taught the principle was actually BEFORE section 124 was given!

The sermon was delivered at Nauvoo, Ill., on August 15, 1840 (Saturday). It was at the funeral of Seymour Brunson, a prominent member of the Church in Nauvoo. This is according to a reminiscent account of Simon Baker which is in the Journal History, LDS Archives.

On the one hand, it is strange that there appears to be only one known reminiscence of this radical teaching during that sermon. It seems that such a topic would have been the talk of the town and would have created much buzz and chatter.

On the other hand, it makes sense that the principle of Baptism for the dead was revealed to Joseph Smith prior to section 124 because the principal is mentioned so matter of factly in the revelation, as if the saints should have been familiar with the doctrine already.

Also, section 124 begins in such a strange manner as to imply that the first part of the revelation had been withheld by Joseph Smith or that the context in which the revelation was received was withheld:

1 Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you, my servant Joseph Smith, I am well pleased with your offering and acknowledgments, which you have made; for unto this end have I raised you up, that I might show forth my wisdom through the weak things of the earth.

What offering?

What acknowledgements?

What offering and acknowledgements had he just made that represented the express purpose for which Joseph had been raised up?

Don’t you just hate it when you only get the climax of a storyline without the context?

Of course those that have been reading this blog have a pretty good idea what I think the offering was.

So now we need to deal with the ominous and controversial topic of baptism for the dead.

In verse 8 of section128 Joseph had indicated that baptism could be conducted by a person in their own propria persona, or they could have it done by means of their own agents.

A Mystical Gospel based on Proxy

Of course, the foundational principle of the Gospel of Christ is that of proxy. None of us are able to save ourselves from our fallen state and the demands of justice, but our Savior, Jesus Christ, the Redeemer has been sent to provide a proxy intercession that we cannot provide for ourselves.

That being the case, is it a stretch to suggest that in order for those that have lived and died without being baptized could have their work done by proxy to get their names written in the books from which all men will be judged? After all, God has stated categorically seven times in the standard works that one must believe and be baptized to be saved.

The vast majority of Protestantism is deeply offended by the notion.

Interestingly, there are people in LDS fringe groups that also have indigestion regarding this doctrine of baptism for the dead. I recently noticed the following criticisms on a blog post.

I’ve been researching “baptism for the dead” the last few days and I can find absolutely nothing in the BOM that supports the concept, but I find quite a bit that disagrees with it:

1 Nephi 15:32-33, 1 Nephi 10:21, 2 Nephi 9:25, Helaman 13:38, Alma 48:23, and most devastatingly, Alma 34:31-34 and Moroni 8:22-24. This, of course, supports the Bible in that this mortal probation is given us to choose God or not. (We consequently have major problems with D&C 138 and 124, but that’s another story. And think of how much time and money is spent on the dead instead of the living.)I consider D&C 137 to be true revelation, and since it was canonized in the 1980s, shouldn’t it apply to the LDS people today?

4 I saw the beautiful streets of that kingdom, which had the appearance of being paved with gold.

5 I saw Father Adam and Abraham; and my father and my mother; my brother Alvin, that has long since slept;

6 And marveled how it was that he had obtained an inheritance in that kingdom, seeing that he had departed this life before the Lord had set his hand to gather Israel the second time, and had not been baptized for the remission of sins.

7 Thus came the voice of the Lord unto me, saying: 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;

8 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;

9 For I, the Lord, will judge all men according to their works, according to the desire of their hearts.

10 And I also beheld that all children who die before they arrive at the years of accountability are saved in the celestial kingdom of heaven.

I sympathize with the concerns that are being raised above.

However, I want to once again emphasize the difference between the mystical grace of God and associated laws that were established from before the foundation of the world, VS. the legalistic works of the natural man and the gospel of works that he preaches.

Reframing the Concept of Works

Joseph Smith suggests in section 128 that being judged according to our works out of the books has nothing to do with the gospel of works legalism found in apostate Christianity and Mormonism. He informs us that the term “works” as used in those passages means something quite different than one might suppose.

In the sixth chapter of John, Christ surprises the Jews with a similar definition.

28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?

29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

Imputation

The word “Imputed” in the following passage is of extreme importance in understanding grace and justification:

20 He (Abraham) staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;

21 And being fully persuaded that, what he (Christ) had promised, he was able also to perform.

22 And therefore it was imputed (credited) to him (Abraham) for righteousness.
 
23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;

24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;

25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

According to the 1828 Websters, the word imputed means “Charged to the account of”, “attributed”, “ascribed”.

According to the Strongs concordance, it means to “Count”.

Some of the other translations of the New Testament use the word “credit”

They all mean essentially the same thing.

Therefore IT WAS [also] CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS. Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him, but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.

So then what is the point of all this? The point is this: When Paul says in Romans 4:22 (and verses 3, 5, and 9) that “faith is credited as righteousness,” he does not mean that our faith is our righteousness. He means that our faith unites us to Christ so that God’s righteousness in Christ is credited to us.

In part three, we shall deconstruct an amazing Davidic Servant prophecy found in the Book of Revelation using some of the keys that Joseph Smith provides in section 128.

 

Keep Watching

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is the Information You Have Been Waiting for! (Essential Oldies but Goodies Part Seven: Documenting God’s Relationship with His People in the Latter days.)

Ok, now for the post you have all been waiting for!

Well, maybe not so much.

I realize that there are many readers waiting with baited breath to see the second part of the post I did regarding the connection between Mauricio Berger and Mark Hofmann, however, I have decided to suspend that for the time being.

Why?

Because I did not realize at the time that I got that information that the researchers working on it were getting ready to publish their findings and it did not seem appropriate of me to steal their thunder or to provide only part of the research they had done.

I suspect they will be publishing their complete research very shortly. When it is available I will probably provide a link to it for my readers.

I have decided to wait until they publish their findings before I share any further observations on the topic.

So, instead of sharing that information at this time, I am going to continue my series on some of the most popular posts I have done in the past.

This seems appropriate to me because there are some new subscribers to this blog that are probably overwhelmed by the more that 500 blog posts I have written and they are not quite sure how to prioritize the reading material.

The main page of this blog provides a suggested chronology of what to read, however, for those that want to cheat a little and get to some of the really fascinating stuff, the eight posts being spotlighted today might be of interest.

I need to stress that none of the information in this blog should be read until you understand what the doctrine of Christ is and what the fullness of the Gospel is.

Also, you should not be reading this blog until you have first read, re-read, and memorized the four standard works. That would be the Inspired Version of the Bible, Book of Mormon, Book of Commandments and Doctrine and Covenants, (Including the Lectures on Faith).

After you have committed those four cannons of scripture to memory, there are some great speculations on this blog that might enhance your gospel study experience.

If you have not committed those four canons of scripture to memory, what the h#*l are you doing reading the words of a heretic on this blog? Go back to your room and continue studying God holy and infallible word!

Here is the eighth Oldie but Goodie from the past-

Documenting God’s Relationship with His People in the Latter days.

At the end of my last post I provided a very brief, bullet point summation of significant events and revelatory declarations that documented the relationship that God had with his saints in the latter days.

It was not meant to be exhaustive, however it has since occurred to me that there are a few other significant items that should be included which I have now done.

From time to time I may add to this list as I remember old discoveries or find new ones that merit inclusion to the list. (If you have some suggestions please submit them)

By the way, I am still waiting to hear from any LDS scholars and apologists to show me problems with the following documentation or my interpretation thereof.

Please don’t be shy.

Listing of Significant Historical Miles Stones

• March of 1829 (section 5) The Church is beginning to come forth out of wilderness
• March of 1829 (section 5- Original Revelation published in Book of Commandments but deleted when  1835 D&C is published) Lord warns that He will deliver this generation over to Satan if they harden their hearts. (Although the following documentation will show that he made good on this conditional prophecy, this should not be seen as something that is hopeless, rather, God did it as a temporary chastisement that will end with a merciful deliverance for those that repent and return unto God. God delivered his people over to the enemy anciently as well but did not ultimately forsake them- Lev 26:25  2Kings 21:14 Nehemiah 9:27)
• April 6 1830 (Sections 20 & 21)The restored Church is formally organized by revelation as the “Church of Christ”
• October 1830 (Section 33) Church has been establish and called forth out of wilderness
• January 2, 1831.   (Section 38) Saints commanded to go to Ohio to get the Law and Endowed with Power (Even though church and gospel was restored, they did not yet have the whole law or full power of the gospel)
  
• February of 1831 (Section 42) The Law of the Gospel is Given
• June 1831 Fulness of the Melchizedek Priesthood and Gospel Restored at Morley Farm (The priesthood restored by Peter James and John had never been referred to as Melchizedek Priesthood during the previous two years. Joseph would later reveal that the two lower priesthoods only had power to administer the law of the gospel but not in spirit. )
• February 1831 (Section 43) The Law of Succession and Succession Prophecy are given. The church is not to receive the teachings of anyone as revelations and commandments who has not been appointed by God through Joseph. Nobody will be appointed by God through Joseph Smith before Joseph is taken unless Joseph transgresses. (Section 90 will later confirm that another will be called by the Lord through Joseph prior to Joseph being taken “Through you shall the oracles be given to another” and finally, in Section 124 Hyrum is called by the Lord through Joseph, before Joseph is taken. Prior to the martyrdom, Joseph announces he will not prophecy for the church anymore, Hyrum is the sole prophet seer and revelator of the church before the martyrdom)
• August 1831 (Section 63 “I, the Lord, am angry with the wicked; I am holding my Spirit from the inhabitants of the earth…...and the saints also shall hardly escape; nevertheless, I, the Lord, am with them, and will come down in heaven from the presence of my Father and consume the wicked with unquenchable fire.And behold, this is not yet, but by and by. (Definition of Hardly: “Scarcely; barely; almost not.”
• September 11, 1831 (Section 64) The Lord declares that September 11 1836 is the drop dead date for the redemption of Zion in that generation.
• October 25 1831– (Section 66) Declaration that the Fulness of the Gospel had been received by William McClellin who had been ordained a High Priest (indicating that the fulness of the Gospel was synonymous with the fulness of the Priesthood. )
• November 1 1831 (Section One) Christ declares that the Church (which had now received the fulness of Melchizedek Priesthood) is the “True and Living Church” and that it will come forth again out of obscurity and darkness (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints did not exist at the time this pronouncement was made)
• 1832 ( Joseph Smith Letterbook 1, pp. 1-6. Published in: Dean Jessee, Personal Writings of Joseph Smith) Joseph Smith writes in his history and reveals the first  two priesthoods received by angels, for the administration of the “law of the Gospel“. He then defines the third priesthood (received at the Morley Farm as the “High Priesthood after the holy order of the Son of the Living God… to preach the gospel in the administration and demonstration of the spirit“)
• April 26th 1832 (section 82) “And the anger of God kindleth against the inhabitants of the earth; and none doeth good, for all have gone out of the way“. (D&C 82:6 see also  35:1 & Moroni 10:12) Following that announcement, the leading high Priests are bound by covenant to administer the storehouse and law of consecration   (This is the official start of a two year effort to live consecration that ultimately failed- see section 104 April 23th 1834)
• September 22-23  1832 (Section 84) the Church is declared to be under condemnation for taking the BofM and revelations lightly.
  
• January 4, 1833 Letter to N. C. Saxton “The Lord declared to His servants, some eighteen months since, that He was then withdrawing His Spirit from the earth and we can see that such is the fact for not only the churches are dwindling away, but there are no conversions, or but very few” [D&C 63:32 was given 18 months prior to the above statement that was made] “The Gentiles… have broken the covenant in which their fathers were established“
• May 6 1833 (Section 93) “And now, verily I say unto Joseph Smith, Jun.—You have not kept the commandments, and must needs stand rebuked before the Lord“
• November 1833 1200 Saints in Jackson County were expelled by a mob
• December 1833 (Section 101) “were the churches, who call themselves after my name, willing to hearken to my voice.“ (No longer is the Lord calling them after his name, rather, they call themselves by His name)
• February 17 1834 (Section 102) “president of the High Council” (of High Priests and President of the Church )  must be appointed by revelation and sustained by the Church. (This requirement is changed in section 107 after the fulness of the gospel is rejected and the name of Christ is taken out of the Church. See March of 1835 below)
• February 24 1834 (Section 103) Conditional promise given, if Saints “hearken to obey all the words which I the Lord their God shall speak unto them, they shall never cease to prevail until the kingdoms of the world are subdued…But inasmuch as they keep not my commandments, and hearken not to observe all my words, the kingdoms of  the world shall prevail against them.”
• April 23rd 1834 (Section 104) The Lord announces that “the covenants [had been] broken through transgression. (This brings the two year attempt to live consecration to an end by the breaking of the covenant See section 82 April 26th 1832 and Isaiah 24)
  
• May 3, 1834 (HC 2:62-63) Conference of the Church held ten days after breaking law of consecration and officially removes the name of Christ from the name of the Church and changes name to “Church of the Latter day Saints”
• June 22,1834 (Section 105) Revelation given to Zion’s Camp. The expidition to redeem Zion is called off. Because of Transgression-Zion and her laws must wait for a little season
• June 24 (Uncanonized Revelation calling 15 High Priests to gather up the strength of Zion (to be fulfilled at a future time). Algernon Sidney Gilbert rejected his calling and was struck dead from what is believed to have been cholera. 14 others died as well. 
• August of 1834 Joseph Smith writes letter to Leaders in Zion identifying Sept 11th 1836 as the date by which Zion needed to be established if obedient. (His observation obviously taken from declaration of the Lord in section 64 given on Sept 11 1831)
• November 29 1834 HC  Joseph and Oliver enter into “Covenant of Tithing” “for the continuance of blessings“. This covenant probably made possible the continuance of spiritual gospel blessings under grace despite breaking of the covenant of consecration by collective church, until the Lord came in secret to his temple after which the saints had the keys of the Gospel of Abraham and the law of mercy see Section 110 April 3 1836)
• December 5th 1834 (UnPub Rev  Pg 73) An un-canonized revelation provided including Condemnation upon leaders and members of the Church. There must be a reformation in ALL THINGS.
• March of 1835 (section 107) President of the High Priests and of the Church is to be chosen by the body of High Priests. This is a change from section 102 made after the name change of the church instead of by revelation. It appears as if the nature and calling of High Priest has transitioned to a downgraded position as a result of the breaking of the covenant and name change of the church, similar to some of the patriarchal High Priests of the Old Testament (compare with February 17 1834 section 102, prior to name change of the church)
• November 3 1835 (Pg 79 Unpub Rev) Condemnation of 12 Apostles: Joseph receives revelation stating that the 12 apostles are under condemnation: ” Behold they are under condemnation, because they have not been sufficiently humble in my sight…but verily I say unto you, they must all humble themselves before me, before they will be accounted worthy to receive an endowment, to go forth in my name unto all nations”  Shortly after this Joseph meets with the 12 apostles and tells them their minds are dark and they need to prepare their hearts:” the endowment you are so anxious about you cannot comprehend now, nor could Gabriel explain it to the understanding of your dark minds, but strive to be prepared in your hearts”
• March 27 1836 Dedication of the Kirtland Temple is an Epic Fail. The saints had been promised that all of the pure in heart would see God. According to Kirtland historian Karl Anderson, there is no credible evidence that anyone saw God. (Section 109)  Dedicatory Prayer: Prophecy-prayer contains a prophecy that the Church will come forth out of wilderness at a future time. Last few verses petition the Lord to reinstate the name of Christ back into the name of the Church. On the Kirtland Temple it say “The church of the Latter day Saints”.
• April 3 1836 The Lord secretly comes to his temple with a curse to judgment and restores keys to the dispensation of Gospel of Abraham instead of the dispensation of the fulness of times (See Oliver’s Secret)
• September 11 1836. NOTHING OF SIGNIFICANCE HAPPENED ON THAT DAY, which in fact is significant because Joseph had revealed in a letter written in August of 1834 that September 11th 1836 was the appointed time for the redemption of Zion (“Use every effort to prevail on the churches to gather to those regions and situate themselves to be in readiness to move into Jackson Co. in two years from the Eleventh of September next which is the appointed time for the redemption of Zion.”) In other words, it had been revealed to the the Prophet that if the saints repented and were valiant, September 11, 1836, would be the appointed time. The promise was conditional. He warned that …. (If—verily I say unto you—if the Church with one united effort perform their duties… the work shall be complete….and if we do not exert ourselves to the utmost in gathering up the strength of the Lord’s house that this thing may be accomplished, behold there remaineth a scourge for the Church, even that they shall be driven from city to city, and but few shall remain to receive an inheritance; if those things are not kept, there remaineth a scourge also; therefore, be wise this once, O ye children of Zion! and give heed to my counsel, saith the Lord”
• June 4th 1837 (HC 2:489) “God revealed to me that something new must be done for the salvation of His Church”   “The Spirit of the Lord has whispered to me, ‘let my servant Heber go to England and proclaim my gospel and open the door of salvation to that nation. (This is consistent with the Prophecy of Christ in the Book of Mormon that the gospel would be taken to the House of Israel after Gentiles reject the fulness. See 3 Nephi 16:10-13)
• July 23 1837 (Section 112)The Lord declares that  “Darkness covers the whole earth and gross darkness the minds of the people, and ALL FLESH HAS BECOME CORRUPT BEFORE MY FACE“
• November 1837 Defiling of the Kirtland Temple: Failure of the Kirtland Safety Society resulting in a mass apostasy of many members and leaders of the Church. Related to this event, a fight broke out in the temple with leading members of the church threatening to kill each other. If the temple had not been defiled before this event, it surely was defiled at the time the fight broke out. (documented by Eliza Snow and Lucy Smith)
• March 1838 (Section 113) Joseph explains that Isaiah 11 prophesies that at a future time when he will bring again Zion, those who had been called in the last days would “put on the authority of the priesthood, which she, Zion has a right to by lineage; also to return to that power which she had lost” “These scattered remnants are exhorted to return to the Lord from whence they have fallen… if they do… he will speak to them [again] , or give them revelation.”“
• April 26 1838 (Section 115) This is a prophecy of what will happen when the events described in Isaiah 60 take place. At that time God’s scattered people will be called the “Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints” which differentiates them from the “Church in Zion” which is composed of the righteous saints who have obeyed the law of gathering. See also Matt. 12:30 (the passage does not not necessarily refer to the re-institution of the name of Christ into the name of the church at the time the revelation was given, see the footnote for verse six)
• July 8 1838 (Section 117) Oliver Granger is to pray for the REDEMPTION OF THE FIRST PRESIDENCY ( Definition of Redemption: the ransom or deliverance of sinners from the bondage of sin and the penalties of God’s violated law by the atonement of Christ- probably making reference to the sins upon apostate Israel upon the leaders of the church per the atonement statute.)

Although the above summary is not conclusive, it provides the major details of how the latter day apostasy had taken place prior to, and resulting in, the act of taking the name of Christ out of the Church in 1834.

Following that, revelation from God began to dry up however God continued to labor with the saints.

Eventually God informs the saints that darkness covered the earth and all flesh had become corrupt, even those who had been previously been sanctified. (Atonement Statute)

Finally, after relocating to Nauvoo, Joseph Smith made the following observation:

“We have been chastened by the hand of God heretofore for not obeying His commands… we have treated lightly His commands, AND DEPARTED FROM HIS ORDINANCES, and the Lord has chastened us sore, and we have felt His arm and kissed the rod…“ (History of the Church, 5:65; from “The Government of God,” an editorial published in Times and Seasons, July 15, 1842, p. 857; Joseph Smith was the editor of the periodical.)

The last major revelation detailing the apostate condition of the saints and warning them that they were on probation, subject to their repentance and reform is now known as section 124.

The Lord gives the following five ominous warnings in section 124

1- The Fulness of the Priesthood (Gospel) had been lost and the temple must be built so that it could be restored again (124:28,34,55 section 113 explains that it will be restored to the earth at a later time)

2- If Saints were not obedient they would be moved out of Nauvoo (124:45-46)

3- They were practicing abominations before the Lord that place curses upon their heads (124:48)

4- Anything more or less than what is contained in The Book of Mormon and the 1835 D&C cometh of Evil (124:119-120)

5- If the Temple was not finished in the sufficient time, the Church would be rejected with their dead (124:31-32)

This may all seem rather bleak but let me assure you it isn’t. The good news is that there are countless references in scripture to the fact that in the end times the Father will work a Marvelous Work and gather out the elect of God to Zion and he will redeem his people.

Praise God Almighty!

 

Previous Oldies but Goodies

Essential Oldiers but Goodies Part Six: The Law of Adoption and the Sealing Principles

Discovering the Doctored Covenants and then the Interpretive Revisions and then the changing of the Ordinance    Part Five

See Also COMMANDMENTS-DOCTRINE-COVENANTS Part One
COMMANDMENTS-DOCTRINE-COVENANTS Part Two

“Seven Seals and a Paradisaical Millennium” Part Four

A Mystical Look at the LDS Restoration Movement Part Three

Be Ye Therefore Perfect.. right now Part Two

The Succession Crisis Part One

 

 

 

 

 

Part Two of the Series about How the Marvelous Work Begins with the Word Proceeding to Come Forth

The following YouTube represents part two of the series I am doing about the Marvelous Work and the Proceeding of God’s Unlearned Servant in Bringing forth God’s Word.

Four Part Prophetic Sequence Part 2

In the above presentation I share the fact that I have obtained pictures of the gold plates that Mauricio has.

For those who are new to this blog, that are interested in the claims of Mauricio Berger, I am providing a chronological listing of the posts I have done on this topic from my first post to my last

Chronological Listing

October 31st 2017 Did the Marvelous Work begin on April 6th 2007?

November 4th 2017 Weighed in the Balance: The Claims of Mauricio- Part One

November 15th 2017 Weighed in the Balance: The Claims of Mauricio Berger- Part Two

November 20th 2017: Weighed in the Balance and Found Wanting: The Claims of Mauricio Berger- REJECTED BY THE WATCHER

November 24th 2017: Weighed in the Balance and Found Wanting: The Claims of Mauricio Berger- The Gentiles Bring forth and Translate the Last Records

January 13th 2018 Weighed in the Balance and Found Wanting: The Holy Ghost Endorses the Writings of the Watcher

BTW, have you subscribed to my youtube channel? If not why not? click here to subscribe

https://www.youtube.com/user/onewhoiswatching

Weighed in the Balance and Found Wanting: According to Mauricio, the Holy Ghost Endorses the Writings of the Watcher

Because of sickness and the holiday season, I have taken somewhat of a break from blogging in general and more specifically regarding this series on the claims of Mauricio Berger.

That is not to say that I have not been engaged in this fascinating story of deception.

To me, the bizarre storyline coming from Brazil  reads like a comedy of doctrinal and prophecy related errors

This narrative begins by informing us that the location for the beginning of the last great work, has now been relocated from the promised covenant land of America, to a foreign land because God cannot find one righteous Gentile to work with.

The claim is that-

“There is no leader among latter day Israel with a pure heart”

Since when does God require a pure heart when calling someone to his work?

Never mind the fact that historically, God almost always picks sinners to do his work.

Noah was a wine-bibber. Moses sinned before the Lord and was prevented from crossing over the Jordan river. Jonah ran and hid after being called to his missionary assignment. Peter denied knowing Christ three times. Paul was going a round persecuting Christians and consenting to their executions.

Why didn’t God find more righteous people to do his work?

Probably because there weren’t any “righteous” people to choose from.

God deals with the human condition and eventually makes new creatures out of sinful men. That is the miraculous message of his mystical gospel.

Joseph Smith, by his own admission, was contemplating selling the golden plates for his own personal gain with the desire to pull his destitute family out of their dire circumstances.

Mauricio is Righteous?

Luckily, the righteous Mauricio Berger is here to save the day since there are no righteous gentiles. We don’t know a lot about Mauricio, however the scant storyline that has emerged does reveal the following things:

• Mauricio refused to learn the English language after being commanded to do so by God
• Mauricio smashed and destroyed the holy interpreter in a fit of rage
• Mauricio lied to or intentionally withheld very important and very embarrassing details about his personal history from Joseph and Bob.

Hmm.

That seems to be a standard of righteousness that we degenerate gentiles can realistically seek to, during this time of hidden darkness.

I don’t fault Mauricio for being human. I simply question the claim that he is righteous and has a pure heart.

God has Called Another People

One of the many claims made by these folks is that God has raised up another people to do his work since there are no righteous gentiles.

I suspect that claim is derived from a passage in Section 100 of the D&C given in October of 1833 wherein the Lord says:

“For I will raise up unto myself a pure people what will serve me in righteousness”

Some people have used that passage in the past to suggest that the wicked Gentile saints of the restoration failed to establish Zion and therefore God would bring in another, more humble and righteous tribal demographic to finish what those saints began.

However a contextual reading of the entire revelation shows a very different meaning of what was being said.

Just before making that pronouncement, the Lord had said,

“and now I give unto you a word concerning Zion. Zion shall be redeemed, although she is chastened for a little season”.

The term Zion in the above declaration was referring to the “people” of Zion not the “land” of Zion.

It was the people attempting to establish Zion that were being chastened for a season, not the land.

As you can see, the gentile saints were not being cast aside for another people, they were simply going to be chastised for a little season prior to their redemption as a Zion people.

The very next revelation given in December of 1833 provides greater clarity and assurance that God was allowing affliction to come upon the saints for a season because of their transgressions. Yet the promise was that ultimately, He would own them as His people:

1 Verily I say unto you, concerning your brethren who have been afflicted, and persecuted, and cast out from the land of their inheritance—

2 I, the Lord, have suffered the affliction to come upon them, wherewith they have been afflicted, in consequence of their transgressions;

3 Yet I will own them, and they shall be mine in that day when I shall come to make up my jewels.

4 Therefore, they must needs be chastened and tried, even as Abraham, who was commanded to offer up his only son.

9 Verily I say unto you, notwithstanding their sins, my bowels are filled with compassion towards them. I will not utterly cast them off; and in the day of wrath I will remember mercy.

Assurance was given that the gentile saints of the restoration were  not being cast off:

9 Verily I say unto you, notwithstanding their sins, my bowels are filled with compassion towards them. I will not utterly cast them off; and in the day of wrath I will remember mercy.

These declarations by the Lord are very significant because Joseph F. Smith believes that the LDS restoration under Joseph Smith Jr. was a complete failure, requiring a new servant and a new work to take place. This is apparently one of the many issues that he and Bob Moore disagree with each other on.

According to some accounts that I have been made aware of, Joseph F. Smith believes that Joseph Smith and his associates totally failed and will not be given the opportunity to resume their prophetic commissions.

However Section 101 makes it clear that those that attempted to establish Zion would yet be gathered and redeemed in the third watch when the Lords work proceeds to come forth. Those saints who were scattered from the land of Zion will yet be gathered and after being gathered in the third watch, will not be moved out of their place. Section 101 continues:

17 Zion shall not be moved out of her place, notwithstanding her children are scattered.

18 They that remain, and are pure in heart, shall return, and come to their inheritances, they and their children, with songs of everlasting joy, to build up the waste places of Zion—

19 And all these things that the prophets might be fulfilled.

Those prophetic pronouncements above are consistent with the prophecies in the Book of Daniel that reveal that the kingdom of God that would be established in the latter days, through the instrumentality of the prophet Joseph Smith-

 “shall not be destroyed, and the kingdom shall not be left to other people” (Dan 2:44)

Clearly, the keys of the kingdom of God that the Lord restored to the earth during Joseph Smith’s ministry were used to establish the kingdom of God on earth.

That kingdom is the same kingdom that the Book of Daniel prophesies of.

It is the same kingdom that will roll forth and fill the whole earth during the final restoration in the third watch.

The prophetic prayer documented in section 65 speaks of the return of the kingdom that Joseph Smith established nearly 200 years ago.

1 Hearken, and lo, a voice as of one sent down from on high, who is mighty and powerful, whose going forth is unto the ends of the earth, yea, whose voice is unto men—Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

2 The keys of the kingdom of God are committed unto man on the earth, and from thence shall the gospel roll forth unto the ends of the earth, as the stone which is cut out of the mountain without hands shall roll forth, until it has filled the whole earth.

3 Yea, a voice crying—Prepare ye the way of the Lord, prepare ye the supper of the Lamb, make ready for the Bridegroom.

4 Pray unto the Lord, call upon his holy name, make known his wonderful works among the people.

5 Call upon the Lord, that his kingdom may go forth upon the earth, that the inhabitants thereof may receive it, and be prepared for the days to come, in the which the Son of Man shall come down in heaven, clothed in the brightness of his glory, to meet the kingdom of God which is set up on the earth.

6 Wherefore, may the kingdom of God go forth, that the kingdom of heaven may come, that thou, O God, mayest be glorified in heaven so on earth, that thine enemies may be subdued; for thine is the honor, power and glory, forever and ever. Amen.

As you can see, the above prayer is speaking about the future rolling forth of the kingdom that Daniel saw and it is verifying that the keys to that kingdom had already been committed to men on the earth during Joseph Smith’s ministry.

The fact that the kingdom that Daniel saw was established during Joseph’s ministry is is verified once again in the dedicatory prayer of the Kirtland Temple.

72 Remember all thy church, O Lord, with all their families, and all their immediate connections, with all their sick and afflicted ones, with all the poor and meek of the earth; that the kingdom, which thou hast set up without hands, may become a great mountain and fill the whole earth;

73 That thy church may come forth out of the wilderness of darkness, and shine forth fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners;

74 And be adorned as a bride for that day when thou shalt unveil the heavens, and cause the mountains to flow down at thy presence, and the valleys to be exalted, the rough places made smooth; that thy glory may fill the earth;

After acknowledging that the kingdom Daniel speaks of that is “set up without hands” had already been set up during Joseph’s ministry, we are informed that it would be a future event when it would BECOME a great mountain and fill the whole earth. Indeed, the Lord’s true church must once again “come forth out of the wilderness of darkness” even after being restore during Joseph’s last ministry.

Other reveleations, including Section 90 verify that those keys were to remain with Joseph Smith in this world and in the world to come.  According to that revelation, when God proceeds to bring forth his word again, Joseph will once again bring forth the word and Sidney will take the word to the nations of the earth.

9 That through [Joseph Smith’s] administration [Sidney Rigdon and Frederick G. Williams] they may receive the word, and through their administration the word may go forth unto the ends of the earth, unto the Gentiles first, and then, behold, and lo, they shall turn unto the Jews.

10 And then cometh the day when the arm of the Lord shall be revealed in power in convincing the nations, the heathen nations, the house of Joseph, of the gospel of their salvation.

11 For it shall come to pass in that day, that every man shall hear the fulness of the gospel in his own tongue, and in his own language, through those who are ordained unto this power, by the administration of the Comforter, shed forth upon them for the revelation of Jesus Christ.

According to the inspired prayer in Section 65, the Lord will send forth his mighty and powerful servant to prepare the way of the Lord when the final work begins.

In the inspired prayer, we are admonished to

“Call upon the Lord, that his kingdom may go forth upon the earth, that the inhabitants thereof may receive it”

Of course those passages mean very little to Mauricio, Joseph or Bob as they seem to be oblivious to the literal fulfillment of the prophesies in the D&C.

More on that later.

Contacted by an Insider

Shortly after doing my last blog post on this series, I was contacted by an insider that lives in Missouri and is privy to much of what is going on regarding the claims of Mauricio Berger. This informant has provided me with some very interesting background information pertaining to Mauricio, Joseph F. Smith, and Bob Moore.

This informant has requested anonymity for reasons I am not at liberty to expose. Further, they have limited what I can share on this blog.

Their reasons for wanting to remain anonymous are justified in my opinion so I will just bite my tongue regarding who they are and some of the information that I have in my possession. However, some of the information can be shared and it sheds important light on the motivation of these people.

One of the things that this informant shared with me is the fact that ever since Joseph F. Smith was a very small child, he has been taught by his parents that he has a very important role to play in the final events of the end times.

As a result of this indoctrination, Elder Smith has spent much of his adult life jumping around between the various RLDS congregations and factions looking for people that would listen to him and accept him as a credible end times servant.

Because of this obsessive quest, a great hardship has been experienced by his wife and family who have been forced to move over 40 times and have struggled financially.

I don’t necessarily find that information problematic. Some might find it admirable that Elder Smith is so passionate about his perceived calling from the Lord.

This information simply provides context and possibly shines a light on motivation, be they good or misled.

There is much more information that provides insight as to why Joseph and bob are so invested in Mauricio’s story. I suspect that much more information will eventually come forth.

If the information from my informant is true, it doesn’t really prove anything conclusively, however it may provide context as to why Bob and Joseph F. Smith could so easily be deceived by a foreign congregation that is willing to hold him up as a light unto the world.

Again, I have additional information from the informant. Some of it will be discussed later, some I cannot divulge.

I Have Communicated Directly with Bob Moore

In addition to the information I have been given by the informant in Missouri, I also felt impressed to contact Bob Moore and invite him to personally respond to some of my concerns and criticisms which he graciously agreed to do.

He and I have had an interesting discussion thus far.

To his credit, he is willing to openly engage directly with his critics.

This was his response when I invited him to dialogue with me and respond to my criticisms:

Feel free to point out anything that you want to me…. I do not take offense at a person’s honest opinions.

Now that is refreshing!

I take my hat off to him for having the courage and integrity and transparency to respond to my criticisms.

It is not easy to respond to skeptics who are challenging something that you believe to be sacred and true and holding your feet to the fire with the scriptures.

I am reminded of the public invitation I extended to Denver Snuffer to engage with me in a public dialogue back when he began his deception. Sadly, he refused the invitation and simply chose to mock me and belittle the fact that I chose to blog anonymously. This was his response to my upcoming rebuttal-

I received two emails notifying me there is a man, woman, child, or committee who is now getting ready to do a “rebuttal” to Passing the Heavenly Gift. It can be found at: https://onewhoiswatching.wordpress.com/2013/09/23/an-evening-in-boise-with-denver-snuffer-part-one/

Normally I would just dismiss someone who lacks the courage to stand up for what they write by identifying themselves…
http://denversnuffer.com/2013/09/a-contemplated-rebuttal/

Interestingly, his movement now allows his disciples to respond anonymously in their Snufferite forums, blogs and website and even publishes revelations on the Internet from anonymous Snufferite revelators LOL.

Sharing Our Correspondence

I have asked Bob Moore if I could provide the exact transcript of our dialogue on this blog which I think would be interesting and informative to my readers. It has been a few weeks and he has not yet responded to that request. Since he has not expressly asked me not to, I will take the liberty of providing a few direct quotes. Since he has thus far declined to give me express permission, I will not provide the exact transcript in full, unless I hear from him and get permission.

Why Do You Deny Revelation?

One of the things I asked Bob Moore is why he did not believe the unconditional prophecies would come to pass that are contained in the revelations that Joseph Smith brought forth. Here is my question to him:

Bob-

We are informed in scripture that God has all time, past, present and future continually before his eyes and therefore he has seen what we consider to be the FUTURE. We are also informed that he cannot and does not lie.

Hence, when God makes an unconditional promise and prophecy about a future event, it will come true.

Because of these beliefs about the nature and character of God, and the fact that never has to “guess” or “predict” the future because he has a perfect knowledge of what is going to happen in the future, I believe everything he says about the future.

Do you?

As I am sure you are aware, God has declared unconditionally multiple times in the revelations, that Joseph Smith Jr. and his brethren will be the ones to return and seal up the wicked, establish Zion, and finish his work regarding the bringing forth of the sealed portion.

Please see the following post for no less than sixteen revelatory declarations that Joseph Smith Jr. will return to complete his ministry
Sixteen Prophetic Evidences

So my first question for you is, why don’t you take the scriptures literally? Why don’t you believe the unconditional promises that God has given to us about Joseph Smith holding the keys of the priesthood in life and in death and in his promised return to complete his calling? If God’s word in the Doctrine and Covenants is true, Mauricio’s story cannot be true.

Bob’s initial reply was very disappointing to me because he says his beliefs are scientifically based rather than religiously based. Here is what he said:

I believe, as you do, that God knows all things and reveals them to men’s understanding.  Often people misinterpret His revelations, but when the are fulfilled, people see how precisely He did what he said.

While I have always believed that fundamental concept, I now view it from a scientific perspective, rather than a religious one.  My degree is in Math and Chemistry, but I try to keep abreast of advances in physics as well.

I suppose that the best way to describe my view is that I tend to embrace the multiverse concept that this world is a hologram of the spiritual world, which spiritual world lies outside time and from which our universe burst forth as it expanded outward from that big bang.

It comes from the implications of this sole verse found in Joseph’s New Translation: “And there appeared a great sign in heaven, in the likeness of things on the earth” (Rev 12:1).

Thus time is confined to the expansion of space as occupied by this universe.  Its events are seeable from any point outside it that does not exist in some time reference.

God certain exists outside time.  He can see and hold all things.  And in His love and mercy foretells what is in our future that people might believe in Him and His Son.

Strangely enough, after providing the mental gymnastics above about the multiverse and holographic spiritual world and big bang, etc.,  as to why the prophecies about Joseph Smith returning will not necessarily literally come to pass exactly as stated, he did acknowledge a belief that Joseph Smith Jr. has a future role :

I believe that Joseph Smith, Jr. has a future role in the culmination of God’s latter-day work.  While I am aware of some of the sources you mention, my primary reason is an experience that Alexander had.  I am attaching a copy below in case you do not know about it.

Alexander Smith had a prophetic dream in which he was visited by his father Joseph and his uncle Hyrum. Here is what Joseph and Hyrum said to Alexander:

“We are going away. We will be gone for a season, but we will return again”

I guess I need to change my paper from “Sixteen Prophetic Evidences” to “Seventeen Prophetic Evidences“.

The Three Witnesses

For those that do believe in the literal fulfillment of the unconditional promises in the D&C, it is interesting to note that the three witnesses that were identified during Joseph Smith’s first ministry to testify of the gold plates and the Book of Mormon were promised that they would return to the earth to play a profound role in the Marvelous Work:

And by your hands I will work a marvelous work among the children of men, unto the convincing of many of their sins, that they may come unto repentance, and that they may come unto the kingdom of my Father D&C 1:44

Those familiar with and who believe the revelations, realize that the “Marvelous Work” did not begin during Joseph’s last ministry. The “great work” was yet future (see D&C 35:7 as just one of many contextual evidences) The marvelous work does not begin until the final restoration in the third watch.

Joseph F. Smith Becomes the Poster Child of a new Movement

The picture below shows Mauricio Berger sitting next to Joseph F. Smith during Joseph and Bob’s visit to Brazil. Little did Joseph F. Smith realize that he was going to become the poster child for a seasoned deception that had failed to pick up any traction for over 10 years.

This picture was placed on facebook and used to generate publicity for Mauricio’s claims.

It was hoped that the historic visit and endorsement of Elder Joseph F. Smith would provide much needed credibility to the claims of Mauricio Berger and help to jumpstart the conversion of new believers in Brazil to Mauricio’s new religious movement.

Shortly after Seventy Bob Moore and Elder Joseph F. Smith left Brazil, Mauricio invited about 40 members of the local LDS Stake to a meeting to learn more about the visit of Moroni, the upcoming translation of the sealed book, and the endorsement of Joseph Smith Jr.’s purest priesthood descendent.

Foiled by the Evil Mormons!

Unfortunately, for Mauricio, the local leaders of the LDS stake learned about the meeting and quickly scheduled several very important meetings of their own on the same night.

Additionally, they put out a blood chilling warning to the members of their stake that  any members of the church that attended the meeting would be excommunicated from God’s true church.

At least, that is what I am told by Seventy Bob Moore..

Needless to say, the meeting had a very poor turn out and Mauricio’s latest attempt to gain traction was foiled.

You may be wondering why Mauricio was targeting Mormons to share his angel experience with instead of Protestants and Catholics.

After all, he had had very little connection with Mormonism prior to this time, right?

Wrong!

To adequately address that curiosity we need to back up and review the testimonies of  Seventy Moore and Elder Smith, who initially assured everyone multiple times that Mauricio had not previously been a member of the LDS church. According to what they stated or at least strongly implied, Mauricio had never been a Mormon.

During the Q&A the audience was assured by Smith and Moore that Mauricio’s movement was completely organic. It all started out with Mauricio innocently “looking for answers”.

My informant from Missouri begs to differ.

Here is a snippet from one of their emails to me:

I have talked to the individual who contacted me. He has been corresponding with the man who was with Mauricio in the beginning. Apparently, it is true that Mauricio was indeed a baptized, temple attending, member of the LDS church.

According to this man, Jader, who had not been a member long, Mauricio approached him and said he had gold plates. He asked Jader to go with him on Christmas day in 2008, to a hill to pray.

While they were praying these three men came to them. When they left Mauricio told him that they were Peter, James, and John. Some time after, Mauricio told Jader he should go to the Bishop and tell him about the plates and that he had seen the angel Moroni.

Jader refused and has ever since claimed that there was never an angel that he had seen. Shortly after this Mauricio was excommunicated. Jader is now in the Bishopric. So there you have it, Mauricio was a member of the church indeed.

I assumed that Seventy Bob Moore would be shocked when confronted with this information about Mauricio’s previous involvement in Mormonism.

To my surprise and disappointment, he was not.

He already knew that Mauricio had previously been a card carrying, temple going member of the LDS church who had been excommunicated for his bizarre claims about the angel and the plates.

This was extremely disappointing to me.

I do not know for sure when Bob became aware of Mauricio’s previous membership in the Mormon church, but it doesn’t appear as if he has publicly corrected the misinformation that he and Joseph F. Smith and Mauricio have perpetuated.

This was Bob’s response when I confronted him about Mauricio being an excommunicated Mormon:

I also admit that I was saddened to learn that Mauricio had withheld the fact that he had been a member in the LDS Church.  I am circumspect in my personal and business dealings and believe that he should have been transparent when he contacted us.  He was fearful, instead.  I will not condemn him because I do not think that he was trying to be deceptive.

Mauricio testifies that he withdrew from the LDS church, but that they did not accept his resignation and subsequently tried and excommunicated him.  Since I dislike the LDS hierarchy and have been rebuffed by it while working with Joseph F, I am inclined to accept his explanation.

Mauricio was not trying to be deceptive?

Hmm.

What was he trying to be?

Transparent?

During my correspondence with Seventy Moore, I asked him how in the world he and Joseph could invest the time and money to visit Mauricio without doing some serious due diligence and getting the facts strait about Mauricio’s involvement in Mormonism.

I asked him why he did not take the time to question local leaders of the Mormon Church to find out if they were familiar with Mauricio and his angel story.

I asked him why he and Joseph did not ask Mauricio five different times in five different ways if he had been a member of the Mormon Church.

I asked him how in the world he and Joseph could have been so naïve and trusting without searching out the facts.

It became obvious to me that Joseph and Bob had already accepted Mauricio’s story hook line and sinker BEFORE they ever got on the plane to visit him in Brazil. They wanted the story to be true so badly, that they had blinders on when they went to meet with Mauricio.

Here is one of his comments to me

 When Joseph and I receive the initial communications from Mauricio, we asked the Lord if what he said about the experiences that we had were true.  Each of us separately received confirmation that they were true.  Because of those verifications, we did not look further

In my opinion, this is a text-book example of two people who did not want to be bothered with the facts because they wanted the story to be true.

There is a reason why Paul admonishes us to “prove all things, hold fast to that which is good“.

There is a reason why the Lord chastised Oliver Cowdery for asking a question before studying things out in his mind.

A Spirit of Deep Sleep

In 2nd Nephi 27 the Lord informs us how the marvelous work will go forth as God’s true servant proceeds, again, to bring forth more words from the mysterious book  (plates)

One of the very important declarations that is made in that chapter is that because the saints of the restoration had previously transgressed, God covered the eyes of his seers and placed a “spirit of deep sleep” on the entire world, both Jew and Gentile.

That spirit of deep sleep stays on the world from the time the fullness was rejected, until the word begins to come forth again from God’s servant.

This is just one more of many evidences that I have provided to show that the heavens have been sealed and will continue to be sealed until God’s true servant begins bringing forth the word from the plates again.

This is why I have repeated warned against ALL of the delusionary people who are claiming to have pierced the veil of unbelief and conversed with God during this time when the spirit of deep sleep has been placed upon EVERYBODY, both Jew and Gentile.

1 But, behold, in the last days, or in the days of the Gentiles—yea, behold all the nations of the Gentiles and also the Jews, both those who shall come upon this land and those who shall be upon other lands, yea, even upon all the lands of the earth, behold, they will be drunken with iniquity and all manner of abominations…

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.

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.

And it shall come to pass that the Lord God shall bring forth unto you the words of a book, and they shall be the words of them which have slumbered.

As you can see, at the time when the book containing the words of those who have slumbered begins to come forth in the 3rd watch, EVERYONE, both Jew and Gentile will be in darkness and apostasy. The Lord will have put the spirit of deep sleep over them prior to the beginning of the Marvelous.

It is because of this spirit of deep sleep that so many people today are so gullible and so easily deceived by false prophets and false teachers.

“I WILL DELIVER THEM UP UNTO SATAN”

In one of the earliest revelations to come through Joseph Smith the Lord gave an ominous warning to the saints of the LDS restitution.

Here is what D&C 5:19 said before it was changed in 1835.

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.

Many Old Testament prophets also prophesied that God would deliver his latter day saints over to Satan and given them delusions.

In Isaiah 66 the Lord prophesied that latter day Israel would delight in their abominations and therefore God would give them delusions:

Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations. I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.

A similar prophetic observation was made by Paul when he prophesied about the falling away of the saints of the restored church in the latter days.

8 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:

9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Those who take the scriptures lightly and reject the unconditional promises and prophecies in them have not received the love of the truth. Because of this they have been given strong delusion from God.

After the saints of the restoration rejected the fullness of the Gospel in 1834, God placed a “strong delusion” upon them. Every offshoot of Mormonism that chose to believe someone who clamed the authority to teach or prophesy were guilty of violating the law that was given in Section 43.

Regardless of whether it was the teachings of Brigham Young, James Strang, Joseph Smith the 3rd, or anyone else claiming to have received the mantle of authority from Joseph Smith Jr., those who followed these people, chose to receive a lie despite the following warning that had been given in Section 43:

3 And this ye shall know assuredly—that there is none other appointed unto you to receive commandments and revelations until he be taken, if he abide in me.

4 But verily, verily, I say unto you, that none else shall be appointed unto this gift except it be through him; for if it be taken from him he shall not have power except to appoint another in his stead.

5 And this shall be a law unto you, that ye receive not the teachings of any that shall come before you as revelations or commandments;

6 And this I give unto you that you may not be deceived, that you may know they are not of me.

7 For verily I say unto you, that he that is ordained of me shall come in at the gate and be ordained as I have told you before, to teach those revelations which you have received and shall receive through him whom I have appointed.

The only people documented to have come in through the gate and to have been appointed by the Lord through Joseph Smith, were either killed or rejected by the Saints, ie., Hyrum Smith and Sidney Rigdon.

Have you accepted the teachings of anyone that did not get the commission from God directly through Joseph Smith?

Have you accepted the revelations or teachings of Brigham Young, James Strang, Joseph Smith the 3rd, Mauricio Berger or Denver Snuffer?

If you have, you have rejected the warning given in Section 43 and you have not been given the love of the truth and you have been cursed with delusion.

“If He Abide in Me”

According to Joseph F. Smith, Mauricio says that the Angel Moroni says that Joseph F. Smith is to be the priesthood leader of the Brazilian branch until he dies.

Period.

And yet, as great a prophet as Joseph Smith Jr. was, he was not given that same categorical leadership promise.

The Lord declared that Joseph Smith Jr. was only appointed to lead and teach and give commandments and revelations as long as he abides in the Lord!

3 And this ye shall know assuredly—that there is none other appointed unto you to receive commandments and revelations until he be taken, if he abide in me.

There are at least four separate times in the D&C when the Lord warns the saints that Joseph Smith Jr. was fallible and could possibly stumble and fall from his calling.

If that was true with Joseph Smith Jr., why is it not true with Joseph F. Smith?

Is Joseph F. Smith really infallible?

Perhaps it is because he is a puppet instead of a leader. You see, even though he has been pronounced to be the designated priesthood leader, he gets his marching orders from Moroni through Mauricio.

Who is really in charge of the Movement?

Is the tail wagging the dog?

They had Already Made up Their Minds

It appears to me as if Joseph and Bob wanted to believe Mauricio’s story so badly that they did not want to prove the story against the cold hard facts, or to use the prophecies in the scriptures as a template for discerning the truthfulness of the claims being made.

They didn’t want to do any serious research and then study things out in their minds before asking the Lord if Mauricio was telling them the truth.

In the 14 chapter of Ezekiel the Lord informs us that he does not take kindly to those that offer up poorly thought out prayers that contradict what God has already declared.

He warns that if the Elders of Israel approach his servant and ask him to petition the Lord with a bullshit question, God will allow his servant to give them a bullshit answer.

Modern day Mormonism is built upon many lies that emerge as a result of violating the law given in Section 43 and of receiving bullshit answers to bullshit questions.

That is exactly what happened regarding the fabricated revelation on polygamy now known as Section 132. It begins with a bullshit question that contradicts what the Lord had already revealed in the Book of Mormon.

Look at the foundational question upon which the revelation was received:

 1 Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you my servant Joseph, that inasmuch as you have inquired of my hand to know and understand wherein I, the Lord, justified my servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as also Moses, David and Solomon, my servants, as touching the principle and doctrine of their having many wives and concubines—

Where in the sam hill did that question come from?

The Lord had already revealed that David and Solomon WERE NOT JUSTIFIED in their practice of polygamy!!!!

15 And now it came to pass that the people of Nephi, under the reign of the second king, began to grow hard in their hearts, and indulge themselves somewhat in wicked practices, such as like unto David of old desiring many wives and concubines, and also Solomon, his son. Jacob 1:5

22 And now I make an end of speaking unto you concerning this pride. And were it not that I must speak unto you concerning a grosser crime, my heart would rejoice exceedingly because of you.

23 But the word of God burdens me because of your grosser crimes. For behold, thus saith the Lord: This people begin to wax in iniquity; they understand not the scriptures, for they seek to excuse themselves in committing whoredoms, because of the things which were written concerning David, and Solomon his son.

24 Behold, David and Solomon truly had many wives and concubines, which thing was abominable before me, saith the Lord.

25 Wherefore, thus saith the Lord, I have led this people forth out of the land of Jerusalem, by the power of mine arm, that I might raise up unto me a righteous branch from the fruit of the loins of Joseph.

26 Wherefore, I the Lord God will not suffer that this people shall do like unto them of old. Jacob 2:22-24

Imagine how offensive to God it must be to have someone ask why David and Solomon were justified in practicing polygamy when God had already revealed through his latter day seer and the Book of Mormon that they were NOT justified in that practice!

The very act of asking that question was an act of blatantly rejecting the divinely inspired teachings of the Book of Mormon.

The Purest Priesthood

During the testimony of Joseph Smith the 3rd, he informs us that Mauricio was directed to him by Moroni because Joseph F. Smith has the purest priesthood, of all the living descendants of Joseph Smith Jr.:

One of the reasons why they requested me was because the angel [“Moroni”] told them that the Lord had preserved a portion of the priesthood from Joseph the Prophet, through Joseph III, and Alexander Hale Smith [his brother], and through my father, Arthur Smith, and to me. And this was the priesthood that the angel [“Moroni”] told him that was more (I can’t get the word) “pure.” I’ll put it that way.

Because of this pure priesthood, Joseph F. Smith was the one chosen to bestow priesthood authority and officiate in administering the saving ordinances when he visited the Brasilians.

Apparently, despite his brief training in Mormonism, Mauricio has not learned that the ordination of priesthood offices and the administration of the saving ordinances of the church requires PRIESTHOOD KEYS THAT ORDAIN MEN TO PRIESTHOOD OFFICES, NOT LINEAL PRIESTHOOD!

The pure patriarchal priesthood line of Joseph Smith Jr was clearly not adequate in bestowing priesthood and administering the saving ordinances of the gospel. If it had been, there would have been no need for the visitation from John the Baptist and the restoration of PRIESTHOOD KEYS as documented in Section 13.

1 Upon you my fellow servants, in the name of Messiah I confer the Priesthood of Aaron, which holds the keys of the ministering of angels, and of the gospel of repentance, and of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; and this shall never be taken again from the earth, until the sons of Levi do offer again an offering unto the Lord in righteousness.

Even Joseph Smith Jr., who obviously had a more rich and pure line of lineal priesthood than his descendent Joseph F. Smith, had to have priesthood keys and a priesthood office bestowed upon him by an angel before he could begin ordaining other elders and baptizing people. This is priesthood 101.

It is understandable that this concept would be lost on Mauricio since he probably did not grow up in the church and probably had not been paying attention during priesthood meeting when he was a member, but how in the world did Joseph F. Smith and Bob Moore miss that one?

The Priesthood Keys Must be Returned by He Who Holds Them

As documented again and again on this blog, the saints of the restoration rejected the fullness of the gospel AFTER John the Baptist restored the priesthood. Eventually, those priesthood keys were taken from the earth.

In section 124 the Lord acknowledges that the fullness of the priesthood had been taken from the earth.

“..build a house to my name, for the Most High to dwell therein. For there is not a place found on earth that he may come to and restore again that which was lost unto you, or which he hath taken away, even the fulness of the priesthood.

The Lord warned the saints that if they did not repent and FINISH the Lord’s house, they would be rejected as a church with their dead.

But I command you, all ye my saints, to build a house unto me; and I grant unto you a sufficient time to build a house unto me; and during this time your baptisms shall be acceptable unto me.

But behold, at the end of this appointment your baptisms for your dead shall not be acceptable unto me; and if you do not these things at the end of the appointment ye shall be rejected as a church, with your dead, saith the Lord your God.

It is an undeniable historical fact that the saints did not repent of their abominations and they did not finish the temple.

God promised that if the saints were faithful, they would not be moved out of their place in Nauvoo, the cornerstone of Zion.

And if my people will hearken unto my voice, and unto the voice of my servants whom I have appointed to lead my people, behold, verily I say unto you, they shall not be moved out of their place.

But if they will not hearken to my voice, nor unto the voice of these men whom I have appointed, they shall not be blest, because they pollute mine holy grounds, and mine holy ordinances, and charters, and my holy words which I give unto them.

And it shall come to pass that if you build a house unto my name, and do not do the things that I say, I will not perform the oath which I make unto you, neither 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 practice before me, saith the Lord.

It is a historical fact that the saints were moved out of their place and they fled from Nauvoo after the martyrdom. Every splitter group that followed one of the false prophets and teachers were cursed with their own set of delusions.

The martyrdom of Joseph Smith, the possessor of the keys of the kingdom, and the rejection of the church with their dead,  means that the priesthood keys that had been restored by Peter James and John would need to be restored to the earth again.

This would either require Joseph Smith Jr. to personally return, or angelic messengers would once again need to restore these keys to the earth.

Interestingly, the Lord wanted it placed in the public canonized record, that the keys that Joseph Smith held were the same keys of the kingdom of God that was coming forth for the last time.

Furthermore, those keys were to never be taken from Joseph in this world or in the world to come:

2 Therefore, thou art blessed from henceforth that bear the keys of the kingdom given unto you; which kingdom is coming forth for the last time.

3 Verily I say unto you, the keys of this kingdom shall never be taken from you, while thou art in the world, neither in the world to come;

4 Nevertheless, through you shall the oracles be given to another, yea, even unto the church.

5 And all they who receive the oracles of God, let them beware how they hold them lest they are accounted as a light thing, and are brought under condemnation thereby, and stumble and fall when the storms descend, and the winds blow, and the rains descend, and beat upon their house. (D&C 90)

Clearly, the storyline coming out of Brazil is inconsistent with some very basic prophetic doctrine about the events of the last days that has long since been established.

None of the claims being made from this latest movement are consistent with scripture.

“We are laying down our differences”

It is very strange that Joseph F. Smith and Bob Moore openly admit that they disagree with each other on doctrine and are simply choosing to not argue with each other over their differing beliefs.

Yet they report from Mauricio that Joseph Smith the 3rd was the fulfillment of the following prophecy found in 2nd Nephi 3 about the confounding of all false doctrines and bringing everyone to a doctrinal unity of the faith:

11 But a seer will I raise up out of the fruit of thy loins; and unto him will I give power to bring forth my word unto the seed of thy loins—and not to the bringing forth my word only, saith the Lord, but to the convincing them of my word, which shall have already gone forth among them.

12 Wherefore, the fruit of thy loins shall write; and the fruit of the loins of Judah shall write; and that which shall be written by the fruit of thy loins, and also that which shall be written by the fruit of the loins of Judah, shall grow together, unto the confounding of false doctrines and laying down of contentions, and establishing peace among the fruit of thy loins, and bringing them to the knowledge of their fathers in the latter days, and also to the knowledge of my covenants, saith the Lord.

The claim that Joseph Smith the 3rd had previously confounded all false doctrines, laid down contentions and established peace among the decendents of Joseph of Egypt is simply absurd.

First of all, the prophecy is stating that all of the descendants of Joseph of Egypt would be doctrinally unified, not just the paltry group of gentiles that joined the RLDS movement. This prophecy about the posterity of Joseph of Egypt coming into doctrinal unity would obviously include the seed of Lehi who never joined the RLDS sect and who are yet to be converted to the gospel en masse. Further, Joseph Smith the 3rd clearly did not bring the seed of Lehi to the knowledge of the Lord’s covenants!

To suggest that Joseph Smith the 3rd had globally united all of the believing descendants of Joseph of Egypt shows a remarkable delusion.

The icing on the cake is that the doctrinal unity of the faith among the RLDS did not last very long before the sect completely rejected the historicity of the Book of Mormon and the divine mission of Joseph Smith Jr.

Further, the two gentiles chosen to be witnesses of this new work cannot even agree with each other about doctrine!

Mauricio is Getting Ready to Translate the Sealed Portion?

Of all of the wild claims made from this new movement, perhaps the most ginormous slip up is the claim that Mauricio is getting ready to translate portions of the “sealed portion“.

Here are some direct quotes made by the leaders of this movement:

The Book of Mormon portion of the plates were on one side of the rings while the “sealed portion” was on the other side of the rings. After having made the distinction, it was represented that “A portion of the sealed portion will be translated.”

People who believe this testimony are invited to come together and the Lord will pour out his Spirit upon them. In the newsletter by Joseph Smith Ministries for November 2017, this statement is found: In the meantime, part of the sealed portion will be translated in Brazil. Those who gather in faith and unite around Joseph F. Smith’s testimony will be cleansed by the Spirit as they then learn to obey the celestial law. They will receive and publish part of the sealed portion. It will reveal all things to live in Zion, as well as be an ensign to gather the rest

The claim that Mauricio is getting ready to translate the sealed portion is the death nail to the claims of Mauricio Berger.

You see, anyone that is familiar with the prophecies pertaining to the sealed book in 2nd Nephi 27, realize that the contents of the sealed portion do not come forth until after the completion of the Marvelous Work. ( See 2nd Nephi 27:7-8,10-11, 21)

They do not play a part in converting anyone. They do not come forth until AFTER the Gentiles repent and the great work has been completed. (See my last post for documentation)

The Holy Ghost is Impressed with my Writings

When I was communicating with Bob Moore I got the following email from him:

 Last night my attention was drawn to http://threewatches.blogspot.com.br/2011/01/and-again-this-gospel-of-kingdom-shall.html?m=1. 

It is signed by someone who is watching.  Is that you? 

Thanks
Bob

This was my response:

Yes that is one of my blogs. Another one is onewhoiswatching.wordpress.com

The blog you asked about has not been active for years.

 I have not posted on it for a long time.

 I don’t even remember publishing the specific post that you provided the link for.

I have spent 30 years studying the history of the church through the eyes of prophecy and I have been blogging for nine years having written nearly 500 articles, and I continue to be on a learning curve. I am not responsible for anything I have written over three weeks ago! LOL

Hence, I noticed a few things in that article that I do not see the same way, although, conceptually, I still agree with the general narrative being offered.

The general point is that in the revelations that Joseph Smith brought forth, we are continually reminded that the Lord was laying the FOUNDATION of a FUTURE WORK.

In the modern LDS church it is erroneously taught that Joseph Smith began the Marvelous Work and a Wonder back in the 1830’s. This cannot be substantiated in scripture.

It is now about four generations after the LDS FOUNDATION WORK has been laid and the Marvelous Work is now finally about to come forth.

This was the reply of Bob Moore

Dear Watcher

I found it highly unusual for me to receive three consecutive emails that were so tightly connected and then to witness the interplay that developed.  I want to testify what happened because one of those emails was yours.  It is the one in which you asked permission to send us your criticisms for our input.

After I answered it, I opened the next email.  It was from a friend in the Restoration Branch Movement, the more scripturally sound conglomeration of fellowships that remain after the fragmentation of the RLDS Church.  Joseph’s and my testimony is most specifically directly at them.  A number have renounced it.  One reason is the assertion that the sealed portion cannot come forth in two parts.  That discussion was posted on Mauricio’s FaceBook page.

My friend had written Mauricio with a defense and asked permission to post it on the said discussion.  Mauricio asked him to not do so, but he sent my friend’s email to me.  The reason seemed quite unclear.

The third email was from Mauricio.  He gave me some instructions that he said were from the Holy Ghost.  I was unclear about how he received them and wrote him for clarification.  I did not hear until that evening.

Mauricio’s original email with the instructions contained a link to the site about which I wrote you.  He wanted me to study it.  I thought it strange that I would receive this kind of instruction on the same day that you had written me.  I might not otherwise have made the connection.  I noticed on that blog that you discussed how the sealed portion would come in two parts.

When Mauricio responded, he told me that he searched on Google for information about the sealed portion of the Book of Mormon coming in two parts and found your blog.  It was difficult for him to translate it through Google Translate and follow what you were writing.  He was holding the interpreters (the new ones that Moroni had given him the weekend before when he and the three witnesses returned the sword to the mountain).  He said that the Holy Spirit told him that the blog contained enlightening material that was not fully correct and that it could help me in writing an article on the subject that could be posted on our second invitation website (https://secondinvitation.org).

Why would these be linked so close together in time?  I believe that you are capable of drawing your own conclusion.  Just like Joseph Smith, Mauricio is either telling the truth or deceiving others.  Like Joseph, he has enlisted others who are either bearing a truthful testimony or participating in the deception.  While it is possible to detect errors in testimonies, the real test is in whether the prophetic promises are true.

Before the sealed portion can come to believers in Zion, they must be unified under the prevailing presence of the Holy Ghost.  And how can that happen in our polarized, critical and contentious culture?  The promise is that the Lord will pour His righteousness on those who believe and unify his people.

Alma asked his hearers to try an experiment.  Even if they desired to believe, he suggested that they plant the seed and nourish it.  If it swelled, they then would know that the seed was good.  Their faith would produce knowledge in that one thing.

Today, we are asking people who hear our testimony to embrace it.  Even if they desire to believe, we ask them to plant and nourish it.  If our testimony is true, the Spirit will swell within them, the first evidence to bolster their faith.  We are also asking them to lay down their divisions and work together to build up the kingdom of God.  I think that latter part is more meaningful to people who live in the land of Zion, but even more distant ones can do that in spirit.  The promise is that those who nourish this hope and repent will receive an outpouring of the Lord’s righteousness that unites together in Zion’s redemption.

I also realize that as people hear, ponder, and pray about our testimony, the Lord will often provide needed pieces of evidence.  Is this series of emails and interplay one of those divine nudgings?

 

Naturally I felt honored the that Holy Ghost would reveal to Mauricio that much of my blog post was inspired. However, it seemed odd to me that Mauricio was using Google to mistranslate the meaning of my words instead of Mauricio’s gift as a Seer and the use of the Interpreters that he was holding at the time he was reading my blog post.

It was further perplexing to me that Mauricio completely misunderstood what I was saying. My post was actually proving that the sealed portion does not come forth until after more of the unsealed words come forth from those Nephites who have slept in the dust.

This was my response

Bob

That is unusual timing.

As a critical thinker, I would point out to you that prior to my series on Mauricio, I was not getting any views on my blog from Brazil. However, very shortly after the first installment, I began getting as many as 8 to 30 views from Brazil per day.

I realize that those views could be coming from english speaking people in the local LDS ward in Brazil, but I find that unlikely that they would be alerted to an obscure blog like mine so quickly after your involvement.

When I saw those views coming from Brazil I remarked to one of my readers that I suspected that Mauricio and his handlers must understand english better than they are representing, and that they are probably reading what critics are saying so that they can modify their storyline…

Forgive me for being such a skeptic but please understand that I have been studying this topic for a very long time and I see countless problems in the storyline that Mauricio has presented to you.

I think it is wrong to ask people to nourish their desire to believe before they adhere to the counsel of Paul who told us to PROVE all things, and hold fast to that which is good.

The very first thing we need to do is view the claims of Mauricio through the eyes of scripture and the unconditional prophecies about this matter contained therein under the influence of the Holy Ghost.

My main concern right now is……

I wonder if you would permit me to dialogue with you on several of these issues rather than just provide a listing of concerns. In fact there is a prophecy in the book of Mormon I would like to do a little online study with you on if you would be willing.

I really love you and Joseph because you share the same zeal and passion for the redemption of Zion that I do. I believe your heart is pure and that your intentions are good. However I believe the claims of Mauricio are problematic. I think there is still time for you two to….

I need to run and join my wife right now, but would like to discuss this further with you..

Although Mauricio had sent Bob Moore a link to my post thinking that it proved that “..the sealed portion would come in two parts”. Mauricio completely misunderstood what I was saying. My post was pointing out that there needed to be more unsealed words brought forth of those who have slept BEFORE the revelation containing the vision of the Brother of Jared in the sealed portion would come forth!

My post was actually proving that Mauricio’s claims are false!

The sealed portion of the plates reveals everything from the beginning of the world to the end thereof.

People will not be allowed to read the words of that sealed vision until after the last great test and until they first repent!

Here is another snippet from my response to Bob

Right now I will simply provide some bullet point observations and interpretive claims about that prophecy and then allow you to re-read this prophecy that I suspect you have read hundreds of times to see if you can see what I am seeing.

After your response, I will then provide detailed explanations for any interpretive observations that you would disagree with

• The prophecy speaks of three separate and distinct chronological sequences having to do with the unlearned servant and the sealed book
• The first two sequences take place BEFORE the seal portion is translated
• All of those three prophetic sequences are still in the FUTURE. None of them have reference to the initial coming forth of the plates during Joseph Smith’s ministry. This makes a total of four prophetic sequences.
• None of the three sequences of the prophecy has to do with the Martin Harris and Charles Anthon event despite claims to the contrary by many scholars.
• The translation of the sealed portion comes forth AFTER the believing portion of the gentiles repent, not BEFORE.
• To reiterate, the sealed portion does not play a role in converting anyone. It comes forth AFTER the great test has taken place
• The first of the three prophetic sequences is not speaking about the COMMENCEMENT (beginning of the coming forth of the book) it is speaking of the PROCEEDING (continuation of the coming forth of the book that had previously began during the ministry of Joseph Smith Jr. )

Why is the accurate interpretation of this prophecy so important?

Because Mauricio is claiming to be the main unlearned servant that is mentioned in the prophecy and therefore an understanding of this prophecy can help us discern if Mauricio and his claims are congruent with scriptures.

Mauricio has said that he is getting ready to translate a portion of the sealed portion of the plates. It appears as if he is under the false impression that Joseph Smith Jr. has already translated all of the unsealed portion of the plates.

That is a dead giveaway that he is not the true inspired servant of the Lord in my opinion.

 It is way to early for the sealed portion of the plates to begin coming forth.

 First there is going to be a great test of faith that has nothing to do with the unsealing of the revelation contained in the sealed portion.

Also, this prophecy makes it clear that it is the same unlearned servant from the very beginning of the work to the very end of the work.

That verifies the veracity of the common belief that the “Joseph the Seer” prophecy refers to the same choice seer throughout the entire narrative. That exposes that fact that there is no need for a new servant to begin a new work or to continue the work of Joseph Smith Jr. Rather, Joseph Smith Jr. is the servant throughout the entire prophetic narrative in both the “unlearned servant” prophecy and the “Joseph the Seer” prophecy.

As far as I am concerned, Mauricio’s claim that he is getting ready to translate the sealed portion provides the final nail in the coffin for his claims. It is game, set, and match. The game is over for Mauricio. His religious movement is a scam.

Prophetic Interpretive Keys to Understanding the Events About to Take Place

Notwithstanding the fact that Mauricio has either been deceived by a false messenger or has fabricated his story and the plates, his deception continues to be much more believable and credible than than the Denver Snuffer narrative.

Why?

Because Mauricio’s narrative is built around the foundational prophetic event that begins the final work of the Lord and the Marvelous Work and a Wonder.

It has to do with the unlearned servant bringing forth more words from the seed of Lehi who sleep in the dust.

Somehow, Snuffer and countless others who have claimed to be the end times servant of the Lord are oblivious to the fact that the final work begins with the continuation of the words from the record of the Nephites and other ancient records.

Snuffers bizarre storyline and claims are completely out of sync with the prophecies relating to the final restoration in the 3rd Watch.

Creating an End Times Template of the Event

I am so grateful that the claims of Mauricio Berger have been brought to my attention because they caused me to once again visit the end times prophecies about the servant of the Lord that proceeds to bring forth more of God’s word.

During my most recent studies thing have begun to jump out at me that previously remained hidden.

Praise God!

In an upcoming video, I am going to discuss the following observations and associated scriptural evidences regarding the final restoration that incorporates what Isaiah and other prophets refer to as the Marvelous Work.

I realize that the interpretation of prophecy I am going to provide will create huge  indigestion in a lot of people because it will challenge the prevailing paradigm.

We have been taught to view the end time prophecies about the marvelous work  through a very dark and skewed lens. We view these prophecies based on the false traditions of our fathers. We assume that many of these prophetic events have already taken place when in fact they are still future events!

The Lord has poured out upon us a spirit of deep sleep. We live during the time when people think they are enlightened even though we live in a time of hidden darkness.

It is time for the darkness to disperse and for the light to begin to shine forth to prepare the way for God’s work.

We need to begin to prepare our hearts and minds for the return of the true servant of God and the words from the Nephite record he will continue to bring forth.

We should all disregard everything we have ever been taught about these prophecies  and petition the Lord to allow us to read his prophetic words with new eyes.

I am sharing my own personal interpretations below. Nobody should blindly believe my interpretations. I simply provide them to stimulate thought. Everyone needs to study God’s word for themselves and obtain their own understanding from the Holy Spirit :

Observations About the Last Work

1- The final work begins with God’s servant proceeding (continuing) from where he left off to bring forth the word of God from the record of the Nephites. He shall return with the keys of the evangelical priesthood. The scriptures testify of this. Joseph Smith’s patriarchal blessings reveal that he will once again obtain the record of the Nephites and return with the priesthood keys:

The records of past ages and generations, and the histories of ancient days shall he bring forth: even the record of the Nephites shall he again obtain, with all those hid up by Mormon, and others who were righteous, and many others, till he is overwhelmed with knowledge.

No precious thing shall slumber from his possession, for he shall be covered with the most choice of all ages, till his soul shall be satisfied and his heart shall say, Enough, Enough! In his hands shall the Urim and Thummim remain and the holy ministry, and the keys of the evangelical priesthood..

2- The heavens have been sealed from the time the restoration saints rejected the fulness, until the Lord’s servant returns to complete his commission.

3- The heavens have been sealed because the saints of the LDS restoration rejected the fulness of the Gospel and their descendants and converts have believed the lie that the fullness remains on the earth. Because of this transgression God covered the eyes of the seers and placed a the spirit of deep sleep upon all people, both Jew and Gentile. This is the state of darkness we are currently in and will be in when the servant returns and the word begins to come forth again as the final work of restoration resumes.

4- All four of the following end times prophecies speak of the WORD coming forth from the unlearned servant of the Lord IN THE FUTURE. 2nd Nephi 27 does not mention the visit of Martin Harris to Charles Anton.

– The Unlearned Servant and the Words of those that have Slumbered 2nd Nephi 27
– Christ’s Message to the Nephites and the Marred Servant bring forth the Words of those that slumber in the dust to the Gentiles 3rd Nephi
-Joseph the Choice Seer and the Words from the Book … 2nd Nephi 3
-The future Administrations of Joseph and Sidney bringing forth the Word D&C 90

5- The Unlearned Servant Prophecy found in 2nd Nephi 27 reveals that there will be at least three more prophetic chronological segments of the word coming forth that take place in the future BEFORE the sealed portion is translated. None of them have reference to the first ministry of Joseph Smith

6- All four of the prophecies and supporting evidences reveal that the servant of the Lord that brings forth the word is Joseph Smith Jr. and he is the same servant from beginning to end of the prophetic narratives. Nobody is called to finish Joseph’s work.

7- During Joseph’s past ministry he brought forth the words of those that have slumbered that were primarily addressed to the seed of Lehi. In Joseph’s next ministry, he will bring forth the words of those that have slumbered that are primarily addressed to the Gentiles!

8- During Joseph’s future ministry, the seed of Lehi will be restored to the knowledge of their fathers, His covenants with them, and to their lands of inheritance.

9- When the Gentiles of the restoration got their first “blessing” of receiving the fullness, it was BEFORE the Gentile nation had finished scattering God’s people of the seed of Lehi. We are informed that the Gentiles will once again repent and get that blessing again AFTER the gentiles have scattered the Lord’s people

10 “out of weakness he shall be made strong”. During Joseph Smith’s first ministry the Lord referred to him and his associates as the “weak things of the earth”. Joseph was promised that eventually the weak would be made strong. Even mighty and strong. It is apparent from history that Joseph Smith was never made mighty and strong during his first commission. 2nd Nephi 27 reveals that Joseph will begin his second commission as a “weak thing” and will eventually be made strong during his second work.

11- It appears as if last great work does not begin with the return of Gods servants to redeem Zion as detailed in the parable of the redemption of Zion which is documented in Section 101 & 103. That takes place after the unlearned servant brings forth more the unsealed words from the record of the Nephites.

12- Our generation is one of the most learned generations that has ever lived.

The new president of the LDS church will be one of the most highly educated men to ever lead it. We are going to have a very similar test as the generation living during the ministry of Joseph Smith Jr. The Lord’s unlearned servant will begin bringing forth the words of a book. We will not be allowed to see the plates. We will only have the words he brings forth and we will be required to accept or reject the truthfulness of the words he brings forth.

Do you feel prepared for this test?

Those who have treasured up God’s word and who will accept the true authority and ordinances offered, and who will take the Holy Spirit as their guide, will not be deceived.