Tag Archives: Last Days

Latter-day Comicon

This past LDS General Conference once again provided members and non-members alike an opportunity to observe the teachings of Church leaders. As always, we are instructed to discern if a teacher and his/her message is from God, or not. If we choose wrongly, we are often captured by false spirits and kept asleep, further lulled and deceived by the philosophies of men mingled with scripture, which by hearkening to, will deceive the very elect in these last days.

Elder Haynie, of the first quorum of the seventy, shared one message in particular worth discussing. It’s important to note that since all General Conference talks are pre-approved by church correlation and are rehearsed at a podium so that all is perfectly timed and scripted, we must conclude that Church leadership was not only aware of what Elder Haynie would teach, but that they also endorsed the message as Church doctrine.

For any disagreeing with this point I would cite you to the example of Elder Poelman in 1984’s October General Conference, who, before the Church adopted the policy of pre-approving all talks, gave a message deemed to be false doctrine. The Brethren made him re-write and re-record it (with a cough track) to correct the error. Ironically, Elder Poelman got the doctrine right the first time when he taught that there is a difference between the church and the gospel.

The main message from Elder Haynie’s talk was that the living prophet is always more important than the dead ones. This is nothing new or shocking for those acquainted with Mormonism. Brigham Young and most Church leaders since, have all become quite comfortable emphasizing how the living oracles are better than the dead ones.

Elder Benson’s talk entitled the Fourteen Fundamentals in Following the Prophet, which was denounced by then President Spencer W. Kimball, has since nonetheless become the established doctrine of the LDS Church. The talk includes the following teachings, many of which which were deemed by Kimball to be false and damnable ideas:

1) The prophet is the only man who speaks for the Lord in everything.

2) The living prophet is more vital to us than the standard works.

3) The living prophet is more important to us than a dead prophet.

4) The prophet will never lead the church astray.

5) The prophet is not required to have any particular earthly training or credentials to speak on any subject or act in any matter in any time.

6) The prophet does not have to say “Thus Saith the Lord” to give us scripture.

7) The prophet tells us what we need to know, not always what we want to know.

8) The prophet is not limited by men’s reasoning.

9) The prophet can receive revelation on any matter — temporal or spiritual.

10) The prophet may be involved in civic matters.

11) The two groups who have the greatest difficulty in following the prophet are the proud who are learned and the proud who are rich.

12) The prophet will not necessarily be popular with the world or the worldly.

13) The prophet and his counselors make up the First Presidency–the highest quorum in the Church.

14) The prophet and the presidency – the living prophet and the First Presidency – follow them and be blessed; reject them and suffer. (Source)

Interestingly, the Church leaders of Jesus’ day were criticized by the Lord for revering the dead prophets (whom their fathers had killed) while rejecting and stoning the living prophets sent among them.

Today the Church has the opposite tradition. It rejects (according to Elder Haynie, Elder Benson, Brigham Young et al.) any and all dead prophets in favor of their living “prophets,” whether they actually be true or not. In other words, they stone the dead prophets and declare any potential living prophet coming among them, who is not the president of the Church, as false.

Ultimately, the problem is the same of course — church leaders of both the former and the latter day churches simply could not and cannot discern true from false messengers and assume that because they carry the titles of prophets, seers, and revelators (Pharisees, Sadducees, Priests), that God has given His power to them and even He cannot now take it away. The Great Jehovah is bound, they proclaim, and must follow their Order.

It begins to feel a lot like John the Baptist “wresting the authority” from the The Church of Jesus Christ of Moses’-day Saints… and they knew it not, because all they knew was that they had authority and they had the keys (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 276).

In his talk, Elder Haynie declares and reiterates the Church’s official position that in fact, “unlike vintage comic books and classic cars, prophetic teachings do not become more valuable with age.” Elder Haynie goes on to say that “we should not seek to use the words of past prophets to dismiss the teachings of the living prophets.”

Now, I realize that Elder Haynie is most likely emphasizing the need for this principle to be especially applied to more modern day church leaders who are known for varying in teachings from one presidency and one church era to the next. For example, if and when the words of Brigham Young seem to no longer be true or applicable, we must defer to Russell Nelson for clarification. For “inspired updates and revelatory adjustments.” In their view, I’m sure, sadly, the same would apply to Joseph Smith and they would choose Russell over Joseph.

But the further implication is that when Isaiah or Moses or Malachi or Nephi or Adam and Moroni (i.e. the Lord) have taught a doctrine in Scripture, it is a) likely less valuable because it is vintage and out of date and b) is never to be used as a standard for truth in place of the words of Russell Marion Nelson, the 97 year old safe and effective prophet.

The pattern set forth by the Lord and employed through the true and holy prophets who are His seed is quite different than what the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has set forth as its doctrine.

We need to decide which of these teachings is true doctrine if we are to survive the coming day of judgment. Again, if we choose wrongly, we will be damned and we will perish.

Here’s the Lord’s Pattern

When the Lord appeared to the young boy Joseph, He quoted Malachi, Isaiah, and Jeremiah when He could have simply said, “Thus saith the Lord unto you this day…” The Lord instead chose to quote vintage and classic prophets from, in some cases, more than 2,000 years prior.

When He walked with His disciples on the road to Emmaus, He opened and expounded the scriptures unto them from the beginning and their hearts burned within them (Read more here about this pattern).

Could you imagine going forward 2,000 years and the Lord appearing unto some obscure soon to be prophet declaring, “Let me now share the parable of the pickle from my servant Elder David Bednar” or “the parable of the proper way to crush plastic water bottles from my beloved servant Allen.” Or “How great are the words of Spencer (not be be confused with Visions of Glory Spencer)…”?

Not likely… the LDS Church of the year 2030 won’t likely share the teachings of Russell Nelson, and so why would the Lord share them in the future?

And so what does this tell us?

The Lord instructed Lehi to send his sons to retrieve the Brass Plates so that they would have the words of very old prophets, likely dating back many centuries to Joseph, who was sold into Egypt in about 1910 B.C., and who was Lehi’s ancestor also with ties to Egypt, hence the likely reason the record was etched using hieroglyphs. And hence the reason that Lehi, who would have studied those records previously, knew “the language” of his fathers. Ultimately the record goes back to the beginning of time, to the Ancient of Days, our parents Adam and Eve. Vintage indeed.

And behold, it is wisdom in God that we should obtain these records that we may preserve unto our children the language of our fathers, and also that we may preserve unto them the words which have been spoken by the mouth of all the holy prophets, which have been delivered unto them by the spirit and power of God since the world began, even down unto this present time. And it came to pass that after this manner of language did I persuade my brethren that they might be faithful in keeping the commandments of God. 1 Ne. 1:12

If living prophets were so important to Lehi, then why not just write new scriptures as they went? Nephi, Jacob, Enos, Alma, Mosiah and all the way up to Moroni, could have just given awesome talks and told cool stories and that could have been their canon. Instead of endlessly quoting Isaiah and the Brass Plates (Zenos, Zenock, etc…) and risking their lives to get the old worn out comic books from Laban’s treasury when they already had their own Liahona and eventually their own seer stones.

On the contrary, we are taught that IF Nephi had not successfully retrieved the record found on the Brass Plates, his new nation would have perished in unbelief just as the people of Zarahemla (the Mulekites) who had brought no records with them, and who had left Jerusalem at about the same time as Lehi. Omni 1:5

The hubris today among us is now beyond the pale. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-days Saints has fully embraced a doctrine that transforms their “prophet” beyond the Holy Scriptures into a deity who need only speak, and his words are true and will override anything the Lord has ever said through anyone else since the beginning of time. They reject the prophets (as needed) from Adam to Abraham to Moses to Lehi to Joseph, in favor of last days’ word salad prophets who at best give lip service to sacred words they do not understand and cannot teach.

There’s at least one quick way to discern whether a prophet is true or false. It’s laid out in the scriptures and it’s the reason Nephi is often frustrated with his brothers and others.

Wherefore hearken, O my people which are of the house of Israel, and give ear unto my words, for because the words of Isaiah are not plain unto you, nevertheless, they are plain unto all those that are filled with the spirit of prophecy. 2 Ne. 11:1

And the Lord follows up with the commandment:

And now behold, I say unto you that ye had ought to search these things. Yea, a commandment I give unto you that ye search these things diligently, for great are the words of Isaiah. For surely he spake as touching all things concerning my people which are of the house of Israel. Therefore, it must needs be that he must speak also to the gentiles. And all things that he spake hath been and shall be, even according to the words which he spake. Therefore, give heed to my words. Write the things which I have told you, and, according to the time and the will of the Father, they shall go forth unto the gentiles. And whosoever will hearken unto my words, and repenteth and is baptized, the same shall be saved. Search the prophets, for many there be that testify of these things. RE 3 Ne. 10:4

And so, if a prophet be true, he will search diligently, teach profoundly, and understand fully, the words of Isaiah (for starters), because he/she has the spirit of prophecy. If a “prophet” cannot prophesy and does not have the spirit of prophecy, then he/she is not and cannot be a prophet. Lest God be a liar and a trifler of souls. Which He is not.

I’ve waited a month or so to post on this to see how this teaching would go over with church members generally. I’m saddened and disappointed that no correction was made by the Church and that no member of the Church even seems slightly bothered by this damnable false doctrine yet again so carelessly preached.

The truth is, vintage prophets ARE akin to comic books, old coins, fine wine, Harley Davidsons and baseball cards — AND their words get better and better with time AND will be vindicated, no matter how old. In fact, their words are better than the aforementioned vintage items and will actually endure forever. Because TRUE prophets speak the words of the Lord, who IS Endless and Eternal.

Vintage Prophets of old saw our day and they wondered why the leaders of the Lord’s once Holy Church have now polluted it and “transfigured the holy word of God.” Morm. 4:5

Jeremiah saw those who would be cursed for putting their trust in man (i.e. church leaders) and who would inhabit a “Salt Land” (aka SLC):

Thus says the Lord: Cursed be the man that trusts in man and makes flesh his arm, and whose heart departs from the Lord. For he shall be like the bush in the desert and shall not see when good comes, but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. Blessed is the man that trusts in the Lord and whose hope the Lord is, for he shall be as a tree planted by the waters and that spreads out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat comes, but her leaf shall be green and shall not be anxious in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. Jer. 6:12

Long ago, the Lord spoke through Isaiah and told him:

Now go, write it before them upon plates and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come, for ever and ever — that this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the Lord, who say to the seers, See not — and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits, get out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us. Wherefore, thus says the Holy One of Israel: Because you despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and rely thereon, therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking comes suddenly, at an instant. And he shall break it as the breaking of the potter’s vessel that is broken in pieces, he shall not spare, so that there shall not be found in the bursting of it a shard to take fire from the hearth, or to take water out of the pit. For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: In returning and rest shall you be saved, in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength, and you would not. But you said, No, for we will flee upon horses — therefore shall you flee. And, We will ride upon the swift — therefore shall they that pursue you be swift. One thousand shall flee at the rebuke of one; at the rebuke of five shall you flee, until you are left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and as an ensign on a hill. Isa. 9:9

…and He told Ezekiel…

And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy and say unto them, Thus says the Lord God unto the shepherds: Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves. Should not the shepherds feed the flocks? You eat the fat and you clothe yourself with the wool. You kill them that are fed, but you feed not the flock. The diseased have you not strengthened, neither have you healed that which was sick, neither have you bound up that which was broken, neither have you brought again that which was driven away, neither have you sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have you ruled them. And they were scattered because there is no shepherd, and they became food to all the beasts of the field when they were scattered. My sheep wandered through all the mountains and upon every high hill, yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them.

Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord. As I live, says the Lord God, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became food to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves and fed not my flock, therefore, O you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves anymore, for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be food for them. Ezek. 17:5,6

Sadly, these words and others like them are never expounded by today’s church leaders in any setting and no one dare ever apply them to ourselves. Instead they write endless autobiographies and they tell endless stories about airplanes and pickles and pigeons and field fires and olympic races and they get weepy in speaking about their missions to Japan–mingled with a scant scripture reference from time to time. But they do not understand nor do they teach nor do they expound the scriptures. Period.

These men today set themselves up as lights to the world and quote themselves endlessly… until they are dead and gone and their teachings are dead and gone with them. Then the next company moves on to the next “prophet” ready to discard everything they once held onto so dearly, and so recently.

Change is the new constant and the new disciple’s reward. Change proves God is speaking through them. Change is what keeps everyone invigorated and engaged.

Ancient, true prophets, however, warned us long ago of a time now fast approaching when we the Lord will put an end to nations and to kingdoms and to our horses and our chariots and to our flocks and husbandmen Jer. 18:14. And to false prophets Jer. 6:3. When our cities will be laid to waste Ezek. 4:5. When we are swept from this continent, because we no longer serve Jesus Christ Eth. 1:7. When anyone not willing to pick up the sword against his neighbor must flee to Zion for safety T&C 31:15.

Their words WILL BE vindicated and so we may want to start searching and pondering them instead of the words of the comical men of our day, who see not and who hear not and who, to their own condemnation, are denied access to the greater things 3 Ne. 12:1.

I for one, must do better. And the Church should be ashamed that members and leaders alike no longer care or notice when such errors are taught as doctrine.

The Destruction of Church and State

The interesting thing about destruction is that those who are “destroyed” are often the last to find out. It’s extremely difficult to recognize such things AS they are happening and there’s usually a delay between the time a nation or institution has fallen and when it’s “swept away” into non-existence.

We can all look back on Nazi Germany and say we would have never been sucked into the propaganda of Hitler, for example, but the truth is, when you’re in it–seeing it for what it is, is really hard to do.

Going against “popular” opinion, even and especially when the opinions are the result of propaganda, usually make one look, sound, and feel crazy. Talk to someone awaiting life saving surgery who is unwilling to get the Covid vaccines or someone on a plane who refuses to put a mask on their special needs child and you’ll see my point.

And so the seeds of destruction are sown while a nation sleeps. Our apathy has allowed the foundations and pillars of our freedoms to be sabotaged and wrecked all in the name of protecting us. “Good is called evil and evil is called good.” “Evil triumphs when good men and women do nothing.” And strangely it all begins to feel very much like Orwell’s 1984.

We see just how hard it is to actually DO something when the forces of evil control everything we think and do. Look at the people from January 6th, rotting in prison, who have not even been given a trial date and in many cases haven’t even been charged. Most of those people, many of whom were patriotic grandparents, tried to save our country from a coup by simply peacefully protesting what they believed was a stolen presidential election. They were in DC to wave the banner of freedom and stand up for America by exercising what used to be called free speech. Now over a year later they languish in jail cells as if they were in the Soviet Union or some third world country.

I suppose we could also talk about what happens to people’s bank accounts and social media profiles and ability to travel on airplanes or eat in restaurants or shop at grocery stores or keep a job when they go against the false narrative… The point is, America has been destroyed from within and many of us still don’t know it or want to believe it.

Of course millions of us and sadly maybe even the majority of us, hope and pray that something will change the tide. Swing the pendulum back. Give us more time. The hopium of elections in 2022 or 2024 to get these tyrants out of office… But to what end? So that Mitt Romney or Lindsey Graham can have more control over our freedoms? Name almost ANY other politician and my question remains the same. To what end? They are seemingly and almost completely ALL corrupted. Or at a minimum rendered useless in a system so deeply compromised, infiltrated, and controlled by secret shadow governments and global power structures in place.

And how is the Church doing at this unprecedented time of national and global crisis? Have they stood up to fight for our freedoms? For free and fair elections? Have they talked much lately about the evils of communism or even socialism? Or abortion? Or forced experimental medical treatments? Or defended our God given rights to speech and assembly?

Who would have ever believed that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints would NOT have written a letter for a soldier in the military, for example, confirming that aborted fetuses being used to make a vaccine goes against his or her religious beliefs?! A soldier who has defended our freedom and who is now trying to keep his job to feed his family… and the Church refuses to defend him? Shameful and unbelievable. Plenty of other churches have offered such support to their congregants, but for whatever reason, our church won’t.

Is the Church any different when it comes to silencing dissenters? They neither defend them nor allow them a voice. They too seek to control narratives and silence dissent. Just ask Richard Harward, the young BYU basketball player who will never play basketball or maybe even be able to run on a treadmill, ever again. Did the Church protect and defend him? His freedom? His right to choose? Have they told his story or LET him tell his own story? Just ask Denver Snuffer, who shared a different more plausible version of Church history, that ironically sought to help people keep faith in the Restoration. Did the Church defend his religious freedom? His agency? Just ask 1000s of others the Church has silenced through excommunication or litigation.

If the Church doesn’t stand up for its God given religious freedoms and protect its own people from government overreach AND won’t let us defend the Church or ourselves either, then what hope can be had that we will be left with any freedom, anywhere eventually? Soon.

What other foundational pillars have we lost in the Church? Can we say that we don’t pay our ministers and that we are not preaching to get gain? Can we say that our preachers are any better or different than those of other churches? Do ours commune with heaven any more or less than anyone else’s? Can we say that the Church is transparent with our finances? Or that lay members have any real voice in the decisions the Church makes with our tithing dollars or with anything? Has the Church completely abandoned the principle of common consent? Of revelation? Of agency? Of life and liberty? Can we say the Church doesn’t support communism when it partners with the UN and supports their 2030 agenda? (If this is news to you, I highly recommend this video presentation).

Can we say that the Church really focuses on the Book of Mormon in its teachings? Or the words of Joseph Smith? Or the Bible for that matter? Or is it more accurate to suggest that the focus is on the words of men? Can we say that the Church is warning people of our loss of liberty? Or really focusing on coming food supply issues and the collapse of world economic markets? Is the Church really preaching or preparing us for Zion?

When, in government and in church, do we pass a point of no return where undoing the damage to such pillars and principles becomes nigh impossible? When the destruction has taken place and is not likely to ever be reversed?

In the Glossary of the Restoration edition of the scriptures it discusses the idea of destruction:

In the vernacular of the Book of Mormon, to destroy did not mean annihilation. It merely meant to end the organized existence of a people or to terminate their government, deprive them of a land, and end their cultural dominance. In the Book of Mormon, a people were destroyed when they lost control over their government and land. Their ability to preserve their own values and choose the way they were governed was taken over by others. Most often it was from a different ethnic group, though not always. Once people were destroyed, they were oppressed and suffered. Often they were oppressed with grievous taxes and had religious liberties removed. Then they faced a choice: either repent, in which case they came through the period of oppression with another chance; or if they were angry and rebellious, they would then be “swept away.” Being destroyed is not at all the same as being “swept away.” It is possible for people to have been destroyed and not even realize it. But when they are “swept away,” they face extinction and cannot help but notice it. (emphasis added).

The most disconcerting thing about all this is that collectively there is likely not much we can do to save our country or our churches. And yet, personally WE must still figure out how to repent, come unto Christ, and protect ourselves and our families as the world around us is being destroyed. Without the protections of government and the spiritual guidance of Church, the opportunity for escape (Salvation), both physical and spiritual, becomes more and more difficult. Especially given that to even embrace truth has become heretical. We can easily see how society could arrive at a place where people are put to death for refusing to worship false gods or to cease to pray to the only true God.

No wonder the Book of Mormon warns us of the great and abominable church that in the Last Days will be the cause of the destruction of so many. Remember, the Book of Mormon was written for those who would read it and when the Lord refers to an abomination, He is referring to “the use of religion to suppress truth or impose a false form of truth. It involves the religious justification of wrongdoing. That is, something becomes abominable when it is motivated out of a false form of religious observance or is justified because of religious error.” See glossary

Is it possible that something that started as the Lord’s true and living Church could actually become the an abomination to Him? That answer is always yes. This scripture is being fulfilled right before our eyes:

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, 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 for ever. They shall be no more brought down into captivity, and the house of Israel shall no more be confounded. And that great pit which hath been digged for them by that great and abominable church — which was founded by the Devil and his children, that he might lead away the souls of men down to hell — yea, that great pit which hath been digged for the destruction of men shall be filled by those who digged it, unto their utter destruction, saith the Lamb of God, not the destruction of the soul, save it be the casting of it into that hell which hath no end. For behold, this is according to the captivity of the Devil, and also according to the justice of God, upon all those who will work wickedness and abomination before him. (1 Nephi 3:25 RE)

Israel

Donald Trump to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital and move US embassy | US news | The Guardian
The Guardian

I love Israel. I love the nation, the land, the history, and generally the people. Sadly, many Jews have come to America and have strayed from their faith. But many have also returned home and found it again. Israel means “wrestles with God.” One thing is certain for me, God has a covenant with Israel and although it may seem impossible, He will honor that covenant.

I grew up in a city with many Jewish people. I also work with many in my current profession. Even my Jewish friends who are not religious at all, like me, seem to believe that Israel is special, that it has a unique and unparalleled place in history, and that there is a Spirit there that is palpable.

I can tell you from my own experience, that the Jews are a persecuted people. They are hated by many people and many nations. It was common for the mostly Jewish high school basketball team in my county, for example, to have bagels thrown at them while shooting free throws and at other times during the game, whether on their home court or on ours. And I mean 100s of them, all at once. Along with cream cheese containers, while screaming racial obscenities. It was the 80s of course, which meant it didn’t even make the news and no one ever got into trouble. We never had such issues erupt at our school when the visiting teams were all black. These amazing Jewish students never retaliated. They were accustomed to such treatment sadly. As for the Jewish kids in our own school, they too were incredibly gracious and forgiving during such occurrences. I’m amazed and ashamed in looking back, at the actions of our student body.

In the 90s I traveled to Lebanon. When I realized how close I was to Israel I decided to go into a travel agency and inquire about the best way to get there. When I inquired, the travel agent became immediately frazzled. She said, “We do not have service to that place.” I pressed, “But it’s so close, how do I get there?” She pushed a button behind the counter and several soldiers walked in with their fingers casually next to the triggers of their automatic weapons. When I told them I wanted to go to Israel, they nicely shushed me and said, “Please we do not speak of the neighbors to the South.” They must have liked me as they were very polite and I assume saw me as a young and naive American. “Can I just walk or take a bus there?” I asked. They chuckled and replied “no” not unless I wanted to get killed by Hezbollah.

I was so astonished that I was literally within a few miles of Israel and not only could I not get there, but I couldn’t even say the word Israel! And this was in a nation that seemed at the time, so incredibly civil, with a huge Christian population. Most of my Lebanese friends were Christian and even many of them naturally disliked Israel, even while “loving” Jesus. Lebanon was at the time a very Western nation (still is in many ways), boasted as the Switzerland of the Middle East because of its international banking and business, coupled with beautiful Mediterranean beaches and its incredible mountains close by.

Sadly I could not get into Israel on that trip. The next time I found myself in the Middle East I was more deliberate. I took a flight from UAE into Jordan (there were no direct flights at the time from UAE into Israel — that was against their laws) and traveled to the border in Amman. We stood in line with an American Christian missionary serving in Syria and he coached us on what to tell the Israeli border patrol. He told us to make sure to ask them nicely to NOT stamp our passports or we may not be able to return to other Middle Eastern nations. If Syria for example, sees that your passport has a stamp showing that you even once traveled to Israel, they will NOT let you in their country. The same for Lebanon and many other Middle Eastern countries.

Just as we were approaching the counter, the border agent quickly stamped the passport of our new Christian friend. The woman did not listen to him or hear him apparently as he asked her not to. The man broke down into tears. He had been serving a mission in Syria for some time and was scheduled to stay much longer and now he was stuck. He could not go back to Syria and would have to go through a lot of trouble in going back to the US, getting a new passport and a new Visa. I was extremely careful after watching what happened to him.

My LDS friend in UAE, whose father was Iraqi and also a converted member of the LDS Church, did not especially like Israel and dared not travel there.

The Book of Mormon warns us gentiles to not hate or curse the Jews:

O ye gentiles, have ye remembered the Jews, mine ancient covenant people? Nay, but ye have cursed them, and have hated them, and have not sought to recover them. But behold, I will return all these things upon your own heads, for I the Lord hath not forgotten my people.

2 Ne. 12:9 RE Scriptures

Those who have and believe in the Book of Mormon, of all people, should not despise the Jews but should seek rather to recover them.

As I spent a couple of days in Israel, I was overcome with the spirit I felt there. The water in the River Jordan spoke to me. The garden of Gethsemane was overwhelming. The Via Dolorosa. The amazing Old City. The Dead Sea. Somehow in my heart, I knew that the most important history of the world had its foundations there. I felt a strangely deep connection as if I had been there before.

One night we followed a rush of people heading somewhere in the Old City. They seemed to be running late. I saw Orthodox Jews with their young sons. It seemed to be a men-only meeting they were hastening to. Curious, I followed. It led me through a metal detector and into a well lit open-air place. It was the famous Wailing Wall. Hundreds of men, brothers it seemed, gathered to commemorate the day Moses came down from the mountain with the Law. Being in awe and naive, I was filming the whole thing. Then a man approached me with a kind smile on his face who said, “Shalom my brother.” I replied, “Hello!” He then, with all the kindness and meekness in the world, informed me that they don’t generally allow filming or pictures. His gentle rebuke was in no way unkind or awkward. As I put my camera away, he was kind to visit with me and ask me where I was from. He also took the time to tell me why all these men (brothers) were gathered. I marveled as I looked at all these men fellowshipping together. The feeling was very reverential but also celebratory and excited. People seemed to be delighted to see each other and to visit with one another. I had never felt or seen such a brotherhood in my life. It spoke to me. There was a power there. As an active LDS person, I was very humbled by this experience. It was clear to me that these people had something I didn’t. Or at least, they too had something that was sacred and unique, which I had not before supposed possible.

Thousands pray for forgiveness (Selichot) at the Western Wall in the Old City of Jerusalem on September 16, 2018. (Noam Revkin Fenton/Flash90)
The Times of Israel

As the day of the Lord approaches, I think we will see more Jews convert to Christianity. I hope we do. I’ve been enjoying listening to one of my favorite songs sung in Hebrew by a Messianic Jew named Joshua Aaron. It’s truly inspiring. I include it here and hope you love it as much as I do.

The words of this song are found in the Old Testament and are words that have been sung by faithful Israelites for hundreds of years.

May God bless Israel. May we be counted worthy to be counted among them. I worry that the Lord’s words will be fulfilled that all these things will be returned upon our own heads, for I the Lord hath not forgotten my people. What does that mean? Here’s a related scripture that is worth pondering.

Behold, I say unto you that the house of Israel was compared unto an olive tree by the spirit of the Lord which was in our father. And behold, are we not broken off from the house of Israel? And are we not a branch of the house of Israel? And now the thing which our father meaneth concerning the grafting in of the natural branches through the fullness of the gentiles is that in the latter days, when our seed shall have dwindled in unbelief — yea, for the space of many years and many generations after the Messiah shall be manifested in body unto the children of men — then shall the fullness of the gospel of the Messiah come unto the gentiles, and from the gentiles unto the remnant of our seed. And at that day shall the remnant of our seed know that they are of the house of Israel and that they are the covenant people of the Lord. And then shall they know and come to the knowledge of their forefathers, and also to the knowledge of the gospel of their Redeemer, which was ministered unto their fathers by him. Wherefore, they shall come to the knowledge of their Redeemer and the very points of his doctrine, that they may know how to come unto him and be saved. And then at that day, will they not rejoice and give praise unto their everlasting God, their rock, and their salvation? Yea, at that day, will they not receive strength and nourishment from the true vine? Yea, will they not come unto the true fold of God? Behold, I say unto you, yea, they shall be numbered again among the house of Israel; they shall be grafted in, being a natural branch of the olive tree, into the true olive tree; and this is what our father meaneth. And he meaneth that it will not come to pass until after they are scattered by the gentiles. And he meaneth that it shall come by way of the gentiles, that the Lord may shew his power unto the gentiles for the very cause that he shall be rejected of the Jews, or of the house of Israel. Wherefore, our father hath not spoken of our seed alone, but also of all the house of Israel, pointing to the covenant which should be fulfilled in the latter days, which covenant the Lord made to our father Abraham, saying, In thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.

1 Ne. 4:3 RE Scriptures

What does it mean that “it shall come by way of the gentiles, that the Lord may shew his power unto the gentiles, for the very cause that he shall be rejected of the Jews?” Is it possible that it means that because we the gentiles (including if not directly referring to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and all Mormon denominations and all American and non-American Christian gentile people and nations) have rejected the Fulness of the Gospel (or are rejecting it), God will then show us by His power, that we, just like the Jews did, shall also stumble, look past the mark, and be cursed, for our unbelief? Thus having all these things returned upon our heads because we have forgotten God’s covenant with Israel and have mocked His people rather than seeking to recover them?

Can we say we have NOT rejected the Fulness of the Gospel? Can we say we are better than the Jews who have not yet come unto Christ? What is this fulness anyway?

Now, this, Moses plainly taught to the children of Israel in the wilderness, and sought diligently to sanctify his people that they might behold the face of God, but they hardened their hearts and could not endure his presence. Therefore, the Lord, in his wrath (for his anger was kindled against them) swore that they should not enter into his rest — which rest is the fullness of his glory — while in the wilderness. Therefore, he took Moses out of their midst, and the Holy Priesthood also. And the lesser priesthood continued, which priesthood holds the key of the ministering of angels, and the preparatory gospel, which gospel is the gospel of repentance, and of baptism, and the remission of sins, and the law of carnal commandments, which the Lord in his wrath caused to continue with the house of Aaron, among the children of Israel, until John, whom God raised up, being filled with the holy ghost from his mother’s womb. For he was baptized while he was yet in his childhood, and was ordained by the angel of God at the time he was eight days old unto this power: to overthrow the kingdom of the Jews, and to make straight the way of the Lord before the face of his people, to prepare them for the coming of the Lord, in whose hand is given all power.

T&C 82:13 RE Scriptures, emphasis added

Could it not also be said that Joseph, like Moses, also sought to sanctify his people that they might behold the face of God? Is it possible that the early saints hardened their hearts and thus could not endure His presence? Whatever one chooses to believe, the result of whatever the early Nauvoo saints received or did, was Joseph and Hyrum being taken from their midst.

The only way to demonstrate that we have received His Fullness and are thus redeemed by Him, is to do as the Lord proclaims in the Book of Ether:

And when he had said these words, behold, the Lord shewed himself unto him and said, Because thou knowest these things, ye are redeemed from the Fall. Therefore, ye are brought back into my presence; therefore I shew myself unto you. Behold, I am he who was prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem my people. Behold, I am Jesus Christ. I am the Father and the Son. In me shall all mankind have life; and that eternally, even they who shall believe on my name. And they shall become my sons and my daughters. And to none of those now living whom I created have I appeared, for none have believed in me as thou hast. Seest thou that ye are created after mine own image? Yea, even all men were created in the beginning after mine own image. Behold, this body which ye now behold is the body of my spirit. And man have I created after the body of my spirit. And even as I appear unto thee to be in the spirit will I appear unto my people in the flesh.

Eth. 1:13 RE Scriptures, emphasis added

We don’t speak much anymore of this kind of thing. In fact, sadly some of today’s Church leaders warn against teaching this doctrine of Calling and Election or “Redemption” calling it a trick of the devil. Yet, for Joseph, like for Moses, this teaching was the very purpose of the Gospel being restored:

“After a person has faith in Christ, repents of his sins, is baptized for the remission of his sins, and receives the Holy Ghost (by the laying on of hands), which is the first Comforter, then let him continue to humble himself before God, hungering and thirsting after righteousness and living by every word of God. The Lord will soon say unto him, ‘Son, thou shalt be exalted.’ When the Lord has thoroughly proved him and finds that the man is determined to serve him at all hazards, then the man will find his calling and election made sure, then it will be his privilege to receive the other Comforter, which the Lord hath promised the Saints, as is recorded in the testimony of St. John [KJV], in the 14th chapter, from the 12th to the 27th verses” (TPJS, 150; WJS, 5; see John 9:7–9). “I’ve not said much about Calling and Election. I think focusing on that topic is a mistake. It will take care of itself if you can get the Second Comforter.”1 Joseph Smith said: “1st key: Knowledge is the power of salvation. 2nd key: Make your calling and election sure. 3rd key: It is one thing to be on the mount and hear the excellent voice, etc., and another to hear the voice declare to you, You have a part and lot in that kingdom.”2 Nephi speaks again with the Father’s words: Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life (2 Nephi 13:4). This is the purpose of receiving the Second Comforter. Christ’s objective, as a tutor, is to bring His followers to the Father. It is the voice of the Father which finally declares to His children they are assured Eternal life.3 When the Lord promises a blessing, it is always tied to faithfulness and obedience.4 Even when promises are unconditional, such as in having one’s calling and election made sure, years of faithfulness precede the promise. The promise is premised on the continuation of faithfulness. And no one is relieved of the necessity of enduring to the end, even when their calling and election is made sure.5 The highest form of acceptance and redemption is to have one’s calling and election made sure, to be washed and cleansed from sin every whit.6

http://scriptures.info/scriptures/tc/glossary/calling-and-election

I believe and I testify that we become Israel after we wrestle with God and work out our salvation through the merits of Christ. We will know we are His when He shows Himself unto us and says “Son (or daughter), thou shalt be exalted.” We then are redeemed from the Fall and have accepted the Fulness of His Gospel. Until then, we are damned and are stuck here in this Telestial Kingdom, worlds without number.

The miracle of the recent treaties between certain Middle Eastern countries and Israel is both unbelievable and a sign that God is moving His Hand upon Israel. He always keeps His Promises.