Tag Archives: Second Coming

The Pathway to One Heart

I would rather submit to the decision of the group than insist that my view be followed. For me, harmony between brethren is more important than getting what I think best to be followed. I believe harmony can lead to much greater things than can merely enforcement of even a correct view. I know how difficult it is to have a correct view, because of how often I have been corrected by the Lord. Sometimes I am humiliated by my foolishness when the Lord reproves me. Humiliation can lead to humility, but my experience is that the humiliation is accompanied by shame, whereas humility can proceed with a clear conscience. My experience with others leads me to conclude that if we can have one heart first, eventually we can likewise come to have one mind. But if we insist on having one mind at the outset, we may never obtain one heart together” (Epigraph from the Restoration Edition of the scriptures).

The word “epigraph” has profound meaning. The fact one has been placed in the beginning of one of the Restoration volumes of scripture is something we should take notice of. As I read its definition, I am both inspired and rebuked by its many implications it has for me personally and for the group at hand aspiring to be of one heart and eventually, one mind.

Defining Epigraph:

An inscription, as on a statue or building.
A motto or quotation, as at the beginning of a literary composition, setting forth a theme.
An inscription cut or impressed on stone, metal, or other permanent material, as distinguished from a writing in manuscript, etc.; specifically, in archaeology, a terse inscription on a building, tomb, monument, or statue, denoting its use or appropriation, and sometimes incorporated in its scheme of ornamentation.
A superscription or title at the beginning of a book, a treatise, or a part of a book.
In lit., a citation from some author, or a sentence framed for the purpose, placed at the commencement of a work or of one of its separate divisions; a motto.
Any inscription set upon a building; especially, one which has to do with the building itself, its founding or dedication.
A citation from some author, or a sentence framed for the purpose, placed at the beginning of a work or of its separate divisions; a motto.
an inscription, especially one on a building etc. (American Heritage Dictionary, my emphasis added).

For a people having been commanded to build a “house,” the definition of this word should carry additional meaning, thus “setting forth a theme” and a “motto” for both the scriptures and for those claiming to believe in them.

Relegating something so important as to have been added to our new canon, to only one event or process, rather than adopting it as the inscription on OUR house, would be, in my view, a mistake. The spirit of this Epigraph, along with the definition from the Lord on “mutual agreement” can and should form the basis of everything we try to accomplish together.

A Theme of the Book of Mormon

Perhaps the most important message from the Book of Mormon is the continual warning to avoid the spirit of contention. That record is a warning, after all, from two civilizations that ended in civil war and ultimately self-destruction.

For the very small group that left with Lehi, it was the attitudes of Laman and Lemuel that formed the basis of arguments eventually used to justify war among nations.

And now it came to pass that I, Nephi, was exceeding sorrowful because of the hardness of their hearts. And now when they saw that I began to be sorrowful, they were glad in their hearts, insomuch that they did rejoice over me, saying, We knew that ye could not construct a ship, for we knew that ye were lacking in judgment; wherefore, thou canst not accomplish so great a work. And thou art like unto our father, led away by the foolish imaginations of his heart. Yea, he hath led us out of the land of Jerusalem, and we have wandered in the wilderness for these many years. And our women have toiled, being big with child; and they have borne children in the wilderness and suffered all things save it were death. And it would have been better that they had died before they came out of Jerusalem than to have suffered these afflictions. Behold, these many years we have suffered in the wilderness, which time we might have enjoyed our possessions and the land of our inheritance; yea, and we might have been happy. And we know that the people who were in the land of Jerusalem were a righteous people, for they keep the statutes and the judgments of the Lord, and all his commandments according to the law of Moses; wherefore, we know that they are a righteous people. And our father hath judged them and hath led us away because we would hearken unto his word; yea, and our brother is like unto him. And after this manner of language did my brethren murmur and complain against us (1 Nephi 5:17 RE).

Untold bloodshed came from this original set of arguments. I can only assume that Laman and Lemuel were at some point sincere and that they believed they were in the right. Surely they believed their arguments were more logical and reasonable than Nephi and Lehi’s who were not relying on any science or “logic” whatsoever in their decisions. A pillar of fire dad, are you serious? That’s why we’re leaving our wealth and our home to go into the wilderness!? I’m sure they felt like victims to the majority when their father and mother and brothers all decided to flee.

Their dispute and their desire for disputing fueled the contention of future generations. We see the same story played out today in Israel from the seed of Ishmael, or you could say “In Palestine from the seed of Isaac.”

Another example from the Book of Mormon that offers us a cautionary tale comes from the story of the Kingmen. Before being known as Kingmen, someone among them came up with the idea that the law should be changed… just slightly. This person’s idea was shared with others. I’m guessing it could have began as a very reasonable argument believed to be inspired by God. (Many people attribute their “good” ideas — or the idea they can’t get out of their mind — as inspired by God). Eventually some portion of the people agreed with the idea and it led to a larger debate. In Alma we find the account:

…For behold, there were a part of the people who desired that a few particular points of the law should be altered. But behold, Parhoron would not alter, nor suffer the law to be altered; therefore, he did not hearken to those who had sent in their voices with their petitions concerning the altering of the law. Therefore, those who were desirous that the law should be altered were angry with him and desired that he should no longer be chief judge over the land. Therefore, there arose a warm dispute concerning the matter, but not unto bloodshed (Alma 23:1 RE, my emphasis added).

The practice used to settle their dispute was the same used by any civilized free group of people — they took a vote to find the voice of the people:

And it came to pass that this matter of their contention was settled by the voice of the people. And it came to pass that the voice of the people came in favor of the Freemen; and Parhoron retained the judgment seat, which caused much rejoicing among the brethren of Parhoron and also among the people of liberty, who also put the Kingmen to silence, that they durst not oppose, but were obliged to maintain the cause of freedom (Alma 23:3 RE, my emphasis added).

By this sad experience we learn that even the smallest amount of contention or debate can eventually lead to terrible, violent outcomes. This was the unfortunate result for Moroni’s countrymen and when the voice of the people was disregarded by the minority Kingmen, all hope for a peaceful resolution to their conflict was gone. The die was now cast. They had destroyed the mechanism to resolve disputes peacefully.

Moroni expresses his lamentation in his epistle to Parhoran, who as you’ll recall was a righteous leader even though Moroni was concerned at the time of this letter to him, that he too had become wicked:

For were it not for the wickedness which first commenced at our head, we could have withstood our enemies, that they could have gained no power over us. Yea, had it not been for the war which broke out among ourselves, yea, were it not for those Kingmen who caused so much bloodshed among ourselves, yea, at the time we were contending among ourselves — if we had united our strength as we hitherto have done, yea, had it not been for the desire of power and authority which those Kingmen had over us, had they been true to the cause of our freedom and united with us, and gone forth against our enemies instead of taking up their swords against us, which was the cause of so much bloodshed among ourselves — yea, if we had gone forth against them in the strength of the Lord, we should have dispersed our enemies, for it would have been done according to the fulfilling of his word. But behold, now the Lamanites are coming upon us and they are murdering our people with the sword, yea, our women and our children, taking possession of our lands, and also carrying them away captive, causing them that they should suffer all manner of afflictions, and this because of the great wickedness of those who are seeking for power and authority, yea, even those Kingmen (Alma 27 RE, my emphasis added).

The brother of Jared is an example from the Book of Mormon of someone emulating the spirit of the Epigraph. Although he knew what establishing a king would eventually lead to, the brother of Jared did not impose his more enlightened view on the majority. A friend of mine recently pointed out that the voice of the people may have only been achieved through a very small majority in this instance, recalling that nearly all the sons of the brother of Jared and of Jared (total of 34 children) turned down the opportunity to be king. Undoubtedly their unwillingness to be king was reflective of their views on the matter. This may have even been a contentious debate, but when the voice of the people spoke, in my view, it would have been more harmful for the brother of Jared and others still opposed, to go about forever contending against the outcome. Which they clearly could have done. And they would have been “right.” But such a combative, unruly spirit establishes an untenable precedent for settling any future debates, where some new dissenting voice clamors and preaches and imposes itself until finally the majority yields, only to make way for the next dissenting voice to mimic those same methods. To what end?

”We Must Do Better”

Disputes of any nature can prevent a group from becoming one heart. For those aspiring to be a part of the last days’ Zion, becoming one heart, we are instructed, is the essential first step to becoming one mind. “If we insist on having one mind at the outset, we may never obtain one heart together.” (Epigraph)

The Lord has rebuked our small group for our contention and for continuing to allow our disputes to keep us from becoming one heart. I’m personally saddened by the role I’ve played, thus causing the Lord himself to feel the need to correct us:

You have sought to recover the scriptures because you hope to obtain the covenant for my protective hand to be over you, but you cannot be Satan and be mine. If you take upon you my covenant, you must abide it as a people to gain what I promise. You think Satan will be bound a thousand years, and it will be so, but do not understand your own duty to bind that spirit within you so that you give no heed to accuse others. It is not enough to say you love God; you must also love your fellow man. Nor is it enough to say you love your fellow man while you, as Satan, divide, contend, and dispute against any person who labors on an errand seeking to do my will. How you proceed must be as noble as the cause you seek. You have become your own adversaries, and you cannot be Satan and also be mine. Repent, therefore, like Peter and end your unkind and untrue accusations against one another, and make peace. How shall there ever come a thousand years of peace if the people who are mine do not love one another? How shall Satan be bound if there are no people of one heart and one mind? (T&C 157:10, my emphasis added).

Is it possible that our contentions will prevent us from being a part of Zion or from creating Zion in this generation? If we think it’s not possible, then we are fools. We can and will fail, if we as a people, are prone to debate. As noble as one may believe a cause to be, and as “patiently” as that cause may be promoted, if that cause leads to debate and seeks to upend a majority decision, then in my view it is not from God. Satan wants us to argue with each other and sews the seeds that disrupt civility. Jesus chose to not dispute even though He could have every day of His life.

A Revelation From God Defining Mutual Agreement

SECTION 174

Answer given to Denver Snuffer Jr., 29 November 2017, in response to a request to understand how the Lord defines “mutual agreement” as used in the Answer to Prayer for Covenant. Sustained as scripture through an online vote 12 May 2019.

As between one another, you choose to not dispute.
When the definition was given, it was accompanied by the realization the Lord could have disputed every day of His life with someone. He deliberately chose to not contend. He was not an argumentative personality.

Mutual agreement simply means WE choose to NOT dispute with one another. For those of us choosing to dispute, how can we justify ourselves when the Lord makes it so clear that it’s a choice we must make. It doesn’t mean that ALL will always agree or that we will ever achieve unanimity. It does mean, to me, that I have the power to not be froward and to not disrupt the harmony among my brethren, no matter how noble I believe my cause to be.

“Dispute” is also an interesting word the Lord chooses to use. It is defined as:

To argue about; debate.
To argue or debate with (someone).
To question the truth or validity of; doubt.

… And He says we must not do it “as between one another.” Sobering and humbling.

Conclusion

What seems to be loud and clear from the Lord and his servant(s) is that we need to “stop our damn squabbling,” and that the Lord has bigger and better things for us to accomplish, if we can learn to be more humble and more meek and more patient and more kind and more precious to one another. Charity, not knowledge, it seems has more to do with the pathway to one heart than any other principle. We can love each other even if we disagree on important ideas and we can live in peace and harmony if we simply choose to not dispute among one another.

The more one contends with others the more he is taken captive by the spirit of contention. Everyone becomes subject to the spirit they submit to follow. Those who are prone to contention become more contentious as they listen to that spirit. Eventually they are overcome by that spirit, and it is a great work involving great effort to subdue and dismiss that spirit from the heart and mind of the victim. There are many who dispute the inspiration others have received. There are two concerns with the decision a good person makes to dispute with others: First, the Lord’s example is to refrain from disputing, as He did. When confronted, He would respond, but He did not go about picking a fight with others. He responded. The only exception was when He went up to Jerusalem to be slain. Then He went into the seat of Jewish power and authority to throw it down and provoke their decision to finally judge, reject, and crucify Him. He, and not they, controlled that timing. His provocation at that time was a deliberate act on His part because His “time had come,” and His sacrifice needed to be made. Second, the Lord has given the Doctrine of Christ in scripture. Just before the Doctrine of Christ, He says what His doctrine is not: Neither shall there be disputations among you concerning the points of my doctrine, as there hath hitherto been. For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the Devil, who is the father of contention; and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another. Behold, this is not my doctrine, to stir up the hearts of men with anger, one against another, but this is my doctrine, that such things should be done away (3 Nephi 5:8). And then He proceeds to declare His doctrine of Christ. The more contention and disputation there is with one another, the better the people become at contention. Rhetorical skills are polished. That spirit of contention can take possession, and when it does, one is hard-pressed to be a peacemaker with others. Christ said: And blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. And blessed are all the pure in heart, for they shall see God. And blessed are all the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God (Matthew 3:10–12). But peace should not be made at the cost of truth. Truth must be the only goal. Truth, however, belongs to God. Desires, appetites, and passions are prone to make people stray well beyond the bounds set by God. Therefore, when pride is gratified, one should question if truth is being advanced. When one’s ambition is served, he should question if he is in the Lord’s employ or his own. When someone insists upon control, one should question if he is like the Lord or, instead, like His adversary. When one uses any means for compelling others, one should wonder if he is mocking the God who makes the sun to shine and rain to fall on all His fallen children without compulsion. When one displays unrighteous dominion, he should question whether he is worthy of any dominion at all. Our tools must be limited to persuasion, gentleness, meekness, love unfeigned, and pure knowledge, with all of them marshaled “without compulsory means” to persuade others to accept the truth. And if we fail to make the persuasive case, then the problem is not others, the problem is that we’ve yet to figure out how to be sufficiently knowledgeable so as to bring them aboard. See also MUTUAL AGREEMENT. (RE Glossary, Contention).

Stand Independent Conference Announcement

This conference in September is one that our family will be attending. This is a very important project underway and I’m grateful for those who are working on it.

Conference 2022

What’s Coming

It’s sobering to contemplate that millions, if not billions of people will die before the Lord comes again. It’s equally sobering to realize that in order to survive the apocalypse, we must be able to discern between true and false prophets. This is what saved the relative few when Jesus came to this continent in 34 AD and it will be what saves those who survive what’s coming here shortly.

I was quite surprised that among all the talks shared at General Conference this last week, not a single “prophet” or church leader warned about the food shortage that is at our doorstep. It doesn’t take prophecy to see what’s happening and a true servant of the Lord would want to warn members… or at least remind them of the warnings of previous “prophets” I would think.

LDS messages today instead seek to flatter and look to not overly offend the world or the Church. They use corporate speak and repeat catch phrases like “positive spiritual momentum, hastening the work, staying on the covenant path, lifting where you stand and blooming where you’re planted, making the Sabbath a delight, lengthening your stride (going way back), and this is how WE hear Him.”

It seems that at every conference there’s either a strange overuse of the president’s most recent catch phrase OR there’s an attempt to create a new one that also sticks. Sister Dibbs (President Monson’s daughter who was a recent General Authority) even suggested her quotable would make a great t-shirt. And thus it was made.

In fact, all quotables that are made by the president along with others that float to the top, are quickly monetized by the Church’s own Deseret Book. Sadly. Elder Devin Durant and his family had already printed the t-shirts and made a website for his “Ponderize” talk, which they apparently hoped would turn his phrase taken from the evangelical world into a little family business. His mistake, ironically, was not trying to sell t-shirts and make money, but rather that he didn’t do so through the proper sales channels of the Church.

We’re on the verge of planetary destruction and today’s Church leaders are focused on t-shirt quotes and airplanes. (Uchdorf talk GC 2022, Not Joking)

For those of us who think we may be discerning correctly, we would do well to look more closely at the message being given. My family is not ready spiritually or temporally for what is coming. We’re working on it, but we’re not there yet. And who can actually “be ready” for something so apocalyptic, unknown, and devastating. It’s overwhelming for me at times. I personally feel the need to refocus my study on the Book of Mormon and on the words of the true prophets, of which there are only two or three in the last 200 years. It’s too late in the game to be focused on anything or anyone else.

It was a good reminder for me this week to read the counsel from the Book of Mormon about what we should be teaching:

And it came to pass that Alma, having authority from God, ordained priests; even one priest to every fifty of their number did he ordain to preach unto them and to teach them concerning the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. And he commanded them that they should teach nothing save it were the things which he had taught and which had been spoken by the mouth of the holy prophets. Yea, even he commanded them that they should preach nothing save it were repentance and faith on the Lord, who had redeemed his people. And he commanded them that there should be no contention one with another, but that they should look forward with one eye, having one faith and one baptism, having their hearts knit together in unity and in love one towards another. And thus he commanded them to preach. And thus they became the children of God. Mosiah 9:9 RE

I was also rebuked by what President and Prophet Hyrum Smith said in T&C 152:

And again, I say unto you, an elder has no business to undertake to preach mysteries in any part of the world, for God has commanded us all to preach nothing but the first principles unto the world. Neither has any elder any authority to preach any mysterious thing to any branch of the church unless he has a direct commandment from God to do so. Let the matter of the grand councils of Heaven, and the making of gods, worlds, and devils entirely alone, for you are not called to teach any such doctrine — for neither you nor the people are capacitated to understand any such principles — less so to teach them. For when God commands men to teach such principles, the saints will receive them. Therefore, beware what you teach! For the mysteries of God are not given to all men; and unto those to whom they are given they are placed under restrictions to impart only such as God will command them, and the residue is to be kept in a faithful breast, otherwise he will be brought under condemnation. By this God will prove his faithful servants, who will be called and numbered with the chosen. And as to the Celestial glory, all will enter in and possess that kingdom that obey the gospel and continue in faith in the Lord unto the end of his days. Now, therefore, I say unto you, you must cease preaching your miraculous things and let the mysteries alone until by and by. Preach faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repentance, and baptism for the remission of sins, the laying on of the hands for the gift of the holy ghost — teaching the necessity of strict obedience unto these principles, reasoning out of the scriptures, proving them unto the people. Cease your schisms, and divisions, and your contentions. Humble yourselves as in dust and ashes, lest God should make you an example of his wrath unto the surrounding world. Amen. In the bonds of the everlasting covenant, I am your obedient servant, Hyrum Smith. (T&C 152:3,4)

Again I feel rebuked, for I have taken these things too lightly and I am not ready. I commend to you in closing the words of such a true messenger that are worth reading, pondering, and heeding. One is from this week and one is from 2012. I am humbled by these words and I want to do better to prepare for what’s coming:

It would be wise to take steps to purchase food in advance of coming inflationary price increases and shortages. We will also be going through another government caused “stagflation” cycle. If you aren’t familiar with that term then you should look up how the era of President Jimmy Carter unfolded to explain how both a stagnant recessionary economy and inflation led to that term being adopted.

The bold, shameless advance of sexual abuse of children in the public schools, and unrelenting killing of the unborn are making this and many other countries ripen in iniquity. It will not go unnoticed by God, but will invoke the promised penalty: This is “the land of promise, which was choice above all other lands, which the Lord God had preserved for a righteous people. And he had sworn in his wrath unto the brother of Jared that whoso should possess this land of promise, from that time henceforth and for ever should serve him, the true and only God, or they should be swept off when the fullness of his wrath should come upon them.” RE Edition Ether 1:6

Instead of instilling honor, integrity, honesty, and courage in children, schools are sexualizing and confusing children with corrupt ideas that result in mental damage. It is perilous and wicked to engage in this foolishness. It mirrors the words of Isaiah: “The show of their countenance does witness against them, and does declare their sin to be even as Sodom; they cannot hide it. Woe unto their souls, for they have rewarded evil unto themselves.” RE Isa 1:8 (Source)

And from 2012:

Jacob makes a startling promise for those who live when the destruction begins preliminary to the cleansing of the world before the Lord returns. He says “none will he destroy that believe in him. And they that believe not in him shall be destroyed, both by fire, quakes, and by bloodsheds, and by pestilence, and by famine.” (2 Ne. 6: 14-15.)

This amazing promise is predicated on “believing in Him.” This requires us to understand what the word “believe” means in the parlance of the Book of Mormon. Those who believe in Him know and accept correct doctrine, or the truth about Him. Those who do not know and will not accept correct doctrine or the truth have dwindled in unbelief. They do not believe in Him. They may have religion, may belong to churches, may be active in all their observances, but they are not in possession of belief in Him. Instead they accept for doctrines the commandments of men, and their hearts are far from Him. They teach false and vain things. As a result they neither enter into the kingdom nor suffer those who are entering to go in. This includes those who, though they are humble followers of Christ, are nevertheless led that in many instances they do err in doctrine. (2 Ne. 28: 14.)

There will be many who are destroyed who will be quite surprised by it. They will complain that they have prophesied in Christ’s name, and in His name cast out devils, and done many wonderful works, but they do not know Christ, and therefore never did believe in Him. (See Matt. 7: 22-24.)

If you are one of those who believe in Him, and who will not dwindle in unbelief, will not accept the commandments of men as doctrine, but will take the Spirit for your guide, then Jacob promises that Christ will not destroy you. The rest He will destroy.

Fire will upset the order of things and make societal collapse inevitable. Men’s self-inflicted woes will not be the only sign of Divine disapproval. The earth will quake to signal God’s disapproval. Interruptions of social order and control will be followed by self-inflicted violence. Bloodshed will be widespread among the survivors. Disease and pestilence will be one of the results of the lack of social order. Air and water will be contaminated. Neglected hygiene will lead to the promised pestilence. As the downward spiral continues, food production and distribution will be inadequate to prevent widespread, global famine. It is as if Jacob could see the sequence of events and gave us the list of how it would unfold, step by step, as the unbelieving are wiped from the earth.

Survival during this bleak time depends on the qualification of “believing in Him.” Suddenly, if you think Jacob knew what he was talking about then our doctrines take on terrible significance. What we believe matters. Not just in the distant after-life, but for the preservation of our present lives. Jacob does make a powerful case for studying the Gospel a good deal more carefully than we can accomplish in a 40 minute class-discussion, with an approved “discussion leader,” using Correlated materials, rather than a teacher declaring and testifying of true doctrine.

I’m pretty sure Jacob would be a very marginalized Mormon, if he were among us today. (Source)

The Star of Bethlehem

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Tonight Jupiter and Venus will almost overlap in the western sky. My understanding is that the last time this took place was 2 B.C. Some say this new “star” was the very same sign given more than 2,000 years ago preceding Jesus’ birth. John Pratt and others more intelligent than myself offer greater insight and detail.

Is this astrological re-occurrence significant? Is this one of the signs that Jesus is coming again, soon? Will we be found looking for the signs in the heavens like those of times past who awaited Him and who were prepared to receive Him? Or will we dismiss the signs, the dates, and the events that are taking place right before our very eyes? From all that I’m reading, I’m inclined to believe that this is a very important event.

Just this year we will have also witnessed four blood moons all landing on Jewish Holy Days separated by a Solar Eclipse. Any year this has happened in recorded history, something very significant has taken place.

We are also witnessing increased social unrest in the world. Good is called evil and evil called good (2 Nephi 15:20). Iniquity abounds and the love of men waxes cold (JST Matthew 1:30).

This month is also Ramadan. A time in which faithful Muslims fast during the daylight hours for 30 consecutive days. Sadly during this holy time, a growing number of radical Islamists are escalating the cry for the destruction of Israel, Christianity, the West, and basically any person or group who disagrees with them. They have no value for life, not even their own. These terrorists also seem to be fulfilling latter day prophecy:

Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, which shall not regard silver and gold, nor shall they delight in it. Their bows shall also dash the young men to pieces; and they shall have no pity on the fruit of the womb; their eyes shall not spare children. (2 Nephi 23:17–18)

I am humbled by both the signs of heaven as well as by the increasing signs of wickedness. I’m reminded that every one of us is a child of God. Each soul is precious and our time to prepare is short. There is no mortal and there is no institution to which we can look to be saved.

The only sure way to be saved is to come unto Him with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, to be literally changed by Him (Psalms 51:17, Psalms 34:18, D&C 59:8, 3 Nephi 9:20, 2 Nephi 2:7, Moroni 6:2, etc.). We are all broken. We all need His healing. May we look heavenward and be found ready to receive the God of Heaven and Earth who comes again.

The Second Coming and Blood Moons

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On September 21, 1823, seventeen year old Joseph Smith received another heavenly messenger. It had been a very difficult three years since his first vision, during which time he suffered:

“…severe persecution at the hands of all classes of men, both religious and irreligious, because I continued to affirm that I had seen a vision…being of very tender years, and persecuted by those who ought to have been my friends and to have treated me kindly, and if they supposed me to be deluded to have endeavored in a proper and affectionate manner to have reclaimed me—I was left to all kinds of temptations; and, mingling with all kinds of society, I frequently fell into many foolish errors, and displayed the weakness of youth, and the foibles of human nature; which, I am sorry to say, led me into divers temptations, offensive in the sight of God.” (JS-H 1:27,28)

Like prophets of scripture, Joseph was experiencing rejection, ridicule, and disappointment from those “even who ought to have been his friends.” The lack of support must’ve left him very discouraged. He surely felt very alone as he approached the Lord on this night of autumnal equinox, although surrounded by his siblings who all shared the same bed in that tiny loft of the Smith residence in upstate New York.

“In consequence of these things, I often felt condemned for my weakness and imperfections; when, on the evening of the above-mentioned twenty-first of September, after I had retired to my bed for the night, I betook myself to prayer and supplication to Almighty God for forgiveness of all my sins and follies, and also for a manifestation to me, that I might know of my state and standing before him; for I had full confidence in obtaining a divine manifestation, as I previously had one.” (JS-H 1:29)

Interestingly, it does not appear from the record that Moroni spends a lot of time consoling Joseph nor does he pull up a chair and listen to his concerns. Moroni is laser focused on the message he has been commanded to deliver to young Joseph.

He called me by name, and said unto me that he was a messenger sent from the presence of God to me, and that his name was Moroni; that God had a work for me to do; and that my name should be had for good and evil among all nations, kindreds, and tongues, or that it should be both good and evil spoken of among all people. (JS-H 1:33)

After then proceeding to tell Joseph about the ancient record Moroni does something I have always found very curious. He begins to quote scripture, word for word, seeming to cut and paste in symphonic fashion from various prophets from various dispensations. Imagine being in the presence of a glorious being sent from the presence of God and with the voice of an angel he begins to speak of the destruction soon to come, as pronounced by incredible prophets such as Isaiah, Joel, Paul and Malachi:

“For behold, the day cometh that shall burn as an oven, and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly shall burn as stubble; for they that come shall burn them, saith the Lord of Hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch...Behold, I will reveal unto you the Priesthood, by the hand of Elijah the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord…And he shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers. If it were not so, the whole earth would be utterly wasted at his coming.” (JS-H 1: 37–39)

In addition to quoting this slightly different version from Malachi, Moroni also:

“…quoted the eleventh chapter of Isaiah, saying that it was about to be fulfilled. He quoted also the third chapter of Acts, twenty-second and twenty-third verses, precisely as they stand in our New Testament. He said that that prophet was Christ; but the day had not yet come when ‘they who would not hear his voice should be cut off from among the people,’ but soon would come. He also quoted the second chapter of Joel, from the twenty-eighth verse to the last. He also said that this was not yet fulfilled, but was soon to be. And he further stated that the fulness of the Gentiles was soon to come in. He quoted many other passages of scripture, and offered many explanations which cannot be mentioned here.”

There are so many amazing things in Joseph’s account worth great study and attention. But in interest of time, I’d like to focus on the words of Joel while keeping in mind that the angel would appear 4 times that night and next morning and repeat the exact same message:

And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call. (Joel 2:28–32)

Why did Moroni come four times? Why not three? Why not five? Why would he then ask Joseph to appear on the same day (the Autumnal Equinox) for the next four years at the Hill Cumorah? What was the significance of the number four, if any?

What is also interesting is that since 1823 there have been many “blood moons” and “solar eclipses.” Assuming this is what is meant by the references to blood and darkness. Does anyone else find it odd that Moroni is quoting prophets from the Old and New Testament saying the time of burning is soon at hand, and oh by the way, it won’t happen before a blood moon and solar eclipse, when such a thing is not very unique?

Unless of course, it’s four blood moons and a solar eclipse. What if Moroni was leaving Joseph a message with the emphasis on the number four?

Many of you are aware that we are living history this year as it pertains to Blood Moons. We are experiencing what is called a Tetrad of Blood Moons. It’s not the first Tetrad we’ve seen since Christ’s first coming. But, all the Tetrads have been during years of great significance for Israel.

So here we have four blood moons, all happening to fall on really important Jewish dates. And as if that weren’t interesting enough, the four moons are separated by a solar eclipse. It’s almost as if Moroni was trying to say, “when these things shall happen four times, while the sun is also darkened, make sure you take notice, because it will be soon after that.”

There is so much more here to study and to see and to ponder. I found an intriguing article written on this topic by a person not of our faith. He speaks of a prophecy by a Rabbi Judah Ben Samuel in 1217 AD. I definitely think it’s worth a read. I’d love to hear your thoughts.

As I read and ponder such things I am reminded that our Lord must soon be coming. It has been nearly 200 years since Joseph’s first vision and since that first visit from Moroni! I often hear people in the church say they “can’t wait until He comes again!” I don’t know that I share that same sentiment.

He and those that come will destroy many of us. Or their glory will at least. I feel the need to repent and to become more prepared before He comes. To be a better husband and father, son and brother. To be more humble, more trusting in Him. I need His grace and seek His fulness.

I know many of you may relate to Joseph in feeling discouraged at this time, by rejection from those who ought to be your friends. God bless you. I know God hears your prayers and will comfort you as you turn to Him.

I leave you with a beautiful version of a song I wish was in our hymn book. Amazing Grace. I have heard it’s not included in the hymnal for doctrinal reasons, although I notice the Mormon Tabernacle Choir has sung it on occasion. Either way, I hope you enjoy it. It really is all about His Amazing Grace.

Produced by David Christenson.