Stray Ordinances

Doctrine & Covenants 1: 12-17

12 Prepare ye, prepare ye for that which is to come, for the Lord is nigh; 

The Lord is nigh, we better prepare. Prepare for what exactly? Why will preparation  be necessary for that which is to come, even The Lord? 

13 And the anger of the Lord is kindled, and his sword is bathed in heaven, and it shall fall upon the inhabitants of the earth. 

Why is the anger of The Lord kindled? Is His "anger" related to Him being "nigh" and us not beholding Him? Why would a loving God's anger be kindled just because He is nigh and we refuse to enter into His Presence? Why would I need to enter His Presence? (See Ether 3:13). I'm not feeling comfortable with this "angry" God. I am getting a dark feeling from these words given us in D&C. 

14 And the arm of the Lord shall be revealed; 

The Arm of The Lord SHALL be revealed. His anger is kindled because of this predicament. He SHALL reveal His Arm, and the only way for mankind to survive that revealing of His Arm is to have already beheld Him, in the flesh, while He was simply "nigh".  But we would not!

14 (continued:) and the day cometh that they who will not hear the voice of the Lord, neither the voice of his servants, neither give heed to the words of the prophets and apostles, shall be cut off from among the people; 

More clarity: we must hear His Voice. Either directly from Him to us, or from His servants, and then to give heed to those Voices. Heed meaning we actually act, and do what God and His servants tell us to do. 

Who are the "prophets"? Who are the "servants"? Who are the "Apostles"? Is anyone with a title of Prophet, Apostle or servant automatically who I must give heed to? Are there going to be false prophets or false apostles? If so, how do I know the difference between a true prophet and a false one? 

One test the scriptures give is,

  "By their fruits ye shall know them," Mathew 7:15-16. 

So if thats the test, then the question is,  what are "fruits? Fruits could be identified as "good people" or "good behavior". We can look about us and see if people are behaving in a "good fruit" kind of way. But as we all know, we can be deceived by appearances. We all have experienced the seemingly wonderful person who appeared to have good fruit then commit heinous acts. So there must be another way to understand "fruit".  I mean Joel Osteen doesn't have poop all over him does he?   (Bad Monty Python humor aside). He looks like a guy I could get behind. So we need to know what the fruit is, by which we must judge the matter correctly.  

If the fruit is more than mere appearances, does this passage in D&C itself identify the "fruit" we should use to determine the matter correctly? The next verse gives us a hint of what bad fruit looks like:

15 For they have strayed from mine ordinances, and have broken mine everlasting covenant; 

Does this identify the fruit? If ordinances being changed is "fruit", can we determine if changes to ordinances are a fact or not? It's interesting that we are given a charge to follow God and or His servants, prophets and apostles, and the next verse speaks of changed ordinances! It's almost as if God could see us, the LDS church and how badly we have changed and mangled the ordinances. 

If we do not use changing the ordinances as the "fruit," would false use of titles, signs, phrases and mirror images of the real thing still possibly deceive even the very elect without a proper and correct understanding of fruit? In other words, if we judge fruit as only behavior we may find ourselves part of a vain, false body of "chosen" people who are being deceived and led astray. 

If we use the measuring stick embedded in Christ's words to Joseph as our guide, we can easily and clearly see if the "prophets" and "apostles" and servants we are giving heed to are the real thing. 

Here is a list of three things the LDS church has changed since Joseph died. 

1. Baptism. Up until the early 1900's we performed baptisms for healing and repentance in the Temples. We no longer are allowed by those holding the keys to the temple to do this. We also no longer follow the doctrine of Christ which establishes how to determine whether to baptize someone or not. If we deny baptism based on tithe paying or swearing fealty to men have we changed the ordinance?

2. Sacrament. Up until Heber J. Grant (and coincidentally during a time of prohibition on alcohol  by our government, which brings up questions on who is in fact making these decisions, the "prophet" or the government?) we used wine for the sacrament. We also took it two times on Sundays, where now we only take it once. We reject Christ's own doctrine and His very words given us in the truest book on earth as outlined in both 2 Nephi 31-32, and 3 Nephi. 

3. Temple ordinances. In 1990 the leadership removed portions of the endowment and changed the ordinance drastically. They did not claim revelation on the matter, rather they explained that they had the keys to make the changes, so they did so. In 1994 more changes were made. 

I give no judgement on these changes, other than to point them out. I sustain the 15 men, and I am a member of the LDS church in good standing. I am not challenging their right to make all these changes. I am simply pointing out that changes to our core ordinances have in fact occurred. Therefore, IF, the fruit to measure a true prophet or apostle is based on whether ordinances have been changed (which is how to judge it according to Christ in this passage), then the everlasting covenant has been broken. 

The next verse also gives some clues to the fruit of true vs. false prophets:

16 They seek not the Lord to establish his righteousness, but every man walketh in his own way, and after the image of his own god, whose image is in the likeness of the world, and whose substance is that of an idol, which waxeth old and shall perish in Babylon, even Babylon the great, which shall fall. 

So if "they seek not The Lord" is bad fruit, what does "seek not The Lord" mean? Does it have anything to do with not "establishing His Righteousness"? And "every man walking in his own way"?

1. Seek not The Lord to establish His Righteousness. 

Go back to verse 12. Prepare ye for God is nigh. Receive Him now in this life, or when He comes, and He is coming, and if you do not, then His anger is kindled because ye have ever abused His laws. The Lord wants to establish His Righteousness in you. If you comprehend that, then you know some of what God is trying to bring about in your person, so that you can abide the day of His coming when He comes again with Vengeance and Fury to burn the wicked. Seek The Lord with the intention of letting God establish HIS Righteousness in you, rather than you trying to cram God into your tiny New Testament image of God. 

2. Every man Walketh in his own way, after the image of his own God, whose image is in the likeness of the world. 

Does "Walketh in his own way" mean not following another man? Or does it mean to not follow Christ?  Can I be following other men and still be walking in my own way after the image of a God, my God, whose image is in the likeness of the world? Is our view of who God is more mainstream Christian now than it was in Joseph's day? Have we changed the basic knowledge and understanding of who God is to fit into and be more like other Christians? Have we distanced ourselves from Joseph's teachings which God vouched for, such as scripture we have removed from our canon, the Lectures on Faith? What is our treatment of the King Follet Sermon? Have we changed basic principles of Gods nature to be popular and more accepted by other Christians? Are we breaking into pieces Babylon or is Babylon breaking us into pieces by our renouncing of our core doctrines? 

President Hinckley denounced the King Follet Sermon as an antiquated "couplet" that "is hardly taught anymore". A committee removed the Lectures on Faith on the 1920's from our scriptures. The Lectures on Faith is described in the Joseph Smith Papers by Joseph Smith, as the "doctrine" of the Doctrine and Covenants. It was voted in as scripture in 1835 by every priesthood body and the general membership. The committee said, "it was not meant as scripture" and took it out. We are left with The book of Covenants, although we pretend we still have the Doctrine and Covenants. We keep the name you see, and that helps us in our apostate status before God to not notice how very far off from the faith Joseph gave us we really are. 

Continuing with D&C:

17 Wherefore, I the Lord, knowing the calamity which should come upon the inhabitants of the earth, called upon my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., and spake unto him from heaven, and gave him commandments;  (D&C 1)

What exactly is the "calamity" which should come upon us? What is the topic of this entire passage? That's right! It is to behold the face of God! The calamity is us, mankind, the LDS church included, not entering the Presence of God and being redeemed from the fall. And that redemption does not come from participating in a temple re-enactment or play. It comes in the only way it ever came or comes. That is, as Mohonri is taught in Ether 3, by Christ Himself. 

13 "behold, the Lord showed 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 show myself unto you. 

14 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. (Book of Mormon, Ether, Ether 3)

Jesus Christ was prepared from the foundation of the world to bring us each back into his Presence and redeem us from the fall. This is the way. It is the only way. The temple points to this, but is not it. To believe on His name and become His sons and daughters requires us to do as Mohonri, Adam, and his sons,  Moses, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph of Egypt, Lehi, Nephi, Jacob, Joseph, Enos, King Benjamin, Abinadi, Alma and Alma, Ammon, Aaron & buds, Captain Moroni, brothers Nephi and Lehi, Nephi at Christ's coming, Mormon, Moroni, Ether (and a whole bunch of dudes in Ethers book), and Joseph Smith have all done. That is, enter into His Presence and be redeemed from the fall. This life is the time to prepare to meet God! If you wait to experience this until after death it is everlastingly too late ( at least in this round) and you will desire the rocks to fall upon you and hide you from Gods Presence. 

Prepare ye, prepare ye! For The Lord is nigh, even at the doors! Will ye not open up to Him? Come ye out from the world and the vain and foolish worship of your fathers! Let Him kindle a fire in you, now, on the earth, while ye are yet in the flesh, so that He will not kindle a flame upon you at His coming which will burn you up, root and branch! For the Arm of The Lord is revealed, and those who will not hear My Voice in the words of My servant will not abide the day. For the least of them is now among you, and ye know it not, and if ye will hearken unto My Voice,  you will hearken unto his words. For his words are My words Thus saith The Lord God Almighty! Prepare ye the Kingdom, that I may come and dwell inside those who will have Me to be their God! Hear ye the Counsel of The Lord! Flee, Flee from the great harlot who sitteth  upon the waters that My people may not drink of the waters of Life freely! The day of Salvation is here. I AM Come. 

Something afoot

There is something afoot!

18 And behold, I say unto you, this is not all. For O how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that is the founder of peace, yea, even the Lord, who has redeemed his people; yea, him who has granted salvation unto his people; (Book of Mormon, Mosiah, Mosiah 15)

"now we find ourselves here, in this cycle of creation, and once again the game’s AFOOT. Once again we are left to choose between good and evil. Once again we are asked to exercise great faith and to rise up. We are once again in a position in which it is possible to qualify here and now for what will come after. You have the opportunity before you today. Choose good.

At this moment you have the opportunity to exercise exceeding faith. Choose faith.

You have the opportunity at this moment, in this dark place where we presently reside, to be identified by your good works, to become proven to God. Then, for the next cycle of creation, His foreknowledge of you will include the record of your exceeding faith and good works from here.

Do not think this is a peculiar doctrine. This is part of the Gospel and set out in the scriptures. Creation is cyclical.

"And thus they have been called to this holy calling on account of their faith, while others would reject the Spirit of God on account of the hardness of their hearts and blindness of their minds, while, if it had not been for this they might have had as great privilege as their brethren." 

Don't have a hard heart. Don't be blinded by the lies, the half-truths, and the incomplete things that you are taught by those who are trifling with your souls. You may disagree with me, and you are entitled to do so, but God cares about your salvation and offers it to you. But you must rise up to become like Him, and we have no time to idle away with foolish cares. We have no time to waste participating in false, vain and foolish religion." 

O how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that is the founder of peace, yea, even the Lord, who has redeemed his people; yea, him who has granted salvation unto his people!!

If you are not aware of the work God is doing right now in December 2014 upon the earth, you should look around you. Look to The Lord who is mighty to save. 

"[F]or ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people." (2 Cor. 6: 16.) 

"I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God; wherefore, gird up your loins and I will suddenly come to my temple." (D&C 36: 8; see also D&C 133: 2-3, 3 Ne. 24: 1.)

How does one get redemption from the fall? Is it by girding up our loins (becoming pure in heart) and then He, God will come to your temple? Is that even possible? Required? Isn't going to the temple enough? Aren't we guaranteed redemption from men? Hasn't God given His Power to men? We do not need to see Christ do we?

"Because thou knowest these things ye are redeemed from the fall; therefore ye are brought back into my presence; therefore I show myself unto you. (Book of Mormon, Ether 3)

 Behold, the Christ!

Christ's Church

"My Church"

Who or what is "the Church?"

D&C 10 says this on the question:

53 And for this cause have I said: If this generation harden not their hearts, I will establish my church among them. 

The Lord is making an "if-then" statement here. It is not automatic. Something is required to have Christ's church established among us. Something other than being baptized or joining. That something is to "harden not their hearts". If we desire to belong to His church we must know what The Lord means when He says to "harden not our hearts.  So what does it mean to "harden not" your heart?

54 Now I do not say this to destroy my church, but I say this to build up my church; 

55 Therefore, whosoever belongeth to my church need not fear, for such shall inherit the kingdom of heaven. 

Don't fear this "if-then" statement. "It's ok", I can almost The Lord say! If you really do belong to "My church", says The Lord, you don't need to be afraid. For those who really do belong to His church, will at some future point, inherent the Kingdom of Heaven. 

Here is some clarity spoken by The Lord: His Church and His Kingdom are not the same thing. Those who conflate the two are trying to keep you from attaining His kingdom, which is the purpose of His church. The one leads to the other. The church is the "means", and the Kingdom is the "ends". To conflate the two is to believe you've already attained something you haven't, and leads to an "all is well in Zion" mentality, which damns any who believe it. You cannot get off your rear-end and move yourself to where you need to be if you already believe you have arrived at your goal. You must first awaken to the reality that you need to enter into another place of residence: the Kingdom of Heaven! And Christ's church is designed to help us inherent Christ's Kingdom. 

56 But it is they who do not fear me, neither keep my commandments but build up churches unto themselves to get gain, yea, and all those that do wickedly and build up the kingdom of the devil—yea, verily, verily, I say unto you, that it is they that I will disturb, and cause to tremble and shake to the center. 

Here is more clarity! Who is it that should fear?? Yes, those who break His commandments! What commandments? Here told by Christ, that those who are "building up churches unto themselves to get gain", need fear. 

So far we have those NOT OF his church:

1.  "harden their hearts"

2. Fear not Christ 

3.  Keep not His commandments

4. What Commandments? 

Don't build up churches for our own gain

If you do the above you are:

1. wicked

2. Building up the kingdom of the devil

God will disturb, cause to tremble and shake to the center these. 

We also have those of His church:

1. God will establish His church to this who harden not their hearts

2. If we belong to His church we need not fear

3. We need not fear because His church will inherit His Kingdom

 Who benefits from the LDS church's business holdings? Who receives a "modest stipend" and free designer clothing, and access to the largest car fleet in the U.S.? What families "gains" from the "church's" businesses? Does the fact that the church could have built 150 temples with the money they used for City Creek Mall benefit the members or a few elite and select few leaders along with their family and friends? The LDS church's leadership is among the highest paid clergy in the world. 

Interesting... Fear and tremble if you benefit from your church, or if you get "gain" from your church? Getting gain, by this definition of Christ's, are those that "harden their hearts". 

Hardening of the heart and fearing not The Lord, and keeping not His commandments does NOT refer to disobeying your leaders, (according to Christ) rather it is referring to those who gain or profit or make a living off a church, and that church which delivers gain to its leaders, can only ever be, and always has been and ever will be, the Devil's church. 

Don't be upset with me.  Here we have Christ's definition of "harden not their hearts." If this upsets you think about who is speaking in this scripture. It's His definition. Be careful whose words you condemn. The next verse He claims the words as His. 

57 Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I came unto mine own, and mine own received me not. 

58 I am the light which shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not. 

59 I am he who said—Other sheep have I which are not of this fold—unto my disciples, and many there were that understood me not. 

60 And I will show unto this people that I had other sheep, and that they were a branch of the house of Jacob; 

61 And I will bring to light their marvelous works, which they did in my name; 

--These are Christ's Words. 

--It's His light which the wicked do not comprehend. 

--Christ has "other sheep" outside the hierarchy of whatever institutions which have ever been built up by men as "a church unto themselves for gain". From the Jews to the Catholics to the Mormons, the history is the same, and God ALWAYS has "other sheep" prepared, and

--These sheep will do Marvelous "Works". If you know what this means you will recognize these "other sheep" when they come among you. For they will perform and will manifest the very Powers of Godliness rather than just imitating a form of it. These "other sheep" are a branch of the House of Jacob because they come from The Lord bearing His message, and performing His works, and by the performance of their righteous works they become the house of God, the house of El. 

62 Yea, and I will also bring to light my gospel which was ministered unto them, and, behold, they shall not deny that which you have received, but they shall build it up, and shall bring to light the true points of my doctrine, yea, and the only doctrine which is in me. 

Who is going to do this? Is it some church or organization? Is it Christ Himself? Who is Christ bringing to light His gospel to? Is it the "other sheep" of which He spoke?

Why and what shall these other sheep "not deny", that those given this revelation do deny? Yes, they (His other sheep) will NOT deny "that which you have received", or in other words, they won't deny the "true points of [Christ's] doctrine" as this group being addressed in D&C 10 (the LDS today) has denied or will deny in our day. Only those in possession of D&C 10 would qualify as having "received" and then "denying" these points of His true doctrine. This refusal to receive is prophesied of us, the church, by Christ Himself! A new group of "other sheep" will not deny the true points of His doctrine and will thereby lay hold upon the blessings offered and promised. 

63 And this I do that I may establish my gospel, that there may not be so much contention; yea, Satan doth stir up the hearts of the people to contention concerning the points of my doctrine; and in these things they do err, for they do wrest the scriptures and do not understand them. 

God is doing this all to establish His gospel so that there won't be so much contention. 

Contention... The Lord doesn't like it. What does it mean? Arguing? Fighting? Or does it mean what The Lord means here? The Lord is saying that contention is fighting against "the light which shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not."  Contention is when we fight against Gods truth and light, when we err in the true points of His doctrine, wresting the scriptures in that we don't understand them. Contention is not whether we disagree or even argue about things. Contention is a refusal to accept Christ's true points of doctrine the way He ordains it compared to the way men offer it. 

64 Therefore, I will unfold unto them this great mystery; 

65 For, behold, I will gather them as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, if they will not harden their hearts; 

Here is a mystery!? Why is the idea of God gathering "them" (His other sheep) a mystery?? What is so mysterious about that? Is it a mystery because we have wrested the scriptures to support our vain, foolish, "trust in the arm of flesh" (prophet can't lead you astray), all is well in Zion doctrine? We will see why this is "mysterious" to those who ascribe to such nonsense. 

God can and will always do His work, which is, to gather another group (other sheep) as long as they don't harden their hearts! (Seek to get gain from a church). How beautiful! How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of Him who publisheth Peace!! The "chosen" people always think their chosen status means God cannot and will not ever gather "other sheep"! So this becomes a mystery precisely because the "chosen", look beyond the mark and are blind to Gods work, which is laid out in plainness right before them. They ignore the truth while they toil away in the devils kingdom all the while claiming keys and royal priesthood and lineage (imagined or literal) will save them. It didn't save the Jews, it didn't save the children of Israel, it didn't save Laman and Lemuel, or any of the other "firstborn", older sons who lost their birthright because they didn't think God ever could or would gather "other sheep" or pass the birthright on to others! 

66 Yea, if they will come, they may come, and partake of the waters of life freely. 

Any people, anytime God decides to do so, can partake of the waters of life freely!  The "waters of life" are here referring to the waters of baptism! How do we know this? We will see below. 

67 Behold, this is my doctrine—whosoever repenteth and cometh unto me, the same is my church. 

68 Whosoever declareth more or less than this, the same is not of me, but is against me; therefore he is not of my church. 

Here is the definition of "My (Christ's) church": "repent and come unto Christ".  That's it. No swearing fealty to an organization or it's president, no requirement to pay tithes. It's free! Do you believe in Christ, and have you repented? You're in!!

38 And again I say unto you, ye must repent, and be baptized in my name, and become as a little child, or ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God. 

39 Verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my doctrine, and whoso buildeth upon this buildeth upon my rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against them. 

40 And whoso shall declare more or less than this, and establish it for my doctrine, the same cometh of evil, and is not built upon my rock; but he buildeth upon a sandy foundation, and the gates of hell stand open to receive such when the floods come and the winds beat upon them. (Book of Mormon, 3 Nephi, 3 Nephi 11)

If any declare more or less than this simple doctrine of Christ, they "come of evil," "the gates of hell stand open to receive such", and "the same is not of me, but is against me; therefore he is not of my church."

The waters of life are here defined by Christ, using almost the exact same language and phrasing as He did to Joseph in section 10, as baptism. This is His church. This is His doctrine. 

69 And now, behold, whosoever is of my church, and endureth of my church to the end, him will I establish upon my rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against them. 

70 And now, remember the words of him who is the life and light of the world, your Redeemer, your Lord and your God. Amen. (Doctrine and Covenants, Doctrine and Covenants, D&C 10)

This is the redeemer speaking. These are His words. If anyone has a problem with these words, then take it up with Christ. For these are a His words. If any think those who follow these words are apostate, then take it up with Christ. For they are His words. If I'm given the choice between being "apostate" from God, or "apostate from men, I choose apostasy from men. I'm done being apostate from my Lord. I'm His. I'm all in.