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.