Tag: LDS

The Literal Gathering of Israel, Chapter Sixteen

Joseph Dewey
This entry is part 16 of 16 in the series Literal Gathering

Chapter Sixteen

Gathering  Reflections 2012

As I stated earlier I wrote this treatise back in 1979 when I had quite a different mindset than I do today. I have been hesitant to publish it because it is not very representative of my writings today.  My later treatise, The Gathering of Lights comes much closer to reflecting my thinking of today.

Even so I decided to post it for several reasons:

(1) It represents my thinking during a turning point in my life.

(2) It is written in a language and with authoritative quotes that speaks to the LDS.

(3) It reveals a doctrine that is currently suppressed in the LDS church and may cause some to start thinking out of the box.

There are a number of ways that my thinking is different today than when I wrote this treatise:

(1) My manner of expression.  My style of writing was very religious in tone.  This was partly due to the fact that I was writing to the LDS who use this manner of expression.  Another part of the reason is that from 1958-1978 I was very immersed in the church and had spent a lot of time studying the scriptures and writings of the early LDS leaders.

(2) I no longer connected in any way with the LDS church and neither do its doctrines define my philosophy. There are many enlightened teachings throughout the planet and I seek to incorporate the best of them all as well as learning through inner communion.

(3) In 1979 I was very concerned about an approaching destruction.  There were two reasons for this.  The first was the many warnings in the scriptures as well as the early leaders of the church.  The second was that I received an internal warning that there was a danger of great destruction by the year 1985. Whether or not there was destruction would be determined by the choices humanity made.  This gave me a strong sense of urgency in putting together the treatise, sounding the warning voice and attempting to set up a place of refuge.  I did all in my power to sound the warning voice to the LDS for about two years with very little results.

Then, after Reagan was elected, shortly after the failed assassination attempt, I received another message telling me that circumstances had changed and the destruction was going to be avoided.  I wasn’t told the details but had the impression it had something to do with Reagan.  If Reagan hadn’t been elected or would have been killed by an assassin I believe our history would have taken a much different turn for the worse.

For 120 years every president elected in a year ending with zero was killed in office.  It seemed to be a curse of some kind.  The interesting thing is that Reagan, who was elected in 1980, came extremely close to getting killed.  If the trajectory of the bullet was just a couple millimeters different Reagan would not have lived.  As it is, few realize how close he did come.

I am wondering if the Hierarchy itself did not know for sure if Reagan would be killed.  If this was the case and Reagan was going to do something to prevent the destruction then this would explain the conditional warning I received.

When there is great eminent destruction the Hierarchy will normally prepare a refuge for the pure in heart to escape. I think it is probable that because no such refuge was going to be available in 1985 that they preserved Reagan’s life and used him to buy us some time.

As it is, I have not felt an urgency concerning future destruction since 1982.  Of course, over the years I have felt concern over economic swings, terrorist threats, war etc but nothing has occurred to trouble me in spirit the way I was for the two years after I received that message.

One thing that is the same between the me of 1979 and 2012 is an understanding of the gathering principle.  This principle of gathering can move human kind forward into spiritual progression.  When the most enlightened souls gather together they create a better society than the one left behind. For instance, the discovery of America caused the more intelligent and freedom loving people to gather here and once gathered they created a better government than had existed in recorded history.

The gathering of the early Mormons drew some very intelligent souls and had the makings of creating a better society. I believe the benefits were limited because of the early death of Joseph Smith.  Brigham started a much more authoritarian rule to the extent that anyone who openly challenged him was in danger for their lives. This limitation on the freedom of the human spirit probably doomed the LDS gathering more than any other thing.

There will be other gatherings in the future that will push mankind toward a higher spiritual level so long as the leaders encourage freedom rather than suffocate it. These gatherings will be fairly self-sufficient and thus provide a place of refuge from future calamities. Blessed are those pure in heart who live to see the hand of God separate the wheat from the tares.

Copyright 1979 by J J Dewey

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The Literal Gathering of Israel, Chapter Thirteen

Joseph Dewey
This entry is part 13 of 16 in the series Literal Gathering

Chapter Thirteen

Until This Be Accomplished

 On March 27, 1837 when Joseph Smith dedicated the Kirtland temple we are told that the prayer was given by revelation. See the preface to section 109 and DHC 2:420. In this revealed prayer Joseph said: “And whatsoever city thy servants shall enter, and the people of that city receive their testimony, let thy Peace and thy salvation be upon that city; THAT THEY MAY GATHER OUT OF THAT CITY THE RIGHTEOUS, that they may come forth to Zion, or to her stakes, the places of thine appointment, with songs of everlasting joy AND UNTIL THIS BE ACCOMPLISHED LET NOT THY JUDGMENTS FALL UPON THAT CITY.” D&C 109:39040

If the saints had continued the gathering until the present day the act would now be “accomplished” and the great judgments of God would be poured out, but because the righteous are now scattered with the wicked or the wheat mixed with the tares to a greater extent than ever the Lord is withholding His judgments, but he can only withhold them for a limited period as He did with the Nephites. Then comes the entire destruction if the words of God are not heeded. Nevertheless, it is the will of God to gather out the righteous and this will be done at all costs, then cometh the fall of Babylon, but “How can Babylon fall, so long as the saints stay and hold it up?” Mill Star 32:233 You will remember that when the Lord appeared to Abraham and told him that he was going to destroy Sodom and Gomorra. Abraham was quite upset and he asked the Lord if he would destroy them if there were fifty righteous people in the cities and He said: “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.” Gen 18:26 Then Abraham proceeded to bargain with the Lord for the physical salvation of the city and the number decreased from fifty to forty-five to forty, to thirty, to twenty and finally to ten and the Lord said “I will not destroy it for ten’s sake.” Gen 18:32 Then the angels went to Sodom for the purpose of finding the righteous and gathering them out and all they could find was four souls who would listen, but only three escaped because Lot’s wife disobeyed and looked back. Lot tried to save his relatives, but they laughed at him and only he and his two daughters escaped with their lives, but just before they left one of the angels made an interesting comment to Lot: “Haste thee, escape thither; FOR I CANNOT DO ANYTHING TILL THOU COME THITHER.” Gen 19:22

Here we see that even the presence of FOUR righteous souls prevented the angels from carrying on the work of destruction.

And what was the main criteria that determined a righteous man in Sodom? He was judged to be righteous if he would listen to the warning voice of either Lot or the angels and flee for their lives. Of course, only those who had done other works of righteousness had the Holy Spirit to the degree necessary to know that the warning voice came from God.

Finally when three righteous souls escaped “The Lord rained upon Sodom and Gomorra brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven.” Gen 19:24

Just as the story of Joseph and others from the Old Testament foreshadows greater events in the Latter days so does the story of Lot for another cycle of destruction will come and only those who listen to the warning voice will escape, and again the numbers will be few just as they were in the days of Lot.

Listen to the words of Nephi: “Behold, my brethren I say unto you, that these things must shortly come; yea, even blood and fire, and vapor of smoke must come; and it must needs be upon the face of this earth; and it cometh unto men ACCORDING TO THE FLESH if it so be that they harden their hearts against the Holy One of Israel. For behold, the righteous shall not perish; for the time surely must come that all they who fight against Zion shall be cut off… AND ALL THAT FIGHT AGAINST ZION SHALL BE” DESTROYED.” I Nephi 22:18-19, 14

How do you fight against Zion? One way is to fight against the gathering by not participating in it.

Joseph told the Elders “You must faithfully warn all and bind up the testimony, and seal up the law, and the destroying angel will follow close at your heels, and exercise his tremendous mission upon the children of disobedience; and destroy the workers of iniquity, WHILE THE SAINTS WILL BE GATHERED OUT FROM AMONG THEM, and stand in holy places ready to meet the bridegroom when he comes.” DHC 2:309

He also said: “The servants of God will not have gone over the nations of the Gentiles with a warning voice until the destroying angel will commence to waste the inhabitants of the earth.” DHC 2:263

The Lord also indicates that the destruction will be after the similitude of ‘Sodom and Gomorra: “Go ye out from among the nations, even from Babylon, from the midst of wickedness, which is spiritual Babylon. But verily, thus saith the Lord, let not your flight be in haste, but let all things be prepared before you; and he that goeth, LET HIM NOT LOOK BACK LEST SUDDEN DESTRUCTION SHALL COME UPON HIM.” D&C 133:14-15

We can well understand why the early leaders wrote: “If we throw overboard the principle of the gathering, we cast away one of the most important principles connected with the work of God and salvation of humanity.” Mill Star 33:326

We are also told: “Israel shall be gathered: the seed of Jacob shall be gathered from their long dispersion. There will be a feast to Israel, the elect of God. It is a sorrowful tale, but the Gospel must be preached and God’s ministers rejected: but where can Israel be found and receive your testimony and not rejoice? Nowhere! The prophecies are full of great things to take place in the last days. AFTER THE ELECT ARE GATHERED OUT, DESTRUCTIONS SHALL COME on the inhabitants of the earth; the nations shall feel the wrath of God, AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN WARNED BY THE SAINTS OF THE MOST HIGH. IF YOU DO NOT WARN THEM, OTHERS WILL, AND YOU WILL LOUSE YOUR CROWNS.” DHC 2:197

We see here more evidence that God will held back the destruction until the inhabitants of the earth are warned and if those who were called do not warn the children of men, then others will. Verily, the church is called to warn the people of the earth, but they are not even warning their own people, thus God is calling anyone who has a listening ear to participate and share the crown of glory.

The original twelve apostles in the church declared: “For the time is rapidly approaching when the saints will have occasion to regret that they have so long neglected to assemble themselves to ‘ together and stand in holy places, awaiting those tremendous events which are so rapidly approaching the nations of the earth.” DHC, 4:410

Brother Joseph said: “The saints have not too much time to save and redeem their dead, and gather together their living relatives, that they may be saved also, before the earth will be smitten, and the consumption decreed falls on the world.” DHC 6:184

How often is this principle repeated by the prophets. Again the Prophet Joseph said: “If they do not do this in all humility, making preparation from this time forth, like Joseph in Egypt… and if we do not exert ourselves to the uttermost in gathering up the strength of the Lord’s house that this thing may be accomplished, behold there remaineth A SCOURGE FOR THE CHURCH.” DHC 2:145 How plain can the word be? Let us quote the Prophet Joseph further: “Take away the Book of Mormon and the revelations, and where is our religion? We have none; for without Zion, and a place of deliverance, WE MUST FALL; because the time is near when the sun will be darkened, and the moon turned to blood, and the stars fall from heaven, and the earth reel to and fro. Then, if this is the case, and if we are not sanctified and gathered to the places God has appointed, with all our former professions and out, great love for the Bible, WE MUST FALL, WE CANNOT STAND; WE CANNOT BE SAVED; for God WILL gather out his saints from the Gentiles, AND THEN COMES THE DESOLATION AND DESTRUCTION, AND NONE CAN ESCAPE except the pure in heart who are gathered… If Zion is not delivered, the time is near when all this church wherever they may be found, will be persecuted and destroyed.” DHC 2:52-53

Is it not obvious that the Latter-Day Saints have fallen from their high and holy calling to gather the elect, especially when you read such statements as: “The place of gathering for the Mexican saints is in Mexico; the place of gathering for the Guatemalan saints is in Guatemala; the place of gathering for the Brazilian saints is in Brazil; and so it goes throughout the length and breadth of the whole earth.” Bruce R. McConkie, Sep 2, 1972 CHURCH NEWS. This would sound feasible if they did actually gather in these countries, but THERE IS NOT ONE gathering place for a future refuge set aside in Mexico, Brazil, or any country on the whole planet by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Of course, we must remember Brother McConkie’s definition of the gathering as previously quoted. He said that the gathering consisted of worshipping in the congregations of the saints all over the world. In other words, he believes in a figurative gathering, but listen to the early brethren on this: “Why do the saints gather to America? Why can they not be saved in their own land? These are questions often asked BY THOSE WHO DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. Neither have they read or studied the scriptures much. If they have, they have been void of the Spirit of God to guide them.” Mill Star 21:648

Clearly the early brethren believed that Zion is the American continent and this is the place where we must gather. The church cannot use the excuse that there is no room left here for there is plenty of room in the United States alone for every Latter-Day Saint many times over. The only legitimate objection people have today is the difficulties in immigrating, but even with this obstacle the church could still effect a great gathering using the great pull it has today. It could re-establish the perpetual immigration fund set up by Brigham Young to help the saints immigrate and eventually when they become the wealthiest of all people they would be able to buy immigration favors legally with gold if necessary.

As it is there is little hope for the church to do this in it’s present spiritual stale so the job will be left to the faithful few workmen who want to do the Master’s bidding. The time will come when all will have an opportunity to come to Zion. Joseph Smith said: “There will be here and there a Stake for the gathering of the saints. Some may have cried peace, but the saints and the world will have little peace from henceforth. Let this not hinder us from going to the stakes; for God has told us to flee, not dallying, or we shall be scattered, one here and another there. There (in the stakes) your children shall be blessed, and you in the midst of friends where you may be blessed. The Gospel net gathers of every kind.

“I prophesy that THAT MAN WHO TARRIES AFTER HE HAS HAD AN OPPORTUNITY OF GOING WILL BE AFFLICTED BY THE DEVIL… We ought to have the building up of Zion as our greatest object. When wars come we shall have to flee to Zion.” J.D 6:239

In the near future there will be here and there a stake or city of Zion for the gathering of the Saints. Those who have the Spirit will feel the impulse to gather and those who do not will be against it, with many openly fighting against the principle.

“I’ll follow the prophet, right or wrong” attitude does not wash in the courts of heaven. We are responsible for our own actions, not the prophet. Is that not our second article of faith: “We believe that men will be punished for their own sins…” If the prophet is wrong you cannot blame him for your sins at the last day. You are required to find out for yourself. We are commanded to “prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” I Thess 5:21 1 hereby offer a challenge: Prove the truth of the gathering, or if I am wrong, prove it. God has commanded you to. He does not expect you to walk in blindness, even if you are right.

O Lord, let the light from Thy presence shine forth upon thy people, many of whom are trying their best to live thy commandments, but are deceived by the craftiness of men. Let the light be as seven times the strength of the sun that the black shield over the eyes of thy people may be penetrated. Let thy voice be as the sound of the seven thunders that their ears may be pierced, let Thy Spirit reverberate as the many waters that Thy influence may be felt above the influence of men that Thy people may be gathered in one that the great Zion dreamed of by the prophets may finally gain a foothold on the earth that all nations will be one under the Ensign Thou shalt establish!

One important aspect of the gathering that is often overlooked is that it is an eternal Principle. The basic reason that the Celestial Kingdom is such a good place to live is that the gathering principle is applied to make it such. The Celestial Kingdom is merely a gathering together of the righteous on the other side. That is the reason the city of Enoch was taken up – because through the principle of the gathering they created a kingdom that was higher than the telestial earth. We are told clearly in the scriptures: “And he that receiveth these things receiveth me; and they shall be gathered UNTO ME IN TIME AND IN ETERNITY.” D&C 39:22 IF we do not want to gather unto the Lord in time here on this earth, then how can we ever expect to be gathered unto Him in eternity? This principle is made clear in the scriptures for the Lord said that those who go to the telestial kingdom are “they who will not be gathered with the saints, to be caught up unto the church of Firtstborn.” D&C 76:102

It is clear that John Taylor understood this principle of eternal gathering. He said the Lord would “gather together his elect from the four quarters of the globe; through whom he could introduce upon the earth the principles that exist in the heavens, that we might be taught to do the will of God on the earth as it is in the heavens.” J.D. 24:198. Obviously the gathering is one of the principles that exist in the heavens.

Think a moment. If you love this telestial earth here and want to stay in it and build it up and receive the glory thereof, and have no desire to gather with the saints what makes you think your desires will be any different in the next world? If you love the telestial conglomeration here then that is what you will naturally seek in the next world. If one will not gather to create a higher kingdom on this earth then why should he want or be given one in the next world? Many of the church members who testify loudest of going to the celestial kingdom would resist it if it was handed to them on a platter. Many are lucky if their spirits are prepared to be a telestial bright star at best, for their minds are not prepared for the glories to be revealed. Like the children of Israel in the days of Moses they would ask God to withdraw His presence if he should come.

Let us remember the words of the scriptures: “And your minds in times past have been darkened because of unbelief, and because YOU HAVE TREATED LIGHTLY THE THINGS YOU HAVE RECEIVED.” D&C 84:54 Have we not received the gathering in the scriptures? Does the church treat this principle lightly? Verily, they do not consider it at all.

Let us continue with the scripture: “Which vanity and unbelief have brought THE WHOLE CHURCH under condemnation.” Verse 55 Do we really believe the scriptures today? Is the church still under condemnation?

“And this condemnation resteth upon the children of Zion, even all. And they shall REMAIN UNDER THIS CONDEMNATION UNTIL they repent and remember the new covenant, even the Rook of Mormon (Which covenants to gather Israel) and the FORMER COMMANDMENTS which I have given them, (Such as the gathering), not only to say, BUT TO DO according to that which I HAVE WRITTEN. (The Lord has written time and time again about the gathering). That they may bring forth fruit meet for their Father’s kingdom; otherwise there REMAINETH A SCOURGE and judgement to be poured out upon the children of Zion. For shall the children of the kingdom pollute my holy land? Verily, I say unto you, Nay.” D&C 84:56-59

Such scriptures as the above should give one a desire to gather with the elect, even if the whole world, including church leaders should take an opposite course.

Copyright 1979 by J J Dewey

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The Literal Gathering of Israel, Chapter Five

Joseph Dewey
This entry is part 5 of 16 in the series Literal Gathering

Chapter Five

The New Jerusalem

In the Hebrew the word Jerusalem is written or sounded YeRUWSHALAYIM. This is a word created from two other Hebrew words. The first part is derived from the prim root YARA which means “to instruct or point the way.” The second half of the word is derived from SHALEM which is translated “Salem” and the meaning of this word is peace or “to make safe.” The literal meaning of the name then is “to instruct in peace” or “to show the way to peace.” In other words, Jerusalem is to be an ensign to the nations. The first ensign to show the way to peace was set up by Melchizedek who was called a “prince of peace.” Even though the city he built only bore the last half of the name it was in reality the first Jerusalem. We are told that his people “sought for the city of Enoch” and “obtained heaven.” Gen 14:34 Inspired Version. Thus the righteous gathering he effected produced the entire translation of the first city.

The Lord desired similar results with the second Jerusalem occupied by the Israelites for it was intended to be an Ensign to point the way of peace to all the nations, but it failed to do this because the people, and more especially the leaders did not obey all the commandments. Thus in the days of Lehi and Jeremiah Jerusalem was conquered and the Israelites were taken away captive to Babylon with a promise that the Lord would gather them again in some future period. Some of the Jews did return to Jerusalem, however, most of Israel remained scattered.

In the days of Jesus many Jews had returned to Jerusalem, but it was controlled by many “which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie.” Rev 3:9. Finally in 70 AD it was completely destroyed by the Romans under Titus. Finally, again in our day, the nation of Israel is again re-established, but just as a people will be gathered out of the LDS people to build Zion here so will a righteous remnant establish Zion on that side of the world, but before Zion is built there the prophecy of Jesus must be fulfilled: “I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, HIM YE WILL RECEIVE.” John 5:43 That other that shall come will be a false Messiahs appearing to the Jews as well as other peoples of the earth.

We are definitely told that Old Jerusalem “after it should be destroyed it should be built up again, a holy city unto the Lord.” Ether 13:5 However, it will not be the holy city spoken of until Zion is established and there is a cleansing among the Jews as well as the rest of the world.

Concerning the rebuilding of old Jerusalem Ether said: “It could not be a New Jerusalem for it had been in a time of old.” In other words, it would be a restored Jerusalem and not a new one, but he said: “A New Jerusalem should be built upon this land, (America) unto the remnant of the seed of Joseph… and they shall build up a holy city unto the Lord, like unto the Jerusalem of old.” Ether 13:5&8

Concerning this New Jerusalem the Lord said: “Righteousness truth will I cause to sweep the earth as with a flood, to gather  mine elect from the four quarters of the earth, unto a place which I shall prepare, an Holy City, that my people may gird up their loins, and be looking forth for the time of my coming; for there shall be my tabernacle, and it shall be called Zion, a New Jerusalem.” Moses 1:62.

Is it not plain that the New Jerusalem must be built by the gathering of the saints? The Lord also said: “When the city of the New Jerusalem shall be prepared, that YE MAY BE GATHERED IN ONE, that ye may be my people and I will be your God.” D&C 42:9

It is also written: “And. even now, let him that goeth to the east teach them that shall be converted to FLEE TO THE WEST, and this in consequence of that which is coming on the earth, and of secret combinations… Ye shall observe the laws which YE HAVE RECEIVED, and be faithful. And ye shall hereafter receive church covenants, SUCH AS SHALL BE SUFFICIENT to establish you, both here and in the New Jerusalem.” D&C 42:64, 66-67

Has this commandment ever been revoked by the Lord? Verily no. Therefore we should still receive covenants “such as shall be sufficient to establish you here AND IN THE NEW JERUSALEM.” Are we doing this? No. The Latter-Day Saints claim to be waiting on the Lord for the command to establish the New Jerusalem, but the command has already been given and the waiting period is long over. This is supposed to be the working period.

The average Latter-Day Saint has been “deceived by the craftiness of men” to the extent that in their craftiness certain men in the history of the church have changed the direction of their sights from a great good to numerous lesser goods. Instead of building the New Jerusalem their sights have been lowered to building the Mormon image in the world which thing means nothing to God for the world as we know it is a temporary state.

This is best illustrated with a parable:

(Author’s note: If I wrote this parable today instead of 1979 I would change some things but this still gives good food for thought.)

There once lived a Master Builder whose knowledge exceeded that of anyone else on the earth and he commanded a small force of men to come before him. He commanded his men to purchase a lot and build for him a house and after that is done he commanded them’ to build other houses of similar design. He left the foreman and all of the workmen with a list of written instructions including all things necessary to fulfill his commandment.

The men did as they were commanded and purchased the lot and began building the house. Unfortunately other speculators discovered the master’s plan and saw that there would be great value in obtaining the lot for themselves so by an illegal means they obtained a deed for the lot for themselves and convinced the authorities that it was legal and they drove the Master’s crew from the area.

The master returned and when faced with the situation he was disappointed with his crew for they should have been more aware, but with some he was well pleased for their efforts. To them he said: “You shall not cease striving until you obtain the lot which is legally mine and a house is built on it. Until that time you shall obtain other lots and build to me other houses on the like order of the first.” Upon leaving these instructions the Master Builder left his men for an indefinite period of time.

To begin with the workmen strived diligently to obtain the lot that they had lost, but without avail. In the meantime they purchased other lots and built on them as the master commanded them. The structures they built were much different than those of their neighbors, for they could not see the wisdom of the Master Builder; therefore they did complain exceedingly to the authorities that the structures did not match up to the covenants and restrictions of the neighborhood and they did complain of building code violations and safety violations.

Every government agency did condemn the crew until they were driven away into a wilderness where the crew did again make a valiant effort to obey the Master’s command. For a short time they were able to build without interruption according to the Master’s command until their community began to be desirable to those who believed in all of the restrictive laws. Finally many of these people began to move in and demand restrictive covenants as before, and they also demanded building codes that would restrict the structures that the crew was building.

The foreman and the crew made many compromises and changed the direction of the building according to the desires of the world. They decided to use smaller more economical studs and weaker frames for they would save money and would work just as well they thought Then with their trusses they decided to take out some of the braces, this would also save money and surely the support would be sufficient. Many other things did they change. They decided on cheap synthetic carpet instead of fine expensive wool and for plumbing they planned on plastic pipes and for wiring they used an inferior cheaper grade, but their plans did conform to all the codes and laws and their neighbors did praise them. They enjoyed the praise of their neighbors so much that they did even join with them in strengthening the laws which made their original plan illegal and they did take many of their plans and they did hold them up before the world as a light, and it was accepted by them as praiseworthy.

There were a small number of reliable workmen among the crew that carefully studied the Master’s original commandments and plans and they were dismayed at the changes and one of them called the Master Builder and told him the situation and asked him what to do. The Master was alarmed and sent instructions with the worker to the current foreman to get back to the original plans and continue working at redeeming the original lot.

The workman took the instructions to the foreman, but the foreman rebuked the workman saying: “Surely the Master Builder would contact me and not you, besides we are doing work, that is pleasing to him. Why would he be angry with us?”

Therefore, the crew did not heed the words of the Master Builder for they believed them not. Even so, the Master sent instructions through the humble workman numerous times for the workman asked of the Masters advice according to his will whereas the foreman did not, but asked of his own will. Finally, the Master said through the workman: “Except you heed to my commandments and instructions as I have written you shall be cast out and others shall take your place.” The foreman and the bosses smiled lightly at this for they did not believe the warning, but deep within they felt unsettled. Finally, the faithful workmen gathered to-ether and sent out the warning to  the other workmen who were deceived and a small number believed the warning and gathered together with them. The foreman and the bosses were angry at this and tried to discredit their testimony and did all within their power to make the faithful workmen appear as fools and to hinder them.

Now the faithful workmen did want to heed all of the instructions of the Master Builder so they did again buy lots and build the strange structures as before, but in many ways the laws were more relaxed than before, so they were not greatly hindered by their neighbors and the government, but instead their greatest enemy was their fellow workmen who were jealous at the beauty of the structures and did all in their power to hinder them until they did openly fight against them in open rebellion against their own masters commandments.

The Master Builder was very wroth with the foreman and his workmen and from that time forth ignored them and communicated with the faithful workmen.

After that the original plan of buying lots and building the strange structures on them and also the method of redeeming the original lot was presented to them. The plan was contrary to anything this generation of workmen had ever believed and only the most humble and faithful among the remainder were able to accept them which number was between ten to twenty per cent. The rest of them murmured and left and the original bosses gathered them together saying the new builders were deceived and that they should work at the plans that are accepted by the world, and they did all they could to build a company on their own plans and designs.

Now that the Faithful Workmen were at the head of the Master builders company again they did proceed with great diligence toward the original goal until, to their amazement, they obtained the original lot for no fee at all save their labor, and there they perfected the Master’s grand architecture and they built the greatest structure on the earth. At the completion of the building (of the city Zion – not the temple) the eyes of the world were opened and they realized their previous ignorance for the building was only strange because the principles incorporated therein were so advanced beyond any other buildings. The building became an Ensign for all others to look to and to use the beneficial designs for themselves and great was the glory of those faithful workmen who had followed the Masters original commandments.

At this time those unfaithful workmen who had followed their bosses began to see that only the Master Builder could be behind the work of the faithful workmen and a few of them were ashamed for their unbelief and came in great humility asking for their old jobs. Their old jobs were not available, but they were glad to start as apprentices. Eventually, the stubborn workmen that were left working on their own plans saw for themselves that they could never materialize and their foolishness made them a hiss and a byword throughout the whole world, and when their folly was made obvious there was weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth among them. And they were never heard of again among the children of men.

The Master Builder looked upon the work of his faithful workmen and he was pleased to the extent that he left his other businesses which occupied his time and came and personally assisted his workmen and they rebuilt the whole world.

Most of the interpretation here should be obvious. The Master Builder is Christ and the workmen are the members of the church. The Foreman is the President and the bosses are the General Authorities. The original lot is tot the temple lot only, but the entire city plot for Zion in Missouri. The building they were to create was the Central city of Zion and the other buildings are other gathering places. When they ceased to buy lots signifies the time they ceased to gather. The changes in the building plan signifies the changes made in the Priesthood and the church. The workmen who called the Master Builder to repentance are various inspired members who sened something was wrong and the other workman who was given full authority is the one Mighty and Strong.

Are we not clearly told that “the city New Jerusalem shall be built BY THE GATHERING OF THE SAINTS.” D&C 84:4 Let us not be then as the unfaithful workmen and wait for the Lord to do it all, but let us go forward with an eye single to his glory and do the work for remember that “The Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.” I Nephi 3:7

We may be impressed with the glory of the New Jerusalem which is to be built here in America, but it is just a type or symbol of the New Jerusalem – which is to descend out of heaven, which, according to the Book of Revelations is to take place after the Millennium. This is to take place when there “is a new heaven and a new earth.” Rev 21:1 The city has “the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a Jasper stone, clear as crystal… And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth AND THE HEIGHT OF IT ARE EQUAL.” Rev 21:1 &16

One may be led to Inquire: How long is twelve thousand furlongs Believe it or not it is 1500 miles and the amazing thing is that the city will be as high as it is long and deep. Can you imagine a city 1500 miles high? Most people assume that it will be a square city, but most do not realize that it could be in the shape of a pyramid and match the description given in the Bible. We are also told that the city is “clear as crystal” and “like unto clear glass” Rev 21:18. Can you imagine a more beautiful structure? But this will not be for thousands of years to come. In the meantime we must concentrate on the earthly New Jerusalem which will be a foreshadowing of the heavenly one.

 

Copyright 1979 by J J Dewey

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The Literal Gathering of Israel, Chapter Four

Joseph Dewey
This entry is part 4 of 16 in the series Literal Gathering

Author’s note: Some are saying this treatise on the gathering does not sound like me and this may be true as I wrote this back in 1979 when my thinking was focused on religious lines.  I was attempting to wake the LDS up to the fact that if the writings of the prophets are true then all is not well within their kingdom.

As always I recommend the reader study this treatise in the light of the soul.  Accept that which registers as being true and ignore the rest.

 

 

Chapter Four

Zion, The Pure in Heart

The actual meaning of Zion is -probably misunderstood more than any other by the latter-Day Saints, partially due to the misunderstanding of the following scripture: “Let Zion rejoice, for this is Zion –  THE PURE IN HEART.” D&C 97:21

If all of a person’s accumulated knowledge of the scriptures concerning Zion can be summed up in that sentence then we may be assured that such a narrow viewpoint will lead to erroneous conclusions. And what erroneous conclusion does it lead to? The Latter-Day Saint authorities conclude that the gathering is not necessary to establish Zion because if you are pure in heart you are already in Zion no matter where you are. Such individuals then believe that since they are in Zion, as they suppose, then they are safe no matter where they are as long as they follow the prophet.

The prophet will tell them what to do. In other words, they lean on the arm of flesh and do not depend on the Spirit. They feel that “all is well” with the authorities in the church, “and thus the devil cheateth their souls and leadeth them away carefully down to hell.” II Nephi 28:21 1 can think of no more destructive doctrine to the kingdom of God than that its members thinking that they are in Zion no matter where they are and that God will protect them. On the contrary, we find that the righteous must be separated according to the parable of the wheat and the tares for if the wheat is mixed with the tares during the burning then it will be burned also. “And until that hour there will be foolish virgins among the wise; and at that hour cometh AN ENTIRE SEPARATION of the righteous and the wicked.” D&C 63:54

This entire separation has to take place for “the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand, when peace shall be taken from the earth, and the devil shall have power over his own dominion. And also the Lord shall have power over his saints.” D&C 1:36-37

If the devil has power over his dominion and you are residing in that dominion then where will your physical salvation be? The adversary will have such power over his own dominion that he will command all to worship an image and “as many as would not worship the image of the beast SHOULD BE KILLED. And he causeth ALL, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: AND THAT NO MAN MIGHT BUY OR SELL, save he that had the mark.” Rev. 13:15-17 If you think you are pure in heart and will be safe even though you are dwelling within Satan’s dominion you will have a chance to test that purity when you are commanded to worship the image of the beast or be killed. You will also be tested when you are commanded to receive the mark of the beast which will signify that you belong to him and not God. Without this mark you and your family will not be able to buy or sell, and just how long do you suppose you could stomach seeing your little ones going hungry before you would give in?

The prophet Joseph saw a vision wherein he saw the events in the devil’s dominion: he saw “the father shed the blood of the son and the son the blood of the father; the mother put to death the daughter, and the daughter the mother; and natural affection forsook the hearts of the wicked; for he saw that the Spirit of God should be withdrawn from the inhabitants of the earth, in consequence of which there should be blood upon the face of the whole earth EXCEPT AMONG THE PEOPLE OF THE MOST HIGH. The prophet gazed upon the scene his vision presented, until his heart sickened, and he besought the Lord to close it up again.” Jedediah M. Grant, THE IMPROVEMENT ERA, Feb 1915, Pg 286-7.

Orson Pratt said that during this time “there will be too much bloodshed – too much mobocracy – too much going forth in bands and destroying and pillaging the land to suffer people to pursue any local vocation with any degree of safety.” JD 20:151 Elder Pratt also said: “The people will think themselves well off if they can FLEE FROM CITY TO CITY, FROM TOWN TO TOWN AND ESCAPE WITH THEIR LIVES.” JD 12:344

In speaking of the devil’s dominion Brigham Young said: “They will destroy each other, caring not for the blood and lives of their neighbors, or their families, or for their own lives. They will be like the Jaredites…and will destroy each other to the last man, through the anger that the devil will place in their hearts, BECAUSE THEY REJECTED THE WORDS OF LIFE.” (They rejected the gathering principle Which would save their physical lives.) JD 8:123

It is this day that Joel speaks of when he says: “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 2:32 Yes, those who do not reject the “words of life” and call on the name of the Lord in Mount Zion will be physically delivered, but unfortunately, many of the non LDS will be more likely to deliver their lives than the members of the church who put their trust in the arm of flesh.

Tell me my brother… you who believe that you are pure in heart enough to be saved no matter where you are: Is your faith strong enough to live in a community where people care not “for the blood and lives of their neighbors, or their families, or their own lives. They will be like the Jaradites.” Read the story of the Jaradites during the last battles. Would you like to go through something like that? Wouldn’t it be better to obey the law of the gathering as written by the prophets?

Just as we are told that Satan will have power over his dominion we are also told that the Lord will have power over the dominion of the saints in the last days. If the Lord has dominion over his saints then that must mean that the saints are out of reach of the power of the enemy and that they will be a physically separate body. Speaking of this time Joseph Smith was quoted as saying: “Many will come with bundles under their arms to escape the calamities, and there will be no escape except by fleeing to Zion. Those that come to you will try to keep the laws and be one with you, for they will see your unity and the greatness of your organization… During this time the Great White Horse will have gathered strength sending out Elders to gather the honest in heart among the pale horse, or the people of the United States, to stand by the constitution of the United States, as it was given by inspiration of God. In these days God will set up a kingdom, never to be thrown down, for other kingdoms to come unto.” Taken from the White Horse Prophecy, quoted by Edwin Rushton and Theodore Turley.

The official doctrine of the church today is that the church itself is the kingdom spoken of by Daniel, but here Joseph tells us that the kingdom will be set up in the days of this second gathering, and that the kingdom will not be a church, but it will be a government patterned after the original constitution of the United States.

In speaking of Zion it is written: “And it shall come to pass among the wicked, that every man that will not take his sword against his neighbor must needs FLEE TO ZION FOR SAFETY. And there shall be gathered unto it out of every nation under heaven; and it shall be the only people that shall not be at war one with another.” D&C 45: 68-69

Tell me you who believe you are pure in heart, even though you dwell in Los Angeles, New York, or any other city… How is it that you now dwell in Zion when we are told that to get there you must “flee?” How do you explain the scripture: “Let them, therefore, that are among the Gentiles FLEE -unto Zion.” D&C 133:12 How are you obeying the commandment to “declare by word and by FLIGHT that desolation shall come upon the wicked?” D&C 63:37

Did not the Lord command us: “Search these commandments, for they are true and faithful, and the prophecies and promises which are in them SHALL ALL BE FULFILLED.” D&C 1:37. Did not Jesus reprimand his own disciples after his resurrection by saying: “O fools, and slow of heart to believe ALL that the prophets have spoken.” Luke 24:25

We are told Often in the scriptures that Zion has to be “established”. If Zion is merely the pure in heart scattered around the world then why does it need to be “established”? There are always a number of people who are fairly pure in heart scattered abroad. We are told to “buy lands and gather together upon them; and in this way they may ESTABLISH ZION.” D&C 101:74 Do you make people pure in heart by buying lands??? No, but you can create a physical Zion on them where there will be a refuge from the storm. If all there is to Zion is the pure in heart scattered throughout the world then Zion has always been here, even before the church was organized, for there have always been some relatively pure in heart people upon the earth. The scriptures make it clear that Zion has not always been here: “For they shall see eye to eye when the Lord shall bring AGAIN Zion.” III Nephi 16:18. If all Zion is, is the pure in heart, and there is always a few pure in heart scattered around, then why will the Lord “bring again Zion?” Is it not obvious that Zion is a condition or place that has to be created and is not always here?

Unfortunately, many people both within the church and out believe that they are pure in heart enough so that they will be miraculously taken up and snatched away to safety if they are in the midst of tribulation. But please, my brother, seriously ask yourself if this is realistic. After all, the Lord “is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Did the Lord miraculously snatch away the righteous in the days of Noah or did they have to physically remove themselves? Did the Lord miraculously rapture the people who were righteous in Sodom and Gomorra or, again, did they have to physically remove themselves? How about Lehi? Were he and his family removed like men in a Star Trek movie or was it the normal physical method of his day? How about our own day? Were not the righteous bombed along with the wicked in our recent wars?

“But God will save us if we keep all the commandments,” says One. That is true, but remember he is referring to the commandments of God and not men, and one of the commandments is to “gather” and “go out of Babylon.” If you are not obeying this commandment how then do you expect to receive protection?

The Lord tells us bow much faith we need to have if we expect to survive among a people who are not obeying all of the commandments. “Son of man, when the land sinneth against me by trespassing grievously, then will I stretch out mine hand upon it, and will break the staff of the bread thereof, and will send famine upon it, and will cut off man and beast from it. Though these three men, Noah, Daniel and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord God. If I cause noisome beasts to pass through the land, and they spoil it, so that it be desolate, that no man may pass through because of the beasts: Though these three men were in it, as I live, saith the Lord God, THEY SHALL ALL DELIVER NEITHER SONS NOR DAUGHTERS; THEY ONLY SHALL BE DELIVERED but the land shall be desolate.” Eze 14:13-16.

Thus, if you expect to be saved in the midst of fury you must have the faith of a Noah, a Daniel or a Job. Do you have as much faith as they did? Are you one out of a billion like they were? In their day each was the most faithful man on the whole planet. Are you the most faithful person on the planet now? Even if you are the scripture tells us that even with your great faith you will not be able to save your family “neither sons nor daughters.”

Where then is the hope for the average saint? Are we doomed to destruction in these last days? No. We are told that this would be the situation if these three men “were in it,” or, in other words, this would be the situation if these three men stayed in Babylon. One would have to have faith like unto them if he wished to survive the desolations that will be poured out. The hope then for the average saint is to “come out of Babylon” for Ezekiel tells us that the way will be prepared to deliver sons and daughters: “Yet, behold, therein shall be left a remnant that shall be BROUGHT FORTH (or in other words gathered out), both sons and daughters.” Ezekiel 14:22.

The Lord has said that if the promises made to the fathers is not planted in the hearts of the children then “the earth will be utterly wasted at his coming.” Yes, the whole earth would be utterly wasted except for men like Noah, Daniel and Job and how many men such as this do you suppose we have on the earth today? They could probably be counted on the fingers of one hand and what good would their salvation be without their families? When reflecting on the wisdom of the gathering the pure in heart will feel hope and faith and praise for the Lord for preparing the way for our future deliverance along with our families. The spirit leads one to exclaim: “How great are thy ways and how unfathomable is the intent of thy heart, O Father, Thou carest for thy children as a true loving father and savest all that come unto thee and sends servants to those who are lost and in peril! Thou art truly the deliverer of Israel.”

When we consider that Zion is an actual place and condition that needs to be established one may be led to question as to why the Lord called Zion the “Pure in heart.” Can Zion be the pure in heart and yet the scriptures be consistent? Yes, for the scriptures tell us who the pure in heart are by giving us another definition of Zion. After Enoch gathered his people we are told: “And the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart, and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them… And it came to pass in his days, that he built a CITY that was called the City of Holiness, even Zion.” Moses 7:18- 19

What had to take place here before the Lord called his people Zion? We find that the people were (1) of one heart, (2) and one mind, (3) they “dwelt in righteousness; (4) There was no poor among them, and (5) they gathered together and built a city unto the Lord and the wicked did not come unto it.

This then gives us a good idea of what the Lord means by the “pure in heart”. If one is pure in heart he will not love the world but will want to come out of Babylon and be united with others of like thinking and build communities unto the glory of God. He will be of one heart and one mind with these other righteous individuals. He will dwell in righteousness and consecrate all that he has so that there will be “no poor”. One cannot be one of the pure in heart that dwells in Zion while he is in Babylon. The pure in heart desire to gather with the saints and will do so at the first opportunity. At this point many people are inclined to say: “But doesn’t the scriptures command us to be in the world but not of the world? Therefore we do not need to gather for we are supposed to be in the world at this time.”

The person who uses this quote is like the guy who quotes the Bible as saying that “all men are created equal”. Neither quotation is found anywhere in the scriptures. Nowhere in all the holy writ are we commanded to be in the world, but, on the contrary, we are commanded to “come out”. The only ones that are to be sent out into the world at all are those who are to preach the gospel and they are commanded to be “not of the world”. John 17:16 On the other hand, many sectarians teach from the pulpit to be in the world, but not of the world. However, the motto of Zion should be: “Come out of the world that ye be not of the world that ye be not partakers of her ‘sins.”

Joseph Smith clearly told us that “the whole of America is Zion.” He said this included North and South America and that the mountain of the Lord was to be in the center of the land. (See DHC 6:319) Brigham Young also said- that Zion “is the land that the Lord gave to Jacob, who bequeathed it to his son Joseph, and his posterity, and they inhabit it, and that land is North and South America. JD 2:253

Hyrum Smith told us “The gathering will be FROM THE NATIONS to North and South America which is the land of Zion.” DHC 6:322

Of course we cannot gather to all of North and South America all at one time. Joseph Smith told us to begin this gathering by building stakes or cities of about twenty thousand population each until we fill up the land of Zion and then the world. Right now the land of Zion is possessed by the people of Babylon, but one day Babylon the great will fall and Zion will be redeemed for the people of Zion. Then it will come to pass: “So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west.” Isa 59:19. When the center stake or city is established then shall the following scripture be fulfilled: “They shall call thee the City of the Lord, the Zion of the Holy One of Israel.” Isa 60:14 “Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities.” Isa 33:20.

The scriptures indicate that there is more than one city in Zion: “Thus saith the Lord of hosts; My CITIES through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad; and the Lord shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem.” Zech 1:17 When the land of America is full then the Lord’s cities will “spread abroad” and fill up the earth as Joseph Smith predicted.

 

Copyright 1979 by J J Dewey

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Eternal Lives, Chapter 1

Joseph Dewey
This entry is part 1 of 17 in the series Eternal Lives

121

Search for the Truth

Note: This book includes many LDS references to assist them in understanding the important principle of reincarnation, but people of all belief systems should find something of interest here.  Those who have read my shorter treatises of Reincarnation and the Bible and Reincarnation and Mormonism will enjoy the additional material and references included here.

When I was a young boy I remember hearing my neighbors discussing the story of Bridie Murphy, a girl who under hypnosis was able to recall previous lives on the earth.  At the time I thought that the doctrine of passing through numerous lives sounded fair and just and I accepted it with the faith of a child.  I thought that, for instance, if one were to die with unfinished goals or be cut off when he was young or happened to be crippled or blind all his life that it would indeed be fair to receive another chance. If there was only one life why is it that we are all born in such diverse circumstances – some favored, some disfavored?  How could a baby who had only taken a few breaths and died possibly gain any mortal experience?  We may hear many platitudes about how great his situation is in heaven, but why should he be denied the knowledge gained from a long mortal experience for all eternity.

J. Reuben Clark once said that he could not understand how one single life of trial even if we had a long one, could qualify us for an eternity of bliss since life seemed so short, and neither could I.

Life isbut a flicker of light between two eternities.  What great effect could one little flicker have on either of them?  A great effect could only come by many flickers.

When I started attending the LDS church about the age of 13 someone finally told me that we only have one life – that this was the doctrine of the church.  Since I believed the church I had to mentally accept this, but in my heart I still felt that those who had only lived a short life should have another chance to see what they could do if they had at least an average life span.  Finally, after I became more steeped in church doctrine I came across the scripture: “And as it is appointed unto men ONCE to die, but after this the judgment.” Heb.9:27.  There it was at last!  Now I was convinced. Man dies only once and he is born only once so there is no reincarnation. That settled it.  From then on I decided to put my faith in the justice of God, that he would make things right in the end, and not worry about it any more.  I went on a mission and if anyone brought up reincarnation I quoted them Hebrews 9:27 and bore my testimony and generally they had no defense  Then one day a newspaper ran an article about a couple who had lost a pair of twins in an Auto accident.  A short time later this couple gave birth to a second set of twins.  As this second set grew the couple noticed that they began to look and act exactly like the first. They even had moles in the exact same location.  As they learned to talk they even had flashbacks to their lives as the previous twins and remembered their old toys and began to show the same quirks of character as the first set.

When the non members and even some of the members asked for an explanation of this article I found that for the first time on my mission that I was without a satisfactory explanation.  About all I was able to come up with was that it must be a trick of the devil or else a very astounding coincidence, still in my heart I wondered about the whole truth of the matter.

Later on I did some experiments in hypnosis and took numerous people back to what they described a previous life.  Some were able to speak foreign languages and dialects and give detailed descriptions of ancient times.  I viewed these experiences with great wonder, but I wasn’t about to let them “shake my testimony”.  After all Joseph Fielding Smith and others said it was a doctrine of the devil – so it must be false.  The trick was in how could I explain this regression to previous lives?  I had several theories:  (1) Some tricky evil spirit took possession of their bodies during hypnosis and was trying to fool me.  Well, if this were the case the evil spirit was certainly consistent.  It seemed as if about ninety percent of those hypnotized were able to go back, even many who did not believe in reincarnation.  Also this evil spirit seemed to have a good memory as a person can be regressed weeks or even years later and recall the same past lives..  Also I have had experience with evil spirits numerous times in the past.  I have been attacked by them and have administered to others who have been possessed and each time I was able to discern them through the Spirit.  This time the spirit told me that no evil spirit was present so I went to my next theory: (2) I called this the race memory theory.  This theory states that each cell of the human body has inherit in it the memory of all our ancestors and at the moment of conception the memory of all of one’s ancestors are passed on.  This would explain why one could have in his subconscious mind memories of past lives.  This sounded the most logical so I accepted it.

Then one day I had a rather amazing occurrence.  I had become acquainted with a newly married couple and when we were having a party I hypnotized the wife while the husband was at the store. I took her back to several previous lives and she described names and dates in great detail.  After I brought her back to the present her husband returned and he was completely unaware of anything his wife had said (No he wasn’t listening at the door).  He agreed to hypnosis and to my amazement he described two previous lifetimes in exactly the same detail as his wife.  His wife had stated her husband’s name in a previous life and he recalled that same name. They were husband and wife in at least two previous lifetimes. Their stories coincided exactly.  Maybe that old devil was at it again I thought!  Still my faith was unshaken and I decided to put it on the shelf and wait.

Meanwhile I found out that many people went back to previous lifetimes under hypnosis to discover that they were of a completely different race.  They were regressed to people that they could not have been related to.  My race memory theory began to break apart. Still I figured that there could be no reincarnation as it would shatter too many cherished principles of the gospel, yet there must be an answer.

Finally, the answer came.  I will not give out all the details, but the spirit of the Lord came to me and gave me a difficult commandment that would not only affect me in this world, but the one to come.  Why would the Lord command me to do something contrary to my will and contrary to producing a state of happiness? I thought.  I would be damned if I obeyed and damned if I disobeyed, yet I put all the faith I had in the goodness of God and submitted.  God did not come down and erase all the problems his commandment created, I had to struggle with them, but as compensation to those who obey His will he paved the way for greater knowledge.  I began to see that His commandment would only be fair if there were more than one life.  Perhaps there was something I had done in a past life to warrant the commandment I had received, then if there were future lives all inequalities could be justified.  I began to ponder on this idea considerably and as I did I began to experience the truth of the words of Alma:  “If it be a true seed, or a good seed… behold it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves it must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me.”  Alma 32:28

As I pondered more I saw how reincarnation was a master piece of a giant jigsaw puzzle that threw light on the entire scene. I began to see how little we really know.  It is like the story of the three blind men and the elephant.  One grabs a leg and says “I perceive that the elephant is like a tree.”  The second grabs the trunk and states:  “No, no the elephant is like a large hose.”  The third grabs the tail and says:  “you’re both wrong.  The elephant is like a rope.”  Actually, all three men were right, but because they only had a portion of the truth they had an entirely wrong idea of the whole elephant.  This is the way it is with us.  That portion that we have is correct, but we as a people have an entirely wrong idea of what the whole elephant looks like.  The Lord has said “I shall also speak unto ALL NATIONS of the earth and THEY SHALL WRITE IT.” II Nephi 29:12  The Lord has indeed spoken to all nations of the earth and they have written it, but because that portion describes the tail, trunk or ear of the elephant and does not agree with the leg that we have we rise up and condemn them as being of the devil.  The key to judge was given by Moroni:  “Wherefore, all things which are good cometh of God.” Moroni 7:12  Read all of Moroni chapter seven and you will have a good idea of how to find the “best books” that Joseph Smith was commanded to search out.

Yes, the idea of many lives began to be delicious to me and enlighten my understanding, and broaden my mind.  I can, however, understand many people’s repulsion to it for as many say  “Once is enough!”  They say this because they never want to go through the trials they have had in life again, but what men fail to realize is that this earth is the hell most often talked about in the scriptures and it will continue to be until we follow Jesus’ advice to “take my yoke upon you… and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”  Matt 11:29-30.  When a person reaches a certain point of progression along the path he begins to overcome his enemies and actually looks forward to future trials and almost relishes in them.  The burdens and cares of earth life begin to be light “And they desire a better country, that is an heavenly.”  Heb. 11:16.

Reincarnation also answered some strange aspects of LDS doctrine.  For instance, The church believes that not only will all men be resurrected but all living things will.  This is derived from the scripture:  “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”  I Cor 15:22  This “all” we are told means everything including animal, birds, bees plants, insects and even bacteria.  Has anyone ever stopped to think what this would mean?  It would mean that every fly that has ever lived would come back and be immortal.  Taking into consideration the shorter life span of the fly the results would spell disaster indeed.  For every person now living there may have only a couple times that amount since Adam, but for every fly now living there would have been thousands perhaps millions!  This could mean that in the resurrection there may be a million times more flies than there is now!!!  Do you call that heaven?  How about bacteria?  A human grows much more than his body weight in a lifetime of bacteria alone.  A man’s body will not be able to hold all of that when he comes back so what will happen?  Are we going to have immortal heaps of bacteria scattered around to distort our countryside?  Even if the animals alone are brought back they would be so numerous that it would make life unbearable for humans.  I might ad:  Let us hope that the immortal mosquito does not attempt to get whatever is in our immortal veins!

If such a point as this is brought up to the typical Mormon he will smile and say:  “Don’t worry yourselves about such matters.  God will work it all out.”

God not only “will” work it all out, He already has.  The fly will never reach immortality as a fly, even though his intelligence will never die and always progresses.  Instead at death the fly goes to the spirit world and comes back a short time later as a fly again.  Thus there is a limited number of spirits that take bodies as flies so we do not have to worry about being overwhelmed in any resurrection.  An oversoul for an insect may even control numerous bodies at one incarnation.  This is why there is such great unity and cooperation in various groups in the insect world.  Another interesting point is the fly, when it fills the measure of its’ creation will disappear completely from this earth.  Then the spirits will be free to seek another and higher form.

“But that can’t be true!” says one. “All things will be resurrected and be immortal.”

Sorry, but that is not what the scriptures say.  According to them only one has achieved immortality: “That thou keep this commandment without spot unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; WHO ONLY HATH IMMORTALITY, dwelling in a light which no man can approach unto… I Tim 6:16.  This is indeed an amazing scripture for it plainly tells us that only the Christ possesses immortality or the Greek ATHANASIA which means literally “Deathlessness” and is only found three places in the scriptures, none of which conflict with the above.  If this scripture is true, it would mean that those who were resurrected with the Christ are not yet immortal and will die again.  That also means that, at least up to the time of Timothy, no one else had experienced an immortal resurrection as Christ did.  That means that there is more than one type of resurrection as is plainly manifest in the scripture:  “Others were tortured not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a BETTER RESURRECTION.”  Heb 11:35. There are three Greek words in all from which the word “resurrection” is translated.

Putting all the pieces of the puzzle together we can safely say that only the highest resurrection produces immortality and man must pass through numerous lifetimes and “receive not a fullness at first… but continue from grace to grace (life to life), until he receive a fullness.”  D&C 93:12-13.  We must do as Jesus did and progress from life to life until we become like unto: “a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” Eph 4:13  Then we may step forward ourselves and be like the savior as we have been commanded (Matt 5:48) and become the savior of an age: “That you may come unto the Father in my name, and in due time (after many lifetimes) receive of his fullness.” D&C 93:19.

Copyright by J J Dewey

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Eternal Lives, Chapter 4

Joseph Dewey
This entry is part 4 of 17 in the series Eternal Lives

Precept Upon Precept

The doctrine of reincarnation will be a comfort to the pure in heart, a stumbling block and thorn in the side to those who make flesh their arm and rely on priestcraft, and darkness to those who reject it and are now in the twilight zone of belief. This doctrine is not a new revelation. It is believed by over half the people in the world and is also plainly manifest in our scriptures as we shall show, yet this teaching is declared by some authorities to be the doctrine of the devil. Since the church authorities believe this to be the doctrine of the devil, they are likely to believe that I am from the devil. This is no new experience for a bearer of truth, for of Jesus the people (especially the leaders) thought that “He hath a devil and is mad so why hear ye him.” John 10:20. Others thought “he hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth out devils.” Mark 3:22. Many thought that John the Baptist was a wild man and that Jesus was a glutton and wine bibber. Some Jews thought the apostles were drunkards. Lehi’s’ family thought that he was a deluded dreamer. Others thought Lehi’s descendants Nephi and Lehi in the third book of Nephi were insane. In modern times the world has fulfilled Moroni’s promise to Joseph Smith that “his name should be had for good and evil among all nations.” Joseph Smith 2:33. Many who are in darkness believe that he was lead by the devil. It is a common thing that when a rock of truth is thrown into a stagnate pool – there are ripples of repulsion and those who are in self righteous apathy are awakened and forced to fight either for or against God.

The time is verily coming when “out of His (the Christ) mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations.” Rev 19:15. The sharp sword is truth or the word of God, and that word shall smite the hearts of the children of men among the nations, “and the guilty taketh the truth to be hard for it cutteth them to the very center.” I Nephi 16:2. On the other hand, the righteous receive “the Holy Ghost even the comforter which sheweth all things and teacheth the peaceable things of the kingdom. D&C 39:6.

The doctrine of reincarnation is indeed peaceable to the righteous. Unfortunately, it is a difficult doctrine for the average Mormon (and most other Christians) to accept, and because of this I must present it with the authority of the scriptures for only by seeing how it is taught in the standard works can the average Mormon come close to accepting it. If one were to merely explain the doctrine with no authority he would be burned at the stake as an apostate if the laws of the land would permit it. The official doctrine of the Church is that only the four standard works are to be accepted as doctrine. Since the prophets of various generations have disagreed with each other, even their statements are not binding doctrine unless voted on and accepted by the church as scripture. With this in view we shall prove this “strange doctrine” from that which is accepted: the scriptures.

Alma said “Ye ought to search the scriptures.” Alma 33:2. Notice that he did not say “read”, but search. People think that if they read them they are fulfilling the commandment, but on the other hand those who do fulfill the commandment and discover “mysteries” are seen by many as agents of deception. Many rise up and condemn and become as Satan “the accuser of our brethren”. Rev, 12:10.

Many insinuate that searching out mysteries is wrong. I boldly declare this to be a doctrine of the Adversary, of the carnal apathetic mind who does nothing until he is commanded and receiveth no reward. D&C 58:26-29. Are we to be condemned for being like Nephi: “also having great desires to know the mysteries of God.” I Nephi 2:16. Chose ye this day! Are you like Nephi or are you like the-Latter-Day Saints in his prophecy that “is at ease in Zion.” II Nephi 28:24. “Wo be unto him that shall say WE HAVE RECEIVED THE WORD OF GOD, and we need no more word of God, for we have enough!” II Nephi 28:29.

Members read this Book of Mormon scripture and think it’s talking about the non Mormons and forget that Nephi was talking to those who are “at ease in Zion,” and to those who “have received the word of God.” The LDS is the only major Christian church who has claimed to receive the word of God. “Wo unto you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men, for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.” Matt 23:13.

At a general conference I heard a general authority say that he did not know all there was to know about faith so why be bothered about the weightier doctrines until we learn the simple ones. Another said the reason the general authorities repeat the same things over and over is because the saints have not learned them yet. Now on the surface this sounds logical until you actually try and apply the principle in any kind of learning activity. I remember-when I enrolled in Algebra II I probably did not know one third of what was in my Algebra I book, but I struggled at it and pretty soon the new concepts fell into place and I was able to grasp the higher principles. I found I began to remember and understand teachings I had forgotten or did not clearly grasp before. If I had applied the above peculiar philosophy and learned everything first in Algebra I it would have spelled disaster because I would have become very bored with all the repetition and frustrated that I could not remember everything perfectly. Requiring perfect learning before more is given could keep a student in Algebra I until he dies, and this is what happens to the to the typical Latter-Day Saint. The Adversary laughs and his angels rejoice that members are kept in Mormon One until they die, for he knows that “it is impossible to be saved in ignorance. D&C 131:6 “A man is saved no faster than he gets knowledge, for if he does not get knowledge, he will be brought into captivity by some evil power in the other world.” TOTPJS Pg 217

“Behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept… II Nephi 30-31. “Precept MUST BE added upon precept.” Isaiah 28:10. Interestingly, even the world in its folly realizes that precept must be added upon precept. If the world is this wise – the why not the church?

Isaiah gives a good example: “Doth the plowman plow all day to sow? doth he not open and break the clods of his ground? When he hath made plain the face thereof, doth he not cast abroad the fitches, and scatter the cummin, and cast in the principal wheat and the appointed barley and the rie in their place?” Isa 28:24-25.

Isaiah’s admonition to ancient Israel is still applicable today. When we teach the same things over and over to the same person for his seventy-two years we are doing what Isaiah says even a plowman has the sense not to do. Does a plowman always plow??? No No No. When he is done he “casts in the principal wheat” and works toward the harvest.

The Church has, for several generations, been plowing the same field over and over, but the seed which is the word of God has not been sowed and the harvest which is the gathering of Israel (Lights) into a land of Zion (not to church meetings), or the coming “out of Babylon” Rev 18:4 has not been accomplished, nor is there any concrete steps taken to fulfill the commandment of the gathering for members are “at ease in Zion.” II Nephi 28:21.

Now I proceed to fulfill a commandment “that the time is verily come that it is necessary and expedient in me that you should open your mouths in proclaiming my gospel, the things of the kingdom, EXPOUNDING THE MYSTERIES THEREOF OUT OF THE SCRIPTURES according to that portion of the spirit and power which shall be given unto you.” D&C 71:1. If this means opposition, to fulfill this commandment, then one must drink the cup for men do not “light a candle and put it under a bushel.” Matt 5:15 Unto you who read this: “Ask that you may know the mysteries of God. D&C 8:11 “And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.” Moroni 10:5.

It is much more difficult for a Mormon, or standard Christian, to accept the doctrine of reincarnation than someone who has no religion at all simply because the mind of a member is not open to doctrine that has not been revealed. If any unusual doctrine is presented to the typical member he will reply “If that is true why hasn’t the prophet told us?” For some reason he assumes that no one could possibly know any truth unless the prophet proclaims it. He also assumes that the prophet knows everything there is to know. Many believe that he has daily walks with Jesus. Why so many assume such things when the prophet himself makes no such claim is a mystery in itself. Brigham Young clearly stated that those who make it to the celestial kingdom must not “pin their faith on another’s sleeve.” He said that we must go forward with the independence of heaven and do what is right even though the whole world take an opposite course. Joseph Smith once complained that the members minds were “darkened” because they relied on him for all their inspiration.

If we give the prophet the benefit of the doubt and take for granted that he has knowledge of the doctrine it is still quite possible that he would not reveal it as it would cause quite an upheaval in the church. Also, an important principle members often overlook is that the Lord only gives to those who “study it out in their minds” and then ask. I doubt if any of the general authorities have studied this out in their minds, seriously that is. Position does not give a person automatic access to the mind of God. Faith does. Joseph Smith was a non member not ordained to any priesthood when he had his first vision. The president of the church has to have as much faith to receive a revelation as you or I do. The only advantage he has over the lowest member is that the entire church will listen to him. If this is true, says one, why do you proclaim your doctrine? Where do you get your authority?

The answer is quite simple. I need no authority. I am not teaching any doctrine as “church doctrine” I am merely teaching it as truth. I am obeying the commandment given to all members: “And I give unto you a commandment that you shall teach one another the doctrine of the kingdom.” D&C 88:77 In Joseph Smith’s day the church was much more tolerant of individual expression. If a controversial doctrine was brought up it was presented before the High Council and the president thereof sought a revelation to clarify it. I do not expect any such consideration of these teachings. This treatise is not to the church, but to anyone in the world who seeks knowledge. If anyone has an ear let him hear. Who needs authority to present truth to the world? What authority had Edison? Einstein? Tesla? Bell? and others. They discovered truth and they were under a moral obligation to present it to the world or their talent would have been taken from them. I am a scientist like them. I discovered truth by experimentation and I present it. Like all revelators, the great scientists in the past have all met with great opposition when they presented their discoveries. These teachings will, of course, be opposed by those who do not believe as I do or cannot discern the light of the scriptures. It is no crime to disagree with someone, but when one takes a step to destroy his fellow man merely because he doesn’t like his doctrine, you may be assured he has lost the spirit “For it must needs be that offenses come; but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh!” Matt 18:7

When any new or unaccepted doctrine is introduced to a people it has to be presented and accepted by only a few at first, then to others as they can bear the light. This has been the case throughout history. When teaching, Jesus took his disciples aside and said: “It is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them (the general public) it is not given. 1I Matt 13:11. Jesus gave the apostles many teachings that were never written down, but passed down orally for many generations because the common believer was not ready for it. Yet many of the mysteries are not lost, but cleverly hidden in the scriptures. “It is the glory of God to conceal a thing.” Proverbs 25:2. The doctrines of the plurality of Gods as well as celestial marriage had to be taught secretly before they were openly released. This situation is not permanent however. The scriptures tell us of “A time to come in the which nothing shall be withheld…” D&C 121:28. The time is rapidly approaching when all “who remain, even from the least unto the greatest … shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord, and shall see eye to eye.” D&C 84:98. Man will have so much pure intelligence he will learn for himself and not need to establish teachers over him: “And they shall TEACH NO MORE every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying Know the Lord:: for they shall ALL know me…” Jer 31:34
Copyright 1996 by J J Dewey

Eternal Lives, Chapter 9

Joseph Dewey
This entry is part 9 of 17 in the series Eternal Lives

The Return To God

For the past few generations the LDS church has had a wide gap in its definitions of “salvation” and “exaltation”. The authorities say that exaltation requires great effort; whereas salvation is freely given to all and requires little or no effort. We are told that when one is resurrected he will achieve salvation and all men will be resurrected whether they want to or not. Jesus grants this salvation to everyone.

I cannot blame one for reading the above doctrine into the scriptures for before I read them carefully I believed it myself. However, a closer reading of the prophets certainly reveals that salvation is not obtained with an effortless resurrection, for we already have shown that the immortal resurrection must be obtained through great effort. It is true, however, that when one does obtain the incorruptible resurrection he is saved (from rebirth). Before one can obtain this though, he must pass from “exaltation to exaltation,” as Joseph Smith said.

The scriptures plainly reveal that salvation must be earned. Paul said “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” Phil 2:12. Alma said “ye should work out your salvation with fear before God.” Alma 35:37.

The word “salvation” is translated from the Greek SOTERIA which literally means to “rescue” or “deliver”. The word is really quite relative, but it’s meaning is quite consistent in the scriptures. There are three main things the scriptures tell us we will be delivered from: (1) Death, (2) Sin, and (3) Destruction at the end of the age. Deliverance from this destruction will enable one to reign in the kingdom of God during the millennium. We are told: “If thou wilt do good, yea, and hold out faithful to the end, thou shall be saved in the kingdom of God, which is the greatest of all the gifts of God; for there is no gift greater than the Gift of salvation.” D&C 6:13

Generally salvation refers to deliverance from all of our enemies as Joseph Smith clearly said: “Salvation is nothing more nor less than to triumph over all our enemies and put them under our feet. And when we have power to put all enemies under our feet IN THIS WORLD, and a knowledge to triumph over all evil spirits in the world to come, then we are saved, as in the case of Jesus, who was to reign until he had put all enemies under his feet, and the last enemy was death,” DHC 5:389 Joseph Smith also said again and again that man is saved no faster than he gains knowledge.

Keeping the above quotes in mind we clearly see that salvation simply means deliverance from enemies through knowledge. Since this is so, how can the ignorant be saved unless they acquire knowledge? The Book of Mormon clearly tells us that the wicked will not be saved unless they make an effort: “But wo, wo unto him who knoweth that he rebelleth against God! For salvation cometh to none such except it be through repentance.” Mos 3:12 “But behold, and fear and tremble before God, for ye ought to tremble; for the Lord redeemed none such that rebel against him and die in their sins; yea, even all those that have perished in their sins ever since the world began, that have willfully rebelled against God, that have known the commandments of God, and would not keep them; these are they that have no part in the first resurrection. Therefore ought ye not to tremble? FOR SALVATION COMETH TO NONE SUCH; for the lord hath redeemed none such; yea, neither can the Lord redeem such.” Mosiah 15:26-27. “He shall take upon him the transgressions of those who believe on his name; and these are they that shall have eternal life, and SALVATION COMETH TO NONE ELSE.” Alma 11:40.

It is clear then that salvation is not an automatic thing that happens to everyone in a universal resurrection as the church teaches, but is something that must be obtained by faith and knowledge.

Even though the prophets indicate that salvation will require considerable effort they also indicate that all will eventually obtain it. Joseph Smith was once reported by Mathew S. Davis in a letter to his wife as saying that all would eventually return to the presence of God: “Here he entered into some explanations, which were so brief that I could not perfectly comprehend him. But the idea seemed to be that the soul of man, the spirit, had existed from eternity in the bosom of Divinity; and so far as he was intelligible to me, must ultimately return from whence it came.” DHC 4:79

Jesus said something similar: “Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.” Matt 18:14. Paul also agreed: “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; who will have ALL MEN TO BE SAVED, and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” I Tim 2:3-4. People who doubt the scripture will say that God’s will is not always done, but they forget that “For with God NOTHING shall be impossible.” Luke 1:37. They also forget the prayer of Jesus: “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Matt 6:10. I contend that if it is the will of God that none shall perish, then that will of God shall be fulfilled. I say that if God “allotteth unto men according to their wills” Alma 29:49 then God shall surely be able to fulfill his own will. If God cannot fulfill his will then you and I have great reason to tremble and fear for he may not even be able to save us if we repent! What else can the believing mind accept except that God’s will, will be done and eventually through free agency “ the last weary pilgrim will find his way home.

Those who say that the Lord has doomed the wicked to eternal banishment from his presence have not read the scriptures: “And now, behold, I say unto you, never at any time have I declared from my own mouth that they (the wicked) should return, for where I am they cannot come, for they have no power. But remember that ALL MY JUDGMENTS ARE NOT GIVEN UNTO MEN.” D&C 29:29-30. Here the Lord leaves the field wide opened, for he tells us that all of his judgments are not given, and why? “Again, it is written eternal damnation; wherefore IT IS MORE EXPRESS THAN OTHER SCRIPTURES, THAT IT MIGHT WORK UPON THE HEARTS OF THE CHILDREN OF MEN, altogether for my name’s glory.” D&C 29:7

If the Lord told previous generations clearly that a way is opened for the wicked to eventually repent and return to his presence many would have become spiritually lazy and wait for the next life to repent, and their progression would be greatly delayed. Many are effected badly enough by the teaching that there is some repentance in the spirit world. Others say that since the telestial kingdom is supposed to be wonderful beyond our understanding, then that is good enough for them.

One can see why the Lord thought it wisdom to conceal the fact that all men will eventually return to his presence. But when you approach it logically one must ask, what loving Father would give up working on the deliverance of his sons and daughters? Is not God as good a father as we are? God has indeed prepared a way for all eventually to return. Whereas this knowledge may have an adverse effect on the laggards, truth will always inspire the righteous to greater heights. Think not that this has anything to do with Lucifer’s plan, for the Lord’s plan is predicated entirely on free agency, whereas Satan introduced a shortcut by taking it away. It is by no means the doctrine of the devil that God will always work for the salvation of man for it is written: “All flesh shall see the salvation of God”. Luke 3:6 Not only will many come back and see temporal salvation in Zion in the last days, but eventually all will gain the knowledge necessary to overcome his enemies. Will God ever stop a man from acquiring more knowledge? Verily, No.

Several scriptures referring to salvation also give indications of reincarnation. For instance we are told: “But he that shall endure to the end, the same shall be saved.” What is meant by “the end”? The word “end” comes from the Greek TELOS which is most appropriately translated “consummation”. This refers to the consummation or end of the age just prior to the ushering in of the millennium of peace. The next verse makes this crystal clear: “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the END (Consummation) come.” Matt 24:14.

Obviously enduring to the end does not mean the end of one’s life, but to the end of the age. How can one endure to the end of the age unless one is reborn here so he has the opportunity to endure?

Paul said that Jesus “gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world.” Gal 1:4 If, then the salvation of Jesus was to deliver us from this world, no salvation is to be confined to it. How can one be confined to mortal earth without reincarnation?

Since Joseph Smith said that all must ultimately return to God (DHC Vol 4; pg 79) it obviously follows that all will eventually be saved. This promise as well as many others must be cast aside unless we consider reincarnation.

Copyright 1996 by J J Dewey

The Great White Chief Part 5

Joseph Dewey
This entry is part 9 of 34 in the series 2010B

Posted May 14, 2010
CHAPTER XX
The Great Trek North

After the dead will have been buried and the injured healed, and all is quiet and peaceful again, he, Echa Tah Echa Nah, will call all the survivors of the great holocaust, who live in his country and prepare them for the great trek from their land to the north. At this time he will send runners to Chi Chi Suma, who is second in command, bidding him to call the survivors in his part of the country to prepare themselves for a great journey they would embark upon, for they were now to leave their country forever.

Many months before starting preparations will proceed by all the people getting together to raise all the foodstuffs that will be necessary, also all other things that the people will need for their survival. The pottery workers will immediately prepare containers of adequate size and shape to transport the grains and foodstuffs. The basket makers will do likewise. Leather workers will prepare all articles necessary to be used during this great trek. Weavers will make blankets, robes and all other articles of clothing needed, until the people can again be settled in their new homes.

TEMPLE STONES PREPARED

All this is in the future, and the people are waiting for the time to come when they will abide by what he has instructed them to do. During this period of waiting, the people are not idle for they have hand-hewn and polished all the stone blocks to be used in the Great Temple, and hand polished the white mountain mahogany wood that will be used to beautify this most sacred edifice.

Each stone is cut so that it will be interlocked to the stone adjoining it. Dumbbell-like keystones link them together. No nails will be used in the building of this unique structure. All woodwork will be fitted together with wooden pegs or pins. Only the most precious metals will be used for decorative purposes. However, these will have no face value during this period for there will be no medium of exchange. Semi-precious stones such as jasper, turquoise, sardonyx, lapis lazuli, and amethyst will he used to add splendor to the exterior of this Most Holy Temple.

As previously mentioned, after the disasters, two great people will leave the Chigaraguan country forever to begin their trek to the site where this Great Temple is to be erected. Following divine guidance and inspiration, the place will not be difficult to locate. There they will make preparations and begin work on the Holy Temple, and the Holy City within walls.

Echa Tah Echa Nah, having previously notified the people to prepare themselves for this long trek, will call his council members together to tell them that the time has now come for them to begin the task of final preparation for embarking upon this journey. At the close of this council meeting, the council members will go, each to his own community and personally supervise the final preparations, seeing that all is in readiness for this move. A great bustling about will begin as the people round up the livestock, pack grain and foodstuffs and other useful things for their departure from the land of the Chigaraguans.

One of the last acts of preparations will be the tremendous task of moving the stones for the Great Temple, the responsibility of which has been placed upon one of the council members. These 84 85

stones are already prepared and carefully stored in the queries from which they have been cut, and will have to be moved with caution due to their overwhelming weight, and to Protect the finish given them. By crude means of transportation, these massive blocks will be moved to the shore line, where huge barges will have been constructed to carry them to their destination.

TREK TO BEGIN FROM LAKE PITZCUARO

After all the stones and hand-polished wood will have been loaded on the barges, and all is in readiness, the council member in charge will not depart until word comes from Echa Tah Echa Nah. When the runner brings word that Echa Tah Echa Nah’s group has started the trek from the agreed point at Lake Pitzcuaro to journey north, the council member will give the command for the barges to shove off and slowly drift with the current near the coast line, following it to the north. Thus will start the first group led by Echa Tah Echa Nah like Moses and the Children of Israel.

It will have been previously arranged between Echa Tah Echa Nah and Chi Chi Suma that at the same time Echa Tah EchaNah was preparing to move to the north, Chi Chi Suma’s group will leave from their same point on their journey northward. The exact preparations that will have been made by Echa Tah Echa Nah, will also be made by Chi Chi Suma. The same technique will be followed in moving all their earthly possessions, as well as constructing barges, loading and transporting the stones from the guaries located in Chi Chi Suma’s country (which is a great deal further south than Echa Tah Echa Nah’s country. )

Prior to the departure of this second group, word will have been sent to all Indian tribes extending into South America, that the people should make preparations and gradually move to the north and inhabit the abandoned places left by the people of Chi Chi Suma and Echa Tah Echa Nah. As the South American Indians inhabit the vacated cities, they will be instructed to remain at these places until after the Holy Temple and the city with the walls have been built. 1

As Echa Tah Echa Nah’s group leisurely winds its way northward, _Chi Chi Suma’s group will he following the same route at the same pace. Each group will have a forward vanguard, followed by the livestock, pack horses, and carts; the women and children traveling next to the rear guard. Their mode of transportation will not be as it is in these modern times, for the destruction will have done away with all forms of modernization, leaving only the most primitive.

Constant contact between Echa Tah Echa Nah’s group on land and those taking the water route north, will be kept by runners. Should the barges in any respect, come into difficulty, the land forces will immediately dispatch assistance to them.

HALT AT RIVER FLOWING WEST TO EAST

After traveling for many days to the north, the advance scouts of Echa Tah Echa Nah will report to him that they have found the body of water that flows from the west to the east, which will be the first goal of Echa Tah Echa Nah’s group. Immediately after crossing this body of water, preparations will be made for the people to remain there until the Arrival of Chi Chi Suma’s group. 2

1) The Lord promises them the desolate cities of the Gentiles to inhabit. ” (3 Nephi, 22:3). So it is clear who will occupy America at this time.

2) Natoni Nezbah places this spot at or near Laredo on the Rio Grande. 86

The first barges will be instructed to anchor in the gulf until the arrival of the other barges belonging to Chi Chi Suma’s group. Chi Chi Suma’s other group, coming by land, slowly and laboriously fallowing the same route taken by Echa Tah Echa Nah, should arrive at the river five days after.

Chi Chi Suma’s advance scouts will report, after many days of travel to the north, that they have sighted the first group encamped north of the river which flows from the west to the east. Soon the two great forces will be united at this river and Echa Tah Echa Nah with his council members will hold a conference with Chi Chi Suma and his council members, and there will be great rejoicing among the people.

Both groups, after a short period of resting will prepare to move on from this point. Runners will have been sent to take word to the barges to make ready to start. When all is in readiness to depart, Echa Tah Echa Nah will call his councilmen, and Chi Chi Sums will call his councilmen; and together they will map a route which each will take. Echa Tah Echa Nah will instruct Chi Chi Suma’s group to take charge of all the barges carrying the stones, and proceed for many days to the east until they arrive at the great body of water that flows from the north to the south. ‘

CHI CHI SUMA TO FOLLOW RIVER NORTH

Chi Chi Suma will follow Echa Tah Echa Nah’s instructions, and by the slow, laborious way of traveling, they shall arrive in due course of time at the designated body of water. Upon finding this body of water, many changes will have to be made. Smaller barges will have to be made, and the stones transferred to them enabling them to travel by the river to the north without too much difficulty.

1) This is obviously the Mississippi River.

Upon completion of these changes, Chi Chi Suma will resume his trek to the north, and they shall journey up the river following its west bank. 1 The advance scouts of this second party will continuously search for a great, white, flat stone on the west side of the river, which will be their final destination.

After traveling for an unspecified period of time, the scouts will report finding this great white stone. Knowing that they have at last arrived at the end of their journey, Chi Chi Suma and his councilmen will draw up plans of procedure to start at once the preparations for the construction of the Holy Temple and the city within a wall. This group will build temporary structures in which to live while building the Temple. The barges of stone will be unloaded and soon the task of building the Temple will be fully underway.

Immediately after the departure of Chi Chi Suma and his group and the barges to the east, Echa Tah Echa Nah with his group will start trekking to the west. His advance scouts will be continuously searching for a low range of mountains running from the north to the south. After slowly trekking toward the west for many days, the scouts will report the finding of the mountains they are in search of and when the group arrives at this low range of mountains, they will rest for a few days, making preparations to continue their journey to the north. 2

1) The west bank of the Mississippi will lead to the west bank of the Missouri River.

2) This low range of mountains must be somewhere in Arizona, because their route takes them to the Hopi, Navajo, and other Indians, and then to the surviving Mormons in their “Cities of Refuge” in southern Utah, and finally to the Great Salt Lake, to be joined by the Ten tribes and others from the north under John the Beloved. 88

THEY ARRIVE AT THE GREAT SALT LAKE

89 After the people and the animals have rested, they will follow this range of mountains to the north, keeping on the east side of this range at all times. As this group slowly travels to the north, other survivors of this great holocaust of destruction, will timidly seek to join with the Chigaraguan people on their great trek.

These survivors will not be able to understand the words of the Chigaraguans, north Chigaraguans understand the words of the survivors, yet each will recognize the other by their marks, signs and symbols. The Chigaraguans will welcome the survivors to join them on their trek. As they advance slowly to the north, almost daily other survivors will join them.

Echa Tah Echa Nah’s advance scouts will be on the lookout for a great stone marker not far from a vast area surrounded by a very white substance. This white substance will surround a tremendous inland body of water. Yet, at all times Echa Tah Echa Nah’s group shall stay on the east side of the range of mountains. 1

Soon his scouts will report the finding of the great stone marker, 2 and upon arriving at this marker will remain there for many days. During their stay at this marker, Echa Tah Echa Nah’s group will be joined by other people from the north. 3

1) The Great Salt Lake and the Oquirrhs.

2) This great stone marker could be the Temple, which is about all that will be left of S. L. C.

3) The other people from the north, must be the Ten Tribes under John the Beloved. There are tracts of land in Idaho dedicated for their use, and according to The White Horse Vision, they will help to build the Great Temple in the New Jerusalem.

ON TO THE NEW JERUSALEM!

When the time comes, the people will be advised by their leaders to make preparations to trek eastward, to seek out the designated spot where Chi Chi Suma with his group will have made preparations to build the Holy Temple within a wall. They will continue their trek eastward, and soon the scouts will inform Echa Tah Echa Nah that they have sighted Chi Chi Suma and his people, and soon both groups will be reunited. Chi Chi Suma will openly welcome the arrival of Echa Tah Echa Nah and his group, and great rejoicing will be among all the people.

As survivors will have joined Echa Tah Echa Nah, so will other survivors also have joined the group of Chi Chi Suma. Although the people of Chi Chi Suma’s group do not speak the tongue of those who will have joined Echa Tah Echa Nah, there will be perfect unison and harmony and they will be welcomed with open arms. Many of the survivors, who will have joined the two groups, will have very fair skin and very blonde hair bothers will be Indian people, but all will have the same purpose in view as the groups of Echa Tah Echa Nah and Chi Chi Suma, -that of taking part in the building of this magnificent edifice of worship to their God, -the Temple of His Coming!

As the construction of this Most Holy Temple continues, the people who are taking part in its construction are happy in their daily tasks, -and nighttime slowly descends upon the day after tomorrow.

1) The Ten Tribes.

The End 91

CHAPTER XXI

A Few Parting Thoughts

WHY WE MUST BE NUMBERED WITH THEM

There is no place in the scriptures that calls for the Indians (Nephites, Lamanites, etc. ) to come and be numbered with the LDS Believing Gentiles, as we are called in the chapter heading of 3 Nephi , 16. But there are at least four places where it says that we must repent and be numbered with them, if we are to survive the DAY OF PURIFICATION, or what we call the 3i year judgment period. Here they are:

1) THE WORDS OF AN ANGEL TO NEPHI THE SON OF LEHI. (See 1 Nephi, 14:2-3. )

“If the (LDS) 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 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. “

The next verse states that the penalty for not being so numbered is “the casting of the soul into that hell which bath no end. “

2) CHRIST, SPEAKING TO THE NEPHITES AND LAMANITES ABOUT THE (LDS) BELIEVING GENTILES WHEN THEY SHALL SIN AGAINST HIS GOSPEL AND COMMIT ALLMANNER OF INIQUITIES: (See 3 Nephi, 16:13-14. )

“But if the Gentiles will repent and return unto me, saith the Father, behold they shall be numbered among my people, O house of Israel, and I will not suffer my people, who are of the house of Israel, to ‘go through among them, and tread them down saith the Father. ” (See also 3 Nephi, 21:12).

3) CHRIST, SPEAKING TO THE NEPHITES AND LAMANITES ABOUT THE DESTINY OF THE (LDS) GENTILES IN THE LAST DAYS. (See 3 Nephi, 21:22. )

“But if the (LDS) Gentiles will repent and hearken unto my words, and harden not their hearts, I will establish my church among them (the Church of the remnant of Jacob or the Indians), and they shall come in unto the covenant and be numbered among the remnant of Jacob, unto whom I have given this land for their inheritance. “

4) CHRIST COMMANDS THAT A PROCLAMATION BE MADE TO ALL KINGS, PRESIDENTS, GOVERNORS, ETC. (See D&C, 124:2. ) IN IT THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT IS MADE ABOUT ALL BELIEVING GENTILES.

“For be it known unto you, that the only salvation which remains for the Gentiles, is for them to be identified in the same covenant, and to worship at the same altar with Israel. In short, they must come to the same standard for there shall be one Lord, and His name one, and He shall be King over all the earth. “

THIS IS THE DAY FOR THE NATURAL BRANCHES OF ISRAEL! The bitter branches and evil fruit will be pruned from the vineyard as indicated in the Book of Mormon, Jacob, 5:33-58. Remember, this is the day when every tub must stand on its own bottom. Know for yourself through Christ, what is true!

-Amen.

THE INDIANS SHALL INHERIT THE DESOLATED CITIES OF THE WHITE MAN

THE SAVIOR QUOTES FROM THE PROPHECIES OF ISAIAH WHILE ADDRESSING THE NEPHITES AND LAMANITES:

“For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left, and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles and make the desolate cities to be inhabited. ” (3 Nephi, 22:1, or Isa. 52:3).

“And my people who are a remnant of Jacob, (the Indians) shall be among the Gentiles, yea, in the midst of them as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep, who, if he go through both treadeth down and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver. Their hand shall be lifted up upon their adversaries, and all their enemies shall be cut off. “

(See 3 Nephi, 21:12-13. )

“Therefore repent ye, and humble yourself before Him, lest He shall come out in justice against you -lest a remnant of the seed of Jacob (the Indians) shall go forth among you as a lion, and tear you in pieces and there is none to deliver. ” (Mormon, 5:24).

BELIEVE THE WORDS OF THE GREAT WHITE CHIEF 92

Introduction

WAS THE PROPHET JOSEPH SMITH A TRUE PROPHET WHEN HE PROPHESIED IN 1835 AS FOLLOWS?

“President Smith then stated****it was the will of God that those who went to Zion, with a determination to lay down their lives, if necessary, should be ordained to the ministry, and go forth to prune the vineyard for the last time, or the coming of the Lord, which was nigh -even fifty-six years should wind up the scene. ” (Statement made Feb. 14, 1835. See Church History, Vol. 2:182. )

Note: Feb. 14, 1835, plus 56 years = Feb. 14, 1891.

AND AGAIN HE STATED IN THE DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS, 130:14-16 AS FOLLOWS:

“I was once praying very earnestly, to know the time of the coming of the Son of Man, when 1 heard a voice repeat the following:

“Joseph, my son, if thou livest until thou art eighty-five years old, thou shalt see the face of the Son of Man. Therefore, let this suffice, and trouble me no more on this matter.

“I was left thus, without being able to decide whether this coming referred to the beginning of the millennium, or to some previous appearing, or whether I should die and thus see his face. “

Note: The Prophet Joseph was born Dec. 23, 1805. Hence he would have been eighty-five years old on Dec. 23, 1890.

NOW READ ABOUT THE GREAT EVENT THAT HAPPENED AT WALKER LAKE, NEVADA, IN 1890, AND SEE FOR YOURSELF IF JOSEPH SMITH PROPHESIED TRULY OR NOT:

The Indian Messiah

The American Indian is often depicted as a man without religion or scruples, or faith in a supreme being. This may be largely due to his reluctance to adopt the ways of the white man, and become what we regard as “a good Christian, ” which in the light of today’s business practices, ethics and morals, is an attainment of doubtful distinction, and hardly worth emulating.

After reading L. Taylor Hansen’s book, “He Walked The Americas, ” which reveals the personal contacts of Christ with almost every Indian tribe in North, South and Central America, and in Hawaii, as reflected in their legends, one must admit that they, indeed, have strong foundations of their own for a belief in a Supreme Being.

There are some artists and sculptors who have expressed in stone and colors, the Indian’s deep spiritual feelings in his appeal to the Great Spirit for help and guidance, and for redress of the great wrongs inflicted upon him by the white man.

Perhaps the high point of the American Indian’s religious expression in the past century occurred in the year 1890, at Walker Lake, Nevada, when their own Indian Messiah appeared to a large gathering of delegates from some sixteen tribes, including a delegation of white Indians from a highly civilized tribe in Central America known as the Chigaraguans. These white Indians are a hold-over from the Golden Age of ancient America, when they possessed a culture and civilization that was nothing short of a perfect Utopia, -and still is! 96 97

Some writers have mistakenly confused this Indian Messiah of Walker Lake, Nevada, with a counterfeit of that area known as Wovoka, a Flute, of no particular talents or charisma, and who could speak only Piute. This Wovoka may have been responsible for the Ghost Dance so widely accepted among the North American Indians, but for little else. In the Ghost Dance, they would dance in a circle until some of them collapsed into an hypnotic trance. When they came to, they would assert that their spirits had made a visit with their ancestors in the Spirit World, and that they had predicted many good things for the down-trodden Indian, and that great, beneficial changes were coming for them that would bring judgment upon the white man and justice and betterment for the Indian.

The real Indian Messiah could make His speech understood to all the tribes present in the mixed gathering of some sixteen or seventeen different tongues. He could appear and disappear at will. And He also displayed the marks of His crucifixion, or the scars on His hands and wrists, and feet and on His side. Furthermore, He appointed twelve apostles to represent Him, eleven of whom were the White Indians from Central America, and the twelfth one was a Cheyenne named Porcupine from Montana.

NUMEROUS PRESS REPORTS

The nation’s press of 1890, carried many stories of this very unusual event at Walker Lake, Nevada. Many of them were reported in “The Deseret News” of Salt Lake City, some of which we quote in the following references. The Indians were so agitated on at least sixteen reservations that General Miles of the U. S. Army, found it necessary to make a tour of all army installations at or near these reservations, to see what could be done about all this excitement over an Indian Messiah.

The so-called “Messiah Craze” had become the inspiration for Chief Sitting Bull of the Sioux to believe that he could arouse the Indians to another victory greater than the defeat of Custer’s forces at the Little Big Horn, for the Messiah had promised them that the Whites should be destroyed from off the face of this land, and that the land would be given back to the Indians, from whom the Whites had so unfairly taken it, and had broken so many treaties concerning this land. Infect, it is claimed by some that Sitting Bull was “accidentally’ on purpose killed to put an end to his Indian Messiah activities, and to stop the dreaded Ghost Dance, which had been outlawed.

In “The Deseret News” for Nov. 7, 1890, there is a report from “The St. Paul Dispatch” under the title of, “The Indian Messiah, ” as follows:

“General Miles is here on his return from his western tour. He says, ‘I have been to Utah, Montana and Cheyenne Reservations investigating. You have no doubt heard that the Indian tribes are reported to believe that the Messiah has come, whois to restore them to their former glory, and drive the Whites from the land. I have learned that this belief exists among sixteen tribes. There is no doubt that some Indians, who are holding this belief in the Indian Messiah, are sincere, and a few certainly have seen some person on whom they look to be that Messiah.

“‘Several small parties of Indians have gone from their tribes to some point in Nevada. There they have been shown someone disguised as the Messiah, and have spoken with him. I am inclined to believe that there is more than one person impersonating the Messiah, as when the Sioux have spoken with him, he replied in the Sioux tongue. . . and so on with the representatives of each nation. ‘ (General 99 98

Miles could not allow for a Pentecostal gift of tongues in this case, because then he would have to admit that this Messiah was genuine. -NCP. )

“General Miles gave his opinion that ‘the Mormons are prime movers in it. . . It is noteworthy, ‘ says he, ‘that this so-called Messiah tells Indians that when he comes to reign over them, firearms will no longer be used. . . that he will draw a line behind which he will gather all Indians, land then he will roll the earth back upon the Whites. This has naturally excited the Indians and large numbers have accepted the new belief. None is more ardent than Chief Sitting Bull, who is intensely Indian in all his ideas. The argument Indians use is: The Whites have had their Messiah, and the Indians now have theirs!'”

In “The Deseret News” for Nov. 8, 1890, an article dated Nov. 4th, taken from “The Kansas City Dispatch, ” from Ft. Reno, Special, quotes Sitting Bull as follows:

“The Messiah said He had come to save the White Man, but they persecuted Him, and now He had come to deliver the long tormented Indians. . . All day Christ instructed them and gave them evidence of His powers. He, Sitting Bull, told his people His story, and asked that Porcupine be sent for to verify it. (Porcupine was one of the twelve Indian apostles. ) He, Porcupine, returned with the same tale, and presently all were converted. “

“We have a large number of extracts from different newspapers (says the editor) on this subject of ‘The Indian Christ, ‘ claiming to embody the assertions of the aborigines who state that they have seen the Messiah and heard Him talk. That a personage exhibiting supernatural powers has shown Himself:

1) The Hopi Indians claim this gathering will soon take place in Hopi land for all Indians.

and that He showed the marks of spikes having been driven through His hands. Be had offered to save the Whites, and they had refused to accept Him. And now the day of the Indians, who are to be restored to ownership of the land, had come. . . He also taught them to be honest, peaceful, cleanly, and to give up all bad habits.

To this the editor adds: “To say the least, it is a wonderful movement, and one is puzzled in endeavoring to account for it. “

“He sternly denies General Miles’ suggested idea that the Mormons are connected with this event: ‘Indeed, many Mormons are themselves conjecturing as to the meaning of this extraordinary agitation among the aborigines, and are puzzled to know what it means. ‘”

About the only official Mormon reaction that we can find, comes from Susa Young Gates, editor of “The Young Woman’s Journal, ” (a Mormon periodical, ) In Vol. 1:477, she states:

“Few, if any, of the leading Brethren doubt the probability of a certain, if exaggerated, foundation for these stories. Our Lord is evidentially setting His hand to prepare the scattered remnants of Israel for the great event about to take place.”

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The Mystery of Healing

Joseph Dewey
This entry is part 14 of 34 in the series 2010B

Posted May 27, 2010
Justin writes:
I can’t stop wondering: How are we to account for this healing, and other similar instances reported within the Mormon church?

The only possibilities I can come up with are:

1. Your mission president believed he possessed a special “priesthood” power to effect healing, and that belief, although perhaps misguided, was enough to generate the necessary faith.

2. Your pres. was subconsciously using some shamanic-type healing abilities he developed in a prior lifetime.

3. It was due to your own belief, faith, and/or innate ability.

4. It was some combination of the above.

You sometimes hear about these miraculous healings occurring among members of other faiths, but (if faith-promoting rumors are to be believed) Mormons seem to have a disproportionate number of them.

So do Mormon men really have an advantage that other “non-priesthood bearers” do not have, or is it just that they actively acknowledge a power that we all have access to?

JJ
Good observations and questions.  I appreciate the participation from the members for making their comments on this for there were some good ones.

Actually the Mormons do have an advantage when it comes to healing.  Is it because they have magical powers through their priesthood?

Not so much.

What is it then?

Hint… Think of DKs teachings.

And what do DK’s teachings have to do with Mormonism and healing?

Quite a bit actually when you think of his teachings on the seventh ray, ceremonial magic and the Masons.  Joseph Smith borrowed much of the ceremonial magic in the church from the Masons as well as the ancient ceremonies of the Hebrews and early Christians.

Consider the ceremony involved in an LDS healing.

1. Everything has to be done, not by one, but by two or more elders.

2. The elders must have on their person olive oil which has been ceremonially blessed.  This set apart oil is only to be used for healing.

3. Before giving a blessing the oil is placed on the crown of the person’s head and set words are spoken.

4. Administering the oil and giving the blessing are done by two separate elders.

5. All Elders participating lay hands upon the head of the person and one gives the blessing.

6. Set words are uttered and then the spokesman attempts to channel the will of God and gives a blessing of healing.

Compare this to what happens in a regular church.  As someone noted about all that happens is they pray.  Prayer alone rarely brings significant healing.

Sometimes a regular church will announce a special day of fasting and or prayer to heal a member.  This is an elementary ceremony and increases the results.

Then some of the fundamentalist churches have high energy meetings where they repeat elementary mantras, talk in tongues, scream and do theatrics to increase anticipation of results.

This is crude ceremony but is does increase results.

On the other hand, the quiet ceremony of the Mormons is more seventh ray and can produce longer lasting results.

Now the LDS think that any healings done in the church is due to the special power of the Priesthood, or authority from God they think they have a monopoly on.

In truth they experience more healing miracles than others because they have a structured ceremony which raises expectations.

When I was excommunicated in 1978 the authorities thought that they had stripped me of any power of the priesthood.  I personally didn’t think I lost anything, but gained instead.

A short time after this I was asked to give a blessing to a man who has lost his ability to walk.  I thought to myself that this would be a good test to see if one can heal after being stripped of the priesthood.  A friend and I laid our hands on his head and I commanded him to walk.  We removed our hands and he raised himself up and walked.  We saw him a few days later and he was still walking fine.

This and other things later on proved to me that more is involved in healing than recognized church priesthood.

So what caused my miraculous healing?  I was previously given two blessings by others and they did not work.  What was the difference?

Several things.

1. I had more faith in the mission president.  Part of the reason for this extra faith was that he was the highest authority available. It maters not that he was an outward authority.  What matters is the increased expectation which aligns one with the principle of energy following thought.

2. I had reached the end of my rope which created a point of tension.

3. In this point of tension I poured out my soul to god all trough the night.  This again uses the principle of energy following thought and made additional energy available.

4. The mission president had faith and was confident that healing could take place.  This made him a clear channel for the healing energy.

5. When he gave the blessing he said the words I wanted to hear – that I would be healed.  This triggered the healing power.

It is sometimes discouraging that not all attempts result in healing no matter how much faith or confidence one has.  The scripture says that even Jesus could nor heal in his home town where they saw him as just an ordinary guy.

Then sometimes the ill person has karma to pay off and healing would do more harm than good and the soul will not allow it.

Because spiritual healing does not produce consistent results skeptics will ever be able to nurture their doubt.

But anyone who experiences a supernatural healing even once cannot doubt that more than human powers are available to us.

Copyright by J J Dewey

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Branches of the Tree of Life

Joseph Dewey
This entry is part 17 of 34 in the series 2010B

Posted June 4, 2010
Alex, who is a member of the Keys s well as an LDS related list in which I have been posting the mission series asks essentially this.

If the Mormon Church is corrupt and many of its teachings are flawed then why would the Spirit or soul give any witness related to it or guide anyone to join it?

This is a good question and is one I expected to receive.

The problem is that there is no person or organization that is perfect. The first lesson the seeker after truth must realize as he seeks an inner verification is that the Spirit never witnesses to infallibility.

Of course, many people who think they received a witness merely received a good emotional feeling about something that sounded good. On the other hand, some do receive an true inner verification from the Spirit through the soul. What they often fail to do, however, is not carefully reflect on just what it was that was that was verified.

The Spirit verifies truth in two major areas.
Direction and true principles

(1) Direction.
There is a path that takes us back to union with God. As we begin the path it is as if we have choices of many branches, like the top of a tree of life. Now even though there are many branches, and some are stronger than others, it is still a true principle that even the smallest and most imperfect among them receive life giving force from the Source. Therefore, if the seeker has a choice of merging with one of the branches or being separate from all branches the Spirit will witness to him that merging with the available branch is desirable.

The religions and churches of the world are the first branches of the Tree of Life.

None of them are perfect and all of them have many flaws and just criticism can be made against them. Even so, they are the kindergartens and elementary schools that take us on the path out of darkness and point us toward light and life.

Many of those reading this have been associated with a church in their past. Consider this question: Did you learn things of value from your association with it? I would guess the answer is yes. My answer is certainly yes, even though I outgrew it and they kicked me out. The church, as imperfect as it is, was the initial source that set me on the quest for the meaning of life and search for truth.

My initial experiences in the church were invaluable.

Therefore, when the seeker, who is not yet connected with a branch leading to greater connections with the Tree of Life, has a choice to hold on to a branch or no branch at all, the spirit will verify to him that he should move forward.

If he seeks it the verification or witness may be to join the LDS, the Catholics, Protestants, Buddhism or any particular school that will just pull him into the system whereas he begins to contemplate the meaning of things.

A person can also receive inner direction on various choices in life such as marriage, career or place of residence. If an inner verification is sought and none is received it means that the partner, career or location will not make much difference to your progression. But sometimes you may need to marry a specific person or follow a certain career and in this case you will receive a witness or verification.

Such verification does not mean that you will have smooth sailing, but it does mean that you will either spiritually benefit yourself or help others progress because of it.

So the spirit therefore gives witness to true direction – a direction that leads the One Path.

(2) True Principles.

The language of the soul is the language of principles. Facts are so relative that rarely is any inner witness relative to them. Instead, on reflection, the seeker will find that an inner witness is related to some principle.

Many people read the Bible and receive an inner verification and then assume that the whole thing is infallible but what is it that was really verified? It could be one or more of a number of things:

That Higher intelligence (God) does exist and there are beings of a higher order that work with us to aid us in our progression.

That there is an inner Christ or God that we can access for guidance.

That supernatural events and miracles are possible.

That there is a higher or spiritual love that we should embrace.

That we should see ourselves as servants willing to give a helping hand to our neighbors.

Now when a seeker reads the Bible or joins a church and receives an inner warm confirmation of any of these principles he is likely to interpret such as confirmation that the whole of the church of the Bible is 100% true and infallible.

The same goes for the LDS church, Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. When a person receives a witness in connection with them it is either connected with direction or some true principle revealed. When I was in the church I never received a witness of the Book of Mormon as a whole but I did receive some powerful witnesses of some of the principles taught.

My first witness happened shortly after I started reading the book and came across this scripture:

“For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost, as well in these times as in times of old, and as well in times of old as in times to come; wherefore, the course of the Lord is one eternal round.” I Nephi 10:19

I have applied this teaching throughout my life and it is indeed a true principle.

Another thing that struck a powerful chord with my soul was the teaching that little children do not need baptism to be saved from original sin.

Then, here’s another scripture that registered within:
“But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God.” Moroni 7:13

Similarly, there are a number of teachings and experiences of Joseph Smith, despite his imperfections, that call forth an inner witness. One thing that brings forth the Spirit verifying that at least, at that moment, he was in the Spirit was Parley P. Pratt’s account at Liberty Jail:

The incident takes place in Richmond, Missouri, sometime in November of 1838. The Prophet and his associates had been taken prisoner at Far West, Missouri, and were awaiting trial at Richmond in some rough log houses situated near the courthouse.

Six men at a time were chained around the ankles with a long chain that was held to each ankle by a lock. Parley poignantly recounts: “In one of those tedious nights [imprisoned in Richmond in a rough log house] we had lain as if in sleep till the hour of midnight had passed, and our ears and hearts had been pained, while we had listened for hours to the obscene jests, the horrid oaths, the dreadful blasphemies and filthy language of our guards, Colonel Price at their head, as they recounted to each other their deeds of rapine, murder, robbery, etc., which they had committed among the “Mormons” while at Far West and vicinity. They even boasted of defiling by force wives, daughters and virgins, and of shooting or dashing out the brains of men, women and children,

I had listened till I became so disgusted, shocked, horrified, and so filled with the spirit of indignant justice that I could scarcely refrain from rising upon my feet and rebuking the guards; but had said nothing to Joseph, or any one else, although I lay next to him and knew he was awake. On a sudden he arose to his feet, and spoke in a voice of thunder, as the roaring lion, uttering, as near as I can recollect, the following words: 



“SILENCE, ye fiends of the infernal pit. In the name of Jesus Christ I rebuke you, and command you to be still; I will not live another minute and bear such language. Cease such talk, or you or I die THIS INSTANT!”



He ceased to speak. He stood erect in terrible majesty. Chained, and without a weapon; calm, unruffled and dignified as an angel, he looked upon the quailing guards, whose weapons were lowered or dropped to the ground; whose knees smote together, and who, shrinking into a corner, or crouching at his feet, begged his pardon, and remained quiet till a change of guards.



I have seen the ministers of justice, clothed in magisterial robes, and criminals arraigned before them, while life was suspended on a breath, in the courts of England; I have witnessed a Congress in solemn session to give laws to nations; I have tried to conceive of kings, of royal courts, of thrones and crowns; and of emperors assembled to decide the fate of kingdoms; but dignity and majesty have I seen but once, as it stood in chains, at midnight, in a dungeon in an obscure village of Missouri.”

Autobiography of Parley P. Pratt, pp. 209-211.
http://www.artbyandrewk.com/majesty.html

The seeker gains valuable knowledge when he realizes that many people of widely differing belief systems have received inner verification of true principles and direction. This is why it is so important to be cautions in making negative judgments of others. Maybe your friend has received an inner direction to follow a path that you consider to be in error, but for him such a path will lead to his next step on the path of liberation. If we are not careful a condemning judgment may prove to be a great error.

Brother Little was an atheist and the inner verification that God exists that he received from reading and praying about the Book of Mormon was a good thing and thus he began treading the path to liberation.

Copyright by J J Dewey

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