Zion and Jerusalem,
August 30, 2015
You know, brethren, that a very large ship is benefited very much by a very small helm in the time of a storm, by being kept workways with the wind and the waves.(Doctrine and Covenants | Section 123:16)
These
are days of clouds, of gloominess and thick darkness as the morning spread upon
the mountains even as both the prophet Joel and declared concerning the latter
days. And days of alarm and great distress as the prophet Zephaniah reaffirmed
also concerning our days. Unless we are numb and asleep during the restoration,
we can speak to see, behold and attest to many signs and wonders in heaven and on earth in this very generation that
make manifest that the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD is nearer
unto us, even at the doors. We can expect to see the wrath of GOD being poured
in various forms beginning with famine and pestilence, fire and vapor of smoke
even upon this land. For the day of the gentiles are come in and have been
fulfilled. For so it is written:
A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains.(Old Testament | Joel 2:2)The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly. That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers.(Old Testament | Zephaniah 1:14 - 16)And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.(New Testament | Acts 2:17 - 24)
For the time soon cometh that the fulness of the wrath of God shall be poured out upon all the children of men; for he will not suffer that the wicked shall destroy the righteous.Wherefore, he will preserve the righteous by his power, even if it so be that the fulness of his wrath must come, and the righteous be preserved, even unto the destruction of their enemies by fire. Wherefore, the righteous need not fear; for thus saith the prophet, they shall be saved, even if it so be as by fire.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 will 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 the Lord will surely prepare a way for his people, unto the fulfilling of the words of Moses, which he spake, saying: A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass that all those who will not hear that prophet shall be cut off from among the people.(Book of Mormon | 1 Nephi 22:16 - 20)
Now
I will speak to you by the power of the Holy Ghost the words and thoughts that The Lord has put in my mind and
in my heart from the teaching we received in all meetings at church even today.
The seed has been planted and it has commenced to germinate. What I am about to declare is but a weak
gleam of heavenly light that I have been able to capture from the inspired
talks and teachings of my brethren; which I am not short nor do I shrink from
documenting.
These
words and thoughts are supported by the law and the testimony or the authority
of God the almighty and by the dreams and visions he shows to me while I sleep.
Last
night or this morning, I dreamed a dream in which I conversed with a young
apostle or prophet of the LORD Jesus Christ before the commencement of general
conference of the church. As we entered the great conference room we parted
ways. He took his place at the stand of the general authorities of the church thru
the gates at the entrance of the prophets; and I went thru the same gate but to
look for a place to sit in the midst of the congregation. Then, not soon after
all the seats were filled, the conference session started.
I
initially heard a great deal about the technological advancements that the
church has implemented; and all the communication devices or bugs placed all
over the place, even in the administrators chambers to listen and to project
all their conversations including the private ones to which privacy intrusion I
was perplexed to behold. Then as the first speaker remarks, I saw an infrared
holographic projection near the teleprompter; and in the projection thereof was
the image of a caricature of the moose Bullwrinkle. And when I saw that, I said to myself, these
people are teaching or being given into fictitious fables or senseless stories.
It clearly reminded me of the scriptures or of the charge or charging words of
Paul to both Timothy and Titus for the reproving of the saints and to make full
proof of their ministry as an evangelist despite their youth, which redundant
words clearly state:
Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling; Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.(New Testament | 1 Timothy 1:4 - 7)For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. This witness is true.Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.(New Testament | Titus 1:10 - 16)
I CHARGE thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.(New Testament | 2 Timothy 4:1 - 5)
Then, after I perceived their infrared and holographic fables, the conference session ended and we were having lunch at one of many tables that reassembled the table of Christ at the last supper.
I
saw there walking by a lot of officials of the kingdom or general authorities as
in gale uniform. And at the table I was, there appeared a hand and a voice by
which I given an assignment to make a perfect compass or a right angle on a
white piece of paper by following perfectly the dotted lines.
It
was a difficult assignment for no one is perfect but the LORD, but I did not
shrink from it, or to which I did as instructed. As I drew the right angle on
the white piece of paper, the endowment garment mark on the right side of my
breast came to mind. And the words exactitude and honor in keeping the
covenants entered into this day sounded in my ear. As I finished the project,
the pencil I was using begun to distill droplets of red ink or blood which
immediately reminded of the atoning sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ. I saw a
teaching opportunity. At that precise moment I was given righteousness. And then
I began to teach or to recite to my nearby hearers about the intense suffering
of the Son of God in Gethsemane and at the cross. I told them and showed them that the red ink
that smeared the contour of the compass or square represented the feet of
Christ or his foot stool. And that if he bleed and hurt so much at his feet,
how greater must have he bleed and suffered at his face.
And
at that very moment when I remembered my Lord's intense suffering, I was filled
with the Holy Ghost and stepped out of the bench and fell on my knees with my
face towards the floor the direction of my head towards the East. And in that attitude in a shameless
outpouring, I began to pray aloud with strong crying and supplication even in
the midst of all the people present. And pleaded or begged God to forgive us
all. But in the dream, I did not know for what sins of the people I had pleaded
The Lord to forgive them; and then after the prayer, I believe the dream ended
and I woke up before dawn.
All
I could remember when I woke up with tears on my eyes was the words of the
apostle James when he said that the effectual prayer of a righteous man availed
much. And also the words of Joseph Smith when he said once that a large ship is
benefited much by a small helm to steer it.
Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.James 5:16You know, brethren, that a very large ship is benefited very much by a very small helm in the time of a storm, by being kept workways with the wind and the waves. Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed.(Doctrine and Covenants | Section 123:16 - 17)
And
when I had pondered about it all, it was still resounding in my mind as if heaven
was still speaking to me. And I also heard as if the very Lord of heaven and
earth was calling me by my very own name and he said to me:
"Verily thus saith the Lord unto you my servant Thomas: I have heard thy prayers; and thine alms have come up as a memorial before me, in behalf of those, thy brethren, who were chosen to bear testimony of my name and to send it abroad among all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, and ordained through the instrumentality of my servants." D&C 112:1
Of
course my name is Miguel not Thomas but Miguel, and I the least of my brethren
in the kingdom of my father that I have no place at their in their midst or
much less at their honorable table. I
don’t know why I was in that conference meeting and in the midst of such fine
and important people. And you may also supposes that me telling you my dream is
foolishness in me, but it is my purpose to make manifest what others before me
have said and done. They have said that by small and simple things greater
things are brought up to bear by the LORD. And that in many instances, by small
mediums or people of low degree, caliber or social status like me, or like
Paul, or like Alma the younger and his companions, the LORD brings about that
which is great, which is the salvation of many souls.
Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise."Alma 37:6
As
far as I can see thru the window of heaven, we are living in the days of the restoration of all things.
But we are not necessarily making history but repeating it with all its gloom,
doom, aches and pain. Today, we are
entering a phase in which instead of law and sound principles, children are
subduing their fathers and in which their women are ruling over them or else. In
other words, it appears that men will not do anything or take action in their
homes without the approval or discomfort of their children and the ok of their
wives as if life eternal centered in keeping them content and not in Christ. We
are as a church supporting iniquity, by not taking a stand and by willfully
conceding with world organizations like the Boy Scouts of America and their
newly embraced and declared wicked and nefarious practices to allow our
children to be lead by gays and lesbians as if there were no consequences. By
do doing we are mixing Gymnasium with milk of Magnesium which leads to the
foulest diarrhea excrement and vomit even in the holiest of all places. To this
the LORD has said that there is no place clean and that all tables are full of
vomit. And for this, Ephraim and its prophets reap disaster for being
delusional and for rejecting the standing revelation and the laws of GOD.
The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, shall be trodden under feet: And the glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fat valley, shall be a fading flower, and as the hasty fruit before the summer; which when he that looketh upon it seeth, while it is yet in his hand he eateth it up.
In that day shall the LORD of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people, And for a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment, and for strength to them that turn the battle to the gate. But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean.(Old Testament | Isaiah 28:3 - 8)
GREAT TRIALS LIE AHEAD: BE PREPARED FOR TRIBULATIONS AND DESTRUCTION THAT SOON SHALL BE
This is Evraham Gilead’s interpretation of those very verses and his witness is true.
Ephraim and its prophets reap disaster for being delusional and for rejecting divine revelation.1 Woe to the garlands of gloryof the drunkards of Ephraim!Their crowning splendor has become as fading wreathsonthe heads of the opulent overcome with wine.
Chapters 28-31, which form a didactic unit comprising Part VI of Isaiah’s Seven-Part Structure (Isaiah 28-31; 55-59), each commence with a “woe” or covenant curse. Ephraim’s chief sins of pride and drunkenness catch up with Israel’s birthright tribe in Jehovah’s Day of Judgment. Instead of acknowledging current inconvenient truths, the people of Ephraim look back on past glories earned in more righteous times as if they still apply today. Ephraim’s self-deception, stemming from intoxication with “wine” at the highest levels, compounds the hard times that lie ahead (v 7; Isaiah 56:10-12).
2 My Lord has in store one mighty and strong:as a ravaging hailstorm sweeping down,
The imagery of “a ravaging hailstorm sweeping down” and of “an inundating deluge of mighty waters” identifies the king of Assyria/Babylon and his alliance of aggressor nations (Isaiah 8:7-8; 17:12; 18:2). A second “one mighty and strong” in the Book of Isaiah is Jehovah’s servant, who makes an end of him at the last. Although Jehovah provides a refuge for a repentant remnant of his people against the storms of their enemies (Isaiah 4:6; 25:4-5; 57:13), he empowers the archtyrant—Jehovah’s (left) hand—over “the drunkards of Ephraim” to cast their illustriousness to the ground (cf. vv 1, 3).
3 The proud garlands of the drunkards of Ephraimshall be trodden underfoot.4 And the fading wreaths, the crowns of gloryon the heads of the opulent,shall be like the first-ripe fruit before summer harvest:Ideas that link the king of Assyria/Babylon to these verses are Jehovah’s people being “trodden underfoot” (Isaiah 10:5-6; 63:6) and the timing of Assyria’s assault as early summer (Isaiah 16:9-10; 18:5). Ephraim’s former “crowns of glory”—now mere “fading wreaths” on the heads of a later generation—aren’t enough to prevent Assyria’s desolating invasion. The enemy alliance promptly “devours” or “swallows up” (yibla‘enna) Ephraim’s produce. Jehovah’s Day of Judgment humbles Ephraim’s “opulent” (ge’e semanim)—literally “fat proud ones”—both political and ecclesiastical (v 7; Isaiah 17:3-6).5 In that day shall Jehovah of Hosts be as a crown of beauty and wreath of glory to the remnant of his people:6 a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment,a source of strength to those who repulse the attack at the gates.
Whereas the main body of Ephraim suffers covenant curses (vv 2-4, 17-22), a remnant of “his people”—Jehovah’s covenant people—rallies to finally oust the Assyrian power. These take no praise to themselves for their heroic deeds but rather give Israel’s God the praise, acknowledging him as their “crown of beauty” and “wreath of glory” (Isaiah 26:12; 63:7). Those who sit in judgment and minister “justice” in that day—superseding his people’s leaders who wrought injustice—are Jehovah (Isaiah 33:22; 51:5), his servant (Isaiah 9:6-7; 16:5; 42:1-4), and certain righteous judges (Isaiah 1:26; 32:1).
7 These too have indulged in wine and are giddy with strong drink: priests and prophets have gone astray through liquor.They are intoxicated with wine and stagger because of strong drink; they err as seers, they blunder in their decisions.8 For all tables are filled with vomit; no spot is without excrement.
As the political and ecclesiastical leaderships of Jehovah’s people always appear on a par (Isaiah 3:2-4; 9:14-16; 24:2), so Ephraim’s “fat proud ones” (vv 1, 4) include its “priests,” “prophets,” and “seers” (Isaiah 56:10-12). Intoxicated with the wine of self-deception (v 15), they “stray,” “err,” and “blunder” in their policies. Instead of obtaining revelation from Jehovah (vv 9, 14, 16, 26, 29), they water down his word until it is ineffectual in empowering his people (vv 10-13; Isaiah 32:6). The best their spiritual feasts offer is “vomit”—partly digested food regurgitated for Jehovah’s people to consume.
Thus, we have thus far seen that even at church at all levels with the uprising of the sodomites and women liberation or feminist movements, we are yelling to peer pressure, sin and the temptation of being politically correct, but a what expense? And for fear of the world, our leaders are forsaking not only the priesthood but the order of heaven. I have heard at church and read also that in our church women are being called to executive and permanent positions that were previously only head by priesthood holders. This is indeed an inspired and prophetic restoration move by our church leaders, but not necessarily a faith building one or for the better. This is a restoration of the ancient days or wickedness when the children of Israel allowed themselves to be oppressed by their children and guided and ruled by the will of their women. I had dreamed it before, but today I saw with my own eyes a woman at church carrying in the hallway the sacrament trays which she should not even touch, even if it was only for a teaching assignment. To this end there are visual aids and presentation. But In the dream I had of it many days ago, I even saw them administering the sacraments to the congregation. What’s going on here, I have asked the LORD? And he has replied:
As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths." Isaiah 3:12
As
for my people, kids subdue them; and women lord over them. O my people, your
leaders are misleading you, they are perverting your traditional priesthood and
morally proven ways.
With
regards to this travesty of both secular and religious leadership in our midst:
"As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women, this is what
Abraham Gileadi's in his apocalyptic commentary and I in parenthesis have to say:
By using the covenant formula “my people . . . my people” (cf. Exodus 6:7; Leviticus 26:12; Isaiah 51:16), Jehovah shows that he seeks to reclaim his people ( saints ) to the very last from their corrupt condition.While the parallel terms “babes” and “women” may be intended literally, they undoubtedly convey a caricature of men (in our leadership just like the characters from the notorious yet failed series, Rocky and Bullwrinkle ) who are spiritually immature or less than men ( these are incapable rulers, like ancient Barack who shrank to wield the sword of justice in defense of truth and virtue on his own, and who instead he shared his due leadership role and own responsibilities with women) in their personal lives. (and leaders who are afraid of the criticism of being politically incorrect, these are souls that crave for heroes and overlords or taskmasters and overseers to do the dirty work they are supposed to do.)Their oppressive leadership in “misleading” Jehovah’s people—“abolishing” (well-proven principles and established moral guidelines—by ancient prophets and by yielding to public demand and political pressure, the leaders of the people lay the foundation for their own destruction) , they causes their society to disintegrate, leaving them all vulnerable to (imminent peril) disaster. What type of disaster? First, they will incur in spiritual famine and then intense persecution and the destruction for apostasy. Hence the scripture says:
BEHOLD, the LORD maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof. And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest; as with the servant, so with his master; as with the maid, so with her mistress; as with the buyer, so with the seller; as with the lender, so with the borrower; as with the taker of usury, so with the giver of usury to him. The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled: for the LORD hath spoken this word.The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do languish.The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.The new wine mourneth, the vine languisheth, all the merryhearted do sigh. The mirth of tabrets ceaseth, the noise of them that rejoice endeth, the joy of the harp ceaseth. They shall not drink wine with a song; strong drink shall be bitter to them that drink it. The city of confusion is broken down: every house is shut up, that no man may come in. There is a crying for wine in the streets; all joy is darkened, the mirth of the land is gone. In the city is left desolation, and the gate is smitten with destruction.(Old Testament | Isaiah 24:1 - 12)
This
also brings me or reminds me both of the words of Hosea when he said that we
would have healed Israel when the Lord suddenly remembers the sin of Samaria
and declares that Ephraim had mixed itself with the people by sharing and
consenting in the abominations that make the land desolate. And it also reminds
me vividly of the words Alma
when speaking to his son Corianton about similar ordeals of people in his days
trying to justify their wickedness, and more importantly when the prophet
declares that the word restoration is more detrimental to the wicked than for the
righteous for wickedness is restored to the wicked. These people think that the
LORD is only a GOD afar and not a GOD of near, that he does not know his
immediate wickedness and how the newer leaders destroy the counsels of the
ancients making it as if it were possible a new order of heaven. And instead of
restoring the GLORY to Israel,
by their doings they declare their sin of idolatry and adulation to their
leaders as if they were infallible princes and giving them the reverence that
only belongs to GOD. And by so doing, instead of the LORD restoring unto us thru
them the ancient the ancient Glory of Israel, they restore unto us the predicaments
and curses that will precede the devastation and desolations previous to the
coming of GOD in power, glory and majesty. For so it is written and you all know that
this counsel does not come from me but from the LORD, foe thus has he said:
"When I would have healed Israel, then the iniquity of Ephraim was discovered, and the wickedness of Samaria: for they commit falsehood; and the thief cometh in, and the troop of robbers spoileth without. And they consider not in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness: now their own doings have beset them about; they are before my face. They make the king glad with their wickedness, and the princes with their lies. They are all adulterers, as an oven heated by the baker, who ceaseth from raising after he hath kneaded the dough, until it be leavened. Hosea 7:1-4
"And now behold, is the meaning of the word restoration to take a thing of a natural state and place it in an unnatural state, or to place it in a state opposite to its nature? O, my son, this is not the case; but the meaning of the word restoration is to bring back again evil for evil, or carnal for carnal, or devilish for devilish--good for that which is good; righteous for that which is righteous; just for that which is just; merciful for that which is merciful." Alma 41:12-13
"For that which ye do send out shall return unto you again, and be restored; therefore, the word restoration more fully condemneth the sinner, and justifieth him not at all." Alma 41:15
What
this means to me is that in this society in which we now live, even in the
dispensation of the fullness of times, not only priesthood keys and ancient
powers and wonders are restored to the people, but also curses and ancient
punishments like the law of Talion as a result of unbelief and social
degeneration. Are we not as Sodom
and Gomorra even today? Was not the land of Jerusalem and its people in ancient
times also called by the LORD thru his prophets Sodom and Gomorrah and for which
they ripped desolation, persecution, famine, pestilence, and destruction by the
swords, deportation and dispersion? As in ancient Israel
in the land of Jerusalem,
The LORD has seen folly and idolatry in the professors of America and in
the prophets of his people. They follow their own counsel and stay not upon the
revealed truth. Instead of succoring the poor, they attend social gathering and
meeting praising the professional, strengthening the hands of evil doers just
like in ancient times. They are the type that say, all is well in Sión, do this
and do that, sin a little, join the wicked, mingle with the world, support
iniquity, denounce no sin, judge no one, there is no harm in that. And this is
how they flatter you so you do not scorn them as you scorn me for declaring
your sins and iniquities. And because of this the LORD will feed them wormwood
to declare in public their horrible sin of Adultery and their profanity. I myself
have seen it.
Thieves steal cash, credit cards from pastor Joel Osteen’s megachurchPolice said nobody has been arrested in the theft at Lakewood Church.
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And I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria; they prophesied in Baal, and caused my people Israel to err.
I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness: they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah.Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts concerning the prophets; Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, and make them drink the water of gall: for from the prophets of Jerusalem is profaneness gone forth into all the land.Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD.They say still unto them that despise me, The LORD hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you.(Old Testament | Jeremiah 23:13 - 17)
Thus, the prophet Joseph Smith once said that this church, even the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saint will never have false prophets, if any, only fallen ones and in his decor and humility, he the then living prophet of GOD did not exclude the possibility of being a fallen prophet himself. Nor did Abinadi, a tue prophet or son of GOD very much like unto Christ, considered himself infallible, but none but one believed his report when he said:For these are they whose sins he has borne; these are they for whom he has died, to redeem them from their transgressions. And now, are they not his seed? Yea, and are not the prophets, every one that has opened his mouth to prophesy, that has not fallen into transgression, I mean all the holy prophets ever since the world began? I say unto you that they are his seed.(Book of Mormon | Mosiah 15:12 - 13)
I have read many instances in which the living and kind LORD rebuked him and his companions severely and demanded of them to set their own houses in order or else. But in these latter days, no one declares the fault in our stars for fear of scorn, excommunication and retribution. And in so doing, because they lack the spirit of revelation they condone and support iniquity that one way or another contaminates us all. Have we not all at one point or another in our lives in a greater or lesser degree doubted our own standing with GOD and gone astray and departed from the LORD?
YEA, even doth not Isaiah say: Who hath believed our report, and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground; he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him there is no beauty that we should desire him.He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we, like sheep, have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquities of us all.He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb so he opened not his mouth.He was taken from prison and from judgment; and who shall declare his generation? For he was cut off out of the land of the living; for the transgressions of my people was he stricken.And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no evil, neither was any deceit in his mouth.Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief; when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.He shall see the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied; by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death; and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bore the sins of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.(Book of Mormon | Mosiah 14:1 - 12)
Thus
we can see, that even in our midst, the prophet of GOD in his rightful place can
be both a restorer of blessings and a prophet of doom and gloom at the same
time. Our prophet, Thomas S Monson has said time and again that decisions
determine destiny. If we do and chose what is right, The Lord will restore thru
him to his people in accordance to the heed and diligence we give to his
counsel both the early and the later rain.
And
if we don't give heed to the mouthpiece of the LORD, The Lord will restore even
thru the living and benevolent prophet, gloom and doom. They are here to
minister and to administer faithfully the will and pleasure of God for better
or for worst. This if we don't pray and truly support our leaders with due
diligence and devotion as the directors or Liahona they are to us, they will
gives not what we need but what we deserve. They may have received consoling
and healing revelation the night before, but depending on our attitudes, he may
give us what he intended not like it happened to president packer when he was
to give a talk at a university setting. After the talk he declared that the
LORD has changed his message on the spot as a result of the students taking
lightly his counsel to gather nearer to him.
They,
our apostles and prophets exist to lead us back home to Zion, but if we are
slothful and careless to their counsel, contrary to our will and popular belief,
they will leads us to the brink of hell and some of our so called saints or faithful
brethren will be more than happy do disembark there. This revelation should make us fear and
tremble exceedingly as it did to Lehi and his company when they became licentious
and forsook to give proper heed and diligence to the directors of the Liahona.
I
am not here trying to counsel The Lord but putting my self to his disposition.
Like most of my brethren in the church, I am embarked in the Old Ship of Zion.
I know to which port I and my family must disembark. I am not concerned by the
decisions of the captain nor the direction of the ship even if we are heading
to the brink of hell, for I know that hell is the port of some but not our
final destination. NO one needs to tell me that the prophet will never lead the
church astray, because he can if the LORD tells him so. If we are afraid of
hellfire, the LORD is going to chose our fears and send us there even if it is
just to learn that the only thing that we should fear is GOD and not flesh or
hell. The Lord is at the helm of his church, and he
has said that we should take a stand in holy places. And he has also said as a
result of our prayers that if we are prepared we shall not fear. I esteem my brethren
as myself and no flesh is greater or lesser in my sight. We are all fallible
and corruptible from the least to the great in our midst. The priesthood of my brethren
is the same priesthood I hold, their office in the church does not make them
greater or me less then them. I know I speak the truth of GOD for so I was
commanded to write by the gift and power of GOD that he bestowed upon me. The spirit
of GOD prompts me to tell you these things with all the energy of my soul. I am here in all humility under the direction
of the Holy One, who is without beginning of days or end of years, I am here to
plead your cause, to fight your battles and to warn you and to forewarn you
with the sound of a TRUMP and say:
And again I say unto you, let every man esteem his brother as himself.For what man among you having twelve sons, and is no respecter of them, and they serve him obediently, and he saith unto the one: Be thou clothed in robes and sit thou here; and to the other: Be thou clothed in rags and sit thou there—and looketh upon his sons and saith I am just?Behold, this I have given unto you as a parable, and it is even as I am. I say unto you, be one; and if ye are not one ye are not mine.And again, I say unto you that the enemy in the secret chambers seeketh your lives.Ye hear of wars in far countries, and you say that there will soon be great wars in far countries, but ye know not the hearts of men in your own land.I tell you these things because of your prayers; wherefore, treasure up wisdom in your bosoms, lest the wickedness of men reveal these things unto you by their wickedness, in a manner which shall speak in your ears with a voice louder than that which shall shake the earth; but if ye are prepared ye shall not fear.(Doctrine and Covenants | Section 38:25 - 30)
"And it came to pass that he did inquire of the Lord, for they had humbled themselves because of my words; for I did say many things unto them in the energy of my soul. And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came unto my father; and he was truly chastened because of his murmuring against the Lord, insomuch that he was brought down into the depths of sorrow. And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord said unto him: Look upon the ball, and behold the things which are written. And it came to pass that when my father beheld the things which were written upon the ball, he did fear and tremble exceedingly, and also my brethren and the sons of Ishmael and our wives. And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld the pointers which were in the ball, that they did work according to the faith and diligence and heed which we did give unto them. And there was also written upon them a new writing, which was plain to be read, which did give us understanding concerning the ways of the Lord; and it was written and changed from time to time, according to the faith and diligence which we gave unto it. And thus we see that by small means the Lord can bring about great things. 1 Nephi 16:24-29
"And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit. Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.James 5:15-20
This
is my errand for your and me this day. This burden was laid upon me this very
day which I declare to you. I have not thought or planned any of these words.
They have come like the dew of the morning upon the grass and have ended like a
torrent from heaven, even as a tempest of hails or storm. How long shall the waters remain foul and what
shall prevent me from speaking the will of GOD? This is his will and word which
I declare to you for your instruction, not by way of command or constraint, but
by way of knowledge and of wisdom that distills from heaven. Behold, many are
called, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen? I know the Holy Ghost
has been my constant companion as I write these things to you by pure knowledge
that flows from the priesthood and from heaven, trusting only in the mind,
power and mercy of GOD and his son, even the LORD Jesus Christ whom I serve and
glorify with a single eye to his glory. And the revelation does not cease raining,
for so the spirit that is in me constrains me to write:
How long can rolling waters remain impure? What power shall stay the heavens? As well might man stretch forth his puny arm to stop the Missouri river in its decreed course, or to turn it up stream, as to hinder the Almighty from pouring down knowledge from heaven upon the heads of the Latter-day Saints.Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen?Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men, that they do not learn this one lesson—That the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness.That they may be conferred upon us, it is true; but when we undertake to cover our sins, or to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man.Behold, ere he is aware, he is left unto himself, to kick against the pricks, to persecute the saints, and to fight against God.We have learned by sad experience that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion.Hence many are called, but few are chosen.No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned;By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile— Reproving betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and then showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward him whom thou hast reproved, lest he esteem thee to be his enemy; That he may know that thy faithfulness is stronger than the cords of death.Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven.The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth; and thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever.(Doctrine and Covenants | Section 121:32 - 46)
This
is not my voice, but the voice of the wise of whom I am but an unworthy declarer or story teller and scribe. And these
things I say humbly and meekly, and I do it as one having authority before GOD,
angels and these witnesses, in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Attentively
yours from an unworthy servant in the hands of Christ
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