The Law of Witnesses

Our dear living prophet in our world today is Matthew Gill.  He is a living witness to the fact that our Father in heaven and his Son Jesus Christ are real and living personages. At all times when the Lord has organised his kingdom on the earth in various parts of the earth there are, and always have been living witnesses called prophets. Nothing has changed in this respect. Words are a very important powerful tool, an instrument the Lord can use as words do not just affect our bodies, and emotions, but can penetrate our minds, and our spirits. Sometime they are never forgotten. Although our thoughts are our own, our words are never our own once they have been said.

Word Origin and History for witness. Old English witness "attestation of fact, event, etc., from personal knowledge;" also "one who so testifies;" originally "knowledge, wit," formed from wit (n.) + -ness. Christian use (late 14c.) is as a literal translation of Greek martyrs (see martyr). Witness stand is recorded from 1853.

c.1300, from witness (n.). Related: Witnessed; witnessing.

What does the Bible tell us about witnesses, let us see. The Bible tells us that:-

More than one witness is required in criminal cases (Deut. 17:6; 19:15). They were the first to execute the sentence on the condemned (Deut. 13:9; 17:7; 1 Kings 21:13; Matt. 27:1; Acts 7:57, 58). False witnesses were liable to punishment (Deut. 19:16-21). It was also an offence to refuse to bear witness (Lev. 5:1).

We learn from the Bible and the scriptures that our Lord Jesus Christ Himself was a living witness to the existence of our Father in Heaven. We believe in Almighty God (Heavenly Father) and in his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ and in the Holy Spirit. We, the Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ are the Latter Day continuation of the original Church of Jesus Christ established on earth by Jesus Christ and his Apostles, and restored by Joseph Smith, Jr in 1830. We know as Latter Day Mormon that in past ages, God began to speak to us through the Scriptures, the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. Today as in old God continues to speak to us through the Scriptures of the Book of Mormon, Doctrine & Covenants, the Book of Jeraneck, and continuing revelation through his living Prophet that has been placed on the earth today.

I have personally been in numerous lessons, discussions, and meetings with our living prophet. I have witnessed the fire, the irresistible motive for a belief or action that can give us all a profound desire to live the Lords gospel. To search, read, pray, and have an un-quenching desire to gain an unassailable knowledge.

In the book of John we read:-

 1 In the beginning was the gospel preached through the Son. And the gospel was the word, and the word was with the Son, and the Son was with God, and the Son was of God.

2 The same was in the beginning with God.

3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

4 In him was the gospel, and the gospel was the life, and the life was the light of men.

5 And the light shineth in the world; and the world preceiveth it not.

6 Then was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

7 The same came in to the world for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, to bear record of the gospel through the Son, unto all, that through him men might believe.

8 He was not that Light, but came to bear witness of that Light.

9 Which was the true Light, which lighteth every man who cometh into the world.

10 Even the Son of God. He who was in the world and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, only to them who believe on his name:

13 He was born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

14 And the same word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, this was he of whom I spake, He who cometh after me is preferred before me; for he was before me.

16 For in the beginning was the Word, even the Son, who is made flesh, and sent unto us by the will of the Father. And as many as believe on his name shall receive of his fullness. And of his fullness have all we received, even immortality and eternal life, through his grace.

17 For the law was given through Moses, but life and truth came through Jesus Christ.

(IVB New Testament John 1:1 - 17)

The Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ stands as the only true church of Christ upon the face of the earth and it is through the Lords anointed Prophet Matthew Gill that he has given us direction and has set right what was once torn down and has made what was hidden once again to stand in the light of truth. So with this the Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ is established and has brought forth new scripture called the Book of Jeraneck which stands as a witness to Christ along with the Bible and the Book of Mormon and we are ready to serve the Lord Jesus Christ and the Father of us all even God and to bring the world his truth and light again the path of mankind even unto salvation.

It is my prayer that we can with an open mind, and heart, search, pray, and read the Lord has decided to reaffirm his will, and give us all again an opportunity to comprehend, and live his revealed gospel through our living prophet.

I pray for these things. Amen

Elder Peter Barber