Thursday 30 April 2015

Official Statement: Earthquke in Nepal

The Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ would like to extend our deepest sympathies with Nepal. Our thoughts and deepest and most earnest prayers are with all those in Nepal effected by the impacted of Saturday’s deadly earthquake. Our hearts break with those that have lost loved ones. We pray that God almighty my be with all those effected and that he may have his spirit to be with them and to comfort the country as a whole at this tragic time. We will do all in our power to try and help the best we can, with prayers, fasting and donations to the red cross. God Bless you all.
 
The Office of The Prophet of The Church

Sunday 26 April 2015

Official Statement: Priesthood Exstended to Sister Alyson Gill

The church has called and found worthy Sister Alyson Gill, mother of the prophet to stand as the Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ's Compassionate Service Coordinator and also to be called to the Office of Priest within the Aaronic priesthood. As a church we are setting the standard of the Lord for his desire to call women to the Aaronic priesthood set out in 1843. With the call of sister Gill the Aaronic priesthood presence within the church has now increased and with it all the blessings that flow from this most special priesthood.
Office of The Prophet of The Church

Saturday 25 April 2015

Sermon: Our Search for Knowledge As a Spiritual Gift

In our search for truth to know God our Father in heaven, and in his Son Jesus Christ. Samuel the Lamanite who focused the definition of knowledge in religious terms. He taught:-
 
And this is according to the prophecy, that they shall again be brought to the true knowledge, which is the knowledge of their Redeemer, and their great and true shepherd, and be numbered among his sheep.
 
Book Of Mormon Helaman 15:13 
 
We also must consider our knowledge of good, and evil.
 
30 And now remember, remember, my brethren, that whosoever perisheth, perisheth unto himself; and whosoever doeth iniquity, doeth it unto himself; for behold, ye are free; ye are permitted to act for yourselves; for behold, God hath given unto you a knowledge and he hath made you free.
 
31 He hath given unto you that ye might know good from evil, and he hath given unto you that ye might choose life or death; and ye can do good and be restored unto that which is good, or have that which is good restored unto you; or ye can do evil, and have that which is evil restored unto you.
 
Helaman 14:30-31
 
Our desire for knowledge of God, and the guiding principles that will lead us in the direction to be with Him in the celestial kingdom will require a continued effort.Some of us can fall into a trap thinking that once we have reached a certain level of knowledge we have little further to go.  Should this ever be the case? Consider the following.
 
Alexander Pope was born to Alexander Pope Senior (1646–1717), a linen merchant of Plough Court, Lombard Street, London, and his wife Edith (née Turner) (1643–1733), who were both Catholics. Edith's sister Christiana was the wife of the famous miniature painter Samuel Cooper. Pope's education was affected by the recently enacted Test Acts, which upheld the status of the established Church of England and banned Catholics from teaching, attending a university, voting, or holding public office on pain of perpetual imprisonment. Pope was taught to read by his aunt, and went to Twyford School in about 1698/99. He then went to two Catholic schools in London. Such schools, while illegal, were tolerated in some areas.
 
Lines 215 to 232 of Pope's poem from his Essay on Criticism read:-
 
"A little learning is a dangerous thing; Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring: There shallow draughts intoxicate the brain, And drinking largely sobers us again. First at first sight with what the Muse imparts, In fearless youth we tempt the heights of Arts, While from the bounded level of our mind. Short views we take, nor see the lengths behind; But more advanced, behold with strange surprise. New distant scenes of endless science rise! So  pleased at first the towering Alps we try, Mount o'er the vales, and seem to tread the sky,  The eternal snows appear already past, And the first clouds and mountains seem the last; But, those attained, we tremble to survey. The growing labours of the lengthened way, The increasing prospects tire our wandering eyes, Hills peep o'er hills, and Alps on Alps arise!"
 
In Greek mythology, it was believed that drinking from the Pierian Spring would bring you great knowledge and inspiration. Thus, Pope is explaining how if you only learn a little it can "intoxicate" you in such a way that makes you feel as though you know a great deal. However, when "drinking largely sobers" you, you become aware of how little you truly know.
 
As we gain knowledge we will develop a greater understanding of His plan.
A greater knowledge of good, and evil.
A greater knowledge to know the will of God.
A greater knowledge to further the work of God.
A greater knowledge as a preparation for the hereafter.
I pray we will continue to realise our own limitations, and always seek for greater knowledge, and not become intoxicated with just a little knowledge. 
 
In the name of Jesus Christ Amen.
 
Apostle Elder  Peter Barber  

Sunday 19 April 2015

Sermon: Faith & Knowledge

I thought that it would be great if we should here from the Prophet Joseph Smith before we move in to our normal church sermons that are posted every week. There will be lots written and said about the early church this year and so this sermon taught by Joseph Smith would give us a very good example about the sorts of issues that the early church were going through. So I give the time over to Brother Joseph.
 
Sermon given by Joseph Smith, Jr. May 14, 1843, Hancock County, Illinois
(The Words of Joseph Smith, pp. 200-202.)

It is not wisdom that we should have all knowledge at once presented before us, but that we should have a little; then we can comprehend it. The prophet then read the second epistle of Peter, 1st chapter, 16th to last verse, and dwelt upon the 19th verse with these remarks.
 
The principle of knowledge is the principle of faith unto salvation. The principle of knowledge can be comprehended, for any one that cannot get knowledge to be saved will be damned. The principle of salvation is given to us through the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Salvation is nothing more or 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, he was to reign until he had put all enemies under his feet, and the last enemy was death. Perhaps there are principles here that few men have thought of. No person can have this salvation except through a tabernacle. Now, in this world, mankind are naturally selfish, ambitious, and striving to excel one above another, yet some are willing to build up others as well as themselves. So it is in the other world, there is a variety of spirits, some who seek to excel. And this was the case with the devil. When he fell, he sought for things which were unlawful, hence, he was cast down. And it is said he drew away many with him. The greatness of his punishment is that he shall not have a tabernacle. This is his punishment. So the devil, thinking to thwart the decree of God by going up and down in the earth seeking whom he may, destroys any person he can find that will yield to him. He will bind him and take possession of the body and reign there, glorying in it mightily, not thinking that he had gotten a stolen tabernacle. And by and by, some one of authority will come along and cast him out and restore the tabernacle to its rightful owner. But the devil steals a tabernacle because he has not one of his own. But if he steals one, he is liable to be turned out of doors.
 
Now there is some grand secret there, and keys to unlock the subject. Notwithstanding the apostle exhorts them to add to their faith virtue, knowledge, temperance, yet he exhorts them to make their calling and election sure. And though they had heard the audible voice from heaven bearing testimony that Jesus was the Son of God, yet he says we have a more sure word of prophecy, whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light shining in a dark place. Now wherein could they have a more sure word of prophecy than to hear the voice of God saying this is my beloved Son. Now for the secret and grand key. Though they might hear the voice of God and know that Jesus was the Son of God, this would be no evidence that their election and calling was made sure, that they had part with Christ, and they were a joint heir with him. They then would want that more sure word of prophecy that they were sealed in the heavens and had the promise of eternal life in the kingdom of God. Then having this promise sealed unto them, it was an anchor to the soul, sure and steadfast. Though the thunders might roll and lightning's flash and earthquakes bellow and war gather thick around, yet this hope and knowledge would support the soul in every hour of trial, trouble, and tribulation. Then, knowledge through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is the grand key that unlocks the glories and mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. Compare this principle once with Christendom at the present day, and where are they, with all their boasted religion and piety and sacredness? While at the same time, they are crying out against prophets, apostles, angels, revelation, prophesying, and visions, they are just ripening for the damnation of hell, they will be damned for they reject the more glorious principle of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and treat with disdain and trample under foot the main key that unlocks the heavens and puts in our possession the glories of the celestial world. Yes, I say such will be damned with all their professed godliness. Then I would exhort you to go on and continue to call upon God until you make your calling and election sure for yourselves by obtaining this more sure word of prophecy and wait patiently for the promise until you obtain it.
 
By Joseph Smith the Seer.

Saturday 4 April 2015

Official Statement: Why we Call it Passover and Not Easter

This weekend the whole of  the Christian world is celebrating Easter, many who believe are commemorating the resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, one of the most important events that has ever taken place on this earth. For many Christians around the world Easter is a forceful reminder of the life of Christ and his ultimate sacrifice. However the sad fact is that scores of people do not celebrate the real meaning of Easter at all, indeed it is a time for giving and receiving chocolate eggs giving no thought for the reason we have this holiday at all. Indeed the very word eater has become and in reality is a very real excuse to forget Christ. The Lord seeing all and knowing the evil and sinful nature of man has in his wisdom given us direction on how we are to celebrate and keep this most important time of the year. Once again the Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ will outline the true meaning of this wonderful time of year and explain why we call in Passover and not Easter.
 
The Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ is a Resurrection Church – a church celebrating and honouring with all dignity the atonement, sacrifice and resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ. The time of year set aside for such a remembrance has long been called “Easter.” But “Easter” did not always symbolize Christ's resurrection from the dead and the Christian meaning of the celebration was originally quite different from today’s celebration of eggs and bunnies.
 
The feast day of Easter was originally a pagan celebration of renewal and rebirth. Celebrated in the early spring, it honoured the pagan Saxon goddess Easter. When the early missionaries converted the Saxons to Christianity, the holiday, since it fell around the same time as the traditional memorial of Christ's resurrection from the dead, was merged with the pagan celebration, and became known as Easter. This is far from its original meaning. The first Christians honoured the Lord with reverence and dignity, without the admixture of paganism and frivolity. But the Church fell away, and was lost, only to be restored and resurrected once more in Ancient Britain, amongst the People of the Light, as has been revealed in modern times with the restoration and translation of the Book of Jeraneck. There, in Chapter sixteen, the Lord revealed to the Prophet Jeraneck, saying, “and I saw that he was in a garden and I saw that he bled from his skin and the Lord said unto me ‘Behold I bleed for you and your people behold I bleed for all that have lived and will ever live. I bleed and take upon my self the sins of the entire world.’ and then I saw that the people spat on him and whipped him and they placed thorns on his head and they nailed him to a tree in the form of a cross and there he died. And my heart sank that the people would do this. Now the Lord commanded me to look and I saw that he had risen from the dead and that he walked upon the earth once again and that he did many great things unto the people.”
 
Thus, the proper focus of this holy and sacred holiday was restored to His people. And again, the Lord appeared unto His people in the Americas, and in the Book of Mormon, the Lord testifies that there is a resurrection, “therefore the grave hath no victory, and the sting of death, is swallowed up in Christ.” (Mosiah Chapter 8)
 
In today’s restored Latter Day Church, which has been resurrected in our time just as it has been in ancient times amongst ancient peoples, these pagan additions have been stripped away from the original holiday and the wheat has been separated from the chaff, and the day is once again focused on the Lord’s sacrifice on our behalf. On the 8th of March 2007, He gave to His church a new revelation and outlined His will concerning the celebration of Easter. The Lord said:- "I, the Lord, am most displeased with the world for they have taken my sacrifice and they have desecrated it and they have set it at naught. Behold I say unto you that it is not pleasing unto me that Easter be celebrated amongst my church in the manner in which it is being done. … Wherefore come unto me at the time you call Easter and lay a feat at your table in my honour and lay upon the alter table well prepared and cooked lamb which is a similitude of me and also bring before me unleavened bread mixed with bitter herbs that you may remember that I suffered in the garden and upon the cross for you. Behold I say that this is not to take away the sacredness of the sacrament but it is to prove unto me that I, the Lord, am remembered amongst you and that my sacrifice is not set at naught.”
 
Therefore, we choose to obey the Lord, and to stand firmly with the traditional teaching of Easter, the New Passover of the Lord, who has commanded us to keep this celebration special and holy. It is not just another holiday to be spent in frivolity and overindulgence, but a celebration and remembrance of the Lord’s sacrifice for us.
 
In these last days the Lord has seen fit to call a people forth to set right what has for so long been in error. He has seen fit to enlighten humanity with more revealed scripture and has enabled us to read the words of others who also worshipped at the feet of Christ. And so today he has chosen to do away with the errors of the Easter season. In these last days the church of God has been commanded to set aside all the unrighteousness of Easter and has been commanded to remember the Passover of Christ from mortality to immortally from corruptible to incorruptible. The Feast of the New Passover is a true celebration of the true meaning of the celebration of a wonderful time of year named by the world as Easter. To all our members worldwide, we ask that you remember the words spoken in the Doctrine and Covenants when the Lord said:-“Hearken, O my servant, my Prophet, for verily I say unto you that I, the Lord, am most displeased with the world for they have taken my sacrifice and they have desecrated it and they have set it at naught. Behold I say unto you that it is not pleasing unto me that Easter be celebrated amongst my church in the manner in which it is being done. For it is a celebration that mocks me and it is done in memory of a pagan God. Now I say unto you that it is expedient unto me that these things are done away with and that they not be done in my name, for my name is sacred and shall not be cast down amongst the swine for them to feast upon.”
 
So let us brace ourselves to our duty to do as the Lord commands and leave behind all the trappings of Easter eggs and bunny rabbits and let us instead look to Christ, for He is our Lord and it is to Him that our minds must be turned this time of year. God bless you, my brothers and sisters, members of the Lord’s Resurrection Church in these Latter days, and may you all have a wonderful and happy and Christ-centred New Passover weekend.

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