Sunday 27 September 2015

Sermon: Our Duty To The Book of Jeraneck

Brothers and sisters, I would like to speak about one of the most significant gifts given to the world in modern times. The gift I am thinking of is more important than any invention that has come out of this wonderful industrial and technological age. This is a gift of the greatest value to mankind than even the wonderful advances we have seen in modern medicine. It is of greater worth and value to mankind than the development of flight or even space travel. The gift I am speaking of is the gift of the Book of Jeraneck, given to mankind just nine short years ago. This gift was prepared by the hand of the Lord, then taken up by Him so that it would be preserved in its purity for our generation. Perhaps there is nothing that testifies more clearly of the importance of this modern book of scripture than what the Lord Himself has said about it. By His own mouth He has borne witness that it is true, that it contains the truth and His words, that has been translated by power from on high. The Book of Jeraneck contains a fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It was given by inspiration and confirmed by the ministering of angels, it gives evidence that the holy scriptures are true, and that those who receive it in faith shall receive eternal life.
 
The coming forth of the Book of Jeraneck came just aas the church and the new restoration was young. It was published to the world in 2007 and the church was given for the first time the records of a people who lived anciently in Britain, the Book of Jeraneck to read. This great book was given before many the new revelations outlining the complete doctrines of God. Doesn’t this tell us something about how the Lord views this sacred work? Once we realise how the Lord feels about this book, it should not surprise us that He also gives us solemn warnings about how we receive it. After indicating that those who receive the Book of Jeraneck with faith, righteousness, and a will to receive it, the Lord follows with this warning, “But those who harden their hearts in unbelief, and reject it, it shall turn to their own condemnation”.
 
The Lord has repeatedly warned us that we are not to treat this gift lightly but to embrace it and read it continually. Surely the Book of Jeraneck is a sacred thing, yet still today many have left it unread, in other words, they take it lightly, treat it as though it is of little importance. As a result of this attitude, those who do not read it have their minds darkened. they do not understand the greatness of this gift, or what it took to bring it forth. Not only by treating this sacred book lightly, they have a loss of light to themselves, because of this we as a church stand under condemnation, before God. Only faithful study and reading of this book can remove the condemnation and bring us closer to God. If we trifle with this record the record of Raynaeck that is to come will be held back until we are ready and until we have received the first. For we shall remain under this condemnation until we repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Jeraneck. Has the fact that we have had the Book of Jeraneck with us for nearly a decade now made it seem less significant to us today? Do we remember the new covenant, even the Book of Jeraneck? In the Bible we have the Old Testament and the New Testament. The word testament is the English meaning of a Greek word covenant. Is this what the Lord meant when He called the Book of Jeraneck his “new covenant”? It is indeed another  witness of Jesus Christ. If we remain under the rebuke of God for treating the Book of Jeraneck so lightly, how can we expect to be in receipt of greater light and knowledge? The Lord Himself bears testimony that the Book of Jeraneck is of eternal significance to our very souls. Can a small number of us continue to bring the whole Church under condemnation because we trifle with sacred things? What will we say at the Judgment when we stand before Him and meet His probing gaze if we are among those described as forgetting the new covenant that is The Book of Jeraneck? 
 
With this in mind let us embrace the new covenant that is The Book of Jeraneck and let us read and study the great material that has been given to us. many men died and sacrificed greatly to bring this to us, we owe them and ourselves to read it an to embrace it in our lives as Latter Day Mormons. If we continue down the rod that we are on then I have no words of comfort to give and the sacred words that have already been translated by the Elders of the church in recent weeks will be withheld form us until we have done our duty to the first.
 
I testify as the man who translated The Book of Jeraneck that it is a record which testifies of God that it does give us knowledge of a gripe of lost people who believed and loves God and wanted to serve him. If we will only open our hearts and read it words we will see that it brings us closer to god in all things. This testimony I leave with you hoping that it will not fall on deaf ears.
 
In The Name of Jesus Christ Amen.
Prophet Matthew P. Gill

Sunday 20 September 2015

Sermon: Tithing & Donations

I would like to direct my remarks to today to every tithe payer. What I have to say is applicable to all of us. It must be understood that God has held back the angels of destruction for many years, lest they should reap down the wheat with the tares. Today I want to tell you that those angels have left the portals of heaven, and they stand over this people and this nation now, and are hovering over the earth waiting to pour out the judgments of God. We all know that calamities and troubles are increasing in the earth, and there is a meaning to these things. My beloved brothers and sisters, in view of this revealed knowledge and understanding which the Lord has given concerning what is transpiring about us, is it not a glorious thing to have the assurance that if we will be obedient to the laws of God in particular the law of tithing, these destroying angels will pass us by, as they did the children of Israel, and not slay us.
 
The promised blessings for obedience to the law of tithing are innumerable and it is important that we stick to them rigidly. The Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ has been admonished to tithe a tenth of its surplus annually. This direction came down from the Lord in 1838 to the prophet Joseph Smith and so has come down to us today as a standing law unto the church. See Doctrine and Covernants section 119.
 
The prophet has stressed many times that there needs to be recognised amongst the church a difference between a tithe and a donation. The standing law of the church is that our tithing is to be paid annually and is to be a tenth of our interest or surplus, however a donation can be paid at anytime and can be paid in any amount. The church will not accept donations as tithing because it is not a tenth nor is it given annually. A donation given to the church is just that, a donation and as soon as it hits the church bank account it belongs to the church and is the responsibility of the Presiding bishop of the church to see that it is used in accordance with the wishes of the Lord with council from the prophet where needed. Donations given to the church are at the discretion of its members and at the behest of the prophet, no mention of donations is ever made of in a tithing settlement, they are a voluntary act unlike tithing which is expected of the faithful.
 
Tithing is not voluntary in any sense it is expected of all those that serve God, it is a prerequisite of faith and the Lord God expects it to be paid. The amount is unimportant as the Lord stresses in scripture that he only expects a tenth of our surplus allowing us to deal with our lives and dependants first and the what is left belongs to God. God could not be clearer in what he expects and so we have a duty to do what we have been asked of by God, indeed all we have comes from God we are nothing without him we owe him everything and so a tenth of our surplus no matter how small our large is essential in proving our worth unto God.
 
As a church we are firm believers that the Lord opens up the windows of heaven when we do our duty financially and pours out blessings upon us of a spiritual nature, which are of far greater value than temporal things. But I believe He also gives us blessings of a temporal nature as well. In closing let it be clear that without donations the church stands still. Donations should not be given as a status symbol, but given freely to the church and left to the church to use at is discretion. There should be no under the table deals or prerequisites attached to donations or else it becomes sordid and dirty and stops being for the Lord. Tithing is our duty and proves to the lord that we honour his laws and honour his commands.
 
So Let us go forward with renewed vigour to tithe and donate as a people given to God.
 
In The Name of Jesus Christ. Amen
Elder Paul Barber
Presiding Bishop

Saturday 12 September 2015

Sermon: The Measure of Life

The population of the world differ widely in wealth and understanding often by life chances – some have intellectual talents, popular personalities, riches, education, or physical attributes that make them shine whilst others are laboured by extreme poverty, bodily limitations low academic attainment, or other handicaps. The extremes both bad or good of our circumstances of birth, cannot be explained. We just don’t know enough about all the various facets. However we do know as church members we  benefit from some basic, eternal principles that effect everyone.
 
First, we are extremely fortunate, as members in having access to the most expanded gospel of any Christian church. Book of Mormon, Book of Jeraneck, Inspired version of the Bible, and Doctrine and Covenants. 'all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ my Lord' (philip3:8) In worldly terms the gulf between poor and rich is in some cases vast however, in gospel terms all who embrace the gospel are rich above measure.
 
Second, the gospel teaches us that mortality is not the nadir of our of our existence but the gaining of a true understanding of us being literal, intelligent spirit children of pre-mortal heavenly parents. Our pre-mortal life definitely was a catalyst for the traits we now show it also has something to do with our religious opportunities here. (Alma13:2-11) Third, God our heavenly father directs the time and to those conditions we are born (Acts17:24-27).
 
Regarding Gods purpose here Nephi observed 'the Lord loveth  the world and doeth nothing save it be for the benefit of the world'  Joseph Smith received incite in this when he prayed about circumstances in Liberty jail: 'Know thou, my son, that all  these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good' In the grand scheme of things our earthly conditions probably mean little other than obtaining a body however our creators input into our spirit is crucial.
 
Thirdly, our time of birth and conditions are directed by God (Acts 17:24-27) these are no accident it is all planned. Finally a basic principle to understand is that we should not envy others who appear to have an easier lot in life. What are perceived as advantages such as riches, fame, or influence, may be a severe trial. If not balanced correctly these things can be the cause of spiritual death. On the other hand trials and persecution can be blessings to those who have them. having to exercise faith in spiritual matters just to survive. Mortal life is nothing to what is ahead of us.
 
In glory of our eternal life and In The Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Phil Gill

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