Sister Vicki Gill
Dear Brothers and sisters,
I was given a total of 2 days
to prepare this talk so please forgive me if it isn't as great as usual.
Just before Christmas I had
the pleasure and joy to take Levi to one of his football matches. I had to take
the two youngest with me as well and my plan was to keep them in the car nice
and warm. I took food and juice with us and had selected a wide range of DVD's
to play on our lovely Portable DVD players.
We had travelled halfway to
our venue when Leonardo asks me where the Players for the DVD's were. I told
him they were in the boot, I then asked Levi 'where are the DVD's', I didn't
remember putting them in the car but I remember giving them to Levi. Levi's response
was 'on the side in the hallway'. We had brought the players with us but
nothing to play on them, there was no way we could turn back and still make the
match on time.
So we get to the match and
the boys have to come out and watch. Whilst we are watching Levi, Leonardo
started talking about Christmas and about Jesus, and said that when we are old
we die and we go up to the clouds to live with Jesus. I said well... that the
spirit world was all around us, this confused Leo, so I said that really when
we die it is only our bodies that die, our spirits live with Jesus and our
bodies get buried and that the spirit world was all around us but we just
couldn't see it.
Leonardo still didn't quite
understand what I meant about our spirits.
I told him that heavenly
father created our spirits and that our mummies and daddies created the bodies
and that when we are born the spirit goes into the body to make it move, when
we die it is really our body that dies but the spirit lives on, without the
spirit our body, our flesh and blood can't work.
Bless Leonardo as he still
couldn't understand, he was getting there but not quite. Luckily we were
wrapped up as it was cold and he had his gloves on, so I told him again
heavenly father created our
spirits (show an ungloved hand) and that our mummies and daddies created the
bodies (show the glove) and that when we are born the spirit goes into the body
to make it move (put glove on and wiggle fingers), when we die it is really our
body that dies (remove glove) but the spirit lives on (show hand), without the
spirit our body, our flesh and blood can't work (flop the glove around trying
to make the fingers wiggle).
Leonardo loved this idea and
continued to put the glove on and off, whilst wiggling his fingers or flopping
the glove around.
The things you discuss by the
side of a football pitch.
In The name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
The Prophet Matthew Gill
Sons Of God
Not only were the Jews ignorant of these things; but the
gentiles also, (who profess to believe the gospel) seem to be ignorant of the
great principles that regulate the kingdom of God, and of the unspeakable privileges
of the "sons of God." As the peculiar privileges of the gospel have
long been banished from the church; as the light of revelation has long since
ceased to dawn upon the professors of Christianity; and as the followers of
Jesus have had no other landmark but that of the written word of God, perverted
by the enthusiastic zeal of uninspired partisans and religious bigots; who
however well meaning and sincere they might be, and however learned and
intelligent in other respects, had no means of obtaining correct religious
intelligence, nor a knowledge of the things of God. The world therefore must
necessarily be ignorant, for "faith comes by hearing," (not by
reading only,) and hearing by the word of God; and how can they hear without a
preacher; and how can he preach except he be sent,"
“To as many as believed to them gave he power to become
the sons of God, even to as many as believed on his name," is the
declaration of John. This declaration being made, it becomes us to enquire what
peculiar blessings are connected with this sonship? and what is the nature of
this heavenly boon referred to by John? "for says he, to as many as believed,
to them gave he power" evidently showing that if they did not believe,
they could not become the sons of God, neither could they without the
"true light" referred to by John:--he might be in the world, and the
world knew him not:--he might come to his own, and his own receive him not, but
nevertheless he was the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the
world, as it is written by the prophet of the Lord, "the light of truth;
which truth shineth. This is the light of Christ. as also he is the sun, and
the power thereof by which it was made. As also he is in the moon, and is the
light of the moon, and the power thereof by which it was made. As also the
light of the stars, and the power thereof by which they were made. And the
earth also, and the power thereof; even the earth upon which you stand. And the light which now shineth, which giveth you light, is through him who
enlighteneth your eyes, which is the same light that quickeneth your
understandings: which light proceedeth forth from the presence of God, to fill
the immensity of space. The light which is in all things; which giveth life to
all things; which is the law by which all things are governed: even the power of
God, who sitteth upon his throne, who is in the bosom of eternity, who is in
the midst of all things." Consequently, if in the world, there is any
wisdom, any intelligence, any true principle it all proceeds from the
"Father of Lights, in whom there is no variableness, nor shadow of
turning." All virtue, goodness, purity, righteousness that then may be in
the world emanates from him, the great fountain of blessings, and the dispenser
of every good; his blessings are scattered promiscuously over the universe; all
the human family participate in his benevolence, "he sends his rain on the
evil and on the good; and causes his sun to shine on the just and on the unjust
yet he does not bestow his sonship upon all; nor introduce the whole of the
human family to the nearness of that relationship.
To be a son of God, is to be born of God, not of blood,
nor of the will of the flesh but of God: to be related to, and be the son of
God. Paul says in writing to the Galatians, now ye are all the children of God,
by faith in Christ Jesus; for as many of you as have been baptized unto Christ,
have put on Christ" . . . . `and if you be Christs, then are ye Abraham's
seed, and heirs according to the promise." We may here pause--and ask,
what we inherit? says Paul, "ye are heirs of God and joint heirs with
Jesus Christ our Lord." Consequently we inherit great blessings; we are
conjointly with Christ the sons of God, and with him inherit like blessings
from the father; he is our brother--God is our Father; and hence in Gal, iv:4-7,
it is written, "But when the fullness of time was come, God sent forth his
son made of a woman--made under the law, to redeem them that were under the
law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.--And because ye are sons, God
hath sent for the spirit of his son into your hearts crying, abba, Father.
Wherefore thou art no more a servant but a son; and if a son, then an heir of
God through Christ." Through the atonement, and redemption wrought out by
him, and obedience to the law of the gospel.
There is a depth, a dignity and glory connected with this
subject that very few have had any idea of; but when rightly understood it has
a tendency to enlarge the heart, expand the capacity, to give us just, and
comprehensive views of the plans of Jehovah, and it justifies the ways of God
to man. Narrow prejudice and bigotry flees at its approach, and haggard
superstition hides its head in shame. It was a subject upon which the apostles
loved to dwell; and Paul in writing to the Galatians concerning their departure
from the simplicity of the gospel,--portrays the dignity, the freedom, the
blessings, and the glory of the sonship in striking and vivid colours; and when
contrasted with the folly, the weakness, and the absurdity of the gentile
superstitions; and the `beggarly elements of the world' presents a thrilling
discord.
It is an opinion that generally prevails in the religious
world that all people who have united themselves to a religious body, if it is
presumed that they have "got religion," are sons of God; an opinion
than which nothing could be more absurd or preposterous. That many individuals
have been serving God in different parts of the earth, and among different
sects of professing Christians, with all sincerity, diligence, and
faithfulness, we are free to admit; but to say that all those individuals, or
all those churches were sons of God, would be saying that which could not be
supported by the scriptures of truth: we doubt not their zeal;--we do not
question their diligence, nor their desire to do good: but there are certain
principles, which do not exist among them, which must necessarily be connected
with the sons of God. If a man is a son of God, he can comprehend the things of
God, enter into the designs of Jehovah, unravel the mysteries of the kingdom of God
Did this principle universally exist sectarianism would
fall and all the different systems of theology would crumble into ruin,
idolatry would not have an existence, and Islam would be annihilated;
Catholicism would be no more, the names of Presbyterian and Methodist would be
blotted out, and all the different parties whether found among the Muslims, the
heathens, or Christians all being taught of God; would possess the same
principles of intelligence, and whether in Europe, Asia, Africa, or America,
they would have the same system of theology; being taught by the same God,
instructed by the same spirit, and led into the same truths; and there would be
but the one church, which would be the universal church of the universal world.
For if God teaches one man he will teach him the truth; if two churches were to
receive his tuition they would no longer be two but one; and if he teaches the
world the world will be one. There is a principle of intelligence connected
with it that burns like a lamp in the bosom of its possessor:--chases away the
"gross darkness" with which the human mind has been enveloped, and
spreads a halo of glory around. Hence (says the apostle "because ye are
sons, God hath sent forth the `spirit of his son into your hearts."
Persons thus situated are "therefore no more strangers; but
fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;" possessing
a union and relationship to him which nothing but the fullness of the gospel
can impart; being no longer neither strangers nor servants, but sons.
There is a very material difference between a servant and
a son; the ties that bind a father and son together are much more sacred, and
binding than those which unite a master and servant. A father feels bound to
his child by paternal ties, to his servant he does not: a father expects from
his child a filial and an affectionate regard; but he expects a servant merely
to do his work, and pays him for his services. A father reveals unto his son
his purposes and designs, he does not acquaint a servant with them: a son
inherits his father's property, a servant does not--having received his wages
he has no further demand. Hence the reason of Paul's remark, "Wherefore
thou art no more a servants, but a son, and if a son then an heir of God
through Christ," and hence also the reason of our Saviour's remark. "Henceforth
I call you not servants but friends" (they were his brethren, and God
their father) "for the servants knoweth not what his Lord doeth; but I
have called you friends for all things that I have heard of my Father, I have
made known unto you." I have revealed it. I have obtained revelations from
the Father because I am his son: I have revealed them unto you because ye are
his sons also; and my brethren and friends; "no longer strangers, nor
aliens, but fellow-citizens." Christ had revelation, and they had revelation
also; because he revealed his Father's will unto them, and they were placed in
a situation to know the mind, the will, and purposes of God through the
sonship. The great distinction was that a servant did not know what his Lord
did, and a son did know; thus we see that a son of God has revelation, a
servant has not, and this is the grand difference between the sectarians, and
the Latter-Day Saints.
Take away the principle of revelation from the gospel and
it is stripped of its beauty, robbed of its glory, and like Sampson when his
locks were shorn, it is weak, feeble, destitute and powerless. Enoch understood
something of the principles and nature of this sonship, for he walked with God
and was not for God took him. Noah having revelations from God understood this principle; and Abraham also
being a son of God was made acquainted with the designs of his master, he had
revelations from God and knew what his master did. Isaac Jacob and Moses
possessed the same principle, and claimed the same relationship, there were
also numbers of them in Job's day, and we read that when the sons of God
presented themselves before God, satan also presented himself and the Lord
asked him, `from whence comest thou?' &c.; evidently shewing that the sons
of God, in those days, came into the presence of God and had communion with and
revelation from him. The Lord spake also unto Job and he answered and said, `I
have heard of thee, by the hearing of the ear; but now mine eye seeth thee:' in
fact we read of the sons of God before the flood and of their transgression
with the daughters of men; Gen. vi. In fact it is through the medium of this
relationship that men in different ages have had communicated unto them the
will, purposes, and designs of the great Jehovah; or that they know anything of
futurity, of God, heaven or hell. It is this principle that introduces men into
the presence of God, draws aside the curtains of futurity, unveils the beauties
of the eternal world, and enables man to gaze on the beatific sight, to behold
the dignity and glory of God, and to contemplate the future purposes of
Jehovah, as they shall roll forth in all their majesty, their dignity and
glory. The Jews were, for a season, placed under a schoolmaster until Christ; but when
he came he took all that would obey the gospel from under his tuition, took
away the veil that had long been on their hearts, and came "to redeem
those that were under the law that they might receive the adoption of
sons."
When the gospel was restored, and this sonship again
imparted, the heavens were again opened, and the visions of God unfolded; light
burst forth upon the human mind, "and life and immortality were"
(again) "brought to light by the gospel." Peter, James, and John saw
Jesus transfigured on the Mount, and Elijah and Moses talking with him; the
sick were healed, the blind received their sight, the lame leaped as an hart,
and the poor had the gospel preached to them; sectarianism trembled, and
bigotry stood ashamed, hypocrisy was unscathed and narrow prejudice stood forth
in all its native deformity; while truth stalked triumphantly and intelligence
spread like the rays of the sun.
The spirit of God rested upon the people, on the day of
Pentecost, "like cloven tongues as of fire;" men began to prophesy,
to dream dreams, and to see visions. Paul was caught up into the third heavens,
and heard things that were not lawful to utter. John on the isle of Patmos had the heavens opened to him; while prophesies
and revelations were poured forth upon the church, which led John to exclaim
"Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we
should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not because it
knew him not. Beloved now are we the sons of God and it doth not yet appear
what we shall be: but we know that when he shall appear we shall be like him
for we shall see him as he is." How did they get in possession of this
intelligence, but through the medium of this sonship, and the revelation and
intelligence communicated thereby? What have we had from that time to this, but
forms and theories;--the systems and dogmas of men without certainty, prophesy,
or revelation? It is true that many have sincerely desiring to do the will of
God; but they could only become his servants; because as the gospel has long since
become corrupt and departed, it has not been in their power to become the
"sons of God," however desirous they might be to avail themselves of
that privilege. It was not until our Saviour made his appearance among men,
that the Jews had "power to become the sons of God," and it was not
till the Lord revealed himself from the heavens, restored the priesthood and
the gospel in these last days, that men had power to become his sons; but as
the kingdom of heaven is now preached all men may rush into it, and avail
themselves of those glorious privileges which have long been forfeited in
consequence of the transgression and apostasy of the church. Cornelius was a
servant of God; he feared God together with all his house: he fasted, and
prayed, and gave alms, and his prayers, and his offerings were accepted before
God; and an angel was sent to him to tell him of it; he was as good, as
virtuous, as moral, as sincere and devout, as any man could be at the present
day; but he was not a son of God, he was only a servant; and it was necessary
after all his piety, and virtue, and religion, that he should send for Peter,
to tell him "words whereby he and his house could be saved," and so
at the present day it will be found that however devout, and sincere the
children of men may have been; that it is necessary that they should come to
the standard that God has set up, for the salvation of the human family in
these last days; repent and be baptized, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the
remission of sins, and have hands laid on them for the gift of the Holy Ghost,
by those whom God has ordained, before they can receive the adoption of sons,
participate in the glories of the gospel, and receive an inheritance in the
celestial kingdom of God.
In The Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
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