Sunday 22 September 2019

Sermon By Sister Vicki Gill: Repentance


Repentance. Is it just saying sorry?

As children we are taught to say sorry when we have done something wrong. You bump into someone, you say sorry. You spill some paint, you say sorry. You say nasty or mean words to someone, you say sorry. You hit your brother or sister, you say sorry.
Most of the time our parents tell us to say sorry because ‘that’s what you should do’, sometimes we are told to say sorry even if we don’t mean it or don’t know why we are saying it.

Does Heavenly Father accept this way of ‘I’m sorry’ as repentance?
If we look through the scriptures it is repeated often, that to repent you must go down into the waters of baptism. Being baptised means that you have made a covenant with the lord that, you will be the best person that you can be, that you will aspire to gain entry to the highest glory in the highest kingdom. Jesus knew that this was not going to be possible unless he helped us in someway, Jesus bled in the garden of Gethsemane for the remission of our sins (Matthew 26:24) so that we may be able repent, to ‘say sorry’ for the things that we have done.

If we throw around our ‘I’m sorry’s’ the same way that we use the words ‘and’, ‘if’ and ‘but’, which are in almost every sentence that we speak, is our ‘I’m sorry’ worth the pain and suffering that Jesus went through for us, the answer is No.
In order for us to fully repent and be worthy of jesus’s sacrifice we have to
  • Know what we have done wrong, why we are repenting and saying I’m sorry.
  • Feel sorrow, not crying or pain. Real sorrow, deep within your chest, the whisperings of the Holy Ghost or your conscience telling you that something isn’t right.
  • Apologise to the person and make amends, really mean it.
  • Promise that you will aim to never do it again, then and only then can you ask forgiveness from the Lord.

Heavenly Father and Jesus know that mistakes can happen over and over again which is why we have the plan of salvation so that we can repent over and over again but we do need to learn from our mistakes and make sure that we caused Jesus no more pain than was absolutely necessary.

Should we only repent for the things that other people see?
The answer is simple… No.
We should repent for everything. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ see and know everything.

What things should we repent for?
Should we just repent for the big stuff? Should we just repent for the small stuff? We should repent for everything. If you have sinned then you should repent. Jesus came to earth not for the righteous but for the sinners so that they may be able to repent and be saved.

I found this talk very difficult; repentance is very simple yet also very complex.
Exodus Chapter 20 tells of Gods 10 Comandments, we all know them, but do we live them.

“Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
“Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image. …
“Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain. …
“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. …
“Honour thy father and thy mother. …
“Thou shalt not kill.
“Thou shalt not commit adultery.
“Thou shalt not steal.
“Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
“Thou shalt not covet.”

I can tell you now that should repent multiple times a day especially over the last one, Thou shalt not covet… oh how I covet… everyone does but I… we should learn to be happy with what we have been given, the bounties that Heavenly Father has bestowed upon us.

I know that this has not been the greatest talk you have every heard but I hope that it has been thought provoking.

I leave these words with you x

Sister Vicki Gill

Official Church Statement: Gods Laws Are Eternal


I stand before you today to address a very grave but important subject. That subject is the LGBT question and its place in the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. In doing so I stand before you as the First Elder and Prophet of The Restored Branch of Jesus Christ and nothing else.

It has come to my attention that certain things transpired at a recent BYU graduation in April and then at an address by the leader of the largest group within the restoration movement LDS church who spoke at a BYU conference on the 17th of this month to young adults concerning The Laws of God in which he addressed several issues but primarily the issue of the question of LGBT rights within the LDS church. The reason I am talking to you today about this is that I and many others agree that although the LDS church is the largest group by far in the restoration it does not represent the views of the other groups within that movement.

First came the talk by a graduating student in April who stood and announced publicly, for the first time during graduation, that he is “proud to be a gay son of God.”

Like Enos in the Book of Mormon, the student said, he too battled and fought in prayer with his maker countless times while a BYU student. He said and I quote:-

“It was in these quiet moments of pain and confusion that I felt another triumph, that of coming to terms, not with who I thought I should be, but who the Lord has made me. As such, I stand before my family, friends and graduating class today to say that I am proud to be a gay son of God.”

In response to this the audience cheered and applauded the student, who said coming out to his entire college “is a phenomenal feeling, and it is a victory for me in and of itself.”
The student in question went on to share several clips of his speech on Twitter later, saying he had told his closest friends and family members he was gay but felt it was important to share it publicly for himself and the LGBTQ+ community at BYU.

Then came the talk by President Nelson on the 17th of this month in which he encouraged those young people attending to defend the Laws and Policies of the church as the same thing. He spoke about the LGBT place within the said church and that in his words "The First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve have continued to seek the Lord’s guidance and to plead with him in behalf of his children...and clarifies that local church leaders should treat homosexual immorality the same as heterosexual immorality. In other words it is no longer a sin to be homosexual, Lesbian as long as within that relationship you do not commit immorality for example an immoral heterosexual act would be to commit adultery with anther partner that is not you're espoused. So it’s now LDS policy, as of President Nelson's recent talk to young adults that they will accept same sex couples as long as they are not engaging in immoral acts within that relationship. Paving the way forward for acceptance of Homosexual relationships being accepted in the LDS church. Yet further proof, if any was needed just how far out of touch with the laws of God and the restored gospel they really are. He made it very clear that this was now the policy of the church and that it was given from God because policy and law are the same thing now. This all makes sense of course if you know of the changes that they have recently made within their temple endowment when talking about marriage and espoused relationships. However in their own short past this has not been the case I cite four addresses two given by Gordon B Hinckley in 1995 and 1998 one given by Spencer W Kimball in 1977 and one given by Boyd K Packer in 2000.

There are those who would have us believe in the validity of what they choose to call same-sex marriage. Our hearts reach out to those who struggle with feelings of affinity for the same gender. We remember you before the Lord, we sympathize with you, we regard you as our brothers and our sisters. However, we cannot condone immoral practices on your part any more than we can condone immoral practices on the part of others.... “We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God (Gordon B. Hinckley 1995)

Question 2: What is your Church’s attitude toward homosexuality?
In the first place, we believe that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God. We believe that marriage may be eternal through exercise of the power of the everlasting priesthood in the house of the Lord.
People inquire about our position on those who consider themselves so-called gays and lesbians. My response is that we love them as sons and daughters of God. They may have certain inclinations which are powerful and which may be difficult to control. Most people have inclinations of one kind or another at various times. If they do not act upon these inclinations, then they can go forward as do all other members of the Church. If they violate the law of chastity and the moral standards of the Church, then they are subject to the discipline of the Church, just as others are.
We want to help these people, to strengthen them, to assist them with their problems and to help them with their difficulties. But we cannot stand idle if they indulge in immoral activity, if they try to uphold and defend and live in a so-called same-sex marriage situation. To permit such would be to make light of the very serious and sacred foundation of God-sanctioned marriage and its very purpose, the rearing of families. (Gordon B. Hinckley 1998)


The growing permissiveness in modern society gravely concerns us. Certainly our Heavenly Father is distressed with the increasing inroads among his children of such insidious sins as adultery and fornication, homosexuality, lesbianism.... God will not be mocked. His laws are immutable. Homosexuality is an ugly sin, but because of its prevalence, the need to warn the uninitiated, and the desire to help those who may already be involved with it, it must be brought into the open.
It is the sin of the ages. It was present in Israel’s wandering as well as after and before. It was tolerated by the Greeks. It was prevalent in decaying Rome. The ancient cities of Sodom and Gomorrah are symbols of wretched wickedness more especially related to this perversion, as the incident of Lot’s visitors indicates. We do not hesitate to tell the world that the cure for these evils is not in surrender.
“But let us emphasize that right and wrong, righteousness and sin, are not dependent upon man’s interpretations, conventions and attitudes. Social acceptance does not change the status of an act, making wrong into right. If all the people in the world were to accept homosexuality, … the practice would still be a deep, dark sin.” (The Miracle of Forgiveness, Bookcraft, p. 79.) (Spencer W. Kimball 1977)


With some few, there is the temptation which seems nearly overpowering for man to be attracted to man or woman to woman. The scriptures plainly condemn those who “dishonour their own bodies between themselves … ; men with men working that which is unseemly” (Rom. 1:24, 27) or “women [who] change the natural use into that which is against nature” (Rom. 1:26).
If you choose that course, the fountains of life may dry up. You will not experience the combination of love and struggle, the pain and pleasure, the disappointment and sacrifice, that love which, blended together in parenthood, exalts a man or a woman and leads to that fullness of joy spoken of in the scriptures. Do not experiment; do not let anyone of either gender touch your body to awaken passions that can flame beyond control. It begins as an innocent curiosity, Satan influences your thoughts, and it becomes a pattern, a habit, which may imprison you in an addiction, to the sorrow and disappointment of those who love. Pressure is put upon legislatures to legalize unnatural conduct. They can never make right that which is forbidden in the laws of God. Sometimes we are asked why we do not recognize this conduct as a diverse and acceptable lifestyle. This we cannot do. We did not make the laws; they were made in heaven “before the foundation of the world” We are servants only. (Boyd K. Packer 2000)

What can be said? These men profess to be Apostles of God, they profess to stand in his name and to receive revelation from him, but the God they serve is not the God of scripture he is not the God of the early church under direction from the prophet Joseph Smith. Their God can and does change his mind and direction as and when the wind blows. The LDS church has fallen. It has fallen for Satan and his lies and what was true for them yesterday is not true for them today, what was law for them yesterday is not law for them anymore. They swing with the wind blowing to and fro and the buffeting's and lies of Satan have them truly in his grasp.

Let me be clear. The new view of the laws of God as espoused by the LDS church and its leadership do not represent the views of other restoration churches, indeed they do not represent the views of this church. We may read the same books of scripture in regards to the Book of Mormon etc but we have a completely different understanding of sin and LGBT sin and the danger it poses to the institute of marriage and the family. The scriptures are very clear on this point. Let me share just a few with you so that you are in no doubt what the Lord and saviour and our Father in Heaven really believe on this issue. First in The Book of Jeraneck we read the story of the wicked King Rendonaneck and it says in chapter 13: 14

14. And he loved the company of men also and the men would
shower him with great gifts in exchange for title and land and unnatural carnal pleasure.

Rom 1:21-27 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God; neither were they thankful, but became vain in their imaginations; and their foolish hearts were darkened.
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things.
24 Wherefore, God also gave them up to uncleanness, through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves,
25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
26 For this cause, God gave them up unto vile affections; for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature;
27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another--men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet.
In Leviticus we read in chapter 18:22

22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind; it is abomination.

Again in Leviticus in chapter 20:13 we read.

13 If a man also lie with mankind as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination;

In the first book of Corinthenians we read from chapter 6:9-10
9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners shall inherit the kingdom of God.
and finally in the first book of Timothy we read chapter 1:8-10

8 But we know that the law is good if a man use it lawfully,
9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for men-stealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine

My brothers and sisters the scriptures are clear. Very clear! LGBT have no place in Gods kingdom unless they repent and leave the road of sin. No church policy, no matter the church or its size can overturn the laws of God. God is the same yesterday, today and forever. God does not change his mind about sin and immorality just because the world does. We are not of the world, but are of God. To do what the LDS church have done recently is wrong and they are in error on this as they are on other important things.

The scriptures are clear! Clear and so is our God on this matter. I stand before you today to express grave concern at the direction the LDS church are taking. They are misleading people and changing the Laws of God because it best suits their new policy direction. They do not speak for me, for you or our restoration movement. They are in direct conflict with the written law and the laws of God. I wish to express my testimony to you at this time that the LGBT movement is in direct conflict with God and his Law and any man or women who indulges in their wicked acts is in direct conflict with God. We love all our brothers and sisters the world over, but love does not mean that we support them in acts of sin. It is our Job to bring people unto God on Gods terms not their own. The world lieth in sin and the day fast approaches when we will have to make a choice between what is right and what is easy. The LDS church are choosing the easy road because it is broad and wide, but that road leads to destruction. I am not prophesying the destruction of the LDS church, but I am talking to its members directly. I say unto you at this time that this road your church is on is not right and it is wrong and in error. I am reaching out to you now. If you feel lost and abandoned by this new direction and you can not reconcile the changes that have been made come and talk with us and let us see if we cannot bring you back on to the road of God and the restoration. The Gospel is here in its fullness, we have it, we will not jeopardise it just because of social habits or pressures. We are here for you and we know that we can bring you closer to God and His Gospel by accepting his Laws and infinite and unchanging. I pray we will all make the right choice and stand with God no matter what. Amen.

Sunday 1 September 2019

Commit Ourselves to Searching the Scriptures


For centuries the Bible has been regarded as the only word of God. The members of The Restored Branch of Jesus Christ also look upon The Book of Mormon, The Book of Jeraneck and The Doctrine and Covenants as the word of God. Our range of scripture thus becomes larger than that of any other Latter Day or Restoration Group and people.

In various ages the Lord has commanded His people to read and study the scriptures. Jesus Christ told the Jewish rulers to "Search the scriptures" 
(IVB John 5:40). In our own time the Lord has said "Study my word which hath gone forth among the children of men, and also study my word which shall come forth among the children of men or that which is now translating" (D&C 11:10). Clearly the word "which shall come forth" refers to our new added scriptures and to the prophets of the past, as well as those living now.

As a guide for living, the scriptures are unsurpassed. They are intimate, personal, and they touch the innermost life as well as our daily relationships and our attitudes towards God. They also form basis of the civil and religious laws governing many groups. The Ten Commandments is the foundation of secular government in many civilised countries. In these times there is a special need for a sure guide to righteous living, and this we can find in the scriptures.

The power of the scriptures is shown by the influence they have in moulding the lives of men and women and nations and ages. The change that the Saviours life and teachings work in people's thoughts and acts is a continuing miracle.

To be a good member of this church requires not only prayer and righteous living, but also study. Ideals and information are of little or no use unless we express them in our personal behaviour and human relationships.

Some people know the scriptures only in a vague, indefinite way, depending on what they hear in religious meetings or church. That is not enough. One must read and discover for him or herself the truths that they contain. The custom of scripture reading in the family should be an everyday part of life. Time can be found to do this if we have the will to do so.

For myself I turn to the scriptures daily to give my life the balance it must have. Here I find the eternal verities in which I can build a useful and expanding life. The scriptures are like a quite rock-girdled Island in the midst of a wild flood. The Inspired Version of The Bible, The Book of Mormon, The Book of Jeraneck and the Doctrine and Covenants contain the words of eternal life unto this generation and they will rise in judgement against those who reject them. Truly the holy scriptures have been given by the Lord for our Instruction. The scriptures cannot achieve their purpose to guide us throughout our lives unless we study them and carry out their teachings into action. In searching the scriptures we shall find the way to the abundant life promised us by God. Remember my brothers and sisters that unless we read the scriptures daily, our testimonies will grow thinner, our spirituality will not increase in any depth. I fear that many of us rush about from day to day taking for granted the Holy Scriptures given to us by the Lord. We scramble to honour appointments with doctors, lawyers and businessmen. Yet we think nothing of postponing interviews with the Lord, we do this by postponing our study of the scriptures.

I pray that we may mind time to study our cherished scriptures, that they may give light unto our lives and show us the way in which we must live and be governed. Cherish what we have been given I pray. For I testify we shall not be added unto unless we have cherished and used what we have now got. Love the scriptures and in doing so love the Lord and he will indeed open unto you the windows of heaven.

In the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

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