tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-374182882024-03-12T23:04:43.683+00:00The Restored Branch of Jesus ChristIf you have any questions or are interested in finding out more about the Restored Branch of Jesus Christ please email us: info@restoredbranch.com
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger380125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37418288.post-36722291123086753672020-03-16T11:29:00.000+00:002020-03-16T11:33:47.881+00:00Sunday Sermon: Search the Scriptures<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;">"Rely upon the
things which are written, for in them are all the things written concerning the
foundation of my church, my gospel, and my rock"<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;">(D&C 18:1)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;">One of the great blessings given in this dispensation is
the privilege of possessing copies of the sacred scriptures for our own
personal enlightenment. For centuries Christian people had to depend upon the
teachings of scribes and priests for their scriptural knowledge. We should be grateful
that today any member of The Restored Branch of Jesus Christ may study the word
of God through the scriptures and through individual study in their own homes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;">An additional blessing has come available to members of
The Restored Branch of Jesus Christ through the publication of our own sacred scriptures.
We are blessed that the Restored Branch of Jesus Christ is responsible for the
bringing forth of the Chronicles of The Children of Araneck and the Doctrine
and Covenants and we are proud of the fact the we have been able to procure The
Inspired Version of the Bible along with The Restored Covenant Edition of the
Book of Mormon. These sacred scriptures have made it possible for us to
understand the scriptures in a new way and for us to be able to have access to
the things that the Lord wishes for us to know. Those who prayerfully study the
scriptures will develop a gospel scholarship beyond that which their forbears
could have ever hoped to achieve. They will have the testimony that Jesus is
the Christ and be competent to proclaim Him and defend Him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;">Along with this great blessing comes the responsibility
to search the scriptures prayerfully, to study and learn the laws of the gospel,
to apply the laws to our lives by daily living the commandments, to teach and
train our children by precept and example, and to guide and inspire others. An
impressive example of training within the home is found in the scriptures.
Speaking to Timothy, Paul said <i>"When I call to remembrance the unfeigned
faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois and thy mother
Eunice, and I am persuaded that in thee also"</i> (2 Timothy 1:5).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;">Paul further wrote, <i>"But continue thou in the things
which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast
learned them,<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="v3.15"></a> And that from a child thou hast known the holy
scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which
is in Christ Jesus" </i> (2 Timothy
3:14-15)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;">From the beginning, God has commanded his people to keep
a written record of their history and His teachings, laws, and commandments.
These records were considered of such vital consequence that the Lord has
required that all his people do this, from the Children of Araneck to the
people in The Book of Mormon all have kept records and all have gone to great
lengths to keep them safe or to obtain them. For example The Prophet Jeraneck
in the Book of Jeraneck which is contained in the Chronicles of The Children of
Araneck kept the records close to him at all times even unto his death <i>"Now
I finish the record of the history of my people and I finish my testament and I
have laid it out upon these twenty four plates and they are fashioned by my
hand, and I have also compiled a record of the religious laws and practices of
my people and the priests of Ridnon so that you may know more fully how to
worship the Almighty and they are to be one record. Now I make an end of this record and I say
unto you I have lived a life that I am proud of and a life that I would live
again. I have lived a life in service
unto my people indeed unto all people but also unto my God"</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;">(Book of Jeraneck 18: 131-132). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;">For the Nephites records were also of vital importance so
much so that the great Nephi was commanded to slay Laban in order to obtain scriptural
and historical records engraved upon the plates of brass. Without these plates they
would have been lost not knowing who they were and from whence they came.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;">The scriptures are replete with admonitions and direct
commandments from our Father in Heaven and his prophets to study and learn His
word. Today I give that same counsel. We need to make sure, that so far as is
in our power, our homes are never without scriptures. I would like all of our
members to read all of the works of scripture, to ponder in your hearts the
eternal truths that are found within their pages, and to get on your knees and ask
the Lord in sincerity and in faith for understanding and comprehension and guidance.
I would like each of you to read the scriptures either by yourself or with your
loved ones and families, not simply to read the words but to ponder and pray
about the content so that there will come into your lives the desire for righteousness
that grows out of the study of the pure, perfect word of God. I fear that we rush
about from day to day taking for granted the scriptures. We scramble to honour
appointments here and there, yet we think nothing of postponing daily scripture
study. Ask yourselves how much better it would be for yourselves and your
families if you planned and held a sacred fifteen minuets a day for reading the
scriptures together. Such time with the Lord would help us recognise His voice
and empower us to receive guidance in all our affairs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;">In conclusion I would like to say that a study of the scriptures
should be an integral part of the religious education of every member of The
Restored Branch of Jesus Christ. I know that if we will do this great blessings
will come to us as we prayerfully search for and ponder the words of the Lord. Place
the sacred scriptures in convenient areas in our homes, so that they will
easily be used and available. Search the scriptures brothers and sisters, and
then strive to apply the teachings found within their pages in your life and
the life of your families so that you may become more Christ like in your thoughts
and actions. We must be an example to everyone around us including our
children. We must show them that their is pleasure in searching the scriptures
and answers to be find to the problems that beset our world today. We must all endeavour
to help one another to interpret the meanings of the scriptures so that we can
start to help ourselves, our families and our world. Without scriptural direction
we are all lost and it is my hope that we find light, love and understanding
from reading them in our lives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;">In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37418288.post-79275425822520628042020-03-13T14:56:00.003+00:002020-03-13T14:58:02.558+00:00Branch Statement: COVID-19 Response<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;">As the Prophet and First Elder of The Restored Branch of
Jesus Christ it is important that I make the following statement. With all the
media attention on the COVID-19 outbreak I just want to assure you that The
Restored Branch of Jesus Christ will continue to meet for our Sunday Services.
I feel this is right and that we should keep meeting as long as we can. I want
to ask everyone to pray for our country and the world at this time. We must
remain positive and believe in the Lord to see us safely through.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;">However can I ask that if you have been in contact with
anyone showing symptoms or who has COVID-19 to stay at home and follow the
governments guidelines. If you are okay and haven’t been in contact with anyone
with COVID-19 then please continue to come to sacrament meetings on Sunday. We
must never see this unfortunate time in our world as an excuse to just not come
out to church. If you are healthy and fine then you should be at church. We
must continue in a manner that is pleasing to the Lord. See you all on Sunday.
God bless.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37418288.post-44670214399993464932020-03-01T14:43:00.001+00:002020-03-01T14:43:04.186+00:00Repentance: A Mighty Change<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;">Changing for the better is an important part of
repentance. It is a process of improvement offered by the Lord that can lead to
perfection. We have the opportunity to repent because of Christ's atonement,
and the Lord promises to forgive us when our repentance is complete. "I
the Lord cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance. Nevertheless
he that repents and does the commandments of the Lord shall be forgiven"
(D&C 1)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">One of the beautiful things about the restored gospel is
that we </span></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Garamond;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">know that although we are born
in to a sinful, fallen, carnal world we are all born with a clean slate. We are
not born in to sin and we do not become accountable for our sins </span><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;">until</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> we
reach the age of accountability and receive baptism. It is after this event
that sin in our lives starts to be recognised by the Lord and so we need to
learn at an early age that we are responsible for our actions and that we may
need to make changes in our lives to correct those mistakes. Recognising the
need to change our lives and acting upon that need requires a daily effort. It
is necessary, however, as an ongoing part of our sincere and complete repentance.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;">When King Benjamin admonished his people to repent, he
told them that if they truly wanted to repent they would keep the commandments
(Mosiah 2). When they responded, they acknowledged that the spirit of the Lord
had indeed "wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have
nor more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually" (Mosiah 3). They
further said "We are willing to enter in to a covenant with our God to do
his will and to be obedient to his commandments in all things, all the
remainder of our days" (Mosiah 3). They were willing to repent and be
baptised and keep the commandments. This true repentance shows the pattern for
overcoming weakness to become like Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;">Often we hear people say that they would like to go back
and live life over, knowing what they know now. Although such a wishful returning
to our yesterdays is impossible, we can begin to make needed changes where we
are today. There is virtually nothing that man cannot turn away from if he
really wants to. There is virtually no habit that he cannot give up if he sincerely
set his will to do so and will sincerely seek and accept help, the help of
others and the help of his father in heaven.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;">We sometimes think that we are not capable of changing,
that changing is just too hard, that our weaknesses are either to small or too
great to change, or that we are to old or too young to begin. Such doubts keep
us from seeing repentance honestly, deprive us of many blessings, and hinder
our progress towards eternal life. We must remember that the Lord has made us
accountable and responsible for our own acts. We each have the power to conquer
faults and failings, to make changes, whether they are great or small, that
will make our lives conform to gospel principles. We catalogue our weaknesses
and move in against them to overcome them. Christ became perfect through
overcoming. Only as we overcome shall we become perfect and move forward
towards the throne of God. Through the gift of repentance we have the opportunity
to change. We can overcome personal weaknesses and become Christ like. The
important thing in creating a mighty change in our lives is to start now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;">In concluding we all need to take a long hard look at our
lives and see what needs changing through the power of repentance. We should
all make a mental note and go to work as soon as we get back to our homes form
this meeting. I pray that we can all find the strength to examine or lives and
think upon Christ and seek his help in asking for repentance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;">In The Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;">Prophet Matthew Gill<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37418288.post-73104003735171325292020-02-26T11:35:00.001+00:002020-02-26T11:49:42.788+00:00The Book of Mormon<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As the first Elder and Prophet of
The Restored Branch of Jesus Christ I want to express to the world our love and
appreciation for The Book of Mormon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As a branch we cherish The Book
of Mormon we consider it a sacred text given to us by way of revelation through
the prophet Joseph Smith. The Book of Mormon is a central part of our worship
and our belief. It is true that The Restored Branch of Jesus Christ have other
sacred scriptures that we use but they do not take away the importance and need
for The Book of Mormon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We consider ourselves part of the
wider restoration movement, we consider ourselves followers of The Book of
Mormon message and we endeavour to share that message with all the people of
our country and the wider world. We love The Book of Mormon and we consider it
important and special in bringing people closer to Christ and to a knowledge of
our covenants that we have made with Christ and He with us. Its place within
our Branch will never change and neither will our love for it falter.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We want to world to know that The
Restored Branch of Jesus Christ are followers of The Book of Mormon and the
Angel message it provides. We thank God for it in our loves and we hope that
our love for this great piece of scripture will bring us closer to our brothers
and sisters in the restoration.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Matthew P. Gill</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Prophet & First Elder</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37418288.post-43993489522794092862020-01-26T12:48:00.004+00:002020-01-26T12:49:58.276+00:00The Last Days<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14.0pt;">As the Prophet and First Elder of the Restored Branch of
Jesus Christ it is my duty to prepare the people under my care for the final
and last days that we are now living in. It will have come to some of your
attention that there is growing in the east a virus called the coronavirus.
This looks like it is growing and spreading and we must all take care. Do not
be fooled in to thinking that just because it’s not on your front door now that
it might not be later. We need to understand our place in this world and what
has been promised and foretold about our day by the Lord and the Prophets
of today and in the past. Joseph Smith the first Prophet of the Restoration
foretold of our day in D&C 88 and in our own day to the Branch to day we
have been given D&C 138 given in 2006. I would call upon the saints to read
these two accounts because they speak to us today and about some of the things
happen to us and the earth. The great Prophet Enoch also saw our day in a
vision recorded in the Bible and he saw great wickedness upon the face of the
earth, and he pleaded with the Lord, “When shall the earth rest?” and “Wilt
thou not come again upon the earth?” The Lord answered him, “As I live, even so
will I come in the last days. … And the day shall come that the earth shall
rest.” Make no mistake my friends we are living in the last days we
are living in the days that Enoch saw.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14.0pt;">My brothers and sisters we are living in the last days.
In those days we shall hear of great calamity and of natural disasters and
plagues and pestilences and many people will die, those are the facts and we
need to come to peace with them. We are now living in the last days, this is a
period of wickedness and tribulations, of calamity and great distress be not
deceived in this for we will see and hear and experience these things in our
lives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14.0pt;">I proclaim unto you all that we must prepare the way for
the Second Coming of the Lord. We must obey the principles of the gospel and
know the signs of the times, so that they may endure the trials and
difficulties of this dispensation, recognise the signs of His coming, and be
prepared to receive Him as His own people when He comes. We must remember that
The Prophet Joseph Smith prophesied of a time when no one would have peace
except in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Zion</st1:place></st1:city>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14.0pt;">As a branch and a people under God let us not treat these
last days with lightheartedness but let us face them knowing that if we are
with God and are in his services we shall be lead and comforted in Him. I know
these days are turbulent and full of darkness but it is always the darkest just
before the dawn and our dawn will bring Christ and with it and peace and love
and rest from all cares<span style="color: #454545;">. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37418288.post-35720180395985581772020-01-19T13:10:00.000+00:002020-01-26T13:19:48.199+00:00Joseph Smith & The Book of Mormon<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Joseph
Smith, the first Prophet and founder of the Restoration tells us that the Book
of Mormon was translated from plates shown to him by a heavenly messenger on
September 21, 1823.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"While
I was thus in the act of calling upon God I discovered a light appearing in the
room which continued to increase until the room was lighter than at noonday,
when immediately a personage appeared at my bedside standing in the air for his
feet did not touch the floor...When I first looked upon him I was afraid, but
the fear soon left me. He called me by name, and said unto me that he was a
messenger sent from the presence of God to me, and that his name was <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Moroni</st1:place></st1:city>. That God had a
work for me to do, and that my name should be had for good and evil, among all
nations, kindred’s, and tongues; or that it should be both good and evil spoken
of among all people. He said there was a book deposited written upon <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">gold plates</span>, giving an account of the
former inhabitants of this continent, and the source from whence they sprang.
He also said that the fullness of the everlasting gospel was contained in it,
as delivered by the Savior to the ancient inhabitants. Also that there were two
stones in silver bows, and these stones fastened to a breastplate constituted
what is among them called the Urim and Thummim, deposited with the plates, and
the possession and use of these stones was what constituted seers in ancient or
former times, and that God had prepared them for the purpose of translating the
book." (Times and Seasons, vol. 3, p. 753)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The time
soon came for The Prophet Joseph to see the plates and to experience the beauty
of being given a record that has been lost to the world, this is what he says concerning
that moment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Convenient
to the village of Manchester, Ontario Co. New York, stands a hill of
considerable size, and the most elevated on any in the neighbor hood; on the
west side of this hill not far from the top, under a stone of considerable
size, lay the plates deposited in a stone box: this stone was thick and
rounding in the middle on the upper side, and thinner towards the edges, so
that the middle part of it was visible above the ground, but the edge all round
was covered with earth. Having removed the earth and obtained a lever which I
got fixed under the edge of the stone and with a little exertion raised it up,
I looked in and there indeed I beheld the plates, the Urim and Thummim and the
Breastplate as stated by the messenger. The box in which they lay was formed by
laying stones together in some kind of cement; in the bottom of the box were
laid two stones crossways of the box, and on these stones lay the plates and
the other things with them. I made an attempt to take them out but was
forbidden by the messenger and was again informed that the time for bringing
them forth had not yet arrived, neither would until four years from that
time." (Times and Seasons, vol. 3, p. 771)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">After
many times of being able to go to the hill and see the plates the time came for
the Prophet to be given the plates and to take them. Here the prophet Joseph
describes receiving the plates and the gravity if the situation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"At
length the time arrived for obtaining the plates, and Urim and Thummim, and the
breastplate; on the 22nd day of September, 1827, having went as usual at the
end of another year to the place where they were deposited, the same heavenly
messenger delivered them up to me, with this charge that I should be
responsible for them: that if I should let them go carelessly or through any
neglect of mine I should be cut off; but that if I would use all my endeavors
to preserve them, until he the messenger should call for them, they should be
protected...by the wisdom of God they remained safe in my hands until I had
accomplished by them what was required at my hands when according to
arrangements the messenger called for them, I delivered them up to him and he
has them in his charge until this day." (Times and Seasons, vol. 3, p. 772)
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14.0pt;">Here Josephs mother Lucy describes the effort that Joseph
had to make to get the plates back home safely.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14.0pt;">"</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">After removing the plates from
the stone box, Joseph hid them in a birch log until preparations could be made
at home for the plates. Then he went to retrieve them. "The plates were
secreted about three miles from home...Joseph, on coming to them, took them
from their secret place, and wrapping them in his linen frock, placed them
under his arm and started for home." After proceeding a short distance, he
thought it would be safer to leave the road and go through the woods. Traveling
some distance after he left the road, he came to a large windfall, and as he
was <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">jumping over a log<b>,</b></span> a
man sprang up from behind it, and gave him a heavy blow with a gun. Joseph
turned around and knocked him down, then ran at the top of his speed. About
half a mile further he was attacked again in the same manner as before; he
knocked this man down in like manner as the former, and ran on again; and
before he reached home he was assaulted the third time. In striking the last
one he dislocated his thumb, which, however, he did not notice until he came
within sight of the house, when he threw himself down in the corner of the
fence in order to recover his breath. As soon as he was able, he arose and came
to the house." <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(History of Joseph Smith
by His Mother, pp. 107- 108)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14.0pt;">In the modern restoration today and in this Restored
Branch we hold the prophet Joseph Smith in high regard not because he was an
extraordinary man although he was but because he is a Prophet of God and he
brought forth one of the greatest books in history, The Book of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mormon. Now in this day we have been given
further revelation from God and have had plates of brass given to us and upon
those plates are engraven the words of a lost Children of Araneck who once lived
here on this land. We as a branch are now standing and building on the
foundation laid by Brother Joseph Smith we are rebuilding what was once torn
down and in doing so we hold before the world not only the Book of Mormon but
also the Chronicles of The Children of Araneck. We need not be afraid and
shamed to do this for we know that Joseph was and is a prophet of God and that
he did translate form ancient lost plates, and that we have had the same
privilege and that we are like unto him. My brothers and sisters let us go
forth from here with a renewed vigour to take these two wonderful records to
the world and bring light and knowledge to a dark and dreary lost people who
are crying out to be saved form themselves and the eternal darkness that awaits
them if they do not heed our words. I bless you with the Lord guidance in the
coming week ahead until we meet again in fellowship and love. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14.0pt;">In The Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37418288.post-36625790401340366142020-01-14T12:09:00.001+00:002020-01-14T12:10:14.310+00:00What Makes The Restored Branch Different From All The Rest<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I am often asked what the difference is between our Branch
and other churches or branches in the Restoration, latter Day Movement. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond";"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">In answering this question I like first to draw attention
to things that we have in common. The Restored Branch of Jesus Christ follows
and believes in Christ. We testify of him and we teach of Him and </span><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">center</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> our
lives on Him. We believe in The Book of Mormon. We hold it as scripture as do
many if not all those in the Restoration Movement, The Restored Branch of Jesus
Christ are no different. We believe in the divine calling of The Prophet Joseph
Smith. We hold him as the first Prophet of the Restoration. We believe in the restoration
of the fullness of the Gospel. We believe in the events of the First Vision and
the translating of the ancient record of the Nephites. We believe in the plan
of salvation outlined by the Prophet Joseph Smith. We believe in and hold as
scripture the Doctrine and Covenants and revelations given to the Prophet Joseph
Smith. We use the Inspired Version of The Bible like many others within the
movement. We believe in many of the same things as most of those involved in
the Restored Gospel. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 14.0pt;">However the main difference between The Restored Branch
of Jesus Christ and the rest of the restoration movement is that we believe
that the heavens are not closed to us that God continues to give revelation through
a living Prophet. This has led to one of the biggest differences between our
Branch and the rest of the restoration movement. The Restored Branch of Jesus
Christ has been given new scripture to stand with The Book of Mormon the Inspired
Version of The Bible and the Doctrine and Covenants. This new book of Scripture
is called The Chronicles of The Children of Araneck.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 14.0pt;">The Chronicles of The Children of Araneck contains two
records. One written by a Prophet called Jeraneck and the other by his son who
was called Rayaneck. Both the Book of Jeraneck and The Book of Rayaneck are contained
with The Chronicles of The Children of Araneck. T<span class="color15">he
Chronicles of The Children of Araneck were translated by Matthew Gill, Prophet,
Seer, Revelator and Translator of the Branch in 2006 and 2015.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="font8" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="color15"><span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="color15"><span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Throughout history much has been
written concerning those who once lived upon the Isles of Great Britain in the
era some call the pre-history of the world. Much has been spoken of the people
that built Stonehenge, Woodhenge and all the other stone monuments and burial
grounds that are found throughout the lands of Great Britain, however not one
of these so called historians has had any record or writing to base their
claims and ideas on. Now a record has come forward written by those that lived
anciently upon the land of Great Britain between the years 3000 B.C until 700
B.C and much of what they have written will shock and destroy many of the false
ideas that many of these learned men of the world have had to say concerning
the past of those that lived long ago upon the land of Great Britain.</span></span><span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="font8" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="color15"><span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="font8" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="color15"><span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 14.0pt;">The Chronicles of The Children of
Araneck stands as the record of a dying civilisation of early Britain
which had constructed Stonehenge and the other stone circles, hill forts and
burial mounds and other such places as meeting places and places of worship of
Almighty God, the same God who brought them from the Tower of Babel to Britain
to have them serve Him as His People.</span></span><span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> <span class="color15">The Chronicles of The Children of
Araneck answers fundamental questions that have perplexed historians for
centuries, like: - What were the early peoples of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Britain</st1:place></st1:country-region> like? Where did they come
from? What did they believe? And who built the ancient Megaliths like <st1:place w:st="on">Stonehenge</st1:place> - and for what purpose?</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 14.0pt;">This ancient record witness of Christ and speaks of Him
and testifies of Him. It glories in the gospel of Jesus Christ and testifies
that he will be born and lives and die for us. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Chronicles of The Children of Araneck is
as special to The Restored Branch of Jesus Christ as all the other books of Scriptures
that we use. However it is the one big thing that makes us so very different.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 14.0pt;">We have been charged to take this record unto all the world
and we have. However so much still has to be done to bring this record to those
who have yet to hear about it. It is the continuing mission of The Restored
Branch of Jesus Christ to bring this record to the entire world. It was our
first charge and remains our most important mission. We encourage you to read
the record for yourselves and ask God the Eternal Father if the things you have
read are true. We know if you have been sincere in your study and your heart is
true that He will indeed reveal the truth of this ancient record to you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 14.0pt;">The Restored Branch of Jesus Christ stands as the only
organisation within the Restoration to bring forth new scripture and we are
very honoured that the Lord and our Father in Heaven have seen fit to allow us
this honour. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond";"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">For more information on this ancient record and to obtain
a </span><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">PDF</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> of the record please visit our website www.restoredbranch.com<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37418288.post-4995271966658764912019-12-22T12:58:00.000+00:002020-01-26T12:59:01.253+00:00Merry Christmas<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14.0pt;">Later this week, on Christmas Day, we "welcome"
Jesus into the world along with Christendom. This is a Jesus we already know, a
man fully grown and with whom we are more than acquainted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14.0pt;">This isn't a baby we must perpetually welcome into our
homes. We are confronted instead with the adult Jesus. Meeting the adult Jesus
is difficult for many, and even frightens them to meet him as an adult and not
a helpless, unassuming child. The adult Jesus scared the religious elites of
his day because of what he asked, just as he scares the religious elites
of today. Jesus is an adult whom we must each decide whether to ignore, or to
serve, as God intended us to do. If we claim his name, and wish to be
identified with it, we must not assume that admiring a baby in a manger is what
God wishes. We must not delude ourselves that admiration - or even worship - is
alone sufficient. We cannot ignore the adult Jesus, or prefer the baby instead
of the adult. The adult Jesus is hidden away by the religious elites. He scares
them. A fully human Jesus, fully grown, with a clearly understood and fully
formed mission and a challenging religion of Good Works, scares them to death. So
this adult Jesus isn't celebrated at Christmas. And he never makes an
appearance the rest of the year. Who is this Jesus? Jesus, the adult, was of
course born a baby, but he was born fully a man, of human parents, just as we
were born. He grew in the knowledge of God and gained wisdom; he pleased God in
all he did. When he became an adult, he was chosen and anointed by God to be
our Master, our Teacher, our Template and the Example of how a human being
should live for the glory of God and most beneficially for our fellow human
beings. This Jesus is not the one created for us by Priests whom we must simply
admire and worship from afar; unable to obey, unable to follow because he is so
different, so distant, so alien.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14.0pt;">We may instead celebrate the Jesus - a man called and
chosen by God - whom we can fully love as our elder brother, and the one whom
we can actively follow as our example in all things. We may become more like
God because one of us has done it already, setting the example towards which we
may strive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14.0pt;">Let us remember the birth, but also the adult life, of
THIS Jesus, a Jesus worth celebrating on Christmas Day, and every day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14.0pt;">Merry Christmas Everyone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37418288.post-52992776599820827342019-12-06T13:17:00.002+00:002019-12-06T13:17:33.132+00:00The Scriptures<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">For a long time now the Restored Branch of Jesus Christ has
presented to the world the book of scripture entitled The Chronicles of The
Children of Araneck. There seems to be some confusion about what this book is.
So we write this small announcement in response to the confusion that some have
had surrounding the new book of scriptures that we as a Branch have been
blessed to place before the world. As many of you know the Restored Branch of
Jesus Christ have been given the honour of presenting to the world new
scripture in The Book of Jeraneck. This work testifies of the ancient people
who once lived in the U.K and who were responsible for many of the henge's and hill
forts and ancient monuments that litter our land. It testifies that these
people believed in God and witnessed of Him and taught and testified of Him. This
work has been widely available from the Restored Branch of Jesus Christ since
2007 and we have had the great honour of sharing this sacred text with the
world. If you are a member of the Restored Branch of Jesus Christ you will know
that we have also had the honour of receiving the record of Jeraneck's son
Rayaneck back in 2015 and the church set about translating that record and
placing it before the world. For a long time we pondered on how we would
present these two great books to the world. After long months of prayer and fasting
and calling upon the Lord for direction it was decided that the two books
should be put together as was the wish of the Prophet Jeraneck in his record.
So we took to work putting these two books together so that they would stand as
a testament to one another. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Restored Branch of Jesus Christ would like to inform the
world that these two books are now together in what we have been told to call
The Chronicles of The Children of Araneck. Next year in 2020 we shall endeavor to have this volume printed and made available to buy in new hard copy
scriptures and placed before the world. Untill then you can obtain a Pdf copy
from our website. The Restored Branch of Jesus Christ believes in and uses The
Inspired Version of the Bible, The Book of Mormon, The Doctrine and Covenants
and The Chronicles of The Children of Araneck which includes the Book of
Jeraneck and The Book of Rayaneck.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We hope this clears up the confusion that many have found
and we hope that it goes some way in answering your questions regarding the
Restored Branch of Jesus Christ and the new scriptures it uses.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Office of the Prophet</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37418288.post-79339484738442209852019-11-29T17:20:00.000+00:002019-11-29T17:31:00.940+00:00A Response To Today's London Terror Attack<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Office of The Prophet of The Restored Branch of Jesus Christ would like to express our deep sorrow and heartfelt sadness with the great city of London in the wake of the evil terror attack carried out in the great city of London today. We condemn those that have brought about this evil today. We extend our prayers and thanks to the emergency services who tackled today's attack with courage and urgency. We also pray for the people of London and the U.K and we call upon the Lord to heal our land and ask him to be with and comfort all those effected at this terrible time. </span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37418288.post-73507175048137646922019-11-29T15:26:00.001+00:002019-11-29T15:26:28.938+00:00Our Prophet is Not ill and Continues to Lead His Church.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
It is a sign of the times that we live in The Restored Branch of Jesus Christ have to make such an announcement. However we The Restored Branch of Jesus Christ would like to set
straight a massive, horrible lie being spread by members of the LDS church that
our Prophet and First Elder Matthew Gill has had a mental breakdown causing him
to leave his position at the head of our church. Firstly this horrible gossip
is not true and those who have spread this horrible lie on the website
exmormon.org have no idea what they are talking about.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
This year our church had been fighting a lengthy legal
battle with the LDS church and it was necessary, for a while for our Prophet to
step aside from the day to day running of the church while this legal issue was
being sorted. The legal issue was successfully sorted and the Prophet Matthew
Gill returned to the day to day running of the church. Our Prophet has not suffered
a mental breakdown as has been reported and anything that says otherwise is a
lie and evil gossip.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Our prophet Matthew Gill leads the church as he has done for
years and holds regular church meetings and classes and can be seen regularly
at those Sunday services. He is not ill or mentally exhausted. Should anything
happen to our Prophet of this nature the church would immediately let our
membership know and as he is very well and leading the church as normal nothing
has been needed to be said.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
It would seem that once again false ideas and horrible
gossip are never far from the lips of those members of the LDS church. They
have tried time and time again to besmirch our Prophets Character and
leadership and time and time again they have failed. This is just another
example of evil, hatred and trouble making by those incapable of holding decent
discussions and Christ like attitudes in their hearts.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
We stress once again that the Prophet Matthew Gill is well
and continues to lead the church on a daily basis.</div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37418288.post-86130688646627633072019-11-03T13:26:00.000+00:002019-11-03T13:26:13.122+00:00Sunday 3rd November 2019 Sermon: The Righteous Will Have Peace<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 18.0pt;">The Righteous Will Have Peace<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;">"And the work
of the righteous shall be peace and the effect of righteousness quietness and
assurance for ever"<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Isaiah prophesied
of one of the most heralded and anticipated events in history when he said that
the "Prince of peace" would come. The </span><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;">fulfillment</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> of that prophesy was
proclaimed by "A multitude of heavenly hosts praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace. Goodwill toward men". The
disciples of Jesus knew the prophecies which said that Christ's ministry would
be one of peace. The troubled condition of the world during the time of his
earthly ministry must have been both disappointing and puzzling to them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;">The
apparent contradiction between the Lord's promises of peace and outward conditions
can also be seen when the prophet Joseph Smith and his companions were imprisoned
in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Liberty</st1:place></st1:city>
gaol. Joseph called to the Lord saying "O God, where art thou? And where
is the pavilion that covereth thy hiding place?" The Lord's response was
"My son, peace be unto thy soul, thine adversity and thine afflictions
shall be but a small moment". However persecution did not cease and the
Prophet Joseph was killed five years later.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;">Isaiah
spoke truly when he said the Saviour would be the Prince of peace, and peace
really did come to Joseph Smith. But the peace the Saviour promises is inner,
not necessarily circumstantial, peace. Christ said "Peace I leave with
you, my peace I give unto you, not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let
not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;">This
promise of peace gives no assurance against hardship, tribulation, adversity,
death, or war, as evidenced by Christ's statement to his disciples "These
things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye
shall have tribulation".<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">The word
peace has many meanings. A state of </span><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;">tranquility</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> or quiet, freedom from
oppressive or disquieting thoughts or emotions, harmony in personal revelation.
The peace the Saviour proclaimed has many of these elements, but the focus of
his promise is on the individual, the feelings of comfort, assurance, and
harmony within oneself. That feeling can only come from the Lord as the result
of individual obedience to the commandments. There is no other path to the
peace he promises.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;">The
peace the Saviour promises is conditional. To receive it, we must have faith,
repent, receive the Holy Spirit, and strengthen our testimonies through righteous
living. Although we must always strive to individually work for peace amongst
our fellow men, we know that worldwide peace will ever be granted until the
Saviour comes and Satan and his followers are contained. Nevertheless, in spite
of adverse conditions in the world, the righteous can have peace in their
hearts. Those who follow the ways of the Lord will always have peace with them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;">We know
that in the world today many have the feeling of uneasiness because of world
conditions and events, and the lengthening shadow of evil and darkness, but the
Lord has said "If ye are prepared ye shall not fear" He said that
"peace I leave with you, let not your hearts be troubled, neither let it
be afraid"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;">As the Prophet
of the Restored Branch of Jesus Christ I know that you come to church seeking guidance
and comfort. It is my duty to give that guidance and that comfort to you. As
you come here week after week and your testimonies grow and your faith in the
Lord and in me grows you will feel the inspiration and the comfort of the Lord.
Don't forget my brothers and sisters that the Gospel gives purpose to our lives
and through its principles and its teachings we can find happiness and comfort.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;">Let us
remember that if we are prepared we need not fear the future, for we have the
Lord's promise that he will sustain us, no matter what our circumstances. Some
people, however, find it hard to accept the Lord's assurances and rid
themselves of fear so they can feel peace. I proclaim to you today that our
position is one of strength because it is founded on eternal truth. We need not
fear the fiery darts of the adversary, nor be troubled by world conditions and
events, as long as we walk in that light which a gracious father has so
abundantly shed forth upon us in this final gospel dispensation we shall have
peace within our hearts and peace upon our minds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;">My
brothers and sisters I say unto you, let us be righteous, let us bind ourselves
to Christ in all things so that we may have peace within our hearts and let us
wait with eager anticipation for the great and glories day of his return.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;">In the
Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37418288.post-7182664648078670812019-10-13T12:01:00.000+01:002019-10-13T12:01:27.494+01:00Sunday the 6th of October Sermon: Integrity<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;">Integrity<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;">Integrity involves
honesty, moral soundness, and freedom from corrupting influences and evil
practices<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;">Integrity or the lack of it touches almost every facet of
our lives. Everything we say, every thought and desire. As long ago as 1666,
Jean Baptise Moliere, a famous French dramatist, wrote, "If everyone were
clothed with integrity, if every heart were just, frank, kindly, the other
virtues would be well nigh useless, since their chief purpose is to make us
bear with patience the injustices of our fellows".<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">We can define integrity as a strict adherence to a code
of behaviour. A person with integrity remains true to his beliefs in
circumstances that test steadfastness to truth, purpose, responsibility, or
trust. Integrity involves honesty, moral soundness and freedom from corrupting influences
and evil </span><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;">practices</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">. In essence, integrity is being true to what we know is
right under all circumstances.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;">The Lord has said, "I, the Lord, am bound when ye do
what I say, but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise" Our
Heavenly Father keeps and will continue to keep the promises he makes to us. He
has complete integrity. To become like him, then, we must keep our promises to
Him. The highest manifestation of integrity is exhibited by those who conform their
conduct to the terms of the gospel covenants and promises which they have made.
Throughout the scriptures we find examples of righteous men and women who have
faced all manner of adversity, even death, rather than compromise what they
knew to be true. Consider the examples of Daniel, Job, The Anti-Nephi-Lehis,
Linker, Zinon and even closer to our day, the prophet Joseph Smith. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;">After the First Vision, young Joseph tried to share his experience
with some of the most learned religious people of his day. He was surprised to
meet resentment and bitter persecution from those who claimed to be representatives
of the very God he had seen and communicated with. Such persecution led the
young man to reflect, "How very strange it was that an obscure boy, of little
over fourteen years of age, should be thought a character of sufficient
importance to attract the attention of the great ones of the most popular sects
of the day, and in a manner to create in them a spirit of the most bitter
persecution and reviling"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;">Joseph smith wrote that "after a person had faith in
Christ, repents of his sins, and is baptised for the remission of sins and receives
the Holy Ghost, which is the first Comforter, the let him continue to humble himself
before God, hungering and thirsting after righteousness, and living by every
word of God, and the Lord will soon say unto him, Son, thou shalt be exalted.
In essence the Prophet taught that absolute integrity must precede the promise
of eternal life. Our individual exhalation depends upon our proving to the Lord
that we will at all hazards and under all circumstances faithfully discharge
the trust he has places upon us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;">Integrity requires us to make commitments to truth and
honour and then develop the discipline to keep those commitments. As members of
The Restored Branch of Jesus Christ we have each made commitments to the Lord
to obey his commandments and follow him. It is important that we develop discipline
of self so that more and more, we do not have to decide and re-decide what we will
do when we are confronted with the same temptation time and time again. We only
need to decide some things once. Other wise each reconsideration is risky, and
each equivocation may result in error. There are some things we do, and other
things we just don't do. The sooner you take such stands, the taller you will
be. To develop discipline we must first decide what we will do and what we will
not do. Then we must abide by these decisions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;">Our world presents conflicting values and objectives. We
are confronted almost daily with decisions that are not clear and that may be
confusing. To develop personal integrity we must respond with exactness in all
that we do. Integrity is a small word, yet an all encompassing virtue, a virtue
that will help us obtain eternal glory if we learn to cultivate and nurture it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;">In The Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37418288.post-10851440040519500112019-09-22T14:37:00.003+01:002019-09-22T14:42:55.278+01:00Sermon By Sister Vicki Gill: Repentance<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Repentance. Is it just
saying sorry?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Does Heavenly Father accept
this way of ‘I’m sorry’ as repentance?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">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. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In order for us to fully
repent and be worthy of jesus’s sacrifice we have to <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Know what we have done wrong, why we are
repenting and saying I’m sorry.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Apologise to the person and make amends, really
mean it.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Promise that you will aim to never do it again,
then and only then can you ask forgiveness from the Lord. <o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Should we only repent for
the things that other people see?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The answer is simple… No.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We should repent for
everything. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ see and know everything. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What things should we repent
for?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I found this talk very
difficult; repentance is very simple yet also very complex. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Exodus Chapter 20 tells of
Gods 10 Comandments, we all know them, but do we live them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“Thou
shalt have no other gods before me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“Thou
shalt not make unto thee any graven image. …<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“Thou
shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain. …<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“Remember
the sabbath day, to keep it holy. …<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“Honour
thy father and thy mother. …<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“Thou
shalt not kill.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“Thou
shalt not commit adultery.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“Thou
shalt not steal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“Thou
shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“Thou
shalt not covet.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I
know that this has not been the greatest talk you have every heard but I hope
that it has been thought provoking.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I
leave these words with you x</span><span style="font-family: "arial";"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Sister Vicki Gill</span></div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37418288.post-5475956923751856942019-09-22T14:35:00.001+01:002019-09-22T14:35:24.408+01:00Official Church Statement: Gods Laws Are Eternal<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;">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. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;">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. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;">First came the talk by a graduating student in April who </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">stood and announced publicly, for the first time during
graduation, that he is “proud to be a gay son of God.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">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:-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">“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.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">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.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;">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.
</span><span style="background: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">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. </span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; color: #212225; font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;">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)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Question 2: What is your Church’s attitude toward homosexuality?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">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)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 10.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background: white; color: #212225; font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;">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....</span><span style="color: #212225; font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;"> 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.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 10.65pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #212225; font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;">It is the sin of the
ages. It was present in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region>’s
wandering as well as after and before. It was tolerated by the Greeks. It was
prevalent in decaying <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Rome</st1:place></st1:city>.
The ancient cities of <st1:city w:st="on">Sodom</st1:city> and <st1:city w:st="on">Gomorrah</st1:city>
are symbols of wretched wickedness more especially related to this perversion,
as the incident of <st1:place w:st="on">Lot</st1:place>’s visitors indicates.
We do not hesitate to tell the world that the cure for these evils is not in
surrender.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #212225; font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;">“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.” (<em><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family: Garamond; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0cm; padding: 0cm;">The
Miracle of Forgiveness,</span></em> Bookcraft, p. 79.) (Spencer W. Kimball
1977)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #212225; font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;">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” (<span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0cm; padding: 0cm;">Rom. 1:24, 27</span>) or “women
[who] change the natural use into that which is against nature” (<span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0cm; padding: 0cm;">Rom. 1:26</span>).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #212225; font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;">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)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Let me be clear. The new view of the laws of God as </span><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;">espoused</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> 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<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;">14. And
he loved the company of men also and the men would<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;">shower
him with great gifts in exchange for title and land and unnatural carnal
pleasure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="verse" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="vname"><span style="color: black; font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="verse" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="vname"><span style="color: black; font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Rom 1:</span></span><span class="vnum"><span style="color: black; font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">21-27</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> 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.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="verse" style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/null" name="v1.22"></a><span class="vnum"><span style="color: black; font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">22</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> Professing themselves to be wise,
they became fools,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="verse" style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/null" name="v1.23"></a><span class="vnum"><span style="color: black; font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">23</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> 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.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="verse" style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/null" name="v1.24"></a><span class="vnum"><span style="color: black; font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">24</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> Wherefore, God also gave them up
to uncleanness, through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own
bodies between themselves,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="verse" style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/null" name="v1.25"></a><span class="vnum"><span style="color: black; font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">25</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> Who changed the truth of God into
a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is
blessed forever. Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="verse" style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/null" name="v1.26"></a><span class="vnum"><span style="color: black; font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">26</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> 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;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="verse" style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/null" name="v1.27"></a><span class="vnum"><span style="color: black; font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">27</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> 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.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;">In Leviticus we read in chapter 18:22<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="vnum"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">22</span></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> Thou
shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind; it is abomination.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;">Again in Leviticus in chapter 20:13 we read.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="vnum"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">13</span></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> If
a man also lie with mankind as he lieth with a woman, both of them have
committed an abomination;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;">In the first book of Corinthenians we read from chapter
6:9-10<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="verse" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="vnum"><span style="color: black; font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">9</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">kingdom</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">God</st1:placename></st1:place>? Be not deceived; neither
fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of
themselves with mankind,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="verse" style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/null" name="v6.10"></a><span class="vnum"><span style="color: black; font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">10</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor
extortioners shall inherit the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">kingdom</st1:placetype>
of <st1:placename w:st="on">God</st1:placename></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;">and finally in the first book of Timothy we read chapter
1:8-10<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="verse" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="vnum"><span style="color: black; font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">8</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> But we know that the law is good if a man use it lawfully,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="verse" style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/null" name="v1.9"></a><span class="vnum"><span style="color: black; font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">9</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> 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,</span></div>
<div class="verse" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="vname"><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt;">1</span></span><span class="vnum"><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt;">0</span></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt;"> 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</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">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. </span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37418288.post-52037259836418333032019-09-01T13:36:00.000+01:002019-09-01T13:36:16.374+01:00Commit Ourselves to Searching the Scriptures<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;">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" </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;">(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.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">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 </span><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;">civilised</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> countries. In these times there is a special need for a sure
guide to righteous living, and this we can find in the scriptures.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">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 </span><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;">Saviours</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> life
and teachings work in people's thoughts and acts is a continuing miracle. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;">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 <st1:place w:st="on">Island</st1:place>
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.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;">In the
Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37418288.post-78815043933338888262019-08-25T12:04:00.000+01:002019-08-25T12:04:27.740+01:00The Loss of A Wonderful Sister<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It is with a sad heart that the church announce the death of our beloved Sister Annette Barber. Sister Annette left this mortal probation and graduated on the 5th of August 2019. Sister Annette's funeral service was held on the 23rd of August 2019. The service was attended by her wonderful family and many friends. The Prophet was asked to speak and the spirit of love and devotion for our dear Sister was evident. Our love and prayers are with her Husband Brother Peter Barber and her children and family and we pray that the Lord brings them peace and comfort.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sister Annette was an active member of The Restored Branch of Jesus Christ from the moment she found us and started to work for the advancement of the cause. Sister Annette was called to stand as the church Historian and record keeper, a job she did extremely well in up to the day she died. Sister Annette was also a member of the Aaronic Priesthood holding the office of Priest, which allowed her to administer the sacred Sacrament, a responsibility she took very seriously. Sister Annette also took part in the bringing forth of new scripture standing as a witness to the validity of the record she held and saw and also as a transcriber. Without the hard work and effort of Sister Annette in writing down and copying many notes The Book of Rayaneck would have taken so much longer to come forth. This was a work which Annette enjoyed very much and a work which inspired here to greater height's and understanding of the eternal Gospel.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sister Annette will be much missed by all of us. She was a tower of strength and a faithful and active member of the branch and its works. We will all miss her deeply. </span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37418288.post-81983988852653006362019-01-28T20:08:00.000+00:002019-01-28T20:08:05.233+00:00New Name New Era<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
With effect immediately the church has changed its name to The Restored Branch of Jesus Christ and as of today Matthew P. Gill will be stepping back in to his role as First Elder of the church. We hope that you will continue to support the church through this change and continue to help us spread the message of the restored gospel.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37418288.post-86636752082002910552017-03-20T12:59:00.004+00:002017-03-20T12:59:45.889+00:00Sundays Sermons<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">For me, the Gospel of John is
the book that brings me closer to God. I like the fact that Jesus’ dialogue is
so pronounced in this Gospel and that we learn the essential teachings in this
book. </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">In John we read the statements
of Christ that affirm his unique place as “the only begotten Son of God” and
the unique relationship Jesus had as “the Christ.” We learn of God’s love,
poured out through Jesus, “that all who believe in him would not perish, but
have everlasting life” (3:16). </span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">We have the “I am” statements,
which intimated that unique relationship with the Father and the whole
household of believers: </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">I am… the Bread of Life, the
Light of the world, the Door, the Good Shepherd, the Resurrection and the Life,
the Way, the Truth, the Life, the Vine. </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">All of these statements angered
the religious leaders, who realized that Jesus was proclaiming a unique
relationship with the Father–and an eternal one, at that. And the one that
underlined that was when Jesus said that “Abraham looked forward to his coming…and
saw it.” Incensed, the leaders pointed out that Jesus wasn’t even 50 years old
and claimed to have seen Abraham! </span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">And Jesus’ response: “Before
Abraham was, I Am.” Their anger was justified–for if Jesus was incorrect, then
he truly spoke blasphemy: for the official name of God, YaHWeH, is literally
rendered, “I Am.” </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">John is such a powerful book
and one that should be used to bring people to understand who Jesus was and
what his life and death and resurrection was all about. </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">For me, the book that brings me
closest to God is that which the closest disciple wrote about the only-begotten
Son of God. </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">As the disciple and author
wrote: </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">“These things have been written
that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, and that by believing you may
have life in his name. </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">"And what is it that ye
shall hope for? Behold I say unto you that ye shall have hope through the
atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life
eternal, and this because of your faith in him according to the promise.” ETHER
12:27 </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">"And if men come unto me I
will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be
humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before
me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I
make weak things become strong unto them."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>3RD NEPHI1:13<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;">Regeneration <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;">This is a subject which has called the attention of all
Christendom, from the first to the last of all the sects on earth. Some have
supposed the “new birth” to be a change of heart. Others that it is to be
converted. While others make a distinction between conversion and the new
birth; that to be converted or change our principles is one thing, and to be
born again is another. But, first, I would, in order to understand the subject,
ask, what is regeneration? What is it to be generated? To be generated is to be
begotten and brought forth into the world. To be regenerated is to be begotten
the second time. Hence arose the question with Nicodemus when Jesus said to
him, except a man be born again he cannot enter the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">kingdom</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">God</st1:placename></st1:place>,
hw can a man be born again when he is old? Can he enter the second time into
his mother’s womb?” This appeared to be marvellous in the eyes of a ruler of
the Jews, but Jesus solves the problem, that as man was born of woman in order
to come into this world, even so man must be born of the water and the spirit
in order to get into the kingdom of God. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;">We read in the first chaps. of John, that as many as
received Christ, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, which were
born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor the will of man, but of
God. By this it appears that they had power to become the sons of God, by
receiving Christ and being born of God; that is, of the water and the spirit,
upon the same principle that one by being born of woman becomes the son of man.
We find also in Matthew. Christ promises to his twelve Apostles that they
should sit upon twelve thrones and judge the twelve tribes of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region>, because
they had followed him in the regeneration. But, says one, this regeneration was
the regeneration of the heart, a regeneration from sin. Then, according to
this, Christ must have been a sinner, and been regenerated from sin; otherwise
his disciples could not have followed him, for they could not have followed him
in travelling where Christ had not been. But in this regeneration of water they
could have followed, for as he went down into the water, even so they could go
down into the water and come out again, and thus not only have their hearts
regenerated, but also their whole bodies and spirits. But, says the objector,
if Christ meant that a man should be buried in the water and come forth out of
it in order to be born of the water, how is it that a man is born of the
spirit? I answer, upon the very same principle that he is born of water, that
is, to be enveloped in the spirit and come forth out of it. Christ says, the
wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst
not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth; so is every one that is born
of the spirit.. We read in of Acts concerning the Apostles receiving the Holy
Ghost, “they were all with one accord in one place, and suddenly there came a
sound from heaven as the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house
where they were sitting, and they were filled with the Holy Ghost. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;">By this we learn that the Holy Ghost comes like a breeze
of the wind; that as the wind comes upon us and passes off again, we cannot
tell from whence it comes, neither do we know where it goes, yet we feel the
refreshing. We breathe the air, which seems pure, and our bodies are enveloped
in the same. And, to use the ancient mode of expression, we would say we were
born of the wind. So it is with the Holy Ghost. When the Apostles received it,
it not only filled them, but all the house where they were, so that not only
the Apostles, but the whole number who were with them were not only filled with
the Holy Ghost, but baptized with it. Hence we discover the truth and propriety
of the Saviour's saying, “except a man be born of the water and the spirit he
cannot enter the kingdom of heaven.” By passing through these two elements, if
we may call spirit an element, we enter the kingdom of God, or his church, and
until we have passed through both we are not born of God. Therefore, although
we might have been born of water, we are not sons of God. For, says Paul,
except we have the spirit of Christ, we are none of his. Consequently it takes
both the water and spirit for the door into Christ’s church, and also to make a
perfect baptism. Hence, says Paul, ‘there is one Lord, one faith, and one
baptism.’ </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;">I hope this has been of some enlightenment for you. I say
these words in Jesus Name Amen.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37418288.post-6207349275797097812017-01-30T15:30:00.002+00:002017-01-30T15:30:38.445+00:00Sundays Sermons: Home is A Refuge & My Son<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;">Home the refuge in the storm. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;">Ever
since our first Parents came into this world with<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>it's Pitfalls & danger's, man has sought
a place of security where he could live unmolested.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His desire for protection from the hot son
(they did have it in those days), or the cold wind, the maraud animals,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>has caused man to use his talents &
inventiveness, until to-day we have the wonderful dwellings of this age. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;">Not for
us the cave with it's dripping roof & hard & often dusty floor, where
if it was left for a long while one hunted for food, it stood a good chance of
being occupied by animals, brought there by the remains of the last meal eaten
there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nevertheless, it gave man in this
age, the comfort of limited security & led by his inventiveness, to the
construction of more habitable structures designed<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>better for the elements. Whilst the danger of
wild animals no longer exist for us in this modern age, the longing for
security and a place where all<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>things
begin & end, still is a great force in our lives. </span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;">I am reminded
of the Cratchit family in, Christmas Carol although <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>they<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>were relatively
poor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One feels the glow of warmth that
rest's over it, & an assurance of the well-being of the family. We are led
to think, “would that all of our homes could posses it's <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>virtues and enjoy it's blessings. But we
remember that this is a description of a <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">London</st1:place></st1:city>
home in<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;">bleak <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">London</st1:city></st1:place> in 1843, over 100
& odd years ago!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was a time
when the simple virtues, characterised most homes, and when the gaining of
material things beyond the ordinary needs of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>life did not fill the lives of the family members as it does today.
Tremendous changes have taken place in the world during these past 100 odd
years ago. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;">Much
that was sacred & traditional seems to have gone out, and new & different
patterns of living and other interests of family members have taken over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The physical aspects of the home are
demanding more & more attention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
traditional roles of the mother as the home -maker the father as the bread
winner have almost gone. In many of the homes to-day the father & mother
are both wage earners & both house - keepers, deemed necessary to meet the
social & economic conditions. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;">Children
are being called upon to assume new responsibilities as compared with the
things, children did in the past generations. All too many children now have
too much unsupervised time, lacking in careful parental planning & firm
wise guidance and direction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The social
activities we see or know about in the Cratchets home, have largely been taken
outside of the home. The fulfilment of these divine purposes is not dependent
upon things within our homes which yield to change, but rather to the simple
constant virtues which need no alteration<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>because they are founded on eternal truths. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;">A few of
the more important of these virtues........<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A home founded on eternal marriage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;">The
Father holding the priest-hood, by divine decree the head of the household, The
Mother the home maker. Some one once said:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“A home is a roof over a good woman”. </span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;">Another
said: “A hundred men may make an encampment, but it takes one woman to make a
home. Where the home is ruled according to the word of God, angels </span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;">might be
asked to stay and they would not find themselves out of their element.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Love must abide in a good home – whether it
be the cave dwelling of our ancestors, the simple crotchets home, or the
sophisticated home of today. Discipline too, discipline founded on righteous
principles – no home without discipline can be a truly good home. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;">Loyalty:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unity, & a willingness to share in the
home responsibilities. Unity is one of the foundations stones of strength,
& the strength of a nation depends on the strength of it's homes. Fortunate
are the occupants of a home where the gospel is lived and taught, where there
is complete love & harmony, where it is expressed<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in word & deed by the Father & the
Mother, the Mother to the Father, & they to the children ( and of course,
the Father to the Mother – he slips .)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And the children to one to to another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>To hear “please”, “Thank you ”, “I love you”, “I love your hair,” “I
like your dress,”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“ your talk was very
good today” “I was very proud of you today.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;">As with
the early man, the cave provided the best ground on which to meet the animal
adversaries, affording as it did the situation where he had only the entrance
to guard, his back being protected for him by the cave .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So in to - days complex society, home becomes
the haven that we fly to naturally. As little children, it's home & Mother
we fly to when we come to grief in tackling that world and it's problems,
to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>receive the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>sympathy, direction & encouragement to
try again. To try to master riding our bikes when it's easier to fall of than
to stay on. To go back to school again when bullies pick on our deficiencies
and impediments, to ridicule & deride us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As grown ups, it's to the family we take our mistakes, our reverses in
business, and here we receive ( or should receive) the encouragement to pick up
the pieces & the strength to go out and succeed. In closing, may I read
this saying. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;">“Home is not merely four square walls </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;">Though hung with pictures and gilded, </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;">Home is where the affection calls </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;">Filled with shrines the heart has built, </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;">Home is not merely roof and room </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;">It
needs something to endear it, </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;">Home is where the heart<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>can bloom, </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;">Where there is some kind heart to
cheer it, </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;">What is home without none to meet,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;">None to welcome, none to greet us,? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;">Home is sweet and only sweet </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;">Where there is one we love to meet us. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;">There is no substitute for a home -</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;">it's foundation is as ancient as the </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;">world, and it has been the work of
God, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;">from the earliest times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From Abraham </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;">sprang two ancient races.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
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In The Name of Jesus Christ Amen.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
Sister Alyson Gill</div>
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</div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: Garamond; font-size: 18pt; mso-highlight: white;">My son </span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: Garamond; font-size: 18pt; mso-highlight: white;"></span> </div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: Garamond; font-size: 18pt; mso-highlight: white;">My son, my servant,
mine anointed, and my friend are terms the Lord uses in
referring to Joseph Smith. And the Lord commanded, “Behold, there shall be
a record kept among you; and in it thou shalt be called a seer, a translator, a
prophet, an apostle of Jesus Christ, an elder of the church through the
will of God the Father, and the grace of your Lord Jesus Christ.” </span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: Garamond; font-size: 18pt; mso-highlight: white;"></span> </div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: Garamond; font-size: 18pt; mso-highlight: white;"></span><span style="background: white; font-family: Garamond; font-size: 18pt; mso-highlight: white;">Born in <st1:city w:st="on">Sharon</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">Vermont</st1:state>, December
23, 1805, Joseph Smith, Jr., was only thirty-eight years old when martyred at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Carthage</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">Illinois</st1:state></st1:place>,
on June 27, 1844. But in his relatively brief life on earth he served as the
Lord’s agent, receiving visitations from God the Father and Jesus Christ
themselves, and from many other heavenly messengers.</span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 18pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: Garamond; font-size: 18pt; mso-highlight: white;">Through him, gospel
truths, the holy priesthood, and the administrative kingdom were again restored
to earth for the benefit of all mankind and in initial preparation for the
upcoming millennial reign of Jesus Christ. With unfailing care, “Brother
Joseph” guided thousands of new entrants into succeeding growth epochs, until
at last the infant Church stood on strong legs of understanding and faith.</span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 18pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: Garamond; font-size: 18pt; mso-highlight: white;">“And I have sent
forth the fulness of my gospel by the hand of my servant Joseph; and in
weakness have I blessed him; And I have given unto him the keys of the mystery
of those things which have been sealed, even things which were from the
foundation of the world, and the things which shall come from this time until
the time of my coming</span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 18pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: Garamond; font-size: 18pt; mso-highlight: white;">And it has been as
the Lord said, “The ends of the earth shall inquire after thy name, and fools
shall have thee in derision, and hell shall rage against thee; While the pure
in heart, and the wise, and the noble, and the virtuous, shall seek counsel,
and authority, and blessings constantly from under thy hand.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Garamond; font-size: 18pt; mso-highlight: white;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Garamond; font-size: 18pt; mso-highlight: white;"></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 18pt;">Following the visits of the angel <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Moroni</st1:place></st1:city> to young Joseph and his acquisition of
the plates, Joseph commenced the difficult assignment of translation. One can
but imagine the dedication, the devotion, and the labor required to translate
in fewer than 90 days this record of over 500 pages covering a period of 2,600
years. I love the words Oliver Cowdery used to describe the time he spent
assisting Joseph with the translation of the Book of Mormon: “These were
days never to be forgotten—to sit under the sound of a voice dictated by the
inspiration of heaven, awakened the utmost gratitude of this
bosom!” 4 The Prophet Joseph Smith taught us diligence—by
example.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 18pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 18pt;">1. An angel came to Joseph Smith, </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 18pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 18pt;">And from the ground he took </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 18pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 18pt;">A sacred record hidden there, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 18pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 18pt;">A precious, holy book.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 18pt;">2. It tells of people long ago, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 18pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 18pt;">Led by the Lord’s own hand, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 18pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 18pt;">Who left their homes and crossed the sea </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 18pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 18pt;">To reach a favored land.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 18pt;">3. The Nephites and the Lamanites, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 18pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 18pt;">And all who came to dwell, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 18pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 18pt;">Had peace when they obeyed the Lord, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 18pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 18pt;">The sacred records tell.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 18pt;">4. And now I’ll read the sacred book,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 18pt;">And then I’ll understand<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 18pt;">That Heav’nly Father loves us all<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 18pt;">In each and ev’ry land.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 18pt;">With regard to josephs character probably the most
damning is the inference and forthright accusations that he lived an immoral
life pertaining to polygamy, this was and still is a complete lie and
fabrication spread by Brigham Young and other false prophets to lead man astray
and blacken Josephs name.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: Garamond; font-size: 18pt; mso-highlight: white;">For the last three
years I have a record of all my acts and proceedings, for I have kept several
good, faithful, and efficient clerks in constant employ; they have accompanied
me everywhere, and carefully kept my history, and they have written down what I
have done, where I have been, and what I have said; therefore my enemies cannot
charge me with any day, time, or place, but what I have written testimony to
prove my actions; and my enemies cannot prove anything against me.
(LDS History of the Church 6:409)</span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 18pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: Garamond; font-size: 18pt; mso-highlight: white;">Unfortunately,
Joseph's carefully laid plans to prove his innocence were thwarted by Brigham
Young and his followers—for they took Joseph's papers with them to <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Utah</st1:place></st1:state> and kept them from
the public.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Garamond; font-size: 18pt; mso-highlight: white;">There are a number
of references in the Inspired Version of the Bible and the Doctrine and
Covenants which condemn polygamy, and none which command it to be practiced—but
the most scathing denunciation of polygamy in Joseph's writings is found in the
Book of Jacob in the Book of Mormon. There the Lord gives an inspired message
through His Nephite prophet, Jacob, more than three pages in length, which
definitely forbids polygamy. It prophetically warns the Nephites that if they
do not choose the Lord as their commander, they will choose to
do otherwise—the otherwise being that they would degenerate into
the sinful practice of polygamy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Garamond; font-size: 18pt; mso-highlight: white;">It is important to
review the circumstances under which the Prophet Jacob received this divine
revelation forbidding polygamy. Years earlier, under God's direction, Jacob's
older brother, Nephi, had directed the Nephites in building a temple. After
Nephi's death, Jacob became the prophet-leader. The Lord commanded Jacob to go
into the temple where the Nephites would be at worship, and bring to them a
revelation condemning polygamy. In that revelation Jacob gave a stern
condemnation of that dogma—and since Joseph Smith published the Book of Mormon
and proclaimed that it contained the fullness of the gospel, the Lord's
denouncement of polygamy through Jacob is also Joseph's testimony against that
false doctrine. Jacob declared:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Garamond; font-size: 18pt; mso-highlight: white;">the people of Nephi
... began to grow hard in their hearts, and indulge themselves somewhat in
wicked practices, such as like unto David of old, desiring many wives and
concubines, and also Solomon, his son.... Wherefore, I, Jacob, gave unto them
these words as I taught them in the temple, having firstly obtained mine errand
from the Lord<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: Garamond; font-size: 18pt; mso-highlight: white;">I close in the name
of Jesus Christ Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: Garamond; font-size: 18pt; mso-highlight: white;">Elder Philip A. Gill<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37418288.post-83309031847868007112017-01-15T11:29:00.002+00:002017-01-15T11:30:36.209+00:00Sermon: Today<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 16pt;">TODAY<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 16pt;">What is meant in
Scripture by the word “today?” Today, is a time for repentance and salvation.
Tomorrow, is a time of judgment and burning. A fear that was expressed by
writers in past Church journals was that today would cease before they had
completed their mission and duty to the world.<br />
“It affords us no small consolation to witness the slow but steady increase of
the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">church</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Christ</st1:placename></st1:place> of Latter Day Saints. The fulfilment
of the prophecies, and the natural evidence of the fruit of righteousness, are
sufficient signs for those that believe, and we rejoice that it is yet today, praying
that many may hearken to the everlasting gospel. We hope, knowing that great
things await us in this generation; we have faith because the promises of God
are sure, and we pray for the faithful labourers in the Lord’s vineyard: they
send us good tidings and we glory with them at the prospect before us.”
(Messenger & Advocate, Vol. 1, No. 10, p. 153) </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 16pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 16pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 16pt;">“Today,” is that
brief time between the beginning of the dispensation to the Gentiles in 1830,
to the day of the coming of our Lord. Those who fail in their spiritual duty
while it is still today will have to face the judgment of our Lord who will
come, “In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey
not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:” (2 Thess.1:8)<br />
“Wherefore, Father, spare these my brethren that believe on my name, that they
may come unto me and have everlasting life.....Hearken, O ye people of my
church, and ye elders listen together, and hear my voice while it is called
today, and harden not your hearts;” (D&C 45:2-3) </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 16pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 16pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 16pt;">“Behold, now it is
called today until the coming of the Son of Man, and verily it is a day of
sacrifice, and a day for the tithing of my people; for he that is tithed shall
not be burned at his coming. For after today cometh the burning, this is speaking
after the manner of the Lord, for verily I say, tomorrow all the proud and they
that do wickedly shall be as stubble; and I will burn them up, for I am the
Lord of Hosts; and I will not spare any that remain in Babylon. Wherefore, if
ye believe me, ye will labour while it is called today.” (D&C 64:5)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 16pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 16pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 16pt;">We live in the last
generation of man between the time the dispensation to the Gentiles was closed
and the time of the second coming of Christ. When the master of the vineyard
comes to prune His vineyard for the last time, what will he do with those
servants who failed to care for His vineyard according to His commands? “And
until that hour there will be foolish virgins among the wise; and at that hour
cometh an entire separation of the righteous and the wicked; and in that day
will I send mine angels to pluck out the wicked and cast them into unquenchable
fire.” (D&C 63:14) </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 16pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 16pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 16pt;">Those who do not
worship the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and do not obey the gospel of
Christ can expect the baptism by fire (without repentance) that has been
decreed by God upon the whole earth. There is nothing more certain than every
person that has ever lived upon the earth has their own free moral agency to
choose. We must never allude that another man must believe as us. Every person
must make their own decisions concerning life and religion. Of course, each
person must answer for the works in the flesh. “And if it seem evil unto you to
serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which
your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of
the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve
the LORD.” (Joshua 24:15) There is no salvation except through the God of
Israel. Those who know not this living God, that have received no revelations
from Him, can have no faith in Him. “But without faith it is impossible to
please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a
rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Heb. 11:6) “And God said moreover
unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region>, The LORD God of your
fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent
me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all
generations.” (Ex. 3:15) All other gods are idols which the mind of man
conceive of in their own vain imagination. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 16pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 16pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 16pt;">There is also no
salvation except through obeying the gospel of Christ. “He that believeth and
is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” (Mark
16:15) “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born
of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">kingdom</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">God</st1:placename></st1:place>.”
(John 3:5) No man can receive baptism except through one called of God as was
Aaron and commissioned by Jesus to perform those ordinances in His name
(authority/commission). “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the
LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to
bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the
opening of the prison to them that are bound;” (Isa. 61:1) “ The Spirit of the
Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor;
he hath sent me to heal the broken hearted, to preach deliverance to the
captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are
bruised,” (Luke 4:18) “And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to
heal the sick.” (Luke 9:2) “And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as
it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of
peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” (Rom 10:15) Man cannot send
himself to preach the gospel. He would be acting in his name without God’s
authorization. Such ministers profane the name (authority) of God and are
subject to severe judgment. The apostle Paul said, “As we said before, so say I
now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have
received, let him be accursed.” (Gal. 1:9) </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 16pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 16pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 16pt;">The gospel must be
understood as the greatest opportunity in life. Obeying the gospel of Christ
carries the only promise of eternal life. Soon, it will no longer be today.
Tomorrow is the day of the Lord. Tomorrow will be a day of tribulation and
destruction for all those that do not obey the gospel. Only the saints of the
Most High are to be preserved. The prophet Isaiah said, “Except the Lord of
hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as <st1:city w:st="on">Sodom</st1:city>, and we should have been like unto <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Gomorrah</st1:place></st1:city>.” (Isa. 1:9) We must prepare, watch,
and be ready. “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.”
(Matt. 24:49) </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 16pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 16pt;">“1 Behold, the LORD maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it
upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof. 2 And it shall be,
as with the people, so with the priest; as with the servant, so with his
master; as with the maid, so with her mistress; as with the buyer, so with the
seller; as with the lender, so with the borrower; as with the taker of usury,
so with the giver of usury to him. 3 The land shall be utterly emptied, and
utterly spoiled: for the LORD hath spoken this word. 4 The earth mourneth and
fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the haughty people of the
earth do languish. 5 The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof;
because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the
everlasting covenant. 6 Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they
that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are
burned, and few men left.” (Isa. 24) </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 16pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 16pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 16pt;">Satan has set a trap
for the unwary. He leads men to believe that Christ delayeth His coming that
they do not have to fear the day of the Lord and spiritually prepare for it
while it is still today. He leads man to believe that all is peace. “And others
will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, that they will say:
All is well in <st1:city w:st="on">Zion</st1:city>; yea, <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Zion</st1:place></st1:city> prospereth, all is well, and thus the
devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell. And
behold, others he flattereth away, and telleth them there is no hell; and he
saith unto them: I am no devil, for there is none, and thus he whispereth in
their ears, until he grasps them with his awful chains, from whence there is no
deliverance. Yea, they are grasped with death, and hell; and death, and hell,
and the devil, and all that have been seized therewith must stand before the
throne of God, and be judged according to their works, from whence they must go
into the place prepared for them, even a lake of fire and brimstone, which is
endless torment. Therefore, wo be unto him that is at ease in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Zion</st1:city></st1:place>! Wo be unto him that crieth: All is
well!” (2 Nephi) </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 16pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 16pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 16pt;">Do not assume that as
one of the sheep that you will be counted among the Lord’s flock when He comes
to gather His sheep. “25 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will
come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 26
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life
for my sake shall find it. 27 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the
whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for
his soul? 28 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his
angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.” (Matt. 16)
“And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of
me.” (Matt. 10:33) “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter
into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in
heaven.” (Matt. 7:30) </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 16pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 16pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 16pt;">“For any person to
suppose that it will be his privilege to sit down in the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">kingdom</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">God</st1:placename></st1:place>,
in peace, with Peter and the rest of the apostles, who has not obeyed the
gospel, and kept the faith of the same, unto the end of his days, will
eventually find that the way of the transgressor is hard.” (Messenger &
Advocate, Vol. 2, No. 3, p. 239) </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 16pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 16pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 16pt;">It is still today;
but, soon it will be tomorrow, the day of the Lord. There is little time left
to prepare. It is our duty to make every effort, today, to secure our family in
the gospel of Christ before tomorrow overtakes us as the flood. It is always
the darkest before the dawn. There is a quiet before the storm. Even in the
days of our late prophet Joseph it was understood, “ Sanctify yourselves, O ye
servants of the Lord, for much is required at your hands: the blood of souls
will cry against you except you hasten on your mission: yes, let all raise
their warning voice, in meekness and in mildness, for SOON WILL THERE BE A
FAMINE FOR THE WORD OF GOD.” (Messenger & Advocate, Vol. 2, No. 1, p. 204) </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 16pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 16pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 16pt;">Our first duty in the
gospel is to our family. “Those who are favoured with light are bound, more or
less, to communicate, at least a portion of their fellow men; and as we are
required to respect our own flesh, the kindred ties which bind the human heart
are inseparable, in the bosoms of men of God, and have the first claim in all
cases where their salvation is concerned.” (Messenger & Advocate, Vol. 2,
No. 4, p. 252) </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 16pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 16pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 16pt;">Tomorrow may be too
late. “45But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of
man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and
drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into
the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall
also the coming of the Son of man be. 46 Then shall be fulfilled that which is
written, that, in the last days. 47 Two be in the field; the one shall be
taken, and the other left. 48 Two shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be
taken, and the other left. 49 And what I say unto one, I say unto all men;
Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 50 But know
this, that if the good man of the house had known in what watch the thief would
come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken
up. but would have been ready 51 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an
hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. 52 Who then is a faithful and wise
servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in
due season? 53 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find
so doing. 54 And Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all
his goods. 55 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord
delayeth his coming; And shall begin to smite his fellow servants, and to eat
and drink with the drunken; The lord of that servant shall come in a day when
he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, 51 And shall
cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall
be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matt. 24) </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 16pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 16pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 16pt;">It is my hope and my
dream that our family will be together for the Sabbath of Creation. No man should
be an island to himself. It is only through the shared love of all that we can
have hope. There is a great opportunity before us, today, if we control the
future rather than the future controlling us. We know what is going to happen
to the saints and to the wicked (in general terms). We may even know how close
it really is. </span><span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 16pt;">Consider for a moment
why so many events have happened in the last year. Why have we been afforded
spiritual understanding of these last days that has not been enjoyed since the
days of our late prophet Joseph? Every sermon I teach brings to you a new
understanding of our times and of our scripture. You have learned much since
our restoration. But please my brothers and sisters do not assume that because
you have been baptised that you will be counted among the worthy. The Jews will
not accept their Saviour until He appears to them on <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Mt.</st1:placetype> <st1:placename w:st="on">Olives</st1:placename></st1:place>.
It is written when the seed of Joseph “begins to come to an understanding” of
their lineage the hour is nigh. Only those who are actively preparing, keeping
their lamps lit by being actively involved in spiritual affairs will be
counted. Read Matthew 25. Jesus was talking about you. Light is brought into
our lives through prayer, reading, corresponding, and diligently seeking the
truth. Those foolish virgins who were idle relative to spiritual things, had no
oil, they had lost the spirit of prophecy and revelation. “11 But he answered
and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. 12 Watch therefore, for ye
know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.” (Matt. 25)
“For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in
the night.” (1 Thess. 5:2) We must not let TODAY pass us by as if married to
the world and to the inventions of hands. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 16pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 16pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 16pt;">Ponder for one moment
why you have become privy to understanding such prophecies. You have stood and
witnessed this year of signs. You learned much. What is the next major event to
happen in this generation? Those who believe in the rock of revelation, have
unwavering faith, and ask in prayer are promised to have such questions affecting
their understanding, protection, and faith in eternal things revealed. </span><span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 16pt;">Some of Mormons
teachings “Wherefore take heed, my beloved brethren, that ye do not judge that
which is evil to be of God, or that which is good and of God to be of the
devil. For behold, my brethren, it is given unto you to judge, that ye may know
good from evil; and the way to judge is as plain that ye may know with a
perfect knowledge, as the daylight is from the dark night. For behold, the
Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that they may know good from evil;
wherefore I shew unto you the way to judge: for every thing which inviteth to
do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and
gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge, it is of God;
but whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and
deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of
the devil, for after this manner doth the devil work: for he persuadeth no man
to do good, no not one; neither doeth his angels; neither do they which subject
themselves unto him. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 16pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 16pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 16pt;">“And now my brethren,
seeing that ye know the light by which ye may judge, which light is the light
of Christ, see that ye do not judge wrongfully: for with that same judgment
which ye judge, ye shall also be judged. Wherefore I beseech of you, brethren,
that ye should search diligently in the light of Christ that ye may know good
from evil; and if ye will lay hold upon every good thing, and condemn it not, ye
certainly will be a child of Christ. And now, my brethren, how is it possible
that ye can lay hold upon every good thing? And now I come to that faith, of
which I said I would speak; and I will tell you the way whereby ye may lay hold
on every good thing. For behold, God knowing all things, being from everlasting
to everlasting, behold, he sent angels to minister unto the children of men, to
make manifest concerning the coming of Christ; and in Christ there should come
every good thing. And God also declared unto prophets by his own mouth, that
Christ should come. And behold there were divers ways that he did manifest
things unto the children of men, which were good; and all things which are
good, cometh of Christ, otherwise men were fallen, and there could no good
thing come unto them. Wherefore, by the ministering of angels, and by every
word which proceeded forth out of the mouth of God, men began to exercise faith
in Christ; and thus by faith, they did lay hold upon every good thing: and thus
it was until the coming of Christ. And after that he came, men also were saved
by faith in his name; and by faith they become the sons of God. And as suredly
as Christ liveth, he spake these words unto our fathers, saying, Whatsoever
thing ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is good, in faith believing
that ye shall receive, behold, it shall be done unto you. Wherefore, my beloved
brethren, hath miracles ceased, because that Christ hath ascended into heaven,
and hath set down on the right hand of God, to claim of the Father his rights
of mercy which he hath upon the children of men? for he hath answered the ends
of the law, and he claimeth all those that hath faith in him; and they that
have faith in him, will cleave unto every good thing; wherefore he advocateth the
cause of the children of men; and he dwelleth eternally in the heavens. And
Because that he hath done this, my beloved brethren, hath miracles ceased?
Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither hath angels ceased to minister unto the
children of men. For behold, they are subject unto him, to minister according
to the word of his command, shewing themselves unto them of strong faith and a
firm mind, in every form of godliness. And the office of their ministry is, to
call men unto repentance, and to fulfil and to do the work of the covenants of
the Father which he hath made unto the children of men, to prepare the way
among the children of men, by declaring the word of Christ unto the chosen
vessels of the Lord, that they may bear testimony of him; and by so doing, the
Lord God prepareth the way that the residue of men may have faith in Christ,
that the Holy Ghost may have place in their hearts, according to the power
thereof: and after this manner bringeth to pass the Father the covenants which
he hath made unto the children of men. And Christ hath said, if ye will have
faith in me, ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me. And
he hath said, Repent all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me and be baptized
in my name, and have faith in me, that ye may be saved. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 16pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 16pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 16pt;">“And now my beloved
brethren, if this be the case that these things are true which I have spoken
unto you, and God will shew unto you with power and great glory at the last
day, that they are true; and if they are true, hath the day of miracles ceased?
or hath angels ceased to appear unto the children of men? or hath he withheld
the power of the Holy Ghost from them? or will he, so long as time shall last,
or the earth shall stand, or there shall be one man upon the face thereof to be
saved? Behold I say unto you Nay, for it is by faith that miracles are wrought;
and it is by faith that angels appear and minister unto men; wherefore if these
things have ceased, wo be unto the children of men, for it is because of
unbelief, and all is vain: for no man can be saved, according to the words of
Christ, save they shall have faith in his name; wherefore, if these things have
ceased, then has faith ceased also; and awful is the state of man: for they are
as though there had been no redemption made. But behold, my beloved brethren, I
judge better things of you, for I judge that ye have faith in Christ, because
of your meekness: for if ye have not faith in him, then ye are not fit to be
numbered among the people of his church. And again my beloved brethren, I would
speak unto you concerning hope. How is it that ye can attain unto faith, save
ye shall have hope? And what is it that ye shall hope for? Behold I say unto
you, that ye shall have hope through the atonement of Christ and the power of
his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal; and this because of your
faith in him according to the promise; wherefore, if a man have faith, he must
needs have hope: for without faith there cannot be any hope. And again: Behold
I say unto you, that he cannot have faith and hope, save he shall be meek, and
lowly of heart: if so, his faith and hope are vain, for none is acceptable
before God, save the meek and lowly of heart; and if a man be meek and lowly in
heart, and confesses by the power of the Holy Ghost, that Jesus is the Christ,
he must needs have charity: for if he have not charity, he is nothing;
wherefore he must needs have charity. And charity suffereth long, and is kind,
and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked,
thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth,
beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all
things; wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing,
for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the
greatest of all, for all things must fail; but charity is the pure love of
Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last
day, it shall be well with them. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the
Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love which
he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son Jesus Christ, that
ye may become the sons of God, that when he shall appear, we shall be like him:
for we shall see him as he is, that we may have this hope, that we may be
purified even as he is pure: Amen.” (Evening & Morning Star, Vol. 1, No. 8,
p. 60 </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 16pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 16pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 16pt;">Above all things we
must remember to love one another. “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye
love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.” (John
13:34; John 15:12) “ For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning,
that we should love one another.” (1 John 3:11) If we do not love one another,
even as we are commanded to love God, the love of God is not in us and we do
not share in the promises of God. How can we love one another when we seldom
either see, or hear from one another? Communication is the life blood of
understanding. Take it away and soon Satan brings strife and contention. Love
without active involvement is love unrealised, no love. How do we know if we
love God. “ 15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14) How do we know
if we love each other? By truly knowing each other, communicating with each
other, and caring for each other as much as we care for ourselves, by having
faith, hope, and charity for one another. We must trust one another, believe
one another, and pray for one another. Let Satan come between us and we have
lost. If enmity ever enters your heart, take it to God in prayer. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 16pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 16pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 16pt;">Soon, the
dispensation to the House of Israel will be opened and those saints found
worthy will be gathered to the city of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">God</st1:place></st1:city>,
the New Jerusalem. there, we will rejoice with Enoch and his city, the remnant
of the seed of Joseph, build a temple for our Lord, and have Him for our God on
a restored earth. We must be as one, for, if not, we are simply a part of the
world and must share in the judgments decreed upon them. The real questions
are: How much do we love each other and how much are we willing to sacrifice to
realize such a dream? There are no blessings without sacrifice. The greater the
sacrifice the greater the blessing. Many men have given their lives for an
opportunity to share in this great event. You are among the very few that have
been afforded such an opportunity in the flesh. When tomorrow comes, there may
not be another chance. If we miss this opportunity, it may never return. How
many times have the people of God been consumed by the world and lost? You can
understand today, tomorrow, and eternity. You have the promise through the Holy
Spirit to be able to learn and experience the eternal for yourself. Once
tasted, you will never want to lose such a blessing. Drink deep of the eternal
spring, join together in a love we knew before the foundation of the earth,
obey the gospel and the commandments of God, and we have the promise to meet
the Lord in the New Jerusalem, the city of God. It may be a dream today; but,
it can become reality tomorrow. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 16pt;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 16pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 16pt;">Prophet Matthew P.
Gill<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37418288.post-27243403766820494662017-01-08T16:02:00.001+00:002017-01-08T16:03:03.152+00:00Sunday Sermons: Our Spirits, Sonship of God<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Sister Vicki Gill</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Dear Brothers and sisters,</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">I was given a total of 2 days
to prepare this talk so please forgive me if it isn't as great as usual. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">J</span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">ust 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.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">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.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">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.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Leonardo still didn't quite
understand what I meant about our spirits.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">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.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">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<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">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).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Leonardo loved this idea and
continued to put the glove on and off, whilst wiggling his fingers or flopping
the glove around.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;">
</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">The things you discuss by the
side of a football pitch. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">In The name of Jesus Christ. Amen.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Prophet Matthew Gill</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 14pt;">Sons Of God<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 14pt;">When the gospel of Jesus Christ was ushered forth into
the world, there was something beautiful and glorious, connected with
it;--something which when rightly understood, had a tendency to enamour, and
captivate the soul of man. There was a dignity, a glory, and a freedom
associated with its principles, which the generality of men, and even the
teachers of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region>
knew little or nothing about. The Jews indeed had been taught "that to
them belonged the promises, the giving of the law, and the service of
God:" that "theirs were the Fathers," and that from them
(according to the flesh) Christ was to come: but of the nature and office of
the Messiah, of the kind of glory that should be revealed when he came, and of
the dignity, glory, and fullness of those blessings that should accrue to the
human family, when he made his appearance among the children of men, they
seemed to be entirely ignorant, as well as of the union, and relationship to
God which it would be placed within the reach of the children of men to obtain
through the medium of his atonement, and the redemption wrought out by him.
Long accustomed to types and shadows, to sprinklings, washings, sacrifices, and
the observance of a law, that could never make the comers thereunto perfect,
they understood not, and could not appreciate that more "excellent
sacrifice," and the "better covenant," when it was revealed.
They had long been "under a schoolmaster," and he had not taught them
the glories of a celestial law:--the riches, glory, fullness and blessings of
the gospel of peace, nor the freedom of the "sons of God;"
consequently when the "true light, that lighteth every man that cometh
into the world," made his appearance, "He was in the world, and the
world knew him not." He came to his own and his own received him not; but
to as many as did receive him to them gave he power to become the "sons of
God," even to as many as believed on his name, which were born not of
blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of man, but of God."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 14pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 14pt;">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," </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 14pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 14pt;">“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. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 14pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 14pt;">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. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 14pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 14pt;">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. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 14pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 14pt;">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 <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">kingdom</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">God</st1:placename></st1:place> and contemplate the future designs
of the Great I Am, as they shall roll forth in all their dignity, and majesty,
and glory, and this they do not profess to enjoy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 14pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 14pt;">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. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 14pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 14pt;">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. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 14pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 14pt;">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." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 14pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 14pt;">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. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 14pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 14pt;">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 <st1:place w:st="on">Patmos</st1:place> 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. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond"; font-size: 14pt;">In The Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37418288.post-47603021878605619122016-11-15T12:11:00.000+00:002016-11-15T12:11:01.001+00:00Winter 2016 General Assembly Sermons<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u>Sister Alyson Gills Sermon</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 22pt;">As followers of the gospel of Jesus Christ we are
following the path that our first ancestors who set foot upon this land also
followed. We are the children of Araneck , we can read in the book of Jeraneck
about our ancestors first steps out of the plains of Shinar the same plains we
trod when leaving the Ark. Araneck and his people were led by the Holy Ghost To
the British Isles and too their new home where, they would be free in
righteousness to peruse their praise of Christ in freedom. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 22pt;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 22pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 22pt;">We follow the struggles as the children of Araneck move
away from the paths of Christ and because of their stiffneckedness lose the
protection of the almighty and become wicked and eventually we see them wiped
from of the land they were blessed to inherit by the promise of the Lord. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 22pt;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 22pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 22pt;">As I have said, we know that through wickedness evil
comes upon the land and eventually destroys the followers of Christ the
children of Araneck. We read in chapter 18 of the book of Jeraneck verse 139
(read from book) The darkness that befell Jeraneck's people will befall us in
our time because of blindness and ignorance of the Lords plan. We will see a
devotion to worldly not godly pursuits lead to our downfall as it did to them. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 22pt;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 22pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 22pt;">I have read the Book of Jeraneck many times and have seen
it effect my life in countless ways. I have seen its message open the hearts of
those who truly believe and want to come closer to his gospel. I encourage all
those who have not yet read this book to do so and to pray about it as I have
done. I remember my first time praying about it in the garden in our old home.
I was sitting in our garden and as i prayed I beheld angels all around me it
was then that I knew as the spirit burned within me that this was a book of God. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 22pt;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 22pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 22pt;">I pray that we will all continue enwrap ourselves in the
gospel of Christ through this great book and renounce evil in gods name Amen.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 22pt;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 22pt;"><u>Apostle Elder Peter Barber's Sermon</u></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 22pt;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 22pt;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 22pt;">My dear brothers, sister, and all who will see, hear this
sermon. I find today a great honour, and privilege to be able to address you
all with regard to the publication of the Book of Rayaneck. In order to know,
and understand how this sacred record became available to us. I shall endeavour
to explain my fragment of involvement in its publication. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 22pt;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 22pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 22pt;">At 1200 hours on Wednesday 21st January 2015 I received a
telephone call at my home address in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Shropshire</st1:city>,
<st1:country-region w:st="on">England</st1:country-region></st1:place>. The
call was from Matthew Gill ( our living prophet ). He asked if he could visit
my home as soon as possible, as something wonderful had happened. I was
excited, and eager to know what wonderful event was that had taken place. At
2.40pm the same day Matthew, and his father Philip Gill arrived at our home. As
they came into our house I noticed Matthew was carrying some sort of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>bag. As we all sat down Matthew said. “ I
have seen Rayneck, and he has given me his record for me to translate.” I
looked at my wife Annette, his father Philip, and then back to Matthew. As I
looked at what appeared to be some kind of sack like material. Matthew
began to open this outer covering, and exposed the record, which was in a box,
and sealed. The box had a large inscription in the centre, and around the sides
they appeared to be paper sheets. There was a seal, and a key. The key was
about six inches long. I was once an apprentice at a company call Chubbs Lock,
and Safe Works in <st1:place w:st="on">Wolverhampton</st1:place>. And had seen
numerous locks, and keys. But I have never seen one like this. It was metallic,
and dark yellow in colour. The front of the key had several oval thin sections.
I drew a sketch in my diary. As I knew over the years my memory would
deteriorate. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 22pt;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 22pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 22pt;">Over the rest or 2015, and into 2016 I assisted in
writing down the worlds as they flowed from the mouth of Matthew. I wrote as much as ten pages a session with Philip. I observed that Matthew appeared to be exhausted after these sessions. Towards the end of the translation period Matthew gave me
consent to look,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and handle several
pages of this open sealed record. The material was a dark brown in colour, and
the writing as yellow. I tried to read the words, but it was written in a totally
different language. Two thirds of the record remained sealed. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 22pt;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 22pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 22pt;">In closing this sermon I have had a very sacred
experience in assisting in a small degree the bringing forth of this record. We
are greatly blessed to live here in the <st1:place w:st="on">British Isles</st1:place>
as the Lord is revealing to us the lands true history. And the secret, and
sacred matters it houses. In the name of Jesus Christ Amen.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<u>Sister Annette Barber's Sermon</u> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 20pt;">Good Morning Brothers and Sisters my talk this morning is
on The Chronicles of the Children of Araneck. Particularly on the Book of
Rayaneck . I have had a lot to do with this book. I held it in my hands,
I felt the craftsmanship of the wood. I handled and saw the pages of this
inspired book. I had the privilege to type up this book when it had been
translated. Now I am not perfect. There probably will be a few spelling
mistakes in this book. But that will be down to me. It no way takes from
the book. Scripture is scripture with or without spelling mistakes. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 20pt;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 20pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 20pt;">Now I know a lot of you out there that are watching this
video or reading this on line will be scoffing and saying things . (as you
did when the Book of Jeraneck came forth) But I say unto you DO NOT KNOCK
IT until you have READ it, PONDERED it and PRAYED about it. You CANNOT judge
something you have NOT tried. Now lets get down to the Book…… </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 20pt;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 20pt;">Rayaneck is the son of Jeraneck. Those of you who have read the Book of Jeraneck
knows what happened there. Rayaneck now takes over and continues to tell us
what happened after the death of his father. Rayaneck was told he would
not taste death until he had delivered his fathers record and his own record to
the prophet in the latter days. It has been 10 years now since the Book
of Jeraneck came forth. Now we have the Book of Rayaneck to go with it. Many of you watching and reading this Assembly believe in additional
scripture that is to come forth. NEWSFLASH…HERE IT IS….Well some of it at least. We all know there is a lot more
scripture to come forth from many different countries. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 20pt;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 20pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 20pt;">Do you want to know about the PRIESTHOOD? How it is a
living force. You have to feel it. To understand it and use it for the good of
others. How it holds up the Universes and keeps the planets on their set
courses turning and spinning as they go. I HOLD THIS PRIESTHOOD and I marvel at
the power of it. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 20pt;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 20pt;">When I was typing up this book and I came upon this section it was mind
blowing. You cannot experience this till you READ THE BOOK and feel the
spirit therein. Do you want to know your relationship with God? There is
a couple of mind blowing chapters talking about the creation. Why we call God our Father. The
universes that were created. The sons of God. READ THIS IF YOU
DARE……..</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 20pt;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 20pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 20pt;">There is a poem written by a man named William Blake in 1804, which was later
put to music and became the Unofficial Anthem for our Country. That hymn
was <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">JERUSALEM</st1:place></st1:city>…</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 20pt;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 20pt;">And did those feet in ancient
time walk upon <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">England</st1:place></st1:country-region>'s
mountain green?<br />
And was the Holy lamb of God on <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">England</st1:country-region></st1:place>'s pleasant pastures seen?<br />
And did the countenance divine shine forth upon our clouded hills?<br />
And was <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:place></st1:city>
builded here among those dark satanic mills? </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 20pt;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 20pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 20pt;">We can say in all confidence and surety that YES HE DID
WALK UPON THIS LAND.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is here in the
pages of this Book. He came as a Boy. Rayaneck calls him the Christ
Child. Rayaneck goes on to say he was in his middle years, so he must
have been an early teenager, probably about 15-16 years old. Yes Jesus came and
walked this land. He taught the people how to Pray. He taught them what we
know as the 10 commandments and much more. He called 12 men to be
missionaries to the people of this land. Again you need to READ it. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 20pt;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 20pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 20pt;">We are not a massive Church. We are very few in
numbers. So we cannot give away copies of this book. We have to sell
them but do not let that stop you from obtaining a Book and READING it. They will
be available very shortly from the Book Store on our Church Website. Remember
Christmas is coming treat yourself to a Book or get someone else to buy you
one. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 20pt;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 20pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 20pt;">Remember READ, PONDER and PRAY. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 20pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 20pt;">I bear Testimony that this book is the Word of Christ. It
speaks of him. It testifies of him. I leave these thoughts with you. </span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 20pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">In The Name of Jesus
Christ, Amen.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 20pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 20pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><u>Elder Levi Gill's Sermon</u></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 20pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 22pt;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 22pt;">The first edition of the Book of Jeraneck came off the
press in Derbyshire <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">England</st1:place></st1:country-region>
in January of 2007. My Dad, now the prophet was only 26 years old. The months
before, he had spent a total of four months translating the plates. Almost half
of it was after he had received the priesthood. The printing had taken only a
short time after the work had been done. I was young and don't remember much,
but I do remember my Dad and his councillors doing the translating in the
dining room of the big house in Hilton, Derbyshire. It was an exciting time. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 22pt;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 22pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 22pt;">When I first read the Book of Jeraneck, I read the
promise where it says <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 22pt;">125. For I say unto all who read this record to pray unto
that Almighty Lord Jesus Christ and ask him if these things are true, for no
mans hand can bear witness of the truth only that of the spirit and the spirit
of revelation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 22pt;">126. And he will send unto you these gifts, the gifts of
the spirit and of revelation and it is those gifts that will witness unto you
that these things are true.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 22pt;">127. And if you ask with a full heart being sincere in
all your thoughts and you ask with real purpose he will indeed answer your
prayer and reveal unto you the truth of this record.(BOJ. 18:125-127). </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 22pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 22pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 22pt;">I tried to follow those instructions, as I understood
them. If I expected a glorious manifestation to come at once as an overpowering
experience, as had happened to my Dad it did not happen, at least not yet
anyway, I'm still waiting. Nevertheless, it felt good, and I began to believe
that it was true, all of it. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 22pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 22pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 22pt;">If I had expected in my little-boy innocence some special
spiritual experience, it had not happened or at least not in the way I thought.
Over the time however as I listened to sermons and lessons and read in the Book
of Jeraneck more, I began to understand what it meant. I finally understood
that the Holy Ghost could communicate through our feelings, I understood why
the words of Christ, whether from the New Testament or the Book of Jeraneck or
the other scriptures, carried such a good feeling. In time, I found that the
scriptures had answers to things I needed to know and today I find myself
wanting to know more and more and expecting to be given the answers. My Dad
says that its good to ask for answers from God because it proves that we are
doing as he has commanded and are learning, so Im glad about that. My
experience has been that a testimony does not burst upon us suddenly. Rather it
grows If you nourish it, it will grow; and if you do not nourish it, it will
wither. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 22pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 22pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 22pt;">As a young man I am constantly been told that I spend to
much time on my phone or my computer, its true I live in a time where there are
too many distractions and life can move to fast sometimes but at times like
this I am reminded that when that happens we need to take time to read our scriptures.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Life moves all too fast. When you feel
weak, discouraged, depressed, or afraid, open the Book of Jeraneck and read it.
Do not let too much time pass before reading a verse, a thought, or a chapter.
Light can be found on its pages, I know I have seen it. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 22pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 22pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 22pt;">The spiritual gifts described in the Book of Jeraneck are
present in the Church today, promptings, impressions, revelations, dreams,
visions, visitations, miracles. You can be sure that the Lord can, and at times
does, manifest Himself with power and great glory. and it is then that miracles
can occur. </span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 22pt;">The Book of Jeraneck restores many plain and precious
things a</span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 22pt;">s usual, there will be much said and written to
discredit the book and my Dad. There always will be those who stir up hoping to
find something my Dad is alleged to have said or done in order to demean him or
the Book that he has brought forth. We do not have to defend the Prophet and I
do not need to defend my Dad, I know him and I know what he has done. The Book
of Jeraneck and Jesus Christ will defend him for us. Those who reject my Dad as
a prophet and the Book of Jeraneck are left to find some other explanation for
the Book. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 22pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 22pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 22pt;">But I stand here today and testify that my Dad is a
prophet and I testify that the Book of Jeraneck is a true book of scripture and
this scripture forms an unshakable testament that Jesus is the Christ and a
witness that my dad is a prophet. I don't know if I will grow up to be a
prophet like my Dad but I know that if I continue to read this great book and
do what we are asked to do within its pages then I stand a good chance. This is
my testimony, I don't know if its a great one or a small one its just mine and
bear it to you in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 22pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 22pt;"><u>Prophet Matthew Gill's Sermon</u></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 22pt;"><o:p><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 20pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 20pt;">My beloved brethren and sisters, today I would like to
speak about one of the most significant gifts given to the world in modern
times. This is a gift of greater value to mankind than even the many wonderful
advances we have seen in modern medicine or science that today wow us. I speak
to you today about a gift that is of the most on most vital importance. That
gift is the Book of Jeraneck. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 20pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 20pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 20pt;">As members of The Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ “we
believe … the Book of Jeraneck to be the word of God.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God has so declared it, so have its writers,
so have its witnesses, and so do all those who have read it and received a
personal revelation from God as to its truthfulness. This gift was prepared by
the hand of the Lord over a period of more than a thousand years, then hidden
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. The Lord
declared that it would speak to us today that it would teach us lessons that we
needed to learn today but were not leant by the people of whom it was written,
the Lord said that it was for our day, that it was written. Sheraneck, one of
the prophet-writers of the Book of Jeraneck, testifies that the book contains
“the words of Christ”, and Jeraneck, the last prophet in the book, testifies
that “these things are true and they testify of Christ” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 20pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 20pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 20pt;">The Book of Jeraneck was written for us today. God is the
author of the book. It is a record of a fallen people, compiled by inspired men
for our blessing today. Those people never had the book as we know it today
because it was meant for our time, for us to lean from. The prophet Jeraneck,
after whom the book is named, abridged hundreds of years of records. God, told
him what to include in his record that we would need for our day. Jeraneck
writing over 2500 years ago speaking to us today, said: As you read the words
of this record, a record of the history of my people you will feel us, see us
and the spirit will testify just as he has with me that all these things are
true.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 20pt;">121. For I see you, I feel you, I know of your day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 20pt;">122. Soon you will know of my time and my people and this
record, for I have seen it come forth unto you and it will speak to you and it
will touch your very soul.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 20pt;">123. I am the last Prophet to sit in the great prophetic
seat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 20pt;">124. I am the last Prophet of my people to utter the
testimony of the Almighty Lord Jesus Christ the God of Heaven.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 20pt;">125. For I say unto all who read this record to pray unto
that Almighty Lord Jesus Christ and ask him if these things are true, for no
mans hand can bear witness of the truth only that of the spirit and the spirit
of revelation. (BOJ 18: 120-125) </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 20pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 20pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 20pt;">We have been given this great gift and God expects us to
use the Book of Jeraneck in several ways. We are to read it ourselves,
carefully, prayerfully and ponder as we read, as to whether this book is the
work of God. When we are finished reading the things in the book, Jeraneck
calls upon us to put them to the test in these words:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 20pt;">125. For I say unto all who read this record to pray unto
that Almighty Lord Jesus Christ and ask him if these things are true, for no
mans hand can bear witness of the truth only that of the spirit and the spirit
of revelation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 20pt;">126. And he will send unto you these gifts, the gifts of
the spirit and of revelation and it is those gifts that will witness unto you
that these things are true.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 20pt;">127. And if you ask with a full heart being sincere in
all your thoughts and you ask with real purpose he will indeed answer your
prayer and reveal unto you the truth of this record. (BOJ 18: 125-127) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 20pt;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 20pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 20pt;">With this call in mind, and as Jeraneck asks we are to
use the Book of Jeraneck in handling objections to the Church and its validity in
a modern world. We will always encounter those who do not agree with us that
this book is true and that it is a book of scripture given to us by God.
Therefore, the only problem the objector has to resolve for himself is whether
the Book of Jeraneck is true. For if the Book of Jeraneck is true, then Jesus
is the Christ, Joseph Smith and Myself are Hid prophets, and The Latter Day
Church of Jesus Christ is true, and it is being led today by a prophet
receiving revelation. Let me be clear, our main task is to declare the gospel
and do it effectively. We are not obligated to answer every objection. Every
man eventually is backed up to the wall of faith, and there he must make his
stand, we have our faith and it is irrefutable, we seek no approval from the
world of men for we know that our faith is based on the belief that God is real
and that he has given us this great work of scripture, rather it is up to those
who refute us to prove otherwise and they will have a hard time in doing so for
God is on our side and stands with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 20pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 20pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 20pt;">I stand as a unique witness. I stand as a living witness
to the work and the glory of this record. I was there when it was given to us.
I was the one appointed by God to receive and translate and record the words which
were written upon the 24 plates of brass. I know of the people. I have seen
them and I have heard them speak. I testify that this is a great work and one
that we should hold dear to our hearts. There is not one person amongst us that
has not been effected by the work that has taken place in order to being forth
the Chronicles of The Children of Araneck. We all have our stories to tell our
testimonies to share of the work, and so this work is alive for us. we are nit
removed from it by hundreds of years of by peoples we do not know. Its stories
of how it came in to print are not told by others but rather by us, we are the
ones who have had a hand in bring it in to the light of the 21st centaury and
so it is real for us. When we walk the ruins of our land and walk amongst the
stone circles and hill forts of our land we know who built them, what efforts
were made to secure their lives and their religion, we are able too see and t
feel because we are the ones who brought forth their story so for us it is real
and alive. So we should have more to lose, we know, we are as brother Joseph we
are as he once was and we have a debt to remember. For me it is clear. That
debt it to replay the sacrifice that was made and to honour their lives in
honouring this great work in studying it and sharing it with the world. In
short it is our greatest standard. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 20pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 20pt;">The Book of Jeraneck is our great standard. We are to use
it. It shows that I am a prophet of God. It contains the words of Christ, and
its great mission is to bring men to Christ and all other things are secondary
to it. The question that needs to be asked by anyone who reads the Book of
Jeraneck is “Do you want to learn more of Christ?” The Book of Jeraneck is one
of the greatest sauces of contact for that knowledge. It does not contain
things which are pleasing unto the world, and so the worldly are not interested
in it. All those that seek Christ shall find him between the pages of this
wonderful volume and they shall know Him like never before. Anyone who has
diligently sought to know the doctrines and teachings of the Book of Jeraneck
and has used it in their missionary efforts knows within their soul that this
is the instrument which God has given to the church to convince the world of
our message. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 20pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 20pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 20pt;">Has the fact that we have had the Book of Jeraneck with
us for now for just over a decade made it less significant to us today? Do we
remember the new life it breathed in to the restoration? Do we remember the
promise that was fulfilled when it came forth. For In the Bible we have the Old
Testament and the New Testament. The word testament is the English can be
translated as covenant. Is this what the Lord meant when He called the Book of
Jeraneck<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"My new covenant”? It is
indeed another testament or witness of Jesus. If we can take any lessons from
the early Saints then it would be that they were rebuked for treating the Book
of Mormon lightly, are we under any less condemnation if we do the same with
the Book of Jeraneck? The Lord Himself bears testimony that it is of eternal
significance to our day, it is vital that our generation read its words and
learn its lessons. Can a small number of us bring the whole Church under
condemnation because we treat this wonderful gift with light heartedness? What
will we say at the bar of Judgment when we stand before Him and meet His gaze
if we are among those described holding lightly in our hands that which was so
solemnly saved for us? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 20pt;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 20pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 20pt;">Every Latter Day Mormon should make the study of this
book a lifetime pursuit. Otherwise he or she is placing his or her soul in
jeopardy and neglecting that which could give spiritual and intellectual unity
to his whole life. We have been blessed beyond all we can understand. We have
this new book of scripture that contains both the Book of Mormon and the
Chronicles of the Children of Araneck and we should not hold them lightly. We
should study them within our families and the Chronicles of the Children of
Araneck should be read with a hunger the likes of which we have never known. We
have been greatly blessed. The Lord has opened again the windows of heaven to
his people and given us another witness to consume and wo be unto us if we do
not consume that which we have been given, for its lessons are stark and w must
learn from their mistakes, we must all depends on it. No longer can we say that
the Book of Mormon is ten Keystone of our religion, but rather is a group of
keystones with the Book of Jeraneck and the Chronicles of the Children of
Araneck being apart of that group. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 20pt;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 20pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 20pt;">I know that if<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>parents will read from the Book of Jeraneck prayerfully and regularly,
by themselves and with their children, the spirit of that great book will
permeate their homes and all who dwell therein. The spirit of reverence will
increase; mutual respect and consideration will grow. The spirit of contention
will depart. Parents will counsel their children in greater love and wisdom.
Children will be more responsive and submissive to the counsel of their
parents. Righteousness will increase. These promises, increased love and
harmony in the home, greater respect between parent and child, increased
spirituality and righteousness, are not idle promises, but are what we are
promised will happen if we will open our homes and our families to the beauty
of the gift that w have been given. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 20pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 20pt;">In conclusion, what, then, am I to say of the Book of
Jeraneck and the Chronicles of The Children of Araneck? I say this. I bear
witness that it is true. I know this as surely as I know that I live. I affirm
and state again from this pulpit that this is a true book of scripture, that it
is a true history, a document unlike any other in recorded history and it
speaks to us today. All we have to do it listen to its voice and apply its
teachings to our lives and we shall take a closer step to our Lord and our God.
Hold it dear my Brothers and Sisters, for we have been blessed and what a
blessing it is I pray that we may we know and use this great book to get nearer
to God, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 20pt;">.</span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 20pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37418288.post-34840912174369500122016-10-30T13:04:00.000+00:002016-11-03T13:05:00.743+00:00Sermon: A Gathering Place<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Much of what we
take for granted in this church comes from the very foundation that God speaks
to us, that he does indeed minister and revel things to us as his <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Latter</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Day</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">Church</st1:placetype></st1:place>. There are many
things that we cling to in assurance that we are His people and much that we
take for granted. One such thing is the gathering to <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Zion</st1:place></st1:city>. many people speak of this as it is a
forgone conclusion that the time will come when the call will go forth and all
the righteous saints, no matter their denomination will heed and follow. I do
not agree with this for many reasons, some of which are to many to mention in
this sermon. However the gathering is one of the most seminal points on which
the restored gospel is based, it is or was the life blood of the restoration,
until things fell apart and the church was scattered and things changed and
people imprinted their own world view upon the restoration and what it meant
and why. In this next segment, which I have taken and altered myself for our
church i would like to try and explain why it is still important and why it is
still very much necessary for us to remember that the Lord has commanded that
it is our Duty to gather to Zion when the Call comes. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This proclamation
is created to help principled people find safe places to take there families
during the days of tribulation that are ahead of us. Without this information
you will most likely be forced to take up the sword against your neighbours in
order to protect your family and your property. This document will help you to
understand what it means to be free and how you retain your freedoms. This
document will help you understand where to gather, when you should be prepared
to start your journey, what you should bring with you when you come, what you
should expect when you arrive, and who should come. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In the course of
events of all free nations, there comes a time when men must stand up for the
principles of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Liberty</st1:place></st1:city>.
If they fail to stand they will find themselves in bondage to evil men who will
create evil government in the attempt to subjugate their citizens. For such men
to gain power they must remove God so that evil can fill the void left when God
is removed from society. These evil men are surrogates for Satan. They do not
want you to believe in God, to pray to God or to worship God. They will teach
you that there is no sin. They will pass laws that repress your religions
beliefs. They will pass laws to prevent you from praying. They will in the
course of time, take away your Freedom of Speech. They will control your
schools so that they can indoctrinate your children in their wicked ways. They
will control your judges. They will control the media so that there is no voice
of opposition. They will burden you with heavy taxes that are hard to bear and
with those tax’s they will buy up unions, special interests groups, and other
government officials all in a attempt to deprive you of your Liberty. They will
pass laws to murder unborn children causing young mothers to suffer spiritual
death and to look fearfully forward to their day of judgement. These evil men
are in the gall of bitterness and the bonds of iniquity and in due time, shall
suffer the wrath of a just God. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Many men do not
realize that Freedom is based on Eternal Principles. Principles that were true yesterday
are true today and will be true forever. If you fail to live those principles
you will lose your freedom and you will be in bondage. For example, if there is
no law against theft, so that anyone can steal your property at any time, are
you free? Likewise, if there is no law against adultery so that any man can rob
you of your wife and destroy the lives of your children, are you free? God
created the laws upon which Freedom and <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Liberty</st1:place></st1:city>
are based and gave them to all of his children. If you will be free you must
live the laws that preserve and protect and create Freedom. These are Eternal
Laws that come from a loving Father in Heaven. When you fail to live these laws
you are in bondage. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">God will sweep the
wicked off the face of the earth when they are ripened in iniquity and that
will of course lead God to pour out the fullness of his wrath. In the days of
Noah when God poured out the fullness of his wrath the wicked died, all of them
died. In Matthew Chapter 24 the Saviour tells us that he will cause a great
tribulation to come upon the inhabitants of the earth, that except those days
shall be shortened none shall be saved but for the elects sake those days shall
be shortened. In this scripture, relating to our time, the Saviour tells us
that the wicked will be destroyed by famines, pestilence and earthquakes. </span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Latter day
revelations have warned us that these days will come as a result of economic
failures by bad government and at a time when our liberties are being destroyed
by evil practices and principles. Remember that when people become wicked they
elect wicked rulers and soon Freedom is gone and bondage remains. Freedom can
only survive when righteous principles are lived. </span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Joseph Smith Jr
said:- <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘without Zion, and a place of deliverance, we must fall; because the
time is near when the sun will be darkened, and the moon turn to blood, and the
stars fall from the heaven, and the earth reel to and fro. Then, if this is the
case, and if we are not sanctified and gathered to the places God has appointed,
with all our former professions and our great love for the Bible, we must fall;
we cannot stand; we cannot be saved; for God will gather out his Saints from
the Gentiles, and then comes desolation and destruction, and none can escape
except the pure in heart who are gathered’. </i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As
you see from the words of our first Latter Day prophet Joseph Smith Jr
wickedness will destroy this all nations. The only safety will be to flee to
those who have accepted and lived the principles of righteousness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know that this is not what the world wants
to hear and it is probably not what you want to hear but the only safe and
secure place you can take your families when mob rule is upon us, is to where
the Saints have gathered. Where is that and how will living with the Saints
make me safe? The Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ is the Lord's church restored to the
earth by Jesus Christ through a young 14 year old boy by the name of Joseph
Smith Jr. All the ordinances, doctrines, and principles of the gospel have been
revealed to Joseph and now to a modern day living prophet. God has warned his
people through his prophet of the destruction that is upon us. He has commanded
us to store food and clothing for this time of tribulation. We are completely
aware that we will be providing safety and security for each other. Many people
form other Churches despise our efforts. Due to the persecutions they have
heaped upon us, they have a lot to lose if we are God's People and I proclaim
with every fibre of my being, we are his people. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Lord through his church has designated two specific gathering places for
the Saints; they are of course the main permanent settlement in <st1:state w:st="on">Missouri</st1:state> in the <st1:country-region w:st="on">United
States</st1:country-region> and also <st1:city w:st="on">Zion</st1:city>’s
Camp in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Scotland</st1:country-region> in the <st1:country-region w:st="on">United Kingdom</st1:country-region> which will serve as a gathering
place for those who will be chosen to proceed to <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Missouri</st1:place></st1:state>. However so for now let me tell you
that you will need to go to the places that the lord has commanded are to be
established for the gathering places of the saints in order for them to be
preserved in times of tribulation. I think this is your only secure option. If
you can find members in your area and can ask them to keep you informed as to
any direction given to them by the church but if you take this approach you may
get caught when the destruction begins. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Who Should
Gather to <st1:city w:st="on">Zion</st1:city> & <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Zion</st1:city></st1:place>’s Camp</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
This is my list of the kind of people who would want to live among the
Saints.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The word <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Zion</st1:place></st1:city> in this text refers to where "The
Pure in Heart" dwell. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<ul type="disc"><div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You believe there is a God of
Heaven and that he loves his Children. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</li>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You believe that Jesus Christ
is the Son of God and that He Suffered for the sins of those who repent. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</li>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You believe in living a
righteous life (i.e. The Ten Commandments etc.) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</li>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You love your family and will
sacrifice your own safety to protect them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</li>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You love your fellow man. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</li>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You love Freedom and Righteousness.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</li>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You are not one of those who persecute
God's people or his Prophets. </span></div>
</li>
</ul>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>How should
You prepare to Gather to Zion & Zion’s Camp</b></span></div>
<ul type="disc"><div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You must be prepared to leave
immediately when you see society turning into mob rule. When people are
rioting and plundering the stores and looting in the big cities you can
not delay, you must leave. In my opinion you will only have a few days. If
you wait you will not be able to obtain petrol for your journey nor will
you be able to get substantial food to take with you and you may have to
take up the sword to defend your family.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</li>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Determine now where you will be
going and purchase enough petrol to get there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</li>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Purchase survival food right
now for one year. This would include wheat, rice, beans, sugar and oats.
You need 400 lbs of survival food per adult per year. You need this to
make it easier for you to fit into a community of people who have already
stored food. So that it is not hard for people to share the food they have
stored for their children, we will be storing food centrally in the
Bishops store house, this way everyone gets according to their needs, not
their wants. You can find good places to purchase your food by contacting
the church direct. You can contact the church by email 24 hours a day. You
can also search for "Food Storage" on the web. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</li>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If it is time to leave and you
do not have the food you need, start your journey anyway, and get away
from the big cities or the coastal areas. If you get to one of the
gathering places without food do not worry you will be taken care of.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</li>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There are many survival items
that you will need to have. Some of them are: medications, extra pairs of
jeans, work shirts, work socks, thermals, walking shoes, boots, gloves,
coats, bedding, sleeping bags, feminine products, bathroom products,
plastic cooler, paper plates, matches, forks, and knifes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</li>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If you have two cars or a
trailer you may need them to bring all of your food and survival items. If
this is the case make sure you have enough petrol to make your
destination. There are many people who will be walking and you do not want
to be one of them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</li>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When you arrive you will need a
place to stay. Everyone will be given a place to live with their family.
Be aware that this will not be what you have left behind. You may very
well be living in a bell tent for a while before other possibilities can
be worked out. You may be living in with a family of saints. You may be in
a trailer or caravan. </span></div>
</li>
</ul>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt;">What Laws Will We Live in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Zion</st1:place></st1:city> </span></strong><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
First we must live the laws of God and live righteous principles. Nations are
not only governed by Law, they are preserved by Law. Where there is no law or
the laws are not enforced, there can be no Freedom. A Nation that does not
enforce its laws will cease to be a free Nation and chaos will ensue. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Second, these gathering places that we call <st1:city w:st="on">Zion</st1:city>
and <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Zion</st1:place></st1:city>’s Camp
are choice above all other lands and places. They are to be an “Ensign of
Freedom", the "Light on the Hill" for the entire world to see. <st1:city w:st="on">Zion</st1:city> and <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Zion</st1:place></st1:city>’s
Camp are these things because they were created by God for a special purpose
and it they are to be established upon Eternal Principles. The Freedom of
Religion and the Freedom of Speech allow us to teach righteous principles to
all of Gods Children, to prepare the way for the Second Coming of the Saviour,
when all men in all nations will be free and peace will reign upon the face of
the whole earth. God established this church to help prepare the way for the
coming of the Lord. We alone can not stop the ravages of the wicked. Only God
can do this. The famines, pestilence, and plagues will wipe the wicked off the
face of the earth and the righteous will be left to inherit the earth. So what
laws will we live in <st1:city w:st="on">Zion</st1:city> and <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Zion</st1:place></st1:city>’s Camp? We will live the laws of God,
the laws of righteousness, the laws that insure our Freedom and <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Liberty. </st1:place></st1:city></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"></st1:place></st1:city></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"></st1:place></st1:city></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Third, when the
years of tribulation are over, and the people of <st1:city w:st="on">Zion</st1:city>
and <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Zion</st1:place></st1:city>’s camp
begin to spread out upon the face of the earth, we will re-establish the eternal
laws of God as the rule of law and peace and Freedom will abound through the
whole world. If you are to be saved from the tribulations which shall shortly come upon the
world, you must forsake evil and hold to that which is good. You are a child of
God with great opportunities living at a glorious time. Put on the whole armour
of God that you may overcome the fiery darts of the ungodly. Stand tall for
truth and righteousness. Come and join the Saints of God at the gathering
places and stand together all who believe on his name. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Latter <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Day</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Church</st1:placetype></st1:place>
of Jesus Christ<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Office of The
Prophet of The Church<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37418288.post-15086202519505143582016-10-23T11:39:00.000+01:002016-10-28T11:42:03.724+01:00Sermon: Our Royal Standard<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond";"><span style="font-size: large;">From
the days of my childhood to the present day. I look back and see how things
have changed in the world. What was once considered to be not good, and to be
bad are now considered to be good. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond";"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond";"></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "garamond";">The
word SIN is rarely us now in general in the world. However in the different
religions in the world Christianity has become very diverse. Some fractions are
saying certain behaviour is acceptable to God, and others as an abomination.
Good, and evil have often been portrayed on colours as white, and black. And
in-between various shades of gray. Linear measurements have also be used if one
deviates from a standard measure. For example. Physical standards. One of the
oldest yard-rods in existence is the cloth yard of the Worshipful Company of Merchant
Taylors. It consists of a hexagonal iron rod </span> <span style="font-family: "garamond";">5⁄8 inch in diameter and </span> <span style="font-family: "garamond";">1⁄100
inch short of a yard, encased within a silver rod bearing the hallmark 1445. In
the early 15th century, the Merchant Taylors Company was authorized to
"make search" at the opening of the annual St. Bartholomew's Day
Cloth Fair. In the mid-18th century Graham compared the standard yard of the
Royal Society to other existing standards. These were a
"long-disused" standard made in 1490 during the reign of Henry VII,
and a brass yard and a brass ell from 1588 in the time of Queen Elizabeth and
still in use at the time, held at the Exchequer a brass yard and a brass bell
at the Guildhall; and a brass yard presented to the Clock-Makers Company by the
Exchequer in 1671. The Exchequer yard was taken as "true" the
variation was found to be +</span> <span style="font-family: "garamond";">1⁄20 to −</span> <span style="font-family: "garamond";">1⁄15 of an inch, and an additional<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>graduation for the Exchequer yard was made on
the Royal society's standard. </span><span style="font-family: "garamond";">In
1758 the legislature required the construction of a standard yard, which was
made from the Royal Society's standard and was deposited with the clerk of the
House of Commons; it was divided into feet, one of the feet into inches, and
one of the inches into tenths. A copy of it, but with upright cheeks between
which other measuring rods could be placed, was made for the Exchequer for
commercial use. Spiritual Standards as we can read this in the Book of Mormon. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond";"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond";"></span><span style="font-family: "garamond";"><span style="font-size: large;">1
AND now I, Nephi, make an end of my prophesying unto you, my beloved brethren. And I cannot write but a few things, which I know must surely come to pass; neither can I write but a few of the words of my brother Jacob.<br />
2 Wherefore, the things which I have written sufficeth me, save it be a
few words which I must speak concerning the doctrine of Christ; wherefore, I shall speak unto you plainly, according to the plainness of my prophesying.<br />
3 For my soul delighteth in plainness; for after this manner doth the
Lord God work among the children of men. For the Lord God giveth light unto
the understanding; for he speaketh unto men according to their language, unto their
understanding<br />
4 Wherefore, I would that ye should remember that I have spoken unto you concerning that prophet which the Lord showed unto me, that should baptise the Lamb of God, which should take away the sins of the world.<br />
(Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 31:1 - 4)</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond";"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /><span style="font-size: large;">
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--></span></span><span style="font-family: "garamond";"><span style="font-size: large;">12
And also, the voice of the Son came unto me, saying: He that is baptized <br />
in my name, to him will the Father give the Holy Ghost, like unto me; <br />
wherefore, follow me, and do the things which ye have seen me do.<br />
13 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I know that if ye shall follow the
Son, with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent, repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ, by baptism—yea, by following your Lord and your Saviour down into the water, according to his word, behold, then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost; yea, then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost; and then can ye speak with the tongue of angels, and shout praises unto the Holy One of Israel.<br />
(Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 31:12 - 13)</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond";"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /><span style="font-size: large;">
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--></span></span><span style="font-family: "garamond";"><span style="font-size: large;">We
know the our Farther in Heaven is unchanging in his laws. Therefore His
standards do not change over time. Regardless of what the world says.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "garamond";"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /><span style="font-size: large;">
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--></span></span><span style="font-family: "garamond";"><span style="font-size: large;">Apostle
Elder Peter Barber<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
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