Sunday Sermon: Search the Scriptures

"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"

(D&C 18:1)

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.

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.

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 "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" (2 Timothy 1:5).

Paul further wrote, "But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them, 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"  (2 Timothy 3:14-15)

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 "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"

(Book of Jeraneck 18: 131-132).

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.

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.

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.

In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Branch Statement: COVID-19 Response

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.

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.

Repentance: A Mighty Change

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)

One of the beautiful things about the restored gospel is that we  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 until 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

In The Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Prophet Matthew Gill

The Book of Mormon

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.

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.

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.

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.

Matthew P. Gill

Prophet & First Elder

The Last Days

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.

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.

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 Zion.  

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. 

Joseph Smith & The Book of Mormon

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.

         

"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 Moroni. 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 gold plates, 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)

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.

         

"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)

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.

"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)

Here Josephs mother Lucy describes the effort that Joseph had to make to get the plates back home safely.

"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 jumping over a log, 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."  (History of Joseph Smith by His Mother, pp. 107- 108)

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  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.

In The Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

What Makes The Restored Branch Different From All The Rest

I am often asked what the difference is between our Branch and other churches or branches in the Restoration, latter Day Movement.

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 center 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.

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.

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. The Chronicles of The Children of Araneck were translated by Matthew Gill, Prophet, Seer, Revelator and Translator of the Branch in 2006 and 2015.

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.

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. The Chronicles of The Children of Araneck answers fundamental questions that have perplexed historians for centuries, like: - What were the early peoples of Britain like? Where did they come from? What did they believe? And who built the ancient Megaliths like Stonehenge - and for what purpose?

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.  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.

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.

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.

For more information on this ancient record and to obtain a PDF of the record please visit our website www.restoredbranch.com

Merry Christmas

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.

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.

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.

Let us remember the birth, but also the adult life, of THIS Jesus, a Jesus worth celebrating on Christmas Day, and every day.

Merry Christmas Everyone.

The Scriptures

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.

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.

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.

The Office of the Prophet

A Response To Today's London Terror Attack

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. 

Our Prophet is Not ill and Continues to Lead His Church.

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.

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.

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.

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.

We stress once again that the Prophet Matthew Gill is well and continues to lead the church on a daily basis.

Sunday 3rd November 2019 Sermon: The Righteous Will Have Peace

The Righteous Will Have Peace

"And the work of the righteous shall be peace and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever"

Isaiah prophesied of one of the most heralded and anticipated events in history when he said that the "Prince of peace" would come. The fulfillment 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.

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 Liberty 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.

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"

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".

The word peace has many meanings. A state of tranquility 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.

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.

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"

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.

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.

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.

In the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Sunday the 6th of October Sermon: Integrity

Integrity

Integrity involves honesty, moral soundness, and freedom from corrupting influences and evil practices

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".

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 practices. In essence, integrity is being true to what we know is right under all circumstances.

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.

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"

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.

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.

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.

In The Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Sermon By Sister Vicki Gill: Repentance

Repentance. Is it just saying sorry?

As children we are taught to say sorry when we have done something wrong. You bump into someone, you say sorry. You spill some paint, you say sorry. You say nasty or mean words to someone, you say sorry. You hit your brother or sister, you say sorry.

Most of the time our parents tell us to say sorry because ‘that’s what you should do’, sometimes we are told to say sorry even if we don’t mean it or don’t know why we are saying it.

Does Heavenly Father accept this way of ‘I’m sorry’ as repentance?

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

If we throw around our ‘I’m sorry’s’ the same way that we use the words ‘and’, ‘if’ and ‘but’, which are in almost every sentence that we speak, is our ‘I’m sorry’ worth the pain and suffering that Jesus went through for us, the answer is No.

In order for us to fully repent and be worthy of jesus’s sacrifice we have to

• Know what we have done wrong, why we are repenting and saying I’m sorry.
• Feel sorrow, not crying or pain. Real sorrow, deep within your chest, the whisperings of the Holy Ghost or your conscience telling you that something isn’t right.
• Apologise to the person and make amends, really mean it.
• Promise that you will aim to never do it again, then and only then can you ask forgiveness from the Lord.

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

Should we only repent for the things that other people see?

The answer is simple… No.

We should repent for everything. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ see and know everything.

What things should we repent for?

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

I found this talk very difficult; repentance is very simple yet also very complex.

Exodus Chapter 20 tells of Gods 10 Comandments, we all know them, but do we live them.

“Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

“Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image. …

“Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain. …

“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. …

“Honour thy father and thy mother. …

“Thou shalt not kill.

“Thou shalt not commit adultery.

“Thou shalt not steal.

“Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

“Thou shalt not covet.”

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

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

I leave these words with you x

Sister Vicki Gill

Official Church Statement: Gods Laws Are Eternal

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

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

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

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

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

In response to this the audience cheered and applauded the student, who said coming out to his entire college “is a phenomenal feeling, and it is a victory for me in and of itself.”

The student in question went on to share several clips of his speech on Twitter later, saying he had told his closest friends and family members he was gay but felt it was important to share it publicly for himself and the LGBTQ+ community at BYU.

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

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

Question 2: What is your Church’s attitude toward homosexuality?

In the first place, we believe that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God. We believe that marriage may be eternal through exercise of the power of the everlasting priesthood in the house of the Lord.

People inquire about our position on those who consider themselves so-called gays and lesbians. My response is that we love them as sons and daughters of God. They may have certain inclinations which are powerful and which may be difficult to control. Most people have inclinations of one kind or another at various times. If they do not act upon these inclinations, then they can go forward as do all other members of the Church. If they violate the law of chastity and the moral standards of the Church, then they are subject to the discipline of the Church, just as others are.

We want to help these people, to strengthen them, to assist them with their problems and to help them with their difficulties. But we cannot stand idle if they indulge in immoral activity, if they try to uphold and defend and live in a so-called same-sex marriage situation. To permit such would be to make light of the very serious and sacred foundation of God-sanctioned marriage and its very purpose, the rearing of families. (Gordon B. Hinckley 1998)

The growing permissiveness in modern society gravely concerns us. Certainly our Heavenly Father is distressed with the increasing inroads among his children of such insidious sins as adultery and fornication, homosexuality, lesbianism.... God will not be mocked. His laws are immutable. Homosexuality is an ugly sin, but because of its prevalence, the need to warn the uninitiated, and the desire to help those who may already be involved with it, it must be brought into the open.

It is the sin of the ages. It was present in Israel’s wandering as well as after and before. It was tolerated by the Greeks. It was prevalent in decaying Rome. The ancient cities of Sodom and Gomorrah are symbols of wretched wickedness more especially related to this perversion, as the incident of Lot’s visitors indicates. We do not hesitate to tell the world that the cure for these evils is not in surrender.

“But let us emphasize that right and wrong, righteousness and sin, are not dependent upon man’s interpretations, conventions and attitudes. Social acceptance does not change the status of an act, making wrong into right. If all the people in the world were to accept homosexuality, … the practice would still be a deep, dark sin.” (The Miracle of Forgiveness, Bookcraft, p. 79.) (Spencer W. Kimball 1977)

With some few, there is the temptation which seems nearly overpowering for man to be attracted to man or woman to woman. The scriptures plainly condemn those who “dishonour their own bodies between themselves … ; men with men working that which is unseemly” (Rom. 1:24, 27) or “women [who] change the natural use into that which is against nature” (Rom. 1:26).

If you choose that course, the fountains of life may dry up. You will not experience the combination of love and struggle, the pain and pleasure, the disappointment and sacrifice, that love which, blended together in parenthood, exalts a man or a woman and leads to that fullness of joy spoken of in the scriptures. Do not experiment; do not let anyone of either gender touch your body to awaken passions that can flame beyond control. It begins as an innocent curiosity, Satan influences your thoughts, and it becomes a pattern, a habit, which may imprison you in an addiction, to the sorrow and disappointment of those who love. Pressure is put upon legislatures to legalize unnatural conduct. They can never make right that which is forbidden in the laws of God. Sometimes we are asked why we do not recognize this conduct as a diverse and acceptable lifestyle. This we cannot do. We did not make the laws; they were made in heaven “before the foundation of the world” We are servants only. (Boyd K. Packer 2000)

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

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

14. And he loved the company of men also and the men would

shower him with great gifts in exchange for title and land and unnatural carnal pleasure.

Rom 1:21-27 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God; neither were they thankful, but became vain in their imaginations; and their foolish hearts were darkened.

22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things.

24 Wherefore, God also gave them up to uncleanness, through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves,

25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

26 For this cause, God gave them up unto vile affections; for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature;

27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another--men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet.

In Leviticus we read in chapter 18:22

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

Again in Leviticus in chapter 20:13 we read.

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

In the first book of Corinthenians we read from chapter 6:9-10

9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners shall inherit the kingdom of God.

and finally in the first book of Timothy we read chapter 1:8-10

8 But we know that the law is good if a man use it lawfully,

9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,

10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for men-stealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine

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

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