No Peace Until Christ Comes

At times the world in which we live can look like a very scary place that’s because right now it is, make no mistake about it Satan has complete control over his domain. It seems that the world has been abandoned by God and that he has forgotten about us and that we are alone without guidance and without his love. For Latter Day Mormons when we look at the world it serves as a constant reminder to us that the Lord’s promises are indeed coming to pass, we do not worry at the state of the world for ourselves but rather for the wicked for we remember that the Lord has promised to send forth his angles to gather in all the righteous unto his kingdom and to call in all those that are righteous and at peace. The Lord has proclaimed that all his people should remove themselves from the wicked world for it is no place for the righteous, and so we Latter Day Mormons know that one day we to will be asked to do the same, for peace is lacking and God is peace. What we have to understand today when we look at the world is to be realistic and understand that peace has departed from the world, that the devil does have power over the hearts of men and therefore over his dominion. This is seen in the continued actions of men, the distress among the nations of the earth, in the continued troubles that we all see in lands all around the world including our own nation and nations not to far from us in Europe such as today in the Ukraine were violent protests are going on in the name of peace, peace no such actions represent peace but instead represent violence and hatred by organisations who revel in such actions in the disguise of peace.

As Latter Day Mormons we must remember not sugar coat the situation we find ourselves standing in today we must be honest and say that there is no peace, that men’s hearts have indeed failed them. Therefore greed and dishonesty have a bigger place in their hearts than the righteous intentions of peace. Let us be clear, evil is to be found all over the earth and is making its self manifest in the selfish interests of nations and peoples. Let us make no mistake that the times in which we are living are dark and evil and are as the Prophet Jeraneck for saw when he said ‘But I fear for your time more than I fear for mine, for your time will be seven times worse than mine, for your time will see great tribulation for I have seen these things and an Angel of the Almighty has shown me many things even the great darkness that will engulf your land.’ (BOJ 15:73).

With this in mind I believe that these days should be a time of warning not only unto us as Latter Day Mormons but also unto all the world, and we who know the truth, we who are blessed by God with revelation of the last days, it is up to us to raise the voice of warning unto all men across all nations, that this time is a time that the Lord has told us will usher in his second coming and it is a time of wickedness and a time were no real peace will be found. Now, we see today that the nations of the world have gathered together in order to try and gain a peace in Syria, but it must be understood that although they may indeed gain a peace Syria or in whatever land they discuss there will never be world peace because of the wickedness of men. Syria is the battle ground of corrupt religion and the wants of men and the evil of secret combinations and governments, not about human rights but about who controls the Middle East. When we look to the Ukraine we see that the wickedness of the people id made manifest in large numbers, are the protesters or rioters really going to achieve their armies this way? The answer is No! All they are doing now is bringing the government in to a civil unrest which could if not checked slide in to a wider conflict including neighbouring countries. Have we forgotten that the Ukraine lies at the boarder of Russia, do we think for one minute that Russia will tolerate a civil war on its boards. There is much going on in Ukraine that is evil and uneasy and none of it is about peace or human rights or the rule of law, rather it is about the wickedness of men’s hearts.

Now we say that we Latter Day Mormons should be less concerned about watching the times and season for the coming of Christ, but rather we should be praying and preparing to be ready for when he comes again. Today more than ever we live in a time when the leaders of the world are crying peace and security and this is a false promise as outlined by Paul when he talks about the last days and he make it know unto us that the leaders of the world will cry ‘Peace and safety’ and their eyes will be closed to the evil that surrounds them and they will try and not see the destruction that is upon them. How right is Paul, how right was he when he said these words for today we let evil go unchecked in order to keep a wider so called peace, when in reality there is no peace and that so called peace is false and instead of crying repentance unto all nations we have decided to cry abstinence and self preservation in order to keep war from our own lands. We might ask the ultimate question, what’s the matter with the nations of today? Today many nations are at war contending against each other many entering in to agreements to gain arms, trying to curtail other nations and trying to build themselves up and take away peoples freedom, all the while at the same time asking for peace conferences and talks and establishing so called peace agreements all this is being done to try and establish peace throughout the world, but they cannot do this because they will not get down to the real fundamental principles upon which real pace is based and as long as selfishness and greed and the desire for power and wealth remains in their hearts there will be no peace no matter the steaks. Now because of this when one does stand and proclaim to the world ‘I can bring peace, I will stop all war’ men will stand and listen and follow regardless of the price they are going to have to pay, this man will stand in a time of great upheaval and say these very things and people will follow him and he will be the great ant-Christ and men will not see it, because they are blind and do not understand real peace. Let us be very clear! We could have peace, peace throughout all the world if only those that are at strife and war would repent and in doing so obtain a contrite spirit and broken heart and in doing this they will find love in their hearts and love for their neighbours and love for God, this is real peace.

As Latter Day Mormons we need to understand that the call for peace today is not because the nations of the earth have found the love of God, but it is because of fear and unrighteous, fear and greed and their own self interests. With this in mind we know that all these searches for so called peace are destined to ultimately fail because the fear that is in their hearts is also in the hearts of their neighbours and if that is true then how can they have real peace. What we say now will seem very controversial but is true never the less. We say it is controversial because this continued asking for prayers of peace is a futile act that we are called upon by members of other faiths. Every new year we are asked to pray for peace throughout the world but this proclamation is not a sincere request because we can not pray to the Lord asking for him to listen to our cry for peace or victory over evil, what we should be asking is not what we want but rather what does the he the Lord want, what is his wish for us. When we stop asking the Lord to do what we want and instead start asking him what he wants then he will listen but until then our prayers will fall upon deaf ears, for are the nations of the earth really asking for peace or are they asking for there own evil desires. I don’t know of any just war or any just call for peace that is being proclaimed today. Even the conference of so called peace taking place over Syria and the Ukraine are all in vain and will fail because there is not one party sitting around the table of peace that really desires peace but rather they are all together to control and to exhort control over their fellow man and to obtain that which has not been given them but rather they are their to destroy the hearts of their fellow men and to lay blame.

As a church of God we may be accused of not proclaiming all is well and proclaiming a story of peace, but the scriptures tell us that things will get worse before they get better, so why sugar coat the truth. No! We say prepare, pray and stay close to God for the storms are here and they will continue, trouble in the earth will increase there will be distress and calamity among the nations of the earth until the Master comes. We are saying unto the church not to look for peace in the near future because it will not come, but rather look forward with rejoicing to the day of the Lord, and do it with faith and hope and in the fear of the Lord. It is true that we should look to the future with joy and humility with a righteous desire in our hearts to serve the Lord and keep his commandments, for the world is telling us with all its wickedness that the day is drawing ever nearer to his coming. For if peace reigned upon the earth now we would have no need for him to come, for he is to deliver us from evil and usher in a time of peace and he will do this because the nations of the earth can not find peace without him.

Let all Latter Day Mormons start now if you haven’t already to prepare, prepare for the end of days and also for the coming of God. Lets us prepare in spirit and in body, let us still do as Jeraneck did and proclaim peace, yes, but let us not be fooled in to thinking that we will bring about a real full peace, let us proclaim peace in God, in the Saviour and in doing so bring those that are lost home to his living care. Let us remember not to cast our pearls before swine, for this should not be done and that the lord himself will one day withdraw his people from the world in preparation for his coming. Let us stand as the example of God on the earth today and do only as he commands and not what people command. Let us look to him for our guidance and not to what the world tells us is right or wrong, so be strong and be valiant for we are his people and only he can bring peace to the earth and so let us be ready to help in that work when he reigns again.

Official Statement: New Years Message

The New Year’s message of the Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ for 2014 is family unity and family commitment to the gospel of Jesus Christ, this is the most important thing that we the church wish to advocate this year. The adversary has turned his attention to the destruction of the principle of the family in our society today and he will stop at nothing to bring it down or reduce its significance in the world we live. We find that on every side there continues to be a sustained attack on the basic integrity of the family as the foundation of what is good and noble in the world. It has become apparent that many efforts are being made by governments across the globe to limit the size or even the effectiveness of families, sometimes under the guise of saving the world from overpopulation or discrimination against those who choose not to have families. Many of these government proposals include placing some sort of legal penalties on those who may choose to have more than two children, such as stopping or decreasing child benefit or stopping married couple’s tax breaks or stopping tax breaks for family’s altogether. Their ultimate aim? To destroy the family unit and its effectiveness in the world. Even many more governments are now adopting ever more liberal views on abortion which would suggest to the church the ever more blatant disregard for the sacredness of human life and the family.

In a world which in the grip of the adversary and governments blind to his power we find that families are more and more being torn apart by increasing use of illegal drugs and the abuse of legal drugs without the governments of the world doing much to stem the problem and instead allowing many drugs to be legalised, this action is putting more and more strain and demand on the families already under great strain. Because of this great strain families are becoming fractured and the ever more present contempt for authority in our society by more and more young people is beginning in the home with disrespect and disobedience towards parents whom the governments of the world are bemoaning every minute of everyday.

The Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ and I as Prophet know that today more than ever the forces of evil attack the individual by tearing away at the roots of the family and it is becoming critical for Latter Day Mormon parents to maintain and strengthen the family every day. There very well may possibly be a few very strong individuals in the world who can survive without the support of a family unit around them, but more and more of us find ourselves in need of the love, teaching, and support that come from those who care very deeply for us. The primary function of a Latter Day Mormon home is to insure that every member of the family works to create the climate and conditions in which all can grow toward perfection. For all parents, this requires dedication of time and energy and this means providing for more than just their children’s physical needs but also for their spiritual needs as well. We need to make sure that in this new year of 2014 that we spend more time making our families and our homes successful in devoting our best creative energy to the most important unit in society, our families. We need to ask ourselves some very important questions. What is our relationship towards our family? Is it merely a routine, unrewarding part of your life? No, it is not! Both parent and child must be willing to put family responsibilities first in order to achieve family unity and peace and salvation.

My brothers and sisters we must remember that although we live in wondrous times, full of many marvellous things there are also great challenges and temptations all around us. I pray that our Heavenly Father will give all of us the strength in this coming year to reach our one true potential. I pray that his Spirit rests upon the homes of the Church, and indeed the all the home sin all the world, that there may be love and harmony found within them. May our Father in heaven preserve and protect our families this year, God bless you all in 2014 and remember who we are and what we have been placed here to do, God Bless you all and have a Happy New Year.

Official Statment: Blacks and the Priesthood

This week the LDS Mormon church based out of Utah in the United States made a statement concerning blacks and the Priesthood and tried in vain it would seem to re-write their past history of hatred and bigotry. With this in mind we thought that it would be important to let the world know that not all Mormons are like this and that the Mormon faith established by the Prophet Joseph Smith did not take the decision to exclude blacks but rather it was a decision based on the actions of one Brigham Young and the church led by him.

Many people have asked the question ‘Why did the Mormon church not ordain black men to the Priesthood’ to answer that question we have to look at the original church under the Prophet Joseph Smith. It is an established fact the Prophet Joseph Smith never denied membership in to the church based on race or colour and indeed several black men were made members and also ordained to the Priesthood during Joseph Smiths lifetime.

The first known black member of the early church was ‘Black Pete’, who joined the church in Kirtland Ohio. At least two African Americas, Elijah Abel in 1836 and Walker Lewis in 1844 were ordained to the priesthood during Joseph Smiths lifetime. Two decedents of Elijah Abel were also ordained Elders, and two other black men, Samuel Chambers and Edward Leggroan were ordained Deacons. Early black members in the church were also allowed admittance in to the temple at Kirtland Ohio. It is here at Kirtland that Elijah Abel received the ordinance and ritual of washing and anointing.

By 1839 there were about a dozen black members in the church. Later at Nauvoo it was reported that at least twenty two black members were registered including free slaves. Indeed we see that from their very own LDS archives that in 1836 the rules established by the church for governing assemblies in the Kirtland temple include attendees who were ‘bond or free, black or white’ (History of the church, Vol.2, Ch.26, p.368.

So it is an established fact that there have been black members of the Mormon faith and holders of the Priesthood since 1832. Elijah Abel was a personal friend of the Prophet Joseph Smith, and helped rescue him from mobs in Missouri bent on taking the life of the Prophet. Elijah Abel however died in the Salt Lake Valley out of favour with the church due to his being black. So what do we know? Joseph did ordain black men, but not black slaves.

Brigham young however was no Joseph Smith and in 1852 widened that ban to all black men free or bond and he did so using a much disputed set of scriptures known as the pearl of great price used and printed for the first time in 1852, and used Abraham 1:26 to justify his ban. Brigham young then initiated the Priesthood ban excluding all people of Hamitic lineage from the Priesthood and higher ordinances of the temple all this was done in 1852. The reason he gave was that ‘Negroes’ were the descendants of Cain, and Cain killed Abel, it would be against the justice of God to extend the Priesthood to the descendants of Cain. This seems very strange that God would allow one Prophet to ordain black men and then tell another not too, is God not the same yesterday today and forever? Surely if God knew it was wrong he would have instructed Joseph to stop it. The fact is it had nothing to do with God and more to do with hatred and bigotry on the part of Brigham Young.

The LDS priesthood ban was rescinded but never repudiated on June 8th 1978 by President Spencer W Kimble, just in time for a temple to be built and dedicated in Brazil a country with a very dense black population.  It would seem to some that the 1978 proclamations has never been answered until now, it certainly has never been discussed by the LDS Church in a manner that would invite discussion. Now we see that they claim that Brigham was acting as a man and he made an error based upon the thinking of the day, but it did not stop the Lord working through him as a Prophet. We find this very interesting. What are they saying? That the Lord works through evil men and men who make constant mistakes? This also is against the scriptures and also against Gods actions when a Prophet rejects God he is removed from his Position. Would it not be better to say that since Joseph Smith we the LDS church have not had a Prophet chosen by God but rather chosen by the will of the people a point that Brigham was keen to proclaim many times in his life “I do not profess to be a Prophet. I never called myself so; but I actually believe I am, because people are all the time telling me that I am.” Journal of Discourses, 5:177

 In conclusion The Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ would never allow a man's colour or race to be a marker as to his worthiness. This is self evident in the early church under the Prophet Joseph Smith. The Lord is no respecter of persons; as long as a man is worthy morally then the joys of service are open to him even if he is black. For us to assume otherwise is a sin. Brother Joseph understood this and so do we, all are welcome in the Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ no matter their skin colour or race.

Our Right to Educate Our Children Our Way

In The Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ and as the Prophet of the church I have always encouraged the church and its members to seek prayerfully to support parents no matter the type of education they choose for their children, including state education, independent secular education, independent Christian schools, and homeschooling.

          It will be of concern to many to read of the report on “Elective Home Education,” compiled on behalf of the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) by Graham Badman here in the United Kingdom. The areas of specific concern to Christians and indeed Latter Day Mormons (and many non-Christians) will be the proposed compulsory annual registration of their children and inspection visits by representatives of the Local Education Authority (LEA).

          In many cases, it is precisely because of the poor standard of LEA provision that parents have chosen to educate their children at home. There will also be concern that these proposed inspection visits should involve conversations between LEA representatives and the child alone—without the parents present. This latter point is an abuse of parental responsibility and rights and as we know the Lord puts great store in the rights of parents in the scriptures both old and new.

Elective home education: the deliverance (in elective home education) or delegation (to schools) by parents of any and all compulsory educational provision is a legal duty, not a legal right. It is our legal duty to ensure our children’s education is suitable and efficient. The education acts confers this duty on parents, because parents know their children best and are therefore in a position to ensure the provision is suitable for them. Mr Badman seems not to have grasped this idea at all; indeed he seems to think that they, the parents have no clue.

          The famous quote from successive education bills—repeated in the Education Act 1996, Section 7—does indeed refer to duty:

Duty of Parents to Secure Education of Children of Compulsory School Age

The parent of every child of compulsory school age shall cause him to receive efficient full-time education suitable—

(a) To his age, ability and aptitude, and

(b) To any special educational needs he may have,

Either by regular attendance at school or otherwise.

           This is in line with the biblical position:

You shall teach them [God’s laws] diligently to your children. (Deuteronomy 6:7) Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6)

And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.(Ephesians 6:4)

          Whichever form of education we choose for our children, the parents and specifically as indicated in Scripture, the fathers are responsible, and we will answer to God for the choices we make.

          Please let us be firm when we say that as far as the church is concerned the educational needs of children are first and foremost the duty of the parent rather than the state. Parents may delegate this educational responsibility to those whom they trust, but this delegation in no wise removes their responsibility for the education of their children. Latter Day Mormon and indeed Christian parents should think long and hard about whether the teachers at their children’s school are bringing them up according to the values that the parents want, and if not, then it should be considered a mistake to send our children into such an environment.

Many Christians and indeed many believers, whatever their denomination in the UK, have chosen to home school their children for precisely this reason. In the past, there has been no reason for parents to need to justify this decision to the state. The Bible makes no requirement to justify this position and supports those who take it. In an atmosphere where increasing numbers of Christians feel that they suffer discrimination for their faith, this report could open up one more avenue for such discrimination.

As the prophet of the church it is my wish to see many of the children involved now with the church or those that will latter be involved with the church to be either educated by the church in its very own school or to be home schooled, so that we can indeed educate our children in a way pleasing unto the Lord and so that we may stand blameless before God when asked what we did for those placed in our care by the Father.

(Source for Sermon taken from Answers in Genesis)

A Sure Knowledge of God

Its is a great blessing that we have in the Latter Day Church to know that God does indeed live, that he is alive and that Christ is his only begotten Son not only in spirit but also in flesh and that he is the Saviour of the world. However we must all of us remember that we have not learned all that there is to know about him or the Father, neither is it possible for all of us to learn all we need to in this mortal life, it is impossible for us all to know everything about them or to fully comprehend their being. For many of us it is enough to know that Jesus is the Christ and that he took upon himself all the sins of this world and that the Father is our Father in spirit and that he rules in his place. For many of us when we enter in to the presence of God the Father and his Son many of us will be crowned with exhalation and the glory and promise and the sure knowledge that comes with it. However until we do enter into their most perfect presence and receive this most wonderful of blessings for many of we will not fully know the only true God and Jesus Christ in their entirety.

For Latter Day Mormons the scriptures give us a guiding light however in to some aspects of the God head and the nature of the beings that make up this most glories leadership. The scriptures show us the personality of God, for example the Saviour said in John ‘My Father is greater than I’ (John 14:28) and in Luke he invited the disciples to touch him after the resurrection and to handle him and se what had transpired ‘A spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have’ (Luke 24:39). It is understood by us all that Man was created in the image of God and that this was to be taken in the literal sense not just as a mystical utterance but as a real and indeed personal statement by the creator and as Latter Day Mormons we know that we are created in the image of God and that as we are create din his image much of his personality is indeed in us.

Much of the personality of God is questioned today, it is questioned that he even lives at all and to us as followers of God the Father and his Son it can seem very absurd that such as thing is questioned, however it must be remembered that man does not have all wisdom and knowledge and that many men believe that they have and try to explain away things that they do not understand, however we know that God has all wisdom and knowledge and that he stands supreme above all. To all who are doubting let me ask you this do we believe that God has all wisdom? If so then he is absolute. If there is something he does not know then he is not absolute in wisdom and to think such a thing is absurd and lacks faith.  The nest question we need to ask is doe she have all power? If so then there is nothing in which he lacks. If he is lacking in wisdom and power then he is not supreme and there must be something greater than he, and this is again absurd and lacing in faith. Our scriptures give us the answer to this question without question. In the book of Mormon for example Nephi the Prophet says ‘O how great the holiness of our God! For he knoweth all things, and there is nothing save he knows it’ and the same again in the D&C when the Lord himself speaks and says ‘The Spirit of truth is of God. I am the spirit of truth, and John bore record of me, saying he received a fullness of truth, yea, even of all truth’ (D&C 93:21-26) and finally the Prophet Alma said of God ‘Great is our Lord, and of great power his understanding in infinite’

For us it is a Joy to know who the Father is and who our Christ is and he is everlasting and they together form an everlasting truth that will never be extinguished. No matter if we keep the truth and guard it or it is passed to other to guard the sacred flame it will go on forever and ever. However we have been given the task of guarding that flame and it is up to us to learn as much as we can in this life so that we may stand before them at the judgment in full knowledge of who they are and why they are so that we may be able to stand as them at same future time and place.

Marriage Ordained of God

The house of God is a house of order and not a house of confusion; this has been the way from the beginning of creation. In the beginning God instituted marriage, he made man in his own image and likeness, male and female, and in their creation it was designed that they should be united together in the sacred bonds of marriage, and one is not made perfect without the other. This means that man is not without the women in the Lord, neither is the women without the man in the Lord. This means that no man can be exalted in the kingdom of God without the women, and no women can reach the perfection and exaltation in the Kingdom of God alone, Marriage between Man and Women and none else, this is what marriage means to God and this is what it means to Latter Day Mormons and members of The Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ.

Marriage is the crowing glory of the gospel of the Gods. Marriage is a principle which, when entered in to presents more serious problems than any other. It should be received in the spirit of patience and love, even that greater love which comes though the power of the Holy Spirit, Nothing will prepare mankind for the glory in the Kingdom of God as readily as faithfulness to ones marriage and the convents that are made at marriage.

Let us be very clear on this subject. We believe that without marriage the purposes if God would be frustrated, so far as this world is concerned, for there would be none, to obey his other commands. There appears today in this world a flood of iniquity that is overwhelming the world in sin. One great reason therefore is the neglect of the marriage covenant, it has lost its sanctity in the eyes of the majority and indeed in the eyes of those who stand and rule over us. To the world it is at best a civil contract and nothing more, it is also something that is far too often an accident or a whim, or a means of self gratification. And when the sacredness of the covenant is ignored or lost sight of, then a disregard of the marriage vows, under the present moral thinking of the masses, is mere indiscretion. However what we want to impress upon the world is the legitimate union of the sexes under the law of God.

Marriage under Gods covenant is the greatest, most glorious, and most exalting principle connected with the gospel. However let is be stated that we believe and hold true to the fact that all those married by the authority of men are only doing so until death. The Lord God will not accept at the hand of man, an offering, vow, or contract, which is not entered into in accordance with the laws which govern in his kingdom and which he, God the Father, has established. Man made obligations and agreements, in which the Lord does not enter, and which were not made by him, or by his word, which is law, shall come to and end when men are dead and gone from this earth. However for the marriage contract to be made valid and binding for eternity as well as for time, the two parties involved must enter in to the marriage relationship in full obedience and accordance with the laws upon which such blessings are predicated. The Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ declare today unto all the world that marriage between a man and a women is ordained of God and that it is the preserver of the human race, just a Jeraneck tell us in the second section of the Book of Jeraneck when he says:-That all who come within the walls of the holy temple or tabernacle may know that it is through man and women that our seed and our children go forward (BofJ Sec2 v49). Without it, the purposes of God would be frustrated, virtue would be destroyed to give place to vice and corruption and the earth would be void and empty.

As Latter Day Mormons we know that God has instituted marriage and that he has ordained it to be between a man and a women and that it is the most important thing that both young men and young women should be preparing themselves for in their youth. Let us be clear that we expect all our men and women to be married by one holding the authority given to them by God and that authority can only be found in the Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ. There needs to be a sentiment laid down among our young people indeed among us all that favour of honourable marriage should only be carried out by one holding the authority of God. No man holding the priesthood of God and who is worthy and of age should remain unmarried. We should be teaching our young men and women that the law of chastity is one of the most vital importance's, both to children, and to men and to women. God the Father has told of the penalties of transgressing this law of chastity, of virtue and purity. The Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ expects its young men and women to be pure, spotless without blemish and so it is necessary that the Gospel of Jesus Christ be taught among them from the cradle.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the gospel of the Father and it is the gospel of love, it is the law of love, and love of God with whole heart and mind is the greatest of all commandments. This should be remembered in the marriage relationship, for while it is said that the desires of the women shall be to her husband, and he shall rule over her, it is intended that rule shall be done in love and not in tyranny.

The Father through his son has commanded us that marriage among members of The Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ should be performed in his holy House not just for time but for all eternity just as they were done in the days of the ancients here upon this land in the days of Jeraneck. :- It is expedient that a man come before God in righteousness  and a women comes before God clean and in righteousness and that they be joined together for eternity and that they pledge themselves to God and they must do this upon the holy Urim and Thummim for the Urim and Thummim are representations of  revelation and prophesy. With these two powers within the temple man my gain revelation and women my gain prophesy and they may work in unity one with another to bring about the greater glory of God and that is that a women may have children and that a man may have authority over her. (BofJ Sec2 v58-59).

Members of The Latter Day Church know that marriage is ordained of God that it is not just for now but for eternity and that we take upon ourselves the very nature of God himself in agreeing to enter in to the marriage covenant. We also know that those who have taken upon themselves the responsibility of the marriage convent should see fit they do not abuse the course of nature, that they do not destroy the principle of life within them, nor violate any of the commandments of God. The commandment that was given in the very beginning to our first parents to multiply and replenish the earth still stands and is still in force upon the children of men. There is no greater sin that could be committed by people who have embraced the gospel than to prevent or destroy life in the manner indicated. We are all born in to this world that we may have life, and we live that we may have fullness of joy and if we will obtain a fullness of joy we must obey the law of our creation and the law by which we may obtain our righteous hopes and desires.

In closing let it be said to our people and indeed all people, get married, and marry right. Marry in the faith, and let it be performed in the Lords house with one in authority. Live so that you may be worthy of this blessing. And let us remember as Latter Day Mormons the gift promised to those who receive the covenant of marriage and fulfil the measure of their creation and remain faithful till the end for they shall have no end those and only those shall truly know the one and only wise and true God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent.

 

 

All Children Are Alive in Christ

Latter Day Mormons and members of The Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ know that through the atonement Christ paid the ultimate sacrifice and paid the debt for Adams transgression. We know that the second Article of faith tells us this when it says ‘We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression’.

Much of Christianity is tainted with the false doctrine of original sin which tells them that all men are born under condemnation and tainted with the sin of Adam. There are millions of people professing to believe in Christ the Lord who believe that all children are born under this condemnation. The Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ state that this is dangerous and indeed a very false doctrine and we do not adhere to it or any of its principles. The Latter Day Church maintains that this is the most damnable doctrine ever taught by the false religions of men.

Latter Day Mormons and all those that belong to The Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ now that no child ever born to man is subject to sin until they reach the age of accountability, until they begin to know and to understand right from wrong and become accountable before God almighty according to the age which he himself has appointed unto man, which is eight years of age. We therefore state that baptism means nothing in the case of infants because they can not repent, they have nothing to repent of in the first place, let us not forget that not only is baptism and outward symbol that you choose to follow God but also used for the remission of sins.

Let is be made clear today that we believe that God has not placed any taint upon any little child no matter how or where they come into this world, it is through the atoning blood of Christ that they are redeemed from all of Adams sin, Christ took it upon himself that is the great work of the atonement, let us remember that the scriptures tell us that ‘The glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth. Light and truth forsake that evil one. Every spirit of man was innocent in the beginning; and God having redeemed man from the fall, men became again, in their infant state, innocent before God’.(D&C 93: 36-38). This revealed truth given to us by God tells us that all children are innocent in the beginning, which means before the foundation of the world, before Satan rebelled, all men are created innocent. Make no mistake when a child is born it is born clean and innocent from the sin of the world and from past generations.

It is with this in mind that we know that all children who are born are innocent and that if they should be called home to the presence of God in their infancy they will be called home to the full Celestial Glory of God. It matter not to God whether that infant or baby is a Catholic, Protestant, Muslim, or any faith you can imagine they are all the same in the sight of God. What a Joyful blessing this is that we proclaim to the world, is it not right that all those that grieve or have grieved for the loss of a little one should know that their little one is not lost but is safe and at peace in the arms of the Lord.

The Lord has made it very clear to us that the age of accountability is that of eight years. After we reach our eighth birthday, we are supposed to have understanding sufficient enough to choose to be baptised, it is the Lord who takes care of those under this age, and little children under the age of accountability are not subject to the law of repentance. This is something that God has declared himself, it is not something that the church has decided to implement but rather it is the eternal law of God.

The crowning glory of all Latter Day Mormons is to be married in the sight of God man with women, when they are joined together they are not only fulfilling the commandment of God but the commandment of eternity. It is with the great union that Man and Women become as the Gods and are endowed from on high to create life and do as the Gods before them and bring in to being life from the eternal world unto this mortal world. As parents we are given the blessings of creating the temples that will house the father’s spirits and in turn it is our duty to make sure that those temples and spirits are looked after and that they fulfil the measure of their creation. Let us not forget that we, each and everyone of us were all mature spirits before we were born, and the bodies of the little children that we have been endowed to create will grow just as our sprit has done little by little. Latter Day Mormons know that the Father loves all his children just as we love our children and he would not allow any of his small and innocent children to be denied access to him if they should die before the age of accountability.

It is therefore the duty of every Latter Day parent to teach their children the truth, to bring them up in the way of the Lord, to teach them the first principles of the Gospel, to teach them the necessity of baptism for the remission of sins and for membership in the church of Christ. It is your duty to teach them the things that pertain to the kingdom of God that they may comprehend the truth and walk in the light of Christ that they may have the fellowship of him with them all the days of their lives. Latter day parents knowing the truth and knowing that they are the custodians of the spirits of the eternal father should always strive to bring their children up in the way they should go, keep them close to your heart, show them that you love them, that you are their parents that they are your children, and keep them near to you so that they will not go far from you in this world or the next.

Free from Limitations

‘Where there is no vision, the people perish’ (Proverbs 29:18)

As Latter Day Mormons it is important that we express to the world what we believe and why we believe it. With Latter Day Mormon doctrine we will be able to do just that and it will not be open for debate and it will be recorded for all to see.

The Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ is free from limitations for it is the church of God and is led by the Law of Revelation. We believe that it is the will of our Father in Heaven to converse with us today and that he is ready to do so just as he was in ancient days. The Latter Day Church does not consider it strange that the Lord should speak to man in this day as he did in ancient of days. Are our Father and his son less interested in man today? Have we advanced so much that we have passed beyond the need of divine help? It was said by one ancient Prophet ‘Where there is no vision, the people perish’ (Proverbs 29:18) and another great prophet said ‘Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secrets unto his servants the prophets’ (Joel 2:28-29).  We proclaim to the world that the Latter Day Church stands alone in the belief that the Father and the Son still reveal themselves and their truth to man as was proclaimed by the ancient prophets.

The Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ believe that the Bible does not contain all the revelations given by the Gods and that it contains only fragmentary accounts of the dealings of the Lord with his servants the ancients prophets. The Latter Day Church proclaims that the only Bible that is near to completion is that which was revealed to the prophet Joseph Smith and although his work was cut short on the work in perfecting the Bible we should hold true to what was revealed to him even through it was not completed. We stand and proclaim to the world that the Inspired version of the Bible is the most correct Bible that mankind has in its hands. We believe that through modern day revelation that the Bible will be perfected in these last days and that it will be done under the direction of the Lord through his chosen servant. As we proclaim this there are those that will say that this is further evidence of our fall from the presence of God. However if men will permit reason to guide them in the path of common sense he will have to conclude that there is no reason or justification for the belief that everything that God wished to say to his children is to be found in the pages of the Bible today. Such thinking and false doctrine closes the moth of the almighty denying him the power to speak. These people then populate the myth that there is no need for further revelation in saying that the Bible is complete and in need of no further work. In saying this about the Bible they then hold true to the fact that if this is true of the Bible then it is true for all other forms of scripture. Do we honestly think that the Lord did not have any interest in other peoples outside of the holy land, to speak to them and to guide them by his word? That thought yet again try’s to limit God by mans standards and limitations something that The Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ does not do for we know that God has revealed many things unto his children no matter where they may live upon the earth and why shouldn’t their account of the gospel be heard just as the bibles is.

The Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ believe that all the essential ordinances of the gospel were changed, modified and corrupted by mans will and not by Gods divine instruction, that the church that was established by God had changed and that as Isaiah proclaimed, men were drawing near to the Lord with their lips but their hearts were far from him (Isaiah 29:13).  We hold true to the belief that the church in ancient days had become so corrupt that the heavens were opened and a restoration was indeed needed to correct what was incorrect and again restore the faith of God. The Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ also believe that this is not just a one of occurrence and that when the church of God falls in to apostasy God withdraws his spirit form it and awaits a time to restore it again, this we hold true to today just as in the time of the Prophet Joseph Smith.

The Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ stands as the restoration of the gospel of Christ and the Mormon faith. The church of God will be led by revelation and the opening of the heavens and the coming forth of heavenly messengers and with this the restoration of the faith of God. The church of God must be led and blessed with revelation it is by this fruit that we shall know that it is the church of God. The church of God is built upon revelation it lives for revelation and thrives upon it.

Latter Day Mormons know that all the answers to the many mysteries that today surround us can be found in the revealed works of God, which stand as a testament to him and to the Saviour. We do not grope around in the dark searching for answers, we do not go following every tom dick or harry that comes forth proclaiming to have received revelation or indeed follow after imaginary beings or ghosts, no we know the truth and we abide in the truth. Latter Day Mormons are therefore free from error and from those that wish to deceive and draw those away in to error. God is our guide and we follow him and him alone and in doing so we walk in righteousness and in the light and follow is doctrine.

The Atonement

The Atonement

And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.  And being in an agony, he prayed more earnestly; and he sweat as at were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

(Luke 22: 43--44)

 The Atonement of Christ was and is a voluntary act. The Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ voluntarily took upon him the sins of all mankind and laid down his life and took it back up again to satisfy the eternal demands of Justice, which required his infinite atonement. The Saviour himself said ‘I lat down my life for the sheep…Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it up again. No man take it from me, but I lay it down of myself’ (John 10:10-18)

As Latter Day Mormons we understand that Christ could choose to live or die. He was always the master of life and death. Jesus had the power to die, he received that from his mother, and she was mortal therefore endowing Christ with the ability to die. Due to his mother being mortal Jesus had blood within his body just as you and I have blood within our bodies, blood is the life of our mortal body. As our hearts pumps the blood it circulates around our bodies giving us life. We must bare in mind that Christ, Jesus father was not a mortal man but rather an omnipotent being, a God. We do not have power to pay down our lives and take them up again. But Jesus had power to lay down his life, and he had power to take it up again, and when he was he was put to death on the cross, he gave up his life on his own accord. When he was nailed to the cross he meekly submitted, but he had the power within that he could have resisted, but he chose not to and therefore submitted himself to the atonement. Christ came in to the world to die that we might live, and his atonement for sin and death is the force by which we are raised to immortality and eternal life. We may not fully understand how is was that this was done or why he was required to perform the work for us by the shedding of his blood, but this is the case, and we are owe all to him for he bought us through the shedding of his blood.

As Latter Day Mormons we must understand that the atonement only works when we are prepared to accept it in our lives and that acceptance is found in repentance. Christ does not and will not redeem any man for his individual sins who will not repent and who will not accept him. All of those that refuse to accept him as their personal Saviour and refuse to turn from their sins will have to pay the price for their continued sinning and shunning of the atonement remember is was Christ who said ‘For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent’ (D&C 19:16-19)

It must be made clear that Christ took upon himself the burden and weight of sins of the whole world past, present and future. It can sometimes feel hard enough for us to carry the weight of our own sins let alone those of the whole world form the beginning of time to the end of time. It is something that we can just not comprehend. The suffering of Jesus Christ, the mental and spiritual condition is something that we can not and indeed should not for us as mortal beings it is unfathomable to understand the passion of the Christ and the effort that went in to doing what he did for us.

There are many people in Christendom that believe that when he was hosted upon the cross and the nails driven in to his hands and feet that this was the greatness  of his suffering that that all was accomplished upon the cross. However as Latter Day Mormons we believe that his great suffering took place before he was placed upon the cross and that it took place in the garden of Gethsemane. It was in the garden that of Gethsemane that the blood shed from every pore that an angel was sent from the courts of the Father to aid him and give him comfort because the pain and suffering was so intense. Christ revealed to us in these Latter Days just what he went through in the garden when he says ‘Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of the pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit and would that I might not drink the bitter cup and shrink’ (D&C 19: 18) Christ tells us here that this wasn’t upon the cross but in the garden of Gethsemane. Now it must be understood that we do not take away from the cross and place all of the atonement in the garden, for the cross was where he spoke unto the father and where the Father cried from heaven for his loss and where Christ fulfilled scripture and became like unto us and took upon himself death and therefore gained the resurrection. But it must be remembered that the pain and agony of Gethsemane was so intense so powerful that Christ the Cod of this world called unto his father and asked ‘If it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt’ (Matthew 26:39).

 Christ paid an infinite price for us and it is therefore impossible for us mere mortals to understand or comprehend fully the extent of the suffering of the Son of God. We cannot realise the price he had to pay, however it is within our grasp to understand and know that the excruciating pain and agony of his sacrifice has brought us great blessings which are beyond the power of mortal men to give to accomplish and to endure. So let us always remember that there has never been a sin committed that has not been atoned for. Christ paid the debt of my sins and your sins on the condition that we believe in him and keep his commandments. Christ did that for you and all mankind, but he never paid for any of those debts upon the cross or before the cross for the sins of any one of us if we remain rebellious and do not submit ourselves to him. This is the key to having this great blessing work in our lives; we have to be willing to give our lives fully to him who gave so much for us.

Here By Design Not By Accident

For Latter Day Mormons and members of the Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ the theory of evolution which prevails today regarding the origin of man, animal life and also that of vegetation, that they all sprung from the same original germ which formed itself out of the sea or some volcanic explosion millions of years ago in the very distant past is to us absurd. This theory assumes that life began spontaneously; this is the foundation of the theory of evolution. The question that we need to ask ourselves as mankind is if spontaneous generation could be possible in the past then is it possible now? If not, then why not? This question like so many others has not and continues to not be answered today and leads people down a dark and inescapable tunnel of lies and mistruth and subjection, one that has no basis of truth but rather one of is and maybe’s.

As Latter Day Mormons we have an obligation to teach our children truth and not fiction. The truth for us is that the Lord has given us the information regarding life and how is came in to being. The Lord has given us the information about how this earth along with the life upon it and that of other earths has been created. As Latter Day Mormons we must be clear on this subject. Life did not commence upon this earth spontaneously, not at all. We must remember that there is no beginning and there is no end to Gods creation, there never was a time when mankind did not exist somewhere in the universe and when the time was right for our world to be created God followed the same pattern as he had done many times before in creating life upon our world. We were with the Father in spirit before this world was created, for us that was our beginning, but for creation itself there is not beginning and there is no end (D&C 93: 21-26)

We know that man was created in the image of God, that we are in essence like him not only in spirit but also in body, that we resemble him. If  we had the honour and  privilege to travel the stars to other worlds that populate the heavens that our Father has created and behold the life upon it we would see that they would be peopled with beings that look like us, they too are the creations of God and so therefore are the same race as we are for we are all the children of God and therefore created in his image. We must remember that it by no means places upon them the same restrictions that are placed upon us. For example they maybe more exalted then we are they may have advanced further than we have in ideas and behaviour and in doing so may have become closer to the creator than we have done.

 

However it must be stressed that they would be created in his image juts as we are in his. For us Adam was no cave man, but he was in a very real sense the most nearly perfect man in the form and feature of our father in heaven. Adam was for us our beginning, here upon this earth. "And the Lord God said unto Moses, For mine own purpose have I made these things. Here is wisdom, and it remaineth in me. And by the word of my power have I created them, which is mine Only Begotten Son, who is full of grace and truth. And worlds without number have I created, and I also created them for mine own purpose; and by the Son I created them, which is mine Only Begotten. And the first man of all men have I called Adam, which is many. But only an account of this earth, and the inhabitants thereof, give I unto you; for behold there are many worlds which have passed away by the word of my power; and there are many also which now stand, and numberless are they unto man; but all things are numbered unto me; for they are mine, and I know them….The heavens, they are many and they can not be numbered unto man, but they are numbered unto me, for they are mine; and as one earth shall pass away, and the heavens thereof, even so shall another come; and there is no end to my works, neither to my words; for this is my work and my glory, to bring to pass the immortality, and eternal life of man". (JST Moses Revelation v 21-25)

For us it is a false and foolish idea to believe that life, everything in it commenced from a small beginning, no matter what the evolutionist say or how they try and explain life coming in to being whether it be from the microbes in the sea or by some volcanic accident or from the rocks from a distant world falling on to this one by accident it matter not it is all false. There is no truth in it, for God has given us his word by which we can know and all who are led by the spirit of God can understand through the Holy Ghost the truth of these things. Its is perhaps a sign of the times we live in today to see that religion in its corrupt forms has led men to believe in this twisted theory of evolution. When the churches built up by man give such twisted views of God and his kingdom no wonder men stand and proclaim that there is no God and that they and they alone have the answers to the origin of man. It must however be remembered by us that this is the vain foolishness and narrow mindedness of man. These men of so called great intelligence and scientific knowledge and wisdom stand and declare that life on this earth is but a spontaneous act, and that they no nothing of life upon any other world and that even if it did exist it would be confined to the same laws that are in place here, that of Darwinism, what a foolish and arrogant statement to make. For not only are we now forced to believe that life here begin in this way but that life across the entire universe would have to begin in the same manner.

Latter Day Mormons in some cases do agree in some sense with the scientific inquisition in as much as we do think that life does come from the same single source, but we hold true to the belief that that single source is not a tiny microbe either from the sea or space but from God, our father, he is the creator of life and he placed life on this earth in varied forms, and also on other worlds as well. He is the single source and the only source that life came from. He will continue his work on this earth and upon other planets, or worlds, which will take the place of this earth when it has come into its exalted glory. He will continue to bring to pass his purposes of peopling worlds and bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of his children long after we have passed in to eternal salvation and exhalation. This is something that should enlighten the minds of men. It should strengthen their faith and give encouragement to those living life, that we are not here by accident but by design and that we have a purpose to being here and that we are sons and daughter of God. However this false theory of evolution continues to permeate every facet of life, form school right down to centres of religion and it prevails through the world so much that is debasing our world and it is not allowing us to ennoble or uplift those around us.

 It is our duty as Latter Day Mormons and as believers on Christ to show the world that Adam was a real man that he did nit evolve from a lower form of life that he was made by God in his image, that he had not developed gradually from the animal kingdom but that God breathed life in to him and gave him a mind and enlighten spirit. We must learn now before it is to late that we can not believe in both the gospel of creation and evolution, we can not at the same time accept the plan of salvation laid down by God in the holy text and then embrace the origin of man given by the corrupt men of the world, they are direct conflict with one another there is such a wide gap, even to such an extent that it is more a gulf than a gap. If you hold true to the doctrine of evolution then you must accept the view that man has evolved from a lower form of life, that we were cave men no better or advanced than the lowest form of animal life and that we have become what we are today by accident and mishap, in doing this you deny Christ and all that he was and is, you deny the atoning sacrifice of Gethsemane and the cross and that we are Gods children.

 As Latter Day Mormons we reject that life, we reject evolution and all its flaws, and we embrace the restoration of all things and that God is our father and that through him all was created. This is what we stand for in our homes in our place of work, in our places of worship and in our hearts. So the message of this sermon is stand true to Christ and to our Father in heaven and to the beauty of the creation, because when we examine the creation it is far more complex and beautiful than any theory of evolution will ever be.

Taught By Their Mothers

“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it”

(Proverbs 22:6)

 A Latter Day Mormon home should be established for the learning of eternal truths, it should be one of righteousness, teaching parents, obedience, and loving children, and above all faithfulness to the family and its duties.

Women can initiate or encourage many activities to create this kind of home. Latter Day Mormon women can do just this with daily morning and night family prayers, a regular time for studying the scriptures, well-planned family home evenings, teaching moments to often the problems of life, lessons of example in honesty and integrity, special occasions for fun and relaxation all contribute to the ideal home.

In many foreign countries round the world different ideologies touch their children, and keep them from evil. These people in foreign countries train their children in their homes and families in the way of right and truth, so much so that the destructive, godless philosophies and heresies of their teachers run off without penetrating, like water of a ducks back and their children remain true to the faith. So for us that must be the answer. Family life, home life, family home evenings, dedicated, selfless parents. This is the way that the Lord has ordained it to be, this is the way our lives ought to be.

It must be remembered that some homes do not reach this ideal. But important learning takes place when we apply gospel principles to solve our problems. By prayerfully and consistently working one step at a time, a woman can upgrade the amount and quality of spiritual learning in her home. Every woman can obtain knowledge of the gospel, keep the commandments, and be a righteous influence on others.

It is no coincidence that the both the Book of Mormon and the Book of Jeraneck tell us stirring success stories of strong gospel minded women who establish homes for gospel learning. In the book of Mormon the mothers of some two thousand boys planted deep spiritual roots so effectively that their sons remained steadfast and true to the teachings of their homes, even when separated by distance and anguish of war. They exhibited incredible courage and faith. In the book of Jeraneck we learn that the people of Ridnon esteemed the role of motherhood above all else, and that it was the mothers role to teach and mould the young children in the style and substance if the gospel so that they may stand true to the faith, as Jeraneck said at the beginning of the Book of Jeraneck ‘But it is from my Mother that I have learnt a greater understanding of humility, respect and love and it is to her that I give thanks for the man I am today’ (BofJ chapter 1:2).

So we can see that these children had been taught by their mothers that if they did not doubt the Lord that he would deliver them and be with them and guide them all their lives. In order for Latter Day Mormon Mothers to teach their children effectively they must be accepting and loving. Latter Day Mormon Mothers must be able to use their own faith to teach their children, who in turn will develop great faith, and who will also in turn learn to love the Lord Jesus Christ and their father in heaven. Latter Day women who make their homes canters of gospel learning and eternal truth have ears that hear and hearts that understand. Great blessings will come to them as they listen to the counsel of the prophet and the church and obey the word of God.   

 

The Lords Action Plan

The Lord has given the church our plan of action, the gospel of Jesus Christ. He has also

Given us the Priesthood which is his power and authority so that we may act for him in carrying out his Action plan. As a member of The Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ it lifts my spirit to think my heavenly father entrusted us his children with such a responsibility to promote the Lords teaching on Earth.

We his followers and members of the church have a duty to push forward to set goals this year, this month, this week to promote the gospel especially The Book of Jeraneck this special witness of the Lord is also a witness that the Action plan of the Lord was also a part of the lives of people on this island.

Probably one reason we do not have more success in doing the lords work is caused by our state of mind. We need to be single minded with this in mind; I give you 12 points not in detail but as a guide.

 

1] REPENTANCE:   Do not let this way you down Read MATT 11 28-30

2] PRAYER:   Pray always that you may come off conqueror D/C 10.5

3] SERVICE:  When you find yourself a little gloomy bury yourself in the lord’s work. Be an example to the world, go the extra mile.

4] WORK:  We should work at taking care of the spiritual, mental, social, and Physical needs of ourselves and those whom we are responsible for.

5] HEALTH:  Be aware of our health seek good medical help and be mindful of our

Lords help in keeping us healthy.

6] READING:  For those in distress Read the Psalms My favourite Psalm 22

7] BLESSING:  We must use the priesthood to build up our spiritual strength never be reluctant to use the Priesthood for a blessing it is your right.

8] FASTING:  Only by this can we hope to one day live up to the contents of MATT 17-21

9] FRIENDS:  Without friends we are not whole we need and in fact we must have friendship in our lives. D/C84 13

10] MUSIC:  When Saul was troubled by an evil spirit, David played for him with his Harp and Saul was refreshed and in those immortal words IF MUSIC BE THE FOOD OF LOVE PLAY ON

11] ENDURANCE:  To press on in troubled times even when depression is all around leads to sunshine. 1CORINTHIANS 2-9

12] GOALS:  Let your minds be filled with the goals of being like the Lord, and you will crowd out depressing thoughts as you anxiously seek to know him and his will.

In the lords name god bless our church this year and its members.

SERMON: Be Thou Humble

At the Passover supper some of the Twelve were disputing over who was the greatest among them (see Luke 22:24). Christ reminded them that the greatest is the servant of all and then gave them an example by washing their feet. (See John 13:14-15).

Christ’s life is the greatest example of humanity. Latter Day Mormons, those who are members of the Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ have always known that if the Lord was meek and lowly and humble, then for us to become humble we must do what He did in boldly denouncing evil and unrighteousness at every turn and gravely advance righteous works, courageously meeting every problem, becoming the master of our own selves and in the master of all the situations that we find ourselves in being oblivious to personal credit and aggrandisement.

Latter Day Mormons know that we follow the Lords example by accepting his commandments. We are humble to the degree that we are teachable and open to counsel. We know that in order to remain teachable we must listen to the counsel that has come to us from the Lord through his servants.

The saviour illustrated humility with this parable “Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week; I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off…smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.” (Luke 18:10-13). In comparing the two men, Jesus said that the publican “went down to his house justified rather than the other: for everyone that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted” (Luke 18:14).

We must always remember that the whole plan and purpose of this mortal probation is to test us to see whether we will seek forth the things of the world or whether we will flee from pride, humble ourselves before God, and walk before him with an eye single to the glory of God. We know that without the basic virtue of humility there is neither spiritual progression here nor eternal life hereafter. The humble member of the Latter Day Church is the one who discovers the great power of the Lord and their dependence upon the power of the Lord. They seek the help and guidance of the Lord through prayer and they show their willingness to follow him by obeying his commandments. They do not think themselves above others and serve with humility and patience. To such humble and teachable people the Lord promises knowledge and strength (see D&C 1:28) He says 2If 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 to humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.” (Ether 12:27)

Let us remind ourselves that if we are true followers of Christ and humble ourselves, we will be led by the Lord, receive answers to our prayers and receive the promise of exaltation (Luke 14:11).  

SERMON: Joseph Smiths Home life & Family background

With the recent anniversary of the death of the Prophet Joseph Smith having just past, I thought that it would be a good idea for us to look back at the first family an dhow they lived and what character they each had and how they influenced each others lives and the family itself

Latter Day Mormons and members of the Latter Day Church know that there is a lot of known about Brother Joseph’s early life and the teachings of his home and the life of his family, much of which we try and instill in our own families. A lot of what we know is from his own writings and teachings and form his parents and siblings writing and diary entries.

Joseph’s Mother Lucy Mack Smith had many qualities that were displayed in her children especially Joseph. Many of the qualities Joseph displayed took the form of courage, vitality, dependability, with a life long trust in God. Lucy Mack Smith found God through prayer whilst sick and promised a life long devotion to his cause. Although baptised she never committed her self to any set denomination. She spent her time fluctuating between Methodism and Presbyterianism. Joseph would say of his mother “she was a pious woman who was devoted to the welfare of her children and read the scriptures to her children daily”. She was the mother of eleven children seven of whom were boys. She raised all of them to be god fearing and to love God and to be obedient to his wishes.

As a child Joseph was encouraged to be industrious and to shirk idleness, working with his family on the land. Joseph’s Father too was a devout believer in God but remained sceptical of traditional churches. Joseph Smith Sr was a visionary man accused often of being a dreamer. He did have a series of seven dreams receiving messages from heavenly messengers, many about the future endeavours of his children and the founding of the church. Joseph Senior was a man steeped in Gods love and was also a very loving man often showing his wife displays of affection. His cherry disposition lifted the spirits of his family especially Joseph Smith Jr at times of great persecution and hardship.

Joseph Smith Jr was a great lover of wrestling; he often played at wrestling with his children, and could often be found rolling around the floor of his family home with his children. This was a love passed down to him by his father who was famous for his inter county wrestling. Hyrum Smith would remake that his family often struggled in their endeavour to turn tracts of forest land in to working land to feed and sustain the family. Economy was a must and although Father Smith also taught at school and was a somewhat modest business man the land was and remained their mainstay.

In summing up, the family environment in which the young Joseph grew up formed his character in to an idealistic and religious man. His family, Parents and grandparents all helped form a family environment that although God fearing did not espouse a particular form of Christianity thus paving the way for Joseph Smith Jr to receive the first vision and to establish the restored church upon the earth.

As families of the Latter Day Church and followers of the teachings of Joseph smith it is incumbent on each and every one of us to be an example to our families and children and to follow the example of the first family.

SERMON: The Power of Faith

The Power of Faith

 

Jesus was once approached by a woman who had been ill for twelve years. Moved by faith in Christ’s healing power, she pressed through a crowd and touched the hem of his garment. “If I may touch but his cloths,” she said, “I shall be whole” (Mark 5:28). She was immediately healed, and Jesus, sensing that strength had gone from him, asked who had touched him. When the women fell at his feet, acknowledging his blessing, he said, “Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole” (Mark 5:34 see Mark 5:25-34).

Although few of us have experienced as dramatic a healing as that of this woman, obedience to the Lord’s commandments and faith in him can also bring us a spiritual and physical “Wholeness”. Becoming whole is one of the gospel’s promised blessings, blessings that are dependent upon faith. The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that “every blessing which is obtained in relation to the plan of salvation is the effect of faith”.

Unwavering faith in Christ blesses our loves because it replaces fear and doubt with the conviction, confidence, and courage to press forward. Faith gives purpose and direction to our lives. Making gospel truths the foundation of our faith gives us hope for the future. Our daily efforts are more productive with faith, and our service is given more wholeheartedly.

We must remember that in our lives faith can heal the sick, can bring comfort to those who mourn, strengthen resolve against temptation and relieve us from harmful habits and most important  it can lend us strength to repent and change our lives by leading us too a sure knowledge of Christ. Christ promises that “If we will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me” (Moroni 7:33). When we consider the miracles and mighty works of the ancient prophets, we are impressed with their ability to use the Lord’s power in working righteousness. Equally Inspiring are our members today who continue to walk by faith in all their endeavours, this allows us to bless the lives of others.

Each member of The Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ can also exercise the power of faith in blessing the lives of others. Most of our individual accomplishments and miracles will be small, quiet ones, performed in our own homes and neighbourhoods, among family and friends. As we express faith through our righteous action, we can each receive power equal to our own tasks and then can bless the lives of others. As the gift of God, as Latter Day Mormons must keep in mind that faith is a gift we must constantly pray for. 

So let us remember that in exercising faith, don’t go out and try and move mountains, but rather go out and start small, do the things that you need to do in your life to get what you ought to have temporally and spiritually.

SERMON: Run & Not be Weary

Run & Not be Weary

Run and not be weary, and walk and not faint

(D&C 89:20)

 

My fellow Brothers and Sisters of the Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ, the sermon today will not be a long one but it will be one that is of most importance to us today, in a world full of excess and want, it is ever more important that we listen to the Lord and to his promises to us laid out in the holy scriptures. Today the biggest threat to our lives is our physical well being. In a world full of avarice and greed there can sometimes seem to be no hope in sight or no way for us to keep to the commands of the scriptures, however let us remember what the Lord has promised, those who are faithful.

The Lord promises us that id we obey the principles of the Word of Wisdom, we “shall run and not be weary, and walk and not faint” (D&C 89:20). The ability to run without becoming weary requires more that proper eating habits. We must exercise our bodies and much as we exercise our spirit and do it properly in order to fully benefit from observing the Word of Wisdom.

It must be fully remembered by members of the Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ that a healthy body enhances our physical, emotional, mental and spiritual well-being. This idea is implied in Doctrine and Covenants 89:18-19 “All saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walk in obedience to the commandments, shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures.”

It needs to be remembered that this is a promise from our God and that we need not be embarrassed by partaking in strenuous physical activity, in fact, having a body that is strong and healthy is what the Lord wants for us, indeed it can make us feel more healthy and more attractive as well. In addition to this physical fitness can make us feel more alert, more able to cope with problems, and more spiritually aware.

Latter Day Mormons should look for any way in which the binds of family and relationships can be made stronger. Physical fitness can be that strengthening bond. Sharing swimming, bicycling, hiking, jogging, or tennis can give us a chance to do something with others as well as for them.

We do not need expensive equipment or great skill to improve our health and strength. For instance, hiking, gardening, jogging, or walking requires little special skill. Even as we perform regular activities around the home or at work we can improve our physical fitness. We can walk or bicycle short distances rather than riding on a bus or diving a car. If our work requires us to sit a great deal, we can do beneficial isometric exercises. Planning and taking the time to keep physically fit is important, not only for physical well being, but also for mental and spiritual well being.  Our main drive should be to keep ourselves not only spiritually fit but also physically fit, in order that we might for fill our duty to the Lord and also to our families and loved ones.

And so let is remember and always keep in mind and as we go about our daily and weekly lives, that those who make a conscious effort to maintain healthy bodies will find the word of wisdom’s promise more completely fulfilled.