Sermon: Having a Clear Vision

Many times in discussions we hear the words "LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE ". The implication is that by only looking at a section of a picture you can miss an important aspect by not looking at the whole.


Conversely by looking at the picture as a whole, and not the fine detail in practice will not provide enough information as a working example, years ago when the television was invented by John Logie Baird. He was born 14 August 1888, and died 14 June 1946 was a Scottish engineer, innovator and inventor of the world's first mechanical television; the first publicly demonstrated colour television system; and the first purely electronic colour television picture tube. Baird's early technological successes and his role in the practical introduction of broadcast television for home entertainment have earned him a prominent place in television's history.


In 2002, Baird was ranked number 44 in the BBC's list of the "100 Greatest Britons" following a UK-wide vote. In 2006, Logie Baird was named as one of the 10 greatest Scottish scientists in history, having been listed in the National Library of Scotland's 'Scottish Science Hall of Fame. I can remember pictures being scanned at 420 lines, and then 620. Now we have high resolution mega pixels images where a dot on the screen is 0.29 mm. If we liken the gospel of Jesus Christ to a large picture containing all the detail we need. But only have a small section of the whole. We will never be able to learn, or fully understand the complete gospel or become perfected.


Although all these invention are a great aid to us, we have the greatest blessing by having a living prophet in our midst. Matthew Gill. I have known his father Philip for over 37 years. The book of Jeraneck, which was translated by the Prophet Matthew Gill, is a major part in this overall picture. The canvas or land we are now living on is of special significance. A picture is worth one thousand words. A vision can be worth volumes of books. Now some people might say there is only one picture. But the Lord has albums of books or pictures. As Nephi explains.


And because my words shall hiss forth many of the Gentiles shall say: A Bible! A Bible! We have got a Bible, and there cannot be any more Bible.

4 But thus saith the Lord God: O fools, they shall have a Bible; and it shall proceed forth from the Jews, mine ancient covenant people. And what thank they the Jews for the Bible which they receive from them? Yea, what do the Gentiles mean? Do they remember the travails, and the labours, and the pains of the Jews, and their diligence unto me, in bringing forth salvation unto the Gentiles?

5 O ye Gentiles, have ye remembered the Jews, mine ancient covenant people? Nay; but ye have cursed them, and have hated them, and have not sought to recover them. But behold, I will return all these things upon your own heads; for I the Lord have not forgotten my people.

6 Thou fool, that shall say: A Bible, we have got a Bible, and we need no more Bible. Have ye obtained a Bible save it were by the Jews?

7 Know ye not that there are more nations than one? Know ye not that I, the Lord your God, have created all men, and that I remember those who are upon the isles of the sea; and that I rule in the heavens above and in the earth beneath; and I bring forth my word unto the children of men, yea, even upon all the nations of the earth?

8 Wherefore murmur ye, because that ye shall receive more of my word? Know ye not that the testimony of two nations is a witness unto you that I am God, that I remember one nation like unto another? Wherefore, I speak the same words unto one nation like unto another. And when the two nations shall run together the testimony of the two nations shall run together also.

9 And I do this that I may prove unto many that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and that I speak forth my words according to mine own pleasure. And because that I have spoken one word ye need not suppose that I cannot speak another; for my work is not yet finished; neither shall it be until the end of man, neither from that time henceforth and forever.

10 Wherefore, because that ye have a Bible ye need not suppose that it contains all my words; neither need ye suppose that I have not caused more to be written.

11 For I command all men, both in the east and in the west, and in the north, and in the south, and in the islands of the sea, that they shall write the words which I speak unto them; for out of the books which shall be written I will judge the world, every man according to their works, according to that which is written.

12 For behold, I shall speak unto the Jews and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto the Nephites and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto the other tribes of the house of Israel, which I have led away, and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto all nations of the earth and they shall write it.

13 And it shall come to pass that the Jews shall have the words of the Nephites, and the Nephites shall have the words of the Jews; and the Nephites and the Jews shall have the words of the lost tribes of Israel; and the lost tribes of Israel shall have the words of the Nephites and the Jews.

14 And it shall come to pass that my people, which are of the house of Israel, shall be gathered home unto the lands of their possessions; and my word also shall be gathered in cone. And I will show unto them that fight against my word and against my people, who are of the house of Israel, that I am God, and that I covenanted with Abraham that I would remember his seed forever.

(Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 29:3 - 14)

I pray we as Latter Day Mormons can look, read, and ponder these pictures, books, and visions. And continue to increase in our temporal and spiritual strength.

Elder Peter Barber

Sermon: Our Understanding of Scripture

Many of us as Latter Day Mormons think we know all there is to know about the serpent in the Garden of Eden and the fruit he offered Eve. But do we really? Let us stop for a minute and let us take a closer look at the detail, because as the famous saying goes, the devil is in the detail. So let us as ourselves what does the Bible really reveal about that creature whose temptation brought our fallen state upon mankind?

We are all familiar with the sorry events of when our first parents rebelled against their Creator or are we really that familiar with the story, wait didn’t it go something like this? One sunny day Eve was walking through the trees admiring the luscious fruit and plants that God had placed throughout the Garden, when suddenly she heard a voice. Turning, she saw that the words came from a snake. No big deal, right. Many animals talked in the garden before the fall. Eve was innocent, so she never suspected a sinister and evil scheme and readily engaged in conversation.

Wait! Stop! Hold on. That’s not what happened, well, not exactly. You see, as Eve was walking through the garden admiring the creation of God a mighty angelic being approached her and struck up a discussion. After all we all know that Eve had regularly seen angels in her untainted home in Eden, so she had no reason to be wary. Whoa! Whoa hang on a moment that’s not in the Bible either is it? Eve was helping Adam tend the garden when she accidentally wandered away from Adam and came too close to the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Satan saw his him moment and seized the opportunity to deceive Eve by possessing a serpent and speak to her, that’s how it happened, Right?

As Latter Day Mormons it is important that we separate God’s Word from our conjectures no matter how wonderful they may sound or how plausible they may seem. We must remember that when we are talking about Biblical events, like David and Goliath, we often assume we know what happened, that is until someone asks, “But where’s that in the Bible?” It is at that moment that we realise that much of what we think we know as fact did in fact come from teachers, books, or movies we’ve encountered over the years, and not from the Scriptures.

In the case of the events in the Garden of Eden where does Genesis actually identify Eve’s deceiver as the devil? What kind of serpent talks? Was the serpent in a tree? And why wasn’t Eve shocked to hear a talking creature? All these questions are relevant but in many cases are not supported by the scriptures and to many of us can seem a bit of a shock when we find that what we thought we knew was in fact fantasy. It is only natural that in our effort to make sense of these scenes from history that have been left with many holes we try based on the limited perspective of our own lives to fill in the details, however we must remember to be very careful. It is so very important for Latter Day Mormons, as we proclaim the privilege of being led by God and revelation that we remember to separate God’s Word from our conjectures.

So let us ask ourselves and cast our minds back to the three examples I gave at the beginning of this sermon and ask ourselves if any of these three examples closely represent what happened? What do we really know about the details and events of that moment? The answers largely depend in many cases on who you ask. So with that in mind let’s us see who promoted each of these three views to see if they had any biblical support to help us identify the creature. Since the answers shed light on the interaction between humans and the evil “powers” that attempt to draw us into sin, our proper understanding is vitally important to our walk with God (see Ephesians 5:15; 2 Corinthians 2:11).

The first question asked is was The Serpent Just an Animal? Well some early Jewish writers did not think Satan was behind the temptation of eve at all, after all, Satan’s name does not appear in the Genesis account of any of the Bibles apart from our own, the JST. They believed because of there inaccurate scriptures that the serpent itself tempted Eve and the craftiness of this particular animal led to Eve’s fall into sin. It is written in the Book of Jubilees, written before the New Testament and of historical interest although not part of the Bible, states that on the day Adam and Eve were kicked out of the garden God closed the mouths of all living things “so that they could no longer speak: for they had all spoken . . . with one tongue” (Jubilees 3:28).  Another account written by the Jewish historian Josephus repeated this popular Jewish idea, writing that God “also deprived the serpent of speech, out of indignation at his malicious disposition towards Adam. Besides this, he inserted poison under his tongue, and made him an enemy to men.” 

We need to remember that most of what the world now knows about Satan comes from New Testament writings, as they do not have the inspired version of the Bible given to us by God. The New Testament links “the serpent” to Satan several times (Revelation 12:9 and 20:2; and also 2 Corinthians 11:3–15). The most popular view among Christians today is that Satan possessed the body of a serpent. This position combines the strengths of the other two views while minimising the difficulties it brings up scripturally. As Latter Day Mormons we have been blessed with the JST Bible and we know that Satan was responsible in a very real sense, but we also have the witness of the New Testament which indicates this as well (John 8:44).

In concluding this sermon may I remind each and everyone of us that things are not always as they seem at first glance in the scripture which is why God blesses us with the spirit and also with Prophets to help us and to guide in the right paths? This often becomes apparent when we study the Scriptures in detail. In the case of the serpent in the Garden of Eden, many questions remain unanswered to those without prophets to guide them or fulfilled scripture to aid them, however we should still remain tentative in answering them. Either we lack sufficient understanding, or the Holy Spirit chooses not to divulge enough information for us to be conclusive, that is the state in which we find ourselves. While it is intriguing to think about the serpent’s appearance and it is important to consider the ways in which the devil works (2 Corinthians 2:11), a far more important concern is how he was able to deceive the first woman and how Satan continues even today to tempt people to doubt the Word of God today and the Gospel today Just as in the days of Adam and Eve. Let us not forget that Satan was able to led Eve to question the reliability of God’s statements (“Did God really say . . .”), the enemy of creation and God is currently attacking the reliability of the early chapters of Genesis, with similar deadly results. There are many believers who have fallen for his deception and have opted to reinterpret or ignore the biblical view of the origin of the human family. This continued attack has had devastating results because it undermines our very understanding of biblical authority and the basis of the gospel of Christ and the message of eternal salvation. Let us as Latter Day Mormons learn from the mistake of our mother Eve, and take a firm stand on God’s side and on the revelation of life and the human family contained in Genesis. Let us not forget for one moment that God meant what He said, and we need to believe it today and for ever in our quest to return to be with him again.

Stonehenge Revealing Her Secrets

Humans have marvelled at the majesty of Stonehenge for thousands of years, but the famous landmark’s original purpose has remained a mystery. Now, a new radar technique has revealed hundreds of previously unknown Neolithic monuments, chapels, and shrines around the mysterious monument in Wiltshire. One archaeologist thinks they could provide evidence that the stone circle was at the heart of a busy processional route for well over 4,000 years ago.

The archaeologist Professor Gaffney went on to say: - ‘This is among the most important landscapes, and probably the most studied landscape, in the world, and the area has been absolutely transformed by this survey. It won’t be the same again. It’s going to change how we understand Stonehenge”

Professor Gaffney believes these sites suggest Stonehenge was not an isolated monument in an unspoilt landscape, but that there was lots of human activity nearby.

The Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ has always known that this entire landscape has always been more than what the wider world has thought. We know through revealed scripture that this was a place of worship for many generations and that it was frequented almost all of the time by many people who lived and worshiped near by in the vicinity of Stonehenge. We do not need to be told by so called men of worldly knowledge what we have known through revelation, however it helps us to know that they are only now beginning to learn what we have known for many years.

To learn more about the real truth of ancient Britain, read for yourselves The Book of Jeraneck and please visit our website www.latterdaymormon.co.uk

Official Statement: New Church Triple Scriptures

The Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ is pleased to present ‘The Triple’. The Triple is a volume of three official church scriptures in one combined book. The Triple includes The Book of Jeraneck, The Book of Mormon, and the Doctrine and Covenants. All of the scriptures contained within The Triple are the officially recognised church editions scriptures. Copies  of The Triple are available for sale on our church website.

Sermon: Examples To All

We all have times in our lives when we need an example to follow. When we are children, it is usually a character in a book or a super hero off the TV. In my youth it was reading the books of Paul brickhill, such as The Great Escape and Reach for The Sky that I found a lot of my hero’s and examples of heroic acts and leadership.

As we move forward in our experiences of life new exemplars of life emerge more lasting and more close to hand.  My father, my elder brother, and as I moved forward and found my faith I developed a strong love of characters in scripture. Characters like Moses, Abraham, David, Nephi, Helaman, and Captain Moroni.

In first Peter verse 21 it reds “For even hereunto were ye called because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps” 

The story of Joseph beginning in Genesis 37 is so very powerful. The Prophet had a pretty tough life. He was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers. His father was told that he was killed by a wild animal. He was framed by his boss’s wife because he refused to sleep with her and was thrown into prison. He interpreted the dream of a prisoner who was released and restored to his position, but the guy forgot about him. In the end, though, Joseph became the leader of all Egypt–second only to the Pharaoh himself. When there is a famine, he is then able to save his family from starvation. He tells his brothers when he sees them again that, though they meant harm, God orchestrated the events to put Joseph in a position to save them. Leaders have a vision that sustains them through difficult times.

Great leaders rule by example rather than command as is the case many times in the scriptures. In Joshua 24, after leading his people into a new land, Joshua offers the Israelites the option to either A:- serve the God who they had always served, the one who had brought them into the land or B:- serve the gods of the surrounding lands. “But as for me and my house,” he says, “We will serve the Lord.” The people answer in unison that they will pledge their allegiance to God. Because they believe in Joshua’s leadership, they follow Joshua’s example. He doesn’t have to threaten them; he merely inspires them by his example.

When we are doing what the Lord requires of us born out of knowledge acquired by study, we too can be an inspiration to others. We must separate ourselves from the worldly enticements around us as we see from the example of the early life of Daniel. In Daniel chapter one, we find that Daniel and his three young friends remained true to their God despite being taken captive and subjected to pagan beliefs and practices. They were strangers in a foreign land who found themselves separated from their families and friends. They had every opportunity to begin enjoying the sinful, worldly attractions and entertainment that surrounded them in the land of Babylon, for there were no Godly adults to tell them what to do or what to refrain from doing. Yet they refused to defile themselves with the pleasures, foods and amusements of the pagan Babylonian lifestyle. Why? Because their convictions were their own. Other young Israelites were also taken captive, but they gave in to the pressures to conform to the wicked Babylonian lifestyle. Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego did what was right because they were young people with personal conviction. God rewarded them for their separation from the world. Their behaviour and lifestyle remained exemplary throughout their captivity. We need to remember this account of Daniel and his three friends when it seems as though it is impossible for us to be different from the world or even from fellow Christians who are following the world.


In the name of our Saviour Jesus Christ Amen

Elder Philip A. Gill

Sermon: Gods Creation

As a child living in London I would always be looking up at the night sky. I would wish I could visit the moon, planets, and stars. I would wonder if there was life on them, and what they looked like. I saw photographs of the Milky Way, and galaxies. However living in South London limited my ability to see some of these objects. However when I spent several weeks holiday in a village called Gellilydan in North Wales. I was able to see the sky with no light pollution. I was able for the first time to see into the Milky Way, there were millions of stars. The whole of my being told me, there is a God out there, and I tried to reason how I fitted into the scheme of things. Later in life when people would say to me "there is no God" I would reply. "Have you looked at the night sky lately?"

In the book of Mormon there was a person called Korihor. He was an antichrist. Korihor is directly referred to in The Book of Mormon as an Anti-Christ; because he claimed that there would be no Christ. Korihor was able to preach his views to the people because of the land's freedom of religion. These teachings alarmed the clerical government in Zarahemla, who felt that his views were dangerous to their society, as people had begun to ignore the laws of the land (which were based on the religious beliefs of their society). Korihor attempted to preach to the people of Ammon, but the residents had kicked him out of Jershon. He also tried preaching in Gideon and he was arrested. Before a high priest, during a hearing for his apparent blasphemy and for causing social discord, Korihor offered a speech in his own defence. Korihor was turned over to a higher authority and later got into an argument with the chief judge and governor, Alma regarding the existence of God. Alma responded to Korihor's arguments, stating that all things testified that there is a God. Korihor finally demanded that Alma show him a sign from God or he, Korihor, would not believe in God. This culminated in Korihor being miraculously rendered deaf and mute, upon which Korihor confessed, in writing: - “I always knew that there was a God. But behold, the devil hath deceived me; for he appeared unto me in the form of an angel, and said unto me: Go and reclaim this people, for they have all gone astray after an unknown God. And he said unto me: There is no God; yea, and he taught me that which I should say”. (Alma 30:52-53)

Korihor begged for forgiveness, but Alma, sensing that Korihor would go back to his wicked ways, cast Korihor out. Korihor became a beggar and was later trampled to death by the Zoramites, a group who had separated themselves from the main Nephite society. We Read in Alma:-

"And now Korihor said unto Alma: If thou wilt show me a sign, that I may be convinced that there is a God, yea, show unto me that he hath power, and then will I be convinced of the truth of thy words. But Alma said unto him: Thou hast had signs enough; will ye tempt your God? Will ye say, Show unto me a sign, when ye have the testimony of all these thy brethren, and also all the holy prophets? The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and ^call things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator. And yet do ye go about, leading away the hearts of this people, testifying unto them there is no God? And yet will ye deny against all these witnesses? And he said: Yea, I will deny, except ye shall show me a sign. And now it came to pass that Alma said unto him: Behold, I am grieved because of the hardness of your heart, yea, that ye will still resist the spirit of the truth, that thy soul may be destroyed. But behold, it is better that thy soul should be lost than that thou shouldest be the means of bringing many souls down to destruction, by thy lying and by thy flattering words; therefore if thou shalt deny again, behold God shall smite thee, that thou shalt become dumb, that thou shalt never open thy mouth any more, that thou shalt not deceive this people any more". (Alma 30: 43 - 47)

Jesus Christ has always been associated with light. Sometimes that association seems symbolic of the idea that light is good and evil is darkness, and the message of Christ is referred to as the gospel of light (2 Cor. 4: 4-6) In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:4 - 6)

Other times it seems more literal. For example, the Saviour said that he is the "light and life of the world," (John 8:12, 3 Nephi 9:18,) and later "the resurrection and the life" (John 11:25).

I pray that as we turn on the lights in our homes, as mentioned in my last sermon and now as we look to the sky, and see the sun moon, and stars. We are looking at God’s creations. We can look to God, His eternal plan, and live.

Amen.

Elder Peter C. Barber

Sermon: Our Place in the End Times

This week we have remembered those that died in the First World War. To lots of people it was a conflict many years ago, so long ago indeed that for many it can’t be recalled or indeed should never be so. Through the losses of life and the social changes that accompanied it we must remember it, it is a fact we can’t escape. While generations of families from all Social strata’s where effected with many of their loved ones never returning from this conflict, children left without fathers wives struggling to bring up children on their own.  We read in Psalms 27:3 ‘Though a host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear, though war should rise against me, in this am I confident’

Today we are fighting still, we are fighting against all forms of evil, tyranny, terrorism, inequality, all made to afflict man, all this used to great effect by Satan in his battle against righteousness. We need to protect our selves by wrapping our souls in the love of our lord. We put him at the head of our lives. Again we read in Psalms 29:1-2 ‘Give unto the Lord, O ye mighty, give unto the Lord Glory and strength. Give unto the Lord the glory due unto His name; worship the Lord in the beauty of Holiness’

In these end times we need to heed the teachings of the gospel and promptings of the Holy Ghost, being steadfast in prayer and fasting. In the D&C 88: 21 we read ‘Also, I give unto you a commandment that ye shall continue in prayer and fasting this time forth. And I give unto you a commandment, that you shall teach one another, the doctrine of the kingdom’

The war with Satan through his disciple the Anti-Christ in these end times will indeed make all conflicts in the past pale into insignificance. The Devil will be in much greater honour in the end times amongst the mass of the earth population, who will embrace the teachings of the Anti-Christ. The great positive in these end times to followers of the Saviour will be that we know the second coming of our Lord is imminent, and will usher in a thousand years of peace and love. In Revelation 19:16 and Revelation 20:1-2 we read ‘And he hath on a vesture, and on his thigh a name written, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords…And I saw an Angel come down out of heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon that old serpent, which is the Devil and Satan, and bound him a thousand years’

Finally The Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ is lead prophetically, using revelation coupled with scripture. In the Doctrine and Covenants 124:13 we read ‘And verily I say unto you, let this house be built unto My name, that I may reveal mine ordinances therein, unto My people, for I deign to reveal unto My church, things which have been kept hid from before the foundation of the world, things that pertain to dispensations of the fullness of times’

Our Prophet Matthew Gill is a man with whom God has chosen to talk to and to give guidance and direction through, for his people and his church. My plea today to all those who will read this address, would be to come follow us especially those who are in other Mormon sects, come listen to a Prophets voice take heart in these end times, learn from a Prophet still receiving revelation from the Lord where our future lies.

Amen.

Elder Philip A. Gill

Sermon: Power in the Priesthood

In this world we are living in today with all the environmental issues relating to the consumption of energy whole new fields of science have developed in energy, and power. We hear experts speaking about its conservation. Chemical power, electric power, wind power, nuclear power. All these types of energy are all under intense experiments for development. The integral of power over time defines the work performed. Because this integral depends on the trajectory of the point of application of the force and torque, this calculation of work is said to be path dependent.

The same amount of work is done when carrying a load up a flight of stairs whether the person carrying it walks or runs, but more power is needed for running because the work is done in a shorter amount of time. The output power of an electric motor is the product of the torque that the motor generates and the angular velocity of its output shaft. The power involved in moving a vehicle is the product of the traction force of the wheels and the velocity of the vehicle. The rate at which a light bulb converts electrical energy into light and heat is measured in watts the higher the wattage, the more power, or equivalently the more electrical energy is used per unit time.

On the cutting edge of technology scientist are researching into a fusion reactor for commercial use. All these energies and power sources are a great blessing for us here on earth. The human body when examined from a power and energy perspective is a wonderful creation by our Father in heaven.

In the scriptures we learn that Satan sought to have God’s glory (His power) by the plan he proposed, but was rejected and Jesus Christ’s plan accepted. We are informed that one third of the heavenly host followed Satan, and were cast out, unable to advance any further.

(JST Revelation 12:6-9.)

6 And there was war in heaven; Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought against Michael;

rev. 12:87 And the dragon prevailed not against Michael, neither the child, nor the woman which was the church of God, who had been delivered of her pains, and brought forth the kingdom of our God and his Christ.

rev. 12:98 Neither was there place found in heaven for the great dragon, who was cast out; that old serpent called the devil, and also called Satan, which deceiveth the whole world; he was cast out into the earth; and his angels were cast out with him.

rev. 12:109 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ;

rev. 12:1010 For the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

rev. 12:1211 For they have overcome him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; for they loved not their own lives, but kept the testimony even unto death. Therefore, rejoice O heavens, and ye that dwell in them.

rev. 12:1212 And after these things I heard another voice saying, Woe to the inhabiters of the earth, yea, and they who dwell upon the islands of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.

In the Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ we make reference to the power of the Melchizedek priesthood.

Doctrine, and Covenants 1835 107:37

"The Melchizedek priesthood holds the right of presidency, and has power, and authority over all the offices in the church, in all ages of the world, to administer in spiritual things."

Without the spirit, power will corrupt, as we see in governments, legal systems, professional bodies, to name a few. So when we drive our cars, turn on a lights, cook our meals, walk, and run. This energy and power is given to us from above.

We pray we can use our energy, and power in ways that our Father in heaven is pleased as we live the gospel of Jesus Christ.

By Elder Peter Barber

Sermon: The Holy Spirit

The subject of the Holy Ghost or as I like to call him the Holy Spirit is one that has perplexed many for sometime however The Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ are not in a state of confusion or misapprehension concerning the Holy Spirit for we have been told all we need to know concerning this personage who sits on the God head with the Father. Let us be clear we are not talking about what the Holy Spirit does or what his function is, there is not confusion about that, we know that he is sent to bear witness of the Father and the Son and also to be a constant companion to those that diligently seek, we read "The gift of God unto all those who diligently seek him, as well in times of old as in the time that he should manifest himself unto the children of men…. For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost, as well in these times as in times of old, and as well in times of old as in times to come" (1 Ne. 10:17-19).

As we have said we know the role that the Holy Spirit plays in our lives and the power that he is endowed with, but who is he? It must be stressed that in this dispensation nothing has been revealed as to his origins or his ultimate destiny all we do know is what is written in the scriptures and that details mostly with what he does and not who he is. In the Lectures on Faith, which form an integral part of our doctrine it tells us that the Holy Spirit is the mind of God the Father and that he is the feeling or power of God in all things.

Now let is look at who he is. The Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ teach that the Holy Spirit is a man, a man of spirit a personage like the Father but is a personage of spirit separate and distinct from both the Father and the Son. Joseph Smith told us that the Holy Spirit has not a body of Flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit. Let us be clear that the Holy Ghost is a personage of spirit, a spirit man if you will, but he can only be in one place at one time however his power can be felt all over the world.

So let’s look at what we already know. We know that the Holy Ghost is the third member of the Godhead and that he is called the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit and that he has been given an authority to express the feeling of God to all men who allow him in their hearts and is therefore called the comforter, all three the Father, Son and Holy Spirit form a Godhead equal in authority and power. In a very real sense, the Holy Spirit dwells in the hearts of the righteous Saints of all dispensations.

The Prophet Joseph Smith stated in his many teachings that an "everlasting covenant was made between three personages before the organization of this earth, and relates to their dispensation of things to men on the earth; these personages…are called God the first, the Creator; God the second, the Redeemer; and God the third, the witness or Testator" (TJS, 190). When we examine this wonderful piece of revelation form the Prophet we see that the Holy Spirit was with God from the beginning and that he was a key component in the creation of life and so we proclaim that whatever he covenanted with the God of us all he is now and forever more a God equal in authority with the Father and the Son and had ascended beyond the need for a physical body just as the Father has done. We may never know why he has not had to receive a body; however we know that he has ascended to the role of God and sits at the highest levels of the Kingdom and with the power that he has been endowed with to bare witness of the Father and to send confirmation that Jesus is the Christ. Let us not forget that the creation could not have happened if it were not for the power of the Holy Spirit, for the priesthood works in concert with the Holy Spirit and they work together to magnify their power. And so when we examine the personage of the Holy Spirit and we examine just how little we know concerning him we should always look to the power that he conveys. The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that the influence of the Holy Ghost, is the convincing power of God of the truth of the gospel, and can be received before baptism; however the gift, or constant companionship, of the Holy Ghost, only comes by the laying-on of hands, and is only obtained only after baptism (TPJ, 199). The prophet went on to say "You might as well baptize a bag of sand as a man, if not done in view of the remission of sins and getting of the Holy Ghost. Baptism by water is but half a baptism, and is good for nothing without the other half-that is, the baptism of the Holy Ghost" (TPJ, 314).

For us as members of The Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ the most important role that The Holy Spirit fulfils is that of a teacher. All of us at some stage in our lives must be taught by the Holy Ghost. We must remember that the things of the Spirit can only be understood when taught and learned by the Spirit (D&C 50:11-24). Again let us look at what the Father did on behalf of the Saviour, for it was the Father who gave Christ the Spirit without measure (John 3:34). Angels also speak by the power of the Holy Ghost  without it they could not do their work. (2 Ne. 32:3). Such is the standard for all who go forth in Christ's name. "Ye are not sent forth to be taught," The Saviour said to the early church, "but to teach the children of men the things which I have put into your hands by the power of my Spirit; and ye are to be taught from on high. Sanctify yourselves and ye shall be endowed with power, that ye may give even as I have spoken" (D&C 43:15-16).

My Brothers and Sisters the Holy Spirit, no matter how much we study will always remain in many ways an enigma to us. We do not fully understand what role he fulfilled in the pre-existence and we only know what role he fulfils for us today and it is to that that we must look, for the power of his influence is so powerful that we must remember that without it we would all be alone and without a knowledge of the Father of his love for us. The Holy Spirit is such an uplifting power and source of gospel knowledge that to have his constant companionship and influence is the greatest gift a person can receive. It is this that makes us stand out from any other faith, not only our love of the feelings of the Holy Spirit but our love of the man himself and although our knowledge is limited to what he has done to deserve the awesome privilege of being a God and ascending like the father we love him and all he has done in enriching our lives and love of the father.

Sermon: The Value of Honesty

Honesty is the glue that holds our civilization together. It helps us remain true to ourselves and makes us men and women of integrity. Honesty builds trust and character in ourselves and in our dealings with others. And it is the thread that, when unravelled, tears human beings apart from one another, destroying families and individuals alike. In scripture, we learn of many powerful examples of honesty that illustrate honesty's importance and its ability to make our lives more whole and meaningful.

The Lord Jesus Christ taught that those are with "an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it," will "bring forth fruit with patience.” (Luke 8:15)

How, then, can we be less than honest, if the Lord commands it?

Heavenly Father tells us that He considers a lying tongue to be "an abomination" (Proverbs 6:19) and that the lips that tell truth are "established forever." (Prov. 12:19) In ancient Israel, God’s chosen Prophets often spoke honestly to warn of dangers - those that were hazards to both the moral and spiritual well being of God's people. The people of Nephi, the Book of Alma says, were "numbered among the people who were of the church of God." They were said to be "perfectly honest and upright in all things." (Alma Chapter 15; 27:27)

As Latter Day Mormons, we believe that God has never left us without Prophets - men of God who were tellers of Truth to God's people. These men told the Israelites, the Nephites on the American continent and the People of Light in the British Isles the Truth about God, and the need for God's people to be truthful. In the Book of Helaman, Nephi said he was an "honest man" sent "unto you from God.....And then shall he say unto you, that I, Nephi, know nothing concerning the matter save it were given unto me by the power of God. And then shall ye know that I am an honest man, and that I am sent unto you from God.” (Helaman Chapter 3; 9:36)

To the Gentiles in the Ancient Roman world, the Apostle Paul urged men to hold fast to honesty and honest dealings with men, saying, "Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.” (2 Corinthians 13:7) “Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.” (Hebrews 13:18) “Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.” (Romans 13:13)

The Latter Day Prophet Joseph Smith, in Doctrine and Covenants, calls upon us to seek honesty in our dealings with others, and to seek out honest men with which to associate. The Prophet Joseph calls for us to "let every man deal honestly, and be alike among this people, and receive alike, that ye may be one, even as I have commanded you.” (D&C 23:2; 51:9) And: “Wherefore, honest men and wise men should be sought for diligently, and good men and wise men ye should observe to uphold; otherwise whatsoever is less than these cometh of evil.” (D&C 85:2; 98:10)

Today, in these latter days, I urge you to heed the Prophets and Apostles of old to provide for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men (2 Corinthians 8:21) and to reflect upon their holy words about the sacredness of honesty. All things of value are wrapped in honestly and truth. Those who tell the truth revere Heavenly Father and His Prophets. Those who shun truth shun God Himself. Be honest for the sake of Heavenly Father and His people, and blessings will be upon you.

Official Church Statement: Wayne May Products Now Available

The Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ and the renowned historian and archaeologist Wayne May of Ancient American Magazine and LDS Archaeology.com have come together in offering The Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ and its members the opportunity to buy Wayne Mays hugely successful books 'This Land' from our official website and also to watch his videos from the church website.

 

The church will be able to offer for sale all of Wayne May's ‘This Land’ series of books and also special laminated versions of the proposed heartland setting Book of Mormon maps. We would like to take the opportunity to officially thank Wayne for allowing us to be able to offer our members and others the opportunity to obtain these wondrous works through The Latter Day Church direct

 

Mary Magdalene, Witness of the Risen Lord

I want to speak about the events about when Mary Magdalene meets Jesus at the empty tomb. This story is found only in the Gospel of John, and is very much understated in the whole of the story of Jesus Christ's resurrection. For Latter Day Mormons, it is a very important event, and one that I think is missing from the other Gospels - maybe because Mary only told it to John personally.

Everything about this little story within a bigger story rings true to human nature as we know it. A woman alone by an empty tomb, weeping, wondering what has happened to the body of the Lord she loved. While the woman knelt alone weeping by the tomb Jesus suddenly appears, she doesn't recognise him at first. Then the women so overcome with joy and the spirit reaches out to touch the Christ she knows and loves, who confides in her that he has not yet fully resurrected and come unto his father. The event ends with the mourner turned into a missionary, running to tell the others what she has just seen and heard.

Although Mary Magdalene plays an important role in the life of Christ, the wider world knows very little about her and her role in the life of Christ. What we as Latter Day Mormons do know is that she is one of at least five different women named “Mary” in the New Testament, and unless we are careful, we will get them confused.

Mary Magdalene was one of a group of women who became followers of Christ during his earthly ministry. We know that she joined herself to Jesus in a way that no other women had ever done, As Latter Day Mormons, we know through modern revelation that Jesus loved her more than any other woman, indeed, more than any other of his disciples, and that they indeed were married. It has been taught by people down the ages, and is still taught by some, that Mary Magdalene was the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11), but there is no evidence in the text to support this claim.  Others suggest she was the “sinful woman” who anointed the feet of Jesus in Luke 7:36-50, but the Bible does not make that clear, either. There is some tradition among many churches that it makes her a promiscuous woman, but there is no reason to say that based on the facts. After a time throughout Christian churches she became a symbol for repentant sinners who come to Christ from very chequered and colourful backgrounds, this may in fact be true in her case, but we have no way to be certain as to the validity of the stories attributed to Mary.

Far from doing Mary and her reputation throughout the world any good, it has meant that this wonderful woman has been darkened and tainted with sin, sin which can not be proved she had ever committed. However, this much we do know: That through her love and discipleship, Christ set her free, and liberated her from the world that surrounded her, a world that had kept her chained figuratively to darkness. Mary Magdalene is living proof that those whom the Lord sets free are free indeed. Having been liberated from the world around her, she said to herself, "I love him for what he did for me. I will follow him wherever he goes." And so when it came time for our Lord to offer his life and was hung on the cross, she stood nearby with Mary, his mother.

When they took his body down from the cross, she was there to see that awful image of her Lord. When they placed him in the tomb, she was sitting on a rock ledge, watching it all happen (Matthew 27:61). And so when the Sabbath had concluded, Mary, this woman whom the Lord had set free from the bondage of the world, this woman who loved him and followed him, this women who was joined to him forever, this woman who was there at his death, now went forth and purchased spices because she hoped to anoint his dead body, something only done in Jewish law by the wife of the deceased. The Lord was hastily buried on Friday in order to finish before sundown, which is why they had not finished preparing his body. Early on Sunday morning, before the sun came up, Mary and the other women ventured through the darkness to the Garden Tomb, expecting to finish the job of anointing the body of Jesus. When the women came upon the tomb they found it empty, they were confused and terrified. Then they saw and heard the two angels of the Father and they told them that Christ had risen from the dead. 

They returned to tell the disciples who did not believe such a thing possible even though the Lord has told them such things were possible and that he would be resurrected. And so John and Peter went and investigated, and when they saw the linen wrappings exactly where the body had been placed on Friday evening, they believed, now they believed and they ran to tell the others of what they had seen. At that point, Mary Magdalene returned to the tomb alone, confused, bewildered, in shock, frightened, and of course at the very heart of it, broken-hearted, her beloved not there, but missing. It has not yet occurred to her that the empty tomb meant that Jesus had risen from the dead.

It has often been said that Mary Magdalene was last at the cross and first at the tomb. Even though this may sound a slight to Mary it must be remembered that that can not be said of the men who followed Jesus, the men who lived by his side as she did, the men who saw him do so many great and wondrous things. Mary was the first to see him alive and the first to hear his voice, this is the one person he chose to see first, he chose her above his Apostles, and he chose his beloved, his wife. The irony of the story is that when she saw him, she didn't recognize him. But when the truth hit home, she became the first evangelist in Christian history. As Latter Day Mormons we must always remember that Christ bestowed this great honour on her because she loved him so deeply and so devotedly, and he loved her deeply and devotedly.

Let us, therefore, be inspired by this great woman of faith to be faithful in our devotion to Christ and in our duties to honour God.

Official Statement: Addressing critical remarks from The LDS (Utah) Mormons.

As members of the Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ and its highest council we confirm to the world that we are practising Mormons and have no need to or want to study any Anti- Mormon literature now or at any time. It would seem that some would have themselves believe that the search for truth makes one Anti-Mormon. We are NOT Anti-Mormon. We are simply Mormons.

Many of the members of The Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ were formally members of the LDS (Utah) Mormon church and after leaving the LDS (Utah) Mormon church many of us have become vociferous in our approach to our view of Mormonism and the teaching of the gospel principles taught by the LDS (Utah) Mormon church that are flawed for example: Polygamy, who can hold the priesthood, Negros, the Book of Mormon Setting etc.

Regarding our receiving of New Scripture, we wish it to be known that we have always stated we received the plates containing the Book of Jeraneck from a Heavenly messenger who bought them to our home. As a church we find it difficult to understand why LDS (Utah) Mormons pour scorn on us as they hold so dear to the story of the Prophet Joseph Smith. Perhaps they would have looked scornfully upon our dear Prophet Josephs story if they had been around in his day just as they do the history of The Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ. We proclaim to the world that Joseph Smith is not the sole property of the LDS (Utah) Mormon church he belongs to every Mormon no matter their sect, indeed he belongs to the whole world.

Regarding those individuals who continually point out spelling errors in the early print runs of the Book of Jeraneck as proof of it not being from God and not inspired of Him, perhaps it might do them good to look at the early editions of the book of Mormon produced by Joseph Smith in 1830 and beyond. The Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ does not believe that errors of this nature detract at all from either of these Books messages.

The Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ declare to the world that no member of the family of our Prophet whilst members of the LDS (Utah) Mormon Church has ever been excommunicated from that church. The reason for leaving was purely of a spiritual nature for some and for others they could no longer sustain the Brighamite teachings of the LDS (Utah) Mormon Church.

Finally we would like to re-emphasise our stance regarding Scripture. We take as our Standard works of Gospel study, The Book of Mormon (this book does not belong to the LDS church). The 1835 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants (this was the last edition approved by Joseph Smith and the voice of the church before his death). The Inspired Version of the Bible in full not fragments. The Book of Jeraneck which like the Book of Mormon is another testament and witness of Christ born by people of the Northern hemisphere (Great Britain) who were led there by God from the time and place of the tower of Babel.

Once again we invite all, everyone, even those disaffected LDS (Utah) Mormons to come and investigate our church; we have a living Prophet, Seer, Revelator, and Translator. Come and hear the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ and hear what the Lord wants from you.

 

Regards

The Office of The Prophet of The Church

Stand In Holy Places

The Lord has said that his house is to be a house of prayer a house of fasting a house of faith a house of learning, and a house of glory. The same should be said of our homes, whether they consist of a husband and wife, mother and child, or single sister, our houses can also be a house of the Lord and as Latter Day Mormons, and we can strive every day for our homes to be holy places given over to God. The Kingdom of God is and always will be anchored firmly in the divinely ordained family unit, tightly bound with the principles of righteousness, purity, and centred around our love and understanding of God, which we know through the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Latter Day Mormon homes can and should be safe places of righteousness and spirituality set apart from the world a refuge where individuals are influenced by the living gospel principles every day of their lives. In such a home is made the strong place were our children can come to the safe harbour they need in such times of trouble and strife and temptation that are so readily available and in our faces on a daily basis. The Latter Day Mormon home should always be a place where children and young adults feel the love and nurture of Christ, Heavenly father and the family and where they may be at peace from the world around them, a place were they do not have to do battle with the evil that encompasses them in the world. Latter Day Mormon homes can and should be places to raise families of righteous sons and daughters, mothers and fathers a place where they can feel safe and loved and feel of the overwhelming love and nature of the presence of their Heavenly Father. If our homes are holy places, our children will work toward becoming strong and faithful members of the kingdom and work hard toward their eternal salvation and eventually work towards that goal with their own wives or husbands and eventually with their own children.

As Latter Day Mormons, it is important for us to remember that our homes should first and foremost always be homes of prayer, church attendance, and church service; all these things invite the Lords spirit in to our homes and in to our families. However some times some family members may be reluctant to attend church and take part in church activities, and in turn be even more reluctant to take an active part in family activities and so it is up to us to bring the beauty of the family unite to them and the wonderful spirit of church to them, to make church not just a building, a place for them to attend and receive judgement but a living breathing entity that lives with them all the day, all the week long.  We need to make them feel at church while they are at home; to bring some of the things of heaven in to the home is to insure that family members will move closer to church participation and in turn bring the family closer together, let us remember that there is no greater call than that of the family, the opportunity to emulate our heavenly home here on earth and to bring all our children to salvation.

Therefore brothers and sisters let us remember that as we strive in our homes to make them holy temples of God, places where we can stand in his name we can experience all that the Lord has promised us. The Holy Spirit will be present to comfort, to inspire, and to bless us and our families’ everyday of our lives and we will feel that spirit as we strive towards making our home a sanctuary from the world. So I say unto you let homes with gloomy foreboding and heavenly clouds of despair have their burdens lightened and their faith in God increased so they may feel the love of the Lord in their families, for themselves and their children and see the love of our Saviour envelope our children and steady the family on the rough waters of the world.

Official Statement: Prophet and Family Welcome New Arrival

The Prophet Matthew Gill and his family Vicki, Levi and Leonardo welcomed the new arrival of baby Leif Gary Gill on Tuesday the 17^th of June at 6:27 in the Morning. The birth went better than planed and it was a wonderful spiritual event and very moving and overwhelming day. Vicki and Leif are now home and doing great. Leif is a wonderful addition to the family and everyone has fallen in love with him right away, his older brothers Levi and Leonardo can’t stop holding and looking at him, everyone is very happy that the our Father in heaven as given us this wonderful opportunity. We would like to thank our family and friends for all the wonderful messages and for all the phone calls of congratulations all of your support and love means so much to us, Thank you.

A Call to Harvest for the Lord

Each of us as Latter Day Mormons has a solemn obligation to, first, understand by the Spirit what has been said about the mission of the Church; second, to catch the prophetic vision of missionary work and third, to implement completely in our own lives the words of the Lord and of His living Prophet pertaining to missionary work. The most important counsel and direction on missionary work comes to us through the Lord himself to his Prophets, for the Prophet is literally the mouthpiece of the Lord. So stated the Lord: “For his word ye shall receive, as if from mine own mouth. In all patience and faith” (D&C 21:5)

I testify to you by the power of Spirit that we, indeed all of use who are members of the church should stand as living testimonies of what the Lord would have us do today. I fear that unless we fully understand the words of Prophets past and Prophets present and catch the vision of missionary work, and implement the words of the Lord, we will be held accountable before God. I also fear that we have not yet done what the Lord would have us do as directed to us in his revelations concerning missionary work. The Lord has asked his church that we place great emphasis on the sacredness of bringing those souls unto our Father in Heaven and the importance of greatly increasing our convert baptisms. The Lord has given us much direction on this matter in fact he spoke to John and Peter Whitmer on this very issue, he said, “And now, behold, I say unto you, that the thing which will be of the most worth unto you will be to declare repentance unto this people, that you may bring souls unto me, that you may rest with them in the kingdom of my Father.” (D&C 15)

As a Church, we have not yet caught that vision. Members are not bringing people and ultimately members into the Church year on year. We have not yet met the challenge and charge laid out by the Lord. As far as convert baptisms are concerned, we have only been converting a few people a year for the last six years. Although those that we have had the privilege of converting and bring to the waters of baptism are still with us, I say to you and to all our members wherever they may be, that we must have more converts. They must be well converted. No gimmicks to get baptisms. They must be real converts, but we do want more converts. It is imperative that we do as the Lord commands and bring souls unto Christ and bring them unto his church. For we have the whole truth, not part, but the whole truth and we should be happy to share this truth with others.

I call upon the members of The Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ to actively go out into the world - not merely to make friends for the Church, though that is important - but to properly convert and baptise. “He that believeth and is baptized must be saved.” (Mark 16:16.) Note that the scripture says not he that heareth, but he that believeth and is baptised, and that is the important part. For if we sit back in complacency and do nothing, then the Lord's Church will not grow, tithing will remain stagnant, and so the Church will remain stagnant and wither on the vine, and do we want this? Is it what we are here to do? I say it is not! And what will we say when we stand before the Lord as he calls us forward at judgment? Shall we stand and say, “Lord I tried, but it was too hard, I had other priorities”, or shall we stand and say, “I did as you commanded. I ploughed the field that was white and ready for the harvest; I spoke and I went out; I laboured hard in your name.”

Let me put it this way, and please take the time to think about this before answering yourself. Do we really believe in revelation given today? If so, then why can we not accept the revealed Word of God? He has revealed to us that we should look on the fields; for they are white and ready to harvest (John 4:35.) It has been ready since the inception of the Church under our dear Prophet, Brother Joseph, who was commanded to restore Christ’s Church in these Latter Days. He has asked us again in modern day scripture to go out and harvest the field. (D&C 14:2)

My beloved brothers and sisters we have been given revelation in the form of great new scripture, who are we to withhold that blessing from the world? Who are we to deny them a chance at salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ and his Church? I ask each and every one of you, and I will include myself, to set for our church a goal that we shall get up and go out in to the world to endeavour to bring souls unto the Lord and to impart what has been given us as a gift by Almighty God. We live in an age where the possibilities of contacting people are endless, we have at our disposal one of the greatest tools that God has seen fit to bestow upon the mind of man, that gift is the World Wide Web. This great invention did not come about by accident but by the design and will of God, and this gift that we have today allows us to reach out to countries and people that we would have not time enough to see in our mortal probation. With this great gift the church is able to have at its disposal a wonderful new website, social networking tools such as face book and twitter and media outlets such as YouTube where we can talk to hundreds if not thousands of people. Don’t be shy in using these tools they are there for a reason and for us it is to harvest the field that has been ready for such a long time. Use what the Lord has given us; our age is wondrous, use its wonders for the greater glory of God.

Let us act now today in obedience so faithfully, that the Lord, in the final day, shall say to each and every one of us with not one thought of hesitation, “Well done, good and faithful servant… you have served me well.” (Matt. 25:21; Book of Jeraneck 9:12)

 

The Work of Restoring the Truth to the Bible

When the angel Moroni appeared to the young Joseph Smith on 21 September 1823 not only did he open the door for the restoration of truth with the bring froth of the book of Mormon but he also opened up in the mind of the young Joseph certain things that might be amiss with the revealed word of God, the Bible. When Moroni spoke to the young Joseph he quoted a few passages form the Bible however when he quoted them he quoted them with certain significant differences from the widely known King James Bible. This stayed with the young Joseph as a seed being planted in his mind to com forth in full beauty when the time was right. While translating the Book of Mormon, Joseph learned that many “plain and precious things” had been lost from the Bible (see 1 Nephi 13:25-29) and the quotations told him by the Angel Moroni and that had taken route in his mind all those years ago now started to make sense to him. After Joseph was baptised he found that he was enlightened, and the true meaning and intention of the scriptures was revealed to him. So when the Prophet Joseph had made an end of his translating the Gold Plated in to the book of Mormon, it was only natural that his attention would turn to the Bible. When we think of the work that brother Joseph did on the Bible the word translation can be misunderstood. The word translation brings to mind the use of the original text and ancient languages however brother Josephs work was to restore the correctness of the scripture to restore the “plain and precious things” that had been lost and all this to be done by the power of the Spirit, not by scholarly interpretation. As he started the work on the Bible he stated that in June of 1830 while receiving the truth of the Book of Moses or what has become termed the revelation of Moses he stated that “line upon line of knowledge” was being revealed which gave a correct account of hat Moses had received of the Lord, but had not survived the ages of writing and re-writing. As Joseph and Sidney Rigdon were working on the New Testament, the Prophet recorded these words “For while we were doing the work of translation, which the Lord had appointed unto us, we came to the twenty ninth verse of the fifth chapter of John, which was given unto us, now this caused us to marvel, for it was given unto us of the Spirit” (D&C 76:15, 18). Joseph’s work of translating the Bible was a purely spiritual work, although he would later go in to study German, Hebrew and Latin it was not that knowledge that provided a basis to correct the scriptures. Brother Joseph would go through the entire Bible, dictating to Sidney Rigdon the changes, deletions, or additions. This work brought forth so many new truths that had been lost to us and new information that we could hold true to and expand our understanding of the Gospel.

 

It had been over a year since the Prophet had started work on the revision of the Bible, and the months of January and February 1832 found him again involved in this assignment. It was though is diligent study of the scriptures that many questions were resolved through revelation. One such question had to do with the Christian belief and interpretation of Heaven. The Prophet wrote “Upon my return from Ohio conference, I resumed the translation of the scriptures with Brother Sidney. From sundry revelations which had been received, it was apparent that many important points touching upon the salvation of man, had been taken from the Bible, or lost before it was compiled. It appeared self evident from what truths were left, that if God rewarded every one according to the deeds done in the body the term ‘Heaven’, as intended for the saint’s eternal home must include more kingdoms than one. Accordingly, on the 16^th of February, 1832 while translating St. Johns Gospel, I and Elder Sidney Rigdon saw the following vision….”

This vision can be found in what we know today as section 76 of the D&C and today makes up our understanding of what heaven truly is and what it shall be for all men and this was done through the process of translating the Bible through the spirit. Let us just imagine what great truths and understanding we would be missing today if that work had not rolled forth and how we would be in the same state that the rest of the Christian world finds themselves in today. All this great work that we have in our possession today is thanks to the work done on the Bible and section 78 is no exception.  I would like to finish this sermon with the words of the Prophet himself concerning the work of the translating of the Bible and the impact of “The Vision” that makes up our D&C section 78. “Nothing could be more pleasing to the saints upon the order of the kingdom of the Lord, than the light which burst upon the world through the foregoing vision. Every law, every commandment, every promise, every truth, and every point touching the destiny of man, from Genesis to Revelation, where the purity of the scriptures remains unsullied by the folly of men, go to show the perfection of the theory of different degrees of glory in the future life and witnesses the fact that that document is a transcript from the records of the eternal world. The sublimity of the ideas; the purity of the language; the scope for action; the continued duration for completion, in order that the heirs of salvation may confess the Lord a bow the knee; the rewards for faithfulness, and the punishments for sins, are so much beyond the narrow-mindedness of men, that every honest man is constrained to exclaim: It came from God”

 

In the Name of Jesus Christ Amen.

Official Church Statement: Website

Please be advised that The Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ are in the process of building a new website and therefore our old website is no longer in use. Please be patient with us while this work is on going. You can still view our blog page and also visit us here on facebook. We hope that the new website will reach out to far greater numbers and spread our Latter Day Mormon message of truth to the world.