Happy Easter

Easter is a wonderful time of year for all who believe in Christ, but for the members of the Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ it holds a special place in our hearts. As members of the church we have been commanded not to partake in the worldly rituals that so often surround us when Easter burst forth upon us, rather we have bee reminded by the Lord in revelation that we are to remember him and the sacrifice that was given so that we might live. This sacrifice has often been seen the crucifixion and that is all and nothing is given to the work done in the Garden of Gethsemane. As members of the church we believe that all of the work of atonement was undertaken in the Garden of Gethsemane. Christ's agony in the garden so unfathomable to the finite mind, both as to intensity and cause. The thought that He suffered through fear of death is untenable. Death to Him was preliminary to resurrection and triumphal return to the Father from whom He had come, and to a state of glory even beyond what He had before possessed; and, moreover, it was within His power to lay down His life voluntarily. He struggled and groaned under a burden such as no other being who has lived on earth might even conceive as possible. It was not physical pain, nor mental anguish alone, that caused Him to suffer such torture as to produce an extrusion of blood from every pore; but a spiritual agony of soul such as only God was capable of experiencing. No other man, however great his powers of physical or mental endurance could have suffered so; for his human organism would have succumbed, and syncope would have produced unconsciousness and welcome oblivion. In that hour of anguish Christ met and overcame all the horrors that Satan, "the prince of this world" could inflict. The frightful struggle incident to the temptations immediately following the Lord's baptism was surpassed and overshadowed by this supreme contest with the powers of evil.

In some manner, actual and terribly real though to man incomprehensible, the Saviour took upon Himself the burden of the sins of mankind from Adam to the end of the world. Modern revelation assists us to a partial understanding of the awful experience. In March 1830, the glorified Lord, Jesus Christ, thus spake: "For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent, but if they would not repent, they must suffer even as I, which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of 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-- nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men."

From the terrible conflict in Gethsemane, Christ emerged a victor. Though in the dark tribulation of that fearful hour He had pleaded that the bitter cup be removed from His lips, the request, however oft repeated, was always conditional; the accomplishment of the Father's
will was never lost sight of as the object of the Son's supreme desire. The further tragedy of the night, and the cruel inflictions that awaited Him on the morrow, to culminate in the frightful tortures of the cross, could not exceed the bitter anguish through which He had successfully passed.

To this end was he born to take upon himself the sins of the whole world form the beginning of time to the end, to call upon the courts of justice to answer the call for all mankind so that they might have the gift of salvation. This is the real gift of Easter, not the eggs or bunnies or chicks but rather the gift of salvation and deliverance from sin. So at this wonderful time we give thanks to the Lord for his willingness to suffer for our sake. Happy Easter.

Gethsemane.--The name means "oil-press" and probably has reference to a mill maintained at the place for the extraction of oil from the olives there cultivated. John refers to the spot as a garden, from which designation we may regard it as an enclosed space of private ownership. That it was a place frequented by Jesus when He sought retirement for prayer, or opportunity for confidential converse with the disciples, is indicated by the same writer. The Cup as a Symbol.--Our Lord's frequent mention of His foreseen sufferings as the cup of which the Father would have Him drink (Matt.26:39, 42; Mark 14:36; Luke 22:42; John 18:11; compare Matt. 20:22; Mark 10:38; 1 Cor. 10:21) is in line with Old Testament usage of the term
"Cup" as a symbolic expression for a bitter or poisonous potion typifying experiences of suffering. See Psa. 11:6; 75:8; Isa. 51:17, 22; Jer. 25:15, 17; 49:12. In contrast, the opposite meaning is attached to the use of the term in some passages, e.g. Psa. 16:5; 23:5; 116:13; Jer.
16:7.

Ref: Jesus The Christ (Talmage)

First Post of The New Year

Dear brothers and sisters it has been a long time since our last blog address to you all. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all those that helped the church move forward last year and especially to those in the United States who have broken new ground for the church in establishing the church on the Promised Land.

We would like very much to send our thanks out to Elder Michael Clarke who last year established a branch in his home town of Clay Cross and has continued to stay stead fast to the work and to the church.

The membership of the church is of vital importance to moving the work forward and to fulfilling our first mandate given to us by the Lord, to fill the whole earth with books of Jeraneck and to bring out of darkness and in to the light that which was lost. The book of Jeraneck is probably the most unique book of Scripture that we have today, it is one of just a few things that sets us apart from any other Mormon faith, and it most defiantly sets us apart form main stream Christianity. However we believe that the book of Jeraneck works hand in hand with other revealed scripture such as The Bible and the Book of Mormon, with which our lives would be far less meaning full. We need those other scriptures to fulfil the piece of the puzzle laid out for us. The Bible is of vital importance to us as it is the only piece of scripture to date that talks of the life of Christ his earthly and mortal probation.

Let it not be said that we are not Christians, we are! We believe in Christ, not just as a side show but as leader of our faith, he is the Christ the redeemer the Son of God he is the most preeminent fixture of our faith and our church. Christ is not just confined to the Bible, his teachings are not just confined to the middle east and to the Americas , no he is found all over the world in every land in every legend. Christ is the Son of God and we believe in him and trust in his redeeming grace.

The Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ want you to seek us out, we are here and waiting to fulfil your life to answer those questions that have yet to be answers to answer those that have been hanging around in your mind and heart, Why are we here? Where did we come from? And where are we going? We have the answers to all these things the plan that our father in heaven set down for us is here it is here in its purity. The Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ is waiting for those who are disillusioned and lost. Maybe you have been an LDS member and become disillusioned with the way they work and operate, maybe you have not found the answers you were looking for, well come to us! Talk with us, visit us and we will indeed help you along the path. My dear brothers and sisters wherever you maybe in the world we love you and we want you to know that we think about you every day, the Lord loves you and wants the best for you, stay the course do not be put of by temptation and your reward will be great.

Keep an eye out for future videos that will be posted and future blog posts. Please also keep a look out for a video presentation that the church is doing for a cable show in the United States Called ‘Heart of The Matter’, the church have been in discussions with them since last year so please keep an eye our for updates to as an when the video will be available to view. Once again brother and sisters, God bless and keep you all. Amen.

Welcome to the last blog post of the year. After a very succesful Winter GA this year in which we held our first international live meeting we have posted the videos on here for all of you to view. We hope that you all have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Part One


Part Two


Part Three


Part Four


Part Five


Part Six


Part Seven


Part Eight

MERRY CHRISTMAS

&
A HAPPY NEW YEAR

Christmas is one of the happiest and most memorable times of any year. As we prepare for the celebration of the birth of Christ, our thoughts carry us beyond that night in Bethlehem, and we think of the glorious gift our Father in heaven gave to us by sending His Son to earth over 2,000 years ago.

As the Prophet I like to think of Christmases with my family and friends, I remember, too, the mission of Jesus Christ and the gift of His life for each of us. Now at this Christmas time of 2009, I wish to share some of my memories and thoughts with all the members throughout the world.
For me Christmas has always been a happy time, it has been a happy time rich or poor, a time for me to spend with my family and enjoy there company, to see the look of amazement on their faces when they open their gifts on Christmas day. For me the joy of giving was and still is a big part of my Christmas celebration. I remember as a child the fevered joy of waking on Christmas morning and pulling my mother and father out of bed along with my brother and sister with shouts of “Its Christmas day wake up, come on get up” I suppose that it must have driven my parents mad, but of course deep down me, my brother and my sister new that they were just excited as we were, but now I now that it was for different reasons. For my parents the excitement was about the joy of seeing their children open their gifts and seeing the complete amazement on our faces as we would get surprise after surprise, the amazement as we would explain to them “ How did Father Christmas know that’s what I wanted”. As I grew older and the idea of Father Christmas wore of I was able to take part in the idea of giving a gift and seeing the joy it brought to others, knowing that I had had the opportunity to contribute to their happiness. The joy of giving is such a rich and beautiful thing every one should have the opportunity to take part in it. I believe that it should be central to the message of Christmas still and even more central to us as Christians and as Mormons.

As a father I now have the privilege of seeing my son who will be six on the 12th of December light up when he sees all the gifts that are waiting for him under the Christmas tree. As a parent it is exciting to see the joy that beams across his face and the complete amazement at how all this could be done in one night by one man, it is something that I think will stay with me all the days of my life. It gives me the opportunity to see what my Mother and Father must have seen and felt as I did what my son now does on Christmas morning. I get a kick out of giving especially at Christmas time, I think it reminds me of the wise men who travelled so far to kneel at the cradle of the Saviour and lay before him gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh. With that in mind how can I do any different? I am a servant of Christ and I celebrate his birth on the 25th of December and in doing that I celebrate the giving of gifts one to another, we should always remember what Christmas is about. It’s about the birth of Christ and the giving of a gift, it’s not about how much you give or how expensive it is it’s just the giving of something in remembrance of those first gifts laid at the cradle of the baby Jesus.

I hope that this Christmas season brings you all the love and warmth that it is able to bring. I pray that when we open our gifts on Christmas day we will be thankful for what we have received and we will reflect on why we are doing what we are doing. I know that this time of year can be very special, and I pray that it will remain so for many a year to come.
Merry Christmas to you all, and may the sprit of the Lord be with you and in the immortal words of Tiny Tim. “God Bless us every one”

Prophet Matthew P. Gill

APPEAL FOR FUNDS

The Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ is in need of your help. We are desperately trying to raise funds for the establishment of Zion’s Camp. We have the information on some land that would like to purchase for establishment of Zion’s Camp but we need your help in raising the money for this. Along with the money to buy the land we will need help with purchasing equipment to build a settlement upon the land that we wish to buy. For this we will need people to donate to the church though our web site.

The Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ aims to build a place were people can come and feel safe from the world around them. It will be a place for like minded saints and Christians who do not wish to be beholden to the government and to the state. It will be a place where the laws of God are preeminent above all other things. As we approach the end of days it is important that the saints and believers in Christ have a safe haven to go to and live the laws of God in freedom, with out fear or persecution, Zion’s Camp will be such a place. However this safe haven, this place of freedom can not be established unless we have your help and for this reason we are asking for donations of £20 or higher to help us reach the total amount that we will need to purchase the land and to but equipment for it. The Land that we have seen in wonderful with fresh running water and wonderful open spaces for all to enjoy, it truly is a wonderful and special place a place were the spirit of God can be felt and embraced by all.

To help us build Zion's Camp and make it a reality you can donate at our website which is www.ldchurchofjesuschrist.org you can give as much or as little as you feel that you can give. I know that the Lord will help guide you as you make this wonderful decision.

Due to unforeseen circumstances in computer and printer complications we regret to announce that the November edition of The Times & Seasons will not be available. For all those that have places a yearly subscription please contact the Church head office. We are however pleased to inform you that the church has already begun to sort the problem and the Christmas Edition of the Times & Seasons will be ready for December.

The Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ are pleased to announce that the Winter General Assembly for The Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ will be held on the 13th of December and will for the first time be holding a direct feed to the United States. The Winter General Assembly will take place at 5:30 UK time thus allowing for our members in the United States time to gather together for the meeting. We will also be relaying the meeting to our small but loyal membership in Argentina as well and with the late start time we believe that we will all have the wonderful opportunity to hear the words of the Prophet and to gather together in the name of Christ. Please check back for any updates between now and the 13th of December regarding the General Assembly. God Bless and Keep You.

As Mormons our focus of worship should be Jesus Christ. As Mormons and members of The Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ our commitment should be to Christ’s teachings. The prophet Joseph Smith said in 1838 “ The fundamental principles of our religion is the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets concerning Jesus Christ, that he died, was buried, and rose again on the third day, and ascended up into heaven; and all other things are only appendages to these, which pertain to our religion”

As Mormons it must be stated that our religious focus and faith should be based on how our spiritual and moral lives are cantered in Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ alone. It can sometimes be difficult for us to realise that Joseph Smith was an instrument in the hand so f the Lord and not the Lord himself. We need to put our trust and faith in the Lord more than we need to put our trust and faith in Joseph Smith. The reason we believe in Joseph is because we believe in Jesus, for if we have ultimate faith and belief in Jesus then our love and faith in Joseph is a by product of that love and faith in Christ

The Apostle Paul said to the church in Corinth “I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified” (1 Cor. 2:2) We need to be reminding ourselves in our worship that it is Christ who stands at the head of our church and it is through him that we have been given the duty of the restoration. We are mealy instruments in his hands to do with as he sees fit. We put no claim on the Gospel or restoration being of the making of men, but rather we should see that they are all the will and projects of the Saviour and are his to direct and we are his to command.

However with this in mind it is important that we do not do as other faiths have done such as the Community of Christ and others and resign to the dustbin our roots and our history. We believe in the Prophet Joseph Smith and that he was called by God to stand as a Prophet and to usher in the last dispensation of the fullness of times. We also believe that he was given by the Lord Jesus Christ the privilege and honour of bringing forth the Book of Mormon. Be it known to everyone who reads this address that we stand by our testimony of the prophet Joseph. The point that must be recognised is that it was all the will of Christ the Lord, not of man. To do what the Community of Christ and other s have done and dumb down the importance of the Book of Mormon and the role that Joseph Smith played is to impugn the role of Christ. I always find it odd to see people say that they no longer believe that Joseph Smith was called of God or that he went astray and then on the other hand still regard the book of Mormon as sacred.

The Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ will never relinquish its belief in the Prophet Joseph Smith or the Book of Mormon, just because it is not fashionable or comfortable. Let me state for the record that we believe in Christ, we give his name predominance in the title of our church, but at the same time we stand by the origins of Mormonism and all that goes with it, regardless of how difficult that may be.

In this weeks blog post I have asked the Prophet to write a few words for us. It might also be added that the Prophets post can be found in the August issue of The Times & Seasons.

In the clamor, confusion, and strife of the modern world, there is nothing more stabilizing or reassuring for an individual than the teachings of Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, people in the world generally, whether Christian or non-Christian, are not entirely committed to the principles taught by Jesus of Nazareth. There is evidence to suggest that among some individual’s greed, selfishness, violence, cruelty, envy, and hate may be more natural than love.

This evil in the world cannot be blamed on governments, or corporations, or institutions. Human beings are the ones who create the problems, practice the evil, and bring about misery for millions of their fellow human beings. The key to binding the forces of evil rests with changing the hearts of men.

The single most important organized force in the world today dedicated to changing the hearts of men is The Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ. The Church certainly does not stand alone in the defense of righteousness, but it does stand alone as God’s authorized representative on the earth to bring about the salvation of all those who would hear and turn to the teachings of Jesus.

Such an assertion is made in soberness and with a full realization of its implications. To those who are not affiliated with the Church or to those who may be members in name but not in spirit, this may have a harsh ring. It may sound exclusive, or snobbish, or even fanatical, but it is in fact the motivating belief of many people throughout the world. The influance of the church can be felt by many people weather they want it or not, however this fealing of influance in itself, of course, does not make the church true. Its truth lies in the reality of God’s visit to the boy-prophet Joseph Smith in 1820. Its truth rests with the additional revelations God gave to those he called to direct his church. And its truth is attested to by the fact that in this day and in this time God continues to reveal his mind and will to the prophets and apostles he has appointed to act for him.

The Newsletter, The Times & Seasons of The Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ, was established for the primary purpose of bearing witness to the divine mission of Jesus Christ and proclaiming to the Church and the world that his gospel in its pristine purity has been restored.
This Newsletter has and will continue to unfurl the banner, sound a battle cry, serve as a watchword, and teach all those who are willing to listen that there is a better way. Isaiah looked forward to the days of the restoration when he said, “All ye inhabitants of the world, and dwellers on the earth, see ye, while he lifteth up an ensign on the mountains; and when he bloweth a trumpet, hear ye.” (Isa. 18:3)

What about the more specific goals of the Times & Seasons? How will it continue to really serve the members of the Church? Does it promise anything for those who may not be members of the Church? An answer to these questions was offered by the Lord in 1832 when he commanded his servants thusly:
“And I give unto you a commandment that you shall teach one another the doctrine of the kingdom.
“Teach ye diligently … in all things that pertain unto the kingdom of God, that are expedient for you to understand;
“Of things both in heaven and in the earth, and under the earth; things which have been, things which are, things which must shortly come to pass; things which are at home, things which are abroad; the wars and the perplexities of the nations, and the judgments which are on the land; and a knowledge also of countries and of kingdoms.” (D&C 88:77–79.)

You can anticipate, then, that this “voice of the Church” has and will continue to attempt to bring you truth and light as it pertains to your total experience in life. And this will be done from a gospel point of view.

For members of Christ’s church to be “in the world, yet not of it” requires great knowledge, wisdom, and faith in the teachings of the Savior. The Times & Seasons will continue to be a part of the dynamic force moving in the Lord’s church to bring about the “perfection of the Saints.”

This first issue was not the final word. We have seen new features added, changes have been made, and different approaches have and will be attempted. We invite an open mind of those who may be clinging to what has passed away in other Church publications. We invite your constructive responses to our efforts. But most of all we invite your use of this Newsletter to assist you in gaining knowledge. And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come.

Matthew P. Gill
Prophet
Office of The Prophet of The Church

Throughout the history of the world. The majority of people have never been able to recognise a living Prophet. Only a few were able to believe that God could speak to a man who wears the common clay of ones won generation. The rest of the people would idolize the prophets of the past, while they stoned and killed or even persecuted the living Prophets of the present. It is a fascinating study of human nature to see how these people would usually honour the Prophets of the past. Once the Prophets were dead, they would place them on imaginary pedestals, turning them into perfect individuals who had never made a single mistake. Then they would make a selection from their teachings which suited their own particular tastes, and smugly go about living their, lives of wickedness while mouthing a few popular phrases which identifies them with these servants of God.

But men cannot do this with living prophets. Living Prophets will denounce these hypocrites who say they are followers God but instead obey their won licentious desires. Living prophets will not allow men to pick their teachings to pieces and construct a crazy quilt pattern of personal interpretations which matches popular opinion. This is why Prophets are seldom popular with their own generation.

It is the task of the people of each generation to discover weather or not God has risen up a living Prophet for them. The Bible teaches that whenever Prophets are raised up, certain things will begin to happen. Doctrines will be clarified. New truths will be revealed. Prophecies will be given. The kingdom of God will be revitalised and every honest seeker after truth will be able top observe the power with witch a true prophet carries out his mission. In all of holy writ there is not one single instance where God ever selected a professional holy man to be one of His Prophets. In every case the call came like a bolt out of the blue, often to men who considered themselves weak and incapable and were amazed that God should honour them with revelation or consider them worthy of a prophetic calling. In many cases the work progressed slowly. People said God would not speak to a mere normal person. They held aloft their scriptures containing the writings of prophets from the past and said that this was all the revelation they needed. They said that the new young prophet was making up his revelations, that they weren’t form God. But this was to be expected. These people could not recognise a living prophet any more that the people could at the time of Christ.

In our case much of what is written above is the case. I am a normal man with a normal life and family, but God has called me to be a Prophet and today the gospel doctrines are being clarified, new revelation is being brought forth and people are being awakened to seek the truth.

Prophet
Matthew P. Gill

Much has been said of late about the secrets that Stonehenge and surrounding areas hold. A couple of weeks ago a Time Team special was aired in the UK about the secrets of Stonehenge being solved. I was able to see that time team special and was amazed at just how much information they had discovered that inadvertently supports the book of Jeraneck. It was a wonderful programme that dealt with what the team thought Stonehenge was built for, although we do not agree with much of what was said we do agree on some of the facts that were brought out. Before I go in to some detail it must be noted that on the Time team Special Tony Robinson the programme presenter made a statement about archaeologists coming up with theories to prove their own point of view. This must be strongly understood by any one who thinks that archaeologist’s theories are all sound and irrefutable. Archaeologists when faced with a problem they can not prove come up with theories that suit the current situation or there own point of view. This was exampled on the show a couple of times when Tony Robinson said to a member of the archaeology group “You don’t know do you” in answer they said "no" but it was ‘probably the case’ they don’t know they only theories many points about Stonehenge.

On of the things that they have been finding a lot at Stonehenge is bodies or graves. On the show they numbered a small number of bodies or remains that they have found in a and around the stone monuments that make up Stonehenge. This backs up the Book of Jeraneck. In the book of Jeraneck we know that people were killed at Stonehenge in a bloody battle. We also know from the Book of Jeraneck that many of the bodies were burned or left to rot on site. A great highway lead to the temple in says in the book of Jeraneck. It just so happens that they have high way leading to the Stonehenge site a great chalk highway. They have also found a small village near Stonehenge and they know that people lived near by. Lots of examples were given in the programme that after reflection back up the record kept by the people of light and back up the words of Jeraneck. On of the things that they found on the programme was a large stone or stones that were places as a marker they thought to lead the way to Stonehenge. In the book of Jeraneck we know that the people erected a great stone near to the temple in the tribute to Sharaneck for being great leader, could this be the same stone? I think its worth remembering that if a dig was done on Stonehenge to prove the validity of the book of Jeraneck you could find much evidence to support it, but on the other hand much could be found to discredit it. Although finding evidence and tangible proof is nice it should not be the basis of a testimony in its validity one should do as Jeraneck asked us to do and pray about its truthfulness.

I believe that Stonehenge is a sacred place indeed all around about the area are great monuments and building that were left behind by a great race of people it is nice to see that the fruits of the people of the Book of Jeraneck can still be seen even today, but I believe that it should stand as warning to us. Look upon their lost civilisation and ask what we are doing to avoid the same fate.

Dear friends after a week or so delay the Spring GA is now available. We have posted it here on the blog site for your ease and convenience. It is also available on YouTube if you wish to see it there.

Once again we apologise if you have been waiting for a while to see the recording of the General Assembly. We thank you for you patience and hope that you enjoy just as we did the Spring General Assembly. God bless

Spring GA2009 Part One


Spring GA2009 Part Two


Spring GA2009 Part Three


Spring GA2009 Part Four


Spring GA2009 Part Five


Spring GA2009 Part Six

On Sunday the 31st of May The Latter day Church of Jesus Christ held its 4th Annual Spring General Assembly Meeting. It was a wonderful meeting witch was filled with the spirit and one that is eagerly anticipated by our friends overseas. The GA was conducted by the Prophet and the speakers included Elder David Smith who spoke about his strong belief and testimony of the church and the gospel and his love for the Book of Jeraneck. He was followed by a short testimony from Elder Phil Gill, who was then followed by Sister Vicki Gill who gave two wonderful spiritual thoughts that drew laughter and enjoyment from all present. The final speaker was the Prophet who spoke about the wrongs done to Joseph smith and his wrongful association with polygamy.

However Due to a technical problem the recording of the conference which is now on tape is still waiting to be put on to the computer so that it can be posted on to the blog site. It is hoped that this will soon be solved and the recoding of the General Assembly that took place on Sunday will be available for all to see and enjoy.

God Bless

NEWS & ANNOUNMENTS

• Unfortunately due to illness the General Assembly that was scheduled for Sunday just gone has had to be pushed back to Sunday the 31st of May. The video of the General Assembly will still be available on the blog site so please check back after the 31st to see that.
  
• May's Times & Seasons will be going out this week to all those that have subscribed. The special GA edition will now be added to the June edition due to the delay in the start of May's General Assembly.

Once again we apologise if this has caused any one any problems. God Bless and keep you.

Today the BBC and the its love child David Attenborough have in conjunction with the believers of evolution and Darwin broken the story of ‘Ida’ the supposed Missing Link, the connection that supposedly links us with the animal kingdom. As a believer in God and a firm and unwavering believer in the biblical creation I thought that it would be appropriate to find a believer’s answer to this ‘Missing Link’. It is with great pleasure that I am able to post this reply from the http://www.answersingenesis.org/ web site. This wonderful website is a great resource for all those that believe in the biblical creation and the events of Genesis. I believe that although we have many differences with organized Christianity that this belief binds us together and gives a true unwavering scientific approach to the creation. Please read and do not be duped in to thinking that everything you read or see on the BBC or TV is actual proof of anything, try and open up your mind and examine what you are told about this supposed ‘Missing Link’

FROM http://www.answersingenesis.org/
For all the headlines and proclamations, this “missing link” story includes an amazing amount of hot air.
A story we first previewed on May 16 has since rocketed to the heights of media hype as a team of scientists reveals “Ida,” the latest and greatest supposed missing link. But does Ida actually support “the evolution of early primates, and, ultimately, modern human beings,” as one news outlet reported?

Another reporter raved, “The search for a direct connection between humans and the rest of the animal kingdom has taken 200 years—but it was presented to the world today at a special news conference in New York.”

Formally identified as Darwinus masillae (in honor of Charles Darwin), the fossil originated in Germany and is purportedly 47 million years old. One scientist gave the find the nickname Ida (after his daughter).

Despite the hype, Ida looks nothing like a transitional “apeman,” instead looking quite like a modern lemur.

As for a more level-headed explanation of the evolutionary excitement, the Wall Street Journal reports:
Anthropologists have long believed that humans evolved from ancient ape-like ancestors. Some 50 million years ago, two ape-like groups walked the Earth. One is known as the tarsidae, a precursor of the tarsier, a tiny, large-eyed creature that lives in Asia. Another group is known as the adapidae, a precursor of today's lemurs in Madagascar.

Based on previously limited fossil evidence, one big debate had been whether the tarsidae or adapidae group gave rise to monkeys, apes, and humans. The latest discovery bolsters the less common position that our ancient ape-like ancestor was an adapid, the believed precursor of lemurs.

Thus, rather than an apeman-like missing link that some media sources have irresponsibly implied, the real story is quite underwhelming and should in no way faze creationists. Let’s first review the facts:

• The well-preserved fossil (95 percent complete, including fossilized fur and more) is about the size of a raccoon and includes a long tail. It resembles the skeleton of a lemur (a small, tailed, tree-climbing primate). In no way does the fossil (see the picture, right) resemble a human skeleton.
  
• The fossil was found in two parts by amateur fossil hunters in 1983. It eventually made its way through fossil dealers to the research team.


• Ida has opposable thumbs, which the ABC News article states are “similar to humans’ and unlike those found on other modern mammals” (i.e., implying that opposable thumbs are evidence of evolution). Yet lemurs today have opposable thumbs (like all primates). Likewise, Ida has nails, as do other primates. And the talus bone is described as “the same shape as in humans,” despite the fact that there are other differences in the ankle structure.


• Unlike today’s lemurs (as far as scientists know), Ida lacks the “grooming claw” and a “toothcomb” (a fused row of teeth) In fact, its teeth are more similar to a monkey’s. These are minor differences easily explained by variation within a kind.

Given these facts, it may seem incredible that anyone would hail this find as a “missing link.” Yet British naturalist David Attenborough claims:
“Now people can say, ‘Okay, you say we’re primates . . . show us the link.’ The link, they would have said until now, is missing. Well, it is no longer missing.”
Unbelievably, Attenborough claims his interpretation is “not a question of imagination.”

The Creationist Interpretation
The principles that inform creationists about Ida are some of the same that allow creationists to interpret fossil after fossil hailed as “transitional forms”:

1. Nothing about this fossil suggests it is anything other than an extinct, lemur-like creature. Its appearance is far from chimpanzee, let alone “apeman” or human.


2. A fossil can never show evolution. Fossils are unchanging records of dead organisms. Evolution is an alleged process of change in live organisms. Fossils show “evolution” only if one presupposes evolution, then uses that presupposed belief to interpret the fossil.


3. Similarities can never show evolution. If two organisms have similar structures, the only thing it proves is that the two have similar structures. One must presuppose evolution to say that the similarities are due to evolution rather than design. Furthermore, when it comes to “transitional forms,” the slightest similarities often receive great attention while major differences are ignored.


4. The remarkable preservation is a hallmark of rapid burial. Team member Jørn Hurum of the University of Oslo said, “This fossil is so complete. Everything’s there. It’s unheard of in the primate record at all. You have to get to human burial to see something that’s this complete.” Even the contents of Ida’s stomach were preserved. While the researchers believe Ida sunk to the bottom of a lake and was buried, this preservation is more consistent with a catastrophic flood. Yet Ida was found with “hundreds of well-preserved specimens.”


5. If evolution were true, there would be real transitional forms. Instead, the best “missing links” evolutionists can come up with are strikingly similar to organisms we see today, usually with the exception of minor, controversial, and inferred anatomical differences.


6. Evolutionists only open up about the lack of fossil missing links once a new one is found. Sky News reports, “Researchers say proof of this transitional species finally confirms Charles Darwin's theory of evolution,” while Attenborough commented that the missing link “is no longer missing.” So are they admitting the evidence was missing until now (supposedly)?

So it’s clear what Ida is not. As for our conclusion on what Ida is, we wrote in News to Note:
Because the fossil is similar to a modern lemur (a small, tailed, tree-climbing primate), it’s unlikely that creationists need any interpretation of the “missing link” other than that it was a small, tailed, probably tree-climbing, and now extinct primate—from a kind created on Day 6 of Creation Week.

Much of the excitement over Ida appears to stem from a well-coordinated public relations effort to promote an upcoming documentary and a new book titled The Link. The documentary will air on the History Channel in the U.S. (as The Link) on May 25 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. It will air on BBC One in the UK (as Uncovering Our Earliest Ancestor: The Link) on Tuesday May 26th at 9 p.m. Filmmaker Atlantic Productions even launched a website to promote the discovery, revealingthelink.com.

Yet as Hurum commented, “This fossil will probably be pictured in all the textbooks for the next 100 years.” So while the media rush may at first be a bid to promote the documentary and book, the ultimate result is one more trumped-up “missing link” presented to future generations as evidence of evolution.

The Real Story of this “Scientific Breakthrough”
While Ida has hit the mainstream media—and will even be featured on Good Morning America Wednesday—what is the real story? Has Ida been exposed to good scientific review? To the contrary, the Guardian reports:

Jørn Hurum, at the University of Oslo, the scientist who assembled the international team of researchers to study Ida is relaxed about using the phrase “missing link” to describe Ida. “Why not? I think we could use that phrase for this kind of specimen,” he said. “People have a feeling that if something is important it is a missing link.”

In the paper published in PLoS ONE from the Public Library of Science on the fossil the author is more circumspect. “Darwinius masillae is important in being exceptionally well-preserved and providing a much more complete understanding of the paleobiology of an Eocene primate than was available in the past,” the authors wrote.

“The species could represent a stem group from which later anthropoid primates evolved the line leading to humans, but we are not advocating this here.”

The paper’s scientific reviewers asked that they tone down their original claims that the fossil was on the human evolutionary line.

One of those reviewers, Professor John Fleagle at Stony Brook University in New York state said that would be a judgment for the scientific community. “That will be sorted out or at least debated extensively in the coming years once the paper is published,” he said. (Emphases added)
So despite the treatment most media reports are giving Ida, the research team behind Ida was asked to remove their speculation from their peer-reviewed paper! Even so, the Guardian also reports, “There is even talk of Ida being the first non-living thing to feature on the front cover of People magazine.” Indeed, it seems that the pitch of Ida as the missing link is full-out sensationalism by people who are bypassing the scientific community with a direct-to-the-public appeal on behalf of Darwinism.

Meanwhile, the New York Times has reported:
Despite a television teaser campaign with the slogan “This changes everything” and comparisons to the moon landing and the Kennedy assassination, the significance of this discovery may not be known for years. An article to be published on Tuesday in PLoS ONE, a scientific journal, will report more prosaically that the scientists involved said the fossil could be a “stem group” that was a precursor to higher primates, with the caveat, “but we are not advocating this.”

All of this seems a departure from the normal turn of events, where researchers study their subject and publish their findings, and let the media chips fall where they may.

The Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ will be holding their annual Spring General Assembly on the 24th of May this coming Sunday. The proceedings will be videoed and will be available for all to see on the churches blog site via YouTube. We welcome all who wish to attend to do so and to call ahead to confirm with us that they will be attending. Once again we wish to encourage all those that can not be their in person to watch the Spring General Assembly on the videos that will be posted on the Blog site.

For all those that subscribe to the churches newsletter The Times & Seasons Mays edition will be a special General Assembly issue so this will be dispatched to you the week commencing the 25th of May.

Work is still progressing nicely on the numerous projects that the church has undertaken. The Churches official 1835 Edition of the Doctrine & Covenants is still due to be completed by the end of the year along with the children’s version of the Book of Jeraneck. If you are interested in purchasing any of these please contact the church by email

NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS:-

• The Latter day Church of Jesus Christ will be holding there spring General Assembly Meeting on May the 24th 2009


• A supplement to the Book of Prophecies & Revelations is to be introduced so that all new revelations can be added to the book rather than having new ones re-printed.


• A New Children's edition of the Book of Jeraneck is due to be completed by December of this year and should be available by Christmas.

Easter did not always symbolize Christ's Resurrection from the dead and the meaning of Easter was quite different. The feast day of Easter was originally a pagan celebration of renewal and rebirth. Celebrated in the early spring, it honoured the pagan Saxon goddess Easter. When the early missionaries converted the Saxons to Christianity, the holiday, since it fell around the same time as the traditional memorial of Christ's resurrection from the dead, was merged with the pagan celebration, and became know as Easter. For this reason the Lord has given us new direction on how we are to celebrate his atonement. On the 8th of March 2007 he gave the church a new revelation and outlined His will concerning the celebration of Easter. The Lord made the following statement concerning Easter:- "I the Lord am most displeased with the world for they have taken my sacrifice and they have desecrated it and they have set it at naught. Behold I say unto you that it is not pleasing unto me that Easter be celebrated amongst my church in the manner in which it is being done”

So the Lord has made his feeling on how and why we should not hold with the traditional teaching of Easter. So what is it that we are to do at this time of year? Well the Lord has also given us direction on that front as well he says: - "Wherefore come unto me at the time you call Easter and lay a feat at your table in my honour and lay upon the alter table well prepared and cooked lamb which is a similitude of me and also bring before me unleavened bread mixed with bitter herbs that you may remember that I suffered in the garden and upon the cross for you. Behold I say that this is not to take away the sacredness of the sacrament but it is to prove unto me that I the lord am remembered amongst you and that my sacrifice is not set at naught".

So we see that the Lord has commanded us to keep this celebration special and holy. It is not just another holiday to be spent in frivolity and overindulgence, but a celebration and remembrance of the Lords sacrifice for us. I pray that you have a great Passover weekend and that the spirit of the Lord is with you and your family. God Bless you all

Prophet
Matthew P. Gill

The Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ is making its scriptures and other items available for everyone to buy and to read and for this reason we are posting a price list of the scriptures here on the blog site so that those who wish to buy them can do so. If you wish to buy them please pay through PayPal this is the safest and easiest way of making sure that your purchase goes through. The following are the list of scriptures that are available and also the cost:-
The Official Church Edition of The 1830 Book of Mormon: - £20.00 + P&P
The Book of Jeraneck: - £15.00 +P&P
The Book of Prophecies & Revelation: - £13.00 +P&P
The Church News Letter The Times & Seasons: - £3.00 a month or £36.00 a year
The Book of Jeraneck Picture Collection (28 pictures):- £200

Once again if you wish to purchase any of these please send an email to the attention of Sister Vicki Gill and then send payment via PayPal and we will dispatch your order as quick as we can.

The Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ is led by living Prophet. His name is matthew Gill. This Prophet is not aloof from others he lives a normal life with his family, if you check out our sister site Gods place you will see. The crowing glory of the church in these latter days is that the Prophet can be contacted and can be spoken to and that he is speaking with God and revealing truths that have been lost to us over time. The Lord God is very much at the head of our church and it is only though him that we have the things that we have in our lives today. The church has not only been blessed with a modern living Prophet who speaks to God today but we have additional scripture given to us by the power of God. The Book of Jeraneck takes place at around 2500 BC and it speaks to us today and tells of a people that lived here upon the British Isles and believed in the Lord God. The Book of Jeraneck tells of there struggles and there teachings and clarifies things that were confused or even lost to us. The Book of Jeraneck we compiled by the last Prophet of the people of Light, Jeraneck. Jeraneck was the last Prophet of the people and we believe he died between 150-130 BC. It is a book of belief that was hidden until our time to come forth to reveal to us that the Lord had established upon this land a people that believed in him and loved him.

Please take the time to read this wonderful book brought to us today through a living Prophet of God and that has been given to us by God to help us understand the past and future of our land and our people. The book of Jeraneck has touched many people’s lives and has helped them come closer to the Lord through reading it. Of course it has its critics and it has its persecutors but then again so does the Bible and the Book of Mormon. All the critics in the world do not detract from its truth and its message. We believe that if you read it with an open heart and mind and do not read it with malice already in your heart then the spirit will do what Jeraneck says and testify of the truth of his words. We hope you will take the time to read it and that the Lord will bless you with a witness that it is from him.

Please fell free to contact the church. We are here to talk and to testify of Christ.

News:- Apostle Elder Michael S. Clarke is doing well again. he has moved back to Clay Cross and we are about to set up a branch there, were Elder Clarke will become the presiding Elder.

The Church has started work on an official church Edition of the 1835 Doctrine and Covenants and this shouldbe completed bythe start of teh Summer.

The work on the Bible is still on going with the Prophet wroking very hard with an assistant to do what the Lord has instucted with the Insoired version oft eh Bible. Look out for the completed edition by the end of the year.

This year is a very special time for the church because we have the opportunity to study the Book of Mormon in Sunday school. In doing this we not only get a greater understanding of the Book of Mormon and all the wonder and truth it holds but we also gain a greater understanding the prophet Joseph Smith and also who we are and why we are here. In the modern restoration today and in this church we hold the Prophet Joseph Smith in high regard not because he was an extraordinary man although he was but because he is a Prophet of God and he brought forth one of the greatest books in history The Book of Mormon. We are now standing and building on the foundation laid by Brother Joseph Smith we are rebuilding what was once torn down and in doing so we hold before the world not only the Book of Mormon but also new revealed scripture in the Book of Jeraneck, we need not be afraid and shamed to do this for we know that Joseph was and is a Prophet of God and that he did translate from ancient lost plates of Gold, that we have had the same privilege and that we are like unto him. My brothers and sisters let us go forth with renewed vigour to take these two wonderful records to the world and bring light and knowledge to a dark and dreary lost people who are crying out to be saved from themselves and the eternal darkness that awaits them if they do not heed our words. I bless you with the Lords guidance in the coming week ahead until we meet again in fellowship and love.

Joseph Smith and the Gold Plates

Joseph Smith, the first Prophet and founder of the Church tells us that the Book of Mormon was translated from golden plates shown to him by a heavenly messenger on September 21, 1823.
"While I was thus in the act of calling upon God I discovered a light appearing in the room which continued to increase until the room was lighter than at noonday, when immediately a personage appeared at my bedside standing in the air for his feet did not touch the floor...When I first looked upon him I was afraid, but the fear soon left me. He called me by name, and said unto me that he was a messenger sent from the presence of God to me, and that his name was Moroni. That God had a work for me to do, and that my name should be had for good and evil, among all nations, kindred’s, and tongues; or that it should be both good and evil spoken of among all people. He said there was a book deposited written upon gold plates, giving an account of the former inhabitants of this continent, and the source from whence they sprang. He also said that the fullness of the everlasting gospel was contained in it, as delivered by the Savior to the ancient inhabitants. Also that there were two stones in silver bows, and these stones fastened to a breastplate constituted what is among them called the Urim and Thummim, deposited with the plates, and the possession and use of these stones was what constituted seers in ancient or former times, and that God had prepared them for the purpose of translating the book." (Times and Seasons, vol. 3, p. 753)

The time soon came for The Prophet Joseph to see the plates and to experience the beauty of being given a record that has been lost to the world, this is what he says concerning that moment.
"Convenient to the village of Manchester, Ontario Co. New York, stands a hill of considerable size, and the most elevated on any in the neighbor hood; on the west side of this hill not far from the top, under a stone of considerable size, lay the plates deposited in a stone box: this stone was thick and rounding in the middle on the upper side, and thinner towards the edges, so that the middle part of it was visible above the ground, but the edge all round was covered with earth. Having removed the earth and obtained a lever which I got fixed under the edge of the stone and with a little exertion raised it up, I looked in and there indeed I beheld the plates, the Urim and Thummim and the Breastplate as stated by the messenger. The box in which they lay was formed by laying stones together in some kind of cement; in the bottom of the box were laid two stones crossways of the box, and on these stones lay the plates and the other things with them. I made an attempt to take them out but was forbidden by the messenger and was again informed that the time for bringing them forth had not yet arrived, neither would until four years from that time." (Times and Seasons, vol. 3, p. 771)

After many times of being able to go to the hill and see the plates the time came for the Prophet to be given the plates and to take them. Here the Prophet Joseph describes receiving the plates and the gravity if the situation.
At length the time arrived for obtaining the plates, and Urim and Thummim, and the breastplate; on the 22nd day of September, 1827, having went as usual at the end of another year to the place where they were deposited, the same heavenly messenger delivered them up to me, with this charge that I should be responsible for them: that if I should let them go carelessly or through any neglect of mine I should be cut off; but that if I would use all my endeavors to preserve them, until he the messenger should call for them, they should be protected...by the wisdom of God they remained safe in my hands until I had accomplished by them what was required at my hands when according to arrangements the messenger called for them, I delivered them up to him and he has them in his charge until this day." (Times and Seasons, vol. 3, p. 772)

Here Josephs mother Lucy describes the effort that Joseph had to make to get the plates back home safely.
After removing the plates from the stone box, Joseph hid them in a birch log until preparations could be made at home for the plates. Then he went to retrieve them. "The plates were secreted about three miles from home...Joseph, on coming to them, took them from their secret place, and wrapping them in his linen frock, placed them under his arm and started for home." After proceeding a short distance, he thought it would be safer to leave the road and go through the woods. Traveling some distance after he left the road, he came to a large windfall, and as he was jumping over a log, a man sprang up from behind it, and gave him a heavy blow with a gun. Joseph turned around and knocked him down, then ran at the top of his speed. About half a mile further he was attacked again in the same manner as before; he knocked this man down in like manner as the former, and ran on again; and before he reached home he was assaulted the third time. In striking the last one he dislocated his thumb, which, however, he did not notice until he came within sight of the house, when he threw himself down in the corner of the fence in order to recover his breath. As soon as he was able, he arose and came to the house." (History of Joseph Smith by His Mother, pp. 107- 108)

I would ask at this time that our prayers be turned to Elder Michael Clarke who is having some personal problems at the moment. He needs us to pray for him, ask the Lord to help him find a new place to live. Please pray and fast for him I know that he needs all the help he can get at the moment.

Today's post as been submitted by the prophet himself:-
It’s difficult sometimes for us as members of the church to communicate to others what it is God has revealed to us, in consequence of traditions. We are differently situated from any other people that have ever existed upon the face of the earth, so those former revelations can not be suited to our conditions today, those revelations were give to other people, who were before us; but in these the last and end of days. It is said that God is to call a remnant and deliver them unto Zion. Now if God should give no more revelations, where will we find Zion and this remnant? I tell you now in this blog that the time is drawing ever closer when desolation is to be poured out upon all the world like has never before been seen, It will be so great that men’s hearts shall fail them and they shall seek a place to hid themselves but find no rest unless they put themselves in the hands of God and his people; it is then that God will have a place set aside for the remnant of his people to deliver his remnant.

All around us today we see that the perilous times have come that the Lord promised we would see, we may look then with the most perfect assurance, for the fulfilment of all those things that have been written, and with more confidence than ever before. As saints of the most high God we can see that everything is being fulfilled; and that the time shall soon come when the Son of man shall come and stand in all righteousness upon the Mount of Olives and ushers in His kingdom. Our hearts do not shrink, neither our spirits break with the yoke of these terrible times, neither do they think of breaking with the things that are sure to come to fulfil the revelations of the Lord.

My dear brothers and sisters I think that it must be deeply impressed upon our minds that we should take hold of every opportunity, and should make every preparation that is within our power to make to be ready for the terrible storms that are now growing and gathering upon the earth. We must be aware that the Angels in the court of the Father have gathered and have been entrusted with these matters for the end of days; they have taken counsel together and have been instructed of the Father that the time is now upon the inhabitants of the earth to prove themselves.

My friends it is the time to seek out the Lord and take hold of His ever trusting arm. We know what we have been commanded to do and soon the time of the gentiles will be brought in and the time will come when we shall be called out from amongst Babylon. I pray that we may be ready when called. But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! For these people are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Preach the Word of God unto all men, I ask you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom:,Preach the word unto all people! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all long suffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. In doing this i say to you all that the Lord will preserve his people and feed them.

I ask in the name of Jesus Christ the almighty God that we may be like unto the people of Zion yes even the same people that were taken unto heaven form the earth because they were to righteous. I ask and pray these things in Jesus name. Amen