"Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost..."

"Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do." 2 Nephi Chapter 14/1830 (32:3/Utah version)

Reading: "And we talk of Christ..." (2 Nephi 11/1830)

"And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins."

- 2 Nephi Chapter 11/1830 (25:26/Utah)

Be a Truth Seeker!

A Sermon of the Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ

2 Sept. 2012

As Latter Day Mormons in The Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ, we believe that man has been sent to this earth to obtain knowledge of truth and to learn to live in accordance with truth and God’s law. By doing this, he increases in intelligence and understanding of the things of God and fulfills the measure of his mortal creation. Indeed, the fact that man is here in mortality signifies that he accepted the Author of truth. Had he, in his pre-mortal state, followed the devil, the father of lies, he would have forfeited the right to come to this earth as a mortal being.

Very sadly too often today in this world of lies, fundamental truths of the Gospel are set aside for the wicked and corrupt ideas of men, which are conveniently wrapped up in attractive attire and seek to lead good men away from the truth. All Ideas, no matter how sophisticated their claims or how beautifully they are presented, should be measured against the principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. There is no other standard by which we can distinguish the truths by which we should live.

To Latter Day Mormons, basic to an understanding of the things of God is a comprehension of the meaning of truth. In the early days of the restoration of the early church, the Lord revealed the definition of truth to the saints and indeed to the world and provided the key to man’s search for the knowledge of truth. The Lord declared, “And truth is knowledge of things as they are, and as they were, and as they are to come; and whatsoever is more or less than this is the spirit of that wicked one was a liar from the beginning. The Spirit of God is truth” (D&C 93:24-26). The fact that the Spirit of truth is of God requires that we search for and proclaim truth in the light of revelations of God.

We proclaim that the pursuit of truth and knowledge has always been encouraged by God and his servants, and that pursuit is still alive today for Latter Day Mormons just as it was in the early days of the restored church. In the days of the early church the Saints were admonished to learn all things, as stated in Doctrine and Covenants 88:77-79. The early saints just as the saints today were also encouraged to diligently teach the truth to one another. Let it be understood that men should pursue the knowledge of the world and participate in experiments to advance that knowledge, but they should have the gospel of Jesus Christ as their constant frame of reference at all times.

One of the main purposes for the existence of The Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ in this dispensation is to proclaim the truth. Jesus Christ was, from the beginning, appointed to aid men in their search for truth. The Prophet Joseph Smith, through revelation, learned that Jesus Christ is the light of truth, which lights aids men in comprehending the works and glories of God (D&C 88:6-13). Let us not forget that it is Christ that is the source of the light of truth and we are his instruments in extending that truth to others so that they might understand that same fact for themselves. When men examine the statement, “The Glory of God is intelligence, or in other words, light and truth” (D&C 93:36), they are compelled to conclude that to know light and to know truth one must know and recognise Jesus Christ, for he is “the light of truth” (D&C 88:6).

The Lord has encouraged us as his followers to ponder and to be still and to take time to listen to the still small voice and it is for this reason that meditation and prayer are fundamental to Latter Day Mormons because it is during those still quite times that our minds are uncluttered form worldly problems and our minds are open and in search of the truth and in that search we are more open to the spirit of truth that allows us to approach the Saviour who is the guardian of truth. For Latter Day Mormons, truth must be sought and identified, and we must keep in mind that the fundamental truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ should be our constant frame of reference; we should measure the validity of any teaching against the principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

By applying the tools of the gospel of truth, we increase our love of truth and our desire to further our knowledge and understanding of truth. As Latter Day Mormons, we must remember that searching for and obeying truth prepares us for our eternal inheritance with our Father in Heaven and with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. It is because of this that we seek after the truth and guard it with love and care.

Reading: "I am he who will bleed for you at my first coming." Bk of Jeraneck 5:14-19

"And so it was that as Sharaneck was about to tell the people what Lord had blessed him with, the Heavens opened.  And out of the Heavens there came a man unlike any man they had seen before. And he stood in the midst of them and said, “I am he who will bleed for you at my first coming.   I am he who will be born to a virgin pure and clean.  I am he who is the only begotten of the Father.  I am he whom your Prophets testify of. I am the Saviour, the very Christ."

Book of Jeraneck 5:14-19

Reading: "to declare repentance unto this people" (D&C 41:6/16:13 Utah)

"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. Amen."

D&C 41:6 (16:3/Utah)

Reading: D&C 48:3 "For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart"

"For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads." D&C 48:3 (25:12/Utah

Reading: D&C 18:9 "Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven"

"Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more. By this ye may know if a man repenteth of his sins — behold, he will confess them and forsake them." D&C 18:9 (58:42-43/Utah)

"Speaking the Lord’s name with reverence"

"Speaking the Lord’s name with reverence must simply be part of our lives as members of the church. 

For example, we as Latter Day Mormons do not smoke. We do not drink. We do not use tea or coffee. By the same token, we do not use foul or abusive language. We do not curse or defame. We do not use the Lord's name in vain. It is not that difficult to become perfect in avoiding the swearing habit, for if we lock our mouths against all use of swear words then we are en route to perfection in that matter. However it must be remembered that our responsibility does not end there. That would merely be to refrain from committing sin. 

To perform righteousness, we must speak our Lord’s name with reverence and holiness in our prayers and our studying and in our discussions; we must walk uprightly before God and in doing so we will learn to only use his sacred name in holiness and sanctity." 

- The Prophet Matthew P. Gill, "Sacredness in the Names of Deity," A Sermon of The Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ, 19 August 2012

Reading: Moroni 5: “"For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man..."

“For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God. But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after this manner doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one; neither do his angels; neither do they who subject themselves unto him.” Moroni Chapter 5 (7:16-17 Utah) 

Reading: Jeraneck 17:6-7 "And I have told the people all the days of my life to repent..."

“And I have told the people all the days of my life to repent and come unto the Christ, the Almighty One, the Lord of Heaven. I have seen his birth and I have seen the power and glory of the Almighty Jesus and he shall come in glory and he shall walk among the children of men” Book of Jeraneck 17:6-7

Reading: Mormon Ch. 4 - “Condemn me not because of mine imperfection..."

“Condemn me not because of mine imperfection; neither my father, because of his imperfection; neither them which have written before him, but rather give thanks unto God that he hath made manifest unto you our imperfections, that ye may learn to be more wise than that which we have been.” Mormon Ch. 4 (9:31/Utah)

Reading: Moroni 7 "For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man"

“For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God. But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after this manner doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one; neither do his angels; neither do they who subject themselves unto him.” Moroni Chapter 7 (7:16-17/Utah)

Reading: "And if you keep my commandments..." (D&C 39:3/1835)

“And, if you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God.” D&C 39:3 (14:7/Utah)

Reading: "For you have brought together my people" Jeraneck 9:22-24

“While on their journey to the lands of the south and the city of the People of Light, Misamaneck prayed unto the Lord that the people might be glad to be joined with the People of Ridnon and Limndon and he cried unto the Lord and the Lord spoke unto him from heaven saying, “The work that you have done and your brothers have done is great in my sight and it has pleased me greatly. It has been the greatest work that has been done on the face of the earth.  For you have brought together my people, and my people are now one, but behold a time will come when a great calamity will befall your people because of their pride and it is your responsibility along with your brothers to preach unto the people against pride, for it is of the evil one and not of me. Now go my faithful servant, you have served me well.” 

- Book of Jeraneck 9:22-24

Reading: "I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance.." Alma Ch. 16 (1830)

"For behold, this life is the  time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is  the day for men to perform their labors. And now, as I said unto you  before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you  that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end;  for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity,  behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh  the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed. Ye cannot  say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis, that I will repent, that  I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit  which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life,  that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal  world." -- Alma Ch. 16 (34:32-34/Utah)

Pray to God Without Ceasing - excerpt from a sermon by Matthew P. Gill

"In these Latter days, much troubles us. Whether it is unending economic upheavals which threaten to upend our entire lives, close personal and familial relationships that teeter always on the brink of fracture, or work stresses that threaten to take the joy out of our chosen professions, we know these are all opportunities for prayer.

When we pray to God without ceasing, and listen to His prophets intently, we will learn God’s will.

Let us do as God commands."


- From a sermon by Matthew P. Gill, July 1, 2012

Reading: 2 Nephi 14/1830 "I perceive that ye ponder still in your hearts; and it grieveth me..."

“And now, my beloved brethren, I perceive that ye ponder still in your hearts; and it grieveth me that I must speak concerning this thing. For if ye would hearken unto the Spirit which teacheth a man to pray ye would know that ye must pray; for the evil spirit teacheth not a man to pray, but teacheth him that he must not pray. But behold, I say unto you that ye must pray always, and not faint; that ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul.” 2 Nephi  Chapter 14 (32:8-9 Utah) 

Humility is the Key - excerpt from sermon by Matthew P. Gill

"If we are to achieve humility, we should give cultivating humility a high priority. We must realise our dependence on the Lord to acquire humility. This requires constant effort, but it is made easier by constant, meaningful worshipful, and grateful prayer. 

If we are to pray meaningfully then we must know the true character of God, let us not forget that we have been commanded to know God, to know his character as well as we know our own. Prayer leads us to salvation and beyond, but ignorance is a deterrent to the goal of knowing God. 

It is our duty as sons and daughters of God to build within ourselves that message and purify and build our minds and bodies in a godlike way through continued use of prayer."

- Matthew P. Gill, Prophet, Seer and Revelator of the Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ, from a sermon, "Humility the Key to Spiritual Progress," given 17 June, 2012

Reading: D&C 36:1 (10:5/U) "Pray always..."

“Pray always, that you may come off conqueror; yea, that you may conquer Satan, and that you may escape the hands of the servants of Satan that do uphold his work.” D&C 36:1 (10:5/Utah)

Reading: Alma Ch. 6 (8:30-32/U) "they could not be confined in dungeons"

“And it came to pass that Alma went forth, and also Amulek, among the people, to declare the words of God unto them; and they were filled with the Holy Ghost; and they had power given unto them, insomuch that they could not be confined in dungeons; neither were it possible that any man could slay them; nevertheless they did not exercise their power until they were bound in bands and cast into prison. Now this was done that the Lord might show forth his power in them.  And it came to pass that they went forth and began to preach and to prophesy unto the people, according to the spirit and power which the Lord had given them.” Alma Chapter 6 (8:30-32/Utah)