Sermon: Our Duty To The Book of Jeraneck

Brothers and sisters, I would like to speak about one of the most significant gifts given to the world in modern times. The gift I am thinking of is more important than any invention that has come out of this wonderful industrial and technological age. This is a gift of the greatest value to mankind than even the wonderful advances we have seen in modern medicine. It is of greater worth and value to mankind than the development of flight or even space travel. The gift I am speaking of is the gift of the Book of Jeraneck, given to mankind just nine short years ago. This gift was prepared by the hand of the Lord, then taken up by Him so that it would be preserved in its purity for our generation. Perhaps there is nothing that testifies more clearly of the importance of this modern book of scripture than what the Lord Himself has said about it. By His own mouth He has borne witness that it is true, that it contains the truth and His words, that has been translated by power from on high. The Book of Jeraneck contains a fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It was given by inspiration and confirmed by the ministering of angels, it gives evidence that the holy scriptures are true, and that those who receive it in faith shall receive eternal life.

 

The coming forth of the Book of Jeraneck came just aas the church and the new restoration was young. It was published to the world in 2007 and the church was given for the first time the records of a people who lived anciently in Britain, the Book of Jeraneck to read. This great book was given before many the new revelations outlining the complete doctrines of God. Doesn’t this tell us something about how the Lord views this sacred work? Once we realise how the Lord feels about this book, it should not surprise us that He also gives us solemn warnings about how we receive it. After indicating that those who receive the Book of Jeraneck with faith, righteousness, and a will to receive it, the Lord follows with this warning, “But those who harden their hearts in unbelief, and reject it, it shall turn to their own condemnation”.

 

The Lord has repeatedly warned us that we are not to treat this gift lightly but to embrace it and read it continually. Surely the Book of Jeraneck is a sacred thing, yet still today many have left it unread, in other words, they take it lightly, treat it as though it is of little importance. As a result of this attitude, those who do not read it have their minds darkened. they do not understand the greatness of this gift, or what it took to bring it forth. Not only by treating this sacred book lightly, they have a loss of light to themselves, because of this we as a church stand under condemnation, before God. Only faithful study and reading of this book can remove the condemnation and bring us closer to God. If we trifle with this record the record of Raynaeck that is to come will be held back until we are ready and until we have received the first. For we shall remain under this condemnation until we repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Jeraneck. Has the fact that we have had the Book of Jeraneck with us for nearly a decade now made it seem less significant to us today? Do we remember the new covenant, even the Book of Jeraneck? In the Bible we have the Old Testament and the New Testament. The word testament is the English meaning of a Greek word covenant. Is this what the Lord meant when He called the Book of Jeraneck his “new covenant”? It is indeed another  witness of Jesus Christ. If we remain under the rebuke of God for treating the Book of Jeraneck so lightly, how can we expect to be in receipt of greater light and knowledge? The Lord Himself bears testimony that the Book of Jeraneck is of eternal significance to our very souls. Can a small number of us continue to bring the whole Church under condemnation because we trifle with sacred things? What will we say at the Judgment when we stand before Him and meet His probing gaze if we are among those described as forgetting the new covenant that is The Book of Jeraneck? 

 

With this in mind let us embrace the new covenant that is The Book of Jeraneck and let us read and study the great material that has been given to us. many men died and sacrificed greatly to bring this to us, we owe them and ourselves to read it an to embrace it in our lives as Latter Day Mormons. If we continue down the rod that we are on then I have no words of comfort to give and the sacred words that have already been translated by the Elders of the church in recent weeks will be withheld form us until we have done our duty to the first.

 

I testify as the man who translated The Book of Jeraneck that it is a record which testifies of God that it does give us knowledge of a gripe of lost people who believed and loves God and wanted to serve him. If we will only open our hearts and read it words we will see that it brings us closer to god in all things. This testimony I leave with you hoping that it will not fall on deaf ears.

 

In The Name of Jesus Christ Amen.

Prophet Matthew P. Gill

Sermon: Tithing & Donations

I would like to direct my remarks to today to every tithe payer. What I have to say is applicable to all of us. It must be understood that God has held back the angels of destruction for many years, lest they should reap down the wheat with the tares. Today I want to tell you that those angels have left the portals of heaven, and they stand over this people and this nation now, and are hovering over the earth waiting to pour out the judgments of God. We all know that calamities and troubles are increasing in the earth, and there is a meaning to these things. My beloved brothers and sisters, in view of this revealed knowledge and understanding which the Lord has given concerning what is transpiring about us, is it not a glorious thing to have the assurance that if we will be obedient to the laws of God in particular the law of tithing, these destroying angels will pass us by, as they did the children of Israel, and not slay us.

 

The promised blessings for obedience to the law of tithing are innumerable and it is important that we stick to them rigidly. The Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ has been admonished to tithe a tenth of its surplus annually. This direction came down from the Lord in 1838 to the prophet Joseph Smith and so has come down to us today as a standing law unto the church. See Doctrine and Covernants section 119.

 

The prophet has stressed many times that there needs to be recognised amongst the church a difference between a tithe and a donation. The standing law of the church is that our tithing is to be paid annually and is to be a tenth of our interest or surplus, however a donation can be paid at anytime and can be paid in any amount. The church will not accept donations as tithing because it is not a tenth nor is it given annually. A donation given to the church is just that, a donation and as soon as it hits the church bank account it belongs to the church and is the responsibility of the Presiding bishop of the church to see that it is used in accordance with the wishes of the Lord with council from the prophet where needed. Donations given to the church are at the discretion of its members and at the behest of the prophet, no mention of donations is ever made of in a tithing settlement, they are a voluntary act unlike tithing which is expected of the faithful.

 

Tithing is not voluntary in any sense it is expected of all those that serve God, it is a prerequisite of faith and the Lord God expects it to be paid. The amount is unimportant as the Lord stresses in scripture that he only expects a tenth of our surplus allowing us to deal with our lives and dependants first and the what is left belongs to God. God could not be clearer in what he expects and so we have a duty to do what we have been asked of by God, indeed all we have comes from God we are nothing without him we owe him everything and so a tenth of our surplus no matter how small our large is essential in proving our worth unto God.

 

As a church we are firm believers that the Lord opens up the windows of heaven when we do our duty financially and pours out blessings upon us of a spiritual nature, which are of far greater value than temporal things. But I believe He also gives us blessings of a temporal nature as well. In closing let it be clear that without donations the church stands still. Donations should not be given as a status symbol, but given freely to the church and left to the church to use at is discretion. There should be no under the table deals or prerequisites attached to donations or else it becomes sordid and dirty and stops being for the Lord. Tithing is our duty and proves to the lord that we honour his laws and honour his commands.

 

So Let us go forward with renewed vigour to tithe and donate as a people given to God.

 

In The Name of Jesus Christ. Amen

Elder Paul Barber

Presiding Bishop

Sermon: The Measure of Life

The population of the world differ widely in wealth and understanding often by life chances – some have intellectual talents, popular personalities, riches, education, or physical attributes that make them shine whilst others are laboured by extreme poverty, bodily limitations low academic attainment, or other handicaps. The extremes both bad or good of our circumstances of birth, cannot be explained. We just don’t know enough about all the various facets. However we do know as church members we  benefit from some basic, eternal principles that effect everyone.

 

First, we are extremely fortunate, as members in having access to the most expanded gospel of any Christian church. Book of Mormon, Book of Jeraneck, Inspired version of the Bible, and Doctrine and Covenants. 'all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ my Lord' (philip3:8) In worldly terms the gulf between poor and rich is in some cases vast however, in gospel terms all who embrace the gospel are rich above measure.

 

Second, the gospel teaches us that mortality is not the nadir of our of our existence but the gaining of a true understanding of us being literal, intelligent spirit children of pre-mortal heavenly parents. Our pre-mortal life definitely was a catalyst for the traits we now show it also has something to do with our religious opportunities here. (Alma13:2-11) Third, God our heavenly father directs the time and to those conditions we are born (Acts17:24-27).

 

Regarding Gods purpose here Nephi observed 'the Lord loveth  the world and doeth nothing save it be for the benefit of the world'  Joseph Smith received incite in this when he prayed about circumstances in Liberty jail: 'Know thou, my son, that all  these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good' In the grand scheme of things our earthly conditions probably mean little other than obtaining a body however our creators input into our spirit is crucial.

 

Thirdly, our time of birth and conditions are directed by God (Acts 17:24-27) these are no accident it is all planned. Finally a basic principle to understand is that we should not envy others who appear to have an easier lot in life. What are perceived as advantages such as riches, fame, or influence, may be a severe trial. If not balanced correctly these things can be the cause of spiritual death. On the other hand trials and persecution can be blessings to those who have them. having to exercise faith in spiritual matters just to survive. Mortal life is nothing to what is ahead of us.

 

In glory of our eternal life and In The Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Elder Phil Gill

Sermon: Godly Wisdom

The proper use of Godly wisdom is a gift of the spirit. As our Father in heaven seeks for us to become like Him. By having a knowledge of Him. In The Gospel of John we read.

 

20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

21  He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. (John 14:20 - 21)

 

We read in Psalms in The Old Testament:-

 

10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever. (Psalms 111:10)

 

As we strive to apply wisdom in our lives we can begin by searching in the old testament. Moses said to the people at that time.

 

5  Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it.

6  Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. (Deuteronomy 4:5 - 6)

 

We have numerous examples of people who received revelation as to how they are to act in relation to their dealing, and actions towards their fellow men. One of the best explanations for understanding the wisdom of God, we can find in scripture, can be found is a father giving advice to his son. In the Book of Mormon we read the words of Alma to his son Helaman.

 

Preach unto them repentance, and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ; teach them to humble themselves and to be meek and lowly in heart; teach them to withstand every temptation of the devil, with their faith on the Lord Jesus Christ. 34  Teach them to never be weary of good works, but to be meek and lowly in heart; for such shall find rest to their souls.

35  O, remember, my son, and learn wisdom in thy youth; yea, learn in thy youth to keep the commandments of God.

36  Yea, and cry unto God for all thy support; yea, let all thy doings be unto the Lord, and whithersoever thou goest let it be in the Lord; yea, let all thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord; yea, let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord forever. (Alma 37:33 - 36) 

 

In closing Daniel had a sound understanding of the correct use of wisdom. Although nothing is known about his parents. He appears to have been of royal descent. (Dan. 1:3).  He was taken captive to Babylon, where he received the name Belteshazzar. Daniel and certain Hebrews are trained in the court of Nebuchadnezzar, they eat plain food and drink no wine, God gives them knowledge and wisdom beyond all others. (Daniel 1:Heading)

 

20  Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:

21  And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:

22  He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.

23  I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king's matter.

(Daniel 2:20 - 23)

 

I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

Apostle Elder Peter Barber

Sermon: EDEN IN MISSOURI

CHRISTIANS ON THE WHOLE WOUD BE CONFUSED IF THEY WERE TOLD OF EDEN IN MISSOURI. IN THE BIBLE (GENESIS) WE READ OF IT BEING NEAR THE TIGRIS AND EUPHRATES RIVERS WHICH AS WE SEE TODAY ARE NO WHERE NEAR MISSOURI. WE MUST UNDERSTAND THAT BEFORE THE FLOOD ALL THE LAND WAS TOGETHER SO THERE WAS NO MISSOURI OR MIDDLE EAST OR ETHIOPIA, NO NORTH, NO SOUTH, NO EAST OR WEST.

 

AS LATTER DAY MORMONS WE BELIEVE IN REVELATION BOTH ANCIENT AND MODERN. WE KNOW FOR A CERTAINTY THAT JOSEPH SMITH WAS AND STILL IS A CHOSEN VESSAL OF THE LORD GOD. JOSEPH DECLARED IN 1838 ON A TRIP TO MISSOURI TO BUY LAND FOR THE BUILDING OF ZION THE LOCATION OF ADAMONDI AHMAN OR THE VALLEY BROTHER ADAM FIRST GAVE PRAISE TO GOD AFTER LEAVING EDEN.

 

JOSEPH’S ACCOUNT STATES.  UPON HIS ARRIVAL AT LYMAN WIGHTS FERRY ON THE GRAND RIVER, HE WENT EXPLORING FOR LAND ON THE OPPOSITE BANK OF THE RIVER ON REACHING LAND IN DAVIES’S COUNTY HE SAID “THIS IS THE VALLEY OF GOD IN WHICH ADAM BLESSED HIS CHILDREN" HE DISCOVERED AN ALTER AND DECLARED “UPON THIS ALTER ADAM OFFERED UP HIS SACRIFICE TO GOD” HE THEN DECLARED IT ADAM ONDI AHMAN MEANING THE PLACE OR LAND OF GOD WHERE ADAM DWELT.

 

THREE YEARS PRIOR TO THE DEATH OF ADAM HE CALLED HE CALLED, SETH, ENOS, CAINAN, MAHLEEL, JARED, ENOCH AND METHUSELAH, AND OTHER RIGHTEOUS FAMILY MEMBERS AND BESTOWED UPON THEM HIS LAST BLESSING. D&C 107 VERSE 28 (1835 EDITION).

 

FROM JOSEPH SMITHS DIARIES WE READ THAT JOSEPH TAUGHT “AT THE GREAT GATHERING ADAM OFFERED SACRIFICES ON AN ALTER BUILT BY HIM FOR THIS PURPOSE". A REMNANT OF THAT VERY ALTER REMAINED ON THE SPOT DOWN THROUGH THE AGES. ON MAY 1838 THAT HE AND A NUMBER OF ASSOCIATES STOOD ON THE VERY PLOT AND STATED THAT ADAM WOULD ONCE AGAIN VISIT THE VALLEY OF ADAM ONDI AHMAN, HOLDING A GREAT COUNSEL AS A PRECURSER TO THE GREAT AND DREADFUL DAY OF THE LORD.  MORMON DOCTRINE PAGE 21.

 

JOSEPH KNEW THAT LEADING THE CHURCH AND ITS MEMBERS WAS A DEMANDING TASK. THE LORD EXPECTED A SETTLEMENT AND A TEMPLE TO BE BUILT NEAR TO ADAM ONDI AHMAN IN DAVIES’S COUNTY.  BECAUSE OF THE FAILING FAITH OF MANY SAINTS AND THE EVENTUAL BETRAYAL OF THE PROPHET JOSEPH BY SUCH AS BRIGHAM YOUNG WHO BETRAYED HIM AND ESTABLISHED SECRET POLYGAMIST ENCLAVES. THE TEMPLE IN ZION WAS NEVER BUILT.

 

EVEN TODAY THE ROBBER BARONS OF THE LDS UTAH CHURCH ARE STILL DEFILING THE GREAT WORK JOSEPH STARTED BY PROMOTING DOCTRINE CONTRARY TO THE TEACHINGS OF THE EARLY CHURCH. I APPEAL TO ALL SECTS OF MORMONISM INCLUDING THE GREAT DEVIL, LDS UTAH SAINTS, TO LEAVE AND BECOME BAPTISED IN THE TRUE GOSPEL FOLLOW THE LEADERSHIP OF THE PROPHET MATTHEW GILL AND REPENT NOW.

 

FINALY LET ME SAY WE WILL SEE A TEMPLE BUILT IN ZION AND IT WILL BE SOON AND IT WILL BE GLORIOUS. I APPEAL TO THOSE WHO OWN THE LAND TO WORK WITH US TO THIS END.

 

IN GODS NAME. AMEN.

ELDER PHILIP A. GILL

Sermon: I'm As Mad As Hell

Today I wish to speak to you about the state of the world in which we live. Today we find ourselves trapped by circumstance, we are living a nightmare that is growing darker by the day, one in which we can not escape or so we think. The only way to escape this dark menacing nightmare is to put our trust and lives in the hands of God. However we are being told on a daily basis that there is no God that we are the masters of our own fate, that we have all the answers, That we know better than God what it means to be married or to love. We have put in motion events that are and will destroy human kind. We are so pumped up in our won importance that we even believe that we can find the very answers to the meaning of life by exerting our belief in science. The CERN project in Geneva is trying to look for the meaning of life, the beginning of all things, this we are told is our new God, it is the new God that we should all worship. CERN do not think twice about paying tribute to a false God in search of what they want they are relentless in their pursuit and damn anyone that gets in their way.

 

Today we are told that our children don't belong to us that they are the property of the state that we are only looking after them for a greater cause the cause of the state, we don't even have a say in how they are educated, we the parents are second class to the state. our children's religious education is something that the state want to relieve us off, because religion is foolish, don't you know that we don't need God? Today we know that the world in which we live in growing ever more wicked yet we sit and do nothing, as if it is so much out of control that we cant do a thing other than sit wide mouthed and head in hands and cry why, why? God is the only way, God and obedience to the  laws of God are our only way out of this mess. Times are hard and they are going to get harder. The planet is groaning out in pain, rivers run red, fish and whales are dyeing in great numbers every month, the weather is becoming unstable and in many parts of the world not a month goes by without storms, hurricanes and earthquakes, but still we are told not to look to god but rather to look to science.  War in Europe is coming, don't believe me? open your eyes, just look at Russia and the Ukraine, look at Greece with its teetering economy and the rest of the Mediterranean countries just teetering on the brink of civil unrest and economic collapse. Russia and China doing joint military manoeuvres in the back yard of NATO, NATO doing the same, the U.S moving heavy weapons in to eastern Europe and still the ever growing flood of migrants form Africa and the Middle East keep poring in to Europe on a daily basis inflaming national fervour and bring the region in to unrest. War in the middle east is fulfilling Bible prophecy with the collapse of Syria and Iraq and the rise of ISIS and fundamentalist Islam. We see the fall of society every time we sit and plug ourselves in to the television and still we turn it on, still we believe what comes across the television. Less than three percent of the people of this country read books! Less than fifteen percent of them read newspapers! The only truth they know is what they get over the T.V. Right now, there is a whole, an entire generation that never knew anything that didn't come from across the T.V! This one eyed God is the Gospel, the ultimate revelation. This one eyed God spoken about in scriptures can make or break presidents, popes, prime ministers... This God is the most awesome God-damned force in the whole godless world, and woe unto us for this invention that could have saved the world has now fallen in to the hands of the wrong people, indeed it now sits in the hands of powerful corrupt groups and companies with vested interest. So please listen to me. Television is not the truth! Television is a God-damned amusement park! Television is a circus, a carnival, a travelling troupe of acrobats, storytellers, dancers, singers, jugglers, side-show freaks, lion tamers, and football players. The television people are in the boredom-killing business! they are in the sensationalising business the mind numbing business. If you want truth, Go to God! Go to your God! Go to your God through the scriptures, prayer and study, because that's the only place you're ever going to find any real truth. The television will never tell you the real truth it is controlled by big business and vested interests and they have their own evil agenda that they want to push, and that agenda is against God and all Hid laws. This agenda is palpable, its wickedness ever gowning, Godlessness, divorce, same sex marriage, homosexuality, deviousness, lies. These people will tell you anything you want to hear; they lie like hell. They tell you that, Sherlock Holmes or Poirot always gets the killer, or that nobody ever gets cancer at the Meldrew House or the Trotter house, and no matter how much trouble the hero is in, don't worry, just look at your watch; at the end of the hour he's going to win. They will tell you any rubbish you want to hear. They deal in illusions, none of it is true! But we sit there, day after day, night after night, all ages, colours, creeds, to many its all they know. People are beginning to believe the illusions that are being spun there. People are beginning to think that the T.V is reality, and that their own lives are unreal. They do whatever the one eyed God we call T.V tells them! They dress like the T.V, They eat like the T.V, They raise Their children like the T.V, they even think like the T.V! This is mass madness, maniacs! In God's name, have we forgotten that people are the real thing! T.V is the illusion! So I say turn off your television sets. Turn them off now. Turn them off right now. Turn them off and leave them off! Turn them off TURN THEM OFF, because no matter what we have been programmed to think you will not find truth on that thing you want find God on that thing you want find answers on that thing.

 

We all know how bad things are and how much more evil they will become, if you don't then your not looking hard enough. Have you been walking around with your eyes wide shut? we are in a world of hurt and no one has the answers! Let me read something to you from a popular cult Movie which sums up how I feel and how you should all feel :- "I don't have to tell you things are bad. Everybody knows things are bad. It's a depression. Everybody's out of work or scared of losing their job. The dollar buys a nickel's worth, banks are going bust, shopkeepers keep a gun under the counter. Punks are running wild in the street and there's nobody anywhere who seems to know what to do, and there's no end to it. We know the air is unfit to breathe and our food is unfit to eat, and we sit watching our TV's while some local newscaster tells us that today we had fifteen homicides and sixty-three violent crimes, as if that's the way it's supposed to be. We know things are bad - worse than bad. They're crazy. It's like everything everywhere is going crazy, so we don't go out anymore. We sit in the house, and slowly the world we are living in is getting smaller, and all we say is, 'Please, at least leave us alone in our living rooms. Let me have my toaster and my TV and my steel-belted radials and I won't say anything. Just leave us alone.' Well, I'm not gonna leave you alone. I want you to get mad! I don't want you to protest. I don't want you to riot - I don't want you to write to your congressman because I wouldn't know what to tell you to write. I don't know what to do about the depression and the inflation and the Russians and the crime in the street. All I know is that first you've got to get mad. You've got to say, 'I'm a HUMAN BEING, God damn it! My life has VALUE!' So I want you to get up now. I want all of you to get up out of your chairs. I want you to get up right now and go to the window. Open it, and stick your head out, and yell, 'I'M AS MAD AS HELL, AND I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS ANYMORE!' I want you to get up right now, sit up, go to your windows, open them and stick your head out and yell - 'I'm as mad as hell and I'm not going to take this anymore!' Things have got to change. But first, you've gotta get mad!... You've got to say, 'I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this anymore!' Then we'll figure out what to do about the depression and the inflation and the oil crisis. But first get up out of your chairs, open the window, stick your head out, and yell, and say it: "I'M AS MAD AS HELL, AND I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS ANYMORE!"

 

This statement form the movie Network says it all. I'm as mad as hell, and I'm nit going take it any more! leave us alone! leave our kids alone! leave our religion alone! We don't want your seedy morals and your waked out T.V, and your sick twisted sense of right and wrong. We don't want your overbearing government and your mind control drugs! We don't want your Id-chips and your constant interference and surveillance in to our lives, let us alone! We have our God and that will do. We know that we have a responsibility to prepare for the worse and we are doing just that, this people our church will not be caught out when the time comes, we will and always have been preparing for the cancer that is growing and threatening life and peace. Today let this church stand and proclaim to the world and to those that control it that we are as MAD AS HELL AND WERE NIT GONNA TAKE IT ANY MORE!!!!

 

In The Name of Jesus Christ Amen

Prophet Matthew P. Gill

General Assembly Sermons

Foundations of Righteousness
Prophet Matthew P. Gill

My beloved brothers and sisters, I am grateful, as always, to be with you and to be near you. General Assembly is always a glorious event. So much has happened in the life of the church since we last meet in General Assembly together, it seems to me that the Lord is lengthening our stride and fulfilling the blessing given to us so many years ago.

As the first Elder and Prophet of the church I am always mindful of the churches stance on matters of great important. It seems to me that we have been given a great blessing from God, the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. This blessing comes with great responsibility, it forces us to look deep within ourselves and to the standards that we profess to keep as a church and those that we hold up as a standard to the world. I stand here today as the first Elder and Prophet of the church and in doing so I wish to express to the world that the standards that we set are the standards the Lord God almighty wishes us to keep, and we will never betray those standards to fit in to a world growing ever more wicked by the day. I testify that the Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ will continue its opposition to error, falsehood, and immorality. The mission of this Church is to sound the message of salvation no matter what the world does. The first and foremost  mission of the church is to prepare our people for the coming of the Lord, a day soon to be at hand. As the world drifts further and further away from God and the eternal principles and standards that he sets such as virtue and honour, we can almost certainly expect opposition to the work of this Church. We may expect to see the time, as the Book of Jeraneck forecasts, that “When a people fall away from God they fall away forever, not for a little but for all time and I tell you these things so that you may take heed” (BOJ 18:93).

Now I speak today so that the church and the wider world may know that the stance we make as a church on morality may be firmly understood, for we declare firmly that it is not an outworn garment, faded, old-fashioned, and threadbare. We declare that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and his covenants and doctrines are immutable, and when the day comes and our sun grows cold and the stars in our heavens no longer shine, and the our world as we know it has passed away the law of chastity and morality will still be basic in God’s world and in the Lord’s church. God given values that seem old and meant for another time are upheld by this Church not because they are old, but rather because God has given them and through the ages they have proved to be right. I proclaim that they will always be the rule of this church.

So with this firmly in mind and having set the tone of this General Assembly I wish to speak to you today about two great evils that have crept their way in to the lives and homes of millions of people and have become the battle ground upon which many a soul has and is continuing to be fought over. Firstly I wish to address the unholy transgression of homosexuality. This great moral sin has rapidly grown amongst the nations of the earth and tolerance is giving it wider publicity. I wish to make it very clear today from this pulpit so that no misunderstanding is forth coming, the Lord condemns and forbids this practice with a vigour equal to his condemnation of adultery and other such sexual acts. let me be clear the Church will excommunicate as readily any unrepentant soul who is caught in the snare of this wicked and vile sin. If a person has such desires and tendencies, they should seek to overcomes them, the same as if he or she had the urge toward fornication or adultery, alcohol or nicotine. Let me be clear again in saying that the Lord condemns and forbids homosexuality in all its forms. It should be noted that we the Lords servants wish to express that, contrary to the belief and statements of many people, this sin, like fornication, is one that can be overcome and is one that can be forgiven, but again, this forgiveness can only be attained upon deep and abiding repentance, which means total abandonment and complete transformation of thought and act. The fact that many governments including our own and some churches and numerous corrupted individuals have tried to reduce such behaviour from criminal offence to personal privilege does not change the nature nor the seriousness of the practice in the eyes of God. Good men, wise men, God-fearing men everywhere still denounce the practice as being unworthy of sons and daughters of God, and The Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ which is Christ’s church, denounces the sin of homosexuality and condemns it and will continue to do so as long as men and women have bodies which can be defiled.

Let us remember that the works of the flesh are many, as given by Paul “… perilous times shall come" I ask you are they not already are upon us? "For men shall be lovers of their own selves, … Without natural affection … incontinent …” (IVB 2 Tim. 3:1–3), again we read “… with vile affections. for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another … inventors of evil things …” (IVB Rom. 1:26, 27, 30). Do we not know our scriptures? for do we not read “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” (IVB James 4:4.) These are just some of the ugly acts and activities that we call the world. These ugly transgressions Paul called “doctrines of devils,” and their authors “seducing spirits.” These distortions of the normal life have not changed and still prevail in the 21st century, except that they have grown more vile and permissive and vulgar and degenerate. Today I plead with our people everywhere, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (IVB James 4:7.) The Apostle Peter, who walked with Christ and taught in the greatest of evil cities in his lifetime cautioned us, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (IVB 1 Pet. 5:8).

Now my brothers and sisters we know that even the Saviour said that the very elect would be deceived by Lucifer. The prince of darkness and evil here on earth will use his logic to confuse and his rationalise this sin and many sins to destroy our chances of salvation. He will shade meanings, open doors an inch at a time, and lead from purest white through all the shades of grey to the darkest of blacks.  The world as far as we are concerned can have its norm, but the Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ has a different one. It may be considered normal by the people of the world to practice homosexuality, but the Church’s standard is on a higher plane where this act of immorality is not done. The world’s norm may permit men and to do all sorts of fornications, but the Lord’s church lifts its people to a norm of total obedience to the commandments of God. The world may countenance promiscuous, filthy, sexual experiences, but the Lord and his church condemn in no uncertain terms any and all homosexual relationships and condemn most severally the idea of same sex marriage. We will not and never will tolerate this behaviour. This heinous sin of homosexuality is a sin is of the ages. Many cities and civilizations have gone out of existence because of it. It was present in Israel’s wandering days in the wilderness, it was tolerated by the Greeks, and found in the baths of a corrupt and evil Rome, indeed it was even to be found in the Holy temple of God amongst the corrupt prophet Rendonaneck, until he was forcefully removed from his place by the church in the days of Jeraneck. I know that this is a very unpleasant subject to dwell upon, but I am pressed by the Lord continually to speak of it boldly to the church and the world so that no one in the church will ever have any question in his or her mind as to the illicit and diabolical nature of this perverse program of the Devil. Lucifer deceives and prompts logic and rationalisation which will destroy men and women and make them servants of Satan forever unless we seek first the kingdom of God the world will fall deeper in to a pit of sin and despair. Let us remember the words of Paul to Timothy, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears, And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be mined unto fables".

Today we find the sentiment of “God made me that way,” prevailing amongst the world, they rationalise and excuse themselves for their perversions. They say repeatedly “I can’t help it”. But I proclaim today that this is blasphemy. I ask you, is man not made in the image of God? does he think that God made him to be that way. No! man is responsible for his own sins. Continually men and women continue to rationalise and excuse themselves until the groove of their sin is so deep they believe that they cannot get out without great difficulty, but this can be done. The difference between the reprobate and the worthy person is generally that one yielded and the other resisted. It is true that one’s background may make the decision and accomplishment easier or more difficult, but if one is mentally alert, they can still control their future. That is the ultimate brilliance of the gospel message, personal responsibility. Now, my dear brothers and sisters, I have spoken firmly and frankly against the sin of homosexuality which stands as the biggest sin of the time in which we live. Even though I dislike such a subject, I believe it necessary to warn the church and the world against the onslaught of the sinful tide that is smashing against our homes and our families.

Now I wish to address the second great sin that has hold over the world and has prevailed upon our homes or schools and our media and has a very selfish evilness to it that it has escaped the notice of many that proclaim to teach the gospel of Christ. This sin that I talk of continues to take the lives of millions and millions of souls every year, it is the biggest holocaust in existence today this evil of which I speak is the practise of abortion. Abortion is a growing evil that we stand against firmly. Certainly the terrible sin of premeditated abortion is hard to justify. It is almost inconceivable that an abortion would ever be committed to save face or embarrassment, to save trouble or inconvenience, or to escape responsibility, but sadly this is the case that we find ourselves living in today. I ask how could anyone submit to such an operation or be party in any way by financing or encouraging this behaviour? If special rare cases could be justified, certainly they would be rare indeed. We place it high on the list of sins against which we strongly warn the people against. This is why as far as the church are concerned abortion must be considered one of the most revolting and sinful practices that is prevailing today. This Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ opposes abortion and we counsel all our friends and members not to submit to or participate in any abortion, in any way, whether it be for convenience or to hide sins. Abortion is one of the most revolting practices being engaged in this day, when we are witnessing a frightening evidence of permissiveness leading to sexual immorality. The world in all its evil and sinful glory has legalised abortion, therefore seeking to remove from this heinous crime the stigma of sin, I proclaim this is wrong and is not of God. We do not hesitate in telling the world that the cure for these evils is not and never will be surrender. Let  us emphasise that right and wrong, righteousness and sin, are not dependent upon man’s interpretations and attitudes. Social acceptance does not change the status of an act, making wrong into right. If all the people in the world were to accept homosexuality, and abortion the practice in the sight of God would still be sin. We therefore as a church and as a latter day Mormon community take the solemn view that any tampering with the fountain of life is serious, morally, mentally, psychologically, and physically. To interfere with any of the processes in the procreation of offspring is to violate one of the most sacred of God’s commandments, to “multiply, and replenish the earth.” (Gen. 1:28.)

According to the Bible, all human beings are made in God’s image (Genesis 1:27) and therefore all life is precious. Psalm 139:13–14 says, “For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” And in Jeremiah 1:4-5 we read, “Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you." I ask can science give us the answer as to when we are fully human, No, science has given us wonderful information about the development of the foetus, the biochemistry, the physiology, the anatomy, unfortunately the question, when do we become human can not be answered by the scientists, its only from God's word that we truly understand that we are fully human from the time of fertilisation. It is because of this sacredness for life that we  decry abortions and ask our people to refrain from this serious transgression. For we hold all life in sacred reverence and knowing that all life comes from God. Once again The Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ vigorously opposes abortion and states that any of its members that have been guilty of being parties to the sin of abortion must be subjected to the disciplinary action of the councils of the Church.

In closing let me remind each and everyone of us what the Lord said in the 59th section of the Doctrine & Covenants of the church "Thou shalt not steal; neither commit adultery, nor kill, nor do anything like unto it." With these words in mind having no others to equal there power or veracity I thank you for your attention and seriousness concerning these matters. I pray that the Lord, our Saviour will shine down his love upon you and send his Holy spirit to bare witness of the words that I have spoken this day. Let us call upon our deep reservoirs of faith, so that when the world presses in upon us, we stand firm and strong in our beliefs and principles, when the temptations of a decaying and, increasingly permissive and wicked world about us draw on our energies, sap our spiritual vitality, and seek to pull us down, we need to call upon those reservoirs of faith that can carry us over  the difficult, the terrifying moments and years of adversity. Before I conclude my remarks today, I state again so that I am never accused before the Lord of not calling the world to repentance. In this time of great immorality the likes of which have not been seen since the days of Sodom and Gomorrah we should be made aware of the Lord’s concern about immorality and the seriousness of the sexual sins of the kind I have spoken of today and I call the world to repentance this day in the name of the Lord. I proclaim with the authority given me by God that he will not be mocked. His laws are immutable. True repentance is rewarded by forgiveness, but sin brings the sting of death. I know this is the Lords eternal programme and I know that we can go forward to victory after victory in his holy name. May he help us live his laws and achieve eternal salvation with the father.
In Jesus Christ Name. Amen.

 

Marriage

Elder & Presiding Bishop Paul Barber

 

Hello Brothers and Sisters both here and to you all joining us over the internet. I'm very grateful to you all for taking the time to exercise your faith and I Know that everyone of us will be touched at some point during this Assembly to feel the spirit. I pray that the Father will use the Holy Ghost this day to help us recognize and build each of our testimony's of the truths that we have and will hear this day.

With the world moving so fast and its ever changing levels of acceptance and tolerance to the different trends of people and there life styles, I would like to take this opportunity to address you all about just how important Marriage is to the Lord and what is acceptable to Him. We have listened to the prophet’s voice in this conference. I know that we will go back to our fields of labour strengthened in our faith and with a greater desire to help build his kingdom, and prepare the way for the coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Now there is another beautiful tenet of the Church today that I would like to mention a few words about, and that is our belief in the eternal duration of the marriage covenant and the family unit. It seems incredible that, as plainly as that principle is taught in the holy scriptures, we should be the only church that so believes. Today the major Christian churches of the world still do not believe in the eternal duration of the marriage covenant and the family unit. They indicate that marriage is and remains “until death do you part,” which in substance is a bill of divorcement. If it is to last only until death parts us, then what are we going to do from that time on? Where are the ties that bind us together, all of that just to be parted when death comes along? For The Latter Day Church we believe that marriage is eternal and is sanctified by God and is therefore a sacred agreement.

Thinking upon this sacredness of marriage my mind is turned to how this wonderful institution is being destroyed by the evil of mans hearts and the ever probing spirit that is Satan. Satan has worked overtime on the intuition of marriage. First he tried to destroy it by making divorce an easy option for struggling families, then he works on the hearts of those in government to marginalise the intuition of marriage and when he found that was not being so effective he moved on to the interpretation of marriage, and worked on those less in tune spirits to cause a movement to come forth to destroy it. Today I am sad to say that the sacred institution of marriage is under attack, it is under attack by our own government and even by churches that profess to worship the most high God. the attack is relentless, it comes on regardless of who it hurts and the casualties are the minds of our young people and those who stand for righteousness. Today we have been told that marriage can be between two men and two women, as long as they love each other why not? Firstly they do not understand the meaning of the word love which in itself is a very deep and sacred thing and because of the perversions of man in our sinful state we have taken it upon ourselves to answer the questions that God has already given us in his holy scripter's. To often has the world left the safety and security of the scripter's and now finds itself living sinful blasphemous marriages and behaviour.

However the Lord has set forth his law and we The Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ have been sent to proclaim it. We state here and now that marriage is between a man and a women only! and it has been so since the foundation of the world and so it shall remain for us. The scriptures are clear on this matter and they should be the foundation for argument for anyone who lives according to there teachings. The statement made by the Lord when Adam was placed in the garden. He said that “it was not good that the man should be alone;” and he made a help meet for him, and he said “they shall be one flesh,” (IVB), not two halves but one flesh, because he couldn’t have peopled this earth without the man and the woman, and it took two to make a complete person. This is what Paul meant when he said, “… as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” (1 Cor. 15:22.) If it wasn’t good to be without a wife before the fall, it certainly won’t be good to be without a companion after the resurrection, and anyone who repudiates that actually repudiates the great atonement, because in that event the Saviour would only have atoned in part for the loss that came through the fall of Adam and Eve. These are great eternal truths that the Lord understood, and so the Saviour said, “For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” (Mark 10:7–9.) It couldn’t be written much plainer than that, could it? What did he really mean when he said that they should be one flesh and never be put asunder if it wasn’t that the marriage tie should project itself beyond the grave? Paul said, “… neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.” (1 Cor. 11:11.)

It is my purpose today with the blessing of the prophet to endorse and to favour, to encourage and defend marriage between man and women. Many regard it nowadays as being, at best, semiprecious, and by some it is thought to be worth nothing at all. I have seen and heard, as you have seen and heard, the signals all about us, carefully orchestrated to convince us that marriage is out of date and in the way, that it is something that we can reinterpret to make our sinful lives more comfortable. There is a practice, now quite prevalent, for same sex couples to live together and even marry, I proclaim that this is a counterfeit of marriage. They suppose that they shall have all that marriage can offer without the obligations connected with it. They are wrong! in perverting the everlasting law of marriage between man and women they lose virtue, self-esteem, and refinement of character, if they have not been lost already. We can not continue to  degrade marriage as we are doing without tarnishing other words as well, such words as boy, girl, manhood, womanhood, husband, wife, father, mother, baby, children, family, home. I counsel  anyone who has been tempted of the devil to enter in to such a relationship, leave! Withdraw from it! Run away from it! Do not continue with it! Or, for in the eyes of God you can not and never will be able to make a marriage out of it. God does not love the sin that you are involved in and he condemns the steps that have been taken to help aid and abet this behaviour. Our very nation is in real danger of testing the patience of God. We have seen his presence draw further away from our land leaving it in darkness as in the days of Jeraneck.

Now a word of warning. One who destroys the institution of marriage takes upon himself a very great responsibility indeed. Marriage is sacred! To wilfully destroy marriage, is to offend our God. Such a thing will not be lightly considered in the judgments of the Almighty and in the eternal scheme of things will not easily be forgiven. God Himself has decreed that the physical expression of love, that union of male and female which has power to generate life, is the only authorised institution, marriage is between man and women. We believe that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God.

Some say that the legalisation of  same-sex marriage as a question of civil right. This is not a matter of civil rights; it is a matter of morality. Some say that our right as a church to raise our voice on an this issue shows our lack of understanding of the world around us, but I say that it is critical and of such great importance  that we stand up for the rights of God and the rights of the institution of the future of the family. The Latter day Church of Jesus Christ believe that defending this sacred institution by working to preserve and encourage traditional marriage lies clearly within our religious remit. Indeed, we are compelled by our doctrine to speak out against same sex relationships, as the prophet has done today. I also wish to say that we will always stand in opposition to attempts to legalise same-sex marriage and the attempts to force them upon us. Our hearts reach out to those who refer to themselves as gays and lesbians. We love and honour them as sons and daughters of God but that is as far as our principles will allow us to go. We can not tolerate their life choice and we can not tolerate them being joined in marriage. They like all sinners are welcome to join us at Church, but it is expected that they follow the same God-given rules of conduct that apply to everyone else, whether single or married and those laws are laid down by the God of us all even our Eternal Father.

Finally in closing many governments and well-meaning individuals have redefined marriage, but i make it clear again in saying the Lord has not. From the very beginning, God initiated marriage between a man and a woman, Adam and Eve. He designated the purposes of marriage to go far beyond the personal satisfaction and fulfilment of adults to, more importantly, advancing the ideal setting for children to be born, reared, and nurtured. Families and marriage are the treasure of heaven. Why do we continue to talk about this? As Paul said, “We look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen." As Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ, we have the responsibility to teach our Creator’s plan for His children and to warn of the consequences of disregarding His commandments and this is why these subjects have been taught today and I make no excuse for doing so.

Brethren and sisters, I thank God for this great truth that has come to us through the gospel of God. That is only just a beginning. And to this congregation here today, and all that are listening in over the internet and those who will listen on video later. I bear you my witness. I know that it is the marvellous work and a wonder that our Father promised that if we respect the intuition of marriage that we shall be blessed. I am thankful that He speaks through this great prophet that he has sent to us, and I leave you my love and blessing and witness.
In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

Motherhood and Family Unity

Church Historian Sister Annette Barber

 

Good morning brothers and sisters.  It is a pleasure to speak to you for a few minutes today.  I have been asked to speak to you on Motherhood and Family Unity. In the book of Mormon 1st Nephi verse 1 we read “ I Nephi, having been born of goodly parents, therefore I was taught somewhat in all the learning of my father" Nephi says in all the learning of my father, indeed I think we can insert there and my mother. Also in the book of Mormon we have the story of the 2000 young men in Alma 26; 35-36 it reads “yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, that God would deliver them, and they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying, we do not doubt our mothers knew”.

 

So what are the things that we as mothers should be teaching our children. To live the gospel of Jesus Christ, and to love one another; to help each other. To be kind to each other.  We as sisters have been blessed with compassion. We take on the nurturing role and consequently do most of the teaching. We are there when the opportunity comes up most often to give the lesson. I was at the prophet’s house a few weeks ago and his youngest son Leif was messing with things that he should not have been touching, his mother had said to him not to mess with these things 3 times already, he proceeded to mess with things again and his mother tapped him on the hand and said “No”. At this point the prophet’s middle son Leo said “mummy you smacked Leif”. To which his mom said “No I did not smack Leif, I tapped his hand to say that he was not to mess with things”.  That to me was an excellent lesson for two little boys.

 

My husband and I have had the blessings of raising 8 children.  They did NOT come with instructions, sometimes we got things right, sometimes we got things wrong.  We did our best and if I say so myself. I think they turned out pretty good. In the book of Jaraneck chapter 1, verses 1-2 we read.  “I have been taught the gospel of the Christ and the almighty God by my father and mother. But it is from my mother that I have learnt a greater understanding of humility, respect and love and it is to her that I give thanks for the man I am today”. Wouldn’t it be nice if our children could say the same about us. We teach our children as best we can, it is not always easy when you have a number of people living together with different personalities.  But if we strive to keep the commandment, pray together, hold family home evenings, hopefully we can stay together. In the bible Proverbs 22; 6 says “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it”.

 

I leave these thoughts with you.

In the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

 

ADULTERY  AND  FORNICATION

Third Elder & Standing Apostle Peter C. Barber

 

From previous sermons we have learned that our Farther in Heaven is governed by eternal laws. He does not change. He is the same yesterday, today, forever. We can refer to these laws as His statues. The most serious violations of these laws can be found and contained in the Ten Commandments. We read in Exodus 20:7-17.

 

7  Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

 

8  Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.

 

9  Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:

 

10  But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:

 

11  For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.

 

12  Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

 

13  Thou shalt not kill.

 

14  Thou shalt not commit adultery.

 

15  Thou shalt not steal.

 

16  Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

 

17  Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.

 

The Lord is informing us that murder, and improper sexual involvement or practice are both unacceptable uses of the power of life, and are more serious than other sins except denial of the Holy Ghost. The penalty for adultery in the days of ancient Israel is found in Leviticus 20:10 where it says:- 'And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death'.

 

Again we read in the New Testament what the Lord has to say concerning these sins when we read 1 Corinthians 6:9 - 10 when it says: 'Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?  Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God'.

 

In the Book of Mormon Alma counsels his son Corianton about the sins of morality. We read in the book of Alma in chapter 39:1-12:- 'AND now, my son, I have somewhat more to say unto thee than what I said unto thy brother; for behold, have ye not observed the steadiness of thy brother, his faithfulness, and his diligence in keeping the commandments of God?  Behold, has he not set a good example for thee? For thou didst not give so much heed unto my words as did thy brother, among the people of the Zoramites.  Now this is what I have against thee; thou didst go on unto boasting in thy strength and thy wisdom. And this is not all, my son.  Thou didst do that which was grievous unto me; for thou didst forsake the ministry, and did go over into the land of Siron among the borders of the Lamanites, after the harlot Isabel. Yea, she did steal away the hearts of many; but this was no excuse for thee, my son.  Thou shouldst have tended to the ministry wherewith thou wast entrusted. Know ye not, my son, that these things are an abomination in the sight of the Lord; yea, most abominable above all sins save it be the shedding of innocent blood or denying the Holy Ghost? For behold, if ye deny the Holy Ghost when it once has had place in you, and ye know that ye deny it, behold, this is a sin which is unpardonable; yea, and whosoever murdereth against the light and knowledge of God, it is not easy for him to obtain forgiveness; yea, I say unto you, my son, that it is not easy for him to obtain a forgiveness. And now, my son, I would to God that ye had not been guilty of so great a crime.  I would not dwell upon your crimes, to harrow up your soul, if it were not for your good. But behold, ye cannot hide your crimes from God; and except ye repent they will stand as a testimony against you at the last day. Now my son, I would that ye should repent and forsake your sins, and go no more after the lusts of your eyes, but cross yourself in all these things; for except ye do this ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God.  Oh, remember, and take it upon you, and cross yourself in these things. And I command you to take it upon you to counsel with your elder brothers in your undertakings; for behold, thou art in thy youth, and ye stand in need to be nourished by your brothers.  And give heed to their counsel. Suffer not yourself to be led away by any vain or foolish thing; suffer not the devil to lead away your heart again after those wicked harlots.   Behold, O my son, how great iniquity ye brought upon the Zoramites; for when they saw your conduct they would not believe in my words. And now the Spirit of the Lord doth say unto me: Command thy children to do good, lest they lead away the hearts of many people to destruction; therefore I command you, my son, in the fear of God, that ye refrain from your iniquities'.

 

Today in this generation the Lord has informed us of the penalty for those who do not repent of these moral sins. In the Doctrine and Covenants in section 42:24 - 26 the Lord speaks to the church and counsels them concerning certain sins:- 'Thou shalt not commit adultery; and he that committeth adultery, and repenteth not, shall be cast out. But he that has committed adultery and repents with all his heart, and forsaketh it, and doeth it no more, thou shalt forgive; But if he doeth it again, he shall not be forgiven, but shall be cast out'.

 

In closing on this subject we can look to Paul the Apostle as he addressed the Ephesians on this very matter knowing how the sin of the people was great he counselled them saying in chapter 5:28 - 33) 'So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies.  He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband'.

 

As we increase in faith, respect, and love the laws that the gospel requires of all of us becomes easy for us to live. We become a more contented, and holy members of His church. Today here in this General Assembly we  grasp at the secure message spoken of by the Prophet, that God speaks today as he did anciently, through prophets like our very own. He is mindful of us, He loves us, He has restored his church and the fullness of his gospel built upon the solid foundation laid by the Prophet Joseph Smith. How the world needs a prophet to lead and guide it in these troubled times. I testify that we have such a prophet. He sits in front of me as I speak in this General Assembly. He sits as the First Elder of the Church and also as a Prophet, Seer, Revelator and Translator over The Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ, which stands as the Lord’s church and kingdom here on earth today. Now we know what is expected of us and my talk today is an example of what the Lord expects of us.

 

In The Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

 

Teaching the Gospel to Children

Second Elder & tanding Apostle Philip A. Gill 

 

The Lord has prompted us to teach the Gospel to our children in the home. He has said“inasmuch as parents have children in the church we are commanded to help them understand the doctrines of the gospel. Faith in Christ, Baptism, and the gift of the Holy Ghost. If  we fail in this regard the sin be upon the heads of the parents. And they shall also teach their children to pray and to walk uprightly before the Lord" . Parents should teach with kindness and love, remembering the apostle Paul’s counsel to and I quote “bring their children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4).

 

Families in our society present a serious yet interesting contrast. Generally families have material and social advantages as great as any generation as ever had. Most families have material goods and luxuries unknown to previous generations. Most have greater expectations for a longer life. Most families have unparalleled opportunities for education, leisure, entertainment and recreation. In this affluent society people might think that families would be happy and trouble free, However, as of 1999 marriages were more likely to end by divorce than by death. CRIME- The arrest rate among juveniles nearly tripled in the decades 2000 to 2010. Government dependence in 2008 more than one child in eight was raised on government welfare. Births to unmarried women in 2000 five times more children were born outside marriage than in 1960 just illustrating how far we have fallen than how far we have risen in modern times when it comes to family cohesion and togetherness, this is a sign that the Lord and religion has left the home and Satan has found a comfortable place to live.

 

What is the answer to this attack? Family scripture study. We should study the scriptures as a family. Parents should gather their children together at a regular time to study read and discuss the scriptures. Each family member who can read should have an opportunity to read the scriptures. Prayer also plays its part. Each of our children should be encouraged to pray vocally in private to their Father in Heaven, he loves us and wants to help all his children. Outward expressions of gratitude to our Father in Heaven should be encouraged, such as blessing the food and family prayers. Bedtime stories with children's participation is a good activity to be actively encouraged.

 

Children have a faith that is ready to go, all we need to adopt is a supportive and loving environment. We need to teach the gospel as a life plan not a series of unlinked morality plays. Churches have told children tons of good stories , but have we really told them the story. There’s this huge story with at its core four major parts, CREATION, FALL, REDEMPTION, AND RESTORATION. We teach these in the Latter Day Church. We hope you will too, for without them the family unit and the lives of our children will be left open to the buffetings of Satan and our children will have no basis to build a cohesive testimony that will carry them through to their adult lives. We have a living breathing prophet, Matthew Gill who talks and walks with the Saviour and he delivers deity’s messages to us. Let us tell our children of this great message that the Prophet has to share, let him be the example to us and our families.

 

Finally we must learn to play and have fun with our children, Family activities can, and do promote love and harmony. Children will be more willing to listen to a friend than a stranger so let us amalgamate the two. A child’s parent should try to be that child's best friend. "Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it". (Proverbs 22: 6 ). This great scripture says train up your children it doesn’t say leave them to their own devices. So as parents we have a duty to our children and we have a duty to love the, to enjoy them and also to train them in the ways of the Lord. let us make our latter Day homes places of love, friendship and service to our children.

 

Today my son stands at the head of the Lord church. He sits as a Prophet, Seer, Revelator and Translator. I would like to think that his mother and I played some part in his eventual call from God. I stand as a Father today proud that I serve my Son knowing that he received his gospel education from his Father and Mother and now he stands at the head of the church. In closing then, i know how important it is to teach children correct principles because for me it is an ever present presence in my life.

 

In The Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.