By Their Fruits and Nuts Ye Shall Know Them:
Matthew 7: 12-23:
12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
This really is Sound Doctrine.
What are the fruits of the Cult of the Firstborn and the LDS Apostates on LDS Freedom Forum?
Are they drawing people into membership and baptism into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or are they getting people excommunicated from the LDS Church?
Are they openly embracing and accepting the Latter-day Saints, or are they casting the Latter-day Saints and the LDS Prophets out of their midst?
The false prophets will persecute and cast out the Latter-day Saints. The false prophets will lead us away from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. These are the fruits of the Cult of the Firstborn and the fruits of the LDS Apostate Forum and many of its moderators.
--
I'm not the only one on the planet who has seen and experienced these things.
A Useful Link and Message:
http://fromthedeskofchicagoelder.blogspot.com/2013/07/open-letter-to-ldsff.html
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
Thursday, August 21, 2014
Keep Your Sacred Things Secret
Some questions have been asked, and this collection of quotes will provide some of the answers.
The idea of keeping our sacred things secret is something that the Latter-day Saints covenant to do during the reception of their Temple Endowment. For most of the Latter-day Saints, that's where this idea originally comes from.
This idea of keeping our most sacred experiences secret also comes from Third Nephi.
3 Nephi 19: 31-34:
31 And it came to pass that he (Jesus) went again a little way off and prayed unto the Father;
32 And tongue cannot speak the words which he prayed, neither can be written by man the words which he prayed.
33 And the multitude did hear and do bear record; and their hearts were open and they did understand in their hearts the words which he prayed.
34 Nevertheless, so great and marvelous were the words which he prayed that they cannot be written, neither can they be uttered by man.
They understood exactly what Jesus said, but His words were so sacred that these people knew by the power of the Holy Ghost that they should never write those words and never talk about those words.
The True Prophets of God are told by the Holy Ghost what they can speak about and what they should keep to themselves. It has been this way from the beginning of time.
3 Nephi 26: 9-12:
9 And when they shall have received this, which is expedient that they should have first, to try their faith, and if it shall so be that they shall believe these things then shall the greater things be made manifest unto them.
10 And if it so be that they will not believe these things, then shall the greater things be withheld from them, unto their condemnation.
11 Behold, I was about to write them, all which were engraven upon the plates of Nephi, but the Lord forbade it, saying: I will try the faith of my people.
12 Therefore I, Mormon, do write the things which have been commanded me of the Lord. And now I, Mormon, make an end of my sayings, and proceed to write the things which have been commanded me.
A True Prophet of God is always told what he is permitted to reveal to the public, and what he should keep to himself.
--
Notice Brigham Young's instruction regarding this important subject. Brigham Young had a direct influence upon the way that many of us view the Lord's will regarding the revelation of our sacred experiences to the public. For many Latter-day Saints, this is where this particular viewpoint came from.
Brigham Young, Discourses of Brigham Young, selected and arranged by John A. Widtsoe, p.126:
There is one idea entertained by the "Mormons" which is somewhat of a stumbling-block to the people, and apostates handle it to suit their purpose. It is, that we consider the Bible merely as a guide or fingerboard, pointing to a certain destination. This is a true doctrine, which we boldly advance. If you will follow the doctrines, and be guided by the precepts of that book, it will direct you where you may see as you are seen, where you may converse with Jesus Christ, have the visitation of angels, have dreams, visions, and revelations, and understand and know God for yourselves. Is it not a stay and a staff to you? Yes; it will prove to you that you are following in the footsteps of the ancients. You can see what they saw, understand what they enjoyed.
Question: Is Brigham Young testifying about himself and the special experiences he has had?
Answer: Not directly. Instead, he is testifying about the Bible revealing to us some of the possible fruits of the Bible.
--
Brigham Young, Discourses of Brigham Young, selected and arranged by John A. Widtsoe, p.68:
If true principles are revealed from heaven to men, and if there are angels, and there is a possibility of their communicating to the human family, always look for an opposite power, an evil power, to give manifestations also; look out for the counterfeit.
The Latter-Day Saints' Millennial Star, Volume 4:
Since the rise of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, many brilliant and splendid men have stood in connection with the work, where are they now, and what was the secret of their falling away? We answer unhesitatingly, they rejected counsel; they spurned at the authority of God imparted to his servant the prophet, or deemed themselves, like Satan, better qualified to do the work of the Lord than he whom the Father had chosen and appointed.
Brigham Young, Discourses of Brigham Young, selected and arranged by John A. Widtsoe, p.338:
Visions of a Personal Nature – I ask, Is there a reason for men and women being exposed more constantly and more powerfully, to the power of the enemy, by having visions than by not having them? There is and it is simply this – God never bestows upon his people, or upon an individual, superior blessings without a severe trial to prove them, to prove that individual, or that people, to see whether they will keep their covenants with him, and keep in remembrance what he has shown them. Then the greater the vision, the greater the display of the power of the enemy.
So when individuals are blessed with visions, revelations, and great manifestations, look out, then the Devil is nigh you, and you will be tempted in proportion to the visions, revelation, or manifestation you have received.
If the Lord Almighty should reveal to a High Priest, or to any other than the head, things that are true, or that have been and will be, and show to him the destiny of this people twenty-five years from now, or a new doctrine that will in five, ten, or twenty years hence become the doctrine of this Church and Kingdom, but which has not yet been revealed to this people, and reveal it to him by the same Spirit, the same messenger, the same voice, the same power that gave revelations to Joseph when he was living, it would be a blessing to that High Priest, or individual; but he must rarely divulge it to a second person on the face of the earth, until God reveals it through the proper source to become the property of the people at large. Therefore when you hear Elders say that God does not reveal through the President of the Church that which they know, and tell wonderful things, you may generally set it down as a God's truth that the revelation they have had is from the Devil, and not from God. If they had received from the proper source, the same power that revealed to them would have shown them that they must keep the things revealed in their own bosoms, and they seldom would have a desire to disclose them to the second person.
Brigham Young, Discourses of Brigham Young, selected and arranged by John A. Widtsoe, p.341:
Miracles, or these extraordinary manifestations of the power of God, are not for the unbeliever; they are to console the Saints, and to strengthen and confirm the faith of those who love, fear, and serve God, and not for outsiders.
"Why do not the people speak with tongues?" We do, and we speak with tongues that you can understand, and Paul says he would rather speak five or ten words in a language that can be understood, than many in a language that cannot be. This is what may be conveyed.
Statement: Brigham is telling us that extraordinary manifestations are NOT for public consumption.
Brigham Young, Discourses of Brigham Young, selected and arranged by John A. Widtsoe, p.343-344:
A sister who received the gift of tongues is not thereby empowered to dictate her president, or the Church. All gifts and endowments given of the Lord to members of his Church are not given to control the Church; but they are under the control and guidance of the Priesthood, and are judged by it. Some have erred upon this point, and have been led captive by the Devil.
If you say that you want mysteries, commandments, and revelations, I reply that scarcely a Sabbath passes over your heads, those of you who come here, without your having the revelations of Jesus Christ poured upon you like water on the ground.
Some are very anxious that I should have visions. I have all that the Lord gives to me; and all that he keeps back he may; for that is no concern of mine. We are on the old ship Zion; and if God is not at the helm, the old ship will wreck and go to the Devil. As for my taking charge of the Kingdom of God on the earth, exclusively and independently of direction from heaven, I shall not do any such thing. If the Lord does not direct the old ship and act as captain and pilot, it will go to destruction.
He is at the helm, and will stay there. If you and I will bring our feelings to the point I have just spoken of, he will continue to guide the welfare of Zion and all its rights.
Brigham Young
--
The idea of keeping our sacred things secret also came directly from this Scripture. This one is worth memorizing, because it is used a lot among the True Prophets of God:
Alma 12:9-11
9 And now Alma began to expound these things unto him, saying: It is given unto many to know the mysteries of God; nevertheless they are laid under a strict command that they shall not impart only according to the portion of his word which he doth grant unto the children of men, according to the heed and diligence which they give unto him.
10 And therefore, he that will harden his heart, the same receiveth the lesser portion of the word; and he that will not harden his heart, to him is given the greater portion of the word, until it is given unto him to know the mysteries of God until he know them in full.
11 And they that will harden their hearts, to them is given the lesser portion of the word until they know nothing concerning his mysteries; and then they are taken captive by the devil, and led by his will down to destruction. Now this is what is meant by the chains of hell.
The idea of keeping our sacred things secret is something that the Latter-day Saints covenant to do during the reception of their Temple Endowment. For most of the Latter-day Saints, that's where this idea originally comes from.
This idea of keeping our most sacred experiences secret also comes from Third Nephi.
3 Nephi 19: 31-34:
31 And it came to pass that he (Jesus) went again a little way off and prayed unto the Father;
32 And tongue cannot speak the words which he prayed, neither can be written by man the words which he prayed.
33 And the multitude did hear and do bear record; and their hearts were open and they did understand in their hearts the words which he prayed.
34 Nevertheless, so great and marvelous were the words which he prayed that they cannot be written, neither can they be uttered by man.
They understood exactly what Jesus said, but His words were so sacred that these people knew by the power of the Holy Ghost that they should never write those words and never talk about those words.
The True Prophets of God are told by the Holy Ghost what they can speak about and what they should keep to themselves. It has been this way from the beginning of time.
3 Nephi 26: 9-12:
9 And when they shall have received this, which is expedient that they should have first, to try their faith, and if it shall so be that they shall believe these things then shall the greater things be made manifest unto them.
10 And if it so be that they will not believe these things, then shall the greater things be withheld from them, unto their condemnation.
11 Behold, I was about to write them, all which were engraven upon the plates of Nephi, but the Lord forbade it, saying: I will try the faith of my people.
12 Therefore I, Mormon, do write the things which have been commanded me of the Lord. And now I, Mormon, make an end of my sayings, and proceed to write the things which have been commanded me.
A True Prophet of God is always told what he is permitted to reveal to the public, and what he should keep to himself.
--
Notice Brigham Young's instruction regarding this important subject. Brigham Young had a direct influence upon the way that many of us view the Lord's will regarding the revelation of our sacred experiences to the public. For many Latter-day Saints, this is where this particular viewpoint came from.
Brigham Young, Discourses of Brigham Young, selected and arranged by John A. Widtsoe, p.126:
There is one idea entertained by the "Mormons" which is somewhat of a stumbling-block to the people, and apostates handle it to suit their purpose. It is, that we consider the Bible merely as a guide or fingerboard, pointing to a certain destination. This is a true doctrine, which we boldly advance. If you will follow the doctrines, and be guided by the precepts of that book, it will direct you where you may see as you are seen, where you may converse with Jesus Christ, have the visitation of angels, have dreams, visions, and revelations, and understand and know God for yourselves. Is it not a stay and a staff to you? Yes; it will prove to you that you are following in the footsteps of the ancients. You can see what they saw, understand what they enjoyed.
Question: Is Brigham Young testifying about himself and the special experiences he has had?
Answer: Not directly. Instead, he is testifying about the Bible revealing to us some of the possible fruits of the Bible.
--
Brigham Young, Discourses of Brigham Young, selected and arranged by John A. Widtsoe, p.68:
If true principles are revealed from heaven to men, and if there are angels, and there is a possibility of their communicating to the human family, always look for an opposite power, an evil power, to give manifestations also; look out for the counterfeit.
The Latter-Day Saints' Millennial Star, Volume 4:
Since the rise of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, many brilliant and splendid men have stood in connection with the work, where are they now, and what was the secret of their falling away? We answer unhesitatingly, they rejected counsel; they spurned at the authority of God imparted to his servant the prophet, or deemed themselves, like Satan, better qualified to do the work of the Lord than he whom the Father had chosen and appointed.
Brigham Young, Discourses of Brigham Young, selected and arranged by John A. Widtsoe, p.338:
Visions of a Personal Nature – I ask, Is there a reason for men and women being exposed more constantly and more powerfully, to the power of the enemy, by having visions than by not having them? There is and it is simply this – God never bestows upon his people, or upon an individual, superior blessings without a severe trial to prove them, to prove that individual, or that people, to see whether they will keep their covenants with him, and keep in remembrance what he has shown them. Then the greater the vision, the greater the display of the power of the enemy.
So when individuals are blessed with visions, revelations, and great manifestations, look out, then the Devil is nigh you, and you will be tempted in proportion to the visions, revelation, or manifestation you have received.
If the Lord Almighty should reveal to a High Priest, or to any other than the head, things that are true, or that have been and will be, and show to him the destiny of this people twenty-five years from now, or a new doctrine that will in five, ten, or twenty years hence become the doctrine of this Church and Kingdom, but which has not yet been revealed to this people, and reveal it to him by the same Spirit, the same messenger, the same voice, the same power that gave revelations to Joseph when he was living, it would be a blessing to that High Priest, or individual; but he must rarely divulge it to a second person on the face of the earth, until God reveals it through the proper source to become the property of the people at large. Therefore when you hear Elders say that God does not reveal through the President of the Church that which they know, and tell wonderful things, you may generally set it down as a God's truth that the revelation they have had is from the Devil, and not from God. If they had received from the proper source, the same power that revealed to them would have shown them that they must keep the things revealed in their own bosoms, and they seldom would have a desire to disclose them to the second person.
Brigham Young, Discourses of Brigham Young, selected and arranged by John A. Widtsoe, p.341:
Miracles, or these extraordinary manifestations of the power of God, are not for the unbeliever; they are to console the Saints, and to strengthen and confirm the faith of those who love, fear, and serve God, and not for outsiders.
"Why do not the people speak with tongues?" We do, and we speak with tongues that you can understand, and Paul says he would rather speak five or ten words in a language that can be understood, than many in a language that cannot be. This is what may be conveyed.
Statement: Brigham is telling us that extraordinary manifestations are NOT for public consumption.
Brigham Young, Discourses of Brigham Young, selected and arranged by John A. Widtsoe, p.343-344:
A sister who received the gift of tongues is not thereby empowered to dictate her president, or the Church. All gifts and endowments given of the Lord to members of his Church are not given to control the Church; but they are under the control and guidance of the Priesthood, and are judged by it. Some have erred upon this point, and have been led captive by the Devil.
If you say that you want mysteries, commandments, and revelations, I reply that scarcely a Sabbath passes over your heads, those of you who come here, without your having the revelations of Jesus Christ poured upon you like water on the ground.
Some are very anxious that I should have visions. I have all that the Lord gives to me; and all that he keeps back he may; for that is no concern of mine. We are on the old ship Zion; and if God is not at the helm, the old ship will wreck and go to the Devil. As for my taking charge of the Kingdom of God on the earth, exclusively and independently of direction from heaven, I shall not do any such thing. If the Lord does not direct the old ship and act as captain and pilot, it will go to destruction.
He is at the helm, and will stay there. If you and I will bring our feelings to the point I have just spoken of, he will continue to guide the welfare of Zion and all its rights.
Brigham Young
--
The idea of keeping our sacred things secret also came directly from this Scripture. This one is worth memorizing, because it is used a lot among the True Prophets of God:
Alma 12:9-11
9 And now Alma began to expound these things unto him, saying: It is given unto many to know the mysteries of God; nevertheless they are laid under a strict command that they shall not impart only according to the portion of his word which he doth grant unto the children of men, according to the heed and diligence which they give unto him.
10 And therefore, he that will harden his heart, the same receiveth the lesser portion of the word; and he that will not harden his heart, to him is given the greater portion of the word, until it is given unto him to know the mysteries of God until he know them in full.
11 And they that will harden their hearts, to them is given the lesser portion of the word until they know nothing concerning his mysteries; and then they are taken captive by the devil, and led by his will down to destruction. Now this is what is meant by the chains of hell.
My Reason for This Blog
Reason for Existence:
This blog was created when the moderators at LDS Freedom Forum kept deleting my posts and kicked me out of the secret forum for questioning or doubting Denver Snuffer, leaving me no access to the things that I had posted there. Some of the moderators would demand an explanation or some quotes; and then when I and others provided the explanation, then sometimes the moderators would call us names and delete our explanations because they didn't like our point of view. They gave us the distinct impression that Brethrenites are not welcome on LDS Freedom Forum and its secret forums. When it comes to LDS Freedom Forum, I can't even begin to count the number of times I have been told to shut-up and go away.
--
A List of My Blogs:
Callings and Elections:
http://callingsandelections.blogspot.com/
Women Ordained:
http://allwomenordained.blogspot.com/
Of God and Goddesses:
http://ofgodandgoddesses.blogspot.com/
--
I honestly and truly used to be a Snufferite. I used to hang at his every word, and I wanted to hang out with him as well.
As a former Snufferite, I still try to carry with me all the good and all the truth that Denver Snuffer taught me.
As a Disciple of Christ, I choose to leave behind me any of the bad or the falsehoods that Denver Snuffer might have taught me.
I try to apply the same principle to everyone that I encounter.
Mark My Words
This blog was created when the moderators at LDS Freedom Forum kept deleting my posts and kicked me out of the secret forum for questioning or doubting Denver Snuffer, leaving me no access to the things that I had posted there. Some of the moderators would demand an explanation or some quotes; and then when I and others provided the explanation, then sometimes the moderators would call us names and delete our explanations because they didn't like our point of view. They gave us the distinct impression that Brethrenites are not welcome on LDS Freedom Forum and its secret forums. When it comes to LDS Freedom Forum, I can't even begin to count the number of times I have been told to shut-up and go away.
--
A List of My Blogs:
Callings and Elections:
http://callingsandelections.blogspot.com/
Women Ordained:
http://allwomenordained.blogspot.com/
Of God and Goddesses:
http://ofgodandgoddesses.blogspot.com/
I used to be a Snufferite:
As a former Snufferite, I still try to carry with me all the good and all the truth that Denver Snuffer taught me.
As a Disciple of Christ, I choose to leave behind me any of the bad or the falsehoods that Denver Snuffer might have taught me.
I try to apply the same principle to everyone that I encounter.
Mark My Words
Nothing Is a Greater Injury
Joseph Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, selected and arranged by Joseph Fielding Smith, p.204-205:
Every one of these professes to be competent to try his neighbor's spirit, but no one can try his own, and what is the reason? Because they have not a key to unlock, no rule wherewith to measure, and no criterion whereby they can test it. Could any one tell the length, breadth or height of a building without a rule? Test the quality of metals without a criterion, or point out the movements of the planetary systems, without a knowledge of astronomy? Certainly not; and if such ignorance as this is manifested about a spirit of this kind, who can describe an angel of light? If Satan should appear as one in glory, who can tell his color, his signs, his appearance, his glory, or what is the manner of his manifestation? Who can detect the spirit of the French prophets with their revelations and their visions, and power of manifestations? Or who can point out the spirit of the Irvingites, with their apostles and prophets, and visions and tongues, and interpretations, etc. Or who can drag into daylight and develop the hidden mysteries of the false spirits that so frequently are made manifest among the Latter-day Saints? We answer that no man can do this without the Priesthood, and having a knowledge of the laws by which spirits are governed; for as no man knows the things of God, but by the Spirit of God, so no man knows the spirit of the devil, and his power and influence, but by possessing intelligence which is more than human, and having unfolded through the medium of the Priesthood the mysterious operations of his devices; without knowing the angelic form, the sanctified look and gesture, and the zeal that is frequently manifested by him for the glory of God, together with the prophetic spirit, the gracious influence, the godly appearance, and the holy garb, which are so characteristic of his proceedings and his mysterious windings.
A man must have the discerning of spirits before he can drag into daylight this hellish influence and unfold it unto the world in all its soul-destroying, diabolical, and horrid colors; for nothing is a greater injury to the children of men than to be under the influence of a false spirit when they think they have the Spirit of God. Thousands have felt the influence of its terrible power and baneful effects. Long pilgrimages have been undertaken, penances endured, and pain, misery and ruin have followed in their train; nations have been convulsed, kingdoms overthrown, provinces laid waste, and blood, carnage and desolation are habiliments in which it has been clothed.
Joseph Smith
Every one of these professes to be competent to try his neighbor's spirit, but no one can try his own, and what is the reason? Because they have not a key to unlock, no rule wherewith to measure, and no criterion whereby they can test it. Could any one tell the length, breadth or height of a building without a rule? Test the quality of metals without a criterion, or point out the movements of the planetary systems, without a knowledge of astronomy? Certainly not; and if such ignorance as this is manifested about a spirit of this kind, who can describe an angel of light? If Satan should appear as one in glory, who can tell his color, his signs, his appearance, his glory, or what is the manner of his manifestation? Who can detect the spirit of the French prophets with their revelations and their visions, and power of manifestations? Or who can point out the spirit of the Irvingites, with their apostles and prophets, and visions and tongues, and interpretations, etc. Or who can drag into daylight and develop the hidden mysteries of the false spirits that so frequently are made manifest among the Latter-day Saints? We answer that no man can do this without the Priesthood, and having a knowledge of the laws by which spirits are governed; for as no man knows the things of God, but by the Spirit of God, so no man knows the spirit of the devil, and his power and influence, but by possessing intelligence which is more than human, and having unfolded through the medium of the Priesthood the mysterious operations of his devices; without knowing the angelic form, the sanctified look and gesture, and the zeal that is frequently manifested by him for the glory of God, together with the prophetic spirit, the gracious influence, the godly appearance, and the holy garb, which are so characteristic of his proceedings and his mysterious windings.
A man must have the discerning of spirits before he can drag into daylight this hellish influence and unfold it unto the world in all its soul-destroying, diabolical, and horrid colors; for nothing is a greater injury to the children of men than to be under the influence of a false spirit when they think they have the Spirit of God. Thousands have felt the influence of its terrible power and baneful effects. Long pilgrimages have been undertaken, penances endured, and pain, misery and ruin have followed in their train; nations have been convulsed, kingdoms overthrown, provinces laid waste, and blood, carnage and desolation are habiliments in which it has been clothed.
Joseph Smith
By Their Fruits Ye Shall Know Them
By Their Fruits Ye Shall Know Them:
As a Latter-day Saint before our lives are through, we each will encounter some other Latter-day Saint who claims to have had his or her Calling and Election made Sure, or claims to have received the Second Comforter, or claims to have received the Second Anointing, or claims to have received additional Endowments, or claims to have received an Apostolic calling from the Lord, or claims to be a member of the Church of the Firstborn, or claims to be a True Messenger from the Father, or claims to have a Near Death experience where they left their body and saw the other Spirit World, or claims to have seen and talked to the spirit of their dead mother, or claims to have experienced some kind of miracle from God that saved their lives, or claims to have received the ministration of Angels, or claims to have conversed with the Spirits of the Dead.
I personally can place a different Latter-day Saint (or former Latter-day Saint) into each one of these particular claims.
I have no doubt in my mind that they have received or experienced something. I believe them whenever they tell me that they have had some kind of experience with God or the other side. It depends on the individual, but sometimes with some of these people, their telling of their story follows the pattern of the proverbial 'Fish Story'. They really did catch the fish, but the fish gets bigger and bigger with the re-telling of their story.
The question that invariably comes up is, “Was their experience from God, or was it from Satan?” This is the 800 pound gorilla in the room. This is indeed the million dollar question.
An LDS friend of mine asked me some very important questions when I was trying to determine if another Latter-day Saint's Special Experience came from God or came from Satan. I think any honest truth-seeker would find these questions extremely useful toward separating Divine Manifestations from satanic manifestations.
My friend asked me, “As a result of their Special Experience, is this person kinder, more loving, more compassionate, more friendly, more service-oriented, more charitable, and more Christ-like than he or she was before their Special Experience?” When I answered, “No”, then my LDS friend said to me, “There you have your answer.”
Here are some other questions that my LDS friend asked me:
“As a result of their Special Experience, is this person more eager to share the Gospel of Christ, to preach the Gospel of Christ, to bring people into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to help people find the joy in the Gospel of Christ, and wanting to help anyone they can to be baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ? If not, then there you have your answer.”
“As a result of their Special Experience, is this person more eager to listen to LDS General Conference waiting eagerly to experience each and every time that these men and women are moved upon by the Holy Ghost to speak Scripture? As a result of their Special Experience, is this person a lot more eager to support and sustain the LDS General Authorities than he or she was before their experience? As a result of their Special Experience, is this person eager to point his or her friends to the LDS Apostles and to tell their friends to listen to and follow the counsel of the LDS Apostles? If not, then you have your answer.”
“Remember, Satan and false prophets quote scripture and the LDS Scriptures. So, that isn't a useful guide for distinguishing the true prophets from the false prophets. It's easy to quote Scripture and make oneself seem more righteous and pious as a result. Even Satan can appear to be righteous while he is quoting the LDS Scriptures.”
“As a result of this person's Special Experience, is this person staying true to the Doctrine of Christ and remaining true to the Official Doctrine of the LDS Church; or is this person falsifying doctrine, creating his own doctrine, and twisting the Scriptures so that the Scriptures support the person's personal agenda? As a result of this person's Special Experience, is this person interpreting Scripture in a way that will lead you to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and thus lead you to Christ and His Saving Ordinances; or, is this person using the LDS Scriptures to lead people away from the LDS Church and away from the LDS Apostles? As a result of this person's Special Experience, can you actually feel the Holy Ghost speaking Scripture through the person from time to time? If not, then there you have your answer.”
“As a result of this person's Special Experience, has this person gotten more active in the LDS Church eagerly desiring to help other Latter-day Saints find and experience what he or she has experienced; or, has this person apostatized from the LDS Church or been excommunicated instead? As a result of this person's Special Experience, is this person telling his Bishop and home-teachers that he no longer has to attend church, no longer has to pay tithing, and no longer has to accept callings in the LDS Church because he or she has had his Calling and Election made Sure and is now a member of the Church of the Firstborn instead.”
Depending upon how you are able answer these questions will determine whether this person's Special Experience came from God or came from Satan. By their fruits and by the results of their Special Experience, ye shall know them.
Providing Some Examples:
When it comes to the Latter-day Saints that I have encountered who claim to have had their Calling and Election made Sure, one of them wants to write and sell books telling about their experience and the other wants to create a following in his name. One of them has turned mean and vindictive and unfriendly.
Regarding those who claim to have received the Second Comforter, a couple of them remained true and faithful to the LDS Church and kept pointing us to the LDS Apostles to the end of their lives; and a couple of the others turned mean, vindictive, and started denigrating and ridiculing the LDS Apostles and the Latter-day Saints who sustain them.
There is a former Latter-day Saint online who claims to have received the Second Anointing and additional Endowments, and this person is now ridiculing the experience and actively trying to lead people away from the LDS Church as a result.
The few that I know of who claim to have received an Apostolic calling from God, or a prophetic calling from God, or a Special Dispensation from God have either left the LDS Church or been excommunicated from the LDS Church.
Those that I have personally met who I personally believe are indeed Members of the Church of the Firstborn remain active Latter-day Saints and spend a great deal of their time and effort trying to help other find and understand the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; but, they will neither confirm nor deny that they are in fact members of the Church of the Firstborn. In contrast, others who claim to be members of the Church of the Firstborn that I have encountered are in fact members of the Cult of the Firstborn, and their goal is to lead you to Christ while at the same time leading you away from the LDS Apostles and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Their goal is the same as any Television Evangelist or motivational speaker, to build a personal following who will pay to hear their message and buy their books.
The person I encountered who claimed to be a True Messenger from the Father made no effort to follow through on the claim in person and in the proper manner; and the person in fact had NO personal message from the Father to give me, nor did the person make any attempt to do so. The person was simply testifying of himself and making the claim that he is a True Messenger from the Father, without actually delivering any message from the Father. Messengers deliver messages.
The few LDS people that I have encountered so far who have claimed to have received Near Death experiences and claim to have seen the other side have all remained true and faithful Latter-day Saints to the end of their lives. They eagerly and openly point people (or pointed people) to the LDS Church, the Saving Ordinances in the LDS Church, and the LDS Apostles.
The Latter-day Saints that I have known of who claim to have seen and talked with the spirit of their dead mother have repented of their sins and become active or loyal members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints if they were not before.
The Latter-day Saints that I personally know who have been miraculously saved by the Lord, or miraculously healed by the Lord, or who have miraculously raised people from the dead using God's Priesthood Power remain true and faithful Latter-day Saints and are eager to do work for the dead in the LDS Temples and are eager to bring people into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The Latter-day Saint that I have enountered who claims to have received the ministration of Angels is actively distorting the doctrines of the LDS Church, twisting scripture to suit his personal agenda, has no loyalty to the LDS Church, will never testify to the truthfulness of the Gospel of Christ or the Church of Jesus Christ, will not quote the Living Apostles, and openly ridicules those who refuse to see things the way that he sees them.
The Latter-day Saint that I knew who claimed to talk with the spirits of the dead told me that she had learned to tell the difference between the good spirits of the dead and the bad spirits of the dead. She told me that the good spirits of the dead encouraged her to open the door, let the LDS missionaries inside, and listen to what they had to say to her. As a result of the counsel and encouragement from the good spirits of the dead that she knew, she had become a Latter-day Saint. This good sister would strengthen us, cheer us up, and lift us up every time we went to her home. She would find any way she could to encourage us to remain true and faithful to our LDS Covenants and to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She would find any way she could to help us become better missionaries. She was loving and kind. The fruits of this woman's Special Experiences were written all over her, and I personally believe that she converted many LDS missionaries to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
As a Latter-day Saint before our lives are through, we each will encounter some other Latter-day Saint who claims to have had his or her Calling and Election made Sure, or claims to have received the Second Comforter, or claims to have received the Second Anointing, or claims to have received additional Endowments, or claims to have received an Apostolic calling from the Lord, or claims to be a member of the Church of the Firstborn, or claims to be a True Messenger from the Father, or claims to have a Near Death experience where they left their body and saw the other Spirit World, or claims to have seen and talked to the spirit of their dead mother, or claims to have experienced some kind of miracle from God that saved their lives, or claims to have received the ministration of Angels, or claims to have conversed with the Spirits of the Dead.
I personally can place a different Latter-day Saint (or former Latter-day Saint) into each one of these particular claims.
I have no doubt in my mind that they have received or experienced something. I believe them whenever they tell me that they have had some kind of experience with God or the other side. It depends on the individual, but sometimes with some of these people, their telling of their story follows the pattern of the proverbial 'Fish Story'. They really did catch the fish, but the fish gets bigger and bigger with the re-telling of their story.
The question that invariably comes up is, “Was their experience from God, or was it from Satan?” This is the 800 pound gorilla in the room. This is indeed the million dollar question.
An LDS friend of mine asked me some very important questions when I was trying to determine if another Latter-day Saint's Special Experience came from God or came from Satan. I think any honest truth-seeker would find these questions extremely useful toward separating Divine Manifestations from satanic manifestations.
My friend asked me, “As a result of their Special Experience, is this person kinder, more loving, more compassionate, more friendly, more service-oriented, more charitable, and more Christ-like than he or she was before their Special Experience?” When I answered, “No”, then my LDS friend said to me, “There you have your answer.”
Here are some other questions that my LDS friend asked me:
“As a result of their Special Experience, is this person more eager to share the Gospel of Christ, to preach the Gospel of Christ, to bring people into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to help people find the joy in the Gospel of Christ, and wanting to help anyone they can to be baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ? If not, then there you have your answer.”
“As a result of their Special Experience, is this person more eager to listen to LDS General Conference waiting eagerly to experience each and every time that these men and women are moved upon by the Holy Ghost to speak Scripture? As a result of their Special Experience, is this person a lot more eager to support and sustain the LDS General Authorities than he or she was before their experience? As a result of their Special Experience, is this person eager to point his or her friends to the LDS Apostles and to tell their friends to listen to and follow the counsel of the LDS Apostles? If not, then you have your answer.”
“Remember, Satan and false prophets quote scripture and the LDS Scriptures. So, that isn't a useful guide for distinguishing the true prophets from the false prophets. It's easy to quote Scripture and make oneself seem more righteous and pious as a result. Even Satan can appear to be righteous while he is quoting the LDS Scriptures.”
“As a result of this person's Special Experience, is this person staying true to the Doctrine of Christ and remaining true to the Official Doctrine of the LDS Church; or is this person falsifying doctrine, creating his own doctrine, and twisting the Scriptures so that the Scriptures support the person's personal agenda? As a result of this person's Special Experience, is this person interpreting Scripture in a way that will lead you to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and thus lead you to Christ and His Saving Ordinances; or, is this person using the LDS Scriptures to lead people away from the LDS Church and away from the LDS Apostles? As a result of this person's Special Experience, can you actually feel the Holy Ghost speaking Scripture through the person from time to time? If not, then there you have your answer.”
“As a result of this person's Special Experience, has this person gotten more active in the LDS Church eagerly desiring to help other Latter-day Saints find and experience what he or she has experienced; or, has this person apostatized from the LDS Church or been excommunicated instead? As a result of this person's Special Experience, is this person telling his Bishop and home-teachers that he no longer has to attend church, no longer has to pay tithing, and no longer has to accept callings in the LDS Church because he or she has had his Calling and Election made Sure and is now a member of the Church of the Firstborn instead.”
Depending upon how you are able answer these questions will determine whether this person's Special Experience came from God or came from Satan. By their fruits and by the results of their Special Experience, ye shall know them.
Providing Some Examples:
When it comes to the Latter-day Saints that I have encountered who claim to have had their Calling and Election made Sure, one of them wants to write and sell books telling about their experience and the other wants to create a following in his name. One of them has turned mean and vindictive and unfriendly.
Regarding those who claim to have received the Second Comforter, a couple of them remained true and faithful to the LDS Church and kept pointing us to the LDS Apostles to the end of their lives; and a couple of the others turned mean, vindictive, and started denigrating and ridiculing the LDS Apostles and the Latter-day Saints who sustain them.
There is a former Latter-day Saint online who claims to have received the Second Anointing and additional Endowments, and this person is now ridiculing the experience and actively trying to lead people away from the LDS Church as a result.
The few that I know of who claim to have received an Apostolic calling from God, or a prophetic calling from God, or a Special Dispensation from God have either left the LDS Church or been excommunicated from the LDS Church.
Those that I have personally met who I personally believe are indeed Members of the Church of the Firstborn remain active Latter-day Saints and spend a great deal of their time and effort trying to help other find and understand the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; but, they will neither confirm nor deny that they are in fact members of the Church of the Firstborn. In contrast, others who claim to be members of the Church of the Firstborn that I have encountered are in fact members of the Cult of the Firstborn, and their goal is to lead you to Christ while at the same time leading you away from the LDS Apostles and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Their goal is the same as any Television Evangelist or motivational speaker, to build a personal following who will pay to hear their message and buy their books.
The person I encountered who claimed to be a True Messenger from the Father made no effort to follow through on the claim in person and in the proper manner; and the person in fact had NO personal message from the Father to give me, nor did the person make any attempt to do so. The person was simply testifying of himself and making the claim that he is a True Messenger from the Father, without actually delivering any message from the Father. Messengers deliver messages.
The few LDS people that I have encountered so far who have claimed to have received Near Death experiences and claim to have seen the other side have all remained true and faithful Latter-day Saints to the end of their lives. They eagerly and openly point people (or pointed people) to the LDS Church, the Saving Ordinances in the LDS Church, and the LDS Apostles.
The Latter-day Saints that I have known of who claim to have seen and talked with the spirit of their dead mother have repented of their sins and become active or loyal members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints if they were not before.
The Latter-day Saints that I personally know who have been miraculously saved by the Lord, or miraculously healed by the Lord, or who have miraculously raised people from the dead using God's Priesthood Power remain true and faithful Latter-day Saints and are eager to do work for the dead in the LDS Temples and are eager to bring people into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The Latter-day Saint that I have enountered who claims to have received the ministration of Angels is actively distorting the doctrines of the LDS Church, twisting scripture to suit his personal agenda, has no loyalty to the LDS Church, will never testify to the truthfulness of the Gospel of Christ or the Church of Jesus Christ, will not quote the Living Apostles, and openly ridicules those who refuse to see things the way that he sees them.
The Latter-day Saint that I knew who claimed to talk with the spirits of the dead told me that she had learned to tell the difference between the good spirits of the dead and the bad spirits of the dead. She told me that the good spirits of the dead encouraged her to open the door, let the LDS missionaries inside, and listen to what they had to say to her. As a result of the counsel and encouragement from the good spirits of the dead that she knew, she had become a Latter-day Saint. This good sister would strengthen us, cheer us up, and lift us up every time we went to her home. She would find any way she could to encourage us to remain true and faithful to our LDS Covenants and to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She would find any way she could to help us become better missionaries. She was loving and kind. The fruits of this woman's Special Experiences were written all over her, and I personally believe that she converted many LDS missionaries to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Mark My Words
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
True Prophets vs. False Prophets
Every Television Evangelist is preaching Christ. Every pastor and father in every Christian Church is preaching Christ. Every false prophet is preaching Christ. Yet, when you get right down to it, none of them are preaching the same thing. Even the version of Jesus that they preach is different from one denomination to another. It creates a great deal of confusion.
Is Christ divided, or is there some kind of order in His house that we simply cannot see? How can we tell the true prophets from the false prophets? Or are all the prophets false prophets?
Ephesians 4: 5: One Lord, one faith, one baptism.
This scripture tells us that there is only One Jesus, not custom made Jesuses for each Christian denomination.
This scripture tells us that there is only one faith, or one true religion, or only one Church of Jesus Christ that is Christ's Own Church.
This scripture tells us that there is only one baptism that God the Father will recognize. There is only one Church of Jesus Christ that we can be baptized into and have that baptism accepted by the Father. There is only one baptism that is efficacious.
During much confusion, pondering, and prayer, I came to a realization. Since every prophet, true or false, preaches Christ and tries to lead us to Christ, there must be found some other way to distinguish the true prophets from the false prophets.
Do you know what I came up with?
First of all, a true prophet of God will lead you to the Church of Jesus Christ, and a false prophet will not. It's a very simple, but a very powerful concept. A true prophet of God, no matter how imperfect the individual might be, will be striving to lead every one of us to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A true prophet of God will be a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, whether formally called as such or not.
Second of all, a true prophet of God will point you to Christ's Apostles and tell you to listen to Christ's Living Apostles. A false prophet will not. Why is this important? It's because the Apostles of God will point you to baptism and confirmation in the Church of Jesus Christ. The Apostles of God will point you to Temple Ordinances and Temple Covenants. The Apostles of God will have the Keys of the Priesthood and will have received a commission to administer the Covenants and Ordinances of the Gospel. What the Apostles of God do is binding on the Lord, because they are His authorized representatives here on this earth.
Third, a true prophet of God will preach of Christ and point us to Christ, which is something that all the prophets try to do, whether they are true prophets or false prophets.
Ephesians 4: 11-14:
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.
So that we could avoid being deceived by the cunning craftiness of men, Jesus Christ gave us Apostles.
Jesus Christ sees Himself and His Church as being one and the same thing. He calls His Church the Body of Christ.
The purpose of Christ's Apostles is to bring us to a unity of the faith, to a knowledge of Jesus Christ, and to a completeness or Gospel Fulness. The purpose of the Apostles is to keep the Doctrine of Christ pure and unpolluted.
So, a true prophet of God will not only lead us to Jesus Christ but he will also lead us to Christ's Apostles and to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. If a prophet is not doing these three things, then the prophet is not a true prophet of God, no matter how appealing his message might be.
Now that I have posted this, let me ask:
Is your favorite prophet pointing us to Jesus Christ?
Is your favorite prophet pointing us to Christ's Apostles?
Is your favorite prophet pointing us to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?
If you can answer yes to these three questions and keep answering in the affirmative, then chances are good that your favorite prophet is indeed serving in the role of a prophet of God right now. However, if he or she starts to point us away from one of these three things, and starts pointing us to himself and his books instead, then beware. Whenever they shift focus away from one of these three things, then that's when they fall and cease to be prophets of God.
Mark My Words
Now that I have posted this, let me ask:
Is your favorite prophet pointing us to Jesus Christ?
Is your favorite prophet pointing us to Christ's Apostles?
Is your favorite prophet pointing us to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?
If you can answer yes to these three questions and keep answering in the affirmative, then chances are good that your favorite prophet is indeed serving in the role of a prophet of God right now. However, if he or she starts to point us away from one of these three things, and starts pointing us to himself and his books instead, then beware. Whenever they shift focus away from one of these three things, then that's when they fall and cease to be prophets of God.
Mark My Words
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
What Do the LDS Critics Hope to Gain?
What Do the Critics of the Apostles of God Hope to Gain?
The Sermon at the Temple in Third Nephi in the Book of Mormon makes it abundantly clear that the Sermon on the Mount in the Bible was directed at the baptized members of the Church of Jesus Christ. Therefore, all of the blessings and curses mentioned in the Sermon on the Mount and in the Sermon at the Temple are directly applicable to the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The critics of Christ's Church NEVER edify, they only tear-down. The critics never build anything useful, never build Zion, never build anything that is eternal or everlasting. They only tear-down and destroy. I wonder at times why they do so. What are they trying to accomplish by placing themselves in opposition to Christ's Church and Christ's Apostles? Surely they know that Christ will not support them and back them in the end.
The critics of Christ's Church and the false prophets can read the Scriptures as well as we can. They know the end of those who profess to believe in Christ but refuse to support His Church or sustain His Apostles.
Matthew 7: 15-27:
15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
They know these things and know that the Lord will refuse to recognize them and sustain them in the end, so why do they insist on tearing down Christ's Church and Christ's Apostles while at the same time pretending to remain Christian? What do these Latter-day Saints hope to gain by criticizing the Apostles of God and calling them Key-holes? What do the LDS critics hope to build or hope to sustain when they openly tear down the Church of Jesus Christ and the Apostles of God? What's the point? What do they get out of it?
The Sermon at the Temple in Third Nephi in the Book of Mormon makes it abundantly clear that the Sermon on the Mount in the Bible was directed at the baptized members of the Church of Jesus Christ. Therefore, all of the blessings and curses mentioned in the Sermon on the Mount and in the Sermon at the Temple are directly applicable to the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The critics of Christ's Church NEVER edify, they only tear-down. The critics never build anything useful, never build Zion, never build anything that is eternal or everlasting. They only tear-down and destroy. I wonder at times why they do so. What are they trying to accomplish by placing themselves in opposition to Christ's Church and Christ's Apostles? Surely they know that Christ will not support them and back them in the end.
The critics of Christ's Church and the false prophets can read the Scriptures as well as we can. They know the end of those who profess to believe in Christ but refuse to support His Church or sustain His Apostles.
Matthew 7: 15-27:
15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
They know these things and know that the Lord will refuse to recognize them and sustain them in the end, so why do they insist on tearing down Christ's Church and Christ's Apostles while at the same time pretending to remain Christian? What do these Latter-day Saints hope to gain by criticizing the Apostles of God and calling them Key-holes? What do the LDS critics hope to build or hope to sustain when they openly tear down the Church of Jesus Christ and the Apostles of God? What's the point? What do they get out of it?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)