The
Brethren and the LDS General Authorities:
What
does it mean to be stiff-necked?
In
the original ancient Hebrew, the word for repentance was "shuv"
which meant to turn around and go a different direction. You could
turn around and go into the dark, or you could turn around and go
into the light.
Eventually, repentance became "Teshuvah", which means to "turn around and face God" or to "turn to God".
The stiff-necked? They are unwilling or unable to turn their head and face God. Their neck is stiff. They will not or cannot turn and face God. They cannot repent or will not repent.
Notice that the Book of Mormon uses the word "stiff-necked" all the time, which shows that the Book of Mormon had ancient Hebrew origins. The stiff-necked cannot turn and face God. They cannot or will not turn to God; and by extension, they will not listen to the Prophets of God.
Have you ever had a stiff neck? It makes it hard to turn your head and makes it hard to turn around.
Eventually, repentance became "Teshuvah", which means to "turn around and face God" or to "turn to God".
The stiff-necked? They are unwilling or unable to turn their head and face God. Their neck is stiff. They will not or cannot turn and face God. They cannot repent or will not repent.
Notice that the Book of Mormon uses the word "stiff-necked" all the time, which shows that the Book of Mormon had ancient Hebrew origins. The stiff-necked cannot turn and face God. They cannot or will not turn to God; and by extension, they will not listen to the Prophets of God.
In
our time according
to D&C 1:38,
we could also say that the "stiff-necked" cannot turn to
the Brethren or will not turn to the Brethren for
guidance from the Lord.
In other words, the "stiff-necked" refuse to sustain the
Prophets of God. Their necks are stiff.
Have you ever had a stiff neck? It makes it hard to turn your head and makes it hard to turn around.
I
find it truly amazing how simple this concept is, yet how many
millions and billions seem to get it wrong. Nonetheless, I got it
wrong for decades, so I know that it is easy to do.
In
the pre-mortal realms, The Brethren were God the Father, Christ
Jehovah, and the Holy Ghost. Those who chose to follow them
completed their First Estate and came here to mortality. Those who
rejected The Brethren in the pre-existence were cast out of Heaven
and became Satan and the devils. Rejecting The Brethren has serious
consequences.
Amos
3:7
7
Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto
his servants the prophets.
D&C
1:37-38
37
Search these commandments, for they are true and faithful, and the
prophecies and promises which are in them shall all be fulfilled.
38
What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself;
and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not
pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or
by the voice of my servants, it is the same.
It
is possible for anyone to refuse to turn his head and heart to God and His Chosen Prophets. Being stiff-necked is not limited only to a
refusal to sustain and accept God. The term "stiff-necked"
or being stiff-necked against God does indeed take the Brethren and
LDS General Authorities into consideration as well; but of course,
you either choose to believe that it is so, or not. It's a decision
or a choice, but it's a choice that only you can make for yourself.
The
Lord's official servants are His Chosen Prophets according to Amos 3:
7. The Lord's Servants mentioned in D&C 1: 38 in modern times
are the LDS General Authorities, the LDS Missionaries, Your Stake
Presidency, Your Local Bishopric, Your Elder's Quorum President or
High Priest Group Leader, Your Relief Society Presidency if you are
female, and your parents. Whenever they speak as moved upon by the
Holy Ghost, it is the word of the Lord and the voice of the Lord unto
you. Your stiff-neck comes into play whenever you refuse to hearken
and obey the words of the Lord that come to you through them. That's
how the neck gets stiff. I know, because I have had inexplicable
problems with a stiff neck for most of my life. One day, I finally
figured out the cause.
D&C
68:2-6
2
And, behold, and lo, this is an ensample unto all those who were
ordained unto this priesthood, whose mission is appointed unto them
to go forth --
3
And this is the ensample unto them, that they shall speak as they are
moved upon by the Holy Ghost.
4
And whatsoever they shall speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost
shall be scripture, shall be the will of the Lord, shall be the mind
of the Lord, shall be the word of the Lord, shall be the voice of the
Lord, and the power of God unto salvation.
5
Behold, this is the promise of the Lord unto you, O ye my servants.
6
Wherefore, be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with
you, and will stand by you; and ye shall bear record of me, even
Jesus Christ, that I am the Son of the living God, that I was, that I
am, and that I am to come.
In
this scripture, the Servants are Brethren, priesthood ordained LDS
Missionaries. If you refuse to listen to, sustain, and accept the
Brethren, the Lord's duly anointed Servants, it will be held against
you at the last day; and, it won't serve you well while you are here
in mortality either. But as usual, we are each free to shoot
ourselves in the foot any time we want to do so, thus leaving us
nothing to stand on in the end.
Many
apostates derisively call those, who sustain the LDS General
Authorities, Brethrenites. The apostates and disaffected often stand
in the Large and Spacious Building pointing the finger at the
Brethrenites and mocking them.
Nevertheless,
there is indeed a Brethrenite Movement within the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints; and, I see it as a good thing. I have
recently found a desire to be a part of them. I have developed a
desire to support, sustain, and hearken unto the Brethren, or the LDS
General Authorities. I now seek for the times when they speak as
moved upon by the Holy Ghost and try to let the Holy Ghost drive
their message home into my heart.
--
--
--
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Is it I Lord?
Is it I who will betray you and your chosen servants, the Prophets?
Am I one of those who will stone your Prophets, either by word or by deed?
Am I the one who will crucify you afresh?
Is it I Lord?
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