GOSPEL TOPICS 2 | neuro-genix

GT 11

GT11: What Satan Taught Eve in the Garden

Clearly whatever it was that Satan shared with Eve in the Garden of Eden, it was somehow connected with their ultimate expulsion. Was this the apple?

The Garden story as we have it in the scriptures and the temple ceremony is clearly figurative. However, the details do have meaning. For example, the Tree of Life represents eternal life, which is why Adam and Eve could not partake until after their lifelong trials and tests of worthiness.

The Lord also informs us through Lehi and Nephi’s dreams that the Tree of Life as well as its fruit represent the Love of God in the gift of His Son and the Atonement. By partaking of this fruit, that is, by partaking of Christ’s atonement, we reciprocate that love. This is manifest in our respective love of God and willingness to keep His commandments.

The two trees in the Garden could be considered in opposition to each other. The one, the Tree of Life, being the Love of God, and the other, the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, being its opposite. This latter tree, figurative or not, got them evicted from the Garden. They were instructed not to partake of this tree. It represented some form of disobedience.

Since the Tree of Life represents the Love of God, the other could be considered in opposition to it and be considered as the Love of Self. The Tree of Life represents the blessed state of doing the will of God; the other tree the propensity and consequences of doing one’s own will. This dichotomy pretty much wraps up the whole program of life. Typically we learn by a combination of rewards and punishments by the way we use the agency we were given in the Garden.

So what was the issue of conflict between the will of God and the will of Eve that got this mortality ball rolling?

We will here suggest for your consideration that it was the Divine Order. This point will prove to be a mystery of God and godliness. In this Order the man is the president and patriarch in the home and family. The woman is his first counselor, and the Holy Ghost is the second counselor. Notice that neither the Holy Ghost nor the woman is in charge. And the woman, rather than the Holy Ghost is first counselor. The Holy Ghost does not supersede the agency of either the man or the woman. Consequently, this only works well, as one might expect, when all three are united in one. [1]

Going back to the setting in the Garden of Eden, it is illustrative that Eve acted on her own without consulting Adam. One might ask the question how Eve felt when Heavenly Father laid out the rules and delegated the primary authority to Adam (and possibly without a lot of explanation)? Wasn’t she at least as intelligent as he? Affirmative! And that was/is part of the problem.

Desperate to get the show going on his terms, Satan taught Eve how to reverse what might be considered the marriage power equation, and to actually get the upper hand. Satan understood and was taking advantage of the fact that the Divine Order Heavenly Father instituted was one that challenged both sexes to their limits. In this Order the man was required to take the lead and the woman to follow and support. These roles assigned by the Lord are the only way both Adam and Eve or, in other words, both men and women, can be perfected. It would only be by following the Divine Order that both Adam and Eve could return to and partake of the fruit of the Tree of Life and receive eternal life as a couple. This fact is portentous. It is unfortunate that due to popular demand this doctrine has been removed from the temple Initiatory and Endowment Ceremonies. In so doing we have given Satan a green light to his counterfeit order.

Since no other program would work, Lucifer’s intention was to create a counterfeit order which would negate the true Order, effectively shutting the gate to exaltation in the Celestial Kingdom to Adam and Eve and their children. This counterfeit order requires for the woman to take the lead, a role for which she was/is, in fact, better qualified. It is easier for her to lead and easier for the man to defer.

Without the priesthood, the man would have a perpetual disadvantage in the almost inevitable power struggle—the war between the sexes. Because of this reversal in the divine order, even if the man has been ordained to the Melchizedek priesthood, it is no guarantee he will secure the fulness of the priesthood necessary for exaltation in the eternities. The priesthood ordinance is a temporary bestowal that only becomes permanent through magnification of it to the point of the sealing by the Holy Spirit of Promise. See GT 4: Oath and Covenant.

Without the woman embracing this designated role of support, the man will never learn his leadership role and never obtain the fulness of the priesthood with all the ramifications of this failure. This support role was definitely the greater challenge for the woman because it required taking in some measure a backseat, having great patience and consummate trust in the Lord. It required suffering and high intelligence applied to many unnatural and challenging situations. It required faith that if she performed her difficult sojourn in life her man would one day be perfected even though it often looked like an impossible task.

His job is equally difficult for him. Besides all the challenges of providing for a wife and family and acquiring the necessary leadership skills devoid of unrighteous dominion, he must also provide the sacred space in which his wife may flourish and find inspiration to develop her talents and nurture and reciprocate his love. Unless he has the inspired support of his wife, he will likely never sufficiently magnify his callings and mission in life.

Essentially the keys are more in the woman’s hands than the hand of the man. She has great power but unless channeled through the Divine Order neither she nor her husband are likely to be sanctified and perfected. For this arrangement to work each must put the Lord at the highest priority in their lives, each other next, and then the children (an order that is generally confused to some degree).

Unless each partner seeks the Lord and acquires the necessary changes in character through regular repentance, they will grow apart. Even if they remain married, they will lack the desire as well as the merits to be with each other in eternity. A similar problem will exist with the children. If the parents do not put the Lord first and each other next, the children will not receive and embrace the Divine Order in their own relationships, nor will they have acquired the benefits that the Divine Order would have caused to flow more purely in their respective developmental stages of life.

Due to Satan’s success, most marriage or joint relationships in this world are created without this knowledge or even with the priesthood as a mitigating factor. There are not many models or examples to learn from or emulate. However, this is very possibly the key issue in life, certainly with respect to exaltation and eternal life. Heavenly Father has laid out the Plan and it is the only one that works. The marriage covenant and the Divine Order of the priesthood in the home and family is the key to the realization and success of the New and Everlasting Covenant and its intended object of exaltation in the Celestial Kingdom.

There are three common departures from the Divine Order in LDS homes as follows:

1) The husband exercises unrighteous dominion, and the Spirit of the Lord (Holy Ghost) is grieved. Divine blessings do not flow in the home.

2) The wife takes the lead, the husband acquiesces. The Spirit is grieved, and the promised blessings do not flow.

3) The wife does not lead, but neither does she support the husband’s leadership. The Spirit is grieved, and the blessings do not flow.

It was necessary that the Garden scene ended the way it did. Because of the nature of the man and the woman it is the same in every creation. However, one can see that, with respect to exaltation in the Celestial Kingdom—becoming gods and having eternal procreation, “strait is the gate and narrow is the way, and few there be that find it.” (See White Papers WP2: Some Broader Implications of Frequency Testing)

1) This essential relationship of each partner in marriage with the Lord also relates to what is taught by L Lamar Adams as The Divine Triangle. With the Lord at the top of the triangle, as each marriage partner moves up their side of the triangle coming closer to the Lord, and if each are so engaged, the distance between them, first acquired in the Garden, diminishes, and they become spiritually closer to each other—until united at the top of the triangle with the Lord.

GT 12

GT12: Milk vs Meat

The concept of the milk of the gospel of Jesus Christ versus the meat is brought to our attention by the writings of the apostle Paul. In chapter five of his epistle to the Hebrew saints, Paul was attempting to explain the meaning, significance and operation of the Melchizedek priesthood in its divine eternal order being after the order of the Savior—He being the Great High Priest of whom the priesthood and its power is derived (see also: GT 4: Oath & Covenant).

In his letter Paul expresses a degree of criticism of the Hebrew members as to their readiness and ability to understand the more serious concepts of the gospel of Christ.

For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil (Heb 5:12-14).

We may note that, though the first principles and ordinances of the gospel are certainly part of the milk of the gospel, they are also part of the meat. So that if the first principles are followed religiously they will ultimately arrive at and embrace the meat.

It is evident, however, that the meat of the gospel requires some experience and maturity. We could spend a lot of time on this subject, but instead lets make it simple. The words of the Savior at the Samaritan well give us the perfect point. After teaching the Samaritan woman and other members of her village, the arriving disciples, who had gone to get food, are concerned that he has not eaten and are puzzled by his response to their admonition to take food.

In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat. But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of. Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat? Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work (John 4:31-34, italics added).

This provides the simplest distinction between the milk and meat of the gospel. As long as we as members of Christ’s church are doing our own will we are partaking of the milk of the gospel. It is when our experience and maturity in the gospel has led us to put our God given agency on the altar of sacrifice that we are consuming and digesting the meat of the gospel.

To the Nephites the Savior explained:

Behold I have given unto you my gospel, and this is the gospel which I have given unto you—that I came into the world to do the will of my Father, because my Father sent me. And this is the word which he hath given unto the children of men. And for this cause he fulfilleth the words which he hath given, and he lieth not, but fulfilleth all his words. And no unclean thing can enter into his kingdom; therefore nothing entereth into his rest save it be those who have washed their garments in my blood, because of their faith, and the repentance of all their sins, and their faithfulness unto the end.

And the will of the Father, as the Savior goes on to explain, will include the following:

Now this is the commandment: Repent, all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me and be baptized in my name, that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand spotless before me at the last day. Verily, verily, I say unto you, this is my gospel; and ye know the things that ye must do in my church; for the works which ye have seen me do that shall ye also do; for that which ye have seen me do even that shall ye do (3Ne 27: 17-21, emphasis ours).

In doing the works of our great Exemplar, under the direction of the Lord’s Spirit, we are also doing the will of the Father. Our purpose is the same as the will of Him whom we worship. But this power derived from gospel compliance as it is administered to the children of men is only made possible in us by serious and steady repentance—in conjunction with the direction or revelation that such repentance evokes. This continued obedience to the reception and direction of the Spirit of the Lord results also in a state of sanctification. It is generally not until we have tested the Lord (by obedience) and He has tested us, that we have arrived at a point in our gospel maturity at which we understand that placing our agency on the altar is not a sacrifice but rather a portal to true freedom. This willingness to seek His will and apply it in our lives is the meat of the gospel.

When we struggle with my will versus Thy will, the resulting fruits are always compromised and seldom if ever achieve the seal of the Holy Spirit of Promise—being transitory and of little, if any, eternal effect. Whereas if we are operating under the direction of the Spirit of the Lord, the Holy Ghost, our works are justified and have eternal effect. As our founding Prophet of this last dispensation said, “Let us here observe, that a religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things, never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation” (Lectures on Faith, 6:7).

More than anything else we have to give, our will or our agency is the greatest gift we can give the Lord, and it is the one that He values the most. This is the one that opens the portals of Heaven.

GT 13

There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated— And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated. D&C130:20–21

GT13: Core Message of the Gospel

If we do not receive any blessings except those predicated upon obedience to divine law, it behooves us to understand the laws and how they work. Consequently, the purpose of this treatise is to focus on an understanding of those laws and principles most pertinent to our ultimate happiness, success and Heavenly Father’s glorification. These are, perhaps, principles little understood.

So, by way of topic introduction we will here observe that there are two basic spiritual laws operating in the universe. The first we will call the Law of the Father. This is Heavenly Father’s perfect law. It is the law lived by all who are gods. In it there is no place for imperfection. Gods have no need of repentance. There is no room for spiritual hiccups or personal down days in this realm.

The second law we will call the Law of Redemption. This is the law that is extended to us through the Atonement and suffering of Jesus Christ on our behalf. It is this law that makes the ultimate objective of living the first, or higher law, a possibility.

To my mind there are a few scriptures that embody the main or core message of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ and how to satisfy the demands of gospel law. The first is this declaration by the Father as follows:

For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.

(PofGP Moses1:39)

We understand that the term eternal life, as used here, refers to God’s life—living, experiencing and acquiring the feelings, attributes and powers of God our Heavenly Father. In the above reference Heavenly Father declares that this is the very objective of His existence. Also, in the Lectures on Faith Joseph Smith instructed us that what the Father set out to do in the creation of mankind was to make us like Himself (Lectures, Section 7:16). Godhood, therefore, is the object of our existence.

Clearly this is a tall order. However, to fail as a partner in this extremely generous process constitutes a nullification of the very purpose of God. And to fail in this objective also constitutes a nullification of our own purpose for being here. Failure to qualify for exaltation places a constriction on the personal glorious effects of Christ’s Atonement. Such failure would mean that He has suffered for us in vain.

Everything pertaining to these personal and divine objectives is governed by law. Consequently, in order to become holy beings, and for this necessarily vast transformation in our characters to occur, it is necessary that all our weaknesses must become strengths.

Again, this is a tall order. However, the answer to this challenge is outlined as follows:

And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them. (Ether 12:27, emphasis ours)

Our weaknesses actually play a very important role in our salvation. The transformative work of the Lord can only be accomplished with the humble. In order for our weaknesses to become strengths we must allow ourselves to see our weaknesses and use them to humble us and come unto Christ. And we come unto Christ only in the manner he has specified:

And behold, I have given you the law and the commandments of my Father, that ye shall believe in me, and that ye shall repent of your sins, and come unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit. Behold, ye have the commandments before you, and the law is fulfilled. (3 Ne 19, emphasis ours)

Regardless of whatever else we do, the only way we can come unto Christ is to repent of our sins with a broken heart and contrite spirit. Otherwise the law referred to above, the Law of Redemption, is not fulfilled. Speaking of the Redemptive Law of Christ, Lehi explains to his son Joseph:

Behold, he [Christ] offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered (2 Ne 2:7, emphasis ours).

The ends of which law? The law of Redemption. This aspect of answering to the Redemptive Law of Christ, that is of the absolute necessity of regular broken hearts and a contrite spirit is actually little understood. And considering the distance to cover, once this is understood, this repentant activity, involving a broken heart and contrite spirit, requires a daily commitment. Sporadic will not do. Otherwise the ends of the Law or its purpose of perfecting the Saints will not nor cannot be achieved.

The broken heart described by the scriptures is altogether different than a broken heart in the worldly sense. It is not sorrow for worldly failures and upsets, rather it is a spiritual experience in which a remission of personal sins and a lifting of burdens takes place, followed by an incremental gift of the nature of Christ. The necessary character transformation required to be perfected in Christ and gain eternal life in the Celestial Kingdom, becoming gods in the full expression that the Father has offered, requires each individual to partake of the divine nature of Christ.

It is Christ’s divine nature that changes us. And it is only through the regular offering of the broken heart and contrite spirit that this exchange or replacement of sins or weaknesses for strengths takes place. It is only by this means that our sins and weaknesses are removed and replaced by gifts of Christ’s divine nature. We must also willingly perform any service revealed by the Spirit of the Lord as we receive the remission of sins and the instructions that the successful broken heart prayer offering elicits. The broken heart sets the stage for essential personal revelation—guiding a path of trust and peace through a troubled world.

It is by this means, as the Savior himself has instructed, that we come unto Him, that we may abide in His grace and become perfected in Him. In his very final mortal comments to us Moroni provides a powerful summary about the principle of personal perfection.

Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God. And again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot. (Moroni 10: 32-33, emphasis ours)

Please note, then, that if we have followed the Savior’s instructions, served and loved Him with all our might, and have allowed Him to make weak things strong, and to change our character to be devoid of all ungodliness, we may be perfected in Christ and be eligible for Celestial glory.

According to Moroni if we do this we will have avoided denying the power of God. But if we have failed to follow this course of perfection in Christ we will have denied the power of God and personally nullified the purpose of Heavenly Father’s existence. We can only acquire a Celestial character that can dwell or even survive in God’s presence by following the steps here outlined. Otherwise we are preparing by default to go somewhere else. Despite wishful thinking on the subject, there is nothing in our human character in the way of flaws that will be overlooked in the next life.

This is hard doctrine, but the perfection that both the Father and the Son are talking about in the scriptures, and the broken heart and contrite spirit is the essential and necessary key we have been given. For without it, as Lehi explained above, the ends of the law, the Law of Redemption, cannot be satisfied. Otherwise the Father cannot perfect us through the Atonement of His Son, and the Son cannot present us personally to His Father, Creator of worlds without end, as being holy and without spot.

Father Lehi’s understanding of gospel principles turns out to be extremely perceptive and insightful. His instructions to his son Jacob on the necessity of a broken heart and contrite spirit in order to effectively access the Atonement for personal change [repentance] are perhaps the clearest on this subject in all the scriptures. Unfortunately, these extremely important principles are not commonly understood and, for the most part, not even taught. Lehi continues:

Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah, who layeth down his life according to the flesh, and taketh it again by the power of the Spirit, that he may bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, being the first that should rise. Wherefore, he is the firstfruits unto God, inasmuch as he shall make intercession for all the children of men; and they that believe in him shall be saved (2 Nephi 2:8–9, emphasis ours).

As stated at the beginning headline of this treatise we do not receive any blessing except through and by obedience to the law upon which it is predicated. If we have gotten on the repentance/sanctification path and kept on it consistently we may be permitted to continue, but if we have wasted the time of our probation there is a night of darkness and “a dreary waste” of suffering waiting for most people [including LDS] on the other side of the veil. No wonder Lehi exclaims, “… how great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth.”

How important? While the process of the application of divine immutable law herein described is simple and profound, it is, unfortunately, rarely understood. This fact is indeed regrettable because when these steps are not followed sufficiently the law of Justice must require payment. This is why most members and nonmembers alike must spend time in hell after death where they suffer for unrepentant sins.

For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent; But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I” [And, if we don’t seriously and regularly repent,our] sufferings [will] be sore—how sore [we] know not, how exquisite [we] know not, yea, how hard to bear [we] know not” (D&C 19:16-17,15).

See also GT 10: Observations on the Mainstream).

Our salvation is totally governed by the laws and principles Heavenly Father has set forth for the perfection of his saints and we may ignore or disregard them at our peril. He has also set forth these laws and principles for the purpose of His own glory, and to ignore or disregard them in any manner constitutes a personal reproach to our Creator. Both mortal life and eternal life are a serious business and the gifts we have been offered, beyond our wildest imaginations, constitute the “pearl of great price,” which when a man found it, “went and sold all that he had, and bought it” (Matt 13:45).

GT 14

GT14: The Latter-Day Babylonian Captivity

When the gospel was restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith the instructions were to take the gospel to the world, first to the Gentiles, then the Jews. An essential part of the message was to leave worldly Babylon and come into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Church was to be a refuge from the storm, from Babylon. On Nov 3,1831 the Lord said:

Yea, verily I say unto you again, the time has come when the voice of the Lord is unto you: Go ye out of Babylon; gather ye out from among the nations, from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Send forth the elders of my church unto the nations which are afar off; unto the islands of the sea; send forth unto foreign lands; call upon all nations, first upon the Gentiles, and then upon the Jews (D&C 133:7-8, emphasis ours).

The history of Israel is cyclical. The adversaries used by the Lord to humble Judah and Israel anciently were and are also symbolic of the latter-day challenges that the people of the Lord face now and in the future. For example, the members of the LDS Church have been carried carefully by the Adversary into modern day Babylonian captivity. Our dependence upon the current national and world structure and culture has provided the enemy of our souls and his minions a stealthily creeping and overpowering control of our lives, our thought processes and our options. Despite the fact that the Lord created for us a nation based on democratic principles and Judeo-Christian concepts our national constitutional blessings are slipping through our fingers. Even though, as of this writing, the encroaching burden has recently hit a crescendo, there is more to come.

In this context, who would have supposed that missionaries could have been called home for a time? Or chapels empty, temples closed and work for the dead hamstrung? That the three-fold mission of the Church could be crippled overnight? We were blindsided. And, on a perfectly related matter, how many members voted in the 2016 and 2020 elections for some of the most evil, vile political persons on the planet? People running for office representing a political party that supports and even advocates heinous crimes including late-term abortion (e.g. infanticide)? [1]

And we were told this is OK? Do we really suppose that the Lord will not hold us accountable even if we did it in ignorance? “My people have gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge” (Isaiah 5:13). An examination of the context of this observation by the Lord through the Prophet Isaiah is that it is clearly a prophecy of the latter-days. Our present ignorance allowed us to be totally caught off guard by a colossal hoax. A very pernicious hoax perpetrated by a powerful secret combination. What hoax? See: PT 1: Secret Combinations & the Fake Pandemic and PT2: Safe & Effective?

Also, unfortunately relevant are the LDS member McMansions, pools, RV’s, boats, snowmobiles, jet skis, mountain cabins and all the necessary toys and paraphernalia—the trappings required to be esteemed in our Babylonian sub-culture. The poor or those who cannot afford to keep up appearances are marginalized. They will not be given leadership positions. Many have gone and will go into the next life thinking they have no chance of exaltation because they were non-entities in the church culture hierarchy—that only leaders have a shot at Celestial glory. They have not been taught and little do they know that the last shall be first and the first shall be last in the eyes of the Lord (see Luke 14:16-24). The poor, the lame, the halt and the leprous shall find grace before the wealthy and proud. The only leaders that will survive the Celestial Kingdom cut are those who truly availed themselves of being “the least in the Kingdom” (Luke 7:28) and “the servant of all,” like their Exemplar (See Mark 9:35,10:43-45).

The next serious challenge to both the world and the Lord’s people will come from a modern day alliance symbolized by ancient Assyria. This treacherous Assyrian alliance and its geopolitical arrival on the scene will liberate us from Babylon with all its requirements and trappings. When Babylon falls the Lord says, “Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her” (Rev 18:20). God will avenge Babylon on us because of the great havoc and spiritual destruction spiritual Babylon, the Whore, wrought not only on the world at large, but particularly upon LDS members. The spiritual cost has been extremely high. So the Lord has arranged a deliverance for the saints and others. But it will not be pretty.

The catch associated with this deliverance is that it is provided by Israel’s other enemy, in the form of global conquest, including a national invasion. The bondage of extensive and nonessential merchandise and dishonest business dealings with which we yoked ourselves is replaced by an iron sinew of subjugation. And many people will perish in uninspired vain and foolish efforts to deal with this necessary purging prelude to building Zion and the New Jerusalem.

To the righteous and the elect the Lord warns and instructs, “Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain" (Isaiah 26:20-21). Many of the slain will be members that did not stand in holy places. Though this certainly includes temples and church facilities, it means also being where the Lord wants us to be and doing what He wants us to do—regardless of how it looks to those not receiving personal revelation.

We as a people, and our recent leaders, did not see the Babylonian captivity coming. We just went into it eagerly and have been there now a long time. And few of us saw the current globalist end-time warmup coming. Where were our watchmen? Well, unfortunately what we really wanted to hear was “smooth things” (Isaiah 30:10).

Ought ye not to have done even as I commanded you, and—after ye had planted the vineyard, and built the hedge round about, and set watchmen upon the walls thereof—built the tower also, and set a watchman upon the tower, and watched for my vineyard, and not have fallen asleep, lest the enemy should come upon you? And behold, the watchman upon the tower would have seen the enemy while he was yet afar off; and then ye could have made ready and kept the enemy from breaking down the hedge thereof, and saved my vineyard from the hands of the destroyer (D&C 101: 53-54, emphasis ours).

This initially referred to the failure of the early saints to build and redeem Zion, but applies even more particularly to us today. We should not delude ourselves that we are collectively any better than the early saints, many of whom were called upon to make great sacrifices and yet were still chastened severely by the Lord.

The hedge in this parable represents the protection of the Lord. The enemy succeeds in braking down the hedge when the members of the Church no longer warrant or deserve the protection of the Lord. While the watchman who does not see the enemy coming from afar off is lacking spiritual vision and failing in his assigned job, it is so that the people generally get the watchmen they deserve.

Since we were clearly warned by Moroni (see Ether 8:21-26) about the latter day secret combination that would seek to overthrow the freedoms of all lands, and were instructed not to let this evil organization get “above us,” alas, we have done exactly that, and we will suffer for it. We were in fact warned many years ago, while the enemy was still afar off. Elder Ezra Taft Benson, and later as President Benson, a former member of US President Dwight Eisenhower’s Cabinet, persecuted by liberal members for his distinct insights, couldn’t have been clearer about the approaching enemy. Unfortunately the following divine observation now applies to those checkbox, cruise-control and so-called mainstream members:

Why have ye polluted the holy church of God? Why are ye ashamed to take upon you the name of Christ? Why do ye not think that greater is the value of an endless happiness than that misery which never dies—because of the praise of the world? (Mormon 8:38, emphasis ours)

Joseph McConkie, in his BYU religion classes, often observed that the Church culture was consistently about two years behind the world (e.g. Babylon). Sad, but true! See also: Is There a Scourge Remaining for the People of the Lord?

Since Moroni, Joel, Daniel, Isaiah (the “Prophet of the Restoration”) and other of the prophets warned us particularly pertaining to this critical period of time, it behooves us to make sure we are living at a level of personal sanctification that allows the Lord to protect and direct us individually and as families in the otherwise troubling times ahead.

The Lord has provided instructions to the saints about leaving Babylon. “For ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight: for the Lord will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rearward” (Isaiah 52:12). In order to leave Babylon planning and preparation are necessary.

Go ye out from among the nations, even from Babylon, from the midst of wickedness, which is spiritual Babylon. But verily, thus saith the Lord, let not your flight be in haste, but let all things be prepared before you; and he that goeth, let him not look back lest sudden destruction shall come upon him (D&C 133:14–15).

It is not only important to leave our worldly values and pursuits under the Lord’s timing but equally important not to look back. The Lord’s value system and that of Babylon are irreconcilable.

For after today cometh the burning—this is speaking after the manner of the Lord—for verily I say, tomorrow all the proud and they that do wickedly shall be as stubble; and I will burn them up, for I am the Lord of Hosts; and I will not spare any that remain in Babylon (D&C 64:24, emphasis ours).

Unfortunately there will be many who remain in Babylon until it is too late.

However, if we maintain a level of sanctification (daily remission of sins) we will have peace when all around us do not. If we have taken the Holy Spirit for our guide we will not be deceived or led astray and we will look forward in confidence to the Coming of our Lord in power and glory (See D&C 45:56-59).

GT15

The LORD hath a controversy with his people, and he will plead with Israel. Micah 6:2

GT15: Is There a Scourge Remaining for the People of the Lord?

The constant drumbeat of globalism incrementally intrudes into our daily activities and routines eroding our freedoms. As elements of disquiet eat into our collective and individual consciousness and confidence, where do we stand with respect to the usual securities upon which we traditionally depend?

If we are paying attention we may see now that things can change overnight. And if we were paying attention we may see that the encroachments that are now visible or possibly looming were being prepared over previous decades. As the traditional hedge around our spiritual and ecclesiastical vineyard is being broached, we may wonder if our watchmen saw it coming? Didn’t we build the tower and put watchmen on it?

We did in fact. A conference talk on the dangers of communism was given years ago by Elder Ezra Taft Benson of the Quorum of the Twelve. I remember that he prefaced his talk by stating that this was the topic to which he had been assigned—that assignment was by President David O McKay around the year 1967. President McKay passed away January 1970. Elder Benson and President McKay both understood that Marxism is a guise to some purported higher good under the control of a global elite—a path to Satanic totalitarianism (e.g. Satan's program).

The apparent reason for this unusual introductory comment to Elder Benson's talk was the fact that he was coming under criticism by LDS members for being “carried away” by his focus on the topic of the threats of communism. Sometime later, Elder Benson came to BYU and spoke on the dangers of Marxism at a devotional. The following week Elder Hugh B. Brown came and basically contradicted what Elder Benson had to say just the previous week. A classmate (a McConkie) who knew Elder Brown asked him if his remarks were in contradiction to those of Elder Benson’s the previous week. His answer was, “Yes.” Elder Brown boasted that his assertions took precedence by the fact that he was a member of the First Presidency.

However, by eventually becoming President of the Church, President Benson had the last word, but for a while only. The otherwise prevalent denial or lack of concern over the growing Marxist gadianton threat filled the void he left. We ought to consider that President Benson had been a key and honored member of President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s cabinet. He mixed with people of genuine power, and he also saw the dangers already on the horizon. He was a watchman on the tower (Isa 25:6,11-12, Ezek 3:17-21).

As a child I can remember his name often being mentioned by newscasters and interviewers on the radio. His leadership experience in government and his views on the threats to this constitutional democratic republic clearly should have been taken more to heart than has been the case.

So now we labor not only against oppressive forces seemingly beyond our control but also the ignorance of what it is that we are actually dealing with (See GT 14: Latter-day Babylonian Captivity). The main conduits of public information have been hijacked and employed by hidden hands to manipulate and enslave according to an agenda whose objective it is to whittle the human population down into a totally controllable proletariat of worker bees—that do not threaten the power of the elites nor cause them concern about competitive consumption of their planetary resources.

And right now, we of the Lord’s Restored Church are of little concern to them. Were we united and asserting our rights and privileges of worship and were we really a peculiar people as we were in the early days of the Restoration, we probably would come under more challenging scrutiny. However, that honor remains for a future period when the cleansing hand of elements of the latter-day Assyrian empire headed ultimately by either the Anti-Christ or an Anti-Christ, shall focus more squarely upon us.

Behold, vengeance cometh speedily upon the inhabitants of the earth, a day of wrath, a day of burning, a day of desolation, of weeping, of mourning, and of lamentation; and as a whirlwind it shall come upon all the face of the earth, saith the Lord. And upon my house shall it begin, and from my house shall it go forth, saith the Lord; First among those among you, saith the Lord, who have professed to know my name and have not known me, and have blasphemed against me in the midst of my house, saith the Lord (D&C 112:24-26, emphasis ours).

There are any number of issues that, if we make our doctrinal positions clear, will bring upon us the wrath and persecution that an increasingly decadent world will heap upon us if we actually stick out (which we don’t just yet)—and with the full orchestration of the Adversary himself. It is really the Latter-day-Saints and the Jews that are Satan’s endgame targets. The Old Testament prophets are rife with the details.

As for those who profess to know the Lord but rather blaspheme against Him in the midst of His house likely include the rather common advocacy of false doctrines in priesthood and Sunday School classes that go essentially unchallenged as the rank and file, as well as the various levels of leadership, no longer understand doctrine.

Regarding the challenges ahead and our latter-day readiness, the Prophet Isaiah warned:

The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil; He shall dwell on high: his place of defense shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure (Isa 33:14-16, emphasis ours).

Fortunately there is a path through the devouring fire. It is, according to the Prophet Isaiah for those qualified to dwell with everlasting burnings. The hypocrites in Zion will suffer greatly and many will be destroyed while the sanctified will be protected—their bread shall be provided and their waters shall be sure. They that fear the Lord, that fear to displease Him, shall walk through the valley of the shadow of death and fear no evil. In the coming tribulation no stash of weapons, ammunition, and/or survival equipment will assure safety for the unrepentant of the Lord. Only the pure and holy, the sanctified will the Lord protect.

The stark reality for the people of the Lord is that not only will much of the world be destroyed in the days ahead but so will many, perhaps most, of the Latter-day Saints. Why would this be? The Lord explains:

As for my people [present day LDS], children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths. The LORD standeth up to plead, and standeth to judge the people. The LORD will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people, and the princes thereof: for ye have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses. What mean ye that ye beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor? saith the LORD GOD of hosts. Moreover the LORD saith, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet: Therefore the LORD will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the LORD will discover their secret parts. In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet, and their cauls, and their round tires like the moon, The chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers, The bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the tablets, and the earrings, The rings, and nose jewels, The changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the wimples, and the crisping pins, The glasses, and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the veils. And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet smell there shall be stink; and instead of a girdle a rent; and instead of well-set hair baldness; and instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth; and burning instead of beauty. Thy men shall fall by the sword, and thy mighty in the war. And her gates shall lament and mourn; and she being desolate shall sit upon the ground (Isa 3:12-26).

Let us make no mistake. This is talking about us, the members of His Church, because we are walking in darkness at noonday. Both Zion and the Jews must be cleansed before the Lord returns in glory. It is our turn first [Ephraimite members]. It is not until after the causes of our reproach are removed that the millennial blessings may come. And notice, the Lord is not speaking symbolically in this instance to the Church as the daughter of Zion, rather he is speaking specifically and pointedly to the daughters of Zion [e.g. the women of the Church].

In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel. And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem: When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning (Isa 4:2-4, emphasis ours).

Traditionally the women were in general more righteous than the men. Among the Lord’s people they were stalwarts, valiant, firm and steadfast in the support of their men holding the priesthood. The women were leaders in terms of righteousness. However, in this, the last dispensation, Satan has successfully gained the upper hand with the women of the Lord’s Church and turned their heads to worldly preoccupations, false doctrines and ideas. The women of Zion have become careless. See also What Satan Taught Eve in the Garden.

Rise up, ye women that are at ease; hear my voice, ye careless daughters; give ear unto my speech. Many days and years shall ye be troubled, ye careless women: for the vintage shall fail, the gathering shall not come. Tremble, ye women that are at ease; be troubled, ye careless ones: strip you, and make you bare, and gird sackcloth upon your loins (Isa 32:9-11).

It is because Zion’s women have become careless in observing their covenants and at ease in their participation and support of the divine order of the priesthood that their men will die. It is because the women ignore or reject the divine order (and because their men have acquiesced) that pertinent priesthood doctrines have been removed from the temple presentation. It is because the women do not support, demand or qualify for genuine priesthood leadership that their men do not walk the path of sanctification and acquire the fulness of the priesthood. The men of the Church lack power and direction that would save their lives when the crucible of affliction, which must surely come and is not far off, descends upon the Saints. The careless women who survive the LDS scourging shall be troubled for many days and years because the end time return of the Savior is still distant. Whereas the sanctified and holy LDS men and women will be protected and at peace.

It was the woman, Eve, who led Adam out of the Garden. It is the woman who leads Adam out of Babylon. It is the woman who sets the stage for what happens in this dispensation—both good and evil. The design of the so-called feminist, progressive and LGBTQ movements is to totally obscure and prevent the message and realization of power grounded in the Divine Order and not realized any other way. This is a mystery of godliness unfortunately not taught and little understood. Celestial glory is hidden behind this principle.

To the Lord’s sanctified He provides this assurance:

In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee. Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake. Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy. No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD (Isa 54:14-17, emphasis ours).

However, there are numerous passages in Isaiah in which the Lord recounts the latter-day sins and iniquity of his people—particularly the preoccupation with worldly things, a false sense of security and leaders who do not serve the flock. The following passage symbolically describes the result of the Lord’s judgment and refining fire:

Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant. And he shall break it as the breaking of the potters’ vessel that is broken in pieces; he shall not spare: so that there shall not be found in the bursting of it a sherd to take fire from the hearth, or to take water withal out of the pit. For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not. But ye said, No; for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee: and, We will ride upon the swift; therefore shall they that pursue you be swift. One thousand shall flee at the rebuke of one; at the rebuke of five shall ye flee: till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and as an ensign on an hill (Isa 30:13-17).

The metaphor here is of a retaining wall on a hill built to hold back erosion and protect the landscape on the hill. The wall does its job for a time until the pressure building up against it becomes too much. While the wall has served its purpose for many years, one day the pressure against it finally exceeds its capacity and the wall crumbles and the landscape it was preserving bursts its bound and is crumbled and destroyed. The edifices built on this hill come sliding down to destruction. The wall symbolizes the protection the LDS Church affords its members,

The metaphor then changes to illustrate the erroneous thinking of those who were living on this hill—supposing that things would just go on and that they could escape the consequences of their worldly lifestyles with their equipment, vehicle, possessions and sophistries. Rather than returning to the Lord and seeking to enter into His rest they have relied upon the arm of their flesh and smooth doctrines. As a consequence they shall flee accountability at the rebuke of those who call them to repentance and then they shall flee the invading army when all their false edifices crumble in the face of a genuine mortal threat.

After all of this wasting away and destruction of the Lord’s people, notice what is left. It is the ensign on a hill. Not all of the hill is gone. Only the part with a shifting foundation. What is left after the sudden destruction of the tares and the unrepentant, are the sanctified. The scourging has accomplished its purpose. The Woman [the Church] has endured and travailed and brought forth the priesthood man [e.g. men holding the fulness of the priesthood] and the rest of the work of the gathering and preparation for the return of our Lord can now commence.

The glorious end time crucible in Jerusalem is predicated upon the precursory cleansing of Zion and its men and women—the travail that brings forth the priesthood man. See GT 4: Oath & Covenant and also GT 10: Observations on the Mainstream.

GT19

GT19: Revelation on the Tasks

Last night, not being able to sleep, I got up and engaged in some personal prayer and scripture study during which time I also asked the Lord about the tasks given to the spirits of the dead in the spirit world. I wanted to know more on the subjects. I was curious if there were people, that is, spirits or angels involved, in presenting the tasks to the spirits of the dead when they reach a personal frequency of log 132 or above. I was told, No. Rather than angels, I was told the spirits of the dead receive their tasks through inspiration from the Spirit of the Lord through seeking the Lord’s will. They are presented as “situations” which allow the subject to react in some way, whether by participation or thought or feeling.

The spirit of the dead will advance according to how well they deal with each situation and what they learn from it—that is how inspired is their response or how much like the Savior is their feeling, thinking and/or behavior. Initially the tasks will occur to them as situations remembered from their mortal life or as theoretical situations as the case may be. In each case what is presented has to do with the particular needs of that spirit’s personal progression. At some point in their progression the tasks will also involve other spirits. As our value systems are always erroneous, the object is to train the personal spirit to ultimately see things as God does.

The daily efforts by the spirits of the dead at the tasks assigned can be graded for success in levels 1-10. In order to progress the daily task must be either 9 or 10. An 8 is required to temporarily hold their position. Anything less than 8 causes regression.

The tasks are to be understood to parallel our own conditions in mortality. It is the same in the spirit world as here on earth. In our present mortal lives we are regularly presented with situations to see if we will deal with them under inspiration or by some other motive, agenda or uninspired desire or passion—honestly or deceptively. This is how we progress here, and how they progress there, “that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit” (1 Pet 4:6).

The ability of the spirit of the dead to deal successfully with these situational tasks will be directly related to how sensitive and honest they had previously been to the Spirit of the Lord in their mortal life. “For that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world” (Alma 34:34). The spirit that possesses our bodies when we pass through the veil into the eternal world is not a demon; it is our spirit. At that point our spirit embodies the lessons and habits it has acquired during our mortal life. It has become empowered or shackled, depending upon our ability to receive and apply personal revelation.

People who never get past the milk of the gospel by allowing their personal will to govern their behavior, will get stuck in the tasks and may spend the millennium trying to figure them out. The reason it is so difficult on the other side of the veil is because most spirits have not learned to seek, listen or recognize the voice of the Lord while in the flesh. This is the sum total of our purpose here on earth. The spirits, after death, may reach and enter the realm of Light at log 76 and may progress to the threshold of tasks at log 132. However, for those who always think they know what to say, or do or how things should look, they may spend a thousand years on this hamster wheel of hell.

GT 23

GT23: Isaiah 28 Commentary

1 Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty is a fading flower, which are on the head of the fat valleys of them that are overcome with wine!

A multiple fulfillment warning to Ephraim as birthright tribe. Ephraim was the leading tribe of the Northern Kingdom of Israel that had departed from Judah approximately 200 years before (circa 930 BC). Ephraim is also the majority blood line among present day Latter-day Saints. Though literal drunkenness was probably an issue being intoxicated with pride was the main problem both then and now. The glorious beauty of Ephraim and Israel’s apparently prosperous circumstances were and are metaphorical fading flowers that were soon to be plucked up then and now again.

2 Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and strong one, which as a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, as a flood of mighty waters overflowing, shall cast down to the earth with the hand.

Notice that the rod of scourging (a mighty and strong one) of Ephraim and his associates is in the hand of the Lord himself. This looming scourging in Isaiah’s day was to be the work of the king of Assyria, a military power from the North. The effects described and soon consummated were powerful and devastating, and will be again in the future. Our US foreign policy is currently setting the stage for a retribution from Russia, a modern day Assyrian, at a time when we do not expect it.

3 The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, shall be trodden under feet:

The Lord through Isaiah is foretelling the destruction of Ephraim and the Northern Kingdom by the Assyrians who would defeat them in a series of conquests carrying them away captive into northern Assyria at around 720 BC.

A latter day Assyrian will also be a scourge to America and to prideful Ephraim and his associates in the latter days, most likely in the form of an invasion of America by a Russian alliance. This will be the result of our present misguided foreign policy with Russia and also our declining moral and military strength. See Joel chapter 2 which begins “Blow ye the trumpet in Zion and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble:” for a fearful description of this invading latter-day army.

4 And the glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fat valley, shall be a fading flower, and as the hasty fruit before the summer; which when he that looketh upon it seeth, while it is yet in his hand he eateth it up.

The actual prosperity of Israel and the Lord’s people in any age and in any land becomes a lure first and then an illusion as pride decays the core strength of His people. At some point, through calamity, prosperity vanishes overnight, the Lord’s protection having been removed sometime previously due to progressive wickedness. The Lord’s people too often find themselves living in the shadow of the light and truth possessed by a former generation. Life for them goes on unaware that the foundation previously laid was meant to receive upon it a divine structure, but has in fact lain dormant and gradually decayed.

The present welfare of the Lord’s people (LDS) is increasingly illusory as we sojourn in both physical and spiritual Babylon. We are weakened morally by ignorance, unclear leadership, lax doctrines and standards, and weakened physically by lifestyle, toxins, vaccines, and adulterated fast foods. While waiting for the Assyrian scourge and subsequent deliverance the Lord observes, “Therefore my people have gone into captivity because they have no knowledge,” that is, the knowledge that saves (Isa 5:13). The building of Zion and the New Jerusalem will require the emergence of the priesthood man—a category of men who understand and apply true doctrine, who receive personal revelation, and who acquire and exercise the fulness of the Melchizedek priesthood. See also GT4: Oath and Covenant.

5 ¶ In that day shall the Lord of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people,

The blessings do not come to everyone. In that day, the day this verse references, many members will no longer be around to enjoy the Lord’s blessings. Now that the Assyrian scourge has arrived and done its work of cleansing the filthiness of Zion and its sons and, in particular, Zion’s daughters, it is then a time of blessing for the “residue of his people.” At this point the remaining Saints can think about getting to the latter day work in earnest including the gathering of Israel, preaching the gospel to the Jews and building the New Jerusalem.

6 And for a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment, and for strength to them that turn the battle to the gate.

Out of the chaos will emerge a new category of leadership who will judge righteous judgment and be powerful instruments in the hands of the Lord and fight manfully for Him in His name and in a profoundly different manner than other men. They will fight with the power of the priesthood and the power of their testimonies just as they did previously against Satan and his minions in the war in heaven.

7 ¶ But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.

An apt description of current leadership. The wine and strong drink are symbolic references to pride. Generally speaking (there are exceptions) our leaders are also isolated and insulated by ignorance and lack of revelatory vision—walking in darkness at noon day. The evidence is everywhere around us and growing while we slumber in an all-is-well-in-Zion syndrome.

8 For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean.

Sad but true. At this time saving doctrines are not taught. Instead we (LDS) have rehashed and regurgitated primary level doctrine and endless anecdotal stories. Neither the pulpit nor the classroom is clean or free of false and watered down doctrine. Our chapels are fashion shows—our chapel aisles are clothing and body modeling runways—displays devoid of modesty and shame. There is no place clean.

Rather than being mired in a quasi-religious social club festooned with fashion shows and the sly exchange of romantic appreciation tokens, our instructions are to use the ordinances to follow the Lord and come unto him with a broken heart and a contrite spirit—every day! We are, through sanctification and personal worthiness, to become members of the Church of the Firstborn. For clarification, this will never require leaving the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

9 ¶ Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.

Our exemplar, the Savior said, “My meat is to do the will of Him that sent me.” (Matt 4:34). Our object is to do the same. Until we put our agency on the altar of sacrifice we are still doing our own will. As long as we are doing our own will we are laboring with only the milk of the gospel leading to fittingly thin results. Doing the will of the Lord constitutes the meat of the gospel. It is only when we are consecrated to the Lord’s will that we qualify for the meat and its inspired and blessed results. Otherwise, as Satan informs us in the temple, unless we keep all the covenants we have made, we are still in his power.

10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:

This is how it works. There is no getting around it and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise! Light and truth come in increments. They must be persistently pursued every day so that knowledge of light and truth accumulates over time. For this learning and sanctification process to continue, the light and truth we receive must be applied daily in our behavior. Additional levels of gospel learning will not be revealed without the necessary growing foundation that precept upon precept provides.

Consider: Is there ever a time in which we no longer need this incremental learning process? Is there ever a time on this side of the veil, or even before the judgment, when we no longer need to learn precept upon precept? There should be no time or space in which we may relax our desire for additional saving knowledge.

11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.

However, since the Saints have other things on their minds, they will at some point receive instruction in another tongue through the rod of punishment administered by a foreign foe, a modern day Assyrian army. This will be an instruction in the form of a severe reprimand.

12 To whom [LDS] he [the Lord] said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.

This lack of hearing applies particularly to LDS members, who are essentially the only ones in this dispensation thus far taught how to enter into the rest of the Lord—in other words, taught the principles of calling and election by which we enter into the glory and presence of the Lord. Unfortunately they (LDS) “would not hear.” Our leaders no longer teach entering into the rest of the Lord (Calling and Election) for two reasons: 1) They do not understand it themselves, and 2) the members don’t want to hear it. Our members get the leadership they want and deserve. Obviously at some point this has to change, and it will be wrenching and traumatic.

13 But the word of the Lord was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

Another apt description of LDS behavior. The Lord in His infinite patience does not teach his people precept upon precept so that they may be snared and taken. They are snared and taken because they refuse to learn precept upon precept. When Nephi looked prophetically down through the ages to see us he was astounded and troubled at our obstinance and ignorance.

Wherefore, now after I have spoken these words [instructions to seek knowledge through study, repentance and prayer], if ye cannot understand them it will be because ye ask not, neither do ye knock; wherefore, ye are not brought into the light, but must perish in the dark… And now I, Nephi, cannot say more; the Spirit stoppeth mine utterance, and I am left to mourn because of the unbelief, and the wickedness, and the ignorance, and the stiffneckedness of men; for they will not search knowledge, nor understand great knowledge, when it is given unto them in plainness, even as plain as word can be (2Ne 32:4,7, emphasis ours).

Gospel truths are plain and clear to those who cultivate the Spirit, study and seek the will of the Lord and repent. However, those who cease to receive precept upon precept, or choose to interrupt the process through complacency, will neither receive the knowledge necessary for full salvation, nor any of the “greater things” of the gospel (Ether 4:7-8,15). Such complacent members must be consigned to the lessor things until eventually they know essentially nothing. The majority (LDS) are in prison houses of their own making and will only be freed, if they are to be freed, by the rod of affliction and tribulation.

Wo be unto him that shall say: We have received the word of God, and we need no more of the word of God, for we have enough! For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have (2Ne 28:29-30, emphasis ours).

Though knowledge of spiritual things may sometimes come in quantum leaps of revelatory insight it is mainly received line upon line. In fact, it is only those who have been diligent with respect to line upon line and precept upon precept learning that qualify for revelation of the greater things pertaining to full salvation and exaltation. However, the “all is well in Zion” crowd (i.e. the supposedly "safe mainstream”) tend to be self-satisfied with a primary “milk” level version of the gospel. In fact, they foolishly and ignorantly shun the necessary and essential mysteries of godliness like the plague.

Again, seeing our very day in vision, Nephi warns, “Therefore , wo be unto him that is at ease in Zion… Yea, wo be unto him that saith: We have received, and we need no more!” (2Ne 28:24, 27). Just who is it that Nephi is warning? It is the self-sufficient mainstream of the LDS Church. We are generally not progressing in our knowledge but rather passing through a continual rehash that also drives some bored and unchallenged members into the hands of charlatans and deceptively attractive priestcrafts.

14 ¶ Wherefore hear the word of the Lord, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem.

The Lord through his prophet Isaiah now focuses upon Jerusalem. The above conditions and warnings also applied to the Lord’s people in Jerusalem in the past and will apply again as multiple fulfillment in the end time as conversion progresses among the Jews. Israel and Jerusalem are presently governed by the usual political intrigues including the far reaching fingers of the evil Babylonian elites. The labor parties of the world, no longer representing the so-called common man (if they ever did), are now the political expression of Satanic New Age globalist dogmas. And the other political parties are not much better.

The scornful men that currently rule Jerusalem are not the politicians but rather wealthy elites that subscribe to Luciferian notions of the future and control the conduits of information to achieve their globalist ends. They are busy selling out the Israeli attempt at democracy and will continue to do so until their refuge of lies is removed forcefully as the Lord uses the wicked to destroy the wicked.

15 Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:

The scourge prophesied to come upon America and the Saints is but a prelude to the calamities destined for Israel and Jerusalem. The Babylonian and Assyrian invasions of the past are precursors to what is coming upon Israel and Jerusalem in the future. No extent of prepper supplies, stock portfolios, foreign bank accounts, precious metals, bunkers, military arsenals or human plans and strategies will deliver the Jews, the LDS or anyone else in the days of trial and tribulation that are coming—nor will occult agreements with Satan and hell. The only safe passage will be a ticket with the sanctification stamp on it and there will be times when even the confidence of the sanctified will be shaken.

16 ¶ Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.

The precious and tried corner stone is Christ. Those who believe in Him will follow His Spirit and wait upon Him for both direction and deliverance from the challenges they face. They will not be rash, hasty or impulsive.

We follow the prophet when he speaks as a prophet, when he speaks the words of Christ and when the Spirit of the Lord so witnesses. The Prophet Joseph taught us that “a prophet is only a prophet when he is acting as such” (Journal 1842-43, p.170, josephsmithpapers).

We do not believe in our leader’s infallibility. They are all human and like us, they have all made mistakes, no exceptions. To think otherwise is dangerous. Some of Joseph Smith’s mistakes are recorded in the D&C. The Lord uses what He has. This is why it is incumbent upon every one of us to “prove all things” (1Thes 5:21) by virtue of the gift of the Holy Ghost that we have received by the laying on of hands by the authority of the Holy Melchizedek priesthood. It is the wise virgins (LDS members) who have taken the Holy Ghost for their guide that were invited into the marriage of the Lamb. And as Lucifer is also a revelator it is critical to note that the wise virgins were they “who were not deceived” (D&C 45:57). For we are told that the very elect would be deceived “if it were possible” (Matt 24:24). So, why is it not possible? Because the elect, who remain the elect unto the end, are they “who follow the Lamb withersoever He goeth” (Rev 14:4). Because they are exercised in doing the will of the Lord they know Him and cannot be deceived (D&C 132:23).

Nevertheless, our present leadership, regardless of their human weaknesses, hold the priesthood keys which also provide the necessary ordinances. Consequently, as Nephi explains, our doctrine teaches that we must come unto Christ, feast upon His word and follow Him.

Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do. Wherefore, now after I have spoken these words, if ye cannot understand them it will be because ye ask not, neither do ye knock; wherefore, ye are not brought into the light, but must perish in the dark. For behold, again I say unto you that if ye will enter in by the way, and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show unto you all things what ye should do. Behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and there will be no more doctrine given until after he shall manifest himself unto you in the flesh. And when he shall manifest himself unto you in the flesh, the things which he shall say unto you shall ye observe to do (2Ne 32:3–6, emphasis ours).

If we are worthy, either the Holy Ghost or the Savior himself, “will show unto [us] all things what [we] should do” (2 Ne 32:5).

17 Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.

The Lord sees the works of man perfectly clear. His judgment is infinitely just. The storms coming will uncover all the refuge of lies that serve the false Gadianton narratives. The storms may come in the form of war, whirlwinds, earthquake, famine, flooding, pestilence, disease or any combination. There will be no place to hide except for those who have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide. For them, when the earth swallows up the floods of perversion and threats that issue out of the Dragon’s mouth [Satan], they will know where to be for safety (Rev 12:15-16).

18 ¶ And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.

The covenant with death applies at one level to those who are self-satisfied that they are the Lord’s chosen by virtue of living a sort of law of Moses observance of religious forms. This trodding down process refenced in the above verse pertains to LDS as well as the Jews and others who fit this category of check box illusory religious security. The covenant of death and the agreement with hell pertains even more particularly to those who have made occult agreements with Lucifer himself foolishly supposing that his will be the winning side.

The overflowing scourge applies to both Zion in America and to Jerusalem, though America necessarily receives the cleansing hand of the Lord first in order to prepare the way for the New Jerusalem as a worthy and safe gathering place.

19 From the time that it goeth forth it shall take you: for morning by morning shall it pass over, by day and by night: and it shall be a vexation only to understand the report.

This vexation by day and by night has already begun. Our world is inundated with daily, even hourly, reports of negative and fear provoking news from multiple conduits. Human anxiety levels are intentionally being invoked for the purposes of control ultimately under the direction of the master of control, Satan himself. However, the vexation is also part of the Lord’s own program. Nothing in the Lord’s economy is wasted. And Lucifer, much to his chagrin, just ends up serving the Lord’s purpose for him. However, for New Agers, do not suppose that Satan in the end is honored or even rehabilitated in any way. It is Satan that delights in every conceivable abomination that he and his underlings can concoct or evoke in humans. Satan is absolutely and totally irredeemable and his eternal reward will be appropriate to his crimes.

20 For the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it: and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it.

Worldly forms of security eventually run out. Our normal comforts don’t work anymore, never getting ahead, never paying all the bills. If we do have money we don’t know where to put it for it to be safe. What looks good this month is soon past tense. There is no security and no place to hide from surveillance and potential predators. It seems like Satan is always one step ahead of us. Even the elites with their walls and bunkers will be exposed, eliminated and ushered into their reserved places in the lower levels of hell.

21 For the Lord shall rise up as in mount Perazim, he shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon, that he may do his work, his strange work; and bring to pass his act, his strange act.

In mount Perazim and again in the valley of Gibeon the Lord actively participated in destroying vastly larger armies of Israel’s enemies. There was no logical explanation for these victories accompanied by uncanny sensory effects that frightened and terrified Israel’s enemies. The result established David as King of a powerful and respected nation of Israel (see 1 Chr 14).

What is coming in the end times will be even more spectacular. The Lord is determined to use the weak things of the world to thresh the nations by the power of His Spirit and bring about His “strange act.”

For the preparation wherewith I design to prepare mine apostles to prune my vineyard for the last time, that I may bring to pass my strange act, that I may pour out my Spirit upon all flesh—But behold, verily I say unto you, that there are many who have been ordained among you, whom I have called but few of them are chosen. They who are not chosen have sinned a very grievous sin, in that they are walking in darkness at noon-day (D&C 95:4-6).

The Lord’s end time strange act will be a surprise to almost everyone. Not only will the roles of the predators and their prey be reversed but there will also be a profound shakeup among the leadership of the Lord’s people. Many of the provisionally foreordained “stars” shall become “exceedingly angry and cast themselves down” spiritually and eternally (D&C 88:87). The honor they might have had in the eternities is turned to dust because of their pride and taking offense at the Lord’s chastisement. Facades relating to the honors of men shall be stripped away. Having taken honor unto themselves they failed to understand that all honor belongs to the Father and the Son. In that day we shall see as we are seen and know as we are known and the Lord himself will honor His humble servants.

22 Now therefore be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong: for I have heard from the Lord God of hosts a consumption, even determined upon the whole earth.

Those who mock at the Lord’s promises to the obedient and disdain the workings of His strange act of worldwide judgment and the restoration of Israel will have their sinful chains effectively take them beyond the reach of repentance or mercy. Their bands by which they are bound shall be made strong. They are the tares which will be burned including those within the LDS Church.

23 ¶ Give ye ear, and hear my voice; hearken, and hear my speech.

Within the following verses is instruction using an analogy to farming for the humble and teachable who are paying attention to the word of the Lord.

24 Doth the plowman plow all day to sow? doth he open and break the clods of his ground? 25 When he hath made plain the face thereof, doth he not cast abroad the fitches, and scatter the cummin, and cast in the principal wheat and the appointed barley and the rie in their place? 26 For his God doth instruct him to discretion, and doth teach him.

As an instruction metaphor the Lord explains that each stage of farming such as preparing the ground, planting and harvesting follows an order. Ploughing alone, for example, has no purpose if not followed by sowing seed in the ploughed ground. Each type of crop, symbolic of human souls, is also handled by the Lord in a specific order.

27 For the fitches are not threshed with a threshing instrument, neither is a cart wheel turned about upon the cummin; but the fitches are beaten out with a staff, and the cummin with a rod. 28 Bread corn is bruised; because he will not ever be threshing it, nor break it with the wheel of his cart, nor bruise it with his horsemen.

The harvesting and threshing are also appropriate to each type of grain. The imagery includes a certain amount of physical beating and bruising symbolic of the Lord’s chastisements. Our particular afflictions and chastisement are suited to our specific needs for growth.

“God's judgments are like the various methods of threshing. If the spiritual state of the people is not too far gone, then a sharp rapping with a stick (or mild judgments) can bring them to productivity. In deeper stages of apostasy, however, more drastic methods may be required. An understanding of the symbolism used helps turn this passage from one of difficulty to one of power and beauty.” (Gerald N. Lund, "Understanding Scriptural Symbols," Ensign, Oct. 1986, 26-27)

29 This also cometh forth from the Lord of hosts, which is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working.

Trusting in the Lord of hosts is not only a good idea, its inherent course of essential transformation in character is required to lead individuals and family units to live in the celestial kingdom. A certain amount of spiritual bruising is required to form the type of godly character that can live in that kingdom, where God “dwells in everlasting burnings” (Teachings, p 346-7).

However, from the standpoint of those who fear bowing to the rod of penitence and instruction, the pain of repentance and its duration is highly overrated. Conversely, the immediate joy which follows is ignorantly undervalued due to lack of experience. The Lord’s threshing of the humble is loving and with infinite patience. Whereas His threshing of the proud is an entirely different story—but also born of love

GT 24

GT24: Isaiah Chapter 30 Commentary

1 Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin:

The Lord is pronouncing a woe, a warning of destruction to the rebellious of His own people—applicable in Isaiah’s day as well as now. We, the members of His church take erroneous and uninspired counsel that does not come from the Lord. We “cover with a covering” of so-called mainstream spirituality focusing on the same superficial concepts, year after year in place of sanctification. We are smug in our ignorance of necessary and essential knowledge of saving doctrines. Without this knowledge we are deprived of spiritually directed revelation for daily repentance and remission of sins, thus we necessarily accumulate and “add sin to sin” which we ultimately take with us to the other side. There are no “happy family reunions” (i.e. grandpa welcoming grandma) on the other side until we all have repented of our sins.

2 That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt!

The Lord’s people are warned not to form alliances but instead to trust in the Lord and have Him be their strength and their protector. This applies as well today as in all dispensations of the gospel. Today we make alliances with social, political and global secret combinations that are diametrically opposed to the truths the Lord has taught us and the liberties He has given us. We give up rights and national sovereignty to global organizations that violate our constitutional rights. We vote for politicians whose party platforms lurk with evil. We do dirty deals with other nations and look the other way. Many also put their trust in assets and portfolios. Whether it is the moths that eat up our asserts or the day the ATM quits cooperating the Lord is our only security.

3 Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion.

Israel’s misguided alliances with Egypt go way back in history. The perpetual Egyptian alliances were a form of trusting in the arm of flesh—a substitute to a wiser dependence upon God.

4 For his princes were at Zoan, and his ambassadors came to Hanes. 5 They were all ashamed of a people that could not profit them, nor be an help nor profit, but a shame, and also a reproach.

The negotiations between Israel and Egypt historically were pointless and to no effect. When Israel sinned they went into bondage regardless of their dependence upon Egypt for military support and at least partly because of it. If they lived worthy to place their trust in the Lord He would have delivered them from every threat. Just as the Nephites, had they lived worthy, never would have been defeated by their enemies.

6 The burden of the beasts of the south: into the land of trouble and anguish, from whence come the young and old lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they will carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures upon the bunches of camels, to a people that shall not profit them.

The Beasts of the south are the nations to the south of Israel. The land of trouble and anguish is the Negev desert between Israel and Egypt. Travel between Israel and Egypt was difficult and precarious including facing wild beasts and marauders. Goods and merchandise were traded across this wasteland. Israel sought military favors and support by this means in times past. However, this partnership was to no avail as the Egyptians never effectively served them in the field of battle.

It is interesting to note that present day Israel, after several modern wars with Egypt, now finds itself again in an alliance with their old partner of the Nile. Egypt was the first of several middle eastern countries that have formed an alliance with Israel, an alliance that now includes a growing list of other Middle Eastern nations. This alliance also incorporates trade among these countries including sales of goods and armaments, but they are no longer transported on camels and asses.

If there is a latter-day interpretation to this verse the young and old lions and fiery flying serpents may symbolize military weapons. The scene of terrible destruction in modern times, the Negev desert, has been littered with new and old fighting tanks and armored vehicles from a variety of international suppliers. This includes the scene of fiery flying serpents in the form of rockets and missiles. The vipers may also symbolize deceitful and backstabbing leaders and politicians. This area of the world has seen it all. Regardless, the bottom line is always a warning for Israel to rely upon the Lord rather than alliances. There may be a time of illusory peace, but this alliance mistake will again cost Israel in the run-up to the Savior’s return.

7 For the Egyptians shall help in vain, and to no purpose: therefore have I cried concerning this, Their strength is to sit still.

What was true in the Old Testament prophet’s days will be true again in the latter days. Israel’s dependence upon Egypt and any other external alliances will fail them in the end. They will be forced to turn to their God with all their heart. Their ultimate strength is to trust in and wait upon the Lord for direction and protection.

8 Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever:

The Lord, through Isaiah, is speaking to us here in our day—the end times.

9 That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD:

We teach our children to lie by our own disobedience and inconsistent boundaries. The Lord’s people (LDS) either ignore the law of the LORD or they take it for granted. The law of the Lord is the law of redemption through Christ made possible by His “sacrifice for sin”. It requires daily repentance, broken hearts and contrite spirits “and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered” (2 Ne 2:7).

10 Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits: 11 Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.

This is speaking to us (LDS) about our day. There may be earlier fulfillments, but this is mainly an end time prophecy. Therefore it appears that we, as the Lord’s people, are and/or will be guilty of the sins described. False and watered down doctrine is taught at almost all levels within our LDS congregations today.

Our members do not want to hear about or traverse the way of Holiness. They want to turn aside from the path of sanctification and worship a god in their own image. Our members also require or accept leaders who teach and prophesy smooth things and deceits.

12 Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon:

LDS business dealings are 5 out of 10 honest on average. Widows and the poor are taken advantage of. The treasures of Achan are hidden in our tents (Joshua 7:1-36). The concept of daily repentance receives essentially no audience among us. We put stock in government and media narratives that are oppressive, perverse and unconstitutional. Our clothing and moral behavior are only a year or two behind the world. We have been carried captive into Babylon and have coveted and even acquired many things we have seen there.

13 Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant.

The symbolism is like that of a retaining wall which prevents erosion of a property or a community. The wall here refers to the protection of the Lord for the community of His people. However, the wall fails when the pressure against it, the load of unrepentant sin, becomes too great and it breaks “suddenly at an instant.” Everything seems to be fine in the community of the Saints until the moment the wall crumbles. At that point it will be too late to repent.

14 And he shall break it as the breaking of the potters’ vessel that is broken in pieces; he shall not spare: so that there shall not be found in the bursting of it a sherd to take fire from the hearth, or to take water withal out of the pit.

When the retaining wall of the Saints protection crumbles, members who have served their own needs rather than the Lord’s path of daily repentance and forgiveness of sins will experience panic and calamity. There will be nothing left of the false value systems and their articles.

15 For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.

The term “returning” means returning to God from any degree of waywardness. Until we have repented of ‘all’ our sins as commanded in Moroni 7:5 we are wayward.

The term “rest” refers to walking the path of sanctification, that is obedience, repentance and personal revelation to the point of calling and election. The “rest of the Lord” is defined by the Lord in D&C 84:24 as “the fulness of his glory.” Coming into “the fulness of his glory” also means to be able to rest from temptation and sin. Walking the path of sanctification eventuates in one’s calling and election, being redeemed from the fall, or from our fallen nature. Walking this path in life is quiet in the sense of a lack of drama and turmoil. Walking this path is done in confidence and strength in that there is no challenge that is not faced in partnership and trust with the Lord. However, most of the Lord’s people choose the “ye would not” path—to follow their own will and ultimately obtain negative, even disastrous, results – if not in this life then after passing through the veil.

16 But ye said, No; for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee: and, We will ride upon the swift; therefore shall they that pursue you be swift.

Many Saints suppose that they are prepared for times of calamity by virtue of their powerful vehicles, storage of gasoline and supplies, firearms, mountain cabin hideouts, etc. However, all these will be no match for the invading forces, mobs and marauders, etc. The only safety in the times we are now entering is through righteousness. Both physical and spiritual preparation are necessary but without spiritual preparation we have no promise of the Lord’s protection.

17 One thousand shall flee at the rebuke of one; at the rebuke of five shall ye flee: till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and as an ensign on an hill.

The fleeing of the LDS members can be interpreted two ways. One can pertain to the time of the Assyrian invaders of the US. The other pertains to those prophets who will arise to call the Saints to repentance. At their rebuke many will apostatize and separate themselves from the Saints. The LDS Church will be scourged and cleansed by afflictions and apostasy. The remaining membership will be a powerful beacon of Light to the world and an ensign of gathering of the righteous remnants of Israel.

18 And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.

The Lord waits for his people to prove themselves obedient. The obedient will praise and exalt the Lord regardless of their situation. The obedient and faithful will also wait upon the Lord for his direction. Those who wait upon the Lord are those who do not yield to fear and panic, who do not act prematurely or presumptuously. These are they who have “taken the Holy Spirit for their guide, and have not been deceived” (D&C 45:57). These are they for whom all things, including afflictions, work together for their good and shall reign with Christ in His kingdom. Waiting for the Lord is wise and it is also a test. Those who “wait” (i.e. for his instructions) for Him are blessed and have His promised protection.

19 For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no more: he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear it, he will answer thee.

This might better read “Zion and Jerusalem.” The term Zion can refer to both places, but the KJV translators had not the knowledge that did Isaiah that Zion and Jerusalem can and often do refer to different places including the Latter-day Church established among the “everlasting hills” or in the future New Jerusalem.

The righteous remnants of Israel (including the Ephraimite LDS and elements of other tribes with them) will call upon and cry unto the Lord and He will hear them and answer their prayers. To the righteous this promise always applies, though there is particular emphasis here to the refined and cleansed Israelite remnants gathering to their two capitals in the last days.

20 And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner anymore, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers:

The Lord does give us the “bread of adversity and the water of affliction” to the degree we need it in order to be humble and teachable. If we allow the Lord’s refining process our teachers (angels, ancestors and the Spirit of the Lord) shall become more visible and active in our daily lives. The Lord cannot “make weak things become strong unto us” unless we are humble—that is, unless we allow the Lord to show us our weaknesses so that we may bring them to Him for resolution (Ether 12:27).

21 And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.

This heavenly direction and its protection are the gifts and blessings to the just and the sanctified. Such direction will be sorely needed in the days ahead.

22 Ye shall defile also the covering of thy graven images of silver, and the ornament of thy molten images of gold: thou shalt cast them away as a menstruous cloth; thou shalt say unto it, Get thee hence.

All of the things of false value in which we place our interest and trust shall eventually be seen in their true light and be cast off as dross. Living with Heavenly Father in Celestial glory requires a total revamp of human value systems.

23 Then shall he give the rain of thy seed, that thou shalt sow the ground withal; and bread of the increase of the earth, and it shall be fat and plenteous: in that day shall thy cattle feed in large pastures.

Those who have been faithful and endured the crosses of this mortal probation shall be the fathers and mothers of great nations during the millennium. The earth shall bring forth in abundance and we shall build and not another inhabit, plant and eat our own fruit. In that day we shall long enjoy the fruit of the labor of our hands (Isa 65:21-24).

24 The oxen likewise and the young asses that ear the ground shall eat clean provender, which hath been winnowed with the shovel and with the fan.

The beasts of burden shall also have a better life in the millennium. The earth shall produce, and they shall eat high grade provender (likely hay, straw and corn) in abundance. They are no longer slain but range free, well cared for. Zion’s economy will be grounded in agriculture.

25 And there shall be upon every high mountain, and upon every high hill, rivers and streams of waters in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall.

The geological alterations upon the face of the earth as the end time physical calamities transition into terrestrial transformations there will be many changes caused by a variety of physical and extra-physical sources. Springs of water bursting forth and flooding may certainly be part of the process. The water may also be symbolic of revelation to those who have climbed their spiritual mountains so that they are delivered in the day of the great slaughter when the Babylonian physical and spiritual towers fall.

26 Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that the Lord bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound.

The world that remains after the destructions and cleansing shall be full of light both figuratively and spiritually. The breach of the Lord’s people is the departure from both the old and the new and everlasting covenant—the understanding and agreement that we would be His people and He would be our God and that He would bless, protect and prosper us. The breach also pertains to the generational gaps in our ancestral tree left by those who refused to accept the gospel in life and in the spirit world.

The wound or wounds that are to be healed among the Lord’s people (the Latter-day Saints) were caused by the breaches of the Covenant mentioned above. The healing is by and through Him who arose “with healing in His wings” (2Ne 25:13) and who provided an infinite Atonement to those who qualified for it through personal repentance, humble obedience and temple ordinances.

27 Behold, the name of the Lord cometh from far, burning with his anger, and the burden thereof is heavy: his lips are full of indignation, and his tongue as a devouring fire:

It is hard to imagine the extent and depth of the cup of retribution that is in the Lord’s heart for all the abominations and sacrilege heaped upon the divine godhead by Satan’s evil mortal minions. Add to this the disregard and misuse of the Savior’s sacrifice by supposed believers and the constant blasphemy by those who take the Lord’s name upon their lips without authority (including LDS). Heavenly Father’s greatest anger is kindled by the almost infinite disrespect of mankind for the suffering of His Son and against those for whom His Son has suffered in vain. For these there will be a devouring fire.

28 And his breath, as an overflowing stream, shall reach to the midst of the neck, to sift the nations with the sieve of vanity: and there shall be a bridle in the jaws of the people, causing them to err.

The bridle in the jaws of the people causing them to err is vanity and pride, Satan’s greatest tools. Everything else and all the other sins and abominations follow from that. Except for the poor (and not all of them) the people of the nations of the world are and will be increasingly drunk with pride and all that goes with it. They will be fuel for the fire. The careful preparations of the Babylonian globalist elites will be an essential part of the conflagration. Hence the cry, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen!” (Isa 21:9, Rev 14:8).

29 Ye shall have a song, as in the night when a holy solemnity is kept; and gladness of heart, as when one goeth with a pipe to come into the mountain of the Lord, to the mighty One of Israel.

When the Lord’s people are delivered from Babylon and the Anti-Christ and his mark by the destruction of the wicked there will be gladness of heart among the righteous remnants of Israel who remain. Their joy will be solemn in consideration of all that has just occurred, but their solemnity shall be turned into music and singing as they come to worship at the mountains of the Lord at His holy temples.

30 And the Lord shall cause his glorious voice to be heard, and shall shew the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of his anger, and with the flame of a devouring fire, with scattering, and tempest, and hailstones.

This verse reverts back to the destructions. This may also be because there are basically two sets of destructions. The first is when Babylon, in the form of the globalist cabal, is betrayed and destroyed by the military forces of the Anti-Christ. The second set culminates in the massive slaughter in the war of Armageddon and the destruction of the Anti-Christ.

31 For through the voice of the Lord shall the Assyrian be beaten down, which smote with a rod.

The Assyrian represents the final chapter of destruction as a rod in the hand of the Lord and the means by which the wicked destroy the wicked. The Assyrian is the rod, and he also strikes with the rod. Either way the Assyrian is the Lord’s rod of punishment he uses for the wicked until the Assyrian Anti-Christ and his army are also destroyed by the Lord’s voice as He arrives in fury and glory.

32 And in every place where the grounded staff shall pass, which the Lord shall lay upon him, it shall be with tabrets and harps: and in battles of shaking will he fight with it.

The Lord’s staff shall land upon the Assyrian forces with devasting effect. The manner in which the Lord fights His battles is unique and totally terrifying. There will be strange disquieting noises and hallucinatory effects that totally disquiet and panic the enemy. They dissemble in terror and turn upon each other.

Some examples of the Lord’s warfare are the Battle of Jericho and King David’s routs of the vast Palestinian/Syrian alliance detailed in 1 Chronicles 14.

33 For Tophet is ordained of old; yea, for the king it is prepared; he hath made it deep and large: the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of the Lord, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it.

Tophet, a synonym for hell, was a pit outside the walls of Jerusalem where refuse was burned and human children were sacrificed. The Lord here uses it as symbolic of the fate that awaits Satan and his followers.

GT 25

Signs of the End Time—3 Nephi 21-22 Including Isaiah 54 (12/29/23)

Among the subjects that are presently more or less taboo in LDS podiums and classrooms are the following: 1) End-time events (even though we are Latter-day Saints); 2) Secret combinations, even though such entities are presently running our government and much of the world; 3) The role the Native Americans (Lamanites) are to play in vexing this American Gentile nation, and 4) The prophesied demise of the US government and destruction of our transportation systems, institutions and cities. These are all signs of the times--current and yet to come. If anyone thinks that that the fulfillment of the end-time prophecies are still 200 years away, they are wearing blinders, for they are already upon us.

After Christ's resurrection he conducted an additional ministry to his devoted disciples in the Old World that occupied 40 days. We do not have recorded anywhere what he taught at this time. During the Saviour's ministry to the descendants of Lehi almost a year after his resurrection he taught the multitude many things that were not recorded in what we have translated in the Book of Mormon. Also excluded in the scriptures we have are instances so sacred that they were not even permitted to be written even at that time.

How important to us and our salvation were the teachings given on these occasions? The things taught at that time included the history of man and God's dealings from the beginning to the end of the world--and inspired the Nephites and Lamanites to live over 200 years in peace. While we are told that the Book of Mormon contains the fulness of the gospel and that a man can get closer to God by observing its teachings than by any other book, we are also told that the "greater things" are withheld from us as a test of our faithfulness. See also: GT2: Scriptures Pertaining to the Mysteries and GT: 12 Milk vs Meat.

However, among the things that are there for us are the Savior's comments in chapter 21 of 3rd Nephi which contain a summary of signs of events pertaining to the end-times clearly worthy of our attention. Taken along with everything else in prophetic writings and with respect to what is coming, we cannot say that we have not been warned and given an incentive to sanctify ourselves and rend our veils of unbelief.

In this regard, in a parenthetical comment in Moroni's translation of the Jaredite history and its destruction, addressed to both us and the remnant of Lehi in the latter-days, the Lord urges and warns:

Come unto me, O ye Gentiles, and I will show unto you the greater things, the knowledge which is hid up because of unbelief. Come unto me, O ye house of Israel, and it shall be made manifest unto you how great things the Father hath laid up for you, from the foundation of the world; and it hath not come unto you, because of unbelief. Behold, when ye shall rend that veil of unbelief which doth cause you to remain in your awful state of wickedness, and hardness of heart, and blindness of mind, then shall the great and marvelous things which have been hid up from the foundation of the world from you—yea, when ye shall call upon the Father in my name, with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, then shall ye know that the Father hath remembered the covenant which he made unto your fathers, O house of Israel. And then shall my revelations which I have caused to be written by my servant John be unfolded in the eyes of all the people. Remember, when ye see these things, ye shall know that the time is at hand that they shall be made manifest in very deed. Therefore, when ye shall receive this record ye may know that the work of the Father has commenced upon all the face of the land (Ether 4:13–17).

The Book of Mormon is still a sign of the times today. The degree of its reception and/or rejection among the Gentiles and the Israelite remnants is also a sign of the times. We may examine where we stand on bringing the Book of Mormon to all the nations of the world. What will it take to open up places like China and India with a combined population around 2.3 billion people? Perhaps civil unrest, perhaps war, perhaps the powerful missionary force of the 144,000...perhaps all of the above.

We are entering into a period of dynamic history that will try men's hearts and souls. Therefore, in order to learn and understand some of the greater things that were taught to Christ's disciples, including the signs of the times, we are to use the teachings and keys we have been given and apply them to remove the veil of unbelief under which we presently labor. Among the incentives to do so are the signs of the end-times provided by the Savior himself. See also: GT1: Principles of Full Salvation.

Among all the ancient scriptures pertaining to the latter-days we have only two instances of the Savior describing end- time events in his own words: Mattthew chapter 24 (including the more detailed JST Matt 24; also see additional details pertaining to this same occasion provided in D&C 45) and this Book of Mormon ministry to the descendants of Lehi (it is not clear if any Mulekites were present). The details in the present discussion, though including all of Israel, pertain more particularly to the future of the peoples in America—hence their pertinence to Native Americans and to those of us that also dwell here in the Americas.

3 Nephi 21:

1 And verily I say unto you, I give unto you a sign, that ye may know the time when these things shall be about to take place—that I shall gather in, from their long dispersion, my people, O house of Israel, and shall establish again among them my Zion;

Notice the key phrase, “about to take place.” The long-foretold gathering of the tribes of Israel that takes place in the last days is a thing little understood among the peoples of the earth, including the various Christian sects and even Latter-day Saints. It will be unlike anything that has ever happened before.

2 And behold, this is the thing which I will give unto you for a sign—for verily I say unto you that when these things which I declare unto you, and which I shall declare unto you hereafter of myself, and by the power of the Holy Ghost which shall be given unto you of the Father, shall be made known unto the Gentiles that they may know concerning this people who are a remnant of the house of Jacob, and concerning this my people who shall be scattered by them;

The things referenced that the Lord is to declare to and through the Gentiles are contained mainly in the Book of Mormon. The instructions and teachings in the Doctrine and Covenants are to empower and direct the LDS Church to fulfill its commission of bringing the Book of Mormon and restored gospel of Jesus Christ to the world and to Israelite remnants in particular. The gospel is to be restored among the American Gentiles, who will have scattered and diminished the power of the remnants of Lehi and Mulek. The Restoration is the means by which the Gentile converts become aware of the true lineage of the American Israelite remnants, and by which the remnants themselves become aware of their lineage and their latter-day promises.

3 Verily, verily, I say unto you, when these things shall be made known unto them of the Father, and shall come forth of the Father, from them unto you; 4 For it is wisdom in the Father that they should be established in this land, and be set up as a free people by the power of the Father, that these things might come forth from them unto a remnant of your seed, that the covenant of the Father may be fulfilled which he hath covenanted with his people, O house of Israel;

The establishment of the United States of America based upon its Constitution of guaranteed rights and freedoms was the necessary precursor to the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the ultimate gathering of the righteous descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Satan, knowing this, is doing his best to erase and modify the principles of guaranteed freedom in the Constitution so as to lose their power and protection.

After the Restoration through the prophet Joseph Smith and the translation and publication of the Book of Mormon, the next step in the sequence of events was or is the delivery of the Book of Mormon and its message to the Lehite remnants of the lands of the Americas. This is a process that, to this point, might be characterized as sporadic and somewhat ineffectual at best. It's fulfillment evidently lies ahead.

5 Therefore, when these works and the works which shall be wrought among you hereafter shall come forth from the Gentiles, unto your seed which shall dwindle in unbelief because of iniquity; 6 For thus it behooveth the Father that it should come forth from the Gentiles, that he may show forth his power unto the Gentiles, for this cause that the Gentiles, if they will not harden their hearts, that they may repent and come unto me and be baptized in my name and know of the true points of my doctrine, that they may be numbered among my people, O house of Israel;

The Lord establishes and shows forth his power through the American nation not only for the sake of the spreading of the gospel to the American remnants of Israel but to the entire world. The growth and the prosperity of the Church and the Saints makes the spread of the gospel possible. If the Gentiles accept the gospel and humble themselves the Lord can use them to further his work to gather Israel. Those Gentiles who accept and embrace the gospel message are almost always of the lineage of Israel, Ephraim in particular. If they do not harden their hearts and reject the true points of the Lord’s doctrines they will be numbered among the tribes of Israel and receive of the promised blessing.

7 And when these things come to pass that thy seed shall begin to know these things—it shall be a sign unto them, that they may know that the work of the Father hath already commenced unto the fulfilling of the covenant which he hath made unto the people who are of the house of Israel.

In early October of 1830 the first mission to elements of Native Americans or “Lamanites” was detailed in a revelation recorded in Section 32 of the Doctrine and Covenants. Parly P. Pratt and Ziba Peterson were to accompany Oliver Cowdrey and Peter Whitmer, who were already preparing to preach the gospel to some tribes in regions further west in the northern US.

Again, we are reminded that when the descendants of Lehi “begin to know these things” it is a sign that the work of the Father was already then proceeding, regardless of whether it was or is publicly visible or not. The growth of the Restored Church and the burgeoning missionary efforts and the building and function of temples dotting the earth are some of the visible components of this dispensation. Less visible are the missions of John the Revelator, the three Nephites and other angelic and translated beings who are laboring behind and through the veil to the scattered tribes of Israel and to the sanctified among the Gentile converts and their offspring.

8 And when that day shall come, it shall come to pass that kings shall shut their mouths; for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider.

The growth of the Restored Church and the worldwide missionary effort brings forth a message that reaches not only the rank and file of the world but also its leaders. In 1845 the Quorum of the Twelve under Brigham Young published a Proclamation to the World of the Restoration directed as a warning message to kings and queens and to the leadership of the 161 then recognized nations of the world. While the modern world, and particularly its leaders, has embraced social and political Darwinism, Marxism and other Luciferian philosophies, the gospel message is a catalyst for all levels of society to ponder, not only the Book of Mormon, but also if the Bible is indeed a reliable history with a genuine message pertinent to our day? In this modern age, are the prophecies in the Bible and now the Book of Mormon truly worthy of consideration? Is a return of a Messiah and a day of judgment something for which they should be concerned? Kings, queens, prime ministers and the leaders of the world will all sooner or later come to face these possibilities and the limits and transient nature of their worldly power.

9 For in that day, for my sake shall the Father awork a work, which shall be a great and a marvelous work among them; and there shall be among them those who will not believe it, although a man shall declare it unto them.

The great and marvelous work begins with the Restoration but extends well beyond into all things associated with the end time prophecies, including the gathering of all Israel and the return of the Savior in power and glory. To say that some will not believe it may be considered an understatement. However, as the Lord increasingly shows his hand in the Latter days a greater effort is required to deny the truth. The man spoken of is Joseph Smith.

10 But behold, the life of my servant shall be in my hand; therefore they shall not hurt him, although he shall be marred because of them. Yet I will heal him, for I will show unto them that my wisdom is greater than the cunning of the devil.

It is interesting to note how the Lord views the death of the Prophet Joseph Smith—he is only “marred.” Satan thought to prevent the Restoration by having his minions hound and betray Joseph falsely unto the extent of his physical death. The result, however, was to create not only the supreme effect of righteous martyrdom but also crowning Joseph as a powerful Archangel who now presides over this dispensation and all of his enemies. Much to his chagrin, everything the Devil does is used by the Lord to perfect the repentant among his Saints and achieve the final outcome of this creation.

11 Therefore it shall come to pass that whosoever will not believe in my words, who am Jesus Christ, which the Father shall cause him to bring forth unto the Gentiles, and shall give unto him power that he shall bring them forth unto the Gentiles, (it shall be done even as Moses said) they shall be cut off from among my people who are of the covenant.

The Lord did give Joseph power to bring forth his word and the Church has spread among the Gentiles throughout the earth. The timeline now advances towards judgments upon those who reject the message. Those Gentiles who do not believe in the Lord’s words that Joseph brought forth shall be cut off from among the righteous of the Lord’s people. This promise applies to the Americas as well as to the whole world. We may ponder what being “cut-off” looks like.

The growth of the LDS Church has slowed in America and most European nations. The Gentiles in these nations are actually now ripening for destruction.

12 And my people who are a remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles, yea, in the midst of them as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep, who, if he go through both treadeth down and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver.

While this prophecy has a larger application to the world population versus the gathering tribes of Israel in the last days, there is a more specific consideration here for the descendants or remnants of the very people to whom he is speaking. At some point in the future the Lehite remnant shall be a scourge to the increasingly immoral Gentile nation of America. See also: GT21: Latter-Day Timeline/18. The “Remnant” shall “Vex” the Gentiles.

According to Wikipedia there are about 5.5 million Native American tribal citizens in the US at present (12/23), possibly including 100 thousand that are considered pure blooded. Hispanics may or may not be considered differently, as the case may be; however, there are still native tribes in Canada, Mexico and other Latin American countries.

13 Their hand shall be lifted up upon their adversaries, and all their enemies shall be cut off.

When and how this manifests is not clear, but it is likely that the present-day trends of lawlessness and immorality afflicting our nation likely will evolve to a point where people begin to take matters of safety and survival into their own hands. This includes ethnic minorities and the Native American remnants.

In the D&C revelation on wars in section 87 we are warned:

And it shall come to pass, after many days, slaves shall rise up against their masters, who shall be marshaled and disciplined for war. And it shall come to pass also that the remnants who are left of the land will marshal themselves, and shall become exceedingly angry, and shall vex the Gentiles with a sore vexation (D&C 87:4-5).

The trends weakening our nation including civil and ethnic unrest are also an invitation for invasion—subtle and otherwise (such as a military invasion). The Lehite remnant’s enemies referenced clearly include unrepentant Gentiles and elements of a nation that diminished and subjugated their progenitors. It also likely includes people who have come here illegally usurping resources which rightfully belong to the residents of this nation and now especially the indigenous residents of this land. Finally, their enemies are likely to include soldiers belonging to foreign invaders. It might seem a stretch to pit Native Americans against a foreign military power (likely Russia) but we are now in virgin territory unlike anything in our modern-day experience. The weak are about to become strong.

14 Yea, wo be unto the Gentiles except they repent; for it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Father, that I will cut off thy horses out of the midst of thee, and I will destroy thy chariots; 15 And I will cut off the cities of thy land, and throw down all thy strongholds;

Moving the prophetic timeline forward, though this prophecy applies to all the world, here again it pertains mainly to America and its Lehite descendants. The remnant being addressed by the resurrected Lord in this discourse is to the people to whom he has given the Americas for their land of inheritance. The removal of our various means of transportation are obviously referenced, and our cities and normal means of support slated for destruction. This will be the fulfillment of more than one of Jospeh Smith’s prophecies pertaining to the Future of the American nation.

16 And I will cut off witchcrafts out of thy land, and thou shalt have no more soothsayers; 17 Thy graven images I will also cut off, and thy standing images out of the midst of thee, and thou shalt no more worship the works of thy hands; 18 And I will pluck up thy groves out of the midst of thee; so will I destroy thy cities. 19 And it shall come to pass that all lyings, and deceivings, and envyings, and strifes, and priestcrafts, and whoredoms, shall be done away.

The groves is a term used in the scriptures referring to places of false worship. The houses and churches of icon worship and all the occult and mystical sciences and hedonistic rituals will have no place any longer in the scenes of destruction or in the subsequent gatherings to the holy city of the New Jerusalem. It should be clear that living in any of America’s more sizable cities is to become even more dangerous than it is already.

20 For it shall come to pass, saith the Father, that at that day whosoever will not repent and come unto my Beloved Son, them will I cut off from among my people, O house of Israel; 21 And I will execute vengeance and fury upon them, even as upon the heathen, such as they have not heard.

Two chapters later Mormon has the following to say directly to us, the latter-day Gentiles unto whom the Book of Mormon has come:

Hearken, O ye Gentiles, and hear the words of Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, which he hath commanded me that I should speak concerning you, for, behold he commandeth me that I should write, saying: Turn, all ye Gentiles, from your wicked ways; and repent of your evil doings, of your lyings and deceivings, and of your whoredoms, and of your secret abominations, and your idolatries, and of your murders, and your priestcrafts, and your envyings, and your strifes, and from all your wickedness and abominations, and come unto me, and be baptized in my name, that ye may receive a remission of your sins, and be filled with the Holy Ghost, that ye may be numbered with my people who are of the house of Israel (3 Ne 30:1–2).

22 But if they will repent and hearken unto my words, and harden not their hearts, I will establish my church among them, and they shall come in unto the covenant and be numbered among this the remnant of Jacob, unto whom I have given this land for their inheritance.

The tribe of Ephraim, holding the birthright blessing, has the privilege, honor, and responsibility of receiving and restoring the gospel of Jesus Christ and all of its priesthood authority and ordinances to a dark and troubled world. As Ephraim was scattered and interspersed among all nations it is essentially the modern-day Gentiles with some portion of Ephraimite blood who accept the gospel message. This is the spiritual ancestral leaven (scriptural “lump” of dough) that has leavened the whole loaf of the world—working against the tide of evil that is the constant program of Lucifer. However, if we, as Gentile converts to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints do not magnify our callings and fulfill the three-fold mission of the Church, whether individually or collectively, we shall not survive the refiners fire that is coming. Obviously, some will while many wont. See also: GT 14: The Latter-Day Babylonian Captivity.

In 4th Nephi chapter 5, the Lord speaks to the latter-day Lehite remnant and to the believing among the Gentiles:

And now behold, this I speak unto their seed [Lamanites/Native American remnant], and also to the Gentiles who have care for the house of Israel, that realize and know from whence their blessings come…But behold, it shall come to pass that they [the remnant] shall be driven and scattered by the Gentiles; and after they have been driven and scattered by the Gentiles, behold, then will the Lord remember the covenant which he made unto Abraham and unto all the house of Israel. And also the Lord will remember the prayers of the righteous, which have been put up unto him for them. And then, O ye Gentiles, how can ye stand before the power of God, except ye shall repent and turn from your evil ways? Know ye not that ye are in the hands of God? Know ye not that he hath all power, and at his great command the earth shall be rolled together as a scroll? Therefore, repent ye, and humble yourselves before him, lest he shall come out in justice against you—lest a remnant of the seed of Jacob shall go forth among you as a lion, and tear you in pieces, and there is none to deliver (4 Ne 5:10, 20-24, emphasis ours).

To the American Lamanite remnant of Jocob that will have vexed the Gentiles as a lion among the flocks the Lord instructs through the prophet Mormon:

Know ye that ye must lay down your weapons of war, and delight no more in the shedding of blood, and take them not again, save it be that God shall command you (Morm 7:4).

It is time to lay down their weapons of war, repent and build the New Jerusalem. Refined as gold and silver, it is the righteous sanctified that shall survive and even be delivered from the end-time scourges and tribulations—thus to be enabled to provide the temple blessings to the rest of Israel and their ancestors as they gather to the Wasatch Front and then to New Jerusalem. While elements of the other tribes are also gathering, our role as Ephraimite Gentiles is critical.

At this point the Savior continues this discourse to the descendants of Lehi by phasing directly into a quotation of Isaiah chapter 54. His previous comments set the stage for Isaiah’s inspired prophecies of the gathering of Israel in the last days.

3 Nephi 22, (includes quotation of Isaiah 54

1 And then shall that which is written come to pass: Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child; for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the Lord.

The “barren” referred to here is that of Israel including the Jews. They are barren because they never brought forth the Lord’s Church or the man child (the priesthood man). It was because of iniquity that the Ten Tribes of the Northern Kingdom were carried away by the Assyrians so that they were not even present during the Lord’s mortal mission. And it was because of the Jew’s rejection of Christ that the gospel was taken from them and delivered to the Gentiles.

For those who wonder who is the “married wife,” it is us—the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Restored Church was never barren. This chapter of Isaiah is addressed mainly to the remnants of Israel and their gathering and restoration of grace by the Lord. However, who is it that travails? Again, it is us, the LDS Church, the Latter-day Saints. It is the married wife that must travail. Some may think we have but this is not so. Our travail still lies ahead (see Isa 66:8, Micah 4:9-10). See also: GT15: Is there a Scourge Remaining for the Lord's People?

It is in this frame of reference, the last dispensation, the Dispensation of the Fulness of Times, that the “last shall be first and the first shall be last”. In the meridian of time the gospel went first to the Jews and then to the Gentiles. In this dispensation the gospel has come first to the Gentiles (mainly Ephraimite converts) and we, the LDS Church, must then bring the gospel to the Jews and the rest of Israel. To be successful at this we must first travail and bring forth the power associated with the fulness of the gospel and the fulness of the priesthood. This will yet require the Latter-day Saints to go through the furnace of affliction. See: GT4: Oath & Covenant of the Priesthood.

2 Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thy habitations; spare not, lengthen thy cords and strengthen thy stakes;

While this certainly refers to the growth of the present-day LDS Church, the subject addressed above refers more particularly to the “barren…that didst not bear,” the Jews and the other tribes of Israel that have yet to enjoy the fulness of the priesthood and its blessings. What is being described in this chapter of Isaiah is the gathering and flourishing of the entirety of Israel. This is not possible until many preliminary events have occurred including the travail of the married wife.

3 For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left, and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.

The barren are now baring fruit like never before. By this point in the latter-day timeline America is no longer recognizable as a powerful nation. The judgments of the Lord have fallen upon it and it has reverted to a land of inheritance for the Lehite remnant as promised by the Lord. The scattered descendants of Jacob are building the New Jerusalem as well as rebuilding the formerly destroyed and now desolate cities of America.

4 Fear not, for thou shalt not be ashamed; neither be thou confounded, for thou shalt not be put to shame; for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more. 5 For thy maker, thy husband, the Lord of Hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel—the God of the whole earth shall he be called. 6 For the Lord hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God. 7 For a small moment have I forsaken thee, but with great mercies will I gather thee. 8 In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment, but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer.

Clearly the Lord is speaking to literal Israel as the wife of youth who was forsaken but is now embraced and shall bear children.

9 For this, the waters of Noah unto me, for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth, so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee. 10 For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee.

The “three” here referenced is the righteous end-time gathering and establishment of the tribes of Israel to their lands of inheritance.

11 O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted! Behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colors, and lay thy foundations with sapphires. 12 And I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones.

Israel has suffered many centuries and countless generations at the hand of the Lord and of the Gentiles. But in the end-time they are returned to the Lord’s graces and the fulfilment of all the prophesied blessings. To the survivors of the wars and tribulations in the rest of the world the Lord’s hand will be visible and marvelous in restoring and blessing the righteous remnants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

13 And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children.

A blessed future condition rarely experienced today in which parents and teachers understand the holiness and sanctity of their children and do not labor under false notions of so-called “original sin” taught by religious sects. The spirits in our children were adults before they came here and have been schooled already through the first half of eternity. It is the job of parents to facilitate their smooth continuance of learning in mortality rather than putting learning blocks and false beliefs etched into their neurons and psyche. It will be a time when all know the Lord and behave accordingly. Children will grow up without sin unto salvation.

And at that day, when I shall come in my glory, shall the parable be fulfilled which I spake concerning the ten virgins. For they that are wise and have received the truth, and have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide, and have not been deceived—verily I say unto you, they shall not be hewn down and cast into the fire, but shall abide the day. And the earth shall be given unto them for an inheritance; and they shall multiply and wax strong, and their children shall grow up without sin unto salvation. For the Lord shall be in their midst, and his glory shall be upon them, and he will be their king and their lawgiver (D&C 45: 56-59)

14 In righteousness shalt thou be established; thou shalt be far from oppression for thou shalt not fear, and from terror for it shall not come near thee. 15 Behold, they shall surely gather together against thee, not by me; whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake. 16 Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy. 17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall revile against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord (3 Ne 22:1–17 includes quotation of Isiah 54).

Satan’s minions and all that gave head to them will have all been destroyed. Only the righteous among the Gentiles and Israelite tribes remain. The earth and its people are at rest. There is a thousand years of Terrestrial peace and glory as the earth prepares for its Celestial resurrection as a home for the exalted—for the servants of the Lord whose righteousness is of the Lord.

Heal Body, Mind, Spirit, Family Tree