Just Follow the Prophet

I have been persecuted for believing that others could have dreams, visions and prophecy and be commanded to share them. I wrestled much with the Lord to know if I should be open to people sharing these sacred, personal experiences. The Lord led me to many scriptures and words of the prophets such as; Samuel the Lamanite (Helaman 13-15), Eldad and Medad (Numbers 11:25-29) and a great talk by Elder Dallin H. Oaks entitled, "Spiritual Gifts," Ensign, September 1986. https://www.lds.org/ensign/1986/09/spiritual-gifts?lang=eng

Dieter F. Uchtdorf made this great observation about when one receives additional light and truth and what happens as they share it. “Some might believe us. Most would ridicule, oppose, or perhaps even seek to silence or harm us. Some might attempt to apply logic, reason, and facts as they know them to show that we are misguided, foolish, or even dangerous. They might condemn us for attempting to mislead others.
But of course, these people would be completely mistaken. They might be well-meaning and sincere. They might feel absolutely positive of their opinion. But they simply would not be able to see clearly because they had not yet received the more complete light of truth” (Receiving a Testimony of Light and Truth, Dieter F. Uchtdorf, General Conference, October 2014).

He continued,  “The Everlasting and Almighty God, the Creator of this vast universe, will speak to those who approach Him with a sincere heart and real intent.
He will speak to them in dreams, visions, thoughts, and feelings.
He will speak in a way that is unmistakable and that transcends human experience. He will give them divine direction and answers for their personal lives” (Ibid).

As I tried to share the beautiful insights that I received from being open to other's experiences, I was told often to, "Just Follow the Prophet!" I would say, "I am. That is why I'm using the words of the prophets to try and share what they've shared in how we ought to be open to other's experiences, dreams, visions and prophecies. We can take these things to the Lord and pray to know if they are true. The Spirit testifies of all truth and we need to ask God to confirm or deny if something is true or not" (Moroni 10:3-5, Moroni 7, James 1:5-6 etc). I would try to explain but I've been deemed a heretic and apostate.

I came across this gem in the Joseph Smith Translation of Luke 14:34-37, "So likewise, whosoever of you forsaketh not all that he hath he cannot be my disciple. Then certain of them came to him, saying, Good Master, we have Moses and the prophets, and whosoever shall live by them, shall he not have life? And Jesus answered, saying, Ye know not Moses, neither the prophets; for if ye had known them, ye would have believed on me; for to this intent they were written. For I am sent that ye might have life. Therefore I will liken it unto salt which is good; But if the salt has lost its savor, wherewith shall it be seasoned?"

The way I interpret this is Jesus is saying, "if ye understood Moses, the prophet, then ye would believe in Me." In our day, if we believe the prophets, then we are open to applying what they are teaching. I believe there is ample evidence in the scriptures and the words of the latter-day prophets to justify and bear witness to us that we ought to be open to other's being able, willing and commanded to share what they are learning from God and then we go to the Lord for our own confirmation, just as the saints did when Joseph Smith shared his vision or when any person has shared sacred communication from heaven to them. We are agents for ourselves and ought to trust God more than man.

We ought not to limit the ways in which God will answer our prayers. I testify that God has communicated to me and countless others through various means. The one thing in common is that by the power of the Holy Ghost the communication comes to and penetrates the heart and mind deeply in a very personal way (Moroni 10:3-5). May God bless us as we turn to Him in faith, believing He will answer us in His own way and timing. Let us be meek enough to receive the light through whatever means He brings it to us on the wings of His Holy Spirit.

Leaving the Garden and Temple to Progress to Exaltation

Eve and Adam were in the Garden of Eden and were in the presence of God. They had all the security and safety they could possibly need but there was one problem, there was a separation between them and God, their Father. They communed and walked and talked with Him but they were not like Him. He was an exalted being and had a knowledge of good and evil and had learned all things. We learn by study and also by faith (D&C 88:118; D&C 109:7). Faith can only be developed in a fallen experience, otherwise, there would be no opportunity to exercise faith. We could have a very long discussion on faith but that is not the point of this post for now.

So, there they were, enjoying being in the presence of Father but recognize a huge gap in their personal development. They must have wrestled and asked how they could become like Him or was it ok to seek to become like Him.

There is a great verse in 2 Nephi chapter 2 verse 19 in the Book of Mormon, "And after Adam and Eve had partaken of the forbidden fruit they were driven out of the garden of Eden, to till the earth." That seems like a pretty simple verse but it hit me yesterday that if we read it like this, "And after Adam and Eve had partaken of the forbidden fruit they were driven out of the [temple and out of the presence of Father] to till the earth. The temple is Father's House. It's the "House of the Lord," as we have inscribed on our temples. The Garden of Eden is a place where God dwelt. It's a home for Him. So, why would Eve and Adam purposely leave His presence? 2 Nephi chapter 2 explains why. Some of those reasons were to learn the difference between good and evil and learn to prize the good. They would learn by experience those things that they had studied. Faith would now play a huge factor in their development. They would have to believe in and follow Father to greater happiness even though they were shut out of His presence. The only way they could now return would be through a process of changing, repenting, and becoming clean and holy. Though they were determined to change and repent to become holy like Father, they would have scars and stains from their mortal, fallen experience on earth. This leads us to a great sacrifice to satisfy the demands of justice that mercy might be extended to those that repent or change. This leads us to our Redeemer, Jesus Christ, who pays the demands of justice that He might extend mercy to us.

So, these are beautiful doctrines but the main message that I felt this time in verse 19 was a question and some wonderful thoughts the Lord took me down. The thought was this, "would Father ever inspire someone to do something that would keep them out of His presence, like partake of the  forbidden fruit, to become more like Him in the end?" "Are there multiple 'falls' in our lives?"

As I look back upon my life, God has taken me to some interesting stages and levels of development. He will require great obedience and sacrifices to be completely faithful to a doctrine or principle that I understand, then He will require great obedience and sacrifice to be obedient to another principle or doctrine I previously did not understand or even one that I thought was forbidden. It would be like Eve. She had conflicting commandments, first, to multiply and replenish the earth and second to not partake of the forbidden fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. She partook of the forbidden fruit in order that she might be obedient to the first commandment.

What is our first purpose in this earth or mortal experience, that we might gain eternal life. Moses 1:39 states that Father's work and glory is to bring about our immortality and eternal life. We will all be resurrected and gain immortality so the question is will we be resurrected to a body and spirit that is exalted, one like Father's? John 17:3 explains that eternal life or life eternal is to come to know God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. We come to know Them by becoming like Them. You can't really know or understand someone if you are not like them. I have learned that truth by experience. We may think we understand or know someone but it isn't possible until we're in their shoes. That happens by walking in the paths they walk. Alma 7:11-13 has a great discourse about this truth. It explains that Jesus could have learned through the spirit what to do to succor His people but only through physical experience, suffering our pains, sicknesses, infirmities and sins could He truly know how to succor His people. So, to know someone you truly have to go through what they go through. That is an interesting truth.

So this leads one to ponder descending and ascending. Eve and Adam fell, or descended, that they might ascend to the throne of God, having become like Him. If they are to become like Him, then from what we just discussed, wouldn't it be logical that they will eventually have to descend below all things to ascend above all things? "He that ascended up on high, as also he descended below all things, in that he comprehended all things, that he might be in all and through all things, the light of truth;" (Doctrine and Covenants 88:6).

This is leading to a very long discussion. I guess that is expected because the gospel principles and doctrines are all so intricately connected to all others. My point is that we can expect to have "falls" in our lives if we really want to come to know Father and Jesus Christ. Eve was willing to leave the garden, the temple, and so I wonder what that means for each of us? What will God require of us that we might come to know Him?

What are your thoughts?

The One Being Sweet, the Other Bitter

"...it must needs be that there was an opposition; even the forbidden fruit in opposition to the tree of life; the one being sweet and the other bitter" (2 Nephi 2:15).

The word order on this suggests that the forbidden fruit was sweet. We learn more about if the forbidden fruit was sweet or bitter in the temple. The word order in this sentence also suggests that the tree of life was bitter. The question is asked, "how can this be?"

Let's look at how the forbidden fruit can be "sweet." Adam and Eve were commanded to "multiply and replenish the earth." They were also commanded to not partake of the forbidden fruit. To multiply and replenish the earth they would need to procreate. That would involve a sexual experience with their spouse, where they would have a "sweet" experience with their spouse. That would also lead to pain, if viewed from a position of not wanting any responsibility. For Eve would have to bear the child through excruciating pain. She would then raise and nurture the child unto God. That involves some pain as she would see her child make good and bad choices. Watching her child choose the good would bring her joy and watching her child choose evil would bring her pain.

I have heard from women who are in tune with their bodies that they are now finding joy in that pain. (This is a topic for a different post).

Adam would also experience the "sweet" in the procreation process. Then he would have the pain of providing for the child.

Again, a man may find great joy in providing for his family but that takes effort to find joy in one's work.

Now, once one has partaken of the forbidden fruit, they fall. This leads to redemption only in and through Jesus Christ paying the demands of justice through the atonement. That is a "sweet" experience and joyous to the soul. When one repents, they feel the love of God for them individually. They feel they are valued of God, of Father and Jesus Christ. Father allowed them to come to earth to learn and grow through experience and this would mean they'd fall. That fall would necessitate an expiation, the atonement of Jesus Christ, which leads to redemption as one repents. That is SWEET! Anyone who has repented, changed and turned to Christ (https://www.lds.org/ensign/1988/08/the-meaning-of-repentance?lang=eng), knows of the sweet experience of true repentance.

Now, let's evaluate how the tree of life could be bitter. We know partaking of the tree of life keeps one immortal and in the state they are in. As Adam and Eve partook, they stayed in the garden as immortal beings. Once they partook of the forbidden fruit, they fell and had to leave the presence of God. They became mortal (2 Nephi 2). So that sounds "sweet," to live in the presence of God partaking of the tree of life, right? Wrong! Why wrong? Because being in the presence of God without a mortal experience means there was no opportunity for growth, no chance to exercise agency to fail or to succeed. No time to learn to prize the good. So, even though the security of the garden seemed nice, it really was "bitter" as it kept them from growth and development. It also kept them from needing the Savior to redeem them.

It is interesting to now pause and look at the two plans presented in the Grand Council in heaven. Once plan by Lucifer was that not one soul would be lost (Moses 4:1). Jesus said He would suffer the consequences of our actions but taking upon Him the demands of justice. It became "bitter" for Him for us to obtain eternal life, to be in the presence of God. Of course, His love for us outweighed the bitterness of His experience in suffering for our sins. I believe that His love for us is what gave Him the strength to carry out the Father's plan and suffer the bitterness of hell in our behalf, that we might live again and be clean again before Father. So, the tree of life really was bitter in this way too.

The real power comes in the application of this doctrine and these principles. How many times do we hold ourselves back from moving forward because of the pain or the lack of security that will come if we move forward. God's plan is not to have perfect security and comfort. His plan invites us to experience some bitterness that we might grow and develop.

There is much more the scriptures say on this topic but I'll let this be for now. Elder Dallin H. Oaks has some great insights into this doctrine, "Opposition in All Things," April 2016, General Conference.

To Act for Ourselves

I came across 2 Nephi 2:16 in my scripture study and the phrase, "to act for himself," stuck out to me. We are enticed that we might act for ourselves and choose the one or the other. The cross reference to this was Alma 12:31. It speaks of them breaking the temporal command and therefore, "becoming as gods, ​​​knowing​ good from evil, placing themselves in a state to ​​​act​, or being placed in a state to act according to their wills and pleasures, whether to do evil or to do good..." We can choose between good and evil. If it's not a decision of choosing between good and evil then it reads that "to act according to their wills and pleasures..." I thought that was an interesting commentary. We choose according to our "wills" and "pleasures." If we don't feel God directing us one way or the other then our will is probably aligned with Him and He is letting go of our hands (like a father and mother letting go of the hand of a toddler learning to walk) and letting us use our agency to act and do what we want. If our wants line up with God then we are becoming more godly. He is involved in the details of our lives but a huge detail, the biggest detail is helping us arrive at an exalted life, like His. Certainly this would involve less and less of His "holding our hands" as we learn to become as He is. Sometimes we want to give our agency to someone else, to make the decision for us so we can absolve ourselves of the responsibility of our actions. This is Satan's plan. Liberty and independence is God's plan. He gives laws to help us but the more righteous we are, the less laws are needed to keep us in the right way. The converse is true too, the more wicked we are, the more laws we need. 

We can see how this gift of agency, the ability to act for ourselves, leads us to the absolute necessity of a Savior, one who would pay the price of justice that mercy might be extended to us as we act for ourselves. This happens because as we act for ourselves we make mistakes and sin. When we repent we can draw upon the atonement of Jesus Christ to pay the price of justice. 

Real Prayer From Our Hearts

3 Nephi 19:24 shows us how to pray. Few words for they were given what to pray and they were filled with desire. This is a heart experience. 3 Nephi 19:33 shows what happens when our hearts are filled with desire, their hearts are opened and they understand in their hearts. When I have my most meaningful prayers, my mind is calm, my desires are pure, focused, full of faith and belief and my desires are solely upon the Lord and His will. I understand the answers in my heart. As President Packer has explained, "The Holy Ghost speaks with a voice that you feel more than you hear." (https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1994/10/personal-revelation-the-gift-the-test-and-the-promise?lang=eng).

Elias, a forerunner. The End-Time Servant

I won't have time to reference all the verses of scripture that refer to the end-time servant of the Lord, or this Elias, but I'd like to keep a running record of references to him. When I was first introduced to this doctrine, I was perplexed. How could I be raised in the Church, read these verses over and over and never see what they could be saying. It has been quite the journey the past few months being introduced to, and being willing to see, hear and feel the Lord's guidance on this important topic.

In section 77 of the Doctrine and Covenants, Joseph Smith Jr., the prophet of the restoration, asks the Lord some questions about The Revelation, given to John the Beloved. In D&C 77:9 he asks,

"9 Q. What are we to understand by the angel ascending from the east, Revelation 7th chapter and 2nd verse?
A. We are to understand that the angel ascending from the east is he to whom is given the seal of the living God over the twelve tribes of Israel; wherefore, he crieth unto the four angels having the everlasting gospel, saying: Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. And, if you will receive it, this is Elias which was to come to gather together the tribes of Israel and restore all things."Verse 11 adds another key question:"11 Q. What are we to understand by sealing the one hundred and forty-four thousand, out of all the tribes of Israel—twelve thousand out of every tribe?A. We are to understand that those who are sealed are high priests, ordained unto the holy order of God, to administer the everlasting gospel; for they are they who are ordained out of every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, by the angels to whom is given power over the nations of the earth, to bring as many as will come to the church of the Firstborn."Verse 14 adds more insight:

 "14 Q. What are we to understand by the little book which was eaten by John, as mentioned in the 10th chapter of Revelation?A. We are to understand that it was a mission, and an ordinance, for him to gather the tribes of Israel; behold, this is Elias, who, as it is written, must come and restore all things."

If I'm understanding this right, Elias will be ordained by the Lord with a special mission to gather the 144,000 and seal them up to go out and gather as many as will come to the Church of the Firstborn. Joseph Smith gives further clarification below:

Joseph Smith said, "The Savior said when these tribulations13 should take place, it should be committed to a man14 who should be a witness over the whole world: the keys of knowledge, power and revelations15 should be revealed to a witness who should hold the testimony to the world...

All the testimony is that the Lord in the last days would commit the keys of the Priesthood to a witness over all people. 19  

Has the Gospel of the kingdom1 commenced in the last days? And will God take it from the man until He takes him Himself?2 I have read it precisely as the words flowed from the lips of Jesus Christ. John the Revelator saw an angel flying through the midst of heaven, having the everlasting Gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth.3
The scripture is ready to be fulfilled when great wars,4 famines, pestilence,5 great distress,6 judgments, etc, are ready to be poured out on the inhabitants of the earth.7 John saw the angel having the holy Priesthood, who should preach the everlasting Gospel to all nations.8 God had an angel—a special messenger—ordained and prepared for that purpose in the last days. Woe, woe be to that man or set of men who lift up their hands against God9 and His witness10 in these last days: for they shall deceive11 almost the very chosen ones!12 

("Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith," pgs. 364-365).

This is why Adam blessed his posterity; he wanted to bring them into the presence of God.1 They looked for a city, etc., “whose builder and maker is God.” (Hebrews 11:10.)2 Moses sought to bring the children of Israel into the presence of God,3 through the power of the Priesthood,4 but he could not. In the first ages of the world5 they tried to establish the same thing; and there were Eliases6 raised up who tried to restore these very glories, but did not obtain them; but they prophesied of a day when this glory would be revealed.7 Paul spoke of the dispensation of the fullness of times, when God would gather together all things in one,8 etc.; and those men to whom these keys have been given, will have to be there; and they without us cannot be made perfect.9
These men are in heaven, but their children are on the earth. Their bowels yearn10 over us. God sends down men for this reason. “And the Son of Man shall send forth His angels, and they shall gather out of His kingdom all things that give offense and them that do iniquity.” (Matthew 13:41.)11 All these authoritative characters will come down and join hand in hand in bringing about this work.12 
(Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pg. 159).

There is a difference between the spirit and office of Elias and Elijah. It is the spirit of Elias1 I wish first to speak of; and in order to come at the subject, I will bring some of the testimony from the Scripture and give my own.
In the first place, suffice it to say, I went into the woods2 to inquire of the Lord,3 by prayer, His will concerning me,4 and I saw an angel,5 and he laid his hands upon my head,6 and ordained me to a Priest after the order of Aaron,7 and to hold the keys of this Priesthood,8 which office was to preach repentance and baptism for the remission of sins,9 and also to baptize. But I was informed that this office did not extend to the laying on of hands for the giving of the Holy Ghost;10 that that office was a greater work,11 and was to be given afterward;12 but that my ordination was a preparatory work,13 or a going before, which was the spirit of Elias;14 for the spirit of Elias was a going before to prepare the way for the greater, which was the case with John the Baptist.15 He came crying through the wilderness, “Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.”16 And they were informed, if they could receive it, it was the spirit of Elias;17 and John was very particular to tell the people, he was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.18
He told the people that his mission was to preach repentance and baptize with water; but it was He that should come after him that should baptize with fire and the Holy Ghost.19
If he had been an impostor, he might have gone to work beyond his bounds, and undertook to have performed ordinances which did not belong to that office and calling, under the spirit of Elias.20
Mission of Elias to Prepare the Way
The spirit of Elias is to prepare the way21 for a greater revelation of God, which is the Priesthood of Elias, or the Priesthood that Aaron was ordained unto.22 And when God sends a man into the world to prepare for a greater work, holding the keys of the power of Elias,1 it was called the doctrine of Elias, even from the early ages of the world.

John’s mission was limited to preaching and baptizing; but what he did was legal; and when Jesus Christ came to any of John’s disciples,2 He baptized them with fire and the Holy Ghost.3
We find the Apostles endowed with greater power4 than John: their office was more under the spirit and power of Elijah than Elias.5
In the case of Phillip when he went down to Samaria, when he was under the spirit of Elias, he baptized both men and women.6 When Peter and John heard of it, they went down and laid hands upon them, and they received the Holy Ghost.7 This shows the distinction between the two powers.
When Paul came to certain disciples, he asked if they had received the Holy Ghost? They said, No. Who baptized you, then? We were baptized unto John’s baptism. No, you were not baptized unto John’s baptism, or you would have been baptized by John. And so Paul went and baptized them,8 for he knew what the true doctrine was, and he knew that John had not baptized them. And these principles are strange to me, that men who have read the Scriptures of the New Testament are so far from it.
What I want to impress upon your minds is the difference of power in the different parts of the Priesthood, so that when any man comes among you, saying, “I have the spirit of Elias,”9 you can know whether he be true or false; for any man that comes, having the spirit and power of Elias,10 he will not transcend his bounds.
John did not transcend his bounds, but faithfully performed that part belonging to his office; and every portion of the great building should be prepared right and assigned to its proper place; and it is necessary to know who holds the keys of power,11 and who does not, or we may be likely to be deceived.
That person who holds the keys of Elias12 hath a preparatory work.13 But if I spend much more time in conversing about the spirit of Elias, I shall not have time to do justice to the spirit and power of Elijah.14
This is the Elias spoken of in the last days, and here is the rock upon which many split, thinking the time was past in the days of John and Christ,15 and no more to be. But the spirit of Elias1 was revealed to me, and I know it is true; therefore I speak with boldness,2 for I know verily my doctrine is true. 

Mission of Elijah
Now for Elijah. The spirit, power, and calling of Elijah4 is, that ye have power to hold the key of the revelations,5 ordinances, oracles, powers and endowments6 of the fulness of the Melchizedek Priesthood7 and of the kingdom of God on the earth;8 and to receive, obtain, and perform all the ordinances belonging to the kingdom of God, even unto the turning of the hearts of the fathers unto the children, and the hearts of the children unto the fathers, even those who are in heaven.9
Malachi says, “I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: and he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.”10
Now, what I am after is the knowledge of God,11 and I take my own course to obtain it. What are we to understand by this in the last days?
In the days of Noah,12 God destroyed the world by a flood,13 and He has promised to destroy it by fire in the last days:14 but before it should take place, Elijah should first come and turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,15 &c.
Now comes the point. What is this office and work of Elijah? It is one of the greatest and most important subjects that God has revealed. He should send Elijah to seal the children to the fathers, and the fathers to the children.16
For the Living and the Dead
Now was this merely confined to the living, to settle difficulties with families on earth? By no means. It was a far greater work. Elijah! what would you do if you were here? Would you confine your work to the living alone? No: I would refer you to the Scriptures, where the subject is manifest: that is, without us, they could not be made perfect, nor we without them;17 the fathers without the children, nor the children without the fathers.
I wish you to understand this subject, for it is important; and if you receive it, this is the spirit of Elijah,18 that we

verily my doctrine is true.3

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redeem our dead,1 and connect ourselves with our fathers which are in heaven,2 and seal up our dead to come forth in the first resurrection;3 and here we want the power of Elijah to seal those who dwell on earth to those who dwell in heaven. This is the power of Elijah4 and the keys of the kingdom5 of Jehovah.
Sealing on Earth and in Heaven
Let us suppose a case. Suppose the great God6 who dwells in heaven should reveal himself to Father Cutler here, by the opening heavens, and tell him, I offer up a decree that whatsoever you seal on earth with your decree, I will seal it in heaven;7 you have the power then; can it be taken off? No. Then what you seal on earth, by the keys of Elijah,8 is sealed in heaven; and this is the power of Elijah, and this is the difference between the spirit and power of Elias and Elijah; for while the spirit of Elias is a forerunner,9 the power of Elijah is sufficient to make our calling and election sure;10 and the same doctrine, where we are exhorted to go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead,11 &c.
We cannot be perfect without the fathers,12 &c. We must have revelation from them, and we can see that the doctrine of revelation far transcends the doctrine of no revelation; for one truth revealed from heaven is worth all the sectarian notions in existence.
This spirit of Elijah was manifest in the days of the Apostles, in delivering certain ones to the buffetings of Satan, that they might be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.13 They were sealed by the spirit of Elijah unto the damnation14 of hell15 until the day of the Lord,16 or revelation of Jesus Christ.17
Here is the doctrine of election18 that the world has quarreled so much about; but they do not know anything about it.
Falling from Grace19
The doctrine that the Presbyterians and Methodists have quarreled so much about—once in grace, always in grace, or falling away from grace,20 I will say a word about. They are both wrong. Truth takes a road between them both, for while the Presbyterian says: “Once in grace, you cannot fall”; the Methodist says: “You can have grace today, fall from it tomorrow, next day have grace again; and so follow on, changing

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continually.” But the doctrine of the Scriptures and the spirit of Elijah would show them both false, and take a road between them both; for, according to the Scripture, if men have received the good word of God,1 and tasted of the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, it is impossible to renew them again, seeing they have crucified the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open shame;2 so there is a possibility of falling away; you could not be renewed again, and the power of Elijah cannot seal against this sin, for this is a reserve made in the seals and power of the Priesthood.
I will make every doctrine plain that I present, and it shall stand upon a firm basis, and I am at the defiance of the world, for I will take shelter under the broad cover of the wings3 of the work in which I am engaged. It matters not to me if all hell boils over; I regard it only as I would the crackling of the thorns under a pot.4
Murderers Have No Forgiveness
A murderer, for instance, one that sheds innocent blood,5 cannot have forgiveness.6 David sought repentance at the hand of God carefully with tears,7 for the murder of Uriah;8 but he could only get it through hell: he got a promise that his soul should not be left in hell.9
Although David was a king, he never did obtain the spirit and power of Elijah and the fullness of the Priesthood;10 and the Priesthood that he received, and the throne11 and kingdom of David is to be taken from him12 and given to another by the name of David in the last days, raised up out of his lineage.13
Peter referred to the same subject on the day of Pentecost,14 but the multitude did not get the endowment that Peter had;15 but several days after, the people asked, “What shall we do?”16 Peter says, “I would ye had done it ignorantly,”17 speaking of crucifying the Lord &c. He did not say to them, “Repent and be baptized for the remission of your sins”;18 but he said, “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.” (Acts 3:19.)19
This is the case with murderers.20 They could not be baptized for the remission of sins, for they had shed innocent blood.21

TPJS 340
Again: The doctrine or sealing power1 of Elijah is as follows:—If you have power to seal on earth and in heaven,2 then we should be wise. The first thing you do, go and seal on earth your sons and daughters unto yourself, and yourself unto your fathers in eternal glory,3 and go ahead, and not go back,4 but use a little wisdom, and seal all you can, and when you get to heaven tell your Father that what you seal on earth should be sealed in heaven,5 according to his promise. I will walk through the gate of heaven6 and claim what I seal, and those that follow me and my counsel.7
The Lord once told me that what I asked for I should have.8 I have been afraid to ask God to kill my enemies,9 lest some of them should, peradventure, repent.10
I asked a short time since for the Lord to deliver me out of the hands11 of the Governor of Missouri, and if it needs must be to accomplish it, to take him away;12 and the next news that came pouring down from there was, that Governor Reynolds had shot himself.13 And I would now say, Beware, O earth, how you fight against the Saints of God14 and shed innocent blood;15 for in the days of Elijah, his enemies came upon him, and fire was called down from heaven and destroyed them.16
Mission of Messiah
The spirit of Elias is first, Elijah second, and Messiah last. Elias is a forerunner to prepare the way,17 and the spirit and power of Elijah18 is to come after, holding the keys of power, building the Temple to the capstone, placing the seals of the Melchizedek Priesthood upon the house of Israel, and making all things ready;19 then Messiah comes to His Temple,20 which is last of all.

Messiah is above the spirit and power of Elijah, for He made the world,21 and was that spiritual

rock unto Moses in the wilderness.22 Elijah was to come and prepare the way23 and build up the

kingdom before the coming of the great day of the Lord,24 although the spirit of Elias might begin it.25

I have asked of the Lord concerning His coming;26 and while asking the Lord, He gave a sign and said, “In the days of Noah I set a bow in the heavens27 as a sign and token that in any year that the bow should be seen the Lord would not come; but there should be seed time and harvest during

1. D&C 128:14.
   
2. D&C 132:46.
   
3. 2 Tim. 2:10; 1 Pet. 5:10;
   

16. 2 Kgs. 1:10-14. 17. Mal. 3:1.
18. Mal. 4:5-6; D&C

D&C 130:2.

4. Ezek. 24:14.
   
5. Matt. 16:19.
   

110:13-16.
19. Matt. 22:4; Luke 14:17. 20. D&C 36:8; D&C 133:2. 21. John 1:10; D&C 93:9-10. 22. 1 Cor. 10:4.
23. Mal. 3:1.
24. Mal. 4:5.
25. D&C 27:7; D&C 35:4. 26. D&C 130:14-17.
27. Gen. 9:13.

6. Gen. 28:17; Hel. 3:28.
   
7. D&C 100:2; D&C 105:37.
   
8. Hel. 10:5.
   
9. Ps. 18:40; Ps. 143:12; Rev.
   

11:5.
10. Mosiah 2:38; D&C

98:27,39-40.
11. Deut. 20:4; 2 Kgs. 17:39;

Job 6:23; Ps. 31:15; Ps.

71:4; 2 Ne. 4:31; D&C 8:4.

12. Ezek. 33:4; Matt. 22:13.
    
13. D&C 98:31.
    
14. Acts 5:39; 1 Ne. 14:13;
    

2 Ne. 25:14; 2 Ne. 29:14;

D&C 121:38. 15. D&C 136:36.

TPJS 341
that year: but whenever you see the bow withdrawn, it shall be a token that there shall be famine, pestilence, and great distress among the nations,1 and that the coming of the Messiah2 is not far distant.3
But I will take the responsibility upon myself to prophesy in the name of the Lord,4 that Christ will not come this year, as Father Miller has prophesied, for we have seen the bow; and I also prophesy, in the name of the Lord, that Christ will not come in forty years;5 and if God ever spoke by my mouth,6 He will not come in that length of time. Brethren, when you go home, write it down, that it may be remembered.
Jesus Christ never did reveal to any man the precise time that He would come. Go and read the Scriptures, and you cannot find anything that specifies the exact hour He would come;7 and all that say so are false teachers.8

There are some important things concerning the office of the Messiah in the organization of the world, which I will speak of hereafter. May God Almighty bless you9 and pour out His Spirit10 upon you, is the prayer of your unworthy servant.11 Amen. (March 10, 1844.) DHC 6:249-254. 

Rejoicing of the Prophet.

Thursday, 6.--The new year has been ushered in and continued thus far under the most favorable auspices, and the Saints seem to been influenced by a kind and indulgent Providence in their dispositions and [blessed with] means to rear the Temple of the Most High God, anxiously looking forth to the completion thereof as an event of the greatest importance to the Church and the world, making the Saints in Zion to rejoice, and the hypocrite and sinner to tremble. Truly this is a day long to be remembered by the Saints of the last days,--a day in which the God of heaven has begun to restore the ancient order of His kingdom unto His servants and His people,--a day in which all things are concurring to bring about the completion of the fullness of the Gospel, a fullness of the dispensation of dispensations, even the fullness of times; a day in which God has begun to make manifest and set in order in His Church those things which have been, and those things which the ancient prophets and wise men desired to see but died without beholding them; a day in which those things begin to be made manifest, which have been hid from before the foundation of the world, and which Jehovah has promised should be made known in His own due time unto His servants, to prepare the earth for the return of His glory, even a celestial glory, and a kingdom of Priests and kings to God and the Lamb, forever, on Mount Zion, and with him the hundred and forty and four thousand whom John the Revelator saw, all of which is to come to pass in the restitution of all things. DHC Vol. 4 pp 492-3. https://byustudies.byu.edu/content/volume-4-chapter-29 

The Joseph Smith Translation gives valuable insights into Elias and who he is and what his mission is. John the Baptist was clearly an Elias to prepare the way for the Savior the first time and it appears we will have an additional Elias the second time to prepare the way for the Savior's second coming.

JST Matt. 11 speaks of both of these Elias'. In verse 12-14 we learn the kingdom of heaven suffered violence when John the Baptist was on the earth, as is illustrated by his death, but that the violence would be until John. This implies there will be a John who will end the violence. Verse 13 emphasizes the day WILL come when the violent will have no power. Verse 15 then says that Elias will come to prepare all things.

JST Matt. 17:1-14 adds insight into the identity of two Elias' that Jesus refers to during His ministry. The first 8 verses Peter, James and John see Jesus transfigured on the Mount of Transfiguration and Him speaking with Moses and Elias. Then as they come down from the mount, the disciples ask, "9. ...Why then say the Scribes that Elias must first come? 10. And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things, as the prophets have written." It is significant that He says, "shall" and "restore all things." This end-time Elias is one that has the phrase, "restore all things." Clearly John the Baptist restored the lesser priesthood, not all things. He prepared the world for the Savior's first coming with an Aaronic Priesthood ordinance, baptism, and then he restored the Aaronic Priesthood to Joseph Smith Jr. to baptize as well, at the beginning of the restoration of the gospel in this dispensation. So, clearly Elias is an end-time forerunner to the Savior's second coming. Then Jesus says in the JST of Matthew 17:13-14, "But I say unto you, who is Elias? Behold, this is Elias, whom I sent to prepare the way before me. 14. Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist, and also of another who should come and restore all things, as it is written by the prophets."

D&C 27:6 is revealing. It reads, "And also with Elias, to whom I have committed the keys of bringing to pass the restoration of all things spoken by the mouth of all the holy prophets since the world began, concerning the last days;". Verse 7 clarifies that verse 6 is speaking of the Elias of the last days, not of the John the Baptist Elias.

I still need to share key verses in 3 Nephi 19-21 and Isaiah references. Also the explanation of the high priests that are chosen, JST Genesis 14:25-40.