The Word of God is Offensive

I have heard people say that I’m negative on my posts and I need to focus on the positive. Obviously it is important to see the good in others and in the world. It’s also important to judge righteous judgment. If we were here to blissfully dance through life without seeing evil we would never learn to prize the good. We would follow the course of least resistance and be carefully led to hell. It takes no effort to end up in hell. Whereas it takes monumental effort to go against the current and fight against the grain. This nation would never have been created without the blood, sacrifice and tears of the families that put it all on the line for freedom and liberty. It has always been this way and it will always be this way going forward. Though, there are many, many roses and blessings along the way worth stopping and smelling and gazing upon, there is also work to be done.

Interesting that the Lord put it all on the line for freedom and liberty to be preserved. Without his atoning sacrifice liberty and freedom would dam us in our progress. We all have misused these freedoms by using them to commit sin. He died that we might live and progress. 

We have been commanded by the Lord to waste and wear out our lives in bringing to light all the hidden things of darkness wherein they lie in wait to deceive (see D&C 123:11-17). It’s interesting in these verses it mentions that we should “cheerfully do all things that lie in our power.” That is so important. God isn’t desperate or exasperated, he cheerfully seeks to help us come to know him as we desire and sincerely seek him out. Just because the Lord and his servants expose darkness doesn’t mean they’re negative or angry. It just means they’re exposing darkness.

Above all, we remember God’s purpose in his work, to bring about our immortality and eternal life (see Moses 1:39), so shouldn’t our purpose also be the same if we are truly becoming one with him? Therefore we ought to waste and wear out our lives as the Savior did. 

I think about the atonement. I read a quote by Ezra Taft Benson once where he said something to the effect that if man doesn’t realize he has fallen, then he will never desire the atonement. If man doesn’t realize he is hungry, then he will never desire nourishment. We are in a malnourished world. Many don’t realize they are undernourished and are flooding our hospitals with full bellies. Full bellies don’t equate to nourishment. 

And so it is with our churches. Many leave a church service having their bellies full but lacking in true substance/nourishment. And so the Lord sends warning voices. 

John the Baptist, Noah, Enoch, Lehi, Alma, Nephi, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Isaiah, Joseph Smith...etc all came preaching change, repentance. They weren’t popular. Jesus came with the same message. Many of these prophets and the Son of God were killed or cast out or both. The pattern is familiar. They were too negative, telling the people all was not well, that the people had drifted into false traditions, a false sense of security, and apostasy.

If we only preach smooth sayings, things that make us feel good, then we miss the substance and purpose of our lives. We are here for heavy lifting, heavy climbing, experiences that help us see our darkness with the opportunity to thrust out the natural man and become holy. As we become holy, we see our baggage and collateral damage. Someone must balance the scale of justice. Jesus, the Savior of all mankind, steps in to do this. 

So, if someone isn’t polite or politically correct, or comes off negative, maybe it would still be worth our time to compare their words to scripture and see if God might be sending a message through him or her. 

Here are a few verses worth pondering. I’d also suggest looking at all the prophets in scripture and pondering if their messages may have come off as negative to the people. Maybe people were the same then as now, mostly wanting to go about their days without seeing evil and having to combat it. It’s too time consuming to engage in these battles, plus you stick out like a lunatic. You look like you just want attention. It may require change to consider the message. Lots of arrows and stones available to shoot or throw at Samuel and Stephen, as there are today.

“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent” (Revelation 3:19).

“Yea, wo unto this people, because of this time which has arrived, that ye do cast out the prophets, and do mock them, and cast stones at them, and do slay them, and do all manner of iniquity unto them, even as they did of old time.

25 And now when ye talk, ye say: If our days had been in the days of our fathers of old, we would not have slain the prophets; we would not have stoned them, and cast them out.

26 Behold ye are worse than they; for as the Lord liveth, if a prophet come among you and declareth unto you the word of the Lord, which testifieth of your sins and iniquities, ye are angry with him, and cast him out and seek all manner of ways to destroy him; yea, you will say that he is a false prophet, and that he is a sinner, and of the devil, because he testifieth that your deeds are evil.

27 But behold, if a man shall come among you and shall say: Do this, and there is no iniquity; do that and ye shall not suffer; yea, he will say: Walk after the pride of your own hearts; yea, walk after the pride of your eyes, and do whatsoever your heart desireth—and if a man shall come among you and say this, ye will receive him, and say that he is a prophet.

28 Yea, ye will lift him up, and ye will give unto him of your substance; ye will give unto him of your gold, and of your silver, and ye will clothe him with costly apparel; and because he speaketh flattering words unto you, and he saith that all is well, then ye will not find fault with him.

29 O ye wicked and ye perverse generation; ye hardened and ye stiffnecked people, how long will ye suppose that the Lord will suffer you? Yea, how long will ye suffer yourselves to be led by foolish and blind guides? Yea, how long will ye choose darkness rather than light?

30 Yea, behold, the anger of the Lord is already kindled against you; behold, he hath cursed the land because of your iniquity.

31 And behold, the time cometh that he curseth your riches, that they become slippery, that ye cannot hold them; and in the days of your poverty ye cannot retain them.

32 And in the days of your poverty ye shall cry unto the Lord; and in vain shall ye cry, for your desolation is already come upon you, and your destruction is made sure; and then shall ye weep and howl in that day, saith the Lord of Hosts. And then shall ye lament, and say:

33 O that I had repented, and had not killed the prophets, and stoned them, and cast them out. Yea, in that day ye shall say: O that we had remembered the Lord our God in the day that he gave us our riches, and then they would not have become slippery that we should lose them; for behold, our riches are gone from us.

34 Behold, we lay a tool here and on the morrow it is gone; and behold, our swords are taken from us in the day we have sought them for battle.

35 Yea, we have hid up our treasures and they have slipped away from us, because of the curse of the land.

36 O that we had repented in the day that the word of the Lord came unto us; for behold the land is cursed, and all things are become slippery, and we cannot hold them.

37 Behold, we are surrounded by demons, yea, we are encircled about by the angels of him who hath sought to destroy our souls. Behold, our iniquities are great. O Lord, canst thou not turn away thine anger from us? And this shall be your language in those days.

38 But behold, your days of probation are past; ye have procrastinated the day of your salvation until it is everlastingly too late, and your destruction is made sure; yea, for ye have sought all the days of your lives for that which ye could not obtain; and ye have sought for happiness in doing iniquity, which thing is contrary to the nature of that righteousness which is in our great and Eternal Head.

39 O ye people of the land, that ye would hear my words! And I pray that the anger of the Lord be turned away from you, and that ye would repent and be saved” (Helaman 23:24-39).

“Yea, wo unto this people who are called the people of Nephi except they shall repent, when they shall see all these signs and wonders which shall be showed unto them; for behold, they have been a chosen people of the Lord; yea, the people of Nephi hath he loved, and also hath he chastened them; yea, in the days of their iniquities hath he chastened them because he loveth them” (Helaman 15:3).

There are many more but I’ll let you look them up. 

By the way, I can testify that if you’re willing to go down this path, the grass is much greener than you ever imagined. Shades of green you hadn’t considered or even knew existed. Fruit more delicious to the soul than ever imagined (see 1 Nephi 8, 11). I’m just nibbling now, but I know the Lord will continue to give me his fruit as I stay the course. 

It’s amazing to see how many are being led independently down these same paths to come to know the Lord. Each unique, but what’s in common is it lands squarely on Jesus Christ and knowing Him. For this is eternal life (John 17:3).

Educating Our Children

 So, some thoughts about education. I think when covid hit many considered educating their children at home. It was interesting to see the shift in thought of many. I was interested in this right when we started our family but then drifted away from the idea. Later on, maybe 10-11 years ago we visited with Ben and Kristi McCallister a lot about educating our children full time at home. They led us to some great books and they had some wonderful ideas. We implemented some and eventually landed where we are today. I’m so grateful they were part of our journey! We would let our children choose if they wanted the public school system or to be educated at home. Eventually they all ended up at home. It’s been a wonderful ride. 

I came across this podcast yesterday. Joel Salatin is one of our mentors for farming and he interviews a lady that shares many of our same feelings about education. Anyways, if you’ve dabbled in the idea of educating full-time at home but have some fears about it, this may be of benefit to you. We have seen many positives from choosing to educate at home instead of the public school system. Enjoy!

https://www.audible.com/pd/Episode-25-The-Power-of-One-with-Robin-Shirley-Joel-Salatin-Podcast/B09T9XLLJV

PS. It is extremely interesting that the 10th plank of the Communist Manifesto is free public education for all. Very interesting as we contemplate the socialist/communist ideas that are now being embraced by the masses.

God, Angels, Men and Eternal Life

 I’m assuming if you’re still reading my blog, you may have started reading and listening to Denver to see if you resonate with his message. As I’ve mentioned, I was very opposed to Denver because of what I’d been taught about him and his message. I hadn’t taken the time to find out what he was teaching. 

After reading, pondering and praying over his words, I believe part of his role is to reintroduce/restore the gospel of Jesus Christ that Joseph Smith reintroduced, the religion of the fathers. I believe both have stood in the presence of the Lord and are disseminating the word of God. The LDS church has apostatized from the religion of the fathers that Joseph was trying to get into the hearts of the people, so the Lord has seen fit to send another witness.

As I listened to the 10 talks by Denver, I wrestled for quite some time trying to figure out how he fit in with John the beloved in section 77 of the LDS scriptures. I listened to all the talks 10 times or more and I felt it was the same gospel Joseph Smith restored. I was feeling my mind and heart expand and it was delicious to me. Everything Alma teaches us in Alma 32 about a good seed and good fruit shared in Moroni 7 by Moroni. But, I struggled because my paradigm at the time was of John the Beloved doing the gathering as described in Section 77 of Doctrine and Covenants. 

I've heard a couple talks by Denver where he spoke on how angels minister to men and then men to men. (see Moroni 7:20-26, 29-32 (RE Moroni 7:4-6)).

 If you go to the 1:49:30 mark on this link, https://youtu.be/g2MG8fM41wA

you'll hear him describe how John fits in. I believe John and others have ministered to Denver and he now is taking the message to men. 

So, if a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and God the Father is the goal, why mention Denver? I believe Denver is like Joseph Smith. They are messengers from God who have passed through the veil and witnessed Him. Their testimonies increase our faith that we can do as they have done, pass through the veil into the presence of God. This is why the Book of Mormon is so important too. The many witnesses who have passed through the veil give us hope and faith that we can do the same thing they have done. 

In Romans we learn, “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?

17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:14-17).

The Lectures on Faith are even more plain. Lecture 2 goes through a genealogical progression to show how Adam and the patriarchs of old were connected. Adam was in the presence of God and thus exercised faith in him, because he knew him. His faith was an actual knowledge. He lived long enough that his living witness and his testimony of God helped other patriarchs believe his witness and thus exercise faith in God until they rose up themselves to enter into the presence of the Lord for themselves. Thus, the principle that living witnesses help us exercise faith in a being whom we have not seen but hope to see and know. 

Lecture 3, in the Lectures on Faith, teaches that to exercise faith in God we need to have a correct idea of his character, perfections and attributes. Those who know the Lord in the flesh are qualified to teach us these things because of their living witness of the reality of the Lord. They have stood in his presence and have spoken with him. 

So, is our faith in Adam, Enoch, Abraham, Joseph Smith or Denver? No, it is in the Lord, Jesus Christ and Father in heaven. Jesus is who redeems us from the fall. Jesus is the prototype of the saved being (see Lecture 7 of Lectures on Faith). These individuals who have climbed the path back into his presence know the principles of the journey back into his presence and can share how it is done. That’s why we have the scriptures, to help us have our own REAL, TANGIBLE experiences with the Lord. As we study the scriptures and eye witness accounts, we recognize that each journey is unique but key principles are the same. We gain the sparks of faith to climb the mountain for ourselves. As we climb in faith, we obtain the mind of God little by little and receive that spirit that leadeth to do good. Eventually we find ourselves redeemed from the fall and back in the presence of the Lord. 

In Joseph Smith’s day the Lord desired that all would come up the mountain of the Lord to be in his presence. Joseph was frustrated that the members of the church were relying upon him too much and not wanting to have a direct relationship with the Lord. It is recorded in the Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith that, “President Joseph Smith read the 14th chapter of Ezekiel—said the Lord had declared by the Prophet, that the people should each one stand for himself, and depend on no man or men in that state of corruption of the Jewish church—that  righteous persons could only deliver their own souls—applied it to the present state of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—said if the people departed from the Lord, they must fall—that they were depending on the Prophet, hence were darkened in their minds, in consequence of neglecting the duties devolving upon themselves, envious towards the innocent, while they afflict the virtuous with their shafts of envy” (TPJS p. 237-8).

Remember what Moses taught when others came to him complaining of two men prophesying in camp, “Would to God that all the Lord’s people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit upon them” (RE Numbers 7:19; Numbers 11:29).

True witnesses don’t want others relying on them. They share their witness of the Lord in hope that others will gain faith to ascend the mountain themselves and then can testify to others as well, thus all knowing the Lord and being prepared for his coming. Then will the prophecy of Jeremiah be fulfilled, “And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord — for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, says the Lord” (RE Jeremiah 12:9; Jeremiah 31:34). Zion will then be established because all are able to abide the presence of the Lord.

Also, I’ve wrestled with a “second time” referenced in 2 Nephi 6:14 (RE 2 Nephi 5:5); 2 Nephi 21:11 (RE 2 Nephi 9:22); 2 Nephi 25:17 (RE 2 Nephi 11:6); 2 Nephi 29:1 (RE 2 Nephi 12:8); Jacob 6 (RE Jacob 4:1); Isaiah 11:10-17 (RE Isaiah 5:4-5). I’ve wondered if this was when Joseph Smith gathered or Denver or both. I would suggest reading the verses I’ve listed plus others you find on the subject. 

Denver’s email response to an inquiry about the “second time” is very insightful: https://denversnuffer.com/2014/07/email-response-second-time/

I have also pondered and prayed over these Ezekiel verses. I feel much is revealed here. In Ezekiel 34:23-31 (RE Ezekiel 17:10-11) Ezekiel 37:21-28 (RE Ezekiel 19:5-7) there is a shepherd who feeds the flock. The Lord is the God of this flock and he offers them a covenant of peace. The Lord breaks the bands of the yoke of these people. I believe it is the same covenant prophesied of by Jeremiah, “Behold, the days come, says the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah — not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt (which my covenant they broke, although I was a husband unto them, says the Lord), but this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel: after those days, says the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts, and will be their God and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord — for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, says the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity and I will remember their sin no more” (RE Jeremiah 12:9; Jeremiah 31:31-34).

I believe Denver is speaking what the Lord gave him to speak in offering this new covenant of peace for the storm fast approaching. If we receive the covenant, we will make a covenant by sacrifice to come to know the Lord. The Lord will fulfill his covenant with his covenant people. 

I believe if you approach the messages Denver is giving in sincerity of heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, you’ll find he is teaching what Joseph Smith and the patriarchs have taught and he is adding his witness to theirs of the Lord, Jesus Christ. A contemporary witness for us in our day. 

As we learn in the Book of Mormon, many would complain of another Bible. “A Bible! A Bible! We have got a Bible, and there cannot be any other Bible” (2 Nephi 29:3; RE 2 Nephi 12:8)...”Wherefore murmur ye because that ye shall receive more of my word? Know ye not that the testimony of two nations [men] is a witness unto you that I am God? That I remember one nation [man] like unto another? Wherefore, I speak the same words unto one nation [man] like unto another. And when the two nations [men] shall run together, the testimony of the two nations [men] shall run together also. And I do this that I may prove unto many that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever, and that I speak forth my words according to mine own pleasure. And because that I have spoken one word, ye need not suppose that I cannot speak another, for my work is not yet finished, neither shall it be until the end of man, neither from that time henceforth and forever” (RE 2 Nephi 12:9-10; 2 Nephi 29:8-9).

The prophecy was the Gentiles wouldn’t want the additional witness of the Book of Mormon. We could say, “Joseph, Joseph, we need no more Joseph.” But, the Lord would remind us that he sends many witnesses just like he does with the scriptural accounts from the old and new worlds, in hopes of encouraging us to become a witness of him in the flesh, the resurrected Lord, Jesus Christ. 

Remember, His whole work and glory is to bring to pass our eternal life (see Moses 1:39; RE Genesis 1:7). Eternal life is defined, “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (John 17:3; RE John 9:19). God uses chosen vessels as angels, messengers, to deliver his messages to us that enable us to walk back into the presence of the Lord and know him.. 

Anyways, I hope this might be helpful for others who believe or are wondering about Denver. Maybe you are wrestling to know how or if Denver fits in to how the scriptures lay things out for the last days and if he is relevant to you. I share this in the hope that you’ll study the scriptures and the material that Denver has taught. I believe if you do, you’ll feel light and truth flowing into you and this will help you in your quest to know the Lord and land you in Zion, a place of peace and safety in the storm fast approaching. 

God is the same yesterday, today and forever. He is no respector of persons. He will not upbraid his children who are sincerely seeking Him. Go forward with your faith in Jesus Christ and he will reward you. He has promised that he rewards those that diligently seek him (RE Hebrews 1:38; Hebrews 11:6; RE T&C 140:13; RE 1 Nephi 3:5; 1 Nephi 10:17-19).

I add my witness that I have received the promised blessing in D&C 93:1. There are several thoughts and feelings I have about why I received that witness so long ago. I received it when I was 20 years old and it has sustained a life of faith in Jesus Christ. Not a perfect life, but a life seeking to do the will of God. I only share this in the hope that it will encourage you in your quest to know the Lord. I haven’t received all the promised blessings of the Lord and so I’m continuing to seek Him earnestly and patiently. I have been encouraged by Joseph’s, Denver’s and all the words of the Lord and his holy prophets. I pray they will aid you too in your quest to know him. 

PS - I think it’s interesting to consider how you or I would have reacted to Joseph Smith had we been a contemporary adult with him and if it’s similar to our reaction to a Denver Snuffer. I think it’s ironic Joseph’s name was about as plain as could be and he was a simple man laboring with his hands. Denver had a quite unique name. He’s a lawyer and labors with his mind for sustenance. I believe these are all tests the Lord uses to see if we believe him when he says he is no respector of persons.

The Words of Mormon - Prophetic!

 The Words of Mormon struck me this morning. It says this, 

“15 And it came to pass that after there had been false Christs, and their mouths had been shut, and they punished according to their crimes;

16 And after there had been false prophets, and false preachers and teachers among the people, and all these having been punished according to their crimes; and after there having been much contention and many dissensions away unto the Lamanites, behold, it came to pass that king Benjamin, with the assistance of the holy prophets who were among his people—

17 For behold, king Benjamin was a holy man, and he did reign over his people in righteousness; and there were many holy men in the land, and they did speak the word of God with power and with authority; and they did use much sharpness because of the stiffneckedness of the people—

18 Wherefore, with the help of these, king Benjamin, by laboring with all the might of his body and the faculty of his whole soul, and also the prophets, did once more establish peace in the land.”

This is so prophetic of where we are headed and where we are at. These false brethren haven’t been punished yet, but their day of reckoning is coming. Many false messiahs, those saying “follow us and you’ll be saved.” False teachers and false prophets who know not the Lord, feigning as if they know Him and the path back into the presence of the Lord. Those who know the Lord are speaking out against the false prophets/teachers and are seeking to help others look to the Lord, Jesus Christ, for redemption and not in any man, institution, organization or church. We are in the prophesied times when all churches are corrupt and the holy church of God has been corrupted (2 Nephi 28:3-14; Mormon 8:38; 3 Nephi 16:10). Men set themselves up as lights (2 Nephi 26:29) instead of pointing to Jesus, the redeemer (2 Nephi 28:5). We boldly share to seek this Jesus of whom the prophets have testified. 

I love Moroni’s declaration at the end of the Book of Ether, “And now I, Moroni, bid farewell unto the Gentiles, yea, and also unto my brethren whom I love, until we shall meet before the judgment-seat of Christ, where all men shall know that my garments are not spotted with your blood.

39 And then shall ye know that I have seen Jesus, and that he hath talked with me face to face, and that he told me in plain humility, even as a man telleth another in mine own language, concerning these things;

40 And only a few have I written, because of my weakness in writing.

41 And now, I would commend you to seek this Jesus of whom the prophets and apostles have written, that the grace of God the Father, and also the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost, which beareth record of them, may be and abide in you forever. Amen” (Ether 12:38-41).

Joseph and Polygamy

 Some details on Joseph Smith’s stance on polygamy and the church’s stance on Joseph and polygamy.

In the first video I explain a few key portions of my journey of discovery about the truth about Joseph and polygamy and how the LDS church chooses to portray Joseph and polygamy. 

https://youtu.be/qshJkx_hm9U

If you only have 30 minutes to get a crash course on the truth of polygamy, here it is:

https://youtu.be/W_wYAXING0M?list=PL1EtZOltlntApbkAatS4qBQejG2fiUUdn

https://www.rescuingtherestoration.com/_files/ugd/b91c1c_d454d6fd1517479f87b73b2e7351a1a6.pdf

Additional resources:

https://www.rescuingtherestoration.com/resources-removing-the-stain