What would have happened if Jesus was obedient to the leaders of the church?
Would He have accomplished His divine role as our Savior and Redeemer?
What will be required of us to follow Him?
I’m so grateful and full of love to Him, who obeyed His Father regardless of what others would say or do to Him. Praise be to God and the Lamb!
I don’t read a lot of blogs so forgive me if others have already observed and written this.
Is it repulsive for anybody but me to see deacons passing the sacrament with masks on or to see those partaking of the sacrament to have masks on—or to watch priests covering their mouths as they break the bread and bless the water? Can you imagine Jesus healing the leper standing 6 feet away with a mask on? There is a great scene in “The Chosen,” when the leper comes to Jesus seeking to be healed and His apostles shrink with fear, covering their faces in hopes to not be contaminated. They had forgotten that they were with the healer of the whole world. He had power over the elements, could cleanse one from sin and could heal any infirmity, even death. Yet, there they were, scared to death of getting sick. Yet, here we are, celebrating the Healer’s flesh and blood, the outer and inner man, the blood of Jesus and the physical body and actions of Jesus, and we act as if we are going to get sick. We are acting in fear. Faith cannot be present when we are full of fear. We should be full of faith in Jesus when we partake of His holy emblems.
When do we let go of political correctness in favor of standing for truth and righteousness?!?! Idols teach us by their words and deeds that Jesus isn’t the healer of the world, that we need to fear man more than God—that political correctness is more important than spiritual correctness. That physical death and discomfort is the most important part of our existence.
I cannot see the Savior of the whole world applauding our sacrament services. I can see Him humbly weeping for His children who are being deceived by the great deception. He longs for us to rise up and be counted as His true followers, true disciples, regardless of the persecutions that will follow.
Is it more important to be a good global citizen and act with an abundance of caution or to be a good citizen of the Lord, Jesus Christ, and live the abundant life with our faith in Him, and not in every wind of man’s doctrine. When was the Christian’s life more about living politically correct than living and dying manfully in the cause of Christ? Many walk around scared of dying or getting sick. Forgive me, but WHAT ON EARTH ARE WE DOING HERE!!!!!!!
We are here to prove faithful to the Lord, Jesus Christ! We are here to work out our salvation. We are here to become as He is! He is not a weak, fearful, timid, politically correct puppet! Wake up disciples! Read our holy writ and rise up and be counted with the martyrs who lived and died in the faith of their Lord, holding tightly to the truth!
Rise up oh men and women of faith, men and women of God. The stage is set for the winding up scenes. Where do you stand? Choose to follow Him and not the siren calls that are incessantly piercing our ears.
He is the way, the truth, and the life! There is no other way nor means that man can be saved, only through the holy Messiah!
“And Jesus answered, and said unto them: Take heed that no man deceive you;
6 For many shall come in my name, saying—I am Christ—and shall deceive many;
7 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you, and ye shall be hated of all nations, for my name’s sake;
8 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another;
9 And many false prophets shall arise, and shall deceive many;
10 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold;
11 But he that remaineth steadfast and is not overcome, the same shall be saved…
22 For in those days there shall also arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders, insomuch, that, if possible, they shall deceive the very elect, who are the elect according to the covenant...
37 And whoso treasureth up my word, shall not be deceived, for the Son of Man shall come, and he shall send his angels before him with the great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together the remainder of his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other” (JS—Matthew 1:5-11, 22, 37).
[False Christs promise salvation by a different way than Jesus showed us. False prophets preach a different gospel than is consistent with all the holy scriptures.]
The promise of safety and security was not the focal point of the teachings of the Lord, Jesus Christ. He has allowed many true disciples to be strangers in the wilderness, martyrs, outcasts, crazy men and women rejected from the societies of the day. The test is not to see if you’ll conform to society’s standards but to God’s standards.
My prayer is we can be faithful to Him. I need Him to give me courage to stand. He gives it abundantly as I come unto Him. He is the author and finisher of our faith. Beware of those that promise safety and security through any other way or means than the way of Jesus Christ.
I believe God is sharing with us through those willing to share. Here is a great synopsis of many things I have read in scripture, pondered, seen in dreams and felt deeply in my soul. May God bless you to be true to Him, regardless of consequence.
Interesting that this was recorded a year ago. Many are aware of the fallacies that have been fed to us over the years. Here is a summary of some of the basics on how we got off course. It’s interesting to me how history repeats itself and evil and designing men have always been more concerned about profit, reputation, fame and honor than about truth. This may be a springboard to more research for you:
Joseph Smith taught,
“We have heard men who hold the priesthood remark that they would do anything they were told to do by those who preside over them (even) if they knew it was wrong; but such obedience as this is worse than folly to us; it is slavery in the extreme; and the man who would thus willingly degrade himself, should not claim a rank among intelligent beings, until he turns from his folly. A man of God would despise the idea. Others, in the extreme exercise of their almighty authority have taught that such obedience was necessary, and that no matter what the saints were told to do by their presidents, they should do it without any questions. When the Elders of Israel will so far indulge in these extreme notions of obedience as to teach them to the people, it is generally because they have it in their hearts to do wrong themselves.”
Joseph Smith, Millennial Star, vol.14 #38, pp. 593-95
If Joseph Smith was correct, which I believe he was, then we must receive confirmation from the Lord when we receive commands from those who preside over us.
Compare Joseph’s statement to Wilford Woodruff’s statement now in our present canon under the Official Declaration 1:
“The Lord will never permit me or any other man who stands as President of this Church to lead you astray. It is not in the programme. It is not in the mind of God. If I were to attempt that, the Lord would remove me out of my place, and so He will any other man who attempts to lead the children of men astray from the oracles of God and from their duty.” (Sixty-first Semiannual General Conference of the Church, Monday, October 6, 1890, Salt Lake City, Utah. Reported in Deseret Evening News, October 11, 1890, p. 2.)
If this statement is true by Wilford Woodruff then there is no reason to ever question a command given by a president of the church.
When we esteem following th presiding authority’s opinion more than the entire revealed word of God, then we have missed the mark. The mark is Jesus Christ. Idolatry is putting anyone or anything above Jesus. True prophets point us to Jesus Christ and His doctrine and principles.
We must return to truth or our progress is stopped.
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).
I hope this post will shed light on why I posted my previous two posts and why I feel comfortable calling out darkness.
https://bilbaochristian.blogspot.com/2020/08/calling-evil-good-and-good-evil.html
https://bilbaochristian.blogspot.com/2020/08/the-propaganda-machine.html“Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen?
35 Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men, that they do not learn this one lesson—
36 That the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness.
37 That they may be conferred upon us, it is true; but when we undertake to cover our sins, or to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man.
38 Behold, ere he is aware, he is left unto himself, to kick against the pricks, to persecute the saints, and to fight against God.
39 We have learned by sad experience that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion.
40 Hence many are called, but few are chosen.
41 No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned;
42 By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile—” (Doctrine and Covenants 121:34-42).
This whole Section 121 is powerful in teaching how one receives power in the priesthood. Consider how Jesus obtained power in the priesthood…
“And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:
29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes” (Matthew 7:28-29).
Jesus obtained power and authority by who He was. The scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees and high priests in His day obtained power and authority from the people they governed who upheld their position because of their position. In contrast, Jesus had power and authority because the people could feel the truth of His words because of what He taught and because of who He was. No one had to convince them He was from God, they just knew it through revelation. He personified the power in the priesthood as explained in Section 121 of the Doctrine and Covenants.
Now contrast Jesus’ power and His Father’s power with how Satan seeks to obtain power. Much of that explanation is given in Section 121 of how one negatively exercises power and dominion over others. The scriptures share added insights as to how those influenced by Satan get power.
Moroni added the Book of Ether as a second witness to what caused the downfall of two great civilizations. These are powerful insights he shares:
And Jared rebelled against his father [Omer], and came and dwelt in the land of Heth. And it came to pass that he did flatter many people, because of his cunning words, until he had gained the half of the kingdom.
3 And when he had gained the half of the kingdom he gave battle unto his father, and he did carry away his father into captivity, and did make him serve in captivity;
4 And now, in the days of the reign of Omer he was in captivity the half of his days. And it came to pass that he begat sons and daughters, among whom were Esrom and Coriantumr;
5 And they were exceedingly angry because of the doings of Jared their brother, insomuch that they did raise an army and gave battle unto Jared. And it came to pass that they did give battle unto him by night.
6 And it came to pass that when they had slain the army of Jared they were about to slay him also; and he pled with them that they would not slay him, and he would give up the kingdom unto his father. And it came to pass that they did grant unto him his life.
7 And now Jared became exceedingly sorrowful because of the loss of the kingdom, for he had set his heart upon the kingdom and upon the glory of the world.
8 Now the daughter of Jared being exceedingly expert, and seeing the sorrows of her father, thought to devise a plan whereby she could redeem the kingdom unto her father.
9 Now the daughter of Jared was exceedingly fair. And it came to pass that she did talk with her father, and said unto him: Whereby hath my father so much sorrow? Hath he not read the record which our fathers brought across the great deep? Behold, is there not an account concerning them of old, that they by their secret plans did obtain kingdoms and great glory?
10 And now, therefore, let my father send for Akish, the son of Kimnor; and behold, I am fair, and I will dance before him, and I will please him, that he will desire me to wife; wherefore if he shall desire of thee that ye shall give unto him me to wife, then shall ye say: I will give her if ye will bring unto me the head of my father, the king.
11 And now Omer was a friend to Akish; wherefore, when Jared had sent for Akish, the daughter of Jared danced before him that she pleased him, insomuch that he desired her to wife. And it came to pass that he said unto Jared: Give her unto me to wife.
12 And Jared said unto him: I will give her unto you, if ye will bring unto me the head of my father, the king.
13 And it came to pass that Akish gathered in unto the house of Jared all his kinsfolk, and said unto them: Will ye swear unto me that ye will be faithful unto me in the thing which I shall desire of you?
14 And it came to pass that they all sware unto him, by the God of heaven, and also by the heavens, and also by the earth, and by their heads, that whoso should vary from the assistance which Akish desired should lose his head; and whoso should divulge whatsoever thing Akish made known unto them, the same should lose his life.
15 And it came to pass that thus they did agree with Akish. And Akish did administer unto them the oaths which were given by them of old who also sought power, which had been handed down even from Cain, who was a murderer from the beginning.
16 And they were kept up by the power of the devil to administer these oaths unto the people, to keep them in darkness, to help such as sought power to gain power, and to murder, and to plunder, and to lie, and to commit all manner of wickedness and whoredoms.
17 And it was the daughter of Jared who put it into his heart to search up these things of old; and Jared put it into the heart of Akish; wherefore, Akish administered it unto his kindred and friends, leading them away by fair promises [flattery] to do whatsoever thing he desired.
18 And it came to pass that they formed a secret combination, even as they of old; which combination is most abominable and wicked above all, in the sight of God;
19 For the Lord worketh not in secret combinations, neither doth he will that man should shed blood, but in all things hath forbidden it, from the beginning of man” (Ether 8:2-19).
We see that Satan gives power unto men through their secret oaths and combinations. In our day we call this collusion, cabals, conspiracy and pacts. Sometimes having “connections” or “friends” is a safe way of covering darkness.
Remember, Jesus Christ showed Moroni our day. He showed us to him (Mormon 8:35), therefore, he knew what to write to us, the gentiles.
Moroni continues:
And now I, Moroni, do not write the manner of their oaths and combinations, for it hath been made known unto me that they are had among all people, and they are had among the Lamanites.
21 And they have caused the destruction of this people of whom I am now speaking, and also the destruction of the people of Nephi.
22 And whatsoever nation shall uphold such secret combinations, to get power and gain, until they shall spread over the nation, behold, they shall be destroyed; for the Lord will not suffer that the blood of his saints, which shall be shed by them, shall always cry unto him from the ground for vengeance upon them and yet he avenge them not.
23 Wherefore, O ye Gentiles, it is wisdom in God that these things should be shown unto you, that thereby ye may repent of your sins, and suffer not that these murderous combinations shall get above you, which are built up to get power and gain—and the work, yea, even the work of destruction come upon you, yea, even the sword of the justice of the Eternal God shall fall upon you, to your overthrow and destruction if ye shall suffer these things to be.
24 Wherefore, the Lord commandeth you, when ye shall see these things come among you that ye shall awake to a sense of your awful situation, because of this secret combination which shall be among you; or wo be unto it, because of the blood of them who have been slain; for they cry from the dust for vengeance upon it, and also upon those who built it up.
25 For it cometh to pass that whoso buildeth it up seeketh to overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations, and countries; and it bringeth to pass the destruction of all people, for it is built up by the devil, who is the father of all lies; even that same liar who beguiled our first parents, yea, even that same liar who hath caused man to commit murder from the beginning; who hath hardened the hearts of men that they have murdered the prophets, and stoned them, and cast them out from the beginning.
26 Wherefore, I, Moroni, am commanded to write these things that evil may be done away, and that the time may come that Satan may have no power upon the hearts of the children of men, but that they may be persuaded to do good continually, that they may come unto the fountain of all righteousness and be saved” (Ether 8:20-26).
There is truly a great conspiracy that is above us. Moroni saw it and warned us of it. The propaganda machine has done a great job of making evil look good and good look evil. One effective way this machine operates is by making conspiracy theories look ridiculous. They create so many conspiracies that they can cover up the real great conspiracy that seeks to overthrow the freedom of all lands.
Truly what Ezra Taft Benson taught in our old Book of Mormon student manual is correct, “There is no conspiracy theory in the Book of Mormon—it is conspiracy fact” (the old Book of Mormon Student Manual, pg. 140 or 163-164 pdf version).
It’s taboo in the church and in our nation to speak of conspiracies. The media has done a great job at making us think we are crazy if we believe in conspiracies, yet Moroni clearly teaches that they are had among all people and brought the complete destruction to the Jaredite and Nephite nations and that it is now among us.
Satan will always seek to exercise power and authority over others through force, manipulation and coercion. He threatens with loss of job, loss of power, loss of position...Babylon is run by loyalists. You prove loyal to the one over you and then you are promoted. If you show loyalty to God and truth over loyalty to leadership then you are on the blacklist and you will be eliminated. Anyone with experience in Babylon sees this over and over again.
The righteous are a threat to the devil’s power because their loyalty is to God and they cannot be bought by any amount of money, prestige or position. God will bless us if we stay true to the truth. God is love. God is light. God is truth.
Joseph Smith taught, “And also it is an imperative duty that we owe to all the rising generation, and to all the pure in heart—
12 For there are many yet on the earth among all sects, parties, and denominations, who are blinded by the subtle craftiness of men, whereby they lie in wait to deceive, and who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it—
13 Therefore, that we should waste and wear out our lives in bringing to light all the hidden things of darkness, wherein we know them; and they are truly manifest from heaven—” (Doctrine and Covenants 123:11-13).
To understand how propaganda has led many to say good is evil and evil is good, please take some time to hear out this video. Then study it out and pray about it to see what is truth.
