“The Lord Shut Him In”

 I was pondering yesterday about Noah and this morning I went to the account. It reads, “In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah’s wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark;

14 They, and every beast after his kind, and all the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind, and every fowl after his kind, every bird of every sort.

15 And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life.

16 And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the Lord shut him in” (Genesis 7:13-16; RE Genesis 5:15).

That last phrase really stuck out at me, “the Lord shut him in.” Noah preached, gathered, worked and prepared for the floods coming. He believed the word of the Lord and when the Lord said to come into the ark he responded in obedience. They didn’t wait. 

At some point, after the Lord shut them in, and the waters rose, many must have desired to enter the ark, but it was too late. The door was closed. The Lord had shut them in. 

In JS—Matthew we read, “But as it was in the days of Noah, so it shall be also at the coming of the Son of Man;

42 For it shall be with them, as it was in the days which were before the flood; for until the day that Noah entered into the ark they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage;

43 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be” (JS—Matthew 1:41-43).

So, will the Lord shut in His people in a like manner as He did with the ark? How would that happen? What would it look like in our day? Will there be mass hysteria like Noah’s day as the waters rose? Will hyperinflation hit so hard and the markets drop so rapidly that it will be impossible to get to places of safety? Or will it happen so gradually that it will be almost imperceptible, like the frogs in the boiling water? They won’t even know to get out.

One thing we know for certain. The Lord will come. He has given His people promises. If they look to Him and receive His words, He will guide and protect them. There are a few seeing prophecy fulfilled and acting in faith as they turn to the Lord. There will be a people here who become and receive Zion. 

It appears to me, from these words of scripture, that, “as it was in the days of Noah, so it shall be also at the coming of the Son of Man” (JS—Matthew 1:41), that there will be a time where it is too late to get to places of safety. The Lord will have shut His people in. There is a point where we have not listened in faith and it is too late. Our fate is sealed for better or for worse. His sheep hear His voice. I’m praying earnestly that I’m hearing Him and acting in faith to what He shares with me before it’s too late. 

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

Sherem and Oaks

 I was reading in Jacob about Sherem, the anti-Christ. A couple descriptions of him really caught my attention:

“...he began to preach among the people, and to declare unto them that there should be no Christ. And he preached many things which were flattering unto the people; and this he did that he might overthrow the doctrine of Christ.

3 And he labored diligently that he might lead away the hearts of the people, insomuch that he did lead away many hearts; and he knowing that I, Jacob, had faith in Christ who should come, he sought much opportunity that he might come unto me.

4 And he was learned, that he had a perfect knowledge of the language of the people; wherefore, he could use much flattery, and much power of speech, according to the power of the devil” (Jacob 7:2-4).

First, Sherem taught “there should be no Christ.” The majority of prophecy in scripture is of the coming of the Lord in the flesh to offer himself as an atonement and of his second coming. Today I thought about how rarely the prophecies of his second coming are mentioned by the modern LDS church. For example, when the 4 blood moons happened on 4 consecutive Jewish feast days 2014-2015, mum was the word. The blood moons and solar eclipse are mentioned throughout the standard works (D&C 29:14; D&C 34:9; D&C 45:42; Joel 2:31; Acts 2:20) yet the only reference to the eclipse was a spiritual analogy. The LDS church has forgotten the purpose of these heavenly signs. “And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:” (Genesis 1:14). One of the purposes of their creation is to be for signs, for God to speak to his people. The church is ignoring the signs of Christ’s coming and failing to point the people to them as a testimony of the Lord’s return. Rather, “all is well in Zion.” Just keep your eyes on the current President of the church and he will never fail you. This seems contrary to keeping your eyes on the heavens and the scriptures that you may be prepared for his coming. The heavens and scriptures are given by God, sure markers of truth that cannot be altered easily by men. 

Second, Sherem taught “many things that were flattering unto the people.”

Webster’s 1828 dictionary defines flattery as:

1. Gratifying with praise; pleasing by applause; wheedling; coaxing.

2. adjective Pleasing to pride or vanity; gratifying to self-love; as a flattering eulogy. The minister gives a flattering account of his reception at court.

3. Pleasing; favorable; encouraging hope. We have a flattering prospect of an abundant harvest. The symptoms of the disease are flattering

4. Practicing adulation; uttering false praise; as a flattering tongue.

Who tells you things you want to hear? True prophets from God rarely waste time and energy telling us how great we are. I think of Jacob in chapters 2-3, regretting having to give the message to his people that they have broken the hearts of their wives and children by entering into polygamous relationships and they had been seeking riches inappropriately. Abinadi came to tell the church leadership they were out of line and pretending to teach the law when they did not understand it. Samuel the Lamanite had arrows shot at him because his message was so unflattering. Do current church leaders, called prophets, teach messages that have them worried for their lives or are these messages from the obscure, humble followers of Christ. I’ve seen the current church leadership chase many of the obscure from their congregations and label them as apostates, crazy and deceived by the devil. All because their message is of repentance. Flattery is something worth looking for in any message from any man claiming to have a message from God. 

Third, we are warned that Sherem used this flattery “that he might overthrow the doctrine of Christ.” What is the doctrine of Christ?

Nephi lays it out quite simply in 2 Nephi 31-32. He speaks of exercising faith unto repentance, entering the gate of baptism, receiving a remission of sins by the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost. He speaks of enduring in faith, feasting on the words of Christ until the Lord shows himself unto you in the flesh. That is the doctrine of Christ. Nephi is frustrated because he lays it out plainly but men don’t understand. He said, “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” (2 Nephi 32:7).

This caught my attention as I remembered a couple statements by Dallin H. Oaks. He said, “The suggestion that [seeing the face of the Savior] must happen in mortality is a familiar tactic of the adversary” (Elder Dallin H. Oaks, June 13th, 2015) https://youtu.be/g0js6xWv6bc, (also this statement where Oaks declares that neither he nor his brethren have seen the Lord https://youtu.be/GrMJ2YZD62M).

This is in direct contrast to Nephi telling us the plain doctrine of Christ is to seek the Lord in the flesh. Hmmmm? Let alone all of Joseph Smith’s teachings on the subject of seeking the second comforter or Jesus in John 14, telling us he and Father will come and make their abode with us. Joseph even received clarification from the Lord that the appearance spoken of by the Lord in John 14 is a literal appearance of the Lord. “John 14:23—The appearing of the Father and the Son, in that verse, is a personal appearance; and the idea that the Father and the Son dwell in a man’s heart is an old sectarian notion, and is false” (D&C 130:3).

So, someone is teaching false doctrine. It’s either Nephi, Joseph Smith and Jesus or it’s Elder Dallin H. Oaks, a sustained prophet, seer and revelator by the general LDS church membership. Let’s turn to an excerpt I found from Bruce R. McConkie years ago. He puts a lot of scripture together that may help us understand who is telling the truth. This is long so I’ll book end the beginning and end with the reference:

"Seek the Face of the Lord Always"

Elder Bruce R. McConkie

of the Quorum of the Twelve

(excerpts from The Promised Messiah, Chapter 31, p.575-595)

The Pure in Heart Shall See God

After the true saints receive and enjoy the gift of the Holy Ghost; after they know how to attune themselves to the voice of the Spirit; after they mature spiritually so that they see visions, work miracles, and entertain angels; after they make their calling and election sure and prove themselves worthy of every trust—after all this and more—it becomes their right and privilege to see the Lord and commune with him face to face. Revelations, visions, angelic visitations, the rending of the heavens, and appearances among men of the Lord himself—all these things are for all of the faithful. They are not reserved for apostles and prophets only. God is no respecter of persons. They are not reserved for one age only, or for a select lineage or people. We are all our Father's children. All men are welcome. "And he inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile." (2 Ne. 26:33.)

Seeing the Lord is not a matter of lineage or rank or position or place of precedence. Joseph Smith said: "God hath not revealed anything to Joseph, but what he will make known unto the Twelve, and even the least saint may know all things as fast as he is able to bear them, for the day must come when no man need say to his neighbor, Know ye the Lord; for all shall know him . . . from the least to the greatest." (Teachings, p. 149.) The fact is that the day of personal visitations from the Lord to faithful men on earth has no more ceased than has the day of miracles. God is an unchangeable Being; otherwise he would not be God. The sole issue is finding people who have faith and who work righteousness. "For if there be no faith among the children of men God can do no miracle among them; wherefore, he showeth not himself until after their faith." (Ether 12:12.)

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said: "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God." (Matt. 5:8.) The Book of Mormon rendition is even more express. It says: "And blessed are all the pure in heart, for they shall see God." (3 Ne. 12:8.) Ten days after the laying of the cornerstones for the Kirtland Temple, the Lord said to his little flock: "Inasmuch as my people build a house unto me in the name of the Lord, and do not suffer any unclean thing to come into it, that it be not defiled, my glory shall rest upon it; Yea, and my presence shall be there, for I will come into it, and all the pure in heart that shall come into it shall see God. But if it be defiled I will not come into it, and my glory shall not be there; for I will not come into unholy temples." (D&;C 97:15-17.)

By January of 1836 the saints were getting ready to dedicate the Kirtland Temple. Because of their faith and as an expression of the divine approval that attended their labors, the Lord poured out upon them great Pentecostal manifestations. On January 21, the Prophet Joseph Smith; his father, Joseph Smith, Sr.; Oliver Cowdery; and the two counselors in the First Presidency, Sidney Rigdon and Frederick G. Williams, were participating in sacred ordinances in an upper room in the Kirtland Temple. "The heavens were opened upon us," the Prophet said, "and I beheld the celestial kingdom of God, and the glory thereof, whether in the body or out I cannot tell. I saw the transcendent beauty of the gate through which the heirs of that kingdom will enter, which was like unto circling flames of fire; Also the blazing throne of God, whereon was seated the Father and the Son." (JS-V 1-3.)

That same day, and on others that followed, the Prophet and many others saw vision upon vision. Included among them were these: "The visions of heaven were open to them also," the Prophet said with reference to the First Presidency and the members of bishoprics and high councils from both Zion and Kirtland. "Some of them saw the face of the Savior, and others were ministered unto by holy angels, and the spirit of prophecy and revelation was poured out in mighty power; and loud hosannas, and glory to God in the highest, saluted the heavens, for we all communed with the heavenly host." (History of the Church, 2:382.)

On January 28, 1836, "president Zebedee Coltrin, one of the seven presidents of the Seventy, saw the Savior extended before him, as upon the cross, and a little after, crowned with glory upon his head above the brightness of the sun." (Ibid., p. 387.) Of a meeting attended by about three hundred members, on March 30, 1836, in the Kirtland Temple, the Prophet wrote: "The brethren continued exhorting, prophesying, and speaking in tongues until five o'clock in the morning. The Savior made his appearance to some, while angels ministered to others, and it was a Pentecost and an endowment indeed, long to be remembered." (Ibid., pp. 432-33.) The crowning appearance of the Lord during that special period of grace occurred, of course, on April 3, when the Great Jehovah appeared in his glory and majesty to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery. (D&;C 110.) These appearances of the Lord to his saints are but samples taken from a fragmentary account and covering a brief period of spiritual rejoicing, but they suffice for our purposes. There is no question but that the pure in heart do see God.

Associated with the promise that the pure in heart shall see God is the decree that those who are not pure in heart shall not see their Lord. Even Moses, with whom it was the practice of God to converse on a face-to-face basis, was denied that privilege on one occasion, as these words of scripture attest: "And he said unto Moses, Thou canst not see my face at this time, lest mine anger is kindled against thee also, and I destroy thee and thy people; for there shall no man among them see me at this time, and live, for they are exceeding sinful. And no sinful man hath at any time, neither shall there be any sinful man at any time, that shall see my face and live." (JST Ex. 33:20.)

How to Seek and See the Lord

If we keep the commandments and are true and faithful in all things, we shall inherit eternal life in our Father's kingdom. Those who attain this high state of glory and exaltation shall dwell in the presence of God. They shall see his face and converse with him mouth to mouth. They shall know him in the full sense of the word because they have become like him. And all who are now living those laws to the full which will enable them to go where God and Christ are, and there enjoy eternal association with them—that is, all those who are now living in its entirety the law of the celestial kingdom—are already qualified to see the Lord. The attainment of such a state of righteousness and perfection is the object and end toward which all of the Lord's people are striving. We seek to see the face of the Lord while we yet dwell in mortality, and we seek to dwell with him everlastingly in the eternal kingdoms that are prepared.

Our scriptures contain such counsel as: "Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." (Isa. 55:6-7.) "Seek the Lord, and ye shall live. . . . Seek him that maketh the seven stars and Orion. . . . The Lord is his name." (Amos 5:6, 8.) "Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness." (Zeph. 2:3.) "Seek the face of the Lord always, that in patience ye may possess your souls, and ye shall have eternal life." (D&;C 101:38.)

We know that all things are governed by law, and that "when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated." (D&;C 130:20-21.) "For all who will have a blessing at my hands shall abide the law which was appointed for that blessing," the Lord says, "and the conditions thereof, as were instituted from before the foundation of the world." (D&;C 132:5.) This means that if we obey the law that enables us to see the Lord, so shall it be, but if we do not meet the divine standard, our eyes shall not behold him. There is no secret as to what laws are involved. They are everywhere recited in the scriptures. That which must be done is described in various ways in different passages. But the general meaning is the same. It all comes down to one basic conclusion—that of keeping the commandments. Let us now consider some of the specific things the scriptures say we must do if we are to see the face of God while we yet dwell as mortals.

The pure in heart shall see God. This we have already seen, but we restate it again because the process of becoming pure in heart is the process that prepares us to see the face of Deity. In an early revelation, the Lord spoke of the members of his newly set up earthly kingdom as "mine own elect." Of them he said: "They will hear my voice, and shall see me, and shall not be asleep, and shall abide the day of my coming; for they shall be purified, even as I am pure." (D&;C 35:21.) John spoke similarly when he described what is now our Lord's imminent appearance: "When he shall appear, we shall be like him," he said, "for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purified himself, even as he is pure." (1 Jn. 3:2-3.) Knowing that Christ is pure, and that if we are to see him now, or be with him hereafter, we must be pure as he is pure, this becomes a great incentive to the purifying of our lives.

A perfectly stated and marvelously comprehensive formula that shows us what we must do to see the Lord is given us in these words: "Verily, thus saith the Lord: It shall come to pass that every soul who forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and obeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments, shall see my face and know that I am." (D&;C 93:1.) Who made the promise? The Lord Jesus Christ. To whom is it given? To every living soul. What must we do to see his face? Five specifics are named [notice the slight twisting of scripture by McConkie. We need to interpret scripture by the power of the Holy Ghost and let no man stand between us and God]: (1) Forsake our sins, for no unclean or impure person, no sinful man, can abide in his presence. (2) Come unto him; accept him as our Savior; receive his gospel, as it has been restored in our day. (3) Call on his name in mighty prayer as did the brother of Jared. (4) Obey his voice; do what he directs; put first in our lives the things of his kingdom; close our ears to the evil voices of the world. (5) Keep the commandments; endure in righteousness; be true to the faith. Those who do these things, being pure in heart, shall see God.

Faith and knowledge unite together to pave the way for the appearance of the Lord to an individual or to a whole people. The brother of Jared saw the Lord because he had a perfect knowledge that the Lord could and would show himself. His faith on the point of seeing within the veil was perfect; it had become knowledge. Because he knew, nothing doubting, he saw. Moroni, who had the plates of Ether and who summarized the account of Moriancumer's great vision, tells us why that prophet saw his God: "Because of the knowledge of this man he could not be kept from beholding within the veil," Moroni says, "and he saw the finger of Jesus, which, when he saw, he fell with fear; for he knew that it was the finger of the Lord; and he had faith no longer, for he knew, nothing doubting. Wherefore, having this perfect knowledge of God, he could not be kept from within the veil; therefore he saw Jesus; and he did minister unto him." (Ether 3:19-20.)

It was on this same basis that Jared's brother saw all the inhabitants of the earth and many other things that he wrote, but that "shall not go forth unto the Gentiles until the day that they shall repent of their iniquity, and become clean before the Lord. And in that day that they shall exercise faith in me, saith the Lord, even as the brother of Jared did, that they may become sanctified in me, then will I manifest unto them the things which the brother of Jared saw, even to the unfolding unto them all my revelations, saith Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of the heavens and of the earth, and all things that in them are. And he that will contend against the word of the Lord, let him be accursed; and he that shall deny these things, let him be accursed; for unto them will I show no greater things, saith Jesus Christ; for I am he who speaketh." (Ether 4:6-8.) The message here is so clear that it cannot be clarified by commentary. The brother of Jared saw the Lord because of his faith and knowledge and because he sanctified himself before the Lord. Other men do not receive the same blessings because they have not built the same foundation of righteousness. If and when we obtain the spiritual stature of this man Moriancumer, then we shall see what he saw and know what he knew.

Commenting upon the appearance of Christ to the thousands of Nephites in the land Bountiful, Moroni says: "Faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith. For it was by faith that Christ showed himself unto our fathers, after he had risen from the dead; and he showed not himself unto them until after they had faith in him; wherefore, it must needs be that some had faith in him, for he showed himself not unto the world." (Ether 12:6-8.)

In a revelation addressed to those among the saints whom he considered to be his "friends," the Lord gave this commandment: "Call upon me while I am near—Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me; ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." Surely, this is what we must do if we ever expect to see his face. He is there waiting our call, anxious to have us seek his face, awaiting our importuning pleas to rend the veil so that we can see the things of the Spirit.

"Whatsoever ye ask the Father in my name," he continues, "it shall be given unto you, that is expedient for you." Would it be expedient for us to see and know what the brother of Jared saw and knew? Are there blessings others have received that should be withheld from us? "And if your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things." Clearly this is the state attained by Moriancumer when he saw and understood all things and when the Lord could not withhold anything from him.

"Therefore, sanctify yourselves that your minds become single to God"—and now we come to the crowning promise of the gospel—"and the days will come that you shall see him; for he will unveil his face unto you, and it shall be in his own time, and in his own way, and according to his own will." That is the Lord's promise, his great promise, his crowning promise, his last promise. What is there that can excel in importance the obtaining of that spiritual stature which enables one to see the Lord? And so the next words spoken by the Lord to his friends were: "Remember the great and last promise which I have made unto you."

Then follows some counsel relative to right living, which is climaxed with these words, the full import of which is known only by those who are endowed with power from on high in holy places: "Sanctify yourselves; yea, purify your hearts, and cleanse your hands and your feet before me, that I may make you clean; That I may testify unto your Father, and your God, and my God, that you are clean from the blood of this wicked generation." Why? "That I may fulfil this promise, this great and last promise," this promise that you shall see me and that I will unveil my face, that I may fulfill this promise "which I have made unto you, when I will." (D&;C 88:62-75.) To those of understanding we say: The purpose of the endowment in the house of the Lord is to prepare and sanctify his saints so they will be able to see his face, here and now, as well as to bear the glory of his presence in the eternal worlds.

In a poetic passage, which can only be understood, as is the case with most of the book of Isaiah, by those with a background knowledge of the gospel, Isaiah says of the righteous in Israel: "Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty." That is: You shall see the face of the Lord. Any who so obtain are identified with this language: "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." (Isa. 33:15.) These are the ones who shall see the Lord in this life and dwell with him in the life to come.

"How do men obtain a knowledge of the glory of God, his perfections and attributes?" asked the Prophet Joseph Smith. His answer: "By devoting themselves to his service, through prayer and supplication incessantly strengthening their faith in him, until, like Enoch, the Brother of Jared, and Moses, they obtain a manifestation of God to themselves." (Lectures on Faith, p. 32.)

Again- the reference: "Seek the Face of the Lord Always"

Elder Bruce R. McConkie

of the Quorum of the Twelve

(excerpts from The Promised Messiah, Chapter 31, p.575-595)

The Pure in Heart Shall See God

So, maybe instead of calling the doctrine of Christ a “familiar tactic of the adversary,” we should focus on repentance, sanctifying ourselves and becoming pure in heart, that we might enter into the presence of the Lord in this life! 

As quoted above, McConkie said, “What is there that can excel in importance the obtaining of that spiritual stature which enables one to see the Lord?” Contrast that to Oaks, “familiar tactic of the adversary.” 

I’m calling a spade a spade. Dallin Oaks teachings here are anti-Christ, just as Sherem’s were. 

So, back to Sherem. The record states that “he labored diligently that he might lead away the hearts of the people,” We might ask ourselves, “why is Oaks laboring to preach the false doctrine that we shouldn’t seek the Lord’s face as has been taught by Jesus and all the holy prophets? Where does he want the heart of his people focused? 

A common tactic of the adversary is to convince people to follow a man without question. Get the focus on the leader, not on truth. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. If people focus on truth they will inevitably land on Jesus Christ but the adversary can’t have that. 

We are warned by Nephi, “priestcrafts are that men preach and set themselves up for a light unto the world, that they may get gain and praise of the world; but they seek not the welfare of Zion” (2 Nephi 26:29).

It’s interesting that Nephi delivered the doctrine of Christ and exhorted us to labor until Christ visits us in the flesh and he also warned not to trust in men who hold themselves up for a light. 

If our hearts are blinded by continually focusing on doing what the leaders of an organization desire, even a church leader, our hearts will lose focus from Jesus and end up on pleasing a man or institution. God wants our hearts and so does the adversary. Any distraction from the Lord is a victory for the devil. 

And finally we learn that Sherem “was learned, that he had a perfect knowledge of the language of the people; wherefore, he could use much flattery, and much power of speech, according to the power of the devil.” 

I would invite you to consider if Oaks has this same power of speech. Does he have a perfect knowledge of the language of the people? Does he use it to direct people to Christ or to himself and his brethren? 

I believe the scriptures filled with the words of Christ have laid out plainly who are the enemies of Christ, anti-Christ’s, and who are on the Lord’s side. We must choose wisely which teachings are from God. 

If you watch general conference of the LDS church this weekend, I invite you to consider how many messages speak about coming unto Christ and being taught by him personally compared to how many focus on following the prophet. It may surprise you what you find. Subtle, vain teachings lead a soul to hell. 

I agree with Nephi, he has spoken plainly. Sometimes it’s not so confusing as it is difficult to leave false traditions, false beliefs and even be rejected for receiving additional light and truth. Jesus prophesied that if they rejected Him, they would also reject you. 

Jesus taught this great truth, perfect for the topic of coming into His presence:

“But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

36 And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.

37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it” (Matthew 10:33-39).

Come unto Jesus. In him ye shall find rest.