The Covenant Path

We don’t need to get a complex or get a feeling that you have to be perfect to be saved. You don’t. There’s only been one perfect person, and that’s the Lord Jesus, but in order to be saved in the Kingdom of God and in order to pass the test of mortality, what you have to do is get on the straight and narrow path — thus charting a course leading to eternal life — and then, being on that path, pass out of this life in full fellowship. I’m not saying that you don’t have to keep the commandments. I’m saying you don’t have to be perfect to be saved. If you did, no one would be saved. The way it operates is this: you get on the path that’s named the “straight and narrow.” You do it by entering the gate of repentance and baptism. The straight and narrow path leads from the gate of repentance and baptism, a very great distance, to a reward that’s called eternal life. If you’re on that path and pressing forward, and you die, you’ll never get off the path. There is no such thing as falling off the straight and narrow path in the life to come, and the reason is that this life is the time that is given to men to prepare for eternity. Now is the time and the day of your salvation, so if you’re working zealously in this life — though you haven’t fully overcome the world and you haven’t done all you hoped you might do — you’re still going to be saved. You don’t have to do what Jacob said, “Go beyond the mark.” You don’t have to live a life that’s truer than true. You don’t have to have an excessive zeal that becomes fanatical and becomes unbalancing. What you have to do is stay in the mainstream of the Church and live as upright and decent people live in the Church — keeping the commandments, paying your tithing, serving in the organizations of the Church, loving the Lord, staying on the straight and narrow path. If you’re on that path when death comes — because this is the time and the day appointed, this the probationary estate — you’ll never fall off from it, and, for all practical purposes, your calling and election is made sure.

The Probationary Test of Mortality

Elder Bruce R. McConkie

Address given at the University of Utah Institute of Religion January 10, 1982

The Law of Return

Matt 24:32-34 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

Dan 9:24-25 Seventy weeks (shabuas) are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city. . . Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.

Some believe that the reestablishment of Israel is the fulfillment of Matt 24. According to scripture, the state of Israel is the "fig tree". Therefore, if this is so, according to Matt 24, the generation born to see the nation of Israel restored would not pass away until all of the End Times prophesies of Matt 24 are fulfilled.

The prophesies of Daniel have multiple fulfillment. But they also apply to the Last Days as well. Daniel tells us that after a command goes forth to rebuild Jerusalem, there is a special 70 "Shabua" time period set aside until Jerusalem and the temple are fully restored and sanctified. Shabua can mean "a week of 7 days" or can refer to the "Feast of Weeks". Therefore, 70 Shabuas can mean 490 years or it can mean just 70 years.

So, when is the start of Daniel's timeline of 70 prophetic years? Some start the clock at the UN declaration creating the Nation of Israel in 1947. I do not agree with this. It is my personal opinion that Daniel's clock begins with the "Law of Return" where the Jewish government itself called for the gathering of Jews to Israel on July 5, 1950 (20 Tammuz 5710).

Accordingly, if Daniel's prophetic timeline begins in 1950, and 70 Shabuas = 70 years, then it should end in 2020. I'm not saying this marks the Second Coming of Christ. No man knows the day nor the hour. However, Daniel seemed interested in telling us when to expect the restoration and sanctification of the 3rd Temple in Jerusalem.

That said, the final 7 years from Shabua 62 to 69 seem to be a period of tribulation, war, and desolation. This Tribulation period is described as the 7 Trumpets by John in Revelation which preceeds the 7 vials of wrath. While the righteous are not appointed unto wrath, believers will be subject to the trials and adversity of the Tribulation. So, we should be prepared. When should the Tribulation begin? If "The Law of Return" starts the clock, and 70 Shabuas = 70 years, then the 62nd Shabua should begin in the year 2012. The Abomination of Desolation will occur in the midst of the Tribulation week (Dan 9:27).

Although the Tribulation period will be painful like any medical procedure. Remember, God is allowing the wicked to unleash these trials to wake us up and get the is to repent to turn back to Him. The Tribulation can only be as bad as man has technology to torment man. This may include technology to trigger Earthquakes in strange places, arson, disease, famine, steer and potentiate storms, civil unrest, and war. Satan has no power over astrological phenomenon. Celestial signs and wonders are Gods domain and is saved for the Wrath upon the wicked only. Just remember, that Zion waits just on the other side of the Tribulation.

2020 may also mark the 120th Jubilee (Gen 6:3).

Fight or FEMA Camp: Alma vs. Limhi

A recent new report was discussing the use of US Military being used as peace keepers on American soil in violation of the Pose Comitatus Act. Over the past 10 years, there has been an increasing trend for FEMA to call upon the US Military to assist with domestic disaster relief as opposed to using the State National Guard which are under the command of the Governors as opposed to DOD. (Caesar has crossed the Rubicon).

Accordingly, Many concerned citizens point to several instances where during these disaster relief operations, US Military were used to conduct warrantless door-to-door searches, gun confiscation, and forced relocations. Critics of this kind of domestic use of the US Military claim it is in clear violation of the Pose Comitatus Act of 1878 . Pose Comitatus prohibits US Military from engaging in "law enforcement," "military occupation" or "peace keeping" activities on non-federal property. Last October, NorthCOM using the threat of WMD's as justification, assigned the US Army 3rd Infantry Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team (otherwise known as the Chemical, Biological, Radiological/Nuclear, and Explosive Consequence Management Response Force or CCMRF) to operate within the US. The issue FEMA and Pose Comitatus got me thinking about the following scenario.

1. We know that Utah (Wasatch Fault) is way overdue for an 8-9 Earthquake (Utah has been feverishly retrofitting for last 25 years). 2. A magnitude 8-9 earthquake along the Wasatch Front would result in considerable devastation. 3. When that Earthquake occurs or any another large-scale domestic disaster, US Military will likely assist local law enforcement in peacekeeping activities as was done in New Orleans, Billings, MT and Greenburg, KS 4. If called upon, the US Military could engage in house-to-house searches and gun confiscation. 5. FEMA could use the military to enforce a mandatory vaccination program 6. Disaster victims could be forcibly removed, relocated, and transported to a system of FEMA residential facilities.

So, some unconventional questions are these: When the Big Utah Quake happens (or the next big domestic disaster), and FEMA activates the Consequence Management Response Force (CMRF) to imposes a policy of gun confiscation, forced vaccination and relocation; What do you think the reaction of the general public will be? Would anyone militantly resist gun confiscation and forced vaccination? The choice between [Fight] or [FEMA Camp] seems like a lose-lose, false dichotomy to me. It is my conviction that by being spiritually and temporally prepared, listening to the prophet, and taking the Holy Spirit as our guide, we will not have to fear either of these false choices.

Having and sharing a year supply nicely avoids the (fight vs FEMA camp) dichotomy. While many people may voluntarily get on the trains headed toward FEMA residential centers because of the promise of food and water. If we follow the prophet and have food storage, we can share with our neighbors, ban together, and keep some semblance of community. Then again, having a 72-hour kit and hitting the road early and getting out of Dodge may be wise depending on the circumstances.

Again, lets imagine that Utah's Wasatch Fault finally has its 8-9.5 Earthquake and the entire Wasatch Front is in shambles. Marshall Law is imposed, Federal Troops are on the street and going door to door rounding up people and enforcing policies of forced vaccination, gun confiscation, and forced relocation to FEMA residential camps. What would be the correct response? I don't like the [Fight vs. FEMA Camp] dichotomy, but it reminds me a lot of the situation of the people of Limhi vs. the people of Alma in the Book of Mormon.

Limhi's was the son of wicked King Noah who burned the prophet Abinadi at the stake. Limhi's people were enslaved by the Lamanites and put under a kind of martial law. In response, the people of Limhi marshaled themselves and went to battle against impossible odds and were badly defeated again and again before they were eventually delivered.

On the other hand, Alma and a small band of believers were warned and escaped the City of Nephi before the Lamanites enslaved its citizens. Eventually Alma's City of Helam was taken captive for a short time. In fact, a law was made that if the guards found them praying, they would be put to death. However, we are told Alma's and his people did not resist and God did quickly delivered them.

I think we all hope we would have some prior warning of danger like Alma at the Waters of Mormon. However, If I were forced to choose between Alma or Limhi, I choose Alma every time.

I think the important thing here is to follow the prophet, get out of debt, acquire a food supply, and keep an open mind when anticipating instruction to "defend the constitution" vs. "comply and seek redress later in the courts?" (D&C 101:76, 134:11) I hope that most citizens understand that the Pose Comitatus Act of 1878 only applies to the point where the Insurrection Act of 1807 takes over. Therefore, when I hear anyone say they would militantly resist a policy of gun confiscation, I can't help but think about the lesson of People of Limhi vs. the People of Alma in the Book of Mormon.

My hope is that regardless of what may happen (earthquakes, dirty bombs, financial collapse) many of us who have listened to the living prophets and have a food storage will be able to stay put and maybe share our food storage with 1-2 Ishmael-like families with skills and resources that will help us survive, instead of relocating to FEMA residential centers or major cities where food and water distribution is promised.

D&C 112:25 And upon my house shall it begin, and from my house shall it go forth, saith the Lord;

D&C 45:57 For they that are wise and have received the truth, and have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide, and have not been deceived—verily I say unto you, they shall not be hewn down and cast into the fire, but shall abide the day.

Brigham Young's Misunderstood Teachings

Adam- God: (misunderstood by people who heard it)

1. Adam has already entered into His eternal life. 

2. Adam is a physical father of Jesus Christ through Mary.
3. Adam is our physical father who has achieved godhood who is the only god physically we are related to and "have to do with".

The point of this was to say, "isn't it cool that the father of mankind has already entered into his godhood". If Adam has done so, then so can we.

Blood Confession: (Blood Atonement is a misnomer and always a false doctrine )

1. Only the shedding of Christ's blood brings forgiveness, blessing, diverance, reception, salvation and exaltation. (Period)
2. This doctrine has to do with how a person obtains forgiveness from a seemingly unforgivable sin and how you can trust the confession (eg malafactor, Sherem).

a. Confess Christ as the Savior and Redeemer
b. Make full and public disclosure and confession and restitution if possible.
c. Voluntarily accept and submit to all required consequences and punishments even including capital punishment if required. (No endless appeals on death row and no plea deals).

Submitting to death penalty does not atone for sin, and may not always be required, but only as it is required by society depending on the crimes committed, a person by voluntarily submitting to the full consequences and penalties of the law seals their confession with their own blood as true. This is how the great latter-day conspiracy could be revealed. 

The great conspiracy sends many false defectors. But you know they are false because they don't confess and don't submit to punishment. Anyone high up in the Great and Abominable Church who would know anything about it would be required to have done heinous things, which would require a shocking confession and the most severe punishments.

But if someone were to come forward and actually, confess and submit to full punishment without a plea deal, you'd know the confession he made was true. (Sherem)  This is a very important doctrine and why it's so misunderstood. The implimentation of this doctrine would take Satan's Church down. 

No More Prophets?

Heb 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

Evangelicals believe in the notion of "Sola Scriptura". Sola Scriptura means that the Bible, as it currently exists,  is the sole infallible source of authority for Christian faith and practice.  Evangelicals claim this scripture in Hebrews 1:1 means that since the coming of Jesus Christ. God no longer uses prophets and there will not be any more scripture given. The Bible is closed.  Believers are to rely on the testimony of the Apostles alone who were eye witnesses of Christ  in the New Testament.

Evangelicals claim that since the coming of Jesus Christ, that Christ's Himself manifests Himself to mankind directly via His word in the New Testament and the Holy Ghost without need for a mediator, intermediary, emessary, witness or prophet as was done in the Old Testament.  This is, in reality, a reactionary protestant doctrine that rejects the authority of the Catholic Pope. 

But does the Bible itself support this interpretation?

1. Luke was the author of the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. Luke is not an Apostle, but was a missionary companion of Paul.  Luke himself confesses that he was not an eye witness of the sayings or acts of Jesus Christ but claims to have recorded the witnesses of people who did. 

While, Luke is reliable in my mind. Doesn't Luke serve as an intermediary of Christ's words? 

Luke 1:2 Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;

2. John is visited by an angel. In Revelation, John the Beloved is shown a vision of the Last Days.  John mistakenly attempts to worship the angel sent to deliver Christ's words.  But, the angel forbade John stating that John should only worship God.   But if God no longer uses intermediaries other than Christ, and Christ deals with mankind directly without any other intermediary; why did  Jesus send His testimony vua this angel in Rev 19:10 and Rev 22:9 and not directly?

Rev 19:10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

3. In the Parable of the Good Samaritan, the Samaritan, who respresents Christ, personally cared for the man who fell among thieves.  But then Christ states that the Samaritan left the man in the care of the host of the inn.  If Christ no longer uses prophets, representatives, or other authorized representatives, why does the Samaritan in the Parable arrange for someone else, (the innkeeper) to continue care of the injured man on His behalf?

Luke 10:35. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.

4.  Revelation says in the Last Days, there will be two witnesses who prophesy in Jerusalem. Isn't witnesses who prophesy just another way of describing a prophet?

Rev 11:3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

Considering these four examples from the Bible,  is it reasonable to continue to believe in the protestant/Evangelical tradition of Sola Scriptura, which tradition itself is not found in the Bible?

Faith and Seatbelts

Mainstream Christianity and their doctrine of "Sola Fide" or salvation by faith alone, sadly often misunderstands, and dilutes the true meaning of faith.  James teaches to, "be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only (James 1:22), and "faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone (James 2:17)".  Christ Himself taught, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven" (Matt 7:21).

When Paul says we are saved by grace and not by dead works, Paul is talking about the amoral requirements of the Law of Moses. Paul is not talking about the moral requirements of a Christian life to be virtuous,  honest, true, and chaste, and to care for the poor and needy, the fatherless and the widow. 

A good analogy to faith is the seatbelt in a car.  I can say that I believe that using a seatbelt will save my life in the event of an accident.  I can form a foundation and launch a crusade to raise seatbelt awareness and advocate for its use. But, in addition to my words and advocacy, true faith also requires my daily consistent personal use. I can talk all day long about how I believe seatbelt use saves lives. but If I don't use my seatbelt, I am being hypocritical, and I will not be free of the consequences. 

Paul teaches that Christ's righteousness is imputed to us.  But our justification through Christ's grace does not negate our need to wear a seatbelt and will not deliver us from the consequences of not wearing one. What justification in Christ allows, is the presence of the Holy Ghost to be with us, even in our imperfect state, to help us via our conscience (peace or guilt), to keep keep Christ's commandments, and, in this case, consistently wear our seatbelt. 

The workings of the Holy Spirit could be compared to the annoying car notification that sounds when we have not yet fastened our searbelt.  The presence of the Holy Ghost, given by Christ's grace, through faith, aids in our sanctification and perfection. The Holy Ghost will not protect us from harm and the consequences of being in a car accident without a seatbelt and  when we have, as Captain Moroni writes to Pahoran. failed to make use of the means the Lord has already provided for us. The Holy Ghost is only there to "bring all things to our remembrance"  and help us remember to put on our seatbelt in the fiest place.  Protection comes by our obedience. 

Alma 60:21 Or do ye suppose that the Lord will still deliver us, while we sit upon our thrones and do not make use of the means which the Lord has provided for us?

There were some ancient Jews in the Book of Mormon (Wicked King Noah) and the Bible (Pharisees) who mistakenly believed if they kept all the amoral particulars of the Law of Moses, that they were given leeway to break all the moral commandments.  As Christians, we need to be careful that we don't make the same mistake.  and believe that saying "Lord, Lord", excuses us from keeping the commandments.  Professed Christians are not given permission to lie, cheat, steal, get drunk, do drugs, look at porn, or have sex before or outside of marriage. 

We need to beware telling ourselves that its okay because everyone is doing it and God wouldn't punish so many people.  God did punish a whole lot of people in the Great Flood, and warned us these Last Days would be the same as the days of Noah.  Confessing Christ but continuing in sin won't protect us from the spiritual and physical consequences. While. no one is perfect, what accepting Christ will do, is allow the Holy Spirit to work in us and help us improve every day.  Our responsibility is to continue in the grace of Christ and in our daily striving, improving, and endure to the end. 

Salt Lake Temple Foundation

The Second Coming of Jesus Christ, according to scripture, is linked to the ancient Israelite marriage custom. The Second Comming is the final marriage feast where the groom (Jesus Christ) is finally united and eternally sealed together with His bride (the Church). But according to tradition, after the engagement, the groom spent a year away from his betrothed building a house for their family to live. The day of the wedding was unknown until the father of the groom inspected the home and declared it accepted.

The house of the Lord Jesus Christ is the temple. In Bible times the temple was built in Jerusalem to one nation, kindred, tongue and people. But in the Last Days, the mountain of the Lord's House and the everlasting covenant would be established to all nationd, kindreds, tongues and peoples. The Salt Lake Temple built in Utah, built in the tops of the mountains, is the House of the Lord Jesus Christ.

10 years after arriving in the Salt Lake Valley, President Buchanan sent Johnstons Army in 1857 to occupy Utah, assert federal authority. and quell a falsely perceived inserection. Not wanting temple square to be occupied, Brigham Young had the all the stones and foundations of the Salt Lake temple up to that point cast into its excavation, covered with dirt. and the ground plowed to appear like a farmers field.

After Jonston's Army passed through and established a camp in another area of the valley, work eventually resumed on the Salt Lake temple. However, when the foundation was reexcavated, the builders discovered many cracks. Undaunted, Brigham Young ordered the entire sandstone foundation removed and replaced with a granite (dolomite) foundation including an unusual detail featuring 16 inverted arches. Brigham Young said at the time that he desired the Salt Lake Temple and its foundation to last through the Melennium.

Years later, Elder Boyd K Packer was recounting this history and the temple's mysterious 16 inverted foundation arches in a 1993 talk entitled. "The Temple, the Priesthood". Elder Packer said, "sixteen large inverted granite arches were built into the new foundation. There is no record as to why they did that. That manner of construction was unknown in this country then. But, if someday per chance there'd be a massive force wanting to lift the temple from beneath, then we shall know why they are there."

Today, we finally know why God inspired and showed Brigham Young to place these inverted arches in the temple's foundation. At 7:09 a.m. MDT on March 18, 2020, a 5.7 magnitude earthquake hit Salt Lake City, Utah, United States, with an epicenter 6 km (3.7 mi) north-northeast of Magna, Utah. The result of the shaking was the angel Moroni atop the Salt Lake temple dropped his trumpet. All public church gatherings were suspended on March 12, 2020. March 16, and 20 saw missionary work curtailed and some missionaries sent home early. Two weeks later, on March 25, the First Presidency announced all temples would close.

Damage to the Salt Lake City temple foundation was extensive enough that experts worried. a more serious earthquake would completely destroy the temple. So, while all the other lds temples eventually reopened, and resumed normal operation, the Salt Lake temple has remained closed and us undergoing a massive 7-year long seismic upgrade.

The temple itself has been literally lifted up by its foundation with the help of its 16 inverted arches using state-of-the-art hydraulics and the massive edifice with foundation has been placed on a base-isolation technology system. The technology to lift an entire building and its foundation didn't exist in Brigham Young's day or even in Elder Packer's day. But Brigham Young, in 1853, said the Lord showed him the completed temple in a vision before any stones had been laid.

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