D&C 76 Thoughts

1 Hear, O ye heavens, and give ear, O earth, and rejoice ye inhabitants thereof, for the Lord is God, and beside him there is no Savior.

2 Great is his wisdom, marvelous are his ways, and the extent of his doings none can find out.

3 His purposes fail not, neither are there any who can stay his hand.

4 From eternity to eternity he is the same, and his years never fail.

5 For thus saith the Lord—I, the Lord, am merciful and gracious unto those who fear me, and delight to honor those who serve me in righteousness and in truth unto the end.

To “fear the Lord” is to honor Him in righteousness.

6 Great shall be their reward and eternal shall be their glory.

7 And to them will I reveal all mysteries, yea, all the hidden mysteries of my kingdom from days of old, and for ages to come, will I make known unto them the good pleasure of my will concerning all things pertaining to my kingdom.

This is not just a wishful saying, it is true in every way. I have been the recipient of this promise.

8 Yea, even the wonders of eternity shall they know, and things to come will I show them, even the things of many generations. [both past, present, and future]

9 And their wisdom shall be great, and their understanding reach to heaven; and before them the wisdom of the wise shall perish, and the understanding of the prudent shall come to naught.

10 For by my Spirit will I enlighten them, and by my power will I make known unto them the secrets of my will—yea, even those things which eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor yet entered into the heart of man.

It is by His Spirit that our eyes are opened and our understanding made clear, as the Lord reveals things that have not even entered into the heart of another. New information is forever available to receive!

11 We, Joseph Smith, Jun., and Sidney Rigdon, being in the Spirit on the sixteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two—

12 By the power of the Spirit our eyes were opened and our understandings were enlightened, so as to see and understand the things of God— [This is to say, the vision opened and they saw the following.]

13 Even those things which were from the beginning before the world was, which were ordained [instructed] of the Father, through his Only Begotten Son, who was in the bosom of the Father, even from the beginning; [before the foundation of the world]

14 Of whom we bear record; and the record which we bear is the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ, [The fullness consists of the pattern of the Everlasting Covenant, where we came and where we will go.] who is the Son, whom we saw and with whom we conversed in the heavenly vision.

15 For while we were doing the work of translation, which the Lord had appointed unto us, we came to the twenty-ninth verse of the fifth chapter of John, which was given unto us as follows—

16 Speaking of the resurrection of the dead, concerning those who shall hear the voice of the Son of Man:

17 And shall come forth; they who have done good, in the resurrection of the just; and they who have done evil, in the resurrection of the unjust.

18 Now this caused us to marvel, for it was given unto us of the Spirit. [The Spirit often opens our mind to possibilities, and questions arise, by the power of the Spirit; because God wishes us to ask Him.]

19 And while we meditated upon these things, the Lord touched the eyes of our understandings and they were opened, and the glory [light and clarity] of the Lord shone round about.

20 And we beheld the glory of the Son, on the right hand of the Father, and received of his fulness; [It is less common that more than one person receives a vision at the same time. I have been in groups where half a dozen saw the same things, as our eyes were also opened. The Lord delights in sharing experiences together with others, as multiple witnesses attest to the truthfulness of the vision.]

21 And saw the holy angels, and them who are sanctified before his throne, worshiping God, and the Lamb, who worship him forever and ever. [Most of these are the angels of the third estate, yet some are from this world who have also ascended to worship at the Throne of God.]

22 And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!

23 For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father—

24 That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God. [It is both a declaration of who Jesus Christ is, and also His role as the creator of this world. A perfect segway for what is about to be revealed.]

25 And this we saw also, and bear record, that an angel of God [a 4^th estate angel who had overcome the world and was prepared to move forward in his ascension] who was in authority in the presence of God, who rebelled against the Only Begotten Son whom the Father loved and who was in the bosom of the Father, was thrust down from the presence of God and the Son, [To rebel is more than to stop conforming. In this case, Lucifer actively plotted to corrupt and fight against the plan of God to build his own dominion.]

26 And was called Perdition [the Fallen], for the heavens wept over him—he was Lucifer, a son of the morning.

27 And we beheld, and lo, he is fallen! is fallen, even a son of the morning!

28 And while we were yet in the Spirit, the Lord commanded us that we should write the vision; for we beheld Satan, that old serpent, even the devil, who rebelled against God, and sought to take the kingdom of our God and his Christ— [This is the cycle of perdition, as Lucifer prepares Satan to take the reign of this world and establish his own dominion, as he had done.]

29 Wherefore, he maketh war with the saints of God, and encompasseth them round about. [The war is for the souls of men. There are three choices: they follow God, they follow Satan, or they stay where they are without salvation.]

30 And we saw a vision of the sufferings of those with whom he made war and overcame [won], for thus came the voice of the Lord unto us:

31 Thus saith the Lord concerning all those who know my power, and have been made partakers thereof, and suffered themselves through the power of the devil to be overcome [won over by him], and to deny the truth [light of glory] and defy my power—

32 They are they who are the sons of perdition [and some daughters too], of whom I say that it had been better for them never to have been born; [they do not fill the measure of their creation and become a new creature of darkness]

33 For they are vessels of wrath, doomed to suffer the wrath [judgment] of God, with the devil and his angels in eternity; [There is no end to their days of wrath. Even if they choose to be disembodied, it is eternal torment.]

34 Concerning whom I have said there is no forgiveness in this world nor in the world to come— [Forgiveness, meaning the redemption of the Atonement bought by the blood of Jesus Christ.]

35 Having denied the Holy Spirit after having received it, and having denied the Only Begotten Son of the Father, having crucified him unto themselves and put him to an open shame. [To deny the Holy Spirit is to make a covenant of darkness with Satan after having ascended to the 4^th estate. These are sons and daughters of perdition. Those who are 2^nd estate can make a vow of darkness and receive the baptism of darkness and claim an inheritance in Satan’s kingdom, but have a window of repentance before the end of this world if they choose to repent and come back to the Lord.]

36 These are they who shall go away into the lake of fire and brimstone, with the devil and his angels— [This is a descriptive metaphor. In some places, it is accurate. It could also be described as a place of neon darkness, chaos, and noise. I have seen this in vision, and it is in this fashion.]

37 And the only ones on whom the second death [spiritual death] shall have any power;

38 Yea, verily, the only ones who shall not be redeemed in the due time of the Lord, after the sufferings of his wrath. [This is Outer Darkness]

39 For all the rest shall be brought forth by the resurrection of the dead, through the triumph and the glory of the Lamb, who was slain, who was in the bosom of the Father before the worlds were made. [All the rest of humanity shall be resurrected to a kind of light and glory.]

40 And this is the gospel [the Covenant], the glad tidings, which the voice out of the heavens bore record unto us—

41 That he came into the world, even Jesus, to be crucified for the world, and to bear the sins of the world, and to sanctify the world, and to cleanse it from all unrighteousness;

42 That through him all might be saved whom the Father had put into his power and made by him; [He came to lift us to a higher resurrection.]

43 Who glorifies the Father, and saves all the works of his hands, except those sons of perdition who deny the Son after the Father has revealed him. [Another caveat to understanding a son of perdition, in that they have had the Son revealed to them by the Father and then denied Him. To deny is more than to turn away, it is to actively rebel. Specifically, to shed innocent blood of a 4^th estate after making a solemn oath to Satan.]

44 Wherefore, he saves all except them—they shall go away into everlasting punishment, which is endless punishment, which is eternal punishment, to reign with the devil and his angels in eternity, where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched, which is their torment— [To reign implies a kingdom. Yes, they have a dominion, a place where they rule, but it is not a place of peace. Those who go here seek for personal gratification and dominion over others without end. Their worm dieth not, because it cannot be satisfied.]

45 And the end thereof, neither the place thereof, nor their torment, no man knows;

46 Neither was it revealed, neither is, neither will be revealed unto man, except to them who are made partakers thereof; [The Lord hasn’t revealed their exact place he will send each of these souls. But, he does reveal what is it like. And the servants of God are given permission to see and understand who and what Satan and Lucifer are. It is important to know your enemy when in the midst of a war.]

47 Nevertheless, I, the Lord, show it by vision unto many, but straightway shut it up again;

48 Wherefore, the end, the width, the height, the depth, and the misery thereof, they understand not, neither any man except those who are ordained [commanded to partake] unto this condemnation.

49 And we heard the voice, saying: Write the vision, for lo, this is the end of the vision of the sufferings of the ungodly. [The Lord often instructs his servants to write what they see for the edification of others. Sometimes it is difficult to put into words what is seen.]

50 And again we bear record—for we saw and heard, and this is the testimony of the gospel of Christ concerning them who shall come forth in the resurrection of the just—

51 They are they who received the testimony [witness] of Jesus, and believed on his name and were baptized after the manner of his burial, being buried in the water in his name, and this according to the commandment which he has given—

52 That by keeping the commandments they might be washed and cleansed from all their sins, and receive the Holy Spirit [Holy Ghost] by the laying on of the hands of him who is ordained and sealed unto this power; [They partook of the Doctrine of Christ, to exercise faith unto repentance, to be baptized, and to receive the Holy Ghost.]

53 And who overcome by faith, and are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, which the Father sheds forth upon all those who are just [received the higher resurrection] and true. [To rise to the Fourth Estate]

54 They are they who are the church of the Firstborn. [Many are called, but few are chosen.]

55 They are they into whose hands the Father has given all things— [These are His rulers and ambassadors in this world and the next.]

56 They are they who are priests and kings, who have received of his fulness, and of his glory;

57 And are priests of the Most High, after the order of Melchizedek, which was after the order of Enoch, which was after the order of the Only Begotten Son. [This is a terrestrial priesthood. It is not randomly given to the righteous, for it was earned by faith (vs. 53) before the foundation of the world. Alma 13]

The Order of Enoch, Melchizedek, and the order of the Only Begotten Son are all synonymous with the priesthood of the Church of the Firstborn. These are the 144k high priests and priestesses called and anointed to condescend and save the souls of the House of Israel, the posterity of Adam and Eve from the beginning of days until the end of this world. And the first shall be last, and the last shall be first!

58 Wherefore, as it is written, they are gods, even the sons of God—

59 Wherefore, all things are theirs, whether life or death, or things present, or things to come, all are theirs and they are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s. [They are forever bound to the Lord, and Him to them, as the Father, and they are themselves the Sons and Daughters of God. In this is a mystery.]

60 And they shall overcome all things. [Who else do we know overcame all things?]

61 Wherefore, let no man glory in man, but rather let him glory in God, who shall subdue all enemies under his feet. [All this is to the glory of God, His purpose, and joy.]

62 These shall dwell in the presence of God and his Christ forever and ever.

63 These are they whom he shall bring with him, when he shall come in the clouds of heaven to reign on the earth over his people. [He will arrive surrounded by the 144 thousand.]

64 These are they who shall have part in the first resurrection. [They are a part of those who have ascended in glory from this world.]

65 These are they who shall come forth in the resurrection of the just. [Received the gift of the Holy Ghost.]

66 These are they who are come unto Mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly place, the holiest of all. [worshipped at the Throne of God, his angels]

67 These are they who have come to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church [association] of Enoch, and of the Firstborn. [one in the same, from different times]

68 These are they whose names are written [known] in heaven, where God and Christ are the judge of all.

69 These are they who are just men [and women] made perfect through Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, who wrought out this perfect atonement through the shedding of his own blood.

70 These are they whose bodies are celestial, whose glory is that of the sun, even the glory of God, the highest of all, whose glory the sun of the firmament is written of as being typical. [It literally is like the white plasma power of the sun. Such element is divine and glorious.]

71 And again, we saw the terrestrial world, and behold and lo, these are they who are of the terrestrial, whose glory differs from that of the church of the Firstborn who have received the fulness of the Father, even as that of the moon differs from the sun in the firmament. [This is a transitional glory. These have qualified for the first heaven, yet have not yet received the Lord in His fullness.]

72 Behold, these are they who died without law; [Their lives did not afford them a chance to choose between God and Satan.]

73 And also they who are the spirits of men kept in prison [vagabond spirits who walk the earth], whom the Son visited, and preached the gospel unto them, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh; [Are taught by the angels of God and given opportunity to repent.]

74 Who received not the testimony of Jesus [witness of the Holy Ghost] in the flesh, but afterwards received it. [in the Spirit Realm]

75 These are they who are honorable men of the earth, who were blinded by the craftiness of men.

76 These are they who receive of his glory, but not of his fulness. [Yet.]

77 These are they who receive of the presence of the Son, but not of the fulness of the Father.

78 Wherefore, they are bodies terrestrial, and not bodies celestial, and differ in glory as the moon differs from the sun.

79 These are [also] they who are not valiant in the testimony of Jesus; wherefore, they obtain not the crown over the kingdom of our God. [These include many of the good people of the world that because of unbelief and false traditions did not receive the fullness of the Doctrine of Christ.]

80 And now this is the end of the vision which we saw of the terrestrial, that the Lord commanded us to write while we were yet in the Spirit. [There is so much more that could have been said about this kingdom. Why was there not? Because questions were not asked at the time.]

81 And again, we saw the glory of the telestial, which glory is that of the lesser, even as the glory of the stars differs from that of the glory of the moon in the firmament.

82 These are they who received not the gospel of Christ, neither the testimony of Jesus.

83 These are they who deny not the Holy Spirit. [Have not made oaths to Satan.]

84 These are they who are thrust down to hell. [Suffer in the physical world, and in the spirit prison.]

85 These are they who shall not be redeemed from the devil until the last resurrection, until the Lord, even Christ the Lamb, shall have finished his work. [Satan can continue to tempt and bind them until the Lord’s work is finished.]

86 These are they who receive not of his fulness in the eternal world, but of the Holy Spirit through the ministration of the terrestrial; [This is what the 4^th estate do in the world we live in now.]

87 And the terrestrial through the administration of the celestial. [That is the next world.]

88 And also the telestial receive it of the administering of angels who are appointed to minister for them, or who are appointed to be administering spirits for them; for they shall be heirs of salvation. [Again, the 4^th estate sent to administer to them.]

89 And thus we saw, in the heavenly vision, the glory of the telestial, which surpasses all understanding; [It is vast in its scope and purpose.]

90 And no man knows it except him to whom God has revealed it. [This is kind of like my adding an EDIT.]

91 And thus we saw the glory of the terrestrial which excels in all things the glory of the telestial, even in glory, and in power, and in might, and in dominion. [Because its dominion spans the galaxy and beyond.]

92 And thus we saw the glory of the celestial, which excels in all things—where God, even the Father, reigns upon his throne forever and ever; [And this is the universe, which is more than our minds can fathom.]

93 Before whose throne all things bow in humble reverence, and give him glory forever and ever. [Each is one above another in glory and power, as we ascend the ladder of progression in the Everlasting Covenant.]

94 They who dwell in his presence are the church of the Firstborn; and they see as they are seen, and know as they are known, having received of his fulness and of his grace; [They know who they are and what their missions are.]

95 And he makes them equal in power, and in might, and in dominion. [He “makes” them equal, meaning He brings them forth to overcome all things.]

96 And the glory of the celestial is one, even as the glory of the sun is one. [It is like unto the glory of the sun. Brilliant white, powerful, and unfathomable.]

97 And the glory of the terrestrial is one, even as the glory of the moon is one. [It is beyond our planet. Only seen as a transitional light as it reflects the greater light.]

98 And the glory of the telestial is one, even as the glory of the stars is one; for as one star differs from another star in glory, even so differs one from another in glory in the telestial world; [Stars are all of different sizes and glories. Each has planets that follow it. In this is a mystery.]

99 For these are they who are of Paul, and of Apollos, and of Cephas.

100 These are they who say they are some of one and some of another—some of Christ and some of John, and some of Moses, and some of Elias, and some of Esaias, and some of Isaiah, and some of Enoch;

101 But received not the gospel, neither the testimony of Jesus, neither the prophets, neither the everlasting covenant. [There are many children of men in the world, with different religions, and cultures. They are as the stars in the sky.]

102 Last of all, [the last division of judgment] these all are they who will not be gathered with the saints, to be caught up unto the church of the Firstborn, and received into the cloud. [These will remain in captivity, in Spirit Prison, upon a dead earth until the end of the Millenium.]

103 These are they who are liars, and sorcerers, and adulterers, and whoremongers, and whosoever loves and makes a lie.

104 These are they who suffer the wrath [judgment] of God on earth.

105 These are they who suffer the vengeance of eternal fire.

106 These are they who are cast down to hell and suffer the wrath of Almighty God, until the fulness of times, when Christ shall have subdued all enemies under his feet, and shall have perfected his work; [These are the children of men who continue to live the carnal mortal existence in a telestial sphere without end. It is like Hell, for it is an endless cycle of suffering.]

107 When he shall deliver up the kingdom, and present it unto the Father, spotless, saying: I have overcome and have trodden the wine-press alone, even the wine-press of the fierceness of the wrath of Almighty God.

108 Then shall he be crowned with the crown of his glory, to sit on the throne of his power to reign forever and ever. [This will take place at the end of the Millenium.]

109 But behold, and lo, we saw the glory and the inhabitants of the telestial world, that they were as innumerable as the stars in the firmament of heaven, or as the sand upon the seashore;

110 And heard the voice of the Lord saying: These all shall bow the knee, and every tongue shall confess to him who sits upon the throne forever and ever;

111 For they shall be judged according to their works, and every man shall receive according to his own works, his own dominion [A place designated], in the mansions which are prepared; [What is a mansion? It is an abode, which is beyond a simple house or property. It is a world. At the end of the Millennium, all the souls of this world will transmigrate to another place to inherit their telestial dominion.]

112 And they shall be servants of the Most High; but where God and Christ dwell they cannot come, worlds without end. [There is a gulf between the telestial worlds and where God dwells. No mortal being can cross that gulf without their body being completely consumed.]

113 This is the end of the vision which we saw, which we were commanded to write while we were yet in the Spirit.

114 But great and marvelous are the works of the Lord, and the mysteries of his kingdom which he showed unto us, which surpass all understanding in glory, and in might, and in dominion; [What is a mystery? It is knowledge that can only by given directly from the Lord.]

115 Which he commanded us we should not write while we were yet in the Spirit, and are not lawful for man to utter; [Often such information is forbidden to share because it is a distraction from what the Lord desires to teach us. The Lord makes it clear to his servants where that line is drawn.]

116 Neither is man capable to make them known, for they are only to be seen and understood by the power of the Holy Spirit, which God bestows on those who love him, and purify themselves before him; [There is the formula, to seek knowledge because we love Him and make ourselves clean as we come unto Him by the power of His Spirit.]

117 To whom he grants this privilege of seeing and knowing for themselves;

118 That through the power and manifestation of the Spirit, while in the flesh, they may be able to bear his presence in the world of glory.

Yes, in the flesh; meaning, that they may learn these things while alive upon the earth. How does someone receive such a vision as Joseph and Sidney? By giving their heart to God, becoming clean through sanctification of the Spirit, and asking questions out of love, desiring to understand who the Lord is and how we can be His servant for the saving of souls. Such is the purpose behind all such communications with God.

119 And to God and the Lamb be glory, and honor, and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

D&C 101:1-70 Thoughts

1 Verily I say unto you, concerning your brethren who have been afflicted, and persecuted, and cast out from the land of their inheritance— [In Jackson County, Missouri]

2 I, the Lord, have suffered [permitted] the affliction to come upon them, wherewith they have been afflicted, in consequence of their transgressions;

3 Yet I will own them, and they shall be mine in that day when I shall come to make up my jewels. [It is marvelous to see how the Lord can look past our failures, knowing our true potential for greatness. How will these saints who were unworthy be able to redeem themselves? In this is a mystery.]

4 Therefore, they must needs be chastened and tried, even as Abraham, who was commanded to offer up his only son. [Asked to give up what they cherish, as did Abraham, to see if they will trust Him.]

All servants of the Lord are required at some point to sacrifice something, a trial of their faith.

5 For all those who will not endure chastening [correction], but deny me, cannot be sanctified. [A key element of receiving sanctification, which is the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost.]

6 Behold, I say unto you, there were jarrings, [conflicts] and contentions, and envyings, and strifes, and lustful and covetous desires among them; [seeking to advance their own favor] therefore by these things they polluted their inheritances.

7 They were slow to hearken unto the voice of the Lord their God; therefore, the Lord their God is slow to hearken unto their prayers, to answer them in the day of their trouble. [Another way to understand this is that because they did not seek to hear the Lord’s council and revelation regarding their personal matters. When they found themselves in a dire situation, they had not yet learned to hear His voice and were left to their own devices.]

The Lord does not act out of a vengeful heart and choose to not answer prayers because we were not vigilant. He immediately forgives the repentant heart. However, it is difficult for someone to receive clear revelation when they have not cultivated that relationship. For such, they often do not understand what they are receiving in the hour of duress because they do not know Him.

8 In the day of their peace they esteemed lightly my counsel; but, in the day of their trouble, of necessity they feel after me. [They ignored the still small voice, and then they tried to find it.]

9 Verily I say unto you, notwithstanding their sins, my bowels are filled with compassion towards them. I will not utterly cast them off; and in the day of wrath [judgment] I will remember mercy.

God understands the weakness of the carnal man. All of us make mistakes like these early saints. The Lord’s mercy provides a way for us to come back and find Him.

10 I have sworn, and the decree hath gone forth by a former commandment which I have given unto you, that I would let fall the sword of mine indignation in behalf of my people; and even as I have said, it shall come to pass.

11 Mine indignation is soon to be poured out without measure upon all nations; and this will I do when the cup of their iniquity is full. [Referring to the great tribulations which will occur before His coming.]

It has been more than 187 years since the Lord said His indignation would “soon” be upon all nations. That is soon in the scope of the world’s timeframe. We might now assume that it is very soon!

12 And in that day all who are found upon the watch-tower, or in other words, all mine Israel, shall be saved.

What is the “watchtower?” It is all those who have made covenant with the Lord to be His people – His Church. This is more than to identify as Christian, but to have actually received Him.

13 And they that have been scattered shall be gathered. [gathered to Zion]

14 And all they who have mourned shall be comforted. [receive the Holy Ghost]

15 And all they who have given their lives for my name shall be crowned. [receive their Calling and Election]

To be crowned is to fulfill a higher covenant, which implies a foreordained call to minister in the flesh, to give one’s life for the saving of the House of Israel.

16 Therefore, let your hearts be comforted concerning Zion; for all flesh is in mine hands; be still and know that I am God. [Joseph prayed long and hard regarding the confusing situation the saints faced in Jackson County. How were they to redeem Zion if they were to lose everything? Joseph didn’t know the answer, and the Lord told Joseph to trust in His Word.]

17 Zion shall not be moved out of her place, notwithstanding her children are scattered. [The location doesn’t change because the people are gone.]

18 They that remain, [are the last] and are pure in heart [perfected in spirit], shall return, and come to their inheritances [foreordained callings], they and their children [those to whom they steward], with songs of everlasting joy [Eternal Covenant], to build up the waste places of Zion—

The Lord uses the phrase “waste places,” for before Zion is established it would surely be wasted, and without a footing. Meaning, that Zion will begin from scratch as it begins to build up before the Lord’s coming.

19 And all these things that the prophets might be fulfilled. [Referring to Isaiah, and others, including Joseph Smith.]

20 And, behold, there is none other place appointed than that which I have appointed; neither shall there be any other place appointed than that which I have appointed, for the work of the gathering of my saints— [Jackson County is among many places the Lord has appointed, yet it was not given to us to know all the details of how these things are to be.]

21 Until the day cometh when there is found no more room for them; [referring to the gathering of the Gatherers] and then I have other places which I will appoint unto them, and they shall be called stakes, for the curtains or the strength of Zion.

22 Behold, it is my will, that all they who call on my name, and worship me according to mine everlasting gospel, should gather together, and stand in holy places;

It is good to gather to pray and seek revelation from the Lord. In such circumstances, the Lord shows His great power unto the accomplishment of His purposes.

23 And prepare for the revelation [the Grand Reveal of God] which is to come, when the veil of the covering of my temple, in my tabernacle, which hideth the earth, shall be taken off, and all flesh shall see me together.

There is a great spiritual and physical barrier that is set between this physical earth and where God dwells. At His coming, this separation will be lifted, and as it is done, as a scroll is opened, all upon the earth shall see these things together, and the earth will then melt with fervent heat, and the righteous shall be lifted up and taken to a new earth and a new Heaven, as has been prophesied.

24 And every corruptible thing [every kind of flesh, and none will remain], both of man, or of the beasts of the field, or of the fowls of the heavens, or of the fish of the sea, that dwells upon all the face of the earth, shall be consumed; [the physical matter destroyed]

25 And also that of element [even the rocks and earth itself] shall melt with fervent heat; and all things shall become new, that my knowledge and glory may dwell upon all the earth. [All things are made new. Just like our own bodies are resurrected to new life, of a new element of light and glory, so shall be the resurrection of this earth.]

26 And in that day the enmity of man, and the enmity of beasts, yea, the enmity of all flesh, shall cease from before my face. [The survival of the animal kingdom will not yield to the necessity of taking life to survive. It is no longer a carnal world, for it is of a higher glory.]

27 And in that day whatsoever any man shall ask, it shall be given unto him. [The ability to receive knowledge, and to live abundantly, to travel and understand the meaning of all things shall be given.]

28 And in that day Satan shall not have power to tempt any man. [because the new earth is not where Satan dwells]

29 And there shall be no sorrow because there is no death. [both spiritual and physical death]

30 In that day an infant shall not die until he is old; [like unto this world] and his life shall be as the age of a tree; [You count the age of the tree by the rings in its trunk, its seasons of life. Continually expanding and bearing fruit and the seed of its offspring.]

31 And when he dies [finishes his period of life] he shall not sleep, that is to say in the earth, [like in the temporal/telestial earth] but shall be changed in the twinkling of an eye, and shall be caught up, and his rest shall be glorious. [This is an allusion to the process of ascension, as we go from one glory to the next in the Everlasting Covenant.]

32 Yea, verily I say unto you, in that day when the Lord shall come, he shall reveal all things—

Another more detailed explanation of how we shall be taught after this life in the higher realm. Interestingly enough, we don’t need to wait until after the Second Coming to access the following blessing.

33 Things which have passed, and hidden things which no man knew, things of the earth, by which it was made, and the purpose and the end thereof— [We hardly know a tenth of one percent of such knowledge, even that which is written in scripture.]

34 Things most precious, things that are above, and things that are beneath, things that are in the earth, and upon the earth, and in heaven. [In this is a mystery.]

35 And all they who suffer persecution for my name, and endure in faith, though they are called to lay down their lives for my sake yet shall they partake of all this glory.

Persecution and laying down one’s life can come in many forms. Simply yielding oneself to God in all ways qualifies them to receive a fullness.

36 Wherefore, fear not even unto death; for in this world your joy is not full, but in me your joy is full.

What does it mean to have a fullness of joy? It is where your heart is completely filled with love, light, glory, understanding, and gratitude. We can experience joy in this world, but never a fullness until we are in His presence.

37 Therefore, care not for the body, neither the life of the body; but care for the soul, and for the life of the soul. [Interestingly, the soul is the combined experience of both the body and spirit, which continues after our temporal body is gone, yet cannot fully mature without experiencing the flesh. Therefore, this verse doesn’t discount the importance of the body, but in the purpose for which it was created.]

38 And seek the face of the Lord always, that in patience ye may possess your souls, and ye shall have eternal life. [A powerful verse admonishing all to literally “seek the face of the Lord always.” How can anything be more plainly written? For in doing so, you shall accomplish your purpose in this life, and receive Eternal Life!]

39 When men are called unto mine everlasting gospel, and covenant with an everlasting covenant, they are accounted as the salt of the earth and the savor of men; [Here the Lord is directing His comments to the servants of God, the 4^th estate.]

40 They are called to be the savor of men; therefore, if that salt of the earth lose its savor, behold, it is thenceforth good for nothing only to be cast out and trodden under the feet of men. [If a servant of God falls away and is lost, he is no longer of value to the Lord in saving souls.]

41 Behold, here is wisdom [how to move forward] concerning the children of Zion [those who desired to dwell there], even many, but not all; they were found transgressors [did not do as instructed], therefore they must needs be chastened [a painful correction]—

42 He that exalteth himself shall be abased [humbled], and he that abaseth himself shall be exalted.

43 And now, I will show unto you a parable, that you may know my will concerning the redemption [return]of Zion.

44 A certain nobleman [the Lord] had a spot of land [the earth], very choice; and he said unto his servants [the 4^th estate]: Go ye unto my vineyard, even upon this very choice piece of land, and plant twelve olive trees; [the 2^nd estate, the House of Israel]

45 And set watchmen [prophets] round about them, and build a tower [church], that one may overlook the land round about, to be a watchman upon the tower, that mine olive trees may not be broken down when the enemy [servants of the adversary] shall come to spoil and take upon themselves the fruit [souls] of my vineyard.

46 Now, the servants [4^th estate] of the nobleman went and did as their lord commanded them, and planted the olive trees, and built a hedge round about, and set watchmen, and began to build a tower. [This is something that occurs to different degrees in every dispensation as an attempt to regain the vineyard. Priesthood is restored and the Lord reestablishes his “tower.” See Jabob 5 and the Allegory of the Vineyard.]

47 And while they were yet laying the foundation thereof, they began to say among themselves: And what need hath my lord of this tower? [Why follow the instructions of the Lord in organizing the church? Why not do it our way?]

48 And consulted for a long time, saying among themselves: What need hath my lord of this tower, seeing this is a time of peace? [because we are righteous]

49 Might not this money be given to the exchangers? For there is no need of these things. [A way of saying that there are other things more worthy of our attention and investment of time and money.]

50 And while they were at variance [contending] one with another they became very slothful, and they hearkened not unto the commandments of their lord. [They sought their own council and not revelation of God.]

51 And the enemy came by night, and broke down the hedge; and the servants of the nobleman arose and were affrighted, and fled [the slothful servants of God]; and the enemy destroyed their works, and broke down the olive trees. [the tender covenant souls]

52 Now, behold, the nobleman, the lord of the vineyard, called upon his servants, and said unto them, Why! what is the cause of this great evil?

53 Ought ye not to have done even as I commanded you, and—after ye had planted the vineyard, and built the hedge round about, and set watchmen upon the walls thereof—built the tower also, and set a watchman upon the tower, and watched for my vineyard, and not have fallen asleep, lest the enemy should come upon you?

54 And behold, the watchman upon the tower would have seen the enemy while he was yet afar off; and then ye could have made ready and kept the enemy from breaking down the hedge thereof, and saved my vineyard from the hands of the destroyer.

How does the enemy break down the hedge, the barrier between them and the vineyard? Do we not see how this has occurred in our modern society today? How much sinful permissiveness do we allow to thrive in our daily lives? What was unheard of even a decade ago is now mainstream today.

55 And the lord of the vineyard said unto one of his servants [one who will lead in the last days]: Go and gather together the residue of my servants [the last of the 4^th estate, the 144k in the last days], and take all the strength of mine house, which are my warriors, my young men, and they that are of middle age also among all my servants, who are the strength of mine house, save those only whom I have appointed to tarry; [all those who shall gather in the last days]

56 And go ye straightway unto the land of my vineyard [the world], and redeem my vineyard; for it is mine; I have bought it with money. [This is a prophecy of a future event which will begin the process of redeeming Zion by power in the last days. It has yet to occur. At the time of Joseph Smith, it was regarded as a direct prophecy to reclaim Jackson County from the Missourians, but it was so much more.]

57 Therefore, get ye straightway unto my land; break down the walls of mine enemies; throw down their tower, and scatter their watchmen.

58 And inasmuch as they gather together against you, avenge me of mine enemies, that by and by [over time] I may come with the residue [a small portion] of mine house and possess the land.

59 And the servant said unto his lord: When shall these things be?

60 And he said unto his servant: When I will [That is for me to know.]; go ye straightway, and do all things whatsoever I have commanded you;

This part of the parable points to the later fulfillment of the prophecy of the redemption of Zion.

61 And this shall be my seal and blessing upon you—a faithful and wise steward in the midst of mine house, a ruler in my kingdom.

62 And his servant went straightway, and did all things whatsoever his lord commanded him; and after many days all things were fulfilled.

Who is this servant with whom the Lord is conversing? It is the same servant the Lord is raising up in our day to lead the Remnant of Jacob, the Lamanite army that will cleanse this land and establish Zion. 3 Nephi 20:16-22, Ether 13:6-10, 1 Nephi 13:34, 2 Nephi 3:22-24

63 Again, verily I say unto you, I will show unto you wisdom in me concerning all the churches [the different branches of the Mormon Church at that time], inasmuch as they are willing to be guided in a right and proper way for their salvation—

64 That the work of the gathering together of my saints may continue, that I may build them up unto my name upon holy places; for the time of harvest is come [The time of the end of the Times of the Gentiles and the beginning of the Gathering of Israel], and my word must needs be fulfilled.

65 Therefore, I must gather together my people [House of Israel], according to the parable of the wheat and the tares, that the wheat [those of the covenant] may be secured in the garners to possess eternal life, and be crowned with celestial glory, when I shall come in the kingdom of my Father to reward every man according as his work shall be;

66 While the tares shall be bound in bundles, and their bands made strong, that they may be burned with unquenchable fire. [consumed by his glory at his coming and in perfect judgment sent to their place]

67 Therefore, a commandment I give unto all the churches, that they shall continue to gather together unto the places which I have appointed.

68 Nevertheless, as I have said unto you in a former commandment, let not your gathering be in haste, nor by flight; but let all things be prepared before you. [Don’t let the emotions get ahead of you in your zeal to do good. Seek personal revelation and go only to that place God appoints you to go.]

69 And in order that all things be prepared before you, observe the commandment which I have given concerning these things—

70 Which saith, or teacheth, to purchase all the lands with money, which can be purchased for money, in the region round about the land which I have appointed to be the land of Zion, for the beginning of the gathering of my saints; [A specific revelation given to Joseph and Oliver regarding the acquisition of the Jackson County lands.]

New “Book of Mormon Thoughts” in PDF

A year ago I finished the Book of Mormon Thoughts project. It can be used to help the reader to form their own questions to take to the Lord.

The book is available in a free PDF form and you are welcome to download it. I may make it available to purchase as a physical copy in the future, but it would be expensive, even when sold at cost.

Short Post

We are about a month from the election. What does that mean for you? Each individual will be affected differently depending upon where they live and their relationship with the Lord. Things are going to get rough, and it will subside before the real trials come. Don’t lose hope. Trust in the Lord.

My love to each of you.

PR

My Wife’s New Blog

My first post in six months!

I haven’t added any posts to this blog for a long time because I have been instructed to hold back for the time being. My dear wife has been reviewing her journals and prayerfully selecting what she feels prompted to share. Because of her time constraints, her ability to post frequently and answer questions is limited. She uses the acronym DOZ, which is short for Daughter of Zion. Her blog is called “Created to Belong,” which she received by personal revelation.

Her first post is a kind of introduction to the blog, but like me she will say little about personal details and focus on the journey and experiences that have helped her find the Lord. Having the feminine view of a walk with God will be valuable to many of the sisters.

I am truly blessed to have her as my wife and her support has made a great difference in coming to the know the Lord for me.

Go to this link and follow her page: https://createdtobelong.wordpress.com/blog/