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3 Nephi 2:17 – EVERYTHING is following the Book of Mormon, which was 'written for our day', and should be 'read like the morning newspaper' – were in the 'fourteenth' anniversary year since the events of '9/11' (that parallel the Savior's appearance in 1 AD)
The sole difference between the scripturally recorded circumstances of the Nephites and the Gadianton Robbers of the past is that the...
'Last shall be first, and the first shall be last'
The sign of the Savior was a sign of birth, creation and salvation. The '9/11' sign, that Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley said was a fulfillment of Joel 2:28-32, was a sign of death, destruction and a warning to repent.
Physical wars followed the sign of the Savior – from the 'thirteenth' to the 'fifteenth' years. Spiritual, moral, legal (like the legalizing of same-sex marriage) and economic wars have followed the fulfillment of Joel 2:28-32 – in the 'thirteenth' and 'fourteenth' years thus far. (With, for example, Pres. Thomas S. Monson's prophetic policy shift, regarding STATE-legalized homosexual relationships, dramatically driving the modern-day Gadianton Robbers back into the 'mountains' and their 'secret places' – when they thought they were getting greater in-roads with the Church)
At the end of the 'fifteenth' year, the 'sword of destruction' hung over the Nephites. And in the 'sixteenth' year, they were threatened with utter destruction – if they did not submit to, or join with, the Gadianton Robbers. Yet, they had 'forty and two months' to prepare themselves to gather out – before the Gadianton Robbers descended on their lands.
If the 'last shall be first, and the first shall be last', the very opposite scenario may play out in our day. The persecution that Elder Robert D. Hales prophesied, In the October 2013 General Conference, may fall upon the 'Saints' – driving the faithful out into the 'wilderness'. As spiritual warfare, and rumors of war (like Jade Helm 15), become direct legal and physical wars – targeting the Church and her members. While an incredibly wicked man sees his 'power' 'continue' for 'forty and two months' – in a more broad leadership role (as Secretary General of the United Nations)
The Book of Mormon was truly 'written for our day' – as Pres. Benson prophetically proclaimed. And it should be 'read like the morning newspaper' – as Pres. Hinckley prophetically counseled us to do.
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Going back to Russia's withdrawal from Syria, Iran pledged to remove 250,000 troops from Syria – after the moderates won elections throughout Iran.
One week later, Russia withdraws its troops.
Just two weeks ago, it appeared as though World War III was imminent. BUT, as the Book of Mormon prophesied, the people have begun to get 'some advantage' over the devil's 'secret combination' – in this the 'fourteenth' anniversary year since the events of September 11th (2001):
(3 Nephi 2:17)
17 And it came to pass in the commencement of the fourteenth year, the war between the robbers and the people of Nephi did continue and did become exceedingly sore; nevertheless, the people of Nephi did gain some advantage of the robbers, insomuch that they did drive them back out of their lands into the mountains and into their secret places.
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Do you want to know what is next? Read the Book of Mormon
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This coming election, and the years to follow it, could be intensely difficult with unprecedented persecution (as Elder Hales prophetically forewarned in the October 2013 General Conference) – especially if one of the 'heads' of the New World Order has an assassination attempt and then recovers from it (before the eyes of the whole world):
(Revelation 13:3-7)
3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
If that happens, and that 'head' is 'given power to continue forty and two months', then we will have a modern-day 'Giddianhi' – a new 'governor' over the modern-day 'Gadianton Robbers':
(3 Nephi 3:1-10)
1 And now it came to pass that in the sixteenth year from the coming of Christ, Lachoneus, the governor of the land, received an epistle from the leader and the governor of this band of robbers; and these were the words which were written, saying:
2 Lachoneus, most noble and chief governor of the land, behold, I write this epistle unto you, and do give unto you exceedingly great praise because of your firmness, and also the firmness of your people, in maintaining that which ye suppose to be your right and liberty; yea, ye do stand well, as if ye were supported by the hand of a god, in the defence of your liberty, and your property, and your country, or that which ye do call so.
3 And it seemeth a pity unto me, most noble Lachoneus, that ye should be so foolish and vain as to suppose that ye can stand against so many brave men who are at my command, who do now at this time stand in their arms, and do await with great anxiety for the word--Go down upon the Nephites and destroy them.
4 And I, knowing of their unconquerable spirit, having proved them in the field of battle, and knowing of their everlasting hatred towards you because of the many wrongs which ye have done unto them, therefore if they should come down against you they would visit you with utter destruction.
5 Therefore I have written this epistle, sealing it with mine own hand, feeling for your welfare, because of your firmness in that which ye believe to be right, and your noble spirit in the field of battle.
6 Therefore I write unto you, desiring that ye would yield up unto this my people, your cities, your lands, and your possessions, rather than that they should visit you with the sword and that destruction should come upon you.
7 Or in other words, yield yourselves up unto us, and unite with us and become acquainted with our secret works, and become our brethren that ye may be like unto us--not our slaves, but our brethren and partners of all our substance.
8 And behold, I swear unto you, if ye will do this, with an oath, ye shall not be destroyed; but if ye will not do this, I swear unto you with an oath, that on the morrow month I will command that my armies shall come down against you, and they shall not stay their hand and shall spare not, but shall slay you, and shall let fall the sword upon you even until ye shall become extinct.
9 And behold, I am Giddianhi; and I am the governor of this the secret society of Gadianton; which society and the works thereof I know to be good; and they are of ancient date and they have been handed down unto us.
10 And I write this epistle unto you, Lachoneus, and I hope that ye will deliver up your lands and your possessions, without the shedding of blood, that this my people may recover their rights and government, who have dissented away from you because of your wickedness in retaining from them their rights of government, and except ye do this, I will avenge their wrongs. I am Giddianhi.
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Some born-again Christians believe that the (literal) stars aligning on September 23rd, 2017 – which they believe follows after Revelation chapter 12 verse 1 – is a 'sign' of tribulation, destruction and persecution. That would be 12 days after the start of the 'sixteenth' year (3 Nephi 3:1) – in the Book of Mormon... Maybe they're right
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So, what is the key to understanding this prophetic timeline – in the Book of Mormon?
Well, let's go back to the recent earth-shifting announcement(s) – concerning Russia, Syria and Iran...
Again, a lot of people are probably tripping out that Russia and Iran are withdrawing from Syria – when, just two weeks ago, it looked like we were on the cusp of World War III.
President Benson said that the Book of Mormon 'was written for our day'. And President Hinckley said we should read the Book of Mormon like the 'morning newspaper'.
If you line up the sign of the Savior's birth (April 6th, 1 Anno Domini – meaning 'Year of our Lord' in Latin) with the sign of the last days, that President Hinckley prophetically pointed out 'fulfilled' Joel 2:28-32 (that Moroni told Joseph Smith was a sign of the last days), two thousand years later, on September 11th (2001)...
There is a prophetic paralleling timeline that matches the events of our day – following the massive-shifts that have occurred since the events of '9/11' (2001)
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As an additional insight into all of this...
One of the great signs for this paralleling timeline, in the Book of Mormon, was the Supreme Court's June 2015 decision – on same-gender marriage.
Since the restoration of the Savior's Church, there has NOT been a single legal measure that has threatened the legal/financial sovereignty of the Church like this epic United States Supreme Court decision.
The Obama Administration and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) have both openly and subtly threatened the Church that if they do not seal (STATE) legally-married same-sex unions, in the Temples of the Lord, they will remove their 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status – followed by an onslaught of legally and financially crippling lawsuits. (To, in their plotting desires, eventually confiscate the Church's assets and properties – which is forewarned in the Holy Scriptures)
So where is that prophetically forewarned and reflected in the Book of Mormon – which was 'written for our day' and should be read 'like the morning newspaper'.
It was in the 'thirteenth' year – which, in our time, came AFTER the 'thirteenth' anniversary of September 11th, 2001. ('Thirteenth' year = 9/11/2014 to 9/10/2015):
(3 Nephi 2:11-12)
11 And it came to pass in the thirteenth year there began to be wars and contentions throughout all the land; for the Gadianton robbers had become so numerous, and did slay so many of the people, and did lay waste so many cities, and did spread so much death and carnage throughout the land, that it became expedient that all the people, both the Nephites and the Lamanites, should take up arms against them.
12 Therefore, all the Lamanites who had become converted unto the Lord did unite with their brethren, the Nephites, and were compelled, for the safety of their lives and their women and their children, to take up arms against those Gadianton robbers, yea, and also TO MAINTAIN THEIR RIGHTS, AND THE PRIVILEGES OF THEIR CHURCH AND OF THEIR WORSHIP, AND THEIR FREEDOM AND LIBERTY.
(Note: This period for the Nephites and the Lamanites was a time to unite. However, as was mentioned before, 'the first shall be last and the last shall be first'. Our period was foreshadowed by destruction [9/11/2001]. And now we are seeing a growing apostasy – rather than unity)
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To further expound on these scriptural points...
This is a parable I revisited shortly after my reply to my friend. It's a prophetic outlook of what is coming:
(D&C 101:41-66)
41 Behold, here is wisdom concerning the children of Zion, even many, but not all; they were found transgressors, therefore they must needs be chastened--
42 He that exalteth himself shall be abased, 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 of Zion.
44 A certain nobleman had a spot of land, very choice; and he said unto his servants: Go ye unto my vineyard, even upon this very choice piece of land, and plant twelve olive trees;
45 And set watchmen round about them, and build a tower, 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 shall come to spoil and take upon themselves the fruit of my vineyard.
46 Now, the servants 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.
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?
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?
49 Might not this money be given to the exchangers? For there is no need of these things.
50 And while they were at variance one with another they became very slothful, and they hearkened not unto the commandments of their lord.
51 And the enemy came by night, and broke down the hedge; and the servants of the nobleman arose and were affrighted, and fled; and the enemy destroyed their works, and broke down the olive trees.
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.
55 And the lord of the vineyard said unto one of his servants: Go and gather together the residue of my servants, 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;
56 And go ye straightway unto the land of my vineyard, and redeem my vineyard; for it is mine; I have bought it with money.
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 I may come with the residue 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; go ye straightway, and do all things whatsoever I have commanded you;
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.
63 Again, verily I say unto you, I will show unto you wisdom in me concerning all the churches, 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, and my word must needs be fulfilled.
65 Therefore, I must gather together my people, according to the parable of the wheat and the tares, that the wheat 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.
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The wicked have yet to 'break down the hedge' of the 'twelve olive trees' – the Savior's 'house' (D&C 112:23-26; Daniel 8:13-14). Nor has a prophetic army of the Lord violently cast down the wicked – in the Savior's 'most choice land' (Zion). And the parable of the 'wheat and the tares' has yet to be 'fulfilled'. Hence, this sobering parable has also yet to be 'fulfilled'.
For we have had a relative 126 years of peace with the wicked – who have long used the Federal Government as a weapon.
(Whereas before Official Declaration 1, the Lord's 'apostles and prophets' (D&C 64:39) were being hunted and imprisoned in the Utah State Prison – which used to reside in the Sugar House district of Salt Lake City [where Sugar House Park now resides]):
(D&C 86:1-7)
1 Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you my servants, concerning the parable of the wheat and of the tares:
2 Behold, verily I say, the field was the world, and the apostles were the sowers of the seed;
3 And after they have fallen asleep the great persecutor of the church, the apostate, the whore, even Babylon, that maketh all nations to drink of her cup, in whose hearts the enemy, even Satan, sitteth to reign--behold he soweth the tares; wherefore, the tares choke the wheat and drive the church into the wilderness.
4 But behold, in the last days, even now while the Lord is beginning to bring forth the word, and the blade is springing up and is yet tender--
5 Behold, verily I say unto you, the angels are crying unto the Lord day and night, who are ready and waiting to be sent forth to reap down the fields;
6 But the Lord saith unto them, pluck not up the tares while the blade is yet tender (for verily your faith is weak), lest you destroy the wheat also.
7 Therefore, let the wheat and the tares grow together until the harvest is fully ripe; then ye shall first gather out the wheat from among the tares, and after the gathering of the wheat, behold and lo, the tares are bound in bundles, and the field remaineth to be burned.
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The Lord said He would NOT 'pollute [His] holy land' (D&C 84:54-59), which is Zion, the setting for the 'New Jerusalem' (Ether 13), until the 'hypocrites' and 'pollutions' are purged from the 'holy church of God' (Mormon 8:38) – who are the 'tares' in the parable of the 'wheat and the tares' (D&C 86:1-7)
In other words, reflecting on the words of the Savior (3 Nephi 14:15-23), the Lord's 'sheep' must be 'separated' from the 'wolves in sheep's clothing' – who wear the 'habiliments of the priesthood':
“There is no crime (satan) would not commit, no debauchery he would not set up, no plague he would not send, no heart he would not break, no life he would not take, no soul he would not destroy. He comes as a thief in the night; he is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Without their knowing it, the people are being urged down paths that lead only to destruction.”– Pres. J. Reuben Clark (James R. Clark, Messages of the First Presidency, Vol.6, pp.170-185; Improvement Era 45:686-87, 757-59, 762-65; 767, November 1942; Liahona, the Elders' Journal 40:194-203, October 13, 1942.)
“The ravening wolves are amongst us, from our own membership, and they, more than any others, are clothed in sheep's clothing, because they wear the habiliments of the priesthood…We should be careful of them.” – J. Reuben Clark (Conference Report, April 1949.)
“The wolves amongst our flock are more numerous and devious today than when President Clark made this statement.”– Ezra Taft Benson (April 1969 general conference, Ensign, May 1969, p. 11.)
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Going back to the parable of the 'vineyard' and the 'servants' – in Section 101...
1 Nephi chapter 14 prophesies that the 'church of the devil' will mount up, as an army, against the 'saints' of the 'church of the Lamb of God', and the 'natural branches' of the 'house of Israel', who are the 'covenant people of the Lord' – which are separately identified in verse 14. (For the 'saints' of the 'church of the Lamb of God' are 'identified with the Gentiles' (D&C 109:60)):
(1 Nephi 14:10-17)
10 And he said unto me: Behold there are save two churches only; the one is the church of the Lamb of God, and the other is the church of the devil; wherefore, whoso belongeth not to the church of the Lamb of God belongeth to that great church, which is the mother of abominations; and she is the whore of all the earth.
11 And it came to pass that I looked and beheld the whore of all the earth, and she sat upon many waters; and she had dominion over all the earth, among all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people.
12 And it came to pass that I beheld the church of the Lamb of God, and its numbers were few, because of the wickedness and abominations of the whore who sat upon many waters; nevertheless, I beheld that the church of the Lamb, who were the saints of God, were also upon all the face of the earth; and their dominions upon the face of the earth were small, because of the wickedness of the great whore whom I saw.
13 And it came to pass that I beheld that the great mother of abominations did gather together multitudes upon the face of all the earth, among all the nations of the Gentiles, to fight against the Lamb of God.
14 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld the power of the Lamb of God, that it descended upon the SAINTS of the church of the Lamb, and upon the covenant people of the Lord, who were scattered upon all the face of the earth; and they were armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory.
15 And it came to pass that I beheld that the wrath of God was poured out upon that great and abominable church, insomuch that there were wars and rumors of wars among all the nations and kindreds of the earth.
16 And as there began to be wars and rumors of wars among all the nations which belonged to the mother of abominations, the angel spake unto me, saying: Behold, the wrath of God is upon the mother of harlots; and behold, thou seest all these things--
17 And when the day cometh that the wrath of God is poured out upon the mother of harlots, which is the great and abominable church of all the earth, whose founder is the devil, then, at that day, the work of the Father shall commence, in preparing the way for the fulfilling of his covenants, which he hath made to his people who are of the house of Israel.
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Are there any other scriptural prophecies forewarning an attack by the wicked, or the 'church of the devil', against the latter-day 'saints'?
Yes. And each prophecy prophesies that the 'saints' will be 'prevailed against' and/or 'overcome' – following the Book of Mormon warning that the ONLY way to 'overthrow' the Savior's Church is through the 'transgression' of the 'saints':
(Daniel 7:19-22)
19 Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet;
20 And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.
21 I beheld, and the same horn made war with the SAINTS, and prevailed against them;
22 Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.
(Revelation 13:5-10)
5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
7 And it was given unto him to make war with the SAINTS, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.
10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the SAINTS.
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Will the 'hedge' protecting the Savior's 'vineyard', which contains the 'twelve olive trees', be 'broken down' and confiscated for a time?
Yes. The 'church of the devil' will mount up against the 'saints of the church of the Lamb'. And they will temporarily 'prevail against', 'overcome' and 'overthrow' the 'saints'.
BUT... That is NOT the end of the story.
The 'wheat', or the 'chosen' 'saints', will be 'separated', or 'gathered' out, from the 'tares'.
For a 'great division' will come amongst the Church. So that the Lord may set aside a righteous 'remnant' of the 'saints' – to protect 'even by fire':
(2 Nephi 30:10)
10 For the time speedily cometh that the Lord God shall cause a great division among the people, and the wicked will he destroy; and he will spare his people, yea, even if it so be that he must destroy the wicked by fire.
Thus, the faithful 'saints of the church of the Lamb', and the 'covenant people of the Lord' (the converted or soon to be converting seed of Lehi; and the soon to be returning 'lost tribes' from the 'north countries' (D&C 133)), will be 'armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory' (1 Nephi 14:14)
And THEN the Lord will usher His army to cast down the wicked (Joel 2:1-11) – to thereby 'sweep' off His 'most choice above all other lands' (Ether 2:7-12), the land of Zion, by the power of the holy priesthood (which President Boyd K. Packer pled with the 'saints' to 'activate' in an October 2010 General Conference address)
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The 'saints of the church of the Lamb' will be called to endure many tribulations on the pathway to Zion. But the reward at the end will make it all worth it to 'endure to the end'.
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(Note: Daniel was shown that this period, where the 'sanctuary' [temple of our God/Salt Lake Temple] and the 'host' [the saints] will be 'trodden down', will be 'two thousand and three hundred days' long – which works out to about 6 years and 4 months:
(Daniel 8:13-14)
13 Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?
14 And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.
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A short time ago, a friend of mine replied – to all of this...
“If this is the case, why are we building and fixing temples, especially the Jordan River [Temple]? I'm not asking to be contradictory, I just don't understand why the church would do that, especially if they could keep the [Jordan River Temple] running doing work.”
I replied:
“That's a great point, [my friend].
“The Church is also dedicating the new Provo City Center Temple – this Sunday.
“On the other hand, we haven't announced a lot of new temples as of late.
“(In fact, we've had two straight General Conferences without a new temple announced)
“Daniel was shown that we, the latter-day 'Saints', will leave for 'Great Aunt Rose's countryside home' (from Pres. Uchtdorf's recent parable), or the 'wilderness' (JST-Revelation 12:14), for 'two thousand three hundred days' (Daniel 8:13-14)
“And then we will come back and re-obtain ALL of it for the Lord.
“The wicked will NOT confiscate anything of the Lord's for very long.
“It will NOT be like the Roman Empire after the Savior's resurrection.
“The Lord's 'house(s)' will be 'cleansed' (D&C 112:23-26)
“A very close friend of mine has a close friend who has a very curious line in her Patriarchal Blessing. She was told, nearly 50 years ago, in that blessing, that she would be a temple worker at the Salt Lake Temple. She was also told, in that blessing, that she will be working in the Salt Lake Temple when 'troops' invade the Temple to confiscate it. But she will be able to walk by them without noticing.
“This woman is over 60 years old – approaching 70.
“And she is a current Salt Lake Temple worker.”
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This same friend later replied...
“[Six years and four months is] almost 7 years, like in the Book of Mormon, let me get the reference...
(3 Nephi 4:4)
Therefore, there was no chance for the robbers to plunder and to obtain food, save it were to come up in open battle against the Nephites; and the Nephites being in one body, and having so great a number, and having reserved for themselves provisions, and horses and cattle, and flocks of every kind, that they might subsist for the space of seven years, in the which time they did hope to destroy the robbers from off the face of the land; and thus the eighteenth year did pass away.”
I then replied:
“EXACTLY!!!
“That is further down that same Book of Mormon timeline – when the Saints of the Church leave their cities and gather out to the 'center of their lands.'
“That is EXACTLY right, [my friend].
“That is the corresponding prophecy [in the Book of Mormon – which was 'written for our day' and should be 'read like the morning newspaper'].”
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In conclusion, I'd like to make one final mention about the 'tares' – who must be removed from the Saints (before we can become a Zion people). Or the 'wolves in sheep's clothing' – who wear the 'habiliments of the priesthood'. (Which 'habiliments', in ancient Israel, signified offices and callings in the holy 'priesthood'):
“The ravening wolves are amongst us, from our own membership, and they, more than any others, are clothed in sheep's clothing, because they wear the habiliments of the priesthood…We should be careful of them.” – J. Reuben Clark (Conference Report, April 1949.)
“The wolves amongst our flock are more numerous and devious today than when President Clark made this statement.”– Ezra Taft Benson (April 1969 general conference, Ensign, May 1969, p. 11.)
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The Lord said that if He allowed His 'angels' to 'pluck' out the 'tares', whom Moroni called 'hypocrites' and 'pollutions', which have 'polluted' the 'holy church of God' (Mormon 8:38), after the restoration of the Savior's Church (Mormon 8), it would cause a majority of the 'wheat' to have their testimonies 'uprooted' – for 'verily' our 'faith is weak':
(D&C 86:4-7)
4 But behold, in the last days, even now while the Lord is beginning to bring forth the word, and the blade is springing up and is yet tender--
5 Behold, verily I say unto you, the angels are crying unto the Lord day and night, who are ready and waiting to be sent forth to reap down the fields;
6 But the Lord saith unto them, pluck not up the tares while the blade is yet tender (for verily your faith is weak), lest you destroy the wheat also.
7 Therefore, let the wheat and the tares grow together until the harvest is fully ripe; then ye shall first gather out the wheat from among the tares, and after the gathering of the wheat, behold and lo, the tares are bound in bundles, and the field remaineth to be burned.
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While we may be of the belief that we can surely detect any 'hypocrites' in our midst (D&C 50:4-9), it would be wise to remember that the Lord cautioned His prophet, Joseph Smith, that even he could not always 'tell the wicked from the righteous'.
(Which was historically evidenced by the sobering betrayals of Joseph's Counselors, John C. Bennett and William Law)
So what would possibly make us believe that we can perfectly, or even better, discern who they are?:
(D&C 10:37)
37 But as you cannot always judge the righteous, or as you cannot always tell the wicked from the righteous, therefore I say unto you, hold your peace until I shall see fit to make all things known unto the world concerning the matter.
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Only a 'Zion' people will truly be able to 'judge' such matters.
(Yet, in an ongoing conundrum, the 'wheat' will never be able to fully obtain that 'Zion' status until we are 'separated' and 'gathered' out from the 'tares'):
(D&C 64:34-40)
34 Behold, the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind; and the willing and obedient shall eat the good of the land of Zion in these last days.
35 And the rebellious shall be cut off out of the land of Zion, and shall be sent away, and shall not inherit the land.
36 For, verily I say that the rebellious are not of the blood of Ephraim, wherefore they shall be plucked out.
37 Behold, I, the Lord, have made my church in these last days like unto a judge sitting on a hill, or in a high place, to judge the nations.
38 For it shall come to pass that the inhabitants of Zion shall judge all things pertaining to Zion.
39 And liars and hypocrites shall be proved by them, and they who are not apostles and prophets shall be known.
40 And even the bishop, who is a judge, and his counselors, if they are not faithful in their stewardships shall be condemned, and others shall be planted in their stead.
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How many Saints realize that President Monson's simple story, in the September 2014 Ensign (First Presidency message), was actually an expounding prophetic parable about the 'wheat and the tares'?
(Or, in other words, if the Lord, through His prophet, were to gather up the 'weeds' [or the 'tares'], on the Church 'property' [the 'field'], to 'burn' them, the productive 'chickens' [church-members] in the Church-owned 'coop' [the Church] would immediately begin to 'molt' [panic and lose their faith]; and they would no longer be able to 'lay eggs' [do the Lord's work])
The Lord's servants are repeating and expounding on His words:
“For instance, I shall ever remember the time we gathered the Aaronic Priesthood young men to give the project a spring-cleaning. Our enthusiastic and energetic throng assembled at the project and in a speedy fashion uprooted, gathered, and burned large quantities of weeds and debris. By the light of the glowing bonfires, we ate hot dogs and congratulated ourselves on a job well done.
“However, there was just one disastrous problem. The noise and the fires so disturbed the fragile population of 5,000 laying hens that most of them went into a sudden molt and ceased laying. Thereafter we tolerated a few weeds so that we might produce more.“ - Thomas S. Monson
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To conclude this last thought about President Monson's 'weeds' on the 'Church farm' (or the still hidden 'tares' and clandestine 'wolves in sheep's clothing' – who cover themselves in the 'habiliments of the priesthood' – of whom Moroni prophetically called 'pollutions' and 'hypocrites') that are a large part of the reason why we have yet to obtain Zion (New Jerusalem)
“For“, as the Lord said, “shall the children of the kingdom pollute my holy land? Verily, I say unto you, Nay“ (D&C 84:59)
Let's, once again, turn to the Book of Mormon...
Prior to the appearance of the Savior, in the Americas, which group of Nephites started the VERY worst version of the devil's 'secret combination' (Ether 8:24) – which eventually culminated into 'Jacobugath' (3 Nephi 9:9), the most wicked city on earth at that time, which led the Nephites to the massive destruction that attended them before the Savior's appearance?
The Book of Mormon gives us a plain prophetic stark answer:
(3 Nephi 6:20-30)
20 And there began to be men inspired from heaven and sent forth, standing among the people in all the land, preaching and testifying boldly of the sins and iniquities of the people, and testifying unto them concerning the redemption which the Lord would make for his people, or in other words, the resurrection of Christ; and they did testify boldly of his death and sufferings.
21 Now there were many of the people who were exceedingly angry because of those who testified of these things; and those who were angry were chiefly the CHIEF JUDGES, and they who had been HIGH PRIESTS and LAWYERS; yea, all those who were LAWYERS were angry with those who testified of these things.
22 Now there was no LAWYER nor JUDGE nor HIGH PRIEST that could have power to condemn any one to death save their condemnation was signed by the governor of the land.
23 Now there were many of those who testified of the things pertaining to Christ who testified boldly, who were taken and put to death secretly by the JUDGES, that the knowledge of their death came not unto the governor of the land until after their death.
24 Now behold, this was contrary to the laws of the land, that any man should be put to death except they had power from the governor of the land--
25 Therefore a complaint came up unto the land of Zarahemla, to the governor of the land, against these JUDGES who had condemned the prophets of the Lord unto death, not according to the law.
26 Now it came to pass that they were taken and brought up before the judge, to be judged of the crime which they had done, according to the law which had been given by the people.
27 Now it came to pass that those JUDGES had many FRIENDS and KINDREDS; and the remainder, YEA, EVEN ALMOST ALL THE LAWYERS AND THE HIGH PRIESTS, DID GATHER THEMSELVES TOGETHER, AND UNITE WITH THE KINDRED OF THOSE JUDGES WHO WERE TO BE TRIED ACCORDING TO THE LAW.
28 AND THEY DID ENTER INTO A COVENANT WITH ONE ANOTHER, YEA, EVEN INTO THAT COVENANT WHICH WAS GIVEN BY THEM OF OLD, WHICH COVENANT WAS GIVEN AND ADMINISTERED BY THE DEVIL, TO COMBINE AGAINST ALL RIGHTEOUSNESS.
29 THEREFORE THEY DID COMBINE AGAINST THE PEOPLE OF THE LORD, AND ENTER INTO A COVENANT TO DESTROY THEM, and to DELIVER THOSE WHO WERE GUILTY OF MURDER from the GRASP OF JUSTICE, which was about to be administered ACCORDING TO THE LAW.
30 And they did SET AT DEFIANCE THE LAW AND THE RIGHTS OF THEIR COUNTRY; and they did COVENANT ONE WITH ANOTHER to DESTROY THE GOVERNOR, and to ESTABLISH A KING OVER THE LAND, that the LAND SHOULD NO MORE BE AT LIBERTY but should be SUBJECT UNTO KINGS.
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While it may come as no surprise that the 'chief judges' (federal politicians), 'judges', 'lawyers' and/or their 'kindred' (literal family members, 'moneychangers' [D&C 117:16], corporations, special interest groups, machinations like the Council on Foreign Relations, etc.) 'combined' to overthrow the (Nephite) Constitution – along with their 'rights', their 'liberty' and the 'freedom of all lands' (Ether 8:25) – what should come as a sobering prophetic allegory is that 'ALMOST ALL' of the 'HIGH PRIESTS' of the Church joined this (satanic) 'secret combination' (Ether 8:24) as well.
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So, who does the Book of Mormon identity as the 'high priests' in the Church?
Alma made the clear distinction that the 'high priests' in the Book of Mormon were General Authorities in the Church – who were 'foreordained' to their 'offices' and 'callings' in the priesthood, the 'habiliments of the priesthood'.
These were the 'high priests' under the direction of the 'President of the High Priesthood' (D&C 107:82) – who, in our day, is the President of the Church.
For these 'high priests' received a 'holy ordinance', or the 'holy' 'second anointing' 'ordinance' in the Holy Temple, entrance into the 'church of the Firstborn' (D&C 133), that granted them the ability to receive presiding callings and offices – within the Holy Priesthood.
These are the 'high priests of God' who had 'entered into the rest of the Lord their God' through a 'holy ordinance' – the 'second anointing' ordinance, which seals one's 'calling and election' (unless they fully betray the Lord their God):
(Alma 13:1-12)
1 And again, my brethren, I would cite your minds forward to the time when the Lord God gave these commandments unto his children; and I would that ye should remember that the Lord God ordained priests, after his holy order, which was after the order of his Son, to teach these things unto the people.
2 And those priests were ORDAINED AFTER THE ORDER OF HIS SON, IN A MANNER THAT THEREBY THE PEOPLE MIGHT KNOW IN WHAT MANNER THE PEOPLE MIGHT LOOK FORWARD TO HIS SON FOR REDEMPTION.
3 And this is the manner after which they were ordained--BEING CALLED AND PREPARED FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD ACCORDING TO THE FOREKNOWLEDGE OF GOD, on account of their exceeding faith and good works; in the first place being left to choose good or evil; therefore they having chosen good, and exercising exceedingly great faith, are called with a HOLY CALLING, yea, with that HOLY CALLING which was PREPARED with, and according to, a PREPARATORY REDEMPTION for such.
4 And thus they have been called to this HOLY CALLNG on account of their faith, while others would reject the Spirit of God on account of the hardness of their hearts and blindness of their minds, while, if it had not been for this they might have had as great privilege as their brethren.
5 Or in fine, in the first place they were on the same standing with their brethren; thus this HOLY CALLING BEING PREPARED FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD for such as would not harden their hearts, being in and through the atonement of the Only Begotten Son, who was prepared--
6 And thus being called by this HOLY CALLING, and ordained unto the HIGH PRIESTHOOD of the HOLY ORDER OF GOD, to teach his commandments unto the children of men, that they also might enter into his rest--
7 THIS HIGH PRIESTHOOD BEING AFTER THE ORDER OF THE SON, which order was from the foundation of the world; or in other words, being without beginning of days or end of years, being prepared from eternity to all eternity, ACCORDING TO HIS FOREKNOWLEDGE OF THINGS--
8 Now they were ORDAINED AFTER THIS MANNER--being called with a HOLY CALLING, AND ORDAINED WITH A HOLY ORDINANCE, and taking upon them the high priesthood of the holy order, which calling, and ordinance, and high priesthood, is without beginning or end--
9 Thus they become HIGH PRIESTS FOREVER, after the ORDER OF THE SON, the Only Begotten of the Father, who is without beginning of days or end of years, who is full of grace, equity, and truth. And thus it is. Amen.
10 Now, as I said concerning the HOLY ORDER, or this HIGH PRIESTHOOD, there were MANY who were ORDAINED and became HIGH PRIESTS OF GOD; and it was on account of their exceeding faith and repentance, and their righteousness before God, they choosing to repent and work righteousness rather than to perish;
11 Therefore they were called after this HOLY ORDER, and were SANCTIFIED, and their garments were WASHED white through the blood of the Lamb.
12 Now they, after being sanctified by the Holy Ghost, having their garments made white, being pure and spotless before God, could not look upon sin save it were with abhorrence; and there were many, exceedingly great many, who were made pure and ENTERED INTO THE REST OF THE LORD THEIR GOD.
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(Note: Elder M. Russell Ballard, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, speaking in the recent dedication of the Provo City Center Temple, spoke of coming into the 'rest of the Lord'.)
Alma, speaking to the people of Ammonihah, gave the pattern for this 'rest', which was outwardly signified by becoming 'high priests' unto the Lord, through a 'holy ordinance' (Alma 13:1-12)
Once again, the Book of Mormon sheds light on seemingly difficult gospel topics
Alma, speaking to the people of Ammonihah, gave the pattern for this 'rest', which was outwardly signified by becoming 'high priests' unto the Lord, through a 'holy ordinance' (Alma 13:1-12)
Once again, the Book of Mormon sheds light on seemingly difficult gospel topics
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