PROPHETIC WARNINGS FROM THE 1830 ORIGINAL BOOK OF MORMON AND OTHER PROPHETIC SCRIPTURES

THOSE THAT ARE PURE IN HEART WILL RECEIVE THE TRUTH GLADLY AND BLESSED ARE THE PURE IN HEART FOR THEY SHALL SEE GOD!

Other foundational truths need to be understood in order to understand clearly the scriptures.

1) The Lord is no respecter of persons. He will call whomever He sees fit, whenever He chooses. The precedence is established with Mormon who was called by the Lord at the age of 10, David and Samuel were also called in their youth as was Joseph Smith. Lehi was a businessman who prayed sincerely unto God, was given dreams and visions and was called of God to preach repentance in Jerusalem at the time that Jeremiah, Ezekial and Daniel were Prophets. Nephi also prayed and counseled with the Lord daily and had dreams, visions, visitations, etc. Nephi did not depend on his father to "save" him. Each of us have a responsibility to seek first the Kingdom of God, to live with the Spirit of God, and "to counsel with the Lord daily"! In fact, the scriptures are filled with the example of many "great and ordinary" people who were called of the Lord with numerous prophets being called at the same time historically. (1^st Nephi 1:4) Why? A person is called of God based on the Lord’s needs and a person’s pure heart and righteous desires to live one day at a time unto God. "Everyone needs to repent no matter their age or position"(Richard G. Scott) even the leaders of the church today. When someone is not faithful to his stewardship or priesthood as President Hinckley has stated, it is amen to that priesthood, stewardship, talents, etc. and another is called to do the Lord’s work.

2) Anyone can be called of the Lord and anyone can fall no matter their age or position and everyone needs to repent daily. Joseph Smith was warned that he would fall because of sin just as Moses sinned and was not allowed into the promised land.  "And behold, how oft you have transgressed the commandments and the laws of God, and have gone on in the persuasions of men.  For, behold, you should not have feared man more than God....Behold, thou art Joseph, and thou was chosen to do the work of the Lord, but because of transgression (alteration of the BoM, polygamy - abomination, and masonry), if thou art not aware thou willt fall...Except thou do this, thou shalt be delivered up and become as other men, and have no more gift."  Doctrine & Covenants 3: 6-11 - satanic blood oath)Moses was not allowed into the promised land because he had sinned when he abused his priesthood powers and struck the rock in anger because of the cries of the children of Israel for water. Abraham sinned when he lied to the Prince and fearing man more than God told the Prince that his wife Sarah was his sister. The Lord DID NOT tell him to say this. With this lie he was given Hagar as a wife/concubine and the Moslem race was born with their hatred of Christians today. In repentance of this, Abraham knowing the voice of the Lord (this being the "works" of Abraham, only those who do the works of Abraham earn Abraham’s blessing), was commanded to sacrifice Issac in similitude of the sacrifice of Jesus and to establish that he was willing to obey the Spirit of the Law and not the letter of the law. David and Solomon were both called and blessed of God and were Kings like unto a President of the Church and they both fell. Why did they fall? The Book of Mormon gives us the answer of the Lord, Who is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow in Jacob 2:20-24 which is applicable for us today and also applied in the early days of the church. "And now, my brethren, I have spoken unto you concerning pride; and those of you which have afflicted your neighbor, and persecuted him because ye were proud in your hearts, of the things which God hath given you what say ye of it? Do ye not suppose that such things are abominable unto him who created all flesh? And the one being is as precious in his sight as the other. And all flesh is of the dust; and for the selfsame end hath he created them, that they should keep his commandments and glorify him forever And now I make an end of speaking unto you concerning this pride. And were it not that I must speak unto you concerning a grosser crime, my heart would rejoice exceedingly because of you. But the word of God burdens me because of your grosser crimes. For behold, thus saith the Lord: This people begin to wax in iniquity; they understand not the scriptures for they seek to excuse themselves in committing whoredoms, because of the things which were written concerning David, and Solomon his son. Behold, David and Solomon truly had many wives and concubines, which things was abominable before me, saith the Lord." Joseph Smith was commanded many times to repent and was not allowed to enter the "promised land" even as Moses because of his sins. (2 Nephi Chapter 3 confirms that Joseph Smith would be like unto Moses)

3) Living by the letter of the law is of Lucifer, living by the Spirit of the Law is of God.

This is evident with the exemplary life of the Savior Jesus Christ. He fulfilled all that he prophetically was to do so far. His life is the ONLY example to follow. He condemned the letter of the law lives of the Sadducees and Pharisees (a type and shadow of today) who were the Leaders of the Church. The Kingdom of Heaven and the Lord is about order based on Purity and living by the Spirit, not order based on men’s perception of perfection. Perfection is of Lucifer and is judgmental, requiring control of the masses by blind obedience which violates free agency and produces STRESS. The often repeated phrase "Be ye therefore perfect even as I am perfect" is a mistranslation and is better quoted as "Be ye therefore pure even as I am pure". When the Savior walked the earth as a man, he violated many of the rules of the leaders of the church. He stole corn from the cornfield, he healed the sick on the Sabbath day, he was tired and did not want to give even "crumbs" to the woman who wanted to be "fed" by him. But being reprimanded by the woman, he relented and overcame his physical weakness and did what was required of him.

4) Why did Joseph Smith warn us about Blind Obedience?

Millennial Star, Number 38, Pages 593-595: "We have heard men who hold the priesthood remark that they would do anything they were told to do by those who preside over them (even) if they knew it was wrong; but such obedience as this is worse than folly to us; it is slavery in the extreme; and the man who would thus degrade himself, should not claim a rank among intelligent beings...A man of God would despise the idea. Others in the extreme exercise of their almighty authority have taught that such obedience was necessary, and that no matter what the sins were told to do by their presidents, they should do it without any questions. When elders of Israel will so far indulge in these extreme notions of obedience as to teach them to the people, it is generally because they have it in their hearts to do wrong themselves." Joseph Smith

"Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge; and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst." Isaiah 5:13. The members of the church today are men and women who live very stressful lives trying to be obedient because they do not live spiritual lives but are striving for perfection. On that shaky foundation there is the tendency to be judgmental of others because of their own insecurities. We have also been told to not talk about spiritual experiences. This is because the leaders do not have spiritual experiences themselves. Because most of the members do not live spiritually guided lives, they mock those who live with the living waters of truth, personal daily revelation, ministering of angels, dreams and the Spirit of God. Those that blindly obey are lazy spiritually and depend on their leaders to save them. The focus of Heaven is the Lord’s House. Lehi and Nephi’s dream is a depiction of the current state of the Lord’s House which we are told needs to be cleansed. We have the multitude of the members (blindly obeying leaders who they think will save them instead of being spiritually guided themselves) who are in the great and spacious building (temples and New Assembly Hall) mocking those few that hold on to the rod - the word of God. These are pure-hearted members of the church who actually counsel with the Lord daily and are living spiritually guided lives. They might not be the ones that are so busy and stressed doing everything that they are told to do. These pure-hearted saints understand that it is about living in the "being" of the Savior’s attitudes (the Beatitudes) and not in the "doing" for the praise of others. The members who leave the church because they know "all is not well in Zion"and yet do not have the foundation of God in their lives end up in the muddy waters.

The Lord was very disappointed in the children of Israel when they did not come unto Him but wanted Moses to represent them or "save" them. Moroni 7:37 "Behold I say unto you, Nay; for it is by faith that miracles are wrought; and it is by faith that angels appear and minister unto men; wherefore, if these things have ceased wo be unto the children of men, for it is because of unbelief, and all is vain. For no man can be saved, according to the words of Christ, save they shall have faith in his name; wherefore, if these things have ceased, then has faith ceased also; and awful is the state of man for they are as though there had been no redemption made."

5) Is it true that a Prophet will never lead you astray? The Lord has told us that a Prophet of God CAN lead the people astray. This is declared very boldly in Micah Chapter 3 and is a type and shadow for today: "Then shall they cry unto the Lord, but he will not hear them; he will even hide his face from them at that time, as they have behaved themselves ill in their doings. Thus saith the Lord concerning the prophets that make my people err, that bite with their teeth, and cry Peace; and he putteth not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him. Therefore night shall be unto you, that ye shall not have a vision; and it shall be dark unto you, that ye shall not divine; and the sun shall go down over the prophets, and the day shall be dark over them. Then shall the seers be ashamed, and the diviners confounded; yea, they shall all cover their lips; for there is no answer of God. But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the Lord, and of judgement, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin. Hear this, I pray you, ye heads of the house of Jacob, and the princes of the house of Israel, that abhor judgement, and pervert all equity. They build up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity. The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money yet will they lean upon the Lord, and say, Is not the Lord among us? None evil can come upon us."

For the Lord to remove a prophet immediately who sins would be a violation of free agency. It would take away from us the opportunity to live in the Spirit to discern good or evil for ourselves. Sometimes what the Spirit teaches us is contrary to what we have been taught traditionally by the learned men or by even our mothers. Then it is up to us as truth seekers to not reject new thoughts or teachings, but to research, ponder and pray for a second witness. The leaders’ free agency would be violated if the Lord prevented leaders to commit a sin or "to make the people err". For instance the Lord called and appointed Judas Iscariot and allowed him his free agency to sin. The Sadducees and Pharisees, the leaders of the church in Jerusalem were allowed to sin even to the extent of crucifying the Savior. Free Agency is the foundation of this earth experience. In Deuteronomy 18:20-22 the Lord warns us that prophets can make mistakes and will need to repent; note also that the "death" of the prophet might be physical or spiritual if you understand how the Lord works. "But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die. And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the Lord hath not spoken? When a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously; thou shalt not be afraid of him." The scriptures are filled with words of the Lord which expose the lie that "a prophet can never lead you astray". For example in Ezekial 13: 3-10 "Thus saith the Lord God; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing! O Israel, thy prophets are like the foxes in the deserts. Ye have not gone up into the gaps, neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel (leaders of the Lord’s House) to stand in the battle in the day of the Lord. They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, the Lord saith; and the Lord hath not sent them; and they have made others to hope that they would confirm the word...Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying Peace; ("Wo unto those who say All is Well in Zion") and there was not peace..." And then in Ezekial 14:9-22 we read: "And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the Lord, have NOT (inspired version) deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel. (In the Lord’s own due time which is not our time) And they shall bear the punishment of their iniquity: the punishment of the prophet shall be even as the punishment of him that seeketh unto him; (and do not seek God)...Though Noah, Daniel, and Job, (pure prophets) were in it, as I live, saith the Lord God, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness." It is a fact that no Prophet or leader can save you, only God can do that based upon your righteousness which means being pure hearted, repenting, being born again, and living with the Spirit of God daily on the firm foundation of truth and NOT living on the sandy foundation of the traditions of the learned men. It is also a fact, according to the words of the Lord that a prophet CAN lead you astray.

6) When did this statement that "a Prophet will never lead you astray" originate?

It was first proclaimed by Wilford Woodruff in the published 1890 Manifesto which officially ended polygamy. True history regarding this event which is well researched and documented in D. Michael Quinn’s "Mormon Hierarchy"* (not "faith promoting" history) records that "In September 1890 federal officials were preparing to seize the temples, Congress was about to disenfranchise all Mormons, and Woodruff decided to act quickly." (The same political/financial pressure from the United States of America resulted in the Afro-Americans being given the priesthood which they should have had from the beginning as it is recorded historically that Joseph Smith gave Afro-Americans and WOMEN the priesthood!) This historical account then states "that President Woodruff made public abandonment of plural marriage a fait accompli while 8 of the 12 apostles were away". "When an apostle asked the second counselor at the same meeting if the Manifesto was a revelation, President Smith answered emphatically no."

Nearly all of the apostles privately demonstrated opposition to the Manifesto. Even in the early 1900's, apostles Brigham Young, Jr., John W. Taylor, Marriner W. Merrill, Matthias F. Cowley, and Abraham Owen Woodruff married new plural wives. In addition, Francis M. Lyman and Heber J. Grant fathered polygamous children; John Henry Smith cohabited with his wives; and George Teasdale advised men to marry additional wives. So in the personal lives of general authorities the Snow presidency was the most dramatic twentieth-century confrontation between the apostles and the church president. Polygamy from the beginning generated lies to wives, lies in the missionary field, secrets (God is about truth and full disclosure not secrets), disharmony, jealousy and hatred in marriages, anger, etc. Brigham Young even had nine of his wives divorce him and there were many single men in Utah who were not able to have a wife because of the scarcity of women in Utah because of polygamy. In the early days of the church under Brigham Young, it was required of all leaders from Bishops on up that they had to practice polygamy. More than 5% practiced polygamy as was incorrectly stated on Larry King Live in order to enhance the public image of the church.

"The Mormon Hierarchy", a well researched, documented true history account shows that leaders whom we have all put on pedestals are very human and have many disagreements, squabbles and fight for power.

In the earlier years of the church, Oliver Cowdery gave the called Apostles the charge "It is necessary that you receive a testimony from heaven for yourselves; so that you can bear testimony to the truth of the Book of Mormon, and that you have seen the face of God." Then he continued, "That is more than the testimony of an angel...Never cease striving until you have seen God face to face."

Today the instruction has been altered as recorded: "Likewise there was no encouragement to obtain a visionary witness in the "fourfold charge: given in 1959 to new apostle (and later L.D.S. president) Howard W. Hunter. Unlike the nineteenth-century apostles, modern L.D.S. apostles have no obligation to seek a visionary witness of Jesus Christ. In place of the instruction to seek a vision of Deity is a lengthy charge for modern apostles to be submissive to the majority of the Twelve. Therefore, the twentieth-century hierarchy began publicly downplaying the necessity of apostolic visions. By the time he became church president, Heber J. Grant had overcome the guilt he had felt as an apostle for not having had a vision. "I have never prayed to see the Savior," he told a tabernacle meeting in 1942. "I have seen so many men fall because of some great manifestation to them". He came to deny knowledge of such experiences for his colleagues: "I know of no instance where the Lord has appeared to an individual since His appearance to the Prophet Joseph Smith." This is the same feeling repeated with the declaration of President Gordon B. Hinckley on Larry King Live when asked if he receives revelation and he replied that he "receives at the most intuitive hunches."

8) Was polygamy EVER of God?

The answer is NO and this abomination almost destroyed the church. Again we read in Jacob 1, page 124 of the Original Book of Mormon: "And now it came to pass that the people of Nephi,...began to grow hard in their hearts, and indulge themselves somewhat in wicked practices, such as like unto David of Old, desiring many wives and concubines, and also Solomon, his son; yea, and they also began to search much gold and silver, and began to be lifted up somewhat in pride;..." and also in Jacob 2:23-24 the words of God regarding polygamy: "But the word of God burdens me because of your grosser crimes. For behold, thus saith the Lord: This people begin to wax in iniquity; they understand not the scriptures for they seek to excuse themselves in committing whoredoms, because of the things which were written concerning David, and Solomon his son. Behold, David and Solomon truly had many wives and concubines, which thing was abominable before me, saith the Lord" Polygamy was the abomination that destroyed the Nephites for the Lord no longer protected them. It’s obvious that the Lord hates polygamy which is a suppression of women. In fact, Joseph Smith in the first seven years 1830-37 gave the priesthood to WOMEN - Emma Smith, Priddy Meeks, etc and he gave the priesthood to Afro-Americans!!! This is the true order of God. That all are equal in His eyes and all who are worthy have the responsibility to hold the priesthood. In a "true-love" eternal marriage, a man and a women are equally yoked, best friends, partners, and are a check and balance to each other and become in the Kingdom of Heaven, a King and Queen acting as One unto God. Again, where much is given much is expected. Today the only Nephites (to whom the blessings of the Savior were given) living are those who were inspired to leave by ship with Hagoth and settled in the "isles of the sea". To confirm this fact, we read in 2 Jacob 3:4-5 "And the time speedily cometh, that except ye repent they shall possess the land of your inheritance, and the Lord God will lead away the righteous out from among you. Behold, the Lamanites your brethren, whom ye hate because of their filthiness and the cursing which hath come upon their skins, are more righteous than you; for they have not forgotten the commandment of the Lord, which was given unto our father–that they should have save it were one wife, and concubines they should have none, and there should not be whoredoms committed among them." How much clearer does the Lord need to be?

9) Why did Joseph Smith say that polygamy was of God?

Joseph Smith was "like unto Moses". Joseph Smith did see and talk face to face with God, he did talk with Angel Moroni who showed him where the plates were. Joseph Smith did translate the Book of Mormon through the inspiration of the Lord AND Joseph Smith made mistakes. He was human! This is true of EVERY man who has lived on this earth save Jesus Christ. Joseph also stated that "some revelations are from God, some are from man and some are from Lucifer" Journal of Discourses. Recorded in Heber C Kimball’s autobiography is this quote regarding Heaven "forcing" the issue of polygamy. "An angel with a flaming sword descended from the courts of glory and confronting the Prophet, commanded him in the name of the Lord to establish the principle so long concealed from the knowledge of the Saints and of the world–that of plural marriage." Did Joseph every challenge this "angel" as we are instructed to do in Doctrine and Covenants 129 to see if the angel was from God or from Satan or from man’s own imagination to justify the same desires that David and Solomon succumbed to? When at any time has the Lord violated man’s free agency and told him to obey or he would be killed? Joseph knew that at times he was inspired and other times he needed to repent, the Lord knew this as well and told Joseph to repent repeatedly in the scriptures.

Again, the Original Book of Mormon gives us the example of how women were to be provided for without the abomination of polygamy. After a great war when many men were killed and women were left without husbands, men were instructed to give of their substance to sustain the widows and their children. There is never at any time a "need or justification" for polygamy which is a whoredom, a suppression of women, children not knowing their father and is an abomination of God. There is joy and order in Heaven with true love and equality between a man and a women.

10) Why did so many leave the church yet still retain a testimony of the Book of Mormon?

The leaders were human and fulfilled scripture as found in D & C 121:39 "We have learned by sad experience that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion." At one time, all of the original Apostles had been excommunicated because of their standing up for their spiritually obtained beliefs and arguing with the leaders’ dictates except for Parley P. Pratt (had a spiritual conversion of the truth of the Book of Mormon) who was sent out on missionary work, Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball (33^rd degree masons). All others because of not believing in the abomination of polygamy, unrighteous dominion of the leaders, the secret combinations of masonry, etc. left the church because the church had come under condemnation by the Lord based on their own actions and the spirit was no longer felt as it had been in the early days, for example; the spiritual manifestations of the Kirkland Temple.

11) It’s hard for me to comprehend that the Lord would allow Joseph Smith or any prophet or apostle to make mistakes. This is different that what I have been taught by my parents and leaders repeatedly throughout my life. How can I know for myself what is true?

The Lord has given everyone of us our free agency. Free agency allows us the greatest opportunity for growth. We all have the opportunity to live a spiritually guided life. This means that coming unto Christ and knowing him is our top priority in life even above anything else of this earth. It means praying continually in our heart, repenting and doing as the Lord would have us do every day. It means being born again and becoming a truth seeker, being willing to stand up for truth at all cost! This paradigm shift in your mind and heart is accomplished even as you continue to live and work in this world. "Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God" is a reality and a promise and even then you are not "saved" because every day in a new day for you to choose good or evil. The "Calling and Election made sure" in not a revelation from God, it would be a violation of free agency. You enjoy life on a higher level being spiritually guided line upon line in a life that is never boring. The Original Book of Mormon with the plain and precious truths restored come alive fulfilling prophecy as you are able to confirm truths by the Spirit of God.

12) What do the scriptures tell us about Joseph Smith?

Joseph Smith is prophetically foretold in 2 Nephi Chapter 3. The Lord always allows for free agency so remember that the Lord plans for alternatives to compensate for men’s weaknesses. Joseph Smith’s strength was his purity and simplicity. When he became prideful, the Lord would remind him to repent. He made mistakes as did Moses, David, Soloman, Abraham, etc. We are not to judge, but recognize that the natural man is an enemy to God and that every day we need to review our performance, thoughts and the purity of our heart and repent as needed.

We have shortened the following chapter, but encourage readers to read it in it’s entirety. The author’s comments are italicized except for the following heading.

1 AND now I speak unto you, Joseph, my last–born...And may the Lord consecrate also unto thee this land, which is a most precious land, for thine inheritance and the inheritance of thy seed with thy brethren, for thy security forever, IF it so be that ye shall keep the commandments of the Holy One of Israel...(all promises and blessings are CONDITIONAL depending on obedience to God) may the Lord bless thee forever, for thy seed shall not utterly be destroyed.

4 I am a descendant of Joseph who was carried captive into Egypt. And great were the covenants of the Lord which he made unto Joseph. (It is highly significant that Joseph of Egypt is mentioned because of the type and shadow of the dream of the Pharaoh of seven good years physically and seven bad years physically - feast and famine. As a type and shadow of Joseph Smith’s day, this was a warning to him that if he did not repent daily, he would have seven good years spiritually and seven bad years spiritually. (1830-1837 vrs. 1837-1842)

5 Wherefore, Joseph truly saw our day. And he obtained a promise of the Lord, that out of the fruit of his loins the Lord God would raise up a righteous branch unto the house of Israel; not the Messiah, but a branch which was to be broken off, nevertheless, to be remembered in the covenants of the Lord that the Messiah should be made manifest unto them in the latter days, in the spirit of power, unto the bringing of them out of darkness unto light—yea, out of hidden darkness and out of captivity unto freedom. (This is prophetic of today - "know the truth and the truth will set you free". We have been commanded to "seek and ye shall find, knock and the door will be opened to you". It is a personal spiritual journey for truth, no one else can save you but yourself!)

8 And I will give unto him a commandment that he shall do none other work, save the work which I shall command him. (Joseph Smith, in his free agency, disobeyed this commandment and joined the secret combinations/masons, allowed the learned men to alter the Book of Mormon and justified polygamy) And I will make him great in mine eyes; for he shall do my work.

9 And he shall be great like unto Moses, (Moses also sinned as Joseph did and neither of them were allowed to enter the "promised land") whom I have said I would raise up unto you, to deliver my people, O house of Israel.

11 But a seer will I raise up out of the fruit of thy loins; and unto him will I give power to bring forth my word unto the seed of thy loins—and not to the bringing forth my word only, saith the Lord, but to the convincing them of my word, which shall have already gone forth among them. (This is in reference to the restoration of the plain and precious truths that have been taken out of the Book of Mormon by the learned men and will be restored in the last days)

12 ...that which shall be written by the fruit of thy loins, and also that which shall be written by the fruit of the loins of Judah, shall grow together, unto the confounding of false doctrines and laying down of contentions, and establishing peace among the fruit of thy loins, and bringing them to the knowledge of their fathers in the latter days, and also to the knowledge of my covenants, saith the Lord. (The unity of the world will occur when the Original Book of Mormon with i