I got an inquiry about how the Second Edition will differ from the First. There have been a number of corrections made to the scriptures online that will be incorporated into the Second Edition. Those are set out on the scriptures website and linked here:

https://scriptures.info/Scriptures/ChangeTracking

Other differences are explained in the PreOrder link that is provided in the prior post. Inserting the KJV Bible chapter and verse numbering in the text, as well as LDS versification for both the Book of Mormon/Covenant of Christ and D&C/T&C as navigation tools is another important addition. It will allow someone using these scriptures to immediately locate a Bible citation for discussions with Christians and LDS citations for discussions with Mormons. But the Second Edition retains the Restoration Edition chapters and paragraphs. It is the Restoration Edition chapters and paragraphs that mirror and preserve the original context of the scriptures themselves. Ministers, missionaries and even theologians have used isolated sentences or phrases (verses) to justify doctrines and teachings with insufficient respect for context. The scriptures need to be understood as a whole. And restoring paragraphs help to clarify context in a way that versification into phrases or sentences lacks.

A limited number of the second edition of our scriptures will be available to preorder now. The place where preordering is available is at this website:

https://scriptures.shop/special-order/2nd-edition

These will be printed by the world’s best printer of scriptures, and will be durable, larger print, and last for more than a lifetime. The linked website provides an explanation of the specific details for this second edition. It is hard to picture just how good a job this printer does, but an effort is being made to take samples to various meetings to let people examine them.

We do not have any guarantee there will be another leatherbound print copy made in the future. The contents will be available continuously as print on demand paperback versions.

After years of developments, including the recent conference voting adding new materials to the scriptures, a second edition of the Restoration Edition is going to be printed. There will be three volumes: Old Covenants (the Old Testament), New Covenants (the New Testament, Book of Mormon, and Glossary of Terms), and Modern Covenants (Teachings and Commandments and Covenant of Christ).

The first edition was printed in India. The second edition will be printed by the world’s highest quality Bible printer, Royal Jongbloed. A complete explanation of the second edition will be provided along with a link for pre-orders soon.

In the Testimony of St. John, the Samaritan woman at the well was taught about salvation by Christ. His disciples were offended that He would even speak with the woman, but the testimony we have from that encounter preserves a perfect statement of Christ’s mission.

Quoting from the 4th chapter, Christ said: “You Samaritans do not understand God, although you claim to worship Him. Those who follow me know how to worship. Salvation does not belong to the Jews, but instead will come from a Messiah rejected by the Jews. The hour has arrived when the true worshipers are being taught how to worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father wants mankind to know Him. The Father will share his Spirit with those who know him. His Spirit is truth and light. And they who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.
The woman said to him, I know that a Messiah is prophesied to come, and when he comes he will restore all that has been lost since the time of Adam. Jesus responded, I am he: I am come to restore, to repair, to redeem, and I am come to gather.” T&C 171: TSJ 4:5-6.

When Christ came to live among the Jews He was here to restore, repair, redeem and gather. When He ministered to the Nephites He was serving the same purpose. When He revealed Himself from heaven to Joseph Smith, again Christ was on that same mission.

Now, again today, Christ is working to restore, repair, redeem and gather. His mortal mission did not complete that restoration, and the faithful failed to gather to build Zion. In Joseph’s day the Lord again restored, but not fully. He also repaired, but not fully. He tried to gather, but it did not result in Zion.

Christ has explained His mission in Samaria. He has repeatedly engaged on His mission at different times and among different people. But mankind has not been willing to let Him complete the work of restoring, repairing, redeeming and gathering. It remains an open question of when the Lord will have people willing to allow Him to finish His mission.

When Nicodemus approached Christ he wanted the Lord to furnish some proof that He was indeed the Messiah. As a recognized religious leader among the Jews, Nicodemus occupied a precarious position: He didn’t want to accept Christ when the other Jewish leaders rejected Him, but he also didn’t want to reject the Messiah if Christ were indeed the one foretold in prophecy.

Christ explained the matter by referring to prophecy: “They told you I would come, and I am now here doing what was prophesied, but you refuse to see it happening. Enough is underway that rejecting it means you prefer darkness to light. Humble yourself and admit the prophets foretold the very things now underway; repent and be baptized and the Spirit of Truth will open your eyes. If you want greater light, you will obey this instruction. If you refuse, then you never meant it when you greeted me as an enlightened heavenly guide.” T&C 171: TSJ 2:4.

Fulfilling prophecy in plain sight does not mean people can recognize it. Far more often it remains debated, rejected or unaccepted rather than welcomed.

There will be a Youth Retreat in Manti, Utah on June 19-23. The website providing details is linked here: Youth Retreat 2025

The retreat will include, among other things, Morning Devotionals, Firesides, Youth Dance, Maple Canyon (Hiking / Rock Climbing), Palisade Reservoir, Youth-led Open Discussion on Gospel Questions and other things designed to bring the youth a worthwhile time.

It requires registration, so please click on the link and look at the website.

There is to come a time when those who are in the New Jerusalem, dwelling with the Lord, have this promise: “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain, for the former things are passed away.” NC Rev. 8:8. That will be then. But this is now. And implicit in this prophetic foretelling is that during our lives here there are tears in our eyes. There is death, relentlessly stalking us all. And we will face sorrow and crying. The promise of the ‘silver lining’ forces us to recognize the ‘cloud’ we must confront.

When death claims a close one we get sober about life, at least for a little while. But we return to life and forget that its claim on distant friends, and then closer friends, and then older family members, and then intimate friends and close family members all remind us, sometimes shock us, into recognizing that death will claim us all. It came this week to take another loved one from me.

Because the wages of sin is death (NC Romans 1:28), we all deserve to die. We are not spotless before God. He cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance (T&C 54:5). We have been put into a place where we need to be rescued. The Savior achieved that needed rescue when He offered Himself as a ransom for us. “And so we see that all mankind had fallen, and they were in the grasp of justice — indeed, God’s justice — which forever relegated them to be cut off from His presence. Now the plan of mercy couldn’t be brought about unless an atonement were made. Therefore God Himself will atone for the sins of the world, to bring about the plan of mercy, to meet the demands of justice, so that God can be a perfectly just God, and a merciful God as well.” CoC Alma 19:14-15.

We celebrate our rescue today. He is risen! He is triumphant! “[T]he Lord was triumphant, exultant, overjoyed at His return from the grave! … I was shown the scene and do not have words to adequately communicate how complete the feelings of joy and gratitude were which were felt by our Lord that morning. As dark and terrible were the sufferings through which He passed, the magnitude of which is impossible for man to put into words, these feelings of triumph were, on the other hand, of equal magnitude in their joy and gratitude. I do not think it possible for a mortal to feel a fullness of either. And, having felt some of what He shares with His witnesses, I know words are inadequate to capture His feelings on the morning of His resurrection. He had the deep satisfaction of having accomplished the most difficult assignment given by the Father, knowing it was a benefit to all of His Father’s children, and it had been done perfectly.” T&C 161:29. This moment of His great victory is what He intends to share with all His followers who repent, are baptized and obey His commandments. Those who will inhabit the New Jerusalem have this same victory ahead for them. May we all take the rescue He offers us seriously, and choose to part with our own sins and follow Him.

Easter is the yearly reminder that we are offered the opportunity to join fully in the joy of our Lord.

Here is a link to the talk I gave today in the Conference held in Provo: God’s Covenant People

We are made in the image of God which includes everything from cell division to emotions. To deal with all issues associated with being human, God has given us a lot of resources to take care of our needs. We try to have healthy habits, we have modern medicine, and other miraculous resources to support us. Less used, but no less important, God has given us access to: music, art, nature, creativity, breath, prayer, mindfulness, meditation, silence, nutrition, awareness, the nervous system, stories, poetry, myths, fables, metaphor, symbolism, ritual, books, skills, feelings, cognitions, Christ, the Spirit, resources for learning (podcasts, apps, social media, etc.). These things exist for our benefit. Utilizing these, we can be more present, less stressed, reduce fear, increase resilience, be more grateful, tolerate more and avoid less.
“Stress is caused by being ‘here’ but wanting to be ‘there.’” Eckhart Tolle
I hear that a lot of you in this moment do not want to be involved in this dispute. You do not want to be “here.” You want to be “there.” I have heard from some of you directly, and some peripherally.
I get emails, text messages, personal proposals, ChatGPT analysis, and chastisements from you about this conference. These communications include quotes from Denver, scripture passages, glossary terms along with explanations and personal analysis about how we “shouldn’t be here” and “it’s wrong.” Many of you have spent a great deal of time in these efforts. I understand that you believe these things deeply. You are kind, gentle, and write and speak with as much of the Spirit as you can muster. All this effort appears to be directed towards the discomfort and fear about the unavoidable experiences of disputing, contention, or conflict.
I have heard you claim “faith over fear.” I get that. However, I still see more fear than faith – probably unconscious.
“I hate this.”
“Please stop.”
“Can’t we all get along.”
“Why are we here?”
“Avoid disputes.”
“Contention is bad.”
“We/they are doing it wrong.”
Scriptures are informative and inspirational. I see how deeply invested some of you are in trying to fit this situation into your personal understanding of revelations, scripture, glossary terms and what you think Denver said or meant. Ironically, that is in part why we are here – personal interpretation of scripture.
It is entirely naive and overly simplistic to just NOT WANT CONFLICTS OR DISPUTES. Perhaps the scriptures, Denver’s blog posts, glossary terms and whatever else is being used to analyze this are applicable to a group of people who are a more advanced, charitable, or civilized group of people.
That is not us . . . YET.
To the extent that we think we are “a Zion People/Covenant People/Remnant Group” already, we give ourselves an out and avoid, at all costs, working through our disputes, conflict, and contention (which do exist). We may be dismissing, as evil, insignificant, the lesser law, unimportant, and ungodly, the very opportunities God has, is and will continue to provide to civilize us.
“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I will learn.” Benjamin Franklin.
This is called experiential learning. This is a powerful way to learn. God values experiential learning as much as he values any other type of learning. One is not better. Experiential learning honors agency. Many of you are actively and passionately asking Denver and I to take away people’s agency, fix this, intervene, make it go away. That is Satan’s plan.
How do we expect to become qualified or capable to be part of God’s City of Peace? Can we ask ourselves these questions? What qualifies me? How did I obtain those qualities? Was it challenging? Was it easy? How do I know I am qualified? What was my curriculum? Is it something I can share? Can I teach others? Is there a space where we are supposed to learn together? What is that space?
I believe that this Women’s Conference is one of those spaces. There will be others.
Remember: “Stress is caused by being ‘here’ and wanting to be ‘there.’”
Many of you want to be somewhere else, a place that does not exist yet because we haven’t built it. We haven’t built it in ourselves, in our families, in our fellowships and certainly not as a large body. I think it’s because we aren’t willing to get our hands dirty to make the materials needed for building. Emotional regulation, active listening, reflection, communicating, validation, compassion, forgiveness, accountability, awareness, presence, faith, learning and practicing new skills, spirituality, scriptures, prayer, and increased abilities are some of the materials we need to have in order to build this thing. I have spent the last 4 years working to teach these building blocks.
I am not experiencing this situation the same way many of you are. I do not feel a lot of motivation to fix anything or stepping in and taking away people’s agency.
You are weary of the conflict. I am weary of the effort being expended in avoiding the conflict.
I haven’t heard or read much from any women explaining to each other how you are using mindfulness to stay present and engaged. I haven’t heard many of you speaking appreciatively of what things you are learning from this (radical acceptance). I know some of you are using skills, but not many unless avoid, avoid, avoid is a skill. I haven’t heard anyone admit openly what you are afraid of, or acknowledge the truth or reality of fear being at the center of all of this (distress tolerance, mindfulness, self-awareness).
I hear a lot of cognitive distortions, thinking errors, future-tripping, catastrophizing, personalizing, emotional reasoning, and on and on. Do you see them? Do you know you have them and they are impacting the very way you are interacting with this situation? What’s the worst thing that could happen? Can you tolerate the worst-case scenario? Why or why not? Are you using your distress tolerance skills?
The Zion and peace we are hoping for is not a top-down endeavor. It will not happen by wishing people would just get along. It will not happen by straining our assumptions through scripture. It might happen if we engage in individual interactions with skill, compassion, empathy, love, competence and reason. Have your interactions concerning this conference shown the peace you are asking Denver and I to enforce? Have the emails you have sent to one another, the conference organizers, the women of the council? Your large group emails? The texts you have between yourselves? Your comments and chats during Zoom calls? Have you “measured your words”, “considered the hearts of others” “regarded one another with charity” in all your interactions? (T&C 157:53). Have your interpersonal effectiveness skills been helpful with this?
Whose work is this? Is it collaborative? Is it individual? Us vs. them? God vs. us? God with us? I know what I believe and I know what type of work I am willing to do to prove my devotion to God and Their desires.
I will end with my sincere prayer that God blesses you with the thing you need most, right now in this moment.

I had this issue brought to my attention: In Preserving The Restoration, at p. 513 (and subsequently in the Glossary under “Sustain”), there is this language: “For a youth to be ordained, at least seven women must vote to sustain him to be a priest, which would, of necessity, include the mother because she would be most acquainted with his daily walk.”

When I was discussing this I had in mind that a newly ordained youth would want to be able to minister both in his family and in his fellowship. But if the youth is only ministering in his family, no sustaining vote is necessary for ordination.

On another matter, I’ve been getting asked by women, and confronted by husbands, to do something to clarify, intervene, add to, or remove from the currently underway disputes among the women. There are lively campaigns, Zoom meetings, email chains, and entire websites in which opposing views about Women’s Councils are underway. I have declined to intervene.

Women are given responsibility to deal with these issues and I do not believe it should be something I should weigh in on, and certainly not before the women have the opportunity to sort this out themselves. I’ve had to interrupt many times to let people know I am staying out of this matter until the women have had a fulsome opportunity to address the matter first.

There is a second women’s website related to the Saturday Women’s Conference for the upcoming April Conference. That website is linked here: 14 Unanimous

I’ve gotten a number of calls, emails, texts and face-to-face questions about how problem-solving ought to take place. My understanding is that we are not supposed to dispute in anger, make unkind accusations, or walk away from differences. We are supposed to respectfully discuss differences, without anger, and to reason together. At least that is how I understand the direction we received in the Lord’s Answer, T&C 157.

Yesterday I put up a post about the upcoming Women’s Conference as requested by the organizers. To clarify, that Conference is a Women’s conference for women, and registration for that Conference is limited to women. Men who are signing up for that meeting need to understand that it is for women, to whom specific responsibilities have been given. The women are to grapple with the questions involving matters entrusted exclusively to them.

The upcoming 2025 Spring “Reasoning Together” Women’s Conference begins with three zoom meetings held at 7:00 p.m. on March 23rd, March 30th, and April 6th.

All 3 zoom calls and the associated documentation are part of the conference. The information provided will be helpful to inform participants before the vote held at the April 12th meeting. You do not need to be planning to attend the April 12th voting session in order to participate in and view the zoom meetings, but you WILL need to register to gain access to the zoom calls, announcements, and additional materials.

You can register by emailing [email protected]. Please let organizers know in your RSVP email if you are planning to attend the April 12th session. Again, you do not need to be planning to attend the April 12th meeting in order to register but organizers need to ensure they will have enough seating for everyone at their venue.

There will be an important conference on April 12 and 13. They will be held at two different locations. The April 12th conference will be held at the Provo Marriott, 101 W 100 N, Provo, UT from 4:30 to 6:30. During those two hours voting will take place on a number of proposed items set out on the following website: April 12, 2025 Conference Everyone is invited to attend and vote. Details about that evening’s event are set out in linked website. There have been some rumors that the Saturday vote is only for women, and that is not correct. The vote involves all those who wish to cast a vote on the proposals.

The April 13th conference will be held at the Utah Valley Convention Center, 220 West Center St, Provo UT beginning at 9:00 am (doors open at 8:30 am). There will be speakers, the Sacrament, and a vote will be taken on several proposed items. Details about that day’s events are set out on the following website: Spring 2025 Conference Everyone is invited to attend and vote.

There are proposals to be voted on that address the question of adding some new sections to the scriptures. The vote will allow the Second Edition of the Restoration Edition of the Scriptures to be finalized. It is anticipated that a second leather-bound set of scriptures which will include both the Book of Mormon and Covenant of Christ will be printed following the vote taken on the two days of this conference. Voting either for or against any particular proposal is left to the best judgment of each individual who chooses to vote. Some people may vote for one or more proposals, and then also vote against others. Each proposal stands on its own merit.

I’ve been invited to speak on the Sunday agenda and plan to do so.