Christ warned His followers they would be cast out of the congregational buildings (synagogues). Christ expected that those who cast them out would keep possession of the buildings. For Christ’s outcast followers, they were told to then worship in their homes:

“And again I say unto you, Go into the world and do not care for the world, for the world will hate you and will persecute you and will turn you out of their synagogues. Nevertheless, you shall go forth from house to house teaching the people, and I will go before you.” NC Matt. 3:35

Christ’s prophecy describes the religious people in control of the religious buildings as merely part of “the world.” They may have brick-and-mortar structures to house their false faith, but they remain only part of “the world.”

Christ’s disciples only need houses in which to teach His truths.

How much greater good can be done when resources are not diverted to buying land and building synagogues. All those funds become available to help the poor among the believers. Christ makes it clear that He and His Father are not jealous of the tithes and offerings of His people. He wants the poor, the widows and the fatherless to have claim on the resources gathered by His followers.

Christ’s teaching goes hand-in-hand with Malachi’s warning about diverting wealth to benefit the priests, rather than gathering the tithes and offerings to bless His house (people) with “food” to meet their need:

“Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed me. But you say, Wherein have we robbed you? In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring you all the tithes into the storehouse that there may be food in my house, and prove me now herewith, says the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” OC Mal. 1:7.

If believing people gather their tithes, there will be enough for food in God’s house, or for God’s people. It should never be the case that meetinghouses divert resources away from caring for the poor, the widows, the fatherless. Nor should anyone be compensated for priestly service. Faith requires sacrifice, not compensation. If you are paid for your service, then your service cannot produce faith.

This site will be getting a new hosting service. The volume of material and number of visits has made a more robust hosting service necessary. The change will happen this coming week. As part of that, this site may be down for a day, possibly two. If that happens, just try again a day later.

Sorry for any inconvenience. But this will improve service.

I still get emails about the marriages of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. I got one suggesting the example of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob might justify multiple wife-taking. In response I wrote the following:

Abraham had one wife, Sarah, who was barren.
Sarah wanted a “surrogate” to bear a child for her.
The surrogate was not a wife, but a “concubine” for surrogacy.
The surrogate bore the child, but did not turn him over to Sarah to raise after weaned. Instead she turned the heart of the child against Sarah.
Sarah bore a child, who was unexpected and became the heir.
Eventually the surrogate’s son threatened Sarah’s son, and both the surrogate and her son were driven off.
Sarah remained the only wife throughout.

Isaac had only one wife.

Jacob contracted to wed Rachel.
The father of Rachel committed fraud to deceive Jacob, resulting in an unwelcome and unintended wife with whom he spent a wedding night that obligated him to keep her as wife.
Jacob overcame the fraud to obtain Rachel, but remained obligated to Leah.
Rachel, his beloved wife, was barren. She also provided a surrogate (concubine) to have a child for her.
Leah bore children, but then ceased to be fertile and also wanted a surrogate (concubine) to bear a child for her.

Jacob intended to have one wife, Rachel. The circumstances produced offspring that were murderously jealous of the son born to the beloved wife. These other siblings conspired to murder Joseph.

There is little lovely, of good report, or praiseworthy in these events and relationships.

D&C 132 was not the revelation Joseph received, and was altered before publication. The original does not exist. We have a purported copy from a store clerk, Joseph Kingsbury, who never acted as scribe for Joseph.

The Nauvoo High Council had the original read to them, and they reported it had nothing to do with modern practice, but was only related to explaining ancient events.

Another vote is being taken on an addition to the scriptures. Anyone wishing to participate can vote at the Scriptures Project website.

Also, the Question and Answer portion of the Grand Junction Conference is now up on the Restoration Archives and linked here: Q&A Grand Junction

I delivered a talk at a conference in Grand Junction, Colorado today. A copy of the transcript of that talk is attached here: Civilization

Also at the conference a new video was previewed to those in attendance, and the video is now available on-line. It is linked here: Mormonism: Decline and Fall.

The Community of Christ (formerly Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) held their Worldwide Conference this last week. On Wednesday I spoke at the Harry S. Truman Library to a group of them in Independence. The talk was recorded and available through this link:

Celebrating the Family of Joseph Smith

There is a growing gulf between some rank-and-file members of the Community of Christ and their central leadership. Their leaders are pursuing a more tolerant, inclusive and permissive form for their faith. They ordain women, including to their highest offices, openly accept homosexual relations, de-emphasize the Book of Mormon, and have greatly reduced their regard for Joseph Smith Jr.

The results of their changing attitude is reflected in attendance at the Old Stone Church. That building was built during Joseph Smith III’s presidency. Just a couple decades ago that church was home to two branches that met there every Sunday. Both Sunday services were attended by approximately 700 people. Today there is only one service each Sunday, and it is attended by approximately 140 people.

Religion has value to people who want to learn how to improve their lives, increase their connection to heaven, and feel the inner sanctity that comes from increasing light and truth. When religion tolerates darkness, allows foolish and destructive behavior without correction, and neglects light and truth, it loses its value and consequently any appeal. When religion is just another outlet for worldliness and wickedness, it has lost its savor and is good for nothing but to be trodden under foot. (NC 3 Ne. 5:20)

Wickedness never was and never will be happiness. (NC Alma 19:10) When religion fails to produce happiness by denouncing wickedness, it fails. People lose interest. The Community of Christ is not the only denomination seeing their attendance erode because of the drift away from light and truth.

After years of painstaking work to get the details correct, last week the scripture committee met to do a final review of the labor. As far as any of those involved could report to each other, the work had been completed and reviewed for errors, and was now ready to typeset and publish.

Bids have been gathered and samples of work have been purchased to make a decision on a printer for a leather-bound, high-quality version. This will allow a lighter, more portable copy to be carried in hand.

After the meeting I was asked to petition the Lord for approval of the completed project, which I did and April 6th obtained the Lord’s word approving the finished project. However, given the fact that more is expected to be revealed, it may not be appropriate to use the word “finished” for these scriptures. But the recovery project is coming to an end.

In the upcoming conference in Colorado the scripture committee will be giving a report on the work. They also hope to have a sample of the selected printer’s work to show to those interested in purchasing a leather copy. There are also a few matters to be voted on to determine if they should be added before printing.

The new scriptures finally publish the New Testament and Book of Mormon as a single volume, as Joseph Smith planned. They include the most correct version of the Book of Mormon, the first complete Joseph Smith Version of the Bible, and the most accurate version of the revelations and letters of Joseph Smith.

The upcoming conference in Grand Junction Colorado set for April 19-21 has a website linked here: Conference: A Hope in Christ: The Temple

A new video in the Restoration series was released today, April 6th, to commemorate the date on which it is believed Christ was born. The video is titled (and linked) here:

Campbellites and Mormons Intersect