During the time that Covenant of Christ was being written I was prayerful and submissive to the Lord. It was an intimidating effort and seemed audacious to even consider undertaking. My first impression was that it might be a useful commentary, but not something authoritative. I was surprised to learn by revelation from the Lord on December 22, 2023 that: ” The original Book of Mormon translation was to get that generation to be willing to accept it as scripture. They needed it to mimic the King James Version language. But this has a different purpose. This is to help a new generation to understand the content to help with the Lord’s return. There is as much Divine attention and assistance in getting this new version completed as before.” True to that revelation there was Divine attention and a great deal of Divine assistance. More importantly, it became clear that this was not like the earlier publication, but had a different purpose for a different audience, living at a different time. This was for US (this generation), today.

When it was stabilized into a final text I offered it in prayer to the Lord to receive His acceptance. Instead of accepting it, I was instructed to read the entire text again, which was done. In that final read-through there were a handful of corrections made. With that, the Lord was again asked for His acceptance. We got an answer on June 20, 2024, the Solstice when the longest daylight and shortest nighttime happens. That answer began with these words:

It is enough. I have given to you my direction both now and as the work was underway, and therefore I say to you: It is enough.
I labored alongside you in this work. My word is truth. My word is spirit. As you worked with the text I gave you my word and it is to be kept as it was given. My word carries with it the power of truth, and you are not called to alter it, but are to defend it. As you have considered comments from others you have feared man more than me. The corruption of scripture has been caused by men fearing others and failing to heed my word. You were told to update the language, and that included restating my doctrine, sacrament and baptismal prayers but you hesitated and needed to be commanded to do so. Let your work of updating the language now end with the words I have given you.

Just like the earlier revelation on the Winter Solstice, this one affirmed the Lord’s involvement, His direction, and His ownership of the results. The words that state that the Lord’s “word is truth” and His “word is spirit” is a thought I’ve not understood before they were spoken in this answer. When the Lord breathes into words His animating spirit of truth, they contain power that can save the souls of mankind.

The revelation about the effort to restate the text in modern English confirms the Lord was as concerned and assisted in this new text similarly to what He did with the original translation. I believe and accept that because I witnessed it. To the extent that there were “changes” I think the Lord was helping to make it more closely conform to the original purpose of the book. I put “changes” in quotes because I trust when the Lord authorizes clarifications for a modern reader that is not truly a change, but is instead a restatement to help us understand.

I do not think the text is smooth and a model of modern English. That was never the objective. The objective was clarifying meaning and making it accessible to us in our day. But remember, too, that there is no prohibition about retaining and using the original text, even if someone decides they’re going to accept this one as scripture.

In the beatitudes, the “God is with” and “God remembers” and “God is beside” language is something that took three days of input from the Lord before I was willing to make that rendering for the wording. I’m confident that the Lord could clarify what He intended, and I just accepted it from Him (but not without some resistance). The “blessed are” language is iconic. I would not dare change it, and in fact I did not change it. The Lord did.

There are a number of wording choices that I am convinced were intended to make the text applicable to the generation that will welcome the return of the Lord. Those are to help us. But we are under no obligation to uncritically accept it, and I am pleased with all the reactions and feedback. However, I do not claim this is mine, because it belongs to the Lord. As He put it: “I gave you my word and it is to be kept as it was given.”

Despite the Lord saying this, He has also said in that answer: “Publish it for the people to read. Then, have the voice of the people determine if they will accept it as my Covenant, as they will be judged by their voice on this matter. Once the voice of the people has been heard, if they accept it let it be your Covenant version to guide you. No one should be forbidden from using the earlier text, nor compelled to use only one of these two, but if approved by their vote it will be your Covenant text to guide you.”

We are free to accept or reject the text. The Lord respects our agency and intends for us to actively participate in His work. He treats us as equals having a choice to accept or reject even His word, even though He offers us His gift. Given the Lord’s mortal experience it is clear He tolerates rejection. Perhaps more than any of us He is acquainted with rejection and sorrow. He can sincerely ask: For what does it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him, and he receive not the gift? Behold, he rejoices not in that which is given unto him, neither rejoices in him who is the giver of the gift. I don’t think that is rhetorical, but a lamentation and a sincere reflection on how He and His word have been received in times past.

There are some variances in how some of the text is restated in the modern English version. You will notice, if you consider the entire body of scripture, that the same original passages of scripture get quoted elsewhere in the scriptures with remarkable variances in text wording. The Malachi text about the return of Elijah is in all volumes of scripture, but wording is quite different. When John the Baptist appeared and spoke to Joseph and Oliver, he is quoted differently by Joseph than by Oliver. Isaiah passages are quoted differently by Paul, and by Abinadi, and by Christ. Yet every one of these variations is scripture.

I’m not sure what to make of it other than to say that different renderings of the same material is not at all unprecedented. The hope is that each rendering is capable of bringing the reader into contact with the truth, and in turn closer to God. However well treated or mistreated the scriptures have been in generations past, I can assure you that when the Lord claims ownership of the Covenant of Christ text it can be trusted as scripture, and as the will of the Lord, the mind of the Lord, the word of the Lord, the voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation.

Those who attended the Top of the Mountains Conference are aware that a modern English version of the Book of Mormon was introduced. There were 100 free copies handed out to those who attended. The books are available through the website Covenant of Christ. (covenantofchrist.org)

Right now the text is for believers to review before an October Conference where a vote will be taken to accept or reject the book. If it is accepted by the Conference as scripture, then it will be added to the website scriptures.info and available to read online.

In a few weeks there will be a side-by-side version of the modern English version and the traditional Book of Mormon to let people read and compare both versions online. That will appear on the Covenant of Christ website when completed. (covenantofchrist.org)

The copyright for the text is held by Restoration Archives. The Restoration Archives maintains websites, advanced money to print and inventory leather-bound high quality volumes of the scriptures, and does not make a profit. They incurred the cost for all the copies of the leather-bound scriptures in the first printing, which required well over $100,000.00 to produce because they cannot be produced as print-on-demand copies. Restoration Archives will incur the cost for the second printing which is fast approaching. When leather-bound copies are sold, they are sold from an inventory that Restoration Archives has already purchased and stocked. Then they incur the work of distributing and fulfilling orders. Although volunteers do the manual work of fulfillment, there are still shipping costs and delivery costs (some are driven to locations by volunteers and dropped off). Restoration Archives incurs ongoing costs and losses. So the copyright and associated responsibilities for dealing with the work of making scriptures available goes through them, and they have my gratitude for all they accomplish.

Right now the challenge is for people to read and decide how they will vote in the upcoming October Conference. The plan is for everyone to be invited to attend and vote, and the vote will be taken live in the assembly. Although someone can vote at home without attending, the plan is for only those who assemble at the Conference to have their votes counted.

Details about date, location and times are not yet planned but are actively being worked on by the organizing conference committee. I’m not a member of that committee, and await learning details from those who are in charge. Once I have been provided information I will pass it along.

The upcoming Top of the Mountains conference in the Sawtooth Mountains of Idaho will be live streamed on the Internet after all. Conference organizers have managed to accomplish providing that service. My talk will be live at this link: Conference Talk

All of the other talks will likewise be live streamed and the Conference website has links and information about all of those at this link: Top of the Mountains Conference

There is also a Conference scheduled on July 10-12 focusing on Emma Smith. That conference information/website is linked here: Remembering Emma-Mothers in Zion That conference will be held in Grand Junction, Colorado.

There will be a conference from June 26th through July 1st. The planned event is linked here: Top of the Mountains Conference

The venue will not allow it to be streamed live. All the talks will be recorded and posted on-line shortly afterward. I have been invited to speak, and will provide a link to my talk on this website when I return from Idaho.

June 6, 1944 was D-Day, now 80 years ago. Few of those who participated are still alive. My father, who was among those who were sent to Omaha Beach, died in 1994, a few months before the 50th anniversary of D-Day. I was alone with him in the hospital the night before his death and as he approached the last day of his life he reflected on all those who died that day. He was reluctant to discuss Omaha Beach, and only gave short answers to our many questions over the years. But that night he was pondering all the years his life had continued when so many lives of those he knew ended on that June 6th. He spoke openly about the day for the first time I can recall.

I hiked today with two of my daughters, and we talked about their grandfather and D-Day. It is hard for us to even imagine the events of that day. Both my daughters mentioned the opening moments of Saving Private Ryan.

My father told me about seeing one GI whose arm had been blown off who was on the beach carrying his severed arm in his other hand. When Spielberg filmed the landing on Omaha Beach he included that detail. I was surprised by it being in the film, but later learned that before starting the film he had interviewed survivors to get details of that day. Many of the details in that opening scene were things I previously heard described by my father.

My father died 4 years before Saving Private Ryan was released and I’m not sure he could have endured seeing that day depicted so graphically on film.

I had a cheerful, witty and upbeat father. He loved life and was never at a loss to see something positive in each day. He had a bird feeder outside the kitchen window that attracted a variety of birds that he appreciated watching. In hindsight I realize as he approached dying his reflection on those who died that June day had always informed his life. He lived grateful. And I am, and think I have always been, grateful for him.

A 2024 Youth Retreat is planned and a website is now up where you can register to attend. Because of last year’s flood of late registrations, and the difficulties in getting food and other needed supplies in a last-minute scramble, this year registration in advance is necessary and must be done by June 7th.

Please go to the website linked here and register if you plan to attend: Youth Retreat 2024

At some point Lehi gave a commandment to his children that does not get mentioned until his son Jacob added his own record. Jacob wrote: “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.” RE Jacob 2:11.

Jacob mentions this inside a message about the ultimate Nephite fate. He reports the Lamanites obeyed that commandment given to Lehi, but the Nephites were disobedient, and instead recklessly practiced permissive behavior described as “whoredoms” that had “broken the hearts of your tender wives and lost the confidence of your children.” Id., @ 9.

It is because of the Nephite violation of marital fidelity and rebellion against greater light that the Nephites were to ultimately be destroyed while the Lamanites would suffer no such destruction. “Wherefore, because of this observance in keeping this commandment, the Lord God will not destroy them, but will be merciful unto them, and one day they shall become a blessed people. Behold, their husbands love their wives, and their wives love their husbands, and their husbands and their wives love their children.” Id., @ 11. This Lamanite virtue merited God’s mercy for all generations that would follow.

Now think about this contrast. The Nephites had prophets, scripture, a correct tradition, ongoing revelation, visitations by angels, and even were visited by the Lord. But they had no promise of being preserved. On the other hand, because of their obedience to the commandment about marriage, and spouses loved one another, they were promised to be preserved while the Nephites were condemned to destruction. The Nephites had “greater light” and it served only to condemn them because they rebelled against it.

That is a remarkable thing to me. And it reinforces the significance (the eternal significance) of how we behave in our marriages.

I’ve heard rumors and gotten assurances about Zion and thought I ought to share the intelligence I’ve gained from these divergent sources. We know it won’t be in Jackson County, Missouri. So that leaves so many options.

I’ve been led to understand that in the Bighorn Mountains near Sheridan, Wyoming there is a Medicine Wheel that clearly has some foretelling of Zion. So I’ve heard it’s going to be there.

But then I heard that almost on the same alignment in New Mexico there is Chaco Canyon which has tremendous good vibrations and an Indigenous people’s history that must have something to do with Nephites and a future connected with Zion.

But I have several friends who promise me that it will be on the Hopi Reservation in Arizona where one of the mesa’s was always intended for Zion.

There are already people in Mt. Pleasant, Utah waiting for construction to commence on Zion. So it is probably there, I’m told.

But, the absolutely most likely, clearly inevitable place must be in the Sawtooth Mountains of Idaho where there have been conferences in the past and one planned for next month. So Challis is the place… maybe.

However, I’m also being told that Sandpoint Idaho is far more likely as it is situated in the Northern Idaho Banana Belt of the Pacific flow.

Well, maybe the idea is far less a matter of geography and far more a matter of people of one heart and one mind who can live together in peace. Maybe if you could find those folks you could just set it up right there… If only.

As a new religious society, we have very few rules. There is no organization, and only occasional temporary committees formed to accomplish tasks, like conferences, compiling scriptures, gathering a selection of hymns, and on occasion women’s councils to deal with inappropriate conduct.

The more fractured and quarrelsome people are, the more need there is for rules and order. Less fractured and more united people need few, if any, rules.

Friends do not interrupt their friendship to impose rules on one another. Friends get along by virtue of the relationship itself.

The very few rules provided to us by the Lord suggests to me that we are expected to become the kind of people who do not need external rules in order to deal with one another in a kindly, cooperative way. After all, if there is ever to be another City of Peace then it should not be founded through a rigid structure controlled by a hierarchy. We have no record of the social order that tied the City of Enoch together. That should tell us something important about them.

And the people of Melchizedek are only briefly described as formerly sinful people who repented. Then they were taken to heaven.

When the Nephite society became unified the record covers hundreds of years in a single, very short book less than four pages long. But in those very few words about their society it is mentioned four times that there was “no contention” among them.

There is something profound implied by the near-absence of rules provided by the Lord to us. There is also something very profound revealed in the angry disapproval, religious condemnation, and ongoing debate that accompanies any effort to follow the very little guidance given to us. I’ve tried to stay out of those arguments, but have not been oblivious to them. I’m confident the Lord is also keenly aware of how we treat one another and how few of us really do: “Measure our words before giving voice to them, and consider the hearts of others.” T&C 157:53.

I’ve been asked to put this announcement up:

This year the YA online fellowship is planning a Young Single Adult retreat in Island Park Idaho on August 16-19th. Those in the 18-30 age range are invited to attend.

We are so excited for a fun and uplifting weekend of fellowship at a beautiful cabin in Island Park, ID. We are looking forward to learning more about Christ with one another, spending time in nature, meeting new friends and knitting our hearts together. Activities include visiting West Yellowstone, hiking, movie nights, game nights, bonfires, lake activities, scripture/gospel discussion, and more.

Fill out the brief survey below if you are interested in attending and want to receive updates about trip details, even if you are unsure you can come. Please submit your response by May 4th, 2024. 

https://forms.gle/opQKjKyoTijHSpE57

(Submitting the form does not mean you have to be 100% committed, we are gathering interest! We will send out an official registration form at a later date.)

There will be a fee to cover the cost of lodging, food, park fees, etc. Right now, we estimate this will be in the range of $90-100 per person. We will be sending out updates as we plan.

Organizers hope to see you there!

I want to thank those who organized the recent conference in New York. It was very well organized, the venues were outstanding, and the effort really paid off for those able to attend. Although it was originally planned for Kirtland, Ohio and had to be relocated, the historic area made more sense than even the original chosen site. This may have been the best organized conference to date.

Those who organize conferences bear the costs and burdens of the event. I appreciate their sacrifices and really was impressed by this one. It was a long way to travel, and certainly there were many people who could not attend who would have liked to have been there. But for those who were able to participate, it was well organized, well planned, and very appreciated.

My wife and I visited EB Grandin’s print shop in Palmyra, the Smith Family house, Sacred Grove, Hill Cumorah, Peter Whitmer farm, Niagara Falls and Lake Ontario while there. We even walked across the bridge into Canada and ate lunch there during the visit.

The talk by Adrian Larsen is now up on YouTube: And Then Will I Remember My Covenant Which I Have Made. The talk I gave is also up on YouTube: The Holy Order, Part 2. The discussion by my wife (and me-but mostly her) is also up on YouTube: Topics to Consider.

I was at the full eclipse of 2017 in the path of totality, where the sun was visible throughout the event. But this eclipse happened with an overcast sky, and the sun was not clearly visible. From my point of view, the total eclipse with a cloud cover was much more dramatic and sobering to experience. It came like a thief in the night, because as long as any portion of the sun was not obstructed, it remained day-time and well lit. But when totality happened night fell abruptly, and the day ended. It was as if a day, a night, and a day passed in a single session. The only light during totality was at the distant horizon where it appeared a new sunrise was underway. It was quite remarkable. Experiencing totality first with a visible sun and then later with a cloud cover were both remarkable, but I preferred seeing the second one to the first.

The paper version of The Holy Order, Part 2 has been updated. There were two typos that needed to be fixed, and I’ve added a new footnote (Footnote 26) to clarify something that apparently has been misunderstood. I thought the explanation that prohibited “vain ambition” or “gratifying pride” was clear enough, but apparently the reference to Abraham “seeking and willing” has led to a misunderstanding. Footnote 26 explains: “It should not be understood that his seeking and willingness implied any sense of aspiring or ambition. That was not in [Abraham’s] character. He did not go to Melchizedek asking for ordination, but showed only those attributes to God. God chose him. God identified him to Melchizedek.”

I’d like to leave this subject alone now. What has been said should be enough, and the scriptures can provide answers if you search them now that this paper has been provided.

We’ve returned from the conference in New York where I presented the talk on the holy order. That talk was based on the paper that is now available to download and read linked here: The Holy Order, Part 2.

This coming weekend in New York there will be a conference. It is referred to as the Remnant Eclipse Conference and the schedule is linked here: Eclipse Conference Schedule

I will speak on Sunday in a follow-up talk from seven years ago. That first talk was titled The Holy Order and this coming conference talk will be titled The Holy Order, Part 2.

The subject of The Holy Order is probably unfamiliar to many Mormons in all the various Latter-day churches. It is completely unknown to all the traditional Christian denominations, Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant. The earlier talk began unraveling the topic, and this follow-up will take the topic further. The Holy Order is certainly obscure, although it has been and remains quite important to God’s plan. It was here at the beginning and must return at the end. Joseph Smith’s comments about Adam-ondi-Ahman only make sense in the context of the return of The Holy Order. But Joseph was never able to provide a full explanation, and so these talks are intended to fill in missing parts of the picture.

Following the conference the paper (The Holy Order, Part 2) will be put up as a downloadable pdf document on this website.

I’ve been asked to put this announcement up and am pleased to do so:

Hymn Project Notice and Requests Notice

Emma Smith was commanded to put together a hymn book for the saints.

“And it shall be given thee, also, to make a selection of sacred hymns, as it shall be given thee, which is pleasing unto me, to be had in my church. For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads.”

Like many aspects of the restoration effort done in Joseph’s time, Emma’s hymns have largely been forgotten or cast aside. As in the days of Emma, songs were a means to remind the saints of God’s promises and were used to reinforce beliefs particular to or representative of the restoration of truth. Emma used original songs and also adapted familiar Christian tunes to reflect the work of the Lord in that day. We believe this is as important to us now as it was then. Though many people use songs online to worship, we believe the day will come when a written hymn book reflective of the covenant and truth restored will be of great worth.

A group of people are working on a hymn books project to fulfill this for our day. This will be comprised of at least two volumes, possibly more. The first one will have many original songs from people who have taken the covenant, that are representative of our desire to preserve the restoration, sing about correct doctrine, worship Christ, etc.. We will also include some old favorites that we feel will enhance our worship. The book will feature songs in several styles: Traditional hymns, songs to teach children, contemporary worship songs, and sacrament songs. At present most submitted songs will be put in the book, as our belief is if it touches one – it will touch others. Not all people like the same kinds of music so the variety is good. All the songs have piano and guitar notation. We hope that those who don’t have pianos can use a guitar for accompaniment.

We currently have about 75 songs and have many more coming in volume one. We anticipate we will have between 100- 150. We will add more songs or volumes while we can.

The second volume will be focused on Emma’s hymns. There are many hymns in this category so it too could be more than one volume of songs.

Requests

1. Please send any original songs you may have (which you would like to be included in this publication) to [email protected]. Your sending the song permits us to use the song in these volumes of work.
2. Requests for familiar favorites are also welcome. These must be copyright-free (or used with permission from the composer).
3. Many public domain tunes can have restoration words put to them. Feel free to write words you feel represent the restoration and put it to the music you have chosen. Again, send these to [email protected]
4. If you can help notate music on a computer, locate songs, or want to help in any way, please contact us. [email protected]
5. We would like to have a music conference when this is finished or tie into another conference, with the hope that we have time to teach many of the new songs. We are hoping someone who is organizing a conference will reach out to us if they can incorporate the presentation of the hymn book (s). We think the timing will be perfect for the fall conference.

To fully appreciate the scope of this work, we hope adequate time will be spent in worshipping through music at this conference. We anticipate that some of the songs could be sung as musical numbers that are learned by individuals/groups before the conference and many others as congregational hymns. It would be nice to have some youth learn some of the “teaching songs” included in volume one and present them at the conference. It would be fun to experiment with different styles of presentation as well. For instance, Kurt F. Kammeyer stated this about the Kirkland Temple Dedication and Emma’s Hymns.

“The placing of the choir in the four corners of the hall might seem to be a logistical nightmare nowadays; but for those accomplished shape-note singers in 1836, it was merely a variation on the usual ‘hollow box’ singing school arrangement. The four sections (treble, alto, tenor, bass) were probably seated as sections in each of the four corners, while Brother Davis led them from somewhere near the center of the hall, in the best ‘fasola’ tradition. The effect must have been quite stunning, as the congregation was in effect surrounded by the choir.

It is apparent from the dedication program that the Saints wasted no time in putting their brand-new hymnals to use. Every hymn sung at the dedication was taken from the new hymnal. They were eager to follow the counsel of Emma Smith when she stated in her preface that

‘Notwithstanding the church, as it were, is still in its infancy, yet, as the song of the righteous is a prayer unto God, it is sincerely hoped that the following collection, selected with an eye single to his glory, may answer every purpose till more are composed, or till we are blessed with a copious variety of the songs of Zion.”

6. Can you please reach out to us and let us know if you have an interest in the hymn book for home use, in a conference where songs are sung or presented, or again if you can help?
7. If tying into the fall conference won’t work, is there someone who would like to help plan a music conference?

Of course, any conference to present the music will be dependent on the interest and help we can get. Thank you. We hope this work will prove to be a blessing in the end.

There will be a hymns project website. It is currently up but still under construction. TheHymns.info