It was 216 years ago today that Joseph Smith was born. Oddly the largest beneficiary of his birth, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has failed to make any note of his birthday.

The Lord used Joseph Smith to set in motion the events promised as signs to precede the Lord’s return. In his lifetime Joseph accomplished all the preliminary steps, and died before everything could be completed. After a pause for nearly two centuries, the Lord has set in motion the final set of promised events.

We owe a great debt to Joseph, and could not have the opportunities given to us now if not for him.

A paragraph from the Christmas story in the new scriptures, Luke 1:7, is quoted here:

And in those days, Mary went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah, and entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elizabeth. And it came to pass that when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the holy ghost, and she spoke out with a loud voice and said, Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is it that this blessing is upon me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, as soon as the voice of your salutation sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. And blessed are you who believed, for those things which were told you of the angel of the Lord shall be fulfilled.

It is the joy of the unborn child that made him stir in the womb. The unborn John would not have responded to the sound of Mary’s voice with “joy” if his mortal life had not begun before birth. She was in the end of the second trimester, in modern pregnancy vernacular. John would not be born for another three months. But his life, ability to respond to the environment outside the womb (including sound), and ability to experience “joy” are all described in this paragraph.

The United States has approved and helped to fund with taxpayer subsidies the abortions of now some 70 million unborn children. It is more state sponsored killing than Hitler inflicted. More than Stalin killed. More than Pol Pot killed. It is within the upper range of the estimated number killed by Mao Zedong. The United States is now reconsidering the outcome of Harry Blackmun’s majority opinion in Roe v. Wade. It is time to end a tragedy that should never have begun.

For five years work has been done to reach out to Christians and invite them to consider the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ which is underway. Much of that work has been put into a new book that is now available. A podcast is now up explaining the reason for the new book and is linked here: The Testimony of Jesus.

The book is in hardback only, and is now available through Amazon at this link: The Testimony of Jesus: Past, Present and Promise.

The book is intended to help Christians understand why there is a need for the Gospel of Jesus Christ to be restored. The tortured history of the Christian religion makes it impossible to think Christianity exists in a pure form in any of the organized denominations claiming to offer salvation today.

If God spoke in times past to inspire men who were moved upon by the Holy Ghost, then it makes sense that an unchangeable God would likewise speak again as we approach the return of His Son in glory. Prophecy and common sense tell us that God must do a work again upon the earth before the final judgement of the world takes place. God has sent messengers again. And His voice speaks to us, now.

Tomorrow’s interview can be watched or heard at the following links:

https://youtu.be/NTwiKfYO6GM  –  The link to the youtube video.where one can watch the video version.
https://mormonismlive.org/ – The website where the audio only version will be published the day after the live interview

The interview will begin at 6:20 pm Mountain Time. It is scheduled to go for an hour, and then I’m told there will be some questions from the audience (although I’m not clear on how that will work).

There will be a Spring Conference from March 25-27 in Kentucky. The conference now has a website up at this link: Hear and Trust the Lord in the Storm

I’ve been invited to speak and look forward to attending. Part of the conference will focus on Christians in that area, and part will focus on those who already believe in the restoration.

A friend of mine does a podcast as “Radio Free Mormon” or RFM. He also does a Wednesday evening show/interview on YouTube with the title “Mormonism Live.” That YouTube show is hosted by both him and Bill Reel. RFM has often asked me to come on the show and I’ve repeatedly refused…until 10 days ago. I agreed to put an announcement up on my website beforehand.

The interview will be on the Wednesday evening prior to Thanksgiving. It will be on the Mormonism Live YouTube channel, and will begin at 6:20. I will put a link up beforehand for anyone interested in listening or watching it.

We’ve agreed that we won’t talk about polygamy. RFM thinks it is too big a subject to cover in an hour-long interview. And I think it is too boring a subject to re-plough again.

We also exchanged views about discussing the subject of ‘seeing Christ.’ I explained that profound religious experiences are sometimes important to discuss. But when Joseph Smith retold an event and either added a detail, or omitted a point, the differences in retelling became the basis for a great deal of criticism, even skepticism for others.

When I have had an encounter beyond the veil, I have recorded it in my journal. The account was contemporaneous, and reduced to a finite account that could not grow like a fish story with the retelling. Also, it was a reliable record for me to use when (and if) the experience was made public.

I have taken excerpts from my journal and made them public. The committee who assembled the new scriptures thought some of those had enough merit to justify including the accounts in the new scriptures. They proposed adding several accounts to the new scriptures and a conference approved doing so. The accounts in the new scriptures can be read at these places in the new volume titled “Teachings and Commandments”:
T&C 160: https://scriptures.info/scriptures/tc/section/160
T&C 161: https://scriptures.info/scriptures/tc/section/161
There are also other materials, visions or revelations in the T&C that are mine, but I think these are the two that would be directly responsive to questions about seeing Christ.

It has been my experience that a certain kind of superficial personality gravitates to claims of the fantastical and supernal. They are, for lack of a better term, sign-seekers. They are drawn to those who tell otherworldly experiences, and are quite fickle in their beliefs. They are easily led, and therefore easily led astray. These superficial folks often display a great deal of enthusiasm, and draw unwanted attention by their attendance at gatherings. I’m not altogether sure about the mental stability of the sign-seekers, but I do know that when great religious claims are made some of the very first attracted to the claimants include these sign-seekers.

I’ve had enough of them to last a lifetime. I don’t want to attract yet more from the Mormonism Live audience. So while I am willing to reference these two sources that people can read and reflect on in their privacy, I will be leaving it at that.

When teaching about something profound, I try to always use scripture as the primary content, and to not resort to adding something from personal experience unless absolutely required to do so. The things of God are of deep import, and careful, ponderous, solemn thought is required. After all angels only show themselves “unto them of strong faith and a firm mind in every form of godliness.” (Moroni 7:30)

I have also noted a number of religious pretenders who are not concerned with elevating others by what they teach. They are instead interested in attracting followers by the claims they make, like Carnival barkers inviting people to throw baseballs, rings or darts. Instead of stuffed animals and cheap pocket knives, they offer salvation. For a fee. Always for a fee.

I try to leave people better off, more well informed, more deeply connected with God and interested in studying scripture and searching for truth themselves. I want other people to connect with God. It troubles me when people want to instead form an attachment to me, as if following me were enough of a religious experience for them.

Also, giving new details about things beyond the veil supplies the pretenders and charlatans with new things to imitate or claim. There are others who scour what I have taught and then mimic, without attribution, to try to gather a following or bolster their spiritual pretensions. It is inevitable, I suppose. But I try to dial it down, and focus on things that will help other people connect to God for themselves. That is what improves lives, improves marriages and improves families. And I take nothing as compensation, always losing money for the cause.

People who are capable of solemn reflection take a much longer time to consider a matter before deciding. I have met some very impressive people who believe as I do. These include some of the best of the LDS who have left that organization in search of something more. These people were among the best and brightest in the LDS organization, when they worshiped there. Associating with them elevates me, and others, who share their company. These people have been rebaptized and joined in the chorus of those who believe God is up to something now. They have not only added, but have taken the initiative to accomplish a great number of things. Books have been written, conferences have been organized, video presentations have been prepared, and profound teaching has taken place.

There is so much left to be done that there is no reason to stop and ask for praise or to be noticed for what has been accomplished at this point. Right now there are glaring things missing from the restoration: Where is Zion? What is the “fullness of the priesthood” God mentioned to Joseph in January 1841 and how/when will it return? And many other incomplete teachings, ordinances and events that belong to the last dispensation. I’m working on it. I’m a long way short of accomplishing much as yet.

Not sure if the interview will be worth watching. But if anyone is interested, I will put up a link beforehand.

Joseph Smith remarked to a crowd in Nauvoo that, “You don’t know me; you never knew my heart. No man knows my history. I cannot tell it: I shall never undertake it. I don’t blame any one for not believing my history. If I had not experienced what I have, I would not have believed it myself. I never did harm any man since I was born in the world. My voice is always for peace.” He said this in April 1844, two months before he was killed.

Those there DIDN’T know him. Nor do I think the Latter-day Saints today know him either. There are more lies, misrepresentations and false accusations made about him today than the many falsehoods spread about him while he lived.

Joseph presented a unique opportunity for believers to accomplish something great. But to accomplish those great things necessarily required people who would give heed to the message. In January 1841 the Lord spoke through Joseph to give a final opportunity to realize the great culmination of the restoration. But that would be dependent upon whether “my people will hearken unto my voice and unto the voice of my servants whom I have appointed to lead my people[.]” T&C 141:13

The Lord’s voice spoke through Joseph (who delivered this revelation). And that revelation appointed Hyrum Smith to be the first, to stand at the head and hold the sealing power or Holy Spirit of Promise: “First, I give unto you Hyrum Smith to be a patriarch unto you, to hold the sealing blessings of my church, even the Holy Spirit of Promise whereby you are sealed up unto the day of redemption, that you may not fall, notwithstanding the hour of temptation that may come upon you.” T&C 141:41

Second, Joseph Smith was to stand as the presiding elder over the church: “I give unto you my servant Joseph to be a presiding elder over all my church, to be a translator, a revelator, a seer, and prophet.” T&C 141:42

These January 1841 appointments of Hyrum and Joseph were made to identify for the Nauvoo people the “servants whom [the Lord] appointed to lead [His] people.” But 27 months later in a conference held in April 1843, Hyrum was required to condemn the stealing and counterfeit money printing going on in Nauvoo. “(They say) They have a right to steal from any man who is not a member of the Church if they consecrate 2/3 of it. They are also making Bogus money.” JSP, Documents Vol. 12, p. 161. Joseph followed Hyrum’s talk and added his own condemnation. Joseph said, speaking for the Presidency, that “such things have never been tolerated, I despise a thief above ground. because I would know that he would be a detriment to my cause and would steal my horse when I wanted to run away. It has been said that some was afraid to disclose what they know of these secret combinations[.]” Id., p. 162.

Of what use was it to the people of that day to have a living Patriarch embodying the Holy Spirit of Promise, if they were thieves? The only message a prophet could deliver to such a group was to denounce their dishonesty. Why speak of heavenly things to people who were unable to live honorably and honestly with one another?

The greatest opportunity offered mankind in two millennia was squandered by people the Lord has called “fools.” They continue to squander what the Lord offered through Hyrum and Joseph. They pretend to be equals, when they are nothing of the sort. The Lord explained to Joseph that, “The ends of the earth shall inquire after your name, and fools shall have you in derision, and hell shall rage against you, while the pure in heart, and the wise, and the noble, and the virtuous shall seek counsel, and authority, and blessings constantly from under your hand. And your people shall never be turned against you by the testimony of traitors, and although their influence shall cast you into trouble, and into bars and walls, you shall be had in honor. And but for a small moment, and your voice shall be more terrible in the midst of your enemies than the fierce lion, because of your righteousness, and your God shall stand by you for ever and ever.”

It is still that way. Reading the Joseph Smith Papers publication by the LDS Church Historian’s Office reminds me over and over of how they hold him in derision still. Joseph continually reminds people to be virtuous, honest, moral and upright. He denounces immorality, dishonesty, and hypocrisy. “it is against my principles to act the part of a hypocrite, or to dissemble in any wise whatever, with any man.” JSP Documents Vol. 12, p. 114. But the LDS Church Historian’s Office continually accuses Joseph of hypocrisy, lying, deceiving, and acting the two-faced deceiver. That is their official narrative.

I could not admire, much less follow, an adulterous man as the LDS Church claims to do. At Joseph’s request, Hyrum wrote a letter to the entire church condemning what would later be proclaimed as a principle of salvation for Latter-day Saints: “Behold, this is a wicked generation, full of lyings, and deceit, and craftiness, and the children of the wicked are wiser than the children of light, i.e., they are more crafty, and it seems that it has been the case in all ages of the world. And the man, when he leaves his wife and travels to a foreign nation, while on his way, darkness overpowers his mind, and Satan deceives him and flatters him with the graces of the harlot, and before he is aware, he is disgraced for ever. And greater is the danger for the woman that leaves her husband. And there are several instances where women have left their husbands and come to this place, and in a few weeks or months they have found themselves new husbands and they are living in adultery, and we are obliged to cut them off from the church. There are men also that are guilty of the same crime, as we are credibly informed, we are knowing to their having taken wives here, and are credibly informed that they have wives in England.” T&C 149:4

One of those adulterous men mentioned in this letter was apparently Brigham Young. But once Brigham Young gained control over the church, he secured a chorus of voices to falsely accuse Joseph and make both him and Hyrum hypocrites and deceivers.

If no one else will proclaim it then I will: Joseph and Hyrum were virtuous men. And unless you are virtuous also you will be condemned by God for your wickedness. “For I, the Lord, cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance; nevertheless, he that repents and does the commandments of the Lord shall be forgiven, and he that repents not, from him shall be taken even the light which he has received. For my spirit shall not always strive with man, says the Lord of Hosts.” T&C 54:5

The reason gross darkness now flows continually from the LDS Church, Fundamentalist mormons, and the many pretenders claiming to be strong and mighty is because they only seek their own vain ambitions. They undertake to cover their sins rather than to confess them. They gratify their pride, and vain ambition, by claiming they are great in God’s eyes, when they are nothing of the sort. They want to exercise control, or dominion, or compulsion, upon the souls of the children of men to further their unrighteous purposes. And therefore we can behold from their words and deeds that the Heavens have withdrawn themselves, the spirit of the Lord is grieved with them, and their pretensions to priesthood or authority have evaporated. They offer conceit and flattery, not light.

Joseph offered humility, light and truth. Hyrum was a moral man of unquestioned integrity. The LDS Church Historian’s office shamefully throws mud at both these men to uphold the wickedness of those who got control after their murders.

I know of no way to make this matter clearer than to express my contempt of those who hold Joseph and Hyrum in derision. None of their wealth or status will excuse them before God for these terrible falsehoods and false accusations. Clearly, like their ancestors, they don’t know Joseph. They never knew him.

I have been meeting with a group working on preparedness for over a year. Their work has accomplished enough that a website has been launched. Their website is standindependent.com Below is an announcement from that committee with links to the new website. A Fall conference is being organized for next year in which more will be addressed about the need to prepare to help one another achieve independence from the larger failing society. What appears below was written by the committee, and their names appear at the end:

A work for Zion has begun.

Several months ago, a handful of families in the movement felt inspired to begin an effort to lay up stores against a coming time of want and need. A work group from among interested parties was formed and work was begun to consider questions related to the issue of providing for our families through coming circumstances we may face as the Lord brings His Zion.  A growing number of families have begun the necessary labor to provide for our families against a fast approaching “troubling season,” (T&C 158:12), and what may follow as the Lord moves forward His work to bring His Zion. 

We invite every person and family in this movement to join in the labor for Zion now by laying up stores to provide for your family against coming seasons of want and need. 

“God cannot produce Zion for, or with, people who refuse to labor. Because  His promise is for the results of the labor and nothing else. As far as I know, none of us, and certainly I, cannot provide for everyone. But, I can provide for my own family. And each of you should labor to do the same” (Equality – Denver Snuffer – Challis Idaho Transcript pg. 13 of 20).

We are to Labor to Provide for our Families.  

We are required to provide for our families now in the present. Looking forward, we will need to provide for our families in a “troubling season now fast approaching” (T&C 158:12) and beyond.

Note: Four years have elapsed since the Lord gave us this instruction (T&C 158:12). You might ask yourselves, what have we done in four years to prepare for a troubling season? 

We will need to provide for our families during an undefined length of time following a gathering by the Lord in which our entire efforts and labors may be required to be devoted to subduing and working the earth until she yields sufficient for our needs (For guidance see Equality – Denver Snuffer – Challis Idaho transcript page 10 of 20).

God, in His mercy, is giving us this current season of relative peace, abundance, and prosperity.  He is making it possible for us to provide for our families now, and during a fast approaching ‘troubling season’ and beyond as the Lord brings forth His Zion (For guidance see Equality – Denver Snuffer – Challis Idaho Transcript pages 9-10 of 20).

Many are anxiously engaged preparing to provide for our families’ and fellowships’ coming needs. We invite you to join the work for Zion by beginning your own labor to provide for your family against a coming day of want now fast approaching (T&C 158:12).

What is the Suggested Plan?

Above all things we desire to receive and exactly follow the will and desires of the Lord for us. This must be His work, done at His direction. We desire above all things that He be our guide. 

Individuals and Families 

1. Determine your families’ needs.

2. Determine what you already have.

3. Prioritize your families’ needs.

4. Lay out a plan to acquire your families’ needs.

5. Begin to produce, acquire, and lay up stores.

Fellowships

1. Counsel together with fellowship members to inspire, encourage, and help them identify family needs and begin to lay up stores.

2. Work together as mutually agreed among fellowship to meet the needs of fellowship members.

3. Review carefully, and prayerfully follow all revealed words of the Lord concerning wise and required use and application of limited temporal resources. (For Guidance see Equality – Denver Snuffer – Challis Idaho Transcript pg. 13-15)

Storehouse Work Group

1. Provide knowledge and resources to assist families and fellowships to identify and meet storage needs.
2. Gather knowledge and resources to build and maintain a central web site that individuals, families, and fellowships may use to help meet their storage needs.
3. Recommend contact between individuals, families, and fellowships with specific resources and storage skills and those searching for those specific resources or skills.
4. Create, manage, and update, a central information exchange hub for “great deals” and storage opportunities (Website “Specials” page).
5. Provide a “Wants / Available” listing page on the web site for items individuals or families may be seeking, or willing to sell or give away.

If you would like to know more, please visit the website Stand independent.com for resources we have gathered to assist your family and fellowship in your efforts to prepare.

The website  Stand independent.com is a work in progress that will be evolving and changing as we go along. We invite you to share your expertise, ideas, and experiences related to storage topics that may assist all others in their storage efforts.  Your stories, ideas, suggestions and other content will be appreciated.

Please contact us at [email protected] with ideas, experiences, stories, and other suggestions for content to be added to the website. The storehouse work group will determine together by common consent vote all content to be added to the website Stand independent.com  

The storehouse work group: Nephi and Kim Barlow, Evan and Karen Bennett, Terry and Mellody Fausett, Jim and Angela O’Rullian, McKay Platt, Jon and Tina Saunders, Kimberly and Mike Thompson, Steve and Linda VanLeer, Shalyce Woodard

The funeral for John Pratt will be held at the Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park and Mortuary, located at 3401 S. Highland Drive, Millcreek, UT 84106, on Sunday October 17, with the viewing at 12:30 and funeral beginning at 2 pm.

An obituary will be posted at the Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park and Mortuary website soon, and will contain a link to allow those interested to participate over the Internet. The Website is linked here: Wasatch Lawn

Our good friend John Pratt passed away and so we have lost another inquisitive and active mind. His work on calendars and tracking the various ways of determining scriptural events has been interesting and edifying.

I last spoke with John in Challis, and exchanged emails with him recently. He seemed so indestructible that I thought he would be with us for yet a long time. I will miss his ever-cheerful presence.

We nearly lost him a few years ago, but he returned to vigor after a serious infection. His recovery then was the result of faith, prayers and blessings. But we don’t get to keep anyone forever in this phase.

He will certainly be missed.

The final video, part 7, of the third series is now up and available to view at this link: Part 7: The Heavens are Open Again.

This is actually the 7th of the third series, or the 21st video. It is intended to let people know where we are presently in the Restoration. Although it is likely many people will be unaware of these videos, it is only necessary that the words be spoken to complete the Lord’s obligations to the world. How, or even whether, the world responds is not as important as the Lord having the message delivered and available.

I could not have completed these without the assistance of others. I want to thank all those involved, even though they remain nameless. I do appreciate very much the efforts, labors and sacrifices of others. They are certainly known to the Lord.

We lost Bret Corbridge after his difficult struggle with pneumonia. He was a gentle soul, a man of strong convictions, a ready volunteer and an energetic and productive laborer in the cause of truth. He just finished a multi-volume draft of a collection summarizing teachings over nearly a decade. One of his last acts was to pass the draft along to me for review.

He leaves behind a devoted wife and children who will need our support and sympathy. I was able to speak with him several times before they put him on a ventilator and he was ready and willing to leave this earth. I encouraged him to stay, but certainly understand the sentiment he had about passing. The one thing holding him here was his devotion to his family and concern for them. In the end, his prognosis for being disabled and needing continuing care tipped the scale. He did not want to become a burden for anyone else, and in particular a burden for his family. He apparently concluded that it was his duty in caring for his family, to not become their burden. His passing was peaceful, but nevertheless heart-wrenching for those who loved the man.

Over the years I have had many visits from Bret. He was always a bundle of energy, and eager to do whatever was asked of him. He was passionate about serving the Lord, and we shall hardly find another of like temperament and commitment. Christ has welcomed a true friend and we have lost a faithful compatriot.

His passing should remind us all that we are frail, and will only be here for a short time. Even if we live a long life, we are here but for a moment. There is every reason to live nobly, choosing to obey the Lord and cherish His gospel, so we may depart this world with a life that testifies (as Bret’s life has) of our faith in the Lord.

A “GoFundMe” account has been set up. Here is a link: Bret Corbridge Funeral/Family Fund

There are only a few remaining sets of the first printing of the Restoration Edition of scriptures in leather-bound, 100% cotton pages. I was at Benchmark Books in Salt Lake City today, and I noticed that they have about a half-dozen sets available for sale. If anyone is interested in obtaining a set from them, their address is: Benchmark Books, 3269 South Main Street–Suite 250, SLC UT 84115. Phone number (801) 486-3111

Last Sunday I gave a talk in Challis, Idaho. A link to that talk is provided below:

Equality Talk at Challis

My talk is just under an hour-and-a-half, and following my remarks two young people, an older brother and younger sister, also make a few remarks. They are from Turkmenistan and give an interesting account of their life’s journey.