When Christ taught, many did not believe Him. In fact, He was not worthy of their notice. The people were devoted to the Sanhedrin, the Chief Priests, Rabbis, the Pharisee and Sadducee leaders. The only notice most of the religious people took of Christ was to regard Him as a troublemaker.

Christ did not make the effort to be understood by the leading religious figures. Instead, He obscured His teachings, which prevented the leaders from awakening to His message. This caused the disciples to inquire why He did not make it easier for them to recognize and accept Him as the Messiah.

NC Matt. 7:2-3: “Then the disciples came and said unto him, Why do you speak unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven, but to them it is not given; for whoever receives, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance. But whoever continues not to receive, from him shall be taken away even that he has. Therefore, I speak to them in parables because they seeing, see not, and hearing, they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah concerning them, which says, By hearing you shall hear and shall not understand, and seeing you shall see and shall not perceive; for this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their hearts, and should be converted, and I should heal them. But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. And blessed are you because these things have come unto you that you might understand them. And truly I say unto you, many righteous prophets have desired to see these days which you see, and have not seen them, and to hear that which you hear, and have not heard.”

When the Lord begins a new dispensation, anyone can recognize Christ’s “strange act,” and only a few ever do. Why doesn’t Christ make the effort to assure that everyone “sees” and “hears?” Why does Christ accept the reality that only a few will ever “understand?” If you want to be “healed,” what obligation does that impose on you?

The greatest irony of all is that “many righteous prophets have desired to see” the historic moments when the Lord’s great work takes place, but the religious people who live in those moments ignore it. They lack eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart to understand.

This never changes. The test is underway, and it is no different than the test the Lord always requires mankind to take. Few there be who pass it.

A talk I gave in Montgomery Alabama is now available for anyone interested to hear on the Christian Reformation website. The talk is linked below:

8th Address to Christians

Today is the anniversary of the deaths of Hyrum and Joseph Smith. It comes at the annual cycle when light begins to dim. A great eclipse of light happened on that day. What was left has proven inadequate to allow the restoration to be completed.

We are now 175 years past that tragedy. Between that day and today fools, knaves, pretenders, and ambitious men have rushed forward offering themselves as replacement “prophets, seers, revelators, translators, presidents and God’s spokesmen.” But reviving the restoration requires more than vanity and self-proclaiming profiteers.

Even in the most successful organizations that exploit the name and memory of Hyrum and Joseph it should be apparent that something absolutely necessary was gone when the two brothers were slain. Yet fortunes continue to accumulate and abuse of one another spreads wide and far among the pseudo-followers of Hyrum and Joseph Smith.

Joseph’s last dream of a dilapidated and neglected farm he would no longer claim has surely come to pass. Angry men with “knives” in hand certainly now fight over it.

Truer words were never spoken than when Joseph declared to the Nauvoo crowd they never knew him. The descendants of that group share in that first generation’s ignorance of that man.

Joseph was an honorable, honest and virtuous man to whom the pure in heart, wise, noble and virtuous seek constantly for counsel, authority and blessings. Only fools hold him in derision.

A Conference for youth ages 12-18 is planned for August 3-4. Information and registration is available here:

Be Ye Kind.

The Conference theme is taken from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians: “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice; and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even for Christ’s sake God hath forgiven you.” (Ephesians 1:12)

The Restoration Conference held last weekend was very good. I thought every talk was worth hearing. It was well attended, and everyone who was able to participate gained something.

The Conference proceedings are now available on YouTube at these links: Morning Session talks. Afternoon Session talks.

For anyone who missed the Conference, these links allow you to view the proceedings.

75 years ago the Allies opened a northern assault on the Third Reich on the beaches of Normandy, France. Thousands died during the early hours of the effort. Stepping over the bodies of fallen comrades, the Allied forces pressed forward against entrenched Nazi positions. Those violent 24 hours changed the course of the Second World War and the course of history. It was accomplished by ordinary men, fighting against their fears and desire to live, who committed to do their duty no matter the price.

My father was among those who landed on Omaha Beach that morning. Each June 6th my thoughts turn to him and that perilous day now 75 years behind us. I am grateful to him and all his comrades who defeated the great evil of that day. They preserved the freedom we now enjoy. The events on that date should never be forgotten.

John the Baptist went before Christ and he baptized those who believed his message. Because the Jews were already baptizing, John’s ordinance seemed unnecessary. The Pharisees took offense because they thought their form of baptism was sufficient to provide salvation. But Christ taught that any time a new dispensation of the gospel commences, the obligation to be baptized into that dispensation is required by heaven.

NC Matt. 4:10: “Then said the Pharisees unto him, Why will you not receive us with our baptism, seeing we keep the whole law? But Jesus said unto them, You keep not the law. If you had kept the law, you would have received me, for I am he that gave the law. I receive not you with your baptism because it profits you nothing, for when that which is new has come, the old is about to be put away; for no man puts a piece of new cloth on an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up takes from the garment, and the rent is made worse. Neither do men put new wine into old bottles, else the bottles break, and the wine runs out, and the bottles perish. But they put new wine into new bottles and both are preserved.”

When a new dispensation has begun, like now, baptism is required. This is the only way you can demonstrate that you “hear His voice” and are willing to heed His word. This is why rebaptism was taking place in Christ’s day. Anyone anyplace in the world can make arrangements to be baptized through the website bornofwater.org

On Saturday, June 8th at the Boise State University Student Union Building another Restoration Conference will take place. Speakers will come from various “Restoration” groups/denominations. This is the second year for this conference.

All are invited. The purpose is not to evangelize or convert attendees, but rather to understand one another and seek common ground. As part of the event participants will also worship through hymns and music, and are invited to a fellowshipping potluck dinner after the conference at a local park.

The room for the event is the Simplot Ballroom in the Student Union Building, beginning at 10 am.

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