THE MANTLE OF A PROPHET PART 3

 

Dallin H. Oaks, President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

At times it seems easier to believe in the prophets who have passed on than to believe in the living oracles and follow the counsel and direction they give for our day and time yet we do have a living prophet on the earth today and this is why. Each dispensation of time presents itself with different needs relative to social, cultural, and technological advancements of existing civilisations. Times change and so do the people. New warnings are needed pertinent to evils of the day and the prophecies of the Second Coming.

“With the restoration of the priesthood in 1829, there was a restoration of prophets in this dispensation. Living prophets are leading this church today. The greatest security of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints comes from learning to listen to and obey the words and commandments that the Lord has given through living prophets.

"If we listened to the prophets of this day, poverty would be replaced with loving care for the poor and needy. Many serious and deadly health problems would be avoided through compliance with the Word of Wisdom and the laws of sexual purity. Payment of tithing would bless us and we would have sufficient for our needs. If we follow the counsel given by the prophets, we can have a life in mortality where we do not bring upon ourselves unnecessary pain and self-destruction.

“This does not mean we will not have any challenges. We will. This does not mean we will not be tested. We will, for this is part of our purpose on earth. But if we will listen to the counsel of our prophet, we will become stronger and be able to withstand the tests of mortality. We will have hope and joy. All the words of counsel from the prophets of all generations have been given so that we may be strengthened and then be able to lift and strengthen others." (Robert D. Hales, Hear The Prophet's Voice and Obey, Ensign, May 1995, p 17)

We, members of this glorious Church of Jesus Christ get somewhat complacent about all the blessings our membership offers. May we never be like this member who was reminded of this very thing:

"She couldn't stand still. The mention of a living prophet had aroused in her a great enthusiasm. As I continued the lesson, the woman was up again and again, her hands flying as she asked for clarification and elaboration. She wanted to know everything she could about David O. McKay and his calling.

'He's a prophet', I repeated. 'Like Jeremiah or Moses or Peter'. The concept was powerful and she wanted desperately to understand.

'How does a man get to be a prophet?' she asked.

"I spoke then of years of preparation, and talked to her of obedience and faithfulness and study and prayer and service - those qualities that enabled a man to fulfill such a calling.

'But the most important requirement is that he be called of God' I explained, 'because he receives revelation from the Lord and delivers it to the people. He speaks to us the words and the will of God.'

'How?'

'Pardon me?'

'How does he speak to you?' she asked. 'I mean, how does he let you know what the Lord says and what he expects? When he has a message, how does he deliver it?'

"This was a missionary's dream. In nineteen months of proselyting and teaching I had never seen anyone so excited about the restoration of the gospel and the idea of a living prophet. She seemed aflame with a need to know the present word of God.

'Every six months, the Church holds a General Conference' I said. 'People attend from all over the world, and President McKay speaks, usually three or four times, during the three days of the conference'.

"I could see in her eyes a great desire to sit and listen to the living words of a living prophet.

'But does everyone attend?' she asked. Then thinking of herself, she added, 'What about those who can't come to conference?'

“I smiled. This woman was a joy to teach. 'The Church publishes a magazine called the Improvement Era', I responded. 'A month or two after conference, the entire proceedings of the conference are published in one of the issues. Everyone who wants to can get a copy and read the talks'.

"But there was more, and speaking of the magazine had reminded me. 'That isn't all'. I was nearly as excited as she was now. 'Every month President McKay writes the editorial in the Improvement Era. Every month we get a written message from the Prophet of God'.

'That's wonderful!' she exclaimed, and I agreed. In my mind the faucets were running, the baptismal font already filling. She said she had one more question. I didn't mind. After nineteen months as a missionary, I could answer any question about living prophets that an investigator could ask. Any question, that is except this one. As she spoke, I saw the plug being pulled, the water draining from the font.

"Her eyes shining with delight and anticipation, she said: 'What did he say last month?'

"I could not answer her question. I knew that President McKay had been writing the editorials for the Improvement Era during most of the years of my life. But I had never read a single one of them."  

- Ted Gibbons

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

 

 

THE MANTLE OF A PROPHET PART 2

 

Religious persecution seems to be an old theme. Like Elijah before him, whose life was in constant danger, Elisha became equally targeted for his prophetic prowess. Syria attacked Israel several times but was always defeated. When it finally came to the attention of the king of Syria that his soldiers were losing because of the prophet Elisha, he sent a large army to destroy him (2 Kings 6:11,12).

The Syrian army located Elisha in Dotham  where they surrounded the city so that he could not escape (2 Kings 6:13). The next morning Elisha's servant panicked when he saw the vastness of the army that had come to destroy his master. Elisha, unperturbed, comforted his servant by saying: "Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them" (2 Kings 6:16). He then called upon the Lord to open the servant's eyes so that he could see the heavenly hosts that were there to protect them for "behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha" (2 Kings 6:17). The faith to see the ‘unseen’ is of next level….

Elisha then prayed that the army would be smitten with blindness and the Lord complied following which Elisha led them into Samaria and into the hands of the king of Israel instructing him not to kill them but feed them and send them back to their master (2 Kings 6:22).

Another mesmerizing story involving Elisha and the Syrians was recited by Elder Orson Hyde. So afflicted was the northern kingdom of Israel with a famine that people were selling and eating mules' heads and dove's dung. The famine became so severe that some resorted to cannibalism. We even read of an account of two women who ate one of their sons (2 Kings 6:28-29). Elisha's prophecy regarding the famine is as follows:

"Once there was a great famine in Samaria and so sore was that famine that a mule's head sold for four score pieces of silver in the market and a cab of dove's dung sold for food in the market, I cannot recollect for how much. We should consider it pretty much of a task or penalty to be compelled to use an article like that for food, but the people of Samaria were sorely distressed with famine, and which way to turn to save themselves they knew not.

“About this time, the King of Syria, with a large army, came to besiege the city and there was a mighty host of them, and they brought everything in the shape of food that was necessary for the comfort and happiness of man; and although the famine was so sore among the Samaritans, the old Prophet, Elisha..., told them that on the next day meal should be sold in the gate of their city at very low figures, lower than it had ever been known to be sold before. A certain nobleman, who heard the prophecy of Elisha expressed his doubt of its truth, and he said that if the windows of heaven were opened and meal poured down from above, it could not fall to such low figures.

“Now see what he got by doubting the words of the Prophet - said Elisha to him - 'Your eyes shall see it, but you shall not taste it'. That night the Lord sent forth the angels of his presence and they made a rustling in the trees, and sounds like horses' hoofs and chariots, as if the whole country had combined to go out to battle against the Syrians, and they did not know what to make of it, and they were frightened and fled, leaving almost everything they had brought with them in the borders of the town; and as they went, the rustling of the trees and the noise of the horses and chariots seemed to pursue them, and in order to make their burdens as light as possible, they threw away everything they had with them, and their track was strewed with everything good and desirable.

“The next morning the people of Samaria went out and brought the spoils into the market, and it was overstocked with provisions and the word of the Lord through the Prophet was fulfilled. Now you see, the Lord knew they had eaten mules' heads long enough and that they had need of something more palatable; he had had the matter under advisement, no doubt, when the crusade was inaugurated against the people of Samaria, and he, in all probability, inspired them to take abundant supplies, that they might feel all the more confident on account of their great numbers being so well provided for.

“They no doubt calculated that they had the sure thing, little thinking that God was making them pack animals to take to his people what they needed. Their Father in heaven knew that they had need of them, and he sent them, and the people of Samaria brought them into market, and behold and lo the multitude rushed together just as hungry people will, and this nobleman came out also, and he was trodden down under foot and stamped to death - he saw it but he never tasted it.

“That is the reward of those who disbelieve the Prophets of God; it was so then, and if the same thing does not occur in every instance something of a similar character is sure to take place. There was no living faith in that man, he could not believe the testimony of the Prophets, and in this he was like some of our - what shall I say, great men, whose faith is weak and sickly, and they think they know it all, and can chalk out right and left that which would be best for building up the kingdom of God." (Journal of Discourses, 17:6-7)

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Chariots of Fire by Slavujac 2013)

 

THE MIGHTY ELIJAH PART 1

 

 

There was a prolific and significant prophet of the Old Testament whose earthly mission was divided in two time periods, before the first and second advents of Christ. His life warrants a lengthy consideration. 

 

He is known as the ancient prophet who performed many mighty miracles and who had power to control the elements. Approximately 900 years before the birth of Christ, the people of the northern kingdom of Israel had almost entirely forsaken the worship of the true God under the reign of king Ahab and had become worshippers of the Phoenician god Baal.  Enter Elijah the Tishbite who was called to lead Israel back to their forsaken God. He boldly stood up to Ahab and said: “As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years but according to my word.” (1 Kings 17:1)

 

And so Elijah sat by the brook Cherith, before Jordan, and he drank of the brook and was fed by the ravens sent by the very God in whose name he proclaimed the draught that lasted three and a half years (1 Kings 17:2-6). When the brook dried up, the Lord led him to Zarephath to be sustained by a widow whose son he raised from the dead (vs 7-24).

 

Elijah's boldness of character would be difficult to replicate. He stands as an example of spiritual confidence of one who knows God on a personal level. Besides the power that he was entrusted with he loved the God of Israel and did everything he could to turn the people’s hearts to Him.

 

Elijah’s difficult life has touched my heart to the core. He sorrowed and he suffered through rejection, persecution and isolation and most of all he longed for heaven. When fleeing Jezebel who sought to take his life, Elijah went into wilderness and sat himself under a juniper tree and requested of God that he might die (1 Kings 19:4). The Lord instead sent him an angel who fed him and led him to mount Horeb.

 

Elijah fasted for forty days during this trip. When he arrived and the Lord asked him what he was doing there, he expressed the root cause of his sorrow: nothing about his personal hardships but that the children of Israel had forsaken the covenant and slain the prophets and that he was the only one left (vs 8-10). And then the assurance and comfort from the God he loved: “Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.” (v 18) In other words: Elijah, you have done some good even though you can’t see it.

 

And then the ultimate show of love and support……the Lord gave him Elisha. Another man of God, who denounced all his wealth and followed Elijah into his ministry. A man who became so great that a dead man cast into his sepulchre came to life again when his body touched the bones of Elisha (2 Kings 13:21). Is this not greatness???

 

How much You must love

Those who serve Thee to the end;

Who speak the words of truth

And proclaim Thy holy name.

These are Thy prophets,

Your everlasting friends:

The strong, the noble,

The devoted who hear and obey.

These are Thine angels who herald

Thy gospel and Thy name ;

To the ends of the earth they speak

And their words forever remain.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Elijah by Djane Daviss)

A SUFFERING SERVANT

 

"Oh God Where Art Thou" by Paul Marli - LDS ART

Chapters 52 and 53 of Isaiah contain the greatest Messianic prophecy identifying the Messiah as ‘the Suffering Servant’. This was the Saviour’s role in His mortal life. This prophecy is also dualistic in nature, meaning it speaks of two men in very similar roles.

In this prophecy Isaiah says the Saviour’s visage was “marred more than any man”. This is a reference to His crucifixion and suffering on Calvary when He atoned for the sins of the world (Isaiah 52:14).

When visiting the Nephites, the Saviour Himself made it clear that there shall be another servant in the latter days who shall accomplish ‘a great and marvelous work’. Even though there will be many who will not believe him, the Saviour said this servant shall be ‘marred’ because of them and be persecuted throughout his life until they succeed in killing him. This latter-day servant is Joseph Smith. (3 Nephi 21:9,10; Old Testament Student Manual, commentary for Isaiah 52:13-15).

I am amazed at how similar Joseph’s earthly life was to that of the Saviour’s. Like many other prophets, he was the prototype of Christ. When Joseph cried out in misery to God whilst in Liberty jail, the Lord told him that hell shall rage against him (D&C 122:1-2). This truly proved to be true.

Right from the beginning Joseph was aware that he was destined to be “a disturber and an annoyer of Satan’s kingdom” (JSH 1:20). Two years prior to his death he said that ‘envy and wrath of man have been his common lot all the days of his life and that ‘deep water was what he was wont to swim in, which had become second nature to him’ (D&C 127:2). That is a description of one hard life….

This is how he saw himself:

“I am like a huge, rough stone rolling down from a high mountain, and the only polishing I get is when some corner gets rubbed off by coming in contact with something else, striking with accelerated force against religious bigotry, priestcraft, lawyer-craft, doctor-craft, lying editors, suborned judges and jurors, and the authority of perjured executives, backed by mobs, blasphemers, licentious and corrupt men and women – all hell knocking off a corner here and a corner there” (Teachings of Prophet Joseph Smith, p 304).

Not only did Joseph have to contend with the unbelievers but he often had to struggle with opposition within the Church: “In early 1844 a group of apostates in Nauvoo, Illinois, declared the Prophet Joseph Smith to be a fallen prophet and tried to start a rival church. Some even held secret meetings, during which they plotted to kill him” (See Glen L. Leonard, Nauvoo: A Place of Peace, a People of Promise [2002], 357-62).

I am certain that Joseph felt it was all worth it when the Saviour sealed upon him his exaltation a year prior to his death:

“For I am the Lord thy God and will be with thee even unto the end of the world, and through all eternity, for verily I seal upon you your exaltation, and prepare a throne for you in the kingdom of my Father…..Behold, I have seen your sacrifices, and will forgive all your sins….”  (D&C 132:49,50)

A mission achieved, a life well endured……I wonder how many of his critics would be willing to live a life like his. 

 

You stood so resolute and willing

In the councils of heaven,

Knowing the jaws of hell

Would open at the mention of your name.

 

Still, you knelt in the sacred grove

And uttered the words of faith.

You honoured your promise

To restore the truth

And you opened the heaven’s gate.

 

- CATHRYNE ALLEN  

TO SERVE GOD

 

When Joshua stood with the strength of a prophet before the children of Israel and delivered his farewell, he recounted not his power but the Lord’s in deliverance of His people from bondage and His gifting of ‘the land for which the Israelites did not labour and the cities which they did not build’ (Joshua 24:1-14).

The children of Israel became fearless in the strength of God under Joshua’s leadership. Nations trembled at the mention of their name as they flooded Canaan and claimed the land. None could stop their conquering spirit. They earned the name Jeshurun (righteous Israel) because they chose to serve God under Joshua’s leadership to do so (see The Old Testament Student Manual Book 1 p 242). The people are only as good as the example they follow….Joshua was that leader and that example.

As they entered the promised land, the children of Israel were given three warnings, in the event that some heathen nations were allowed to remain and live alongside them: 1. Beware of social intercourse with them (Joshua 23:7; 2. Refrain from worshipping their false gods (vv 7-11); and 3. Avoid intermarriage with hem (v 12). If these rules were ignored, Israel would fall into the snare of idolatry and their covenant with Jehovah, along with His protection and prosperity would be null and void.

As a result of Joshua’s devotion to Jehovah, we have one of the most instructive and famous scriptures of all time: “Choose you this day whom ye will serve… as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15).

“The Saints today also face a world intent on their spiritual destruction. Canaan has long passed from the earth, but Satan, who incited Canaan’s wickedness and opposition to Israel, is still determined to destroy those who follow the Lamb of God (see 1 Nephi 14:12-14)…..

“Now during this critical period, and it is a critical period that we are passing through, I hope that we will keep ever burning in our hearts the spirit of this great work which we represent. If we do so, we’ll have no anxiety; we’ll have no fear; we’ll not worry about the future because the Lord has given us the assurance that if we live righteously, if we keep his commandments, if we humble ourselves before him, all will be well.” (Elder Ezra Taft Benson, In Conference Report, Oct 1950, pp 145-46)

We still have Joshuas at the head of our Israel today to inspire us to serve the one and true living God. Today, we have President Oaks. Even though times become perilous and even though there will be times of insecurity to propel us into anxiety, the prophets at the head of Israel today, like Joshua will lead us to “be strong and of good courage; to not be afraid, neither dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” (Joshua 1:9)

We, the children of Israel,

Ever follow the Shepherd

Who would not see us lost,

Who rescued our souls

Never counting the cost.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: The Good Shepherd by Del Parson)

THE PROTOTYPE

 

Elder Bruce R. McConkie taught that all prophets are types of Christ (“The Promised Messiah, p 448).  A prophet is one who has the testimony of Jesus and knows by the power of the Holy Ghost that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Who can forget the promises God made to Joseph of Egypt and his prophecies as quoted by Lehi in the Book of Mormon? (2 Nephi 3) I was amazed to read how his life and mission also typifies the life and mission of Jesus:

1.       Joseph was the favoured son of his father; so was Jesus (see Genesis 37:3; Matthew 3:17; Mormon 5:14)

2.       Joseph was rejected by his brothers, the Israelites, as was Jesus (see Genesis37:4; John 1:11; Isaiah 53:3; 1 Nephi 19:13-14)

3.       Joseph was sold by his brothers into the hands of the Gentiles, just as Jesus was (see Genesis 37:25-27; Matthew 20:19)

4.       Judah, the head of the tribe of Judah, proposed the sale of Joseph. Certain leaders of the Jews in Jesus’ day turned Jesus over to the Romans. Judas (the Greek spelling of Judah) was the one who actually sold Jesus (see Genesis 37:26; Matthew 27:3)

5.       Joseph was sold for twenty pieces of silver, the price of a slave his age. Christ was sold for thirty pieces of silver, the price of a slave of His age (see Genesis 37:28; Matthew 27:3; Exodus 21:32; Leviticus 27:5)

6.       In their attempt to destroy Joseph, his brothers actually set up the conditions that would bring about their eventual temporal salvation. By being sold, Joseph became the deliverer. Jesus, by being given into the hands of the Gentiles, was crucified and became the Deliverer for all mankind.

7.       Joseph began his mission of preparing salvation for Israel at age thirty, just as Jesus began His ministry of preparing salvation for the world at age thirty (see Genesis 41:46; Luke 3:23)

8.       When Joseph was finally raised to his exalted position in Egypt, all bowed the knee to him. All will eventually bow the knee to Jesus (see Genesis 41:43; D&C 88:104)

9.       Joseph provided bread for Israel and saved them from death, all without cost. Jesus, the Bread of Life, did the same for all men (see Genesis 42;35; John 6:48-57; 2 Nephi 9:50)

-          Old Testament Student Manual Gensis – 2 Samuel, p 97

How much You must love those

Who bear witness of Thy holy name.

Thy prophets, Thine everlasting friends,

Thine angels who herald

Thy gospel and Thy name;

To the ends of the earth they speak

And their words forever remain.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Jesus by Land of Dreams)

THE PATRIARCHS

 

Between the more prominent patriarchs like Seth, Enoch, Noah and Abraham, there are those which are less prominent but of equal importance because they carried the priesthood line throughout all the generations of time. They are: Enos, Cannan, Mahalel, Jared, Methuselah, Lamech, Shen, Arphaxad, Salah….

Moses tells us that a book of remembrance was kept from the time of Seth, “in which was recorded, in the language of Adam, for it was given unto as many as called upon God to write by the spirit of inspiration.” (Moses 6:5). I would love to know what these other patriarchs wrote in this book: their views, their sacred experiences, their faith and challenges.

This book is not even mentioned in the Old Testament. The chronology of the patriarchs receives only a mention in Genesis 5. It starts with Adam and within a matter of one chapter arrives at Noah. It basically only states how long these men had lived. Enoch is the only one that gets a longer mention and that of only 4 verses that say how long he lived, that he walked with God and that God took him (v 21-24). We know nothing from the Old Testament about him as a man, his calling, his city, his return to earth in the Millenium.

This brings me to my point….modern-day revelation, namely the Book of Mormon and the Pearl of Great Price. This is what we know further about the Book of Remembrance thanks to these books of scripture: Enoch and his people wrote in it (Moses 6:46); it was brought to America by the Jaredites which is a good indication that it survived the Flood  (Ether 8:9); it was possessed and cherished by Abraham (Abraham 1:31). 

We know that the first five books of the Old Testament were written by Moses. They are collectively called the ‘Pentateuch’. Such vital information was lost from these five books that the Lord in His mercy revealed it to Joseph Smith from June 1830 to February 1831. When I think of all the knowledge and insight I have received about Enoch alone from the Book of Moses, I want to weep with gratitude for the power of revelation and especially for the Prophet Joseph Smith.

From the beginning of time, God has called prophets to cry repentance, to direct the work of God and to lead people to Christ. They have been listened to, followed, rejected, and even stoned and killed (Matthew 23:37).

Generally, when the world looks back on the prophets of old, they do not remember them as humans with flaws and imperfections. They revere them because they were rejected, reviled and killed and because they are canonized in the scriptures……except for Joseph. It would seem that the very jaws of hell opened when he was called to be the prophet of this dispensation but what a witness he became of the burden these men carry that even leads them to death!

I look forward to the day when Joseph will be recognised as much as the prophets of old, when people will have a witness of his divine calling. I will bow in reverence before him that day and my gratitude will know no bounds for giving us a glimpse of heaven through the revelations he was given. 

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: The Translation Process by LDS Art)

 

 

A LIVING BOOK PART 1

 

The Old Testament is my favourite book of scripture. I cannot tell you how it touches the core of my heart. I believe we need to understand our  history to better understand our present and our future. Once we understand who we, as a group of people really are, we will hope for the destiny that is ours as God’s favoured people.

I have heard it said that the Old Testament is a ‘dead book’. I suppose some think it is so because it contains the fulfilled law of Moses but to me nothing that has been and gone is dead. The law of Moses is not all there is to the Old Testament and indeed the more important content of it is the everlasting covenant between Jehovah and His chosen people.  

Consider the prophets of old who are still very much a part of our dispensation:

-          Father Adam who will yet return to earth and preside at the meeting of Adam-Ondi-Ahman to deliver up his stewardship to Christ, who holds the keys of the universe, but will retain his standing as head of the human family (“Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith” p 157);

-          The righteous Father Abraham who Jehovah himself covenanted with, promising that the covenant would be fulfilled in the latter days and that in “his seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed” (1 Nephi 15:18). This is us and this is our day. We are “the seed” and these are the latter days. The covenant is not dead. It is very much alive. 

-          Ezekiel who prophesied the end of times with the battle of Armageddon that will usher in the Second Coming (Ezekiel 38) and his amazing prophecy of resurrection of the human family (chapter 37). This too is yet to be fulfilled, therefore it is not a dead doctrine.

-          Dear Elijah whose spirit keeps turning the hearts of the children to their fathers to this very day.  The beloved servant of God who came to Kirtland Temple to restore the sealing power so that ‘the whole earth would not be utterly wasted at Christ’s coming’ (D&C 2:3). Christ is yet to come and the temple work for the dead is ongoing in our day to fulfil the earth’s purpose.

-          Moses, the mighty lawgiver of Israel, who conferred the keys of the gathering on Joseph Smith on 3 April 1836 in Kirtland Temple (D&C 110:11). Would we be gathering Israel today without these keys? The keys are not dead, nor is the gathering.

These prophets are still very much alive as is the history they created. And this is how important they are to our dispensation: they validate the calling of Joseph Smith: “If the Bible is evidence for anything, read about the calling of Noah, Abraham, Moses, Isaac, Jacob, Samuel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Paul and John the Revelator. ALL were called in precisely the manner that Joseph was. All spoke with God or angels, just as Joseph did.” (Bruce C. Hafen, “The Believing Heart” p 26)

Even the greatest prophet of Israel, Isaiah, prophesied of Joseph himself down to the finest detail of the failure to authenticate the Book of Mormon by Professor Anton (Isaiah 29:11,12)

The prophets of the Old Testament will remain in my heart forever, because they were all converted and devoted to the same God we worship today, God Jehovah, God’s own Son. Their struggles, their achievements, their contribution to the Plan of Salvation and humanity will never be erased. Their memory might be like ashes blown in the winds of time but their legacy remains. 

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: I Was There by Danny Hahlbohm)

THE PRIVILEGED CHURCH

 

With General Conference behind us I have reflected on the divine structure of our Church which is like no other on the earth today and this is why. Our Church is founded on something no other Church has. It goes back to the meridian of time when Jesus acknowledged ‘the rock of revelation’ through which Peter, the first President of His Church, received a witness of Jesus’ divinity (Matthew 16:13-18).

This privilege of revelation the Church is founded on continues with every new President that is sustained by the entire congregation of the Church. Having the God ordained structure of the Church with prophets, seers and revelators, offers the Church membership security against the deceptions of the world. This is a privilege like no other.

The latter-day prophets are here to guide, warn and direct us as the need of these last days dictate but the core of our doctrine is in Doctrine and Covenants as given by revelation to the prophet of this dispensation. We cannot go past the elemental knowledge concerning the nature of the Godhead that we owe to Joseph beginning with the First Vision and added upon by so much more:

“While visiting with brother Joseph in Philadelphia, a very large church was opened for him to preach in, and about three thousand people assembled to hear him. Brother Rigdon spoke first, and dwelt on the Gospel, illustrating his doctrine by the Bible. When he was through, brother Joseph arose like a lion about to roar; and being full of the Holy Ghost, spoke in great power, bearing testimony of the visions he had seen, the ministering of angels which he had enjoyed; and how he had found the plates of the Book of Mormon, and translated them by the gift and power of God.” (Autobiography of Parley P. Pratt, p 260)

The legacy of revelation this Church is built upon is indeed a ‘marvellous work and a wonder’: “I, the Lord, knowing the calamity which should come upon the inhabitants of the earth, called upon my servant Joseph Smith Jun, and spoke unto him from heaven….to bring forth out of obscurity and out of darkness, the only TRUE and LIVING church upon the face of the whole earth….” (D&C 1:17,30)

What makes the Church the true Church? The correctness of the organisation as established by Christ himself when upon the earth. There is, however, only one thing that makes it a living Church and that is continuous revelation from heaven. This is the privilege. This is the saving grace…..because God is not dead. He lives and He cares….as much as He ever did.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Jesus Radiance of Divine Revelation by Ivan Guaderrama)

THE ONLY ONE

 

When I joined the Church, I was very grounded in it. I felt like I had come home. The doctrine of the kingdom sunk deep into my soul. I loved it all: the members, the meetings, the leaders. I revered the prophets who led me to Christ but prophets come and go and yet this truth remains….there is only one source of salvation and that is our Saviour Jesus Christ. His power and glory will endure forever. He is our focus, He is our model, He is our all…..

Through “The Lectures On Faith” we are told that we need three kinds of knowledge for salvation: 1. The knowledge that God exists; 2. The knowledge of the characteristics and attributes of God; and 3. The Knowledge that our course of life is agreeable to God (Jerry A. Wilson, “The Great Plan of Happiness, Insights from the Lectures On Faith”, p 9)

Who is our God? It is He who has created this earth and made himself the author of our salvation. It is He who works to bring about the purposes of the Father regarding His children. Whilst we are here, the Saviour, the Christ, the Rock of Heaven, the He who was crucified for the sins of the world is our God. He is the one who deserves the glory, the adulation, the love….more than anyone.

I wager that most people in the world know that God exists. Somehow it seems innate in us to believe in higher power. The privilege we, as Latter-day Saints have, through the restored gospel, is the knowledge of the character of God we worship, the Son of the Father:

 1. He was God before the world was created; 2. He is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abundant in goodness; 3. He changes not, He is the same yesterday, today and forever; 4. He is a God of truth and cannot lie; 5. He is no respecter of persons, He offers salvation to all who will believe and accept Him; 6. He is a God of love.  (ibid p 28). He is the same as God the Father and in that respect they are one God.

In our present sorrow, there is great comfort because we have such a God, He who endured the cross for the joy that was set before Him (Hebrews 12:2); the joy of uniting the human family beyond the sting of death…..we owe it all to Him: our family and friend associations throughout eternity, our everlasting life, our glorious destiny for all eternity.  Is it not a time to rejoice??? 

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Majestic Christ by Chris Brazelton)

WATCHMEN ON THE TOWER

 

“In ancient Israel walls were built around cities, and towers were erected in key places along the walls. Watchmen, or lookouts, kept watch in these towers day and night to warn the people if an enemy came. A watchman’s responsibility was great, because if he was negligent, his sloth could cost the lives of others.

“The Church today stands in a position to see the enemy and how he works, because they have living prophets who speak for God. They are therefore called by the Saviour both to warn the wicked and to protect Zion. Thus the Lord refers to His authorized servants today as watchmen upon the towers (see Isiah 62:6; Ezekiel 33:2-9; D&C Student Manual p 239-240)

One of my favourite Old Testament prophets was Ezekiel. He was called to be ‘the watchman upon the tower unto the House of Israel’ who were the exiles in Babylonia for a period of twenty-two years, from 592 to 570 B.C. I won’t expound on his life and calling today, I will leave that for next year when we study the Old Testament. What I will say is that knowing Ezekiel will reduce you to tears.

What I do want to point out is that Ezekiel was called to preach repentance to backsliding Israel who did not deserve mercy and yet Jehovah, through him, extended the promise of forgiveness and restoration of all former blessings to Israel.

In Section 101 of the Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord extends a warning of destruction that will come upon all nations in our dispensation but ‘all who are found upon the watch-tower shall be saved’ (v 12). The reference is to His beloved House of Israel.

 In verses 43 to 67, we are given the parable of the wheat and the tares relative to the latter-day redemption of Zion. The desperation shown therein to save the vineyard of twelve olive trees because the vineyard was ‘bought with money’, makes you want to weep (v 56). This money is the price that only the Saviour could pay and pay He did.

Anyone studying the scriptures has got to see the beloved House of Israel in the centre of the Saviour’s heart. Because that is where we are, we are given special privileges like the watchmen upon our tower in the role of prophets to warn us, guide us, prepare us to ‘possess eternal life, and be crowned with celestial glory, when He shall come, in the kingdom of His Father’ (v 65). It is time we give heed.

There is no end of mercy the Saviour will show to save His people Israel. We have got to know our part in this incredible undertaking. The King is coming, we must dust off our wedding garments and prepare for a wedding feast of a lifetime. We must be the most beautiful bride the world has ever seen. 

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Artist Unknown)

A CLEAR VIEW

 

My greatest point of gratitude as a member of the Church is my access to the true doctrine and in turn, the ultimate truth. I don’t know of any other Church that has the amount of scripture that we do. I am surprised though that not everyone in the Church takes advantage of this.

We have The Book of Mormon, The Bible, Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price to correlate between to get a clear view of the doctrine of Christ and in turn the mysteries of His kingdom.

I love the Bible because it speaks to my Israelite roots. Having been raised in Croatia, I relate to the pastoral way of life. I know what harvests are and what seasonal festivals are and what shepherds are. And I understand many spiritual truths that were taught by the Saviour using the metaphors that related to the agrarian way of life.

My favourite book of scripture is the Old Testament. I love history and historically and spiritually speaking, it covers amazing events and people. Most importantly, it is the root of the covenant that we as the House of Israel live by. It is the place I go to meet father Abraham for an example of righteousness and devotion to Jehovah.

The New Testament is to me the most spiritually charged book of scripture because it is about Christ and His mortal life and His supreme sacrifice.

I understand the importance of the Book of Mormon as the second witness of Jesus Christ and I understand why the members of the Church read this book the most. It is so much easier to understand than the challenging texts of the Bible. I love the way it clarifies a lot of Christ’s doctrine.

I say the Bible texts are challenging because as Joseph said, “certain errors had crept into the Bible through ignorant translators, careless transcribers, or designing and corrupt priests” (Joseph Smith Teachings, p 327). Joseph understood this so well that he invested himself into correcting, under inspiration, a lot of incorrect translations contained therein. There is a scripture, in my opinion, that is primarily the reason he saw fit to do this.

In 2 Timothy 3:16 we read: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” Joseph corrected this scripture to read: “And all scripture given by inspiration of God……” (JST 2 Timothy 3:16a). A huge difference in just one simple word such as ‘is’.  Such a subtle correction but it completely alters the meaning and proves Joseph’s theory. I revel in studying the Bible and finding new gems such as this.

And this might blow your socks off. Joseph also said that the book of Revelation is ‘one of the plainest books God ever caused to be written’ (in “History of the Church”, 5:342). There is only one explanation for this belief which comes from Bruce R. McConkie:

“…only those enlightened by the power of the Holy Ghost gain the full meaning and intent of the written word, for scripture is both given and understood by the same holy power, the power that comes from the Lord through his Spirit.” (“Mortal Messiah 2”, 267-8). This is the ultimate way of being taught.

The second is the prophets. If we truly believe that Joseph Smith was the prophet of this dispensation, we will retreat to his translation of the Bible more often for greater understanding. And Doctrine and Covenants testifies that he was…..

The Saviour would have us know and understand His doctrine of salvation. His word is not an important word, His word is the ONLY word….

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: The Master Blueprint by Mindi Oaten)

A PROPHET'S BURDEN

 

God has always spoken through prophets. They have always been on the earth to cry repentance, to direct the work of God and to lead people to Christ. They have been listened to, followed, rejected, and even stoned and killed (Matthew 23:37).

Generally, when the world looks back on the prophets of old, they do not remember them as humans with flaws and imperfections. They revere them because they were rejected, reviled and killed and  because they are canonized in the scriptures……except for Joseph.

It would seem that the jaws of hell opened when Joseph was called to be the prophet of this dispensation but what a witness he became of the burden these men carry that even leads them to death!

Dispensations have come and gone and with them the prophets at their head that we now revere: Adam, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Peter but this ‘dispensation of the fulness of times’ in which the Lord will ‘gather together in one all things in Christ’ (Eph 1:10) is still here with Joseph at its head, but not revered yet. Nevertheless, this the Lord proclaimed himself: “This generation shall have my word through you” (D&C 5:10).

It would seem that Joseph’s greatest fault, according to the world, was the non-disclosure of the golden plates. Even now, as in Joseph’s time, some people demand to see the plates for themselves as proof of the Book of Mormon authenticity. They ask if the Church still has the plates or if they are at some museum. When told that Moroni took them back, this automatically becomes proof for them that the Book of Mormon was made up by the pen of Joseph Smith.

“We have learned that people are not converted by miracles or by examining records. If the Lord had placed the plates where the scholars could examine them, they would have scoffed at them just as much as they do today…..

“The Jews witnessed the miracles of our Lord, but this did not prevent them from crying out against Him and having Him crucified”. (President Joseph Fielding Smith, Church History and Modern Revelation, 1:39-40).

President Smith went on to say that people are only converted by their hearts ‘being penetrated by the Spirit of the Lord’. Whether it is because of disbelief or lack of motivation to seek the witness of the spirit, people prefer tangible proof of spiritual matters. However, the fact remains that seeing proof of something can be forgotten but spiritual conversion lasts forever.

I have noticed when someone criticizes what I have written, I ask them to look up the scriptures I have quoted which support my point but they never do. It just seems like too much effort.

To get the conviction of the Spirit though, effort is very much needed. Even the Holy Ghost cannot bear witness if the individual does not allow Him to penetrate his heart:

“The power of the Spirit carries the message UNTO but not necessarily INTO the heart. A teacher can explain, demonstrate, persuade, and testify, and do so with great spiritual power and effectiveness.”

“Ultimately, however, the content of a message and the witness of the Holy Ghost penetrate into the heart only if a receiver allows them to enter. Learning by faith opens the pathway into the heart.”

-        Elder David A. Bednar, “Seek Learning By Faith”, Ensign Sept 2007, 61-68)

Nephi proved this to be true when he said he wasn’t mighty in writing like he was in speaking because when he spoke, the Holy Ghost was with him but the Holy Ghost could only carry his words UNTO ‘the hearts of the children of men’ but because there are many who harden their hearts’ they never receive the witness (2 Nephi 33:1).

I look forward to the day when Joseph will be revered as much as the prophets of the earlier dispensations, when people will have a witness of his divine calling.  Sometimes I feel so sorry for him that I want to shout loud enough for him to hear in the spirit world: “I believe you!!!”

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Revelation Given to Joseph Smith at the Organisation of the Church by Judith A. Mehr)