Revised: 11/7/2024

Most Christians think they already have the Kingdom of God, or that they have already entered the Kingdom of God, or that they are already somehow a part of it. They do this because they erroneously suppose that they know what the Kingdom of God is, where it is, how it is, and how it operates; but if you ask them to explain the principles, laws, or doctrines of God’s kingdom, they can’t. Nor can they recount the blessings promised to the faithful in the scriptures which they have themselves received.

These inconsistencies and this arrogance are a huge turn-off for the rest of the world that does not buy in on all this religious hype. And who can blame them?

If a hungry man asks you for bread and you give him rocks, or if he asks for some fish and you give him a rattlesnake, then he is probably not going to ask you for anything again.[1] And who can blame him?

What we need most are men and women of mighty faith, who are of the Kingdom of God, who offer the bread of life, having truly tasted of the same, who can then demonstrate and teach others how they can obtain and partake of it for themselves. We need disciples of Christ who know, by experience, what they are talking about.

Those who are of the Kingdom of God, who have partaken of the bread of life, and drunk of the waters of life, will manifest the power and efficacy of God’s words. They will be those who literally know and love God. They will abide with God. They will know his love and peace because they are experiencing these things every day. And so, they will be found teaching others how to know and abide with God as well.

One such man was the Prophet Joseph Smith.

At a young age, the boy Joseph went to a grove of trees near his home to ask God which church he should join. To his amazement, God the Father and God the Son appeared to him in a pillar of light, and conversed with him, imparting much needed wisdom and understanding. This set Joseph on a path as a prophet of God, called to teach, minister, and help others to come to know God as he had done. Since that time his name has been known for good and evil throughout the world as many have maligned his name, while many others have praised it.

If you do not know Joseph, or if you are not favorably disposed towards him, I ask you to suspend your apprehension for a while as we explore many of the principles, laws, and doctrines which he was able to restore by the gift and power of God. If you have been taught an uncomplimentary narrative relating to Joseph, I invite you to take pause while you consider the actual fruits of the gospel he taught.

Joseph Smith was a messenger of the Kingdom of God. He came to prepare the way for the coming of God’s Kingdom to the earth. In his lifetime, Joseph did much to restore to the earth great light and knowledge pertaining to God’s Kingdom. His life reflected a pattern of service and sacrifice. He lived, he taught, he was rejected, and then he offered up his life as a sacrifice and testament to the truth he had restored and the witness he had given of God’s love, mercy, redemptive power, and truth.

But that was one hundred and eighty years ago. Since his time, very few have received and applied the lessons he taught. Very few have truly received the Kingdom of God in their lives, or entered in as he did. As in ancient days, this pattern is typical. But the time is running short. God and His kingdom are returning to earth. And either we can be prepared for His coming and hallowed by it, or the earth and its inhabitants will be utterly wasted at his coming. The choice is ours.

Today we live in the long-awaited and long-prophesied time when God’s judgement and justice shall rain down upon the nations, when all the people of the earth shall be distressed with great tribulation, and many shall perish because of the wickedness of man. But out of the ashes a new hope will arise which is the Kingdom of God on earth, also called Zion, the New Jerusalem, a City of Light and Holiness, where Jesus Christ dwells amidst His people. Those who dwell in Zion shall be the sanctified and elect of God. God will choose them because they have chosen Him and become like Him.

If we desire to survive the coming destructions and calamities, if we desire to assist in the establishment of Zion, and if we desire to dwell as saints with Jesus Christ in the Holy City of Zion, which is of His kingdom, then we must first come to know, understand, and abide by the laws governing these blessings. Simply calling yourself a Christian is not enough. Being born again is not enough. Going to church and having an LDS temple recommend is not enough. The fire is coming. We must be prepared to pass through the fire unchanged. This can only be done by becoming one with the fire beforehand. The fire is Jesus Christ.

We must truly believe in Jesus Christ, have faith in Jesus Christ, repent of all our sins, be baptized, and receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost, which begins with the Baptism of Fire, and become saints, being holy, completely obedient, and filled with Christ’s holy light. When this is fully accomplished, we are at one with the fire.

This seems like a very high bar to pass. When people talk like this they are usually passed over as religious fanatics, extremists, or the like. But what I am talking about is completely obtainable. It is completely reasonable. It is completely rational and understandable.

We cannot adequately or correctly prepare ourselves for the days ahead if we do not understand the principles, laws, doctrines, or issues in connection with the gospel of Jesus Christ. We need to learn how to have faith in Jesus Christ. We need to know exactly what things we can do and should do to become mighty in faith, become infused with the power and glory of God, and receive all the blessings of the faithful.

“For there are many yet on the earth among all sects, parties, and denominations, who are blinded by the subtle craftiness of men, whereby they lie in wait to deceive, and who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it. Therefore, that we should waste and wear out our lives in bringing to light all the hidden things of [light and] darkness, wherein we know them; and they are truly manifest from heaven. These should then be attended to with great earnestness. Let no man count them as small things; for there is much which lieth in futurity, pertaining to the saints, which depends upon these things.”[2]

We need to do everything we can to prepare for the great day of the Lord. We need to make straight the way of the Lord. We need to prepare ourselves for His glorious appearing.

This is my design. My design is to do what I can to make straight the way of the Lord, to prepare the way of the Lord, and to help others do the same.

“But behold, the Spirit hath said this much unto me, saying: Cry unto this people, saying—Repent ye, and prepare the way of the Lord, and walk in his paths, which are straight; for behold, the kingdom of heaven is at hand, and the Son of God cometh upon the face of the earth.”[3]

We all have things that need to be set in order. We all have misunderstandings that need to be corrected. And we all have great need of understanding which we have not yet learned. That is what I am about, to do my best to help provide some of these things. I am very grateful for others who have done the same for me.

I need to warn you, though, that this book is not an easy read. I have been told that it is very technical and philosophical. It is very deep and difficult. It was difficult for me to write it, and it will be difficult for you to read it and apply it. But I hope that you understand that those things which are the most valuable are also the most difficult to obtain.

This book is divided into short chapters. I approach the topics of each chapter in an abbreviated manner, with concise, Cliff’s Notes style statements, meant to be definitive statements of truth, worded as simply as can be.

Additionally, this book is meant to be an eye-opener, not a comprehensive scriptural analysis of all the topics covered, which would require thousands of pages.

Like any other book you might read, I suggest a narrative. In my eyes, the assertions I have made are expressions of truth; but for you they are still just suggestions of what might be. You need to perform your own due diligence through additional study and prayer and get the truth directly from God as he enlightens your understanding by his light and strong reasoning.

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[1] Luke 11:11

[2] Doctrine and Covenants 123:12 – 15

[3] Book of Mormon | Alma 7:9

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