[This is Part II of my book: The Book of Mormon: A Witness and a Warning. YouTube videos containing the audio of my reading this are being released as I have time and energy to record them and post them on YouTube.]

In Part I, we reviewed over thirty scriptures that establish the Book of Mormon as the law and covenant established by the Father, that we are to receive and incorporate in our lives in order to become the people of God, the church of God, and inheritors of eternal life. In this sense, the Book of Mormon is the everlasting covenant established by the Father for our benefit and exaltation.

Jesus Christ: “And even so I have sent mine everlasting covenant (as contained in the Book of Mormon) into the world, to be a light to the world, and to be a standard for my people, and for the Gentiles to seek to it, and to be a messenger before my face to prepare the way before me.”[1]

“Thou shalt take the things which thou hast received, which have been given unto thee in my scriptures for a law, to be my law to govern my church; and he that doeth according to these things shall be saved, and he that doeth them not shall be damned if he so continue.”[2]

“For verily I say unto you, my law shall be kept on this land.  Let no man think he is ruler; but let God rule him that judgeth, according to the counsel of his own will, or, in other words, him that counseleth or sitteth upon the judgment seat.”[3] 

“I, the Lord God, make you free, therefore ye are free indeed; and the law also maketh you free.  Nevertheless, when the wicked rule the people mourn.”[4] 

The Book of Mormon contains the laws and covenants we are to follow.  We are not to deviate from these laws and covenants.  The Lord is only bound by what He has said.  The Lord sealed a covenant upon us, through the Prophet Joseph Smith, through the medium of the Book of Mormon and the revelations Joseph received.  When we deviate from the Lord’s instructions, as contained in the holy scriptures, He is not bound to any promise therein.

Jesus Christ: “I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise.”[5]

The Book of Mormon is both a witness and a warning.  It witnesses of Jesus Christ and of His covenants with the ancient patriarchs which are now binding upon the whole world.  It also gives countless solemn warnings as to the consequences of rejecting the Lord’s commandments, both anciently and in modern times.

Jesus Christ: “And the voice of warning shall be unto all people, by the mouths of my disciples, whom I have chosen in these last days. And they shall go forth and none shall stay them, for I the Lord have commanded them. Behold, this is mine authority, and the authority of my servants…”[6]  “And let your preaching be the warning voice, every man to his neighbor, in mildness and in meekness.  Go ye out from among the wicked.  Save yourselves.  Be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord.  Even so.  Amen.”[7] 

More than any other group, the Gentiles (that’s us) receive countless warnings throughout the Book of Mormon as to our impending doom if we reject the Lord’s counsels.  I have taken these warnings to heart.  I believe them with all my heart.  Now I likewise raise the warning voice to you, my brothers and sisters whom I love, that you likewise may be blessed.

Jesus Christ: “For this is a day of warning, and not a day of many words.  For I, the Lord, am not to be mocked in the last days.”[8]  “Behold, I send you out to testify and warn the people, and it becometh every man who hath been warned to warn his neighbor.”[9]

I will now detail several of the laws, commandments, directives, and warnings within the Book of Mormon directed to us, the Gentiles, in the latter days.  I will point out that we, as church members and leaders, are in clear violation of each of these directives. 

It is absolutely vital and imperative that we recognize these things and repent accordingly.  The Lord is only going to give us limited opportunity to do so.  Ultimately, He must move His work forward and establish Zion with only those who will do things His way—because His way really is the only way that works—so we need to speedily repent and start doing things His way or else be passed over by the angels who are being sent to gather the faithful in these last times.  Of course, only a remnant will be faithful and choose to do this; the rest will not be able to abide the day of His power because they will not be properly or adequately prepared because they reject the Lord’s words in the day of grace.

Now is the day of repentance. Now is the time to see and recognize what is happening among us. Now is our opportunity to read the Book of Mormon, understand what it says, and correct our lives accordingly. With that in mind, it needs to be recognized that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is (or was) the holy church of God referred to in the Book of Mormon in Mormon chapter 8, but it has been polluted just as Moroni predicted it would be.[10]  There will not be another church established by the Lord until this one utterly fails. That failure is eminent and inevitable, however, individuals within the church who are honest and humble have a short span of time remaining to repent by cleaving unto the New Covenant, even the Book of Mormon.

My intent is to simply show some of the ways we have gone astray in contrast with what the Book of Mormon clearly states what we should be doing and not doing.  It is not my intent to accuse, offend, speak evil of the brethren, or to desecrate any sacred cows; my intent is to speak truth and allow the truth to be known, that by truth we may be free to progress unshackled by lies, half-truths, or misconceptions. That said, it is inevitable that much of what I say will be very hard to hear, it will offend, and the vast majority will reject it, but no matter.

As the Prophet Joseph Smith Jr. has said: “The Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.”[11]

As we proceed, please read the highlighted footnoted verses at the bottom of the page.

ITEM 1 – Church  leaders should NOT set themselves up as a light unto the world.[12]

Elder M. Russell Ballard’s general conference talk, “Stay in the Boat and Hold On!” is a harrowing example of church leaders setting themselves up as a light unto the world. [13]  Says he:

Elder Ballard: “Keep the eyes of the mission on the leaders of the Church. … We will not and … cannot lead [you] astray. And as you teach your missionaries to focus their eyes on us, teach them to never follow those who think they know more about how to administer the affairs of the Church than … Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ do through the priesthood leaders who have the keys to preside.  I have discovered in my ministry that those who have become lost [and] confused are typically those who have most often … forgotten that when the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve speak with a united voice, it is the voice of the Lord for that time. The Lord reminds us, ‘Whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.’”[14]

Contrast Elder Ballard’s remarks with that of Nephi’s.

Nephi: “And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.”[15]

Elder Ballard points us to himself and to the other “priesthood leaders who have the keys to preside.”  Elder Ballard sets himself up as a fail-safe light unto the world, citing keys and quoting scripture entirely out of context.  Nephi, on the other hand, continuously points others directly to Christ.  Nephi does NOT place himself, or any other man, between us and the Lord.

Even the Apostle Peter unequivocally declared: “We ought to obey God rather than men.”[16]

The Lord has commanded that we do as the Holy Spirit directs![17]—that we may not be seduced by the doctrine of devils or the commandments of men:

“But ye are commanded in all things to ask of God, who giveth liberally; and that which the Spirit testifies unto you even so I would that ye should do in all holiness of heart, walking uprightly before me, considering the end of your salvation, doing all things with prayer and thanksgiving, that ye may not be seduced by evil spirits, or doctrines of devils, or the commandments of men; for some are of men, and others of devils.  Wherefore, beware lest ye are deceived; and that ye may not be deceived seek ye earnestly the best gifts, always remembering for what they are given.”[18]

And he further cautioned us saying, “This people draw nigh unto me with their mouths, and honor me with their lips; but their hearts are far from me.  In vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrine the commandments of men.”[19]

Also Paul cautioned us: “Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; not giving heed to Jewish fables, and the commandments of men, turning from the truth.  Unto the pure all things are pure; but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.  They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.”[20]

Paul also cautioned: “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the traditions of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”[21]

 And speaking of the traditions of men, the Lord also said: “For laying aside the commandments of God, ye hold onto the traditions of men…  Ye reject the commandments of God, that ye may keep your own traditions.”[22]

Whether it is the commandments of men or the traditions of men, these should never take priority over the commandments of God and the Doctrine of Christ as detailed in the established scriptures.  In terms of that which we should do, the Lord has made it perfectly clear that we are to be obedient to Him, by following His Spirit.  Said he: “that which the Spirit testifies unto you even so I would that ye should do in all holiness of heart…”

There is a world of a difference between the original commandment to always be obedient to the Lord by following His Spirit, versus the new age LDS doctrine of obedience to the Lord by following the prophet.

None of the Book of Mormon prophets ever-ever-ever tell the people to follow them.  None of them ever say, “Follow the prophet.”  Rather, all of them essentially say, “Follow Christ.”  There is a big difference.  The Book of Mormon prophets never talk about keys they have been given in order to preside or rule over others.  The church was never meant to be some sort of safety-net or ship that could never sink or go astray.  All churches and all church leaders in all dispensations have been vulnerable to all the possibilities of agency, to include disobedience to God and apostasy from God’s laws.  Throughout history, prophets and apostles have been known to apostatize and lead people astray; today is no different.

This life would not be much of a test, and faith in Christ would not really be faith, if all we had to do was follow some fail-safe institution or cadre of church leaders. This was never the plan.  It was never the plan that we simply join “the true church” by baptism and then just believe and do as we are told.  Rather, the plan from the beginning was that the Father would provide a Savior whereby we might be redeemed and regain the presence of the Lord.  Our work, accordingly, is to connect with the Savior.  Any and all churches are merely incidental.  Churches are ideally designed only to help facilitate faith in the Lord.  If they do not exclusively point to the Lord then they render themselves impotent for righteousness, in that they do not advocate a true connection with the Lord.  Without being connected to the Lord, we wither as a severed vine cast upon the ground, scorched with heat.[23]

Nowhere in the scriptures does it say “that when the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve speak with a united voice, it is the voice of the Lord for that time.”  This is a complete fabrication of doctrine.  It is fiction.  Revelation does not come through a sort of corporate Board of Directors which somehow is able to unanimously receive the voice of the Lord by discussing it and voting on it.  That is the methodology which the Catholic Church has used for centuries which is described in the book, “The Great Apostasy,” by James E. Talmage.  That is the world’s way, not the Lord’s way.  The Lord’s way is to reveal His will through revelation, visions, or angelic visitations; in the absence of which, we are to proceed strictly in harmony with the laws and directions previously given; not to go freelancing or changing things simply because one fancies ownership of some sort of key, authority, or right to preside.

Jesus Christ: “What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.”[24]

The Lord NEVER says that whatever His servants say is His word or voice; rather, the Lord simply says that His words may be fulfilled by the voice of His servants as if it were His own voice.  Elder Ballard clearly wrests the scriptures to the condemnation and damnations of himself and his constituents, and to those who continue to sustain him, by setting himself up as a priesthood authority to be revered, followed, and obeyed.

When Elder Ballard says, “We will not and cannot lead you astray,”he is placing himself and the other church leaders above the very God of Israel by claiming that whatever they do in leading the church must be right, inferring that even if they do other than what God has directed within the scriptures that they are still right, as they have indeed done on countless occasions.  This is absolutely monstrous doctrine!  No priest, prophet, or king in Israel ever claimed such authority or infallibility—at least, not until today.

By claiming that our leaders will not and cannot lead us astray, they are setting themselves up as being above the law, above the scriptures, and above all possibility of reproach because they constantly contradict the commandments in the scriptures and insist that we do likewise.  This is evidenced today by the popular mantra of “follow the prophet.  He knows the way.  He will never lead us astray.”  Hence, today, the words and directions from our current church leaders automatically trump whatever is written in the published Standard Works; because, it is taught that the words of living prophets supersede that of dead prophets. 

So today we no longer follow the directions and warnings given in scripture, instead, we merely follow the latest policies laid out within the Church Handbook of Instructions; while those who vocally oppose this are systematically excommunicated.  In such cases, there is never a discussion of the doctrine; that is irrelevant; it is always a matter of “do you or do you not sustain the brethren?”  At this time of day, there is really only one doctrine left in the church: Follow the prophet!  This is insanity.

Consider these verses:

Joseph Smith: “And we know also, that sanctification through the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is just and true, to all those who love and serve God with all their mights, minds, and strength. But there is a possibility that man may fall from grace and depart from the living God; therefore let the church take heed and pray always, lest they fall into temptation; Yea, and even let those who are sanctified take heed also.” [25]

Joseph Smith is telling us that even the very elect, or those who are sanctified, are still subject to temptation and sin.  Even these can still “fall from grace and depart from the living God,” either individually or collectively.  This being the case, it is complete foolishness and madness for any man or group of men to claim that they will not and indeed cannot lead you astray.  Such a concept contradicts all historical precedents, all logic, and all reason.

True prophets of God always point to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; not to themselves.  Faith in Jesus Christ has always been the only true safety and guarantee of salvation; but now our current church leaders are giving us their guarantee that they will personally keep us safe and deliver to us salvation if we will just stick with them and follow them.  This is not faith in God; this is obedience to man.  Elder Ballard is a false prophet, plain and simple.  He is also a false Christ, plain and simple.  He is making promises that he has no power to keep.  Elder Ballard has no power to guarantee safety or salvation to anyone.  ONLY JESUS CHRIST HAS THAT AUTHORITY AND THAT POWER.  And this is not authority or power that can be or will be delegated; for He is the keeper of the gate and He employees no servant there.[26]

Jesus Christ: “AND I, the Lord God, spake unto Moses, saying: That Satan, whom thou hast commanded in the name of mine Only Begotten, is the same which was from the beginning, and he came before me, saying—Behold, here am I, send me, I will be thy son, and I will redeem all mankind, that one soul shall not be lost, and surely I will do it; wherefore give me thine honor. 

“But, behold, my Beloved Son, which was my Beloved and Chosen from the beginning, said unto me—Father, thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever. 

“Wherefore, because that Satan rebelled against me, and sought to destroy the agency of man, which I, the Lord God, had given him, and also, that I should give unto him mine own power; by the power of mine Only Begotten, I caused that he should be cast down;  And he became Satan, yea, even the devil, the father of all lies, to deceive and to blind men, and to lead them captive at his will, even as many as would not hearken unto my voice.[27]

It is fundamentally Satan’s plan that by following an un-exalted man or institution, everybody will be saved, that not one soul shall be lost.  Under this plan, faith and repentance are irrelevant.  All you have to do is follow the leaders.  And those who do not follow the leaders are put to death, either literally or figuratively through excommunication and exile.

Also, in this paradigm, the priestly class takes God’s honor unto themselves in the way they demand the awe and reverence of those over whom they preside.  All must rise when they enter the room.  All must reverence their councils and directions or be accused of not sustaining the brethren as prophets, seers, and revelators.  The general authorities of the LDS church very much enjoy a holy and exalted status.  The Mortal Messiah, even Jesus of Nazareth, NEVER demanded or enjoyed the status that today’s church leaders do.

Compare this with Jehovah’s plan which always gives all the glory to the Father and allows the children of men their agency.  True servants never point other disciples to themselves.  They point only to the Master.

Nephi: “O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever.  I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh.  Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm.”[28]  “Cursed is he that putteth his trust in man, or maketh flesh his arm, or shall hearken unto the precepts of men, save their precepts shall be given by the power of the Holy Ghost.   Wo be unto the Gentiles, saith the Lord God of Hosts!  For notwithstanding I shall lengthen out mine arm unto them from day to day, they will deny me; nevertheless, I will be merciful unto them, saith the Lord God, if they will repent and come unto me; for mine arm is lengthened out all the day long, saith the Lord God of Hosts.”[29]

When we place our trust in men, even those who seem like very good men, we curse ourselves because in so doing we damn ourselves by ceasing to have faith in that which is not seen, but is true, which is Christ; and instead we simply follow that which we can see, hear, and touch.  Anyone can follow another man; this is not faith, it is simply trusting and following another man.

Within the LDS church today, the common mantra of the church is: Follow the Prophet.  This is priestcraft.  We should not follow any man, be he a prophet or no.  We should only follow Jesus Christ.[30]

Denver Snuffer: “Prophets are not to be followed; only “received” or, in other words, to be heard.[31]  If sent by Him they testify of Him and not of themselves.  If you will not receive Christ’s prophets and apostles, you will be condemned.[32]  But you are under the burden of determining whether a man is a true or false prophet, true or false apostle, because following a false one will condemn you. Christ will expose the false prophets and apostles.[33]  But that will be by-and-by, for they must be given their season to claim falsely to be prophets and apostles. If you will not hear a prophet, you will be rejected.[34]

“Those who claim you should “follow” them put themselves in the place of Christ. They are, in effect, a false Christ. We were promised they would come in the last days to deceive the “very elect” as false Messiahs.[35]  The trial is underway. We must choose correctly.”[36]

Jesus Christ: “For in those days there shall also arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders, insomuch, that, if possible, they shall deceive the very elect, who are the elect according to the covenant.”[37]

I ask you: Who are “the very elect, who are the elect according to the covenant”?  Are they not the LDS people?

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints constitute the elect according to the covenant.  These are they that receive the covenant of baptism and the covenants of the temple. 

In the temples we place upon ourselves white robes.  These white robes signify light and priesthood, as a foreshadowing of robes to be placed upon us by the Lord.  We are taught in the temple that “We likewise administer these ordinances in our day, but you are washed and anointed only symbolically, as follows.”

The habiliments, ordinances, and priesthoods we receive in the temple are not literal; they are given “only symbolically.”  We must go to the Lord to receive these things in their literal fullness.  The ordinances of the church and of the temple are given by the keys and authority of the Presiding High Priest of the church.  He is the man dressed in the white robe who ultimately presides, officiates, and bids us to follow him.  But this is a mistake.  We should not follow him.  We should follow only the Lord Jesus Christ.

Even Lehi was deceived and led astray by the man dressed in white who bade Lehi to follow him.[38]  But ultimately, Lehi figured out that this was pointless and fruitless following the man in white, and in faith Lehi turned instead to the Lord and prayed for mercy and guidance.  We all know the story.  The man dressed in a white robe had no power to deliver Lehi from the dark and dreary wilderness[39] or lead the way to the Tree of Life.[40]  It is no different today.

The idea that we should put our trust in any man or any group of man is new doctrine in the LDS church.  The fact is that we have received numerous warnings from prior church leaders not to put our trust in man or in the leadership; but that we should trust our Lord Jesus Christ and Him alone.

George Q. Cannon: “Put trust in no man.  Do not, brethren, put your trust in man though he be a Bishop, and Apostle or a President; if you do, they will fail you at some time or place; they will do wrong or seem to, and your support be gone; but if we lean on God, He never will fail us.  When men and women depend on God alone and trust in Him alone, their faith will not be shaken if the highest in the Church should step aside.  They could still see that He is just and true, that truth is lovely in His sight and the pure in heart are dear to Him”[41]

Brigham Young: “What a pity it would be if we were led by one man to utter destruction!  Are you afraid of this?  I am more afraid that this people have so much confidence in their leaders that they will not inquire for themselves of God whether they are led by Him.  I am fearful they settle down in a state of blind self-security, trusting their eternal destiny to the hands of their leaders with a reckless confidence that in itself would thwart the purposes of God in their salvation, and weaken that influence they could give to their leaders, did they know for themselves, by the revelations of Jesus, that they are led in the right way.  Let every man and woman know, by the whispering of the Spirit of God to themselves, whether their leaders are walking in the path the Lord dictates, or not.  This has been my exhortation continually.”[42]

ITEM 2 – Church leaders should NOT be made popular.  No man should be esteemed above another.[43] Priests and teachers are NO better than the hearer; both are to be equal.[44]

Consider this quote from the Prophet Joseph Smith:

Joseph Smith: “The world always mistook false prophets for true ones, and those that were sent of God, they considered to be false prophets and hence they killed, stoned, punished and imprisoned the true prophets, and these had to hide themselves “in deserts and dens, and caves of the earth,” and though the most honorable men of the earth, they banished them from their society as vagabonds, whilst they cherished, honored and supported knaves, vagabonds, hypocrites, impostors, and the basest of men.”[45]

Within the LDS church today, bishops, stake presidents, mission presidents, temple presidents, and general authorities are very much made popular and esteemed far above the rank and file members of the church.  Contrast this with the Lord’s servants and prophets in former times.  The following table shows an interesting contrast between prophets then (in ancient times) and prophets now, as promoted by the LDS church.  This demonstrates a decisive break in the pattern heretofore established whereby we may discern true prophets of God.

Prophets Yesterday and Today (By Adrien Larsen) [46]

Where They Come From
Then	Now
Often hail from outside the established hierarchy.	Promoted from within the hierarchy; climb the ladder to the top.
Have no recognized worldly or ecclesiastical authority.	Titles, positions, many years in well-recognized hierarchy.  Hold the highest ecclesiastical authority.
Often have no family advantages or prestige.	Often connected to family dynasties of power.
How They are Received
Then	Now
Unimportant and obscure.	Worldwide fame and acclaim. The most important man in any room he walks into, the focal point of any meeting he attends.  Thousands simultaneously stand in silence when he enters the room.
Derided, contradicted, attacked; accused of working for Satan.	Unchallenged; their word is law; “Evil speaking” to say otherwise.  Nobody would ever dare contradict.
Wander wherever they can to stay alive.	Travel the world with much fanfare and acclaim wherever they go.  Plenty of press coverage and photo ops.
Not honored or respected.  Often hated, cast out, and killed.	Honored, lionized, loved, fawned over, welcomed, worshipped; honorary degrees, buildings and awards named after them; honored for professional and ecclesiastical accomplishments.
Living Circumstances
Then	Now
Often live with difficulty and lack.	Ride in chauffeured cars; fly in private jets; staff and assistants at their disposal.  Excellent food, clothing, housing, medical care provided by the church.  In want of nothing.
Often poor as to worldly goods.	As the sole legal owner of the church and all its associated businesses and properties, the LDS President is one of the wealthiest men on earth; controls vast fortunes worth billions of dollars, administers sprawling empires of corporations, businesses and real estate.
Seldom noted or recognized.  Obscure and largely unknown.	Worldwide fame and acclaim.  Massive, star-studded birthday broadcast transmitted worldwide.  Biographies written about him and sold for profit.  Book contracts, autographs, well managed PR and public appearances.  High celebrity status.
What They Teach
Then	Now
Point to Christ.	Point to themselves and each other.
Capable of error, bear the Lord’s rebuke and chastening when necessary.  Painfully aware of their inadequacies.	Incapable of error.  “We cannot lead you astray.”  Keep your eyes focused on us.
Claim to see God and angels.	Never make such claims.
Speak extemporaneously by the power of the Holy Ghost.	Read ghostwritten carefully correlated speeches from teleprompters.
Expound scriptures with power and at length.	Occasionally quote snippets of scriptures, along with quotes from poets, philosophers, scholars and inspiring stories.  Mostly quote each other.
Teach followers to seek the Lord for themselves; no man stands between us and God.	Teach followers to look to them; all spiritual blessings flow through the position and keys of the prophet.
Define God’s word as whatever the Lord says to them through revelation or in person.	Define God’s word as whatever they unanimously vote it to be.
Works
Then	Now
Work mighty miracles in public view.	No mighty miracles; claim such things are not suitable for public view.
Bring forth new revelation, new scripture, visions, prophecy.  Reveal mysteries of Godliness.	Continuously repeat an ever-shrinking assortment of gospel platitudes.  No new revelation; and prior revelation is neglected or ignored.
Quote God—“Thus sayeth the Lord…”	Quote each other—thus said my predecessor…
Pray for the Lord’s mercy toward a wicked generation.  Beg the Lord to spare the people a little longer that they might repent.	Pray for the Lord’s bank at its grand opening, and cut the ribbon at the grand opening of the new multi-billion dollar luxury shopping mall built with church funds.
The least; the servant of all.  Sacrifice to deliver their message.	The greatest; served by all.  Mingle with highest strata of political, religious, entertainment and athletic celebrities.
Face their accusers and attackers.  Usually suffer for their message.	Protected by teams of administrators, lawyers and bodyguards.  Suffering is unthinkable.
Labor for their own support.	Completely supported by church funds, earning six-figure salaries and living stipends.

I echo these words by Samuel the Lamanite.  They are equally applicable to us today.

24  Yea, wo unto this people, because of this time which has arrived, that ye do cast out the prophets, and do mock them, and cast stones at them, and do slay them, and do all manner of iniquity unto them, even as they did of old time.

25  And now when ye talk, ye say: If our days had been in the days of our fathers of old, we would not have slain the prophets; we would not have stoned them, and cast them out.

26  Behold ye are worse than they; for as the Lord liveth, if a prophet come among you and declareth unto you the word of the Lord, which testifieth of your sins and iniquities, ye are angry with him, and cast him out and seek all manner of ways to destroy him; yea, you will say that he is a false prophet, and that he is a sinner, and of the devil, because he testifieth that your deeds are evil.

27  But behold, if a man shall come among you and shall say: Do this, and there is no iniquity; do that and ye shall not suffer; yea, he will say: Walk after the pride of your own hearts; yea, walk after the pride of your eyes, and do whatsoever your heart desireth—and if a man shall come among you and say this, ye will receive him, and say that he is a prophet.

28  Yea, ye will lift him up, and ye will give unto him of your substance; ye will give unto him of your gold, and of your silver, and ye will clothe him with costly apparel; and because he speaketh flattering words unto you, and he saith that all is well, then ye will not find fault with him.

29  O ye wicked and ye perverse generation; ye hardened and ye stiffnecked people, how long will ye suppose that the Lord will suffer you?  Yea, how long will ye suffer yourselves to be led by foolish and blind guides?  Yea, how long will ye choose darkness rather than light?

30  Yea, behold, the anger of the Lord is already kindled against you; behold, he hath cursed the land because of your iniquity.  31  And behold, the time cometh that he curseth your riches, that they become slippery, that ye cannot hold them; and in the days of your poverty ye cannot retain them.

32  And in the days of your poverty ye shall cry unto the Lord; and in vain shall ye cry, for your desolation is already come upon you, and your destruction is made sure; and then shall ye weep and howl in that day, saith the Lord of Hosts.  And then shall ye lament, and say:

33  O that I had repented, and had not killed the prophets, and stoned them, and cast them out.  Yea, in that day ye shall say: O that we had remembered the Lord our God in the day that he gave us our riches, and then they would not have become slippery that we should lose them; for behold, our riches are gone from us.[47]

ITEM 3 – Tithing should be used to care for the poor.[48] Church members and leaders should labor with their own hands for their support.[49]  Church leaders should not be paid for their labors in the church.[50]  Church leaders should not be financially supported by the people for their church service.[51]  We (to include church leaders) are not to wear very costly apparel; we are to be neat and comely.[52]

In brief, less than one percent of the tithing collected by the LDS church is used to care for the poor. Additionally, LDS General Authorities, Temple Presidents, and Mission Presidents are some of the best paid clergy in the world, out of all religions and denominations. And finally, LDS members and leaders are, hands down, the best dressed church goers in the world, wearing very costly apparel, especially their General Authorities. For an exhaustive treatment on this subject, please read my essay: Woe Be to the Shepherds of Israel—An LDS Perspective on the History and Purpose of Tithing. This essay was written about six years ago and will shortly be made available.

ITEM 4 – The word of God is to be imparted without money and without price.[53]  Churches should not charge money for ordinances; Christ’s gospel is meant to be free.[54]  Churches should not charge money for the forgiveness of sins.[55]  The word of God should not be taught to get gain, or to grind the face of the poor.[56]

Prospective members of the church must agree to pay tithing to the church as a condition of baptism and membership in the church.  This constitutes a business deal.  In essence, they are saying: “If you agree to pay a full and honest tithing to the church (as it has been explained to you), we will provide the ordinances of baptism and confirmation, we will receive you in full fellowship in the church, eventually offering you all the ordinances and blessings of the temple too.”  This is a business deal.  No tithing—no ordinances; no tithing—no membership in the church; no tithing—no salvation and you will be damned; it is that simple. In essence, people are threatened with eternal damnation if they will not pay tithing to the church. This is extortion. 

The Book of Mormon strictly stipulates that those who repent of their sins, taking upon them the name of Christ, having a broken heart and a contrite spirit, with a determination to serve Him to the end—these shall be received by baptism.[57]  That’s it.  There is nothing about agreeing to pay tithing, or attend church regularly, or obeying the Word of Wisdom, or sustaining church leaders, or acknowledging certain church leaders as the only ones with keys, priesthood authority, or anything like that.

Christ declared, after expounding the Doctrine of Christ, that: “whoso shall declare more or less than this, and establish it for my doctrine, the same cometh of evil, and is not built upon my rock; but he buildeth upon a sandy foundation, and the gates of hell stand open to receive such when the floods come and the winds beat upon them.”[58]

The Doctrine of Christ is very simple.  It is not to be altered or embellished.  It provides a maximum of agency with a minimum of institutional meddling.  The institutional labyrinth of today is hardly a reflection of the sweet and simple gospel which Christ delivered to His disciples so long ago.

This is one of the vast differences between Book of Mormon Mormonism and LDS Mormonism today.

To be clear, we are absolutely expected to care for the poor, to love others, and to be charitable in every righteous way. But the gospel of Jesus Christ, to include the doctrine of Christ, leaves it up to each individual to do these things as they see fit, and as they are inspired, without compulsion or threat of institutional discipline or institutional shunning.

ITEM 5 – It is incorrect to teach that all people (or most all people) will somehow be saved.[59]  Those who die in theirs sins cannot be saved in the Kingdom of God.[60] Salvation requires faith in Jesus Christ and complete repentance, to include completely turning away from all sin.

Nephi: “And there shall also be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry; nevertheless, fear God—he will justify in committing a little sin; yea, lie a little, take the advantage of one because of his words, dig a pit for thy neighbor; there is no harm in this; and do all these things, for tomorrow we die; and if it so be that we are guilty, God will beat us with a few stripes, and at last we shall be saved in the kingdom of God.

“Yea, and there shall be many which shall teach after this manner, false and vain and foolish doctrines, and shall be puffed up in their hearts, and shall seek deep to hide their counsels from the Lord; and their works shall be in the dark.  And the blood of the saints shall cry from the ground against them.  Yea, they have all gone out of the way; they have become corrupted because of pride; and because of false teachers, and false doctrine, their churches have become corrupted, and their churches are lifted up; because of pride they are puffed up.”[61]

It is no longer taught in the LDS church that it is necessary to have faith in Jesus Christ to the degree that we repent of all our sins, be purified and sanctified by receiving the Holy Ghost, not to mention seeking after and receiving the Second Comforter, which is how one ultimately is saved by Jesus Christ who is the keeper of the gate. 

Rather, today we are simply taught that we must have faith by believing and doing as the church says we should, repent of serious sins as they crop up, receive all the ordinances of the church, stay with the church, be obedient to church leaders, and in effect stay in the Good Ship Zion by following the church’s covenant path, and if you do this until death, you will be exalted in the Kingdom of God—guaranteed!

Furthermore, we are taught that almost everyone will be saved in the Celestial Kingdom because of the temple work we are doing for the dead.  This is contrary to the word of God which says that those who inherit Telestial glory shall be “as innumerable as the stars in the firmament of heaven, or as the sand upon the seashore.”[62]  The qualifications for Celestial glory are extensive and is a massive topic; but suffice it to say, very few qualify for such a thing.

There is no magic wand that can be waved that will save someone in the Kingdom of God in Celestial glory.  Only by obedience to Celestial law can a person receive such great blessings.[63]  Yes, God is very loving and merciful; but at the end of the day, He must be a god of justice also. God’s love and mercy cannot shortcut anyone to Celestial glory. It just doesn’t work that way.

The bottom line is that within the LDS church today, we don’t really teach repentance, at least not complete repentance anyway.  In today’s LDS theology, all you have to do is be a good member of the church, in good standing, repenting of your sins along the way, doing as you are told by church leaders, more or less living the church standards, and eventually you will be saved in the Celestial Kingdom.  This is not faith in Jesus Christ. This is not repentance. This is obedience and submission to man. And ultimately, this is keeping both feet in Babylon.

Today the focal point is not faith in Christ, complete repentance, or the gift of the Holy Ghost; today the focal point is temple worthiness and temple worship—doing whatever is required to get a temple recommend and attend as often as practicable.  That is not faith in Christ, that is cult worship.  Such a religion will not save anybody, let alone practically everybody.  We must come unto Christ, not unto the temple.  There is no substitute for real faith in Christ.

In my other essays and videos, I go into great detail as to what truth faith and repentance really is.

End of video Part 2

ITEM 6 – We should teach the scriptures, not our own wisdom and learning.[64]  We should not wrest the scriptures to teach our own ideas.[65]  Church leaders are not authorized to edit, change, or delete the scriptures.[66]

In today’s church, rather than study and teach from the scriptures directly, we mostly use church-published manuals and quote conference talks, philosophers, poets, and bona fide experts with academic and ecclesiastical credentials.  Indeed, today it is mandated and strictly enforced that we all follow the carefully correlated curriculum and policies laid out in church handbooks. These manuals and materials often promote doctrines that are anti-scriptural as well as revisionist narratives that are blatantly less than honest. This is contrary to the established policy laid out in scripture.

Jesus Christ: “But notwithstanding those things which are written, it always has been given to the elders of my church from the beginning, and ever shall be, to conduct all meetings as they are directed and guided by the Holy Spirit.”[67]

Within the church today, the Holy Spirit is not permitted to guide our leaders, speakers or teachers without being conflicted and contradicted by the curriculum, handbooks, or assignments handed down by church leaders.

Jesus Christ: “Wherefore, I the Lord ask you this question—unto what were ye ordained?  To preach my gospel by the Spirit, even the Comforter which was sent forth to teach the truth.  And then received ye spirits which ye could not understand, and received them to be of God; and in this are ye justified?  Behold ye shall answer this question yourselves; nevertheless, I will be merciful unto you.  He that is weak among you hereafter shall be made strong.  Verily I say unto you, he that is ordained of me and sent forth to preach the word of truth by the Comforter, in the Spirit of truth, doth he preach it by the Spirit of truth or some other way? And if it be by some other way it is not of God.  And again, he that receiveth the word of truth, doth he receive it by the Spirit of truth or some other way? If it be some other way it is not of God.”[68]

The Lord does not authorize church leaders to exercise control or dominion over church members at the expense of displacing or supplanting this imperative directive to preach the gospel by the Spirit. If we restrict our teaching to the correlated church materials which only skim the surface of what the scriptures have to teach, rejecting the Spirit of Truth which giveth utterance, then we cannot claim to be the Lord’s church and we will not be blessed according to the Lord’s promises to the faithful. If effect, we will be damned, as in deed we currently are.

There has also been an obvious agenda within the LDS church to promote the living and past prophets and apostles of this dispensation as equal to, or even greater than, those in former dispensations; even though many of these men have publicly admitted and disclosed that they have experienced nothing like the spiritual gifts of those men who anciently conversed with God and recorded what we now agree upon as scripture.  This agenda is chiefly promoted through The Teachings of the Presidents of the Church curriculum, as well as focusing fourth Sunday lessons on General Conference addresses.

As an editorial note, this was written in 2016. In 2023, we now find that almost all lessons and sacrament meeting talks are correlated around General Conference Talks. This is done in an effort to promote the hierarchy and control the narrative, carefully adapting and changing the member’s outlooks to reflect changing times, to include the absorption of globalist purposes and views.

As this has occurred, we find that the principles and doctrines currently being taught are ranging further and further afield from what is contained in the Standard Works and as originally taught by the Prophet Joseph Smith.  The doctrines of true sanctification, justification, and the Second Comforter are almost never mentioned in church, certainly never in current church publications. 

This brings me to a brief discussion on what is now known as the Lectures on Faith.  These seven lectures were very carefully prepared and compiled by the Prophet Joseph Smith with the help of Sidney Rigdon as the theology and doctrine of the church back in 1834. They comprised nearly the first half of the 1835 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants, constituting the doctrine of the church. 

Denver Snuffer: “Before its publication, Joseph Smith, Assistant President of the Church, Oliver Cowdery, First Counselor in the First Presidency, Sidney Rigdon, and Second Counselor in the First Presidency, Frederick G. Williams, jointly signed a preface written by Joseph Smith. In his journals, leading up to the publication of The Lectures on Faith, Joseph Smith recorded that he spent days editing the Lectures that had been given before their publication as scripture.

“In 1921 The Lectures on Faith were dropped from the scriptures by a committee comprised of George F. Richards, Anthony W. Ivins, Melvin J. Ballard, James E. Talmage, John A. Widstoe, and Joseph Fielding Smith. That committee dropped The Lectures on Faith from the scriptures because, “Certain lessons entitled The Lectures on Faith which were bound with Doctrine and Covenants in some of its former issues, are not included in this edition. Those lessons were prepared for use in the School of Elders. But they were never presented or accepted by the Church as other than theological lessons or lectures.”

“That’s a lie. The Joseph Smith Papers, if you will read them today, tell you that statement is not at all the truth. Part of what I hope to get to tonight, and if not tonight then in Logan, are the reasons why. Joseph Smith called this “doctrine” – important doctrine. “Leading items of the religion.” And that he would answer to every principle that was advanced in the document. Now to his credit, Joseph Fielding Smith, who was on that committee said in 1966: “I suppose that the rising generation knows little about the Lectures. In my own judgment these Lectures are of great value and should be studied. I consider them to be of extreme value in the study of the gospel of Jesus Christ.” And in a talk given by Elder Bruce R. McConkie at Brigham Young University, (the son-in-law to the one of the committee members, whose words I just read), in January 24, 1972, Brother McConkie said: “In my judgment it is the most comprehensive, intelligent, inspired utterance that now exists in the English language that exists in one place defining, interpreting, expounding, announcing, and testifying of what kind of being God is. It was written by the power of the Holy Ghost, by the Spirit of Inspiration. It is in effect, eternal scripture. It is true.” [69]

Vital scriptures have been deleted by the LDS church.  And I ask, as Moroni did, “Why have ye transfigured the holy word of God, that ye might bring damnation upon your souls?  Behold, look ye unto the revelations of God; for behold, the time cometh at that day when all these things must be fulfilled.”[70]

Jesus Christ: “Thou shalt take the things which thou hast received, which have been given unto thee in my scriptures for a law, to be my law to govern my church; and he that doeth according to these things shall be saved, and he that doeth them not shall be damned if he so continue.”[71]

Jesus Christ: “For verily I say unto you, my law shall be kept on this land.  Let no man think he is ruler; but let God rule him that judgeth, according to the counsel of his own will, or, in other words, him that counseleth or sitteth upon the judgment seat.”[72] 

Jesus Christ: “I, the Lord God, make you free, therefore ye are free indeed; and the law also maketh you free.  Nevertheless, when the wicked rule the people mourn.”[73] 

The Book of Mormon contains the laws and covenants we are to follow.  We are not to deviate from these covenants.  The Lord is only bound by what He has said.  The Lord sealed a covenant upon us, through the Prophet Joseph Smith, by the medium of the Book of Mormon and the revelations Joseph received.  The methodology for offering and performing ordinances has been clearly prescribed.  When we deviate from the Lord’s instructions, He is no longer bound.

Jesus Christ: “I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise.”[74]

History repeats itself.

By changing and deleting key scriptures, they are taking “away from the gospel of the Lamb many parts which are plain and most precious; and also many covenants of the Lord have they taken away.  And all this have they done that they might pervert the right ways of the Lord, that they might blind the eyes and harden the hearts of the children of men.”[75]  And because of this “…an exceedingly great many do stumble, yea, insomuch that Satan hath great power over them.”[76]

Of such Nephi lamented: “O the wise, and the learned, and the rich, that are puffed up in the pride of their hearts, and all those who preach false doctrines, and all those who commit whoredoms, and pervert the right way of the Lord, wo, wo, wo be unto them, saith the Lord God Almighty, for they shall be thrust down to hell!”[77]

ITEM 7 – We are not to change the ordinances of God.[78]

Isaiah: “The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinances, and broken the everlasting covenant.”[79]

Jesus Christ: “Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them.”[80] 

Jesus Christ: “Whatsoever thing I command you, observe ye to do it.  Thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.”[81]

Virtually every “saving ordinance” had in the LDS church has been changed from what was originally detailed in the Book of Mormon and in the 1835 Doctrine and Covenants; to include: baptism, the sacrament, and the ordinances of the temple. 

Baptism

Jesus Christ: “Verily I say unto you, that whoso repenteth of his sins through your words, and desireth to be baptized in my name, on this wise shall ye baptize them: Behold, ye shall go down and stand in the water, and in my name shall ye baptize them.  And now behold, these are the words which ye shall say, calling them by name, saying:

““Having authority given me of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.  Amen.”

“And then shall ye immerse them in the water, and come forth again out of the water.  And after this manner shall ye baptize in my name; for behold, verily I say unto you, that the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost are one; and I am in the Father, and the Father in me, and the Father and I are one.  And according as I have commanded you thus shall ye baptize.”[82]

This may seem trivial, but as you can see, the baptismal prayer revealed by the Savior in Third Nephi is different from that used by us today.  Jesus makes it very clear that this is the way to do it.  He says,

“These are the words which ye shall say…  And after this manner shall ye baptize in my name…  And according as I have commanded you thus shall ye baptize.”

These are the words Joseph Smith used when he baptized.  Those who have indeed received authority from Jesus Christ should use this same phraseology today, just as the Lord has commanded them to.

Before any of us baptize, we should seek after and receive authority directly from the Lord through mighty prayer, as Alma did at the Waters of Mormon.[83]  I did this several years ago before I officiated at a convert baptism in my ward.  It was a powerful experience.  I testify that if you ask in faith, having repented of your sins, you shall receive this authority directly from the Lord according to your righteous desires.

Notice too that the baptismal recommend questions we use today are also absent in the Book of Mormon requirements for baptism.  When Jesus ministered to the Nephites, He never required them to sustain church leaders as the only ones holding special keys or callings.  This practice is a damning exercise in priestcraft.

If you are like me, you are probably wondering how the verbiage of the baptismal prayer got changed.  After all, the current verbiage in the Doctrine and Covenants reflects the current practice. 

“The person who is called of God and has authority from Jesus Christ to baptize, shall go down into the water with the person who has presented himself or herself for baptism, and shall say, calling him or her by name: Having been commissioned of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.  Amen.”[84]

The earliest extant text of this section reads differently:

“And the manner of baptism & the manner of administering the sacrament are to be done as is written in the Book of Morman.”[85]

The original revelation and instruction received through the Prophet Joseph Smith was that baptisms were to be administered as written in the Book of Mormon.  What we have in Doctrine and Covenants 20:73 did not exist in the original revelation.  Later, a committee, which did not include Joseph Smith, changed and added what we now have.  I submit that the original revelation was correct.

The Sacrament

When Jesus Christ instituted the sacrament, He made it clear that the details are important.  Said He:

Jesus Christ: “But whoso among you shall do more or less than these are not built upon my rock, but are built upon a sandy foundation; and when the rain descends, and the floods come, and the winds blow, and beat upon them, they shall fall, and the gates of hell are ready open to receive them.”[86]

In the interest of brevity, I will simply point out three significant details that have changed in how we administer and receive the sacrament.

1. In ancient times, everyone would kneel while the sacramental prayers were uttered.[87]  Today, only the priests kneel.
2. In ancient times, everyone would eat and drink until they were filled.[88]  The sacrament was truly a feast for the body and for the spirit.  Today, each person gets only a very small piece of sandwich bread and a little sip of water.
3. In ancient times, they used wine instead of water.[89]  Today we just use water.

These changes are significant.

By way of background, at one point the saints found themselves in a situation where there was no wine on hand to be used for the sacrament, and so Joseph asked the Lord about it and was told, in essence, that at such times they could substitute whatever food or drink they had available in the place of bread or wine.[90]  It is important to note, however, that after this revelation the saints always still used wine whenever they could get it; this continued until the days of Prohibition.  Even in the revelation we now call The Word of Wisdom, the Lord still specifies that we should use wine for the sacrament.[91] This is a commandment.

The details are important.  That we kneel is important.  That we eat and drink until we are filled is important.  That we use wine that looks like blood, is bitter because of the alcoholic content, and causes increased blood-flow—these details are important.

It has also been pointed out by some that the changes that have been made to the institution of the sacrament are only a sad reflection of the attitudes of our members and the impotency of the church as it is constituted today.  We are not sufficiently penitent before God (hence, we all remain sitting on our rear ends), we do not eat and drink until we are filled (who really feasts on the scriptures?), our wine is watered down to just water (much like many of our sacrament meeting talks and Sunday School lessons dictated by church correlation), and the effects of our worship cause almost no real inward or outward change in us (besides a little warm fuzzy now and then from a familiar spirit telling us we are righteous); hence, the profound lack of visions, visitations, and other spiritual manifestations in our day.

The Ordinances of the Temple

Because of the sacred nature of the temple, only very little can or perhaps ought to be said upon this score.  Besides, I really know very little about this, although I was a temple ordinance worker for almost three years.  I do know, however, that countless changes have been made to the text, symbols, and rites of the temple since the time of Joseph Smith Jr.  Even in my own lifetime, and especially in recent years, they have made very many changes, some of them critical. 

As far as I know, the First Presidency has never informed anyone of any new revelations precipitating these changes.  They just discussed it, got a good feeling about it, unanimously voted on it, and then made the changes because they think they have the keys and authority to do so.  In this they are mistaken.  These are purportedly God’s ordinances and must be administered exactly as He has prescribed, in order for them to be of full power and efficacy.  Ours is not a freelance priesthood.  We are not at liberty to change His doctrine, covenants, or ordinances; but our church leaders continue to do so with impunity.  It is abundantly clear that we have, in effect, broken the New and Everlasting Covenant received through the Prophet Joseph Smith Jr. through the medium of the Book of Mormon and the other revelations he revealed.  Nothing he revealed, be it doctrine, covenants, or rites of the priesthood, have remained intact or as they were revealed.

ITEM 8 – No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned, by kindness, and pure knowledge…[92]

Joseph Smith spent four long months in Liberty Jail so that he (and we) could receive the revelation we now know as Doctrine and Covenants sections 121, 122, and 123.

Within this revelation the Lord taught Joseph the doctrine of the priesthood in relation to power and influence (or authority) over others; that “no power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood.”[93] 

The priesthood of God gives you no right to exercise power or dominion over others.  It does not give you institutional authority to threaten, intimidate, or control others by telling them what to do, what not to do, or how to live their lives, under threat of damnation.  Furthermore, the Lord warns that when we “undertake to cover our sins, or to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man.”[94]

This is precisely the opposite of how the church operates today.  This is why the church leaders have little or no priesthood today; this is why they are unable to receive the ministering of angels or the Second Comforter which comprise the fundamental powers of the priesthood.  They have no divine priesthood or authority in the sight of God because “as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion.”[95]

In today’s church, church leaders absolutely demand that they be honored and obeyed by inferior church members, under threat of institutional shunning, disfellowship, or excommunication for apostasy.  They assert their position of control, dominion, and compulsion, through the temple recommend interview process and the regular sustaining of church leaders.  Members are forced to submit to the expectations and demands of the hierarchy or be rejected and cast out accordingly.

Additionally, in today’s church, all church meetings, activities, and curriculum are tightly controlled and correlated through the hierarchy, as outlined in the Church Handbook of Instructions.  Church members and leaders must comply with the directions, policies, and the established order of the church or be accordingly disciplined.  This is not persuasion, long-suffering, gentleness and meekness; but rather, this is control, dominion, and blatant compulsion. 

If church members fall too far out of line, they are called in to meet with their bishop and/or stake president and essentially told that if they don’t shape up, they will be disciplined.  Of course, this is said in a very loving and kind way; but it is still control, dominion and compulsion.  A threat is a threat.  A threat is not using persuasion; it is using fear of imposed negative force upon an individual.  It is extortion.

The Lord’s way is that we teach and promote the pure Doctrine of Christ through persuasion, long-suffering, and love unfeigned. If we are successful, we suffer and get Zion.  If we are unsuccessful, we suffer and don’t get Zion.  The world, on the other hand, insists on success through institutional order and enforcement. Corporations demand the intended results, now, no matter what.  Such was and is Satan’s plan; and we have to give him credit for persistence—he is still trying his best to execute his plan. 

Christ’s plan was always to allow agency.  Christ’s priesthood is fundamentally dependent upon allowing us our agency, without exercising control, dominion, or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men in any degree of unrighteousness.  This is one reason why religious institutions fail; they do not respect the most fundamental law upon which Christ’s priesthood is based; which is agency.

Church leaders today believe that our covenant of obedience in the temple implies a covenant of obedience to church leaders because they reputedly hold all the keys of the priesthood and of the kingdom of God on the earth today.  This belief is patently false. They obviously do not know what Joseph Smith knew, they do not enjoy the gifts Joseph Smith had, and they do not hold the keys of knowledge and authority that Joseph Smith held. This should be obvious to anyone.

Our work is to have faith in Jesus Christ, doing as He would do, repenting of all our sins, be properly baptized, and receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost.  This sets us on the path leading to eternal life. This path does not include or require regimented membership within a massive ecclesiastical empire. Anyone who has studied the New Testament ought to have this figured out.

The journey to having faith in Jesus Christ is a spiritual one. We are to walk the path, following the straight and narrow way, clinging to the Rod of Iron which is the word of God. That is a different path than the one dictated by the church.

We are to receive the Holy Ghost through faith in Christ, repentance, and following the Holy Spirit. This is not possible for those focused on following institutional leaders.

Nephi: “And now, behold, my beloved brethren, I suppose that ye ponder somewhat in your hearts concerning that which ye should do after ye have entered in by the way.  But, behold, why do ye ponder these things in your hearts?  Do ye not remember that I said unto you that after ye had received the Holy Ghost ye could speak with the tongue of angels?  And now, how could ye speak with the tongue of angels save it were by the Holy Ghost?  Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ.  Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.”[96]

I do not wish to belabor all the instances of unrighteous dominion in the church.  People have written books about it[97]; but for me, discussing it or writing about it frankly makes me sick.  It is vital, though, that we dispel our disbelief by truthfully acknowledging the facts in this case.  I do not wish to condemn; I only want to repent, help others to repent, and move forward.

I do not blame the First Presidency or Quorum of the Twelve Apostles for not being prophets, seers, and revelators; I do, however, condemn the tradition of not being completely open and truthful about their current status and spiritual gifts.  I also raise a point of order in their failure to conform with the express directions and commandments given to them by the Lord in the Book of Mormon.  Furthermore, I warn all men everywhere of the catastrophic consequences of not heeding the warnings in the Book of Mormon.

ITEM 9 – Our faith and testimonies ought to be centered in Jesus Christ, in His gospel, in His covenants; NOT in the presumption that “this church is true.”[98]

When we get to the point that our testimony of Jesus Christ and His gospel is based solely upon our testimony of the Living Prophet, our church leaders, or our church institution being somehow “true,” we find ourselves in an entirely upside-down and very precarious position. 

All men are mortal and make mistakes.  All men are subject to the results of the fall.  All men have their agency.  Placing faith and implicit confidence in any man or group of men is a guaranteed recipe for disaster.  No man or group of men should ever come between you and the Lord.  No man or group of men should ever insist that they will not and cannot lead you astray.  No man or group of men should ever hold themselves up as the light we should follow.  In every case, when and wherever this happens, it is an act of priestcraft.  Such men set themselves up as false prophets and false Christs because they set themselves up as infallible agents of the Lord who can somehow guarantee salvation to all those who follow them.

As things stand, the current leadership of the LDS church completely lacks credibility.  They point to themselves as “the good ship Zion” ignoring the fact that Zion, by definition, is the pure in heart, those united in Christ, who have no poor among them, who have Christ dwelling in their midst.  This is the opposite of what we have in the church today.  And yet we call ourselves Zion and insist that all is as it should be within the church today, at least within the upper echelons of the church where the General Authorities rule supreme. 

Nephi: “And others will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, that they will say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well—and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell.” [99]

One question which is so puzzling is why do some people love church and others loath church? 

It is a matter of expectations, desires, attitude, and ideology.  Those people who simply expect and accept whatever they are taught and directed to do by the hierarchy, who expect and accept without question or hesitation the church status quo, who would never question the words of the General Authorities as being anything else but scripture, who do not think to compare what the church teaches or practices with what is actually found in scripture—these people have a very nice time at church.  They love church because there they receive hours of affirmation and re-indoctrination.  They are exhilarated by the constant reassurance that all they need to do is follow the prophet as faithful members of the church and they will continue to be the saints and the elect of God.   They receive without question what they are given, and they desire nothing more.  They feel uplifted and edified with very little because that is what they are accustomed to and are led to expect.  After all, they are being constantly reassured that if they just continue as active, faithful, and obedient church members for the rest of their lives, they will be exalted in the Celestial Kingdom of God.  What a lovely thought.  What a great setup!  In short, they are being told by the bona fide experts that they don’t really need to change or repent or improve in any major way; all they need to do is just live their lives as ordinary people and ordinary members and in the end they will be exalted with Celestial glory.[100]

“Yea, and there shall be many which shall teach after this manner, false and vain and foolish doctrines, and shall be puffed up in their hearts, and shall seek deep to hide their counsels from the Lord; and their works shall be in the dark.”[101]

Denver Snuffer: “In our own day we are oftentimes no better at recognizing and accepting truths sent us than Laman and Lemuel.  We tend to accept truth from what we regard as bona fide sources, even when those sources are corrupt or uninspired.  And we tend to reject truths from sources which are not considered bona fide, even when their words are certified by and accompanied with the willing witness of the Holy Ghost.”[102]

“We are more likely to accept teachings informed by the “arm of flesh” than from the “Spirit of God.”  We want compilations from PhD’s, faculty professors, and from educated professionals.  We want a Talmud, a great intellectual bulwark around the scriptures to support them and insulate them from criticism.  We want to hear sonorous rhythms from speakers who reaffirm our positive self-image.  And when words of warning or harsh counsel are given, we react with distain at the insensitivity of the speaker.  We set limits on what can be taught to us by what we are willing to tolerate.  The vicious circle in which we find ourselves has a center point other than the Lord.  So, we orbit about Babylon, while invoking the language of scripture.”[103]

“We presume that God dwells with peculiar delight on His Latter Day Saints, and that we are His crowning achievement in religious history.  We are arrogant and deluded in that presumption.  The Lord has no preferences, other than for those who follow Him.”[104]

“The Lord has never asked us to follow a man or men.  He has asked us only to follow Him.  If you do not know the difference, then you do not know Him and you are not saved… Nephi wanted us to reserve our trust to the Lord alone, and not His messengers.[105]” [106] 

ITEM 10 – Church members should NOT desire church leaders to rule over them, rather than God.[107]

Mormon: “O how foolish, and how vain, and how evil, and devilish, and how quick to do iniquity, and how slow to do good, are the children of men; yea, how quick to hearken unto the words of the evil one, and to set their hearts upon the vain things of the world! Yea, how quick to be lifted up in pride; yea, how quick to boast, and do all manner of that which is iniquity; and how slow are they to remember the Lord their God, and to give ear unto his counsels, yea, how slow to walk in wisdom’s paths! Behold, they do not desire that the Lord their God, who hath created them, should rule and reign over them; notwithstanding his great goodness and his mercy towards them, they do set at naught his counsels, and they will not that he should be their guide.”[108] 

Most people crave the society of very important people.  They desire the attentions and instructions and rule of very important people.  In their vanity, they want these very important people to tell them what to do, and to tell them how gifted and chosen and special they all are.  It is both soothing and stimulating to have mighty men, even men whom we sustain as prophets, seers, and revelators, as teachers and rulers to preside over us.   What a comfort!  What a privilege!  What a marvelous thing it is to have holy men, who we can all see, hear, and touch, to be among us to lead, teach, and bless us.  And what a pain in the neck it is to attempt faith in a being, even God, who always seems so impossibly illusive, distant, and difficult.  And who really needs God when we have such adorable and adoring church leaders, who are always on hand to give us what we want? 

I wasn’t born yesterday.  I am very familiar with the intense desire church members have to enjoy the society of presiding church leaders.  It is very thrilling and exciting to be in the presence of prophets and apostles.  I know.  I’ve felt it.  What a rush of joy and euphoria it is to be spoken to by the holy oracles of God!  I know.  I’ve felt it too. I’ve experienced the dopamine hit.  But I testify that these feelings do not come from the Holy Ghost or the Spirit of the Lord; they come from human vanity and the cult of personality which is built up around these church leaders.  If you think that these feelings of exhilaration, euphoria, and adulation come from God, then you are indeed very much deceived and deluded. 

This is a cult of personality, not the Holy Spirit of God.  When you promote an individual or group of individuals as somehow holy, chosen, popular, or elite, and when you continue over time to build up this image and these ideas, then the natural reaction human beings will have by making contact with these very important people will be one of exhilaration, joy, euphoria, and adulation.  I have felt this in the presence of religious leaders, political leaders, corporate leaders, and even rock stars—few of which were truly holy people.

Developing this cult of personality, this majestic presence, this sacred experience—this is all an art form.  It is a carefully calculated science which people study and practice throughout the world on a daily basis.  The lighting, the candles, the glow-sticks, the music, the architecture, the cinematography, the sound-bites, the pauses, the choked-up emotion, all this is carefully calculated to produce these heart-throb sensations that stimulate exuberant belief in the message and grand praise for the messengers.

I remember years ago attending an event at the Marriot Center at BYU where President Bush (Senior) was coming to speak during his campaign for reelection.  Thousands attended this event.  The place was packed!  Everyone was given glow-sticks as they entered the building.  We were all told to stand and wave the glow sticks when President Bush was announced and entered the arena.  We did.  It was truly an awe-inspiring event. I remember my heart throbbed and the hair on my head stood up on end as he entered the arena while the national anthem was played and sung.  It was a very spiritual experience.  After all, all things are spiritual, aren’t they?[109]

Now consider the atmosphere and ambiance at General Conference when “the Prophet” enters the room.  The lighting is low; colorful lights highlight the red seats; the organist is playing something very low and solemn and reverent which penetrates your soul, reverberating to the very bones.  As “the Prophet” enters everyone stands in hushed reverence as if God Himself had just entered the room.  This too is a very spiritual experience.  It is calculated to be this way.

Everything is calculated.  Only tried and proven, experienced church leaders, career executives, who are also eloquent and charismatic public speakers are chosen as General Authorities.  Even these are required to work closely with the church’s infamous Correlation Committee as they prepare their General Conference talks months in advance; each of which are carefully edited and approved before being delivered to global audiences.  As these speeches are prepared, they are supplied with teams of researchers and speech writers to assist them in the process.  Small wonder it is that their General Conference addresses are so brilliant and inspiring to the masses.  Everything is fine-tuned down to the last hyphen.  Again, everything is calculated.

When apostles visit conferences and firesides, the members are instructed to arrive early and to stand when the apostle(s) enter the room.  In some instances, the adults are instructed to sit in the back so the youth can sit closer to the front where the apostle sits and will speak; this accentuates and amplifies the experience for the youth and does much to promote the cult of personality which is so important in the building of testimonies relative to the prophetic and apostolic leadership of the church.  They want us to be in awe of them.

I am reminded of this scripture in Ephesians:

Paul: “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”[110]

These principalities and powers are very real and very dangerous.  They powerfully appeal to the human ego and vanity.  Do not underestimate your vulnerability in being deceived in this way.

When mighty leaders are on the scene, ready and willing to lead and teach the people, it becomes very difficult to maintain faith in a Supreme Being who always seems conspicuously absent and difficult to please.  Powerful leadership always, inevitably and invariably, distracts and obstructs faith in the unseen.  Even Jesus Christ, when he was among the Nephites, apologized to Heavenly Father in behalf of the people who were praying to Him instead of to the Father.

Jesus Christ: “…and they pray unto me; and they pray unto me because I am with them.”[111]

Strong leadership always gets in the way of faith in Christ.  It distracts and diverts.  It creates a tangent away from following the Still Small Voice in favor of the easier path offered by following man.

Worse still, the allurement of being called to leadership often corrupts the heart and blinds the mind in ways entirely undetectable to the individuals affected.  Again, I wasn’t born yesterday.  I’ve been called to presiding callings.  I’ve been called as a High Priest, as a Temple Ordinance Worker, and to several presidencies.  It is an extremely gratifying experience to be in charge.  It is an ego boost.  In such a situation, one indeed feels very holy, humbled (at first), and chosen.  The mantel of authority, the dignity of the calling, the responsibility ensuing, the love one has for ones following, the privileges enjoyed, the compliments given and received—all these elements combine to disguise the vanity and deception inevitably taking place.

Consider the horrible plight of an LDS General Authority.  These are men who receive the Holy Anointing from the First Presidency of the church—an ordinance reserved only for the most loyal and faithful leaders in the church.  These are men who are authorized to enter the Holy of Holies within the temples.  These are men who are lauded wherever they go as the Holy Oracles of God, as those who hold the Keys of the Kingdom, as the only ones authorized to lead the church and receive revelation from God for the church. 

These men are constantly taught by one another the infallibility they are guaranteed as the leaders and guardians and key-holders of the church in this the Last Dispensation which cannot fail.  They are completely blinded by their own vanity and false theology.  How could that not go to your head?

Isaiah specifically addresses “the drunkards of Ephraim” who are “the priest and the prophet [who] have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.”[112]  Isaiah asserts that “they are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink.  For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered.”[113]

Like wine, the LDS gospel message is very delicious to the taste, pleasing to the natural man and the human ego, and addicting to one’s self-righteous sensibilities.  The message is basically: live our standards; pay us your tithing[114]; join our club; follow the prophet; follow our way of life; and together with your families you will receive Eternal Life, guaranteed.  The LDS people love hearing it and the LDS leaders love teaching it.  LDS theology is an absolutely ingenious construct of the philosophies of men, mingled with scripture.  It is a feel-good religion.  The LDS elite just love attending their meetings where they are “spiritually uplifted” and “spiritually recharged” by hearing endless faith-promoting stories, by being told how righteous and awesome they are, and by loudly rehearsing endless mind-numbing accolades to their prophets, priests, and institutional leaders.  These regular rituals of affirmation make them simply drunk with the belief that they are indeed a righteous and a holy people, and joint-heirs with Christ.

They assume that because the Aaronic Priesthood cannot be taken again from the earth that this priesthood must unalienably remain with them.  They do not realize what a simple thing it is to quietly forfeit God’s priesthood.  And they forget that the true church is indeed dependent upon priesthood; but that priesthood was never dependent upon being tied to a church.  They also forget that the church was never a hierarchy of righteousness; if leaders violate the law and forfeit their priesthood, those who have been faithful still retain their priesthood, per the covenants of the Father.

For church leaders such as these, it is absolutely unthinkable that they could ever either lead the people astray or be led astray by those in authority over them.  For them it is unthinkable that the church or the church leaders could ever actually be in apostasy. 

Nephi: “Because of pride, and because of false teachers, and false doctrine, their churches have become corrupted, and their churches are lifted up; because of pride they are puffed up.”[115]

ITEM 11 – Church members and leaders should never consider themselves immune to the possibility of apostasy. [116]

Mormon: “And there began to be men inspired from heaven and sent forth, standing among the people in all the land, preaching and testifying boldly of the sins and iniquities of the people, and testifying unto them concerning the redemption which the Lord would make for his people, or in other words, the resurrection of Christ; and they did testify boldly of his death and sufferings.  Now there were many of the people who were exceedingly angry because of those who testified of these things; and those who were angry were chiefly the chief judges, and they who had been high priests and lawyers; yea, all those who were lawyers were angry with those who testified of these things.”[117]

In 26 A.D., the Lord sent “men inspired from heaven” to preach and testify “boldly of the sins and iniquities of the people…”  These inspired men came from outside of the religious and political establishments.  They were nobodies.  They were not bona fide sources of anything.  They held no official priesthood keys or authority to preside.  They were considered outsiders and interlopers.  They were considered apostates who threatened the authority of the chief judges, high priests, and lawyers.  The leaders of the people were very concerned that they would cause a schism among the people and draw people away.

Likewise, among the Jaredites, many prophets were sent by the Lord, declaring repentance to the people, warning and testifying of the great destruction which awaited them if they did not repent.  These prophets were mainly reviled, cast out, and put to death. 

In Jerusalem in the times of Lehi and John the Baptist, and in Zarahemla in the time of Third Nephi, and among the Jaredites—the establishment church leaders all thought that an institutional apostasy was impossible.  After all, they held the priesthood and the keys to preside.  In all these cases, and in many others, the Lord sent prophets from outside of the hierarchy to deliver a message from the Lord and to call everyone to repentance.

Likewise, church leaders today believe and teach that institutional apostasy in impossible.  They are convinced that the church leaders, collectively, cannot lead the people astray and that whatever they say is the mind and will of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, and that if anybody disagrees with them that they are disagreeing with God.  They assume that because this is the last dispensation, and because the priesthood will never again be taken from the earth, that the church leaders cannot apostatize or lead the people astray.  Consider this quote by a modern apostle:

Jeffrey R. Holland: “Unlike every other era before us, this dispensation will not experience an institutional apostasy; it will not see a loss of priesthood keys; it will not suffer a cessation of revelation from the voice of Almighty God. Individuals will apostatize, they may turn a deaf ear to heaven, but never again will the dispensation collectively do so. What a secure thought that is! [It is indeed pleasing to the carnal mind.]  What a day in which to live! What a way to cut through fear or faintheartedness.”[118]  

Elder Holland is referring to the promise by John the Baptism given to Joseph and Oliver when he conferred upon them the “Priesthood of Aaron,” declaring that “this [priesthood] shall never be taken again from the earth, until the sons of Levi do offer again an offering unto the Lord in righteousness.”[119]

Elder Holland assumes that priesthood cannot operate independent of the church.  This assumption is incorrect.  The priesthood of God has operated on the earth independent of a church throughout most of the history of the world.  One example of this is detailed in the priesthood line of authority from Jethro to Esaias.  Esaias was a contemporary of Melchizedek and Abraham.[120]  Neither Abraham nor Esaias formed a church.  Their priesthood was fundamentally patriarchal and non-institutional.  Here we have two entirely separate lines of priesthood ordination; neither forming a church.

John the Baptist likewise held priesthood conferred upon him by an angel when he was eight days old.  He operated independent of any church, to include the Jews and Levites that operated the temple which was recognized by Jesus as His Father’s house.  Ultimately, John the Baptist wrested the keys from the Jews and overthrew the Kingdom of the Jews when they rejected him by beheading him.  This pattern repeats itself.

Those that claim the LDS church cannot fail or fall into apostasy also lean heavily upon the prophesy of Daniel where he speaks of the stone cut out of the mountain without hands which fills the whole earth.[121]  This they cross reference with Wilford Woodruff’s account in 1898 of Joseph saying that “this Church will fill North and South America—it will fill the world.”[122]

First of all, Wilford’s account of Joseph’s prophecy is of dubious authenticity given that it was made sixty-four years after Joseph was said to have made this statement.  Wilford does not quote his exceptional journal; just his memory.  Wilford made this claim at a time when various splinter groups were beginning to leave the church because of the church’s abandonment of polygamy.  Wilford wanted to solidify the church’s claim that it could not fail, falter, or go astray.  This was the same Wilford Woodruff who eight years earlier had said:

Wilford Woodruff: “The Lord will never permit me or any other man who stands as President of this Church to lead you astray.  It is not in the program.  It is not in the mind of God.  If I were to attempt that, the Lord would remove me out of my place, and so He will any other man who attempts to lead the children of men astray from the oracles of God and from their duty.”[123]

Wilford Woodruff fabricated this assertion completely out of thin air.  This was a complete flip-flop from Brigham Young who warned the saints of his own fallibility and of their over-reliance on church leaders.  Even Joseph Smith warned the saints of his own fallibility and of their over-reliance on him.  Never before has a presiding High Priest claimed this kind of infallibility.  It is completely without precedent. 

As to the prophecy by Daniel that the stone cut from the mountain without hands would fill the whole earth—this prophecy cannot be referring to the LDS church as it stands today because the stone first breaks in pieces all the nations of the earth before it fills the earth.

The “stone” is Messianic imagery.  The “mountain” is Zion imagery.  “To cut” is covenant imagery.  We also know that Zion, as the scriptures define it, are those who are unified in Christ,[124] are the pure in heart, who have no poor among them,[125] and who all are filled with the knowledge of the Lord[126] for the Lord literally dwells among them.

The “stone” is Jesus Christ.  It is this knowledge of the Lord that fills the earth.  It is Zion that fills the earth.  The current church is nothing like Zion.  The LDS church has been in apostasy from the very beginning of this dispensation, per the revelations that Joseph received. Willful rebellion, blatant disregard for the Book of Mormon—these are acts of apostasy. To claim that the church cannot fall and cannot apostatize is dishonest and disingenuous. It is ignorant.  

Consider this revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Kirtland, Ohio, August 2, 1833.

Jesus Christ: “And inasmuch as my people build a house unto me in the name of the Lord, and do not suffer any unclean thing to come into it, that it be not defiled, my glory shall rest upon it; yea, and my presence shall be there, for I will come into it, and all the pure in heart that shall come into it shall see God.  But if it be defiled I will not come into it, and my glory shall not be there; for I will not come into unholy temples.

“And, now, behold, if Zion do these things she shall prosper, and spread herself and become very glorious, very great, and very terrible.  And the nations of the earth shall honor her, and shall say: Surely Zion is the city of our God, and surely Zion cannot fall, neither be moved out of her place, for God is there, and the hand of the Lord is there; and he hath sworn by the power of his might to be her salvation and her high tower. 

“Therefore, verily, thus saith the Lord, let Zion rejoice, for this is Zion—THE PURE IN HEART; therefore, let Zion rejoice, while all the wicked shall mourn.  For behold, and lo, vengeance cometh speedily upon the ungodly as the whirlwind; and who shall escape it?  The Lord’s scourge shall pass over by night and by day, and the report thereof shall vex all people; yea, it shall not be stayed until the Lord come; for the indignation of the Lord is kindled against their abominations and all their wicked works.

“Nevertheless, Zion shall escape if she observe to do all things whatsoever I have commanded her. But if she observe not to do whatsoever I have commanded her, I will visit her according to all her works, with sore affliction, with pestilence, with plague, with sword, with vengeance, with devouring fire.  Nevertheless, let it be read this once to her ears, that I, the Lord, have accepted of her offering; and if she sin no more none of these things shall come upon her; and I will bless her with blessings, and multiply a multiplicity of blessings upon her, and upon her generations forever and ever, saith the Lord your God.  Amen.”[127]

Neither in Kirtland nor in Nauvoo did the saints live up to the requirements imposed upon them by the Lord.  In both cases they were visited “according to all [their] works, with sore affliction, with pestilence, with plague, with sword, with vengeance, with devouring fire.”  The church always was in apostasy.

As it was said of Moses, it can now also be said of Joseph Smith, whom the lord likened unto Moses:

Jesus Christ: “For without this [greater priesthood] no man can see the face of God, even the Father, and live.  Now this [Joseph Smith] plainly taught to the children of Israel in [Kirtland and in Nauvoo], and sought diligently to sanctify his people that they might behold the face of God; but they hardened their hearts and could not endure his presence; therefore, the Lord in his wrath, for his anger was kindled against them, swore that they should not enter into his rest while in [Kirtland or in Nauvoo], which rest is the fullness of his glory. Therefore, he took [Joseph and Hyrum] out of their midst, and the Holy Priesthood also; and the lesser priesthood continued, which priesthood holdeth the key of the ministering of angels and the preparatory gospel…”[128]

Modern church leaders do not believe the revelations or the warnings of the Lord.  They do not believe that the saints failed in Kirtland and in Nauvoo, but were visited “according to all [their] works, with sore affliction, with pestilence, with plague, with sword, with vengeance, with devouring fire.”  Today it is just the opposite.  Today we sing about our faithful and noble pioneer ancestors; who certainly were faithful and noble in some ways; but who failed to establish Zion and instead fell into apostasy. 

Elder Holland claims that “this dispensation will not experience an institutional apostasy.”  This is both ignorant and ridiculous!  This dispensation experienced an institutional apostasy clear back in 1836 and in 1844!  We need to stop claiming:

“All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well—and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell.”[129]

As the icing on the cake, we also must never forget that “agency is the supreme law of heaven and earth.”[130]  All mankind has their agency.[131]  This gift of agency is never revoked or annulled, except in justice and in judgement, according to the law. 

To suggest that any man or group of men cannot apostatize, sin, falter, or go astray, is to deny the supreme law of heaven and earth, which is agency. 

---

[1] Doctrine and Covenants 45:9

[2] Doctrine and Covenants 42:59-60

[3] Doctrine and Covenants 58:19 – 20

[4] Doctrine and Covenants 98:8 – 9

[5] Doctrine and Covenants 82:10

[6] Doctrine and Covenants 1:4 – 6

[7] Doctrine and Covenants 38:41 – 42

[8] Doctrine and Covenants 63:58

[9] Doctrine and Covenants 88:81

[10] Mormon 8:38 “why have ye polluted the holy church of God?”

[11] The Wentworth Letter

[12] 2 Nephi 26:29-30: “He commandeth that there shall be no priestcrafts; for, behold, priestcrafts are that men preach and set themselves up for a light unto the world, that they may get gain and praise of the world; but they seek not the welfare of Zion. Behold, the Lord hath forbidden this thing; wherefore, the Lord God hath given a commandment that all men should have charity, which charity is love.  And except they should have charity they were nothing.  Wherefore, if they should have charity they would not suffer the laborer in Zion to perish.”

[13] https://www.lds.org/general-conference/sessions/2014/10?lang=eng

[14] Doctrine and Covenants 1:38, https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/10/stay-in-the-boat-and-hold-on?lang=eng

[15] 2 Nephi 25:26

[16] Acts 5:29

[17] Doctrine and Covenants 42:13, 46:2

[18] Doctrine and Covenants 46:7–8

[19] Matthew 15:8–9

[20] Titus 1:13 – 16

[21] Colossians 2:8

[22] Mark 7:8 – 9

[23] John 15:1-7

[24] Doctrine and Covenants 1:38

[25] Doctrine and Covenants 20:31-34

[26] 2 Nephi 9:41

[27] Moses 4:1-4

[28] 2 Nephi 4:34

[29] 2 Nephi 28:31 – 32

[30] Matthew 4:19; 9:9; 16:24; 19:21; Mark 2:14; 8:34; 10:21; Luke 5:27; 18:22; John 12:26; 21:19.

[31] Matthew 10:14; Mark 16:11; D&C 76:101.

[32] John 3:10-11

[33] Doctrine and Covenants 64:39

[34] D&C 1:14

[35] JS-Matthew 1:22

[36] http://denversnuffer.blogspot.com/2015/01/follow-and-receive.html

[37] Pearl of Great Price | JS-Matthew 1:22

[38] 1 Nephi 8:4-8

[39] The dark and dreary wilderness signifies the mortal world where we are fallen from the presence of the Lord.

[40] The Tree of Life signifies the presence of the Lord wherein we receive eternal life.  He is the gate!

[41] George Q. Cannon, Gospel Truth: Discourses and Writings of President George Q. Cannon, Selected, arranged and edited by Jerreld L. Newquist, p. 249

[42] Brigham Young, JD, p. 150

[43] Alma 1:3-4 “And he had gone about among the people, preaching to them that which he termed to be the word of God, bearing down against the church; declaring unto the people that every priest and teacher ought to become popular; and they ought not to labor with their hands, but that they ought to be supported by the people.  And he also testified unto the people that all mankind should be saved at the last day, and that they need not fear nor tremble, but that they might lift up their heads and rejoice; for the Lord had created all men, and had also redeemed all men; and, in the end, all men should have eternal life.”

[44] Mosiah 23:7 “But he said unto them: Behold, it is not expedient that we should have a king; for thus saith the Lord: Ye shall not esteem one flesh above another, or one man shall not think himself above another; therefore I say unto you it is not expedient that ye should have a king.”

Mosiah 27:4-5 “That they should let no pride nor haughtiness disturb their peace; that every man should esteem his neighbor as himself, laboring with their own hands for their support. Yea, and all their priests and teachers should labor with their own hands for their support, in all cases save it were in sickness, or in much want; and doing these things, they did abound in the grace of God.”

Alma 1:26 “And when the priests left their labor to impart the word of God unto the people, the people also left their labors to hear the word of God.  And when the priest had imparted unto them the word of God they all returned again diligently unto their labors; and the priest, not esteeming himself above his hearers, for the preacher was no better than the hearer, neither was the teacher any better than the learner; and thus they were all equal, and they did all labor, every man according to his strength.”

[45] Joseph Smith, TPJS p. 206; DHC 4:574

[46] http://www.totheremnant.com/2015/01/prophets-part-4-presidents-popes-and.html

    Of course these comparisons are not absolute; there are exceptions. 

[47] Helaman 13:24 – 33

[48] Alma 1:27 “And they did impart of their substance, every man according to that which he had, to the poor, and the needy, and the sick, and the afflicted; and they did not wear costly apparel, yet they were neat and comely.”

[49] Mosiah 18:24 “And he also commanded them that the priests whom he had ordained should labor with their own hands for their support.”

Mosiah 27:5 “Yea, and all their priests and teachers should labor with their own hands for their support, in all cases save it were in sickness, or in much want; and doing these things, they did abound in the grace of God.”

Doctrine and Covenants 52:39–40 “Let the residue of the elders watch over the churches, and declare the word in the regions round about them; and let them labor with their own hands that there be no idolatry nor wickedness practiced. And remember in all things the poor and the needy, the sick and the afflicted, for he that doeth not these things, the same is not my disciple.”

Alma 1:26 “And when the priests left their labor to impart the word of God unto the people, the people also left their labors to hear the word of God.  And when the priest had imparted unto them the word of God they all returned again diligently unto their labors…”

[50] 2 Nephi 26:29-31 “He commandeth that there shall be no priestcrafts; for, behold, priestcrafts are that men preach and set themselves up for a light unto the world, that they may get gain and praise of the world; but they seek not the welfare of Zion. Behold, the Lord hath forbidden this thing… But the laborer in Zion shall labor for Zion; for if they labor for money they shall perish.”

[51] Alma 1:3,5 “And [Nehor] had gone about among the people, preaching to them that which he termed to be the word of God, bearing down against the church; declaring unto the people that every priest and teacher ought to become popular; and they ought not to labor with their hands, but that they ought to be supported by the people… And it came to pass that he did teach these things so much that many did believe on his words, even so many that they began to support [Nehor] and give him money…”

Alma 1:20 “Yea, [the nonbelievers] did persecute them, and afflict them with all manner of words, and this because of their humility; because they were not proud in their own eyes, and because they did impart the word of God, one with another, without money and without price.”

[52] Alma 1:6 “And he began to be lifted up in the pride of his heart, and to wear very costly apparel, yea, and even began to establish a church after the manner of his preaching.”

Mormon 8:36-37 “And I know that ye do walk in the pride of your hearts; and there are none save a few only who do not lift themselves up in the pride of their hearts, unto the wearing of very fine apparel, unto envying, and strifes, and malice, and persecutions, and all manner of iniquities; and your churches, yea, even every one, have become polluted because of the pride of your hearts. For behold, ye do love money, and your substance, and your fine apparel, and the adorning of your churches, more than ye love the poor and the needy, the sick and the afflicted.”

[53] Alma 1:20 “Yea, [the nonbelievers] did persecute them, and afflict them with all manner of words, and this because of their humility; because they were not proud in their own eyes, and because they did impart the word of God, one with another, without money and without price.”

[54] 2 Nephi 9:50 Come, my brethren, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters; and he that hath no money, come buy and eat; yea, come buy wine and milk without money and without price.

2 Nephi 26:24-27 “Wherefore, he commandeth none that they shall not partake of his salvation. Behold, doth he cry unto any, saying: Depart from me?  Behold, I say unto you, Nay; but he saith: Come unto me all ye ends of the earth, buy milk and honey, without money and without price. Behold, hath he commanded any that they should depart out of the synagogues, or out of the houses of worship?  Behold, I say unto you, Nay. Hath he commanded any that they should not partake of his salvation?  Behold I say unto you, Nay; but he hath given it free for all men…”

[55] Ibid, Mormon 8:32-35 “Yea, it shall come in a day when there shall be churches built up that shall say: Come unto me, and for your money you shall be forgiven of your sins. O ye wicked and perverse and stiffnecked people, why have ye built up churches unto yourselves to get gain?  Why have ye transfigured the holy word of God, that ye might bring damnation upon your souls?  Behold, look ye unto the revelations of God; for behold, the time cometh at that day when all these things must be fulfilled. Behold, the Lord hath shown unto me great and marvelous things concerning that which must shortly come, at that day when these things shall come forth among you. Behold, I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not.  But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing.”

[56] 2 Nephi 26:20 “And the Gentiles are lifted up in the pride of their eyes, and have stumbled, because of the greatness of their stumbling block, that they have built up many churches; nevertheless, they put down the power and miracles of God, and preach up unto themselves their own wisdom and their own learning, that they may get gain and grind upon the face of the poor.”

Mormon 8:37 “For behold, ye do love money, and your substance, and your fine apparel, and the adorning of your churches, more than ye love the poor and the needy, the sick and the afflicted.”

[57] 3 Nephi 11:23; Moroni 6:1-4

[58] 3 Nephi 11:40

[59] Alma 1:4 “And [Nehor] also testified unto the people that all mankind should be saved at the last day, and that they need not fear nor tremble, but that they might lift up their heads and rejoice; for the Lord had created all men, and had also redeemed all men; and, in the end, all men should have eternal life.”

Alma 5:20–21 “I say unto you, can ye think of being saved when you have yielded yourselves to become subjects to the devil? I say unto you, ye will know at that day that ye cannot be saved; for there can no man be saved except his garments are washed white; yea, his garments must be purified until they are cleansed from all stain, through the blood of him of whom it has been spoken by our fathers, who should come to redeem his people from their sins.”

Mormon 8:31 “Yea, it shall come in a day when there shall be great pollutions upon the face of the earth; there shall be murders, and robbing, and lying, and deceivings, and whoredoms, and all manner of abominations; when there shall be many who will say, Do this, or do that, and it mattereth not, for the Lord will uphold such at the last day.  But wo unto such, for they are in the gall of bitterness and in the bonds of iniquity.”

[60] 2 Nephi 9:38 “And, in fine, wo unto all those who die in their sins; for they shall return to God, and behold his face, and remain in their sins.”

Mosiah 15:26 “But behold, and fear, and tremble before God, for ye ought to tremble; for the Lord redeemeth none such that rebel against him and die in their sins; yea, even all those that have perished in their sins ever since the world began, that have wilfully rebelled against God, that have known the commandments of God, and would not keep them; these are they that have no part in the first resurrection.”

Alma 11:34-37 “And Zeezrom said again: Shall he save his people in their sins?  And Amulek answered and said unto him: I say unto you he shall not, for it is impossible for him to deny his word. Now Zeezrom said unto the people: See that ye remember these things; for he said there is but one God; yet he saith that the Son of God shall come, but he shall not save his people—as though he had authority to command God. Now Amulek saith again unto him: Behold thou hast lied, for thou sayest that I spake as though I had authority to command God because I said he shall not save his people in their sins. And I say unto you again that he cannot save them in their sins; for I cannot deny his word, and he hath said that no unclean thing can inherit the kingdom of heaven; therefore, how can ye be saved, except ye inherit the kingdom of heaven?  Therefore, ye cannot be saved in your sins.

[61] 2 Nephi 28:8-12

[62] Doctrine and Covenants 76:109

[63] Doctrine and Covenants 88:17-32

[64] 2 Nephi 26:20 “And the Gentiles are lifted up in the pride of their eyes, and have stumbled, because of the greatness of their stumbling block, that they have built up many churches; nevertheless, they put down the power and miracles of God, and preach up unto themselves their own wisdom and their own learning, that they may get gain and grind upon the face of the poor.”

Alma 13:20 “Now I need not rehearse the matter; what I have said may suffice.  Behold, the scriptures are before you; if ye will wrest them it shall be to your own destruction.”

Alma 17:2 “Now these sons of Mosiah were with Alma at the time the angel first appeared unto him; therefore Alma did rejoice exceedingly to see his brethren; and what added more to his joy, they were still his brethren in the Lord; yea, and they had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth; for they were men of a sound understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God.”

3 Nephi 23:14 “And now it came to pass that when Jesus had expounded all the scriptures in one, which they had written, he commanded them that they should teach the things which he had expounded unto them.”

Doctrine and Covenants 42:59-60 “Thou shalt take the things which thou hast received, which have been given unto thee in my scriptures for a law, to be my law to govern my church; And he that doeth according to these things shall be saved, and he that doeth them not shall be damned if he so continue.”

[65] Alma 41:1 “AND now, my son, I have somewhat to say concerning the restoration of which has been spoken; for behold, some have wrested the scriptures, and have gone far astray because of this thing.”

Doctrine and Covenants 10:62-63 “Yea, and I will also bring to light my gospel which was ministered unto them, and, behold, they shall not deny that which you have received, but they shall build it up, and shall bring to light the true points of my doctrine, yea, and the only doctrine which is in me. And this I do that I may establish my gospel, that there may not be so much contention; yea, Satan doth stir up the hearts of the people to contention concerning the points of my doctrine; and in these things they do err, for they do wrest the scriptures and do not understand them.”

[66] Mormon 8:33 “O ye wicked and perverse and stiffnecked people, why have ye built up churches unto yourselves to get gain?  Why have ye transfigured the holy word of God, that ye might bring damnation upon your souls?  Behold, look ye unto the revelations of God; for behold, the time cometh at that day when all these things must be fulfilled.”

[67] Doctrine and Covenants 46:2

[68] Doctrine and Covenants 50:13-20

[69] Denver Snuffer, Idaho Falls – Lectures on Faith transcript, pp. 6-7

[70] Mormon 8:23

[71] Doctrine and Covenants 42:59-60

[72] Doctrine and Covenants 58:19 – 20

[73] Doctrine and Covenants 98:8 – 9

[74] Doctrine and Covenants 82:10

[75] 1 Nephi 13:26-27

[76] 1 Nephi 13:29

[77] 2 Nephi 28:15

[78] Doctrine and Covenants 1:15-16 “For they have strayed from mine ordinances, and have broken mine everlasting covenant; They seek not the Lord to establish his righteousness, but every man walketh in his own way, and after the image of his own god, whose image is in the likeness of the world, and whose substance is that of an idol, which waxeth old and shall perish in Babylon, even Babylon the great, which shall fall.”

[79] Isaiah 24:5

[80] 3 Nephi 24:7

[81] Deuteronomy 12:32

[82] 3 Nephi 11:23-28

[83] Mosiah 18:12-13

[84] Doctrine and Covenants 20:73

[85] http://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/articles-and-covenants-circa-april-1830-dc-20/1

[86] 3 Nephi 18:13

[87] Moroni 4:2; D&C 20:76

[88] 3 Nephi 18:3-9

[89] 3 Nephi 18:8, 20:5-8;  Moroni 5:2; D&C 20:78-79;

[90] Doctrine and Covenants 27:1-4

[91] Doctrine and Covenants 89:5-6

[92] Doctrine and Covenants 121:39-42 “We have learned by sad experience that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion. Hence many are called, but few are chosen. No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned; By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile—”

[93] Doctrine and Covenants 121:41

[94] Doctrine and Covenants 121:37

[95] Doctrine and Covenants 121:39

[96] 2 Nephi 32:1-3

[97] Denver C. Snuffer Jr., Passing the Heavenly Gift, 2011

[98] 2 Nephi 25:26 – 27 “And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins. Wherefore, we speak concerning the law that our children may know the deadness of the law; and they, by knowing the deadness of the law, may look forward unto that life which is in Christ, and know for what end the law was given.  And after the law is fulfilled in Christ, that they need not harden their hearts against him when the law ought to be done away.

[99] 2 Nephi 28:21

[100] 2 Nephi 28:8 – 9

[101] 2 Nephi 28:9

[102] Denver Snuffer, Nephi’s Isaiah, p. 111

[103] Denver Snuffer, Nephi’s Isaiah, p. 61

[104] Denver Snuffer, Nephi’s Isaiah, p. 60

[105] 2 Nephi 12:17

[106] Denver Snuffer, Nephi’s Isaiah, p. 126

[107] Exodus 20:3 “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”

Exodus 34:14 “Thou shalt worship no other god; for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.”

[108] Helaman 12:4 – 6

[109] Doctrine and Covenants 29:34

[110] Ephesians 6:12

[111] 3 Nephi 19:22

[112] Isaiah 28:1-12

[113] Isaiah 29:8-15

[114] https://web.archive.org/web/20160911045005/http://puremormonism.blogspot.com/2012/12/are-we-paying-too-much-tithing.html

[115] 2 Nephi 28:12

[116] D&C 20:32 “But there is a possibility that man may fall from grace and depart from the living God; therefore let the church take heed and pray always, lest they fall into temptation; yea, and even let those who are sanctified take heed also.”

[117] 3 Nephi 6:20 – 21

[118] Jeffrey Holland instruction to CES employees, Feb 6 2015

[119] Doctrine and Covenants 13:1

[120] Doctrine and Covenants 84:6-14

[121] Daniel 2:34-35 “Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.”

Daniel 2:44-45 “And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.”

Doctrine and Covenants 65:1-3 “HEARKEN, and lo, a voice as of one sent down from on high, who is mighty and powerful, whose going forth is unto the ends of the earth, yea, whose voice is unto men—Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. The keys of the kingdom of God are committed unto man on the earth, and from thence shall the gospel roll forth unto the ends of the earth, as the stone which is cut out of the mountain without hands shall roll forth, until it has filled the whole earth. Yea, a voice crying—Prepare ye the way of the Lord, prepare ye the supper of the Lamb, make ready for the Bridegroom.”

[122] Wilford Woodruff, Conference Report, Apr. 1898, p. 57

[123] Doctrine and Covenants, Official Declaration 1:11

[124] Doctrine and Covenants 105:1-5

[125] Moses 7:18

[126] Doctrine and Covenants 84:98

[127] Doctrine and Covenants 97:15 – 28

[128] Doctrine and Covenants 84:22 – 26

[129] 2 Nephi 28:21

[130] Me

[131] Doctrine and Covenants 29:35-39