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Our fellowship, in its past regular Sunday meeting, became aware as a group that we are in peril. When I say “we” I am referring to the Restoration effort going on today and all those who identify with it. This movement stands in jeopardy.

I have been aware for some time of various efforts among us to take “the Gospel” to the “Lamanites.” Some have done this by living among them for short or extended periods of time. Some have carried Books of Mormon of one edition or another to a target group of their choosing. Others have developed video content to be put on the internet in general, and otherwise on some very specific sites. I applaud all these efforts. I think they all have merit, and I personally think it shows the Spirit of the Lord working on many who have come to feel they have specific responsibilities with the Seed of Lehi. Reading again in the Answer to the Covenant, a person comes to realize that our being blessed by having taken the Covenant is contingent upon two very direct commandments given by our Lord immediately when we sat down after saying “Yes.”

“Now hear the words of the Lord to those who receive this covenant this day.” (Commandment #1) “Teach your children to honor me.” (Commandment #2) “Seek to recover the lost sheep remnant of this land and of Israel and no longer forsake them. Bring them unto me and teach them of my ways, to walk in them.”(T&C 158: 9&11.)

Then to our dismay all of a sudden we learn that these disparate groups have received an invitation by the Hand of God, to allow him to help unify their efforts – which they reject. My hell people, haven’t we learned anything. The podcast this was reported on went on to say that maybe we’ll have to dissolve this fractured effort and wait for a more faithful group of people to rise up, who are willing to bend their effort according to the Lord’s way of doing things; which is to be as noble in their efforts to bring something about as is hopefully, their product.

One in our fellowship, however, interjected a hopeful rumor into this forlorn discussion, in that he heard that in just the last day or so there might be a re-think on their knee-jerk dismissal to the offer of help for unification, and that reconciliation among the factions might yet be possible.

We certainly hope so!

In fact we are counting on it. You, who have had this inspiration to work on this Lamanite effort, have had months and years devoted to your efforts. You have discovered many of the questions which need addressing and maybe even a few of the answers. You have at this point the experience of having gone through a Movement wide effort to produce Scriptures, a Statement of Principles, establish a Temple Fund, and see a Restoration Archives process get underway, et al. And you have right in front of you an on going example of a unified effort to take the Gospel message to the Jews. None of these could have been accomplished or come as far as they have with out unification. They would have all failed, and so will you, without a unified effort. So far none of these have failed. Not that there hasn’t been some butting of knot heads.

So, Are you going to be the first? You may think I have no business butting in with my 2 cents when I am not on any of these group efforts. Well, in that you’d be wrong! We all out here stand in peril of losing what’s been offered if you butt-heads [with those others] who have been personally inspired by the Lord and now are under offer by the Hand of God to help produce unification, shatter like glass, and think you can do this on your own.

So, here’s what we’re gonna do for you. As a fellowship we’re going to pray collectively and individually for you all to get your act together, repent, and come together with your collective knowledge of the subject, and with the help of a dispensation head produce a viable effort.

None of you can affect my individual salvation, but you can make it impossible for me to see Zion in my lifetime. It’s hell for a guy like me to have to admit something like that. I hope I never cause an outcome of something like that for you because of something I refuse to do, which is something of the heart.

SO….

We of this fellowship are exercising our faith, praying for you, individually and collectively we will be praying for your complete turn around and success in this effort you have been called to.

We invite all other fellowships to do the same

with all our love!

There seems to be a misconception among some as to what a donation to the temple fund, run by the three sisters who comprise the Temple Fund Committee, will actually gain for you.

I have heard speculation from some that entrance into Zion will guarantee them the dream home they have always wanted, a plot of ground commensurate with the amount of their donation, and “free everything” just because they are there. And if it does not, why should they consider giving all they have to live in reduced circumstances.

I hear very little about the humility and repentance and lack of self aggrandizement it will require, from the “chat” taking place “out there.”

On the other hand I do hear some self deprecation from those, primarily who have small means. Many wish they could donate more, and some because they can’t, feel they have little hope that someone making such a pittance (in their view) of a donation will ever get noticed by God or those they are sure will have power over their getting into Zion, because of those other’s huge donations. Somehow this sounds somewhat less like humility, and more like envy.

I have my doubts that the donations given for any of the above reasons and/or any others of similar ilk represent the state of heart (and mind) of one who is well prepared to live in such a community. It was never the idea of the Temple Fund Committee that they would receive and build a fund from the self serving or those dependent upon the admiration of their fellows. Their intent was that there are enough who earnestly seek the approbation of their God. Those who want nothing more than to serve and please Him regardless of any cost to themselves.

Therefore at the very first of this funding attempt a credo was put into writing as part of the GoFundMe effort to gather funds, which stated what they expected from any individual or group that contributed, and now remains the same regardless of how they choose to contribute.

Have you read it? I’m beginning to think many haven’t. I have therefore attached it in its entirety lest what these sisters expectations from their contributors are, is not well known.

This credo is in the person of Elaine Henderson because the GoFundMe account was established in her name but represented the views of the entire Temple Fund Committee and still does. The names of the committee are Karen Strong, Jan VanLeer, and Elaine Henderson.

Keith

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Hi

My name is Elaine Henderson. I am part of a loosely knit group of fellowships which believe and practice the Doctrine of Christ through baptism by immersion by one holding the authority and power from heaven, and receiving, because of this baptism, the Holy Ghost and baptism of Fire as promised by God the Father through His Son, Jesus Christ. I also believe many other things advocated by God through the scriptures such as helping the poor, and being kind to all people.

One of the very strong beliefs which I have is that of advancement in knowledge and the receipt of higher ordinances to better prepare me and all people with my same desire to meet our Lord and Savior when that time comes. I believe that every person should have opportunity for an increase in these things while in this mortal life, and I believe an acceptable temple in the eyes of God to be the great motivator in these things. I do not believe there is currently any place on this earth approved by my Heavenly Father which can afford me all those kinds of blessings which I desire.

Consequently:

I am setting up this fund to establish means by which gifts can be collected from all those who would desire to contribute.  As these funds accumulate they will be transferred by GoFundMe to a personal account solely in my charge and keeping, where such funds will generate interest, and the amount of funds will accumulate until it is appropriate to begin the effort described herein.

This temple fund will be used exclusively for the purchase of land and the construction of the temple building on that land. These funds will be used for any and all needs related to that construction.  Architectural drawings, permits, building contractors, etc. will all be needed.

In gifting to this fund all must understand there is no personal monetary or real property value to be accrued to yourself, or any other, or position or status to be obtained by your gift. Your gift must be made solely because you believe this is a worthy project, or that you are pleasing your God by doing so.

God bless you in your kindness and obedience to Him.

Elaine

According to David W. Maurer, writing in The Big Con (1940), there was a similar saying amongst con men: “There’s a mark born every minute, and one to trim ’em and one to knock ’em.” Here “trim” means to steal from, and “knock” means to persuade away from the scam. The meaning is that there is no shortage of new victims, nor of con men, nor of honest men.

Hi folks

I have sent this to many. You may agree with my views, or disagree. What we should all be thankful for is that we still have that prerogative, at least.

Maybe this is a stupid question but I’m going to ask it anyway. Why haven’t we heard of any small business filing a lawsuit in some court or another for the destruction of their business and their personal livelihood? Why hasn’t any individual in this country filed law suit for unlawful termination of his/her employment? Why is their no outcry through the courts over the legitimacy of other’s actions, which are causing so much havoc personally and collectively? Has fear or panic become a defense for any government entity or person to tread on the life and rights of another? Is this some great conspiracy which I alone am not privy to? Why aren’t the courts jammed rather than the hospitals? These may not even be the right questions to ask. There may be others which are much better.

Have we collectively lost our minds and become automatons; soon to be wards of the state, for a promised and yet to be delivered measley $1.200.00 pay off by the “leadership,” leaving behind our constitutional right to assemble, and who knows how many other freedoms, lest we contract a certain virus, because we fear a 2% chance of death more than the loss of our freedoms? And do we think this payoff will be without strings?

I can’t quite understand how we have been gullibly sucked so quickly and so easily into this hoax with no outcry. Satan must certainly be holding the chains with which we are bound, and looking up toward heaven, laughing.

I grew up in an era when we were taught by the education system to espouse a great outcry, given out by Patrick Henry, one of our founding fathers, who was a great force in establishing our Bill of Rights, as part of our personal creed to live by, when he shouted out, “give me liberty or give me death.” Does anyone else remember that?

I just got back today from Colorado where It seemed I have become a witness to the beginning of the dying throes of a great nation. Utah cops, stationed about every 20 miles from my house to the border seemed to just be watching and waiting for something.

Maybe God will use this “crisis” to further some great purpose. On that I can’t really say, but it certainly is painful and embarrassing to watch.

I am astounded!! I am only one voice, but I AM one voice, and I have this organ to use it.

Maybe this is just some bizarre April Fool’s joke and then we wake up…….

Keith

Pinning down what comprises ascending “Jacob’s ladder” is kind of an elusive thing. There isn’t an exact overlay between the plethora of pattern’s of ascension.  In fact another seeming path of ascension seldom discussed is that of gaining the experience, thus the titles of so many players there seems to be a need of, in the running of a world like this one.  For instance it requires an Adam, a Noah, a Melchizedek, an Abraham, dispensation heads, greater and lesser prophets, etc, etc, etc.  And standing as a great light above all, one who becomes a Savior of us all.  

Granted there is experiential overlap between some or all these characters, so I don’t know if it’s absolutely essential to become every one of these, and so thus I don’t know if it’s even proper to consider all these roles as a pattern of ascension.  Maybe that’s the same order of thinking, we indulged in when we thought the line of ascension was elder’s quorum president, bishop’s councilor, bishop, high councilor, sp councilor, sp, mission president, 70, apostle, and then becoming that high and holy luminary, president of the church, which none of us ever had a snowball’s chance in hell of becoming. I term this the BY – RMN pattern of ascension.

No; I think the most likely pattern of ascension is ordinance based, with these ordinances grounded in commandment, covenant and subsequently knowledge. For example, marrying a woman who will covenant with you that you are her choice, and that she will remain with you and love and sustain you; and then having that association and those promises ratified by the Holy Spirit of Promise, thus constituting an ordinance recognized as a required part of ascension on Jacob’s ladder. In fact nothing higher than where that ordinance puts you on that ladder will be attained unless or until this ordinance is in place.

The above paragraphs are a segue into the something below that has consumed a lot of my thinking lately.

If Jesus Christ and myself are begotten sons of the same spiritual parents, then it would seem that the redemptive sacrifice made by our Father in His round of creation would have been for both of us.  I am assuming that the Father made a similar redemptive sacrifice in a realm of creation which would have been created for Him as the selected Redeemer because of the many times Christ said, in this creation, “I only do those things which I have seen my Father do.”

This redemptive sacrifice which the Father made, would have been for all of the inhabitants of that world for which He (The Father) would have been designated as God.  But just as in this round of creation most will not reap the full effects of the sacrifice offered and given by the Son, so that redemptive sacrifice by the Father as the Son may be that which is termed by Alma as a preparatory redemption for those coming here who were prepared to only accept a portion.  Not for Christ, however, because He made full acceptance of what was offered by the Father, and became entitled to become a redeemer Himself.

So, for those that accept in this round of creation the full effect of what our Savior has now made possible again, we (they) become entitled to the right to be a redeemer, and for those that don’t accept the offered fullness, that which Christ has done will be considered for them another preparatory redemption, and they will move on again, added upon by what they have received.  In other words they will receive a resurrection and a portion of glory, but not a fullness.  And around it goes, each round being a preparatory redemption for the one to follow.  However, each round spinning off a few who become Sons to Him who becomes their Father, becoming redeemers themselves in this path of ascension.

It seems implausible to me that Christ’s redemptive sacrifice saved Himself (that’s almost an oxymoron).  It, however, did propel Him into becoming like the Father, having life and resurrection endemic within Himself, and it did save His Wife, just as we have learned that the Father’s redemptive sacrifice saved the Mother.  That redemptive sacrifice by the Father also saved the Son.  And for those who are now prepared for, and accept the fullness of the redemptive offering of the Son in this round will also be saved as Sons to Him who now becomes their Father.  For where was there ever a Son without a Father or a Father without a Son?

For those to whom the offered, redemptive sacrifice remains only a preparatory sacrifice, will, when they awake and resume and complete the climb, probably be saved as a Son to a completely different Father than the one to whom they now pray.

I think there may very well be the potential for a significant number of redeemers produced from this round of creation, and creations a plenty created by their Father (He whom we now call the Son) for which there is a need and opportunity. 

Keith
 

Since the blog post “Why a Temple” came out, I have sat in on way too many conversations which weigh the pro’s and con’s of being taken “up to a high mountain” into the presence of Jesus Christ in order to receive one’s Calling and Election versus receiving it through what most are convinced is the way more mundane process of receiving one’s covenants and ordinances through a temple ceremony in Zion. When I’m asked what I think, I usually just say “sounds like they are equivalent for the purpose to me.” Here’s why I say that:

There are too many equivalencies made in too many of Denver’s writings for us to not understand that the rites, and covenants, and ordinances received in the temple In Zion will be the same as though we had stood in the presence of Christ to receive these things. Below I have presented some things he has said:

. “Information can be sacred. It can be controlled by God so that when He determines to communicate it to man He will do so either by catching the individual up into the heavenly realm or by commanding that a temple be built to house His revelations. Either option will require that those who enter in must be approved by His decree, because the way is guarded by sentinels who protect what is Holy from what is profane.” (The Holy Order paper. P.4, last paragraph.). the “either/or” in this case is the establishing of an equivalency.

. “The purpose of a temple (meaning an actual temple commissioned, ordered, blessed, accepted, and visited with His Presence) becomes holy ground and the means for making available to faithful people in every state of belief and hope the opportunity to receive, by authorized means, the same covenant, obligation, association, expectation and sealing through an authorized and binding arrangement in sacred space. This is the SAME THING they can receive from God directly if they enter into His presence while still in the flesh.” (“Why a Temple” P. 3, 1st paragraph. Emphasis mine.)

. “The purpose of a temple (meaning a real temple) is to substitute for the temporary ascent of a mortal into God’s presence.” (“Why a Temple” P. 3, 2nd paragraph.) Now my personal feeling about the word “substitute” is that it doesn’t just mean “to stand in place of, until….” If I substitute a different brand of yeast in bread making, it is intended that it will work just as well in making the bread rise. And if it does so, then it is an effective “substitute.”

. “In ritual (through the temple) it is possible to convey a great body of information with symbolism, metaphor, relationships, and types that work on the mind the same way that visionary experiences directly with God convey.” (“Why a Temple” P. 3 Paragraph #3.)

. “The LDS version of temple rites is insufficient to allow anyone to obtain the right to ascend to God’s presence in eternity. The Lord will fix this, as He intends to establish an Ensign to which all nations (meaning scattered, covenant Israel) will return in the last days and there receive their crowns at the hands of servants who will minister covenants for this purpose” (D&C 133: 31-34). (Why a Temple” P. 4-5.)

So, if we are hinging our belief against the equivalency of these things because of a statement made by Denver wherein he said; “The Temple ceremony is not the real thing. It is a symbol of the real thing.” Then we must also say that a visionary experience with Christ is also not the real thing (meaning exaltation) but is a symbol of the real thing. Both accomplish the same thing, which is to convey information that the individual is authorized after death to continue the upward ascent. Neither a promise from the lips of Christ nor temple rites are the upward ascent, but both promise that we are authorized, and teach how to continue in that ascent. And according to JS that will still be a long while after we die and have accomplished many things which make us exactly as Christ is, with life and resurrection within us.

The great thing about having one with The Holy Order on the earth is that he can minister as the Holy Spirit of Promise, which to my mind is to minister as, and in the stead of Jesus Christ, according to His command.

And God does this all for mankind, because He will not even be thwarted by the weakness of men.

Keith

PS Now by making these comparisons am I saying there is no need to seek the face of Jesus Christ? Heavens no, it’s a commandment!!

A popular university psychology professor offered an exercise to his students each semester just before the final exam. In this offer he emailed each student the choice that they could accept a 2 point extra credit addition to their final exam score or they could accept a 6 point addition.

The hitch to the offer was, that if more than 10% of the class chose the 6 point offer, none of the class would receive any extra credit points.

It turned out that over a period of several years enough students in each class justified to themselves their need or desire or right to those 6 points, that not once in those years did those choosing 6 points fall in number below the 10% required for any in the class to receive extra credit points.

1st variant

The teacher then devised an interesting variant on the exercise, which made it possible for a student to choose 0 extra credit points. For each student choosing 0 points, 1 person, randomly selected, would be eliminated from the group choosing 6 points, losing everything.

From that point on almost half of the classes qualified under the original requirement that required less than 10% of the class to opt for 6 points in order for all of the students to receive the extra credit points they selected. It even accomplished this at times with no one choosing the 0 point option.

I have sat here for a long time now pondering what this all means and what I would do. Of the 0 pointer’s or 2 pointer’s or 6 pointer’s, which do you think has a higher developed sense of altruism?

Perhaps we might consider a couple of other questions:

. Do you think so many persons attempting to maximize their personal benefit means it’s human nature to be greedy and selfish, or are some simply being strategic?
. Do you think the ones who choose 0 points do it because they are selfless or is there possibility for other motives?
. Which option of the exercise – the original or the variant – do you think demonstrates a more highly developed cooperative nature as a class unit?
. What would you do?

There are some lines from an old Beatles song that tells us: “All the world is a birthday cake / so take a piece / but not too much.”

Keith Henderson

Furthermore, besides the history which it would seem the claimants of the receipt of the sealed plates got wrong, and the little (make that no) work or effort those claimants went through to get them, (see blog post May 10, 2018. Denver Snuffer.) it would seem to me there are other things to be considered.

By the time Joseph Smith received the plates promised him by the resurrected angel Nephi, four more years of personal preparation had gone into being prepared and deemed trustworthy by the powers of heaven to deal with the information which they would transmit to him through those plates and personal revelation they would give him attending to issues therein.

In the economy of the Lord another has now been in process of being prepared for the receipt of items and knowledge which will continue the Restoration which was begun through Joseph. This man began delivering information given him by Jesus Christ in 2005 and since that time the pace has progressively increased to the point that today there is a covenant group of people actively contemplating the establishment of Zion.

This man – Denver Snuffer – has been consistently revealing God’s words of required repentance, increasing our knowledge of how God deals with man, and the beauties and simplicity of Christ’s Gospel, through series of lectures, written books, written papers on many vital topics, personal examples of sacrifice, and a single minded commitment to God and His work.

He has gained our trust through consistency and untiring work trying to teach us not to be like him, but to surpass that and be like Jesus Christ. He has gained no monetary value from the work he has performed. He has been the greatest promoter of the virtue and the works of Joseph Smith Jr. helping us to understand that before a restoration can continue after a long hiatus, what went before must also be understood.

Where are there any others who can rival the trust we can all have in God’s choice of Denver Snuffer as the servant He has chosen to be His mouthpiece, as He continues the restoration? Where is their consistency over the past 13 years? Did they speak truths at the very first of their calling which they hardly understood, which are now being fleshed out in added glory?

Why would God choose this group in Brazil to deliver these precious plates to, by the hand of Moroni/Nephi when they can’t even tell correctly who delivered them? Where is their personal preparation? What have they done? Where is the group they have prepared with God’s word? Where will their Zion be? Brazil?

I shudder to think that these people probably did have a messenger who called himself Moroni, who did deliver a set of plates of some kind with some kind of content on them. I shudder that others are leaving their salvation to follow such things. But even Lehi followed a man dressed in white for hours through a dark and dreary wilderness. But then he prayed.

As for us, we will wait for those real plates to be given through a trusted messenger, and in the meantime we will, with relish, savor many of the teachings in those very plates given by the mercy and generosity of God through that same trusted messenger, as God tries us, and prepares us for what is still to come. If we can only believe, there will not be many great surprises when we finally get our individual chance to check that precious volume out of the Temple treasury and see with our own eyes, that which we already know through the Record of Heaven.

Keith Henderson