The Importance of Following the Living Prophet: “I do not believe members of this Church can be in full harmony with the Savior without sustaining His living prophet on the earth, the President of the Church. If we do not sustain the living prophet, whoever he may be, we die spiritually. Ironically, some have died spiritually by exclusively following prophets who have long been dead. Others equivocate in their support of living prophets, trying to lift themselves up by putting down the living prophets, however subtly.” --President James E. Faust, Ensign, Aug. 96, p.5. “Brother Brigham took the stand, and he took the Bible, and laid it down; he took the Book of Mormon, and laid it down; and he took the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, and laid it down before him, and he said: ‘There is the written word of God to us… and now,’ said he, ‘when compared with the living oracles those books are nothing to me; those books do not convey the word of God direct to us now… I would rather have the living oracles than all the writing in the books.’ When he was through Brother Joseph said to the congregation, ‘Brother Brigham has told you the word of the Lord, and he has told you the truth.’ ” --Elder Wilford Woodruff in Conference Report, Oct. 1897, pp. 22-23
“Now the only safety we have as members of this church is to do exactly what the Lord said to the Church in that day when the Church was organized. We must learn to give heed to the words and commandments that the Lord shall give through his prophet, ‘as he receiveth them, walking in all holiness before me;. . . as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith.’ (D&C 21:4-5.) There will be some things that take patience and faith. You may not like what comes form the authority of the Church. It may contradict your political views. It may contradict your social views. It may interfere with some of your social life. But if you listen to these things, as if from the mouth of the Lord himself, with patience and faith, the promise is that ‘the gates of hell shall not prevail against you; yea, and the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake for your good, and his name’s glory.’ (D&C 21:6.)” – President Harold B. Lee, in Conference Report, Oct. 1970, p. 152)
From “Spiritual Crocodiles” by Elder Boyd K. Packer, April Conference, 1976. I could see for myself that there were no crocodiles. I was so sure of myself I think I might have walked out just to see what was there. Such an arrogant approach could have been fatal! But he was patient enough to teach me. My young friends, I hope you’ll be wiser in talking to your guides than I was on that occasion. That smart-aleck idea that I knew everything really wasn’t worthy of me, nor is it worthy of you. I’m not very proud of it, and I think I’d be ashamed to tell you about it except that telling you may help you. Those ahead of you in life have probed about the water holes a bit and raise a voice of warning about crocodiles. Not just the big, gray lizards that can bite you to pieces, but spiritual crocodiles, infinitely more dangerous, and more deceptive and less visible, even, than those well-camouflaged reptiles of Africa. These spiritual crocodiles can kill or mutilate your souls. They can destroy your peace of mind and the peace of mind of those who love you. Those are the ones to be warned against, and there is hardly a watering place in all of mortality now that is not infested with them.
Prophesy of Samuel the Lamanite Concerning the Birth and Death of the Savior Helaman 14:1-31 The Birth of Jesus Christ The Fulfillment 1. Christ is to be born in 5 years (vs. 2) 3 Nephi 1:13 2. No darkness for two days (vs 3, 4) 3 Nephi 1:15 3. A new star to arise (vs. 5) 3 Nephi 1:21 4. Other signs A. many signs and wonders in Not mentioned heaven (vs. 6) B. People to fall to the earth (vs. 7) Not mentioned The Death of the Lord The Fulfillment 1. Sun to be darkened, moon and stars 3 Nephi 8:19-23 not to give light for three days (vs. 20, 27) 2. Signs of the earth A. Thuderings and lightnings for 3 Nephi 8:6, 7 many hours (vs. 21) B. Earth to shake and tremble and 3 Nephi 8:12, 17, 18 be broken up (vs. 21, 22) C. Tempests, mountains to be laid 3 Nephi 8:5, 6 low, valleys raised (vs. 23) D. Highways to be broken up, 3 Nephi 8:8-11, 13 cities to become desolate (vs. 24) 3. Many graves to be opened and 3 Nephi 23:9-14 people resurrected, who shall appear unto many (vs. 25)
Helaman 14:15- 16 Question: Does Christ’s atonement redeem all mankind UNCONDITIONALLY from the physical death Adam’s fall brought into the world? Answer: Yes. Everyone will be resurrected (I Cor. 15:20-22). Question: Does Christ’s atonement redeem all mankind UNCONDITIONALLY from the spiritual death Adam’s fall brought into the world? Answer: Yes! The spiritual death Adam brought into the world was our separation from God by leaving his presence. “Adam fell that man might be” (came to this earth) by leaving God’s presence (2 Nephi 2:25). This spiritual death is called the “first death” by Samuel the Lamanite (Hel. 14:16). Note that this death is unconditionally overcome since everyone is brought back to God’s presence (Hel. 14:17). The spiritual death that is CONDITIONAL is called by Samuel the “second death” where man is “cut off again” as to things pertaining to righteousness (Hel. 14:18). This means that he cannot remain in God’s presence after he is brought back to be judged because of his unresolved sins.
Notice the number of places in the scriptures we are told that his first spiritual death (leaving Gods presence) is unconditionally overcome for everyone through the atonement. If everyone weren’t brought back, the atonement wouldn’t be infinite. 2 Nephi 2:9-10 All men come unto God and stand in His presence to be Judged. 2 Nephi 9:15, 22, 38 All are resurrected. All stand before Him, even the wicked. Alma 11:43-44 We shall stand before God. This “restoration” comes to all. Alma 12:12-15, 24 All are brought to the bar. Some will want to hide. We must prepare to meet God. Alma 42:23 The atonement restores all men to his presence according to the law. Helaman 14:15-17 All are redeemed from spiritual death. All are brought back to the presence of the Lord. 3 Nephi 26:4 All people, nations, tongues shall stand before God.
Commentary on Helaman 15:4 This is strong language. One would assume that Samuel did not mean to convey the thought that God actually hated the Lamanites, at least not in the sense that mortal man hate one another. Rather, because of their rebellion, because they rejected the light and spurned the association with God through the spirit that they might have enjoyed, they alienated themselves from the love of the Father. It is not that God does not love them, but that he simply is unable to bless them as he would those who choose the right. "If you keep not my commandments," a modern revelation attests, "the love of the Father shall not continue with you, therefore you shall walk in darkness" (D&C 95:12). In the same vein, John the Beloved wrote: "Whoso keepeth [God's] word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him... Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." (1 John 2:5). Joseph Fielding McConkie and Robert L. Millet, Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Page 418.
The Blessings of the Lamanites in the Last Days Distribution of the one million members who joined the Church in 1987-1989: Canada 8,000 US East 68,000 Africa 16,000 US West 93,000 Utah 31,000 Asia 94,000 South Pacific 43,000 Central 301,000 America/Mexico Europe 44,000 South America 301,000 --Source: Encyclopedia of Mormonism Vol. 4, p. 1522.
The Nephites and Lamanites each received a promise in the beginning, and each promise contained two parts. . . .For the Lamanites the penalty of their back-sliding is that they shall be scattered in smitten and driven by the Gentiles; the reward of their faith is that they are to survive all their afflictions and in time become the Lord's own people again. For the Nephites the promised reward of faith is that nothing on earth can without their own will and action in any way ever mar their liberty, security, prosperity, and happiness: "And now there was nothing in all the land to hinder the people from prospering continually, except they should fall into transgression" (3 Nephi 6:5). This tremendous guarantee is matched by a promise of total extinction in case they should fail to comply with the conditions of the contract. Since they never became fully ripe in inequity as did the Nephites, the Lamanites were allowed to remain in the land, paying for the privilege by taking a terrible beating: "Wherefore, if ye are cursed, behold, I leave my blessing upon you... Because of my blessing the Lord God will not suffer that ye shall perish" (2 Nephi 4:6-7). It was an unconditional promise of survival. No such promise was given the Nephites , and Enos was told that thought the Nephites might perish, still the Lamanites would survive to receive his record (Enos 1:13,16). –Hugh Nibley, Since Cumorah, pp. 389-390.
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