Letter to Jeremy Runnells (CES Letter)

This is a letter written to Jeremy Runnells to directly respond to a letter Jeremy Runnells wrote to a director in the church education system (CES) about many issues with LDS history, veracity of the Book of Mormon and Book of Abraham and other issues.

https://www.scribd.com/document/337312454/Letter-to-Jeremy-Runnells

April 6, 2017 Excommunication

God works through covenants established through a law and a commandment. Through His grace, He gives men and women the opportunity to establish a covenant with Him, so covenant blessings can follow. The Book of Mormon is a law and commandment and a covenant. This law and the covenant was given to Joseph Smith by the last record keeper of the Nephite dispensation, Moroni. Like all the record keepers before, Moroni was given charge of the records. Moroni took and preserved the record as his people were getting destroyed. Moroni then hid the scriptures in a sacred box in the hill Cumorah.

When the Church of Christ was organized on April 6, 1830, the law and commandment used was the Book of Mormon. This enabled the opportunity to receive a covenant. In April, 1830 the following was communicated to the Church of Christ.

“The rise of the Church of Christ in these last days, being one thousand eight hundred and thirty years since the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the flesh, it being regularly organized and established agreeable to the laws of our country, by the will and commandments of God, in the fourth month, and on the sixth day of the month which is called April—

Which commandments were given to Joseph Smith, Jun., who was called of God, and ordained an apostle of Jesus Christ, to be the first elder of this church;

And to Oliver Cowdery, who was also called of God, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to be the second elder of this church, and ordained under his hand;

And this according to the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to whom be all glory, both now and forever. Amen.

After it was truly manifested unto this first elder that he had received a remission of his sins, he was entangled again in the vanities of the world;

But after repenting, and humbling himself sincerely, through faith, God ministered unto him by an holy angel, whose countenance was as lightning, and whose garments were pure and white above all other whiteness;

And gave unto him commandments which inspired him;

And gave him power from on high, by the means which were before prepared, to translate the Book of Mormon;

Which contains a record of a fallen people, and the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles and to the Jews also;

Which was given by inspiration, and is confirmed to others by the ministering of angels, and is declared unto the world by them—

Proving to the world that the holy scriptures are true, and that God does inspire men and call them to his holy work in this age and generation, as well as in generations of old;

Thereby showing that he is the same God yesterday, today, and forever. Amen.

Therefore, having so great witnesses, by them shall the world be judged, even as many as shall hereafter come to a knowledge of this work.

And those who receive it [Book of Mormon]in faith, and work righteousness, shall receive a crown of eternal life;

But those who harden their hearts in unbelief, and reject it, it shall turn to their own condemnation—

For the Lord God has spoken it; and we, the elders of the church, have heard and bear witness to the words of the glorious Majesty on high, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” D&C 20: 1-16

The counsel and admonition to the church was to receive the witnesses provided by God. The Book of Mormon is a law and a commandment, and a witness to the LDS church. It contains the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ, which is the fullness of God’s blessings and priesthood, even the ability to become a King and a Priest, a Queen and a Priestess and receive a crown of eternal life. Using this ascension text, the LDS church had the opportunity to receive these blessings. The church ended up hardening their hearts, and because of unbelief, did not receive this witness, which put them under condemnation. On September 22, 1832, the Lord declared the following to church about their standing in relation to the new covenant offered.   

“And your minds in times past have been darkened because of unbelief, and because you have treated lightly the things you have received—

Which vanity and unbelief have brought the whole church under condemnation.

And this condemnation resteth upon the children of Zion, even all.

And they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon and the former commandments which I have given them, not only to say, but to do according to that which I have written—

That they may bring forth fruit meet for their Father’s kingdom; otherwise there remaineth a scourge and judgment to be poured out upon the children of Zion.

For shall the children of the kingdom pollute my holy land? Verily, I say unto you, Nay.” D&C 84: 54-59

The LDS church was given an opportunity to remove the condemnation declared on them since 1832. They were admonished to produce fruit for “their Father’s kingdom.” To remove this condemnation and establish a covenant, they needed to receive the witness and message contained in the Book of Mormon, and then not just say, but do. They needed to act on the message and then produce fruit. This then would remove their condemnation.

On September 10, 2016, at the top of the mountain on a sunrise hike in Boise, the Lord directed the creation of videos about the true message of the Book of Mormon. Upon returning from Boise in September, a project to create these videos was immediately started. The Lord outlined the first five topics for the first five videos.

Within a month, the first video was completed. Being an active member of the LDS church, the desire was to post the videos anonymously. The first video was recorded by someone else, was filled with animation, and was more concerned with style than content.

After finishing the first video, the Lord required the video to be redone. He required the use of my voice, focus on content, and submit it publicly. The first five videos were all finished a few days before Christmas.

The reason for the videos was to communicate the true message of the Book of Mormon and allow the LDS church the ability to accept the message, and then not just say but do, to produce fruit meet for the Father’s kingdom. It was to give the LDS church a chance to remove the condemnation placed on them in 1832.

The true message of the Book of Mormon is the message of the Second Comforter, and the message of repentance for the readers, especially the LDS church. The book begins with two witnesses, Lehi and Nephi, ascending into the presence of God. The book continues with the stories of Jacob, Isaiah, Enos, King Benjamin, Alma the Younger, King Lamoni, King Laman, Lehi and Nephi the sons of Helaman, the people at the temple in Bountiful, the Brother of Jared, Mormon and Moroni all experiencing the ascent up to the presence of God.

The message is to do the same walk as Lehi and Nephi and others. This is the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Book of Mormon communicates a covenant temple endowment and is designed to prepare an individual and people for the Second Coming of Christ. This is the fruit necessary for the establishment of Zion.

Mormon also organized the book to communicate a direct message of repentance to the readers of the book, especially the LDS church. It is a message for those seeking a law and a covenant from the book. His direct message to the readers, especially the LDS church, is not particularly complementary. It includes a repeated message about pride (Alma 5), vanity (Alma 31), neglect (Jacob 5), and unbelief (Mosiah12-16). It is a message about not just saying, but doing.

The true message of the Book of Mormon contains the message of the Second Comforter and the fullness of the gospel and a message of repentance for the readers of the book, specifically the LDS church.

In January, after receiving further guidance from the Lord, the content for the last two required videos was given. In total, there were seven videos asked by the Lord. He then required all the videos to be shared publicly.

The LDS church has had a chance from September 22, 1832 to remove the condemnation placed on them for neglecting the Book of Mormon. The videos required by God, provided one more chance for the LDS church to remove this condemnation, if they accepted the message of the Second Comforter and the message of repentance. The LDS church already has had many other chances including all the books written by Denver Snuffer and others.  If the LDS church accepted the message of the Book of Mormon, not only to say but to do, they could take this law and commandment, remove condemnation, and have an opportunity to establish a covenant based on it. They were offered a chance on April 6, 1830. They were under condemnation by September 22, 1832. After giving a number of chances since September 22, 1832, it was the desire of the Lord to give them one more chance before the chance was lost to the LDS church.  

On April 6, 2017, my wife and I were excommunicated from the LDS church. We were excommunicated for apostasy because of the True Message of the Book of Mormon videos. As a result, the LDS church lost an opportunity to remove their condemnation and establish a covenant based on the law and commandment of the Book of Mormon.

This has paved the way for a clean covenant to be established this fall based on the law and commandment of the Book of Mormon.  

If a covenant is established this fall, based on the Book of Mormon and other scriptures, remembering the true message of the Second Comforter and repentance; then the condemnation placed by the Lord has the opportunity to be removed. The condemnation will be removed, if those who enter a covenant don’t just say, but do, and produce fruit meet for the Father’s kingdom.

The opportunity for the LDS church to receive a covenant based on the Book of Mormon began on April 6. The opportunity for the LDS church was taken away on April 6.

May the Lord grant grace to those seeking to establish a covenant this fall. May condemnation be removed so a covenant can be established and power and blessings follow.  

Below are the videos which communicate the true message of the Book of Mormon.

·  The True Message of the Book of Mormon (6 min): https://youtu.be/lSM6rBvLch8

·  Who the Book is Written to (5:30 min): https://youtu.be/z_J1d7wBQic

·  Mormon’s Message to Us (6 min): https://youtu.be/xnCAoMn7_zA

·  Nephi’s Message to Us (6:30 min): https://youtu.be/psOy901apgw

·  The Doctrine of Christ (6:30 min): https://youtu.be/oKy-HTF6PHM

·  The Message of the Temple (8 min): https://youtu.be/C5qr5xas7Rw

·  The Message of the Latter-day Apostasy (8 min): https://youtu.be/aByVQfUcrZQ

Starting Right

In a startup, the team is very small. You might only have three or four people. Because of the size, everyone is wearing multiple hats. The CEO might be the sales guy and marketer. The software engineer may also be the CFO. Everyone takes on additional responsibilities.

In a startup, there really is no room for envy and strife. There is just too much to do.

It is amazing to me; startups usually die at the beginning. Many times, it is a result of conflict within the founding team. I have seen it myself. However, once everyone finds their purpose, the propulsion to grow and succeed solidifies the success of the startup.

This movement is a start up. We need to make sure envy and strife are far from us. That was the downfall of the LDS church in Joseph's day. You really can't get a startup off the ground with that. Aspiring is unhelpful. Envy only distracts and is counterproductive. Strife destroys progress. Egos must always be in check.

The greatest concern this movement should have is repeating the mistakes of the past.

"And your minds in times past have been darkened because of unbelief, and because you have treated lightly the things you have received--
Which vanity and unbelief have brought the whole church under condemnation.
And this condemnation resteth upon the children of Zion, even all.
And they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon and the former commandments which I have given them, not only to say, but to do according to that which I have written" D&C 84: 54-57

"Behold, I say unto you, there were jarrings, and contentions, and envyings, and strifes, and lustful and covetous desires among them; therefore by these things they polluted their inheritances.
They were slow to hearken unto the voice of the Lord their God; therefore, the Lord their God is slow to hearken unto their prayers, to answer them in the day of their trouble." D&C 101: 6-7

Perhaps focusing on the opposite of envy, jarring, strifes, etc. is the way to go. When someone receives mysteries, should we not rejoice? When there are self-selected, God ordained projects, shouldn't we be awestruck? The scripture project is a perfect example. There is enough and to spare for everyone. Being jealous or contentious is like complaining that someone is preventing you from playing in the ocean because they are getting to close to you. There is a lot of ocean to play in.

The goal God has for this movement is that everyone becomes a King and a Priest or a Queen and a Priestess. Everyone has the opportunity to receive their calling and election. This is offered to all. There is no need to be envious or have strife if all blessings are offered to all without stakes or bounds.

Startups fail most often in the beginning. Let's not do the same thing

Dream - April 5, 2017

I had a dream last night that I was at my parents’ house. I was in a room on a tower, which they don't have, above where the house traditionally goes to.

I received a warning and saw in the distance a huge tidal wave coming. I started warning everyone about the coming tidal wave from the top of this tower. As the tidal wave came, I braced myself. Instead of cool water, it was heat. However, like water, it pushed me back from where I was holding onto and forced me to hold on tight.

After the tidal wave was finished, I stood up from where I was holding onto to view the world around me. Everywhere there was water. But it stopped up to a certain point. Everyone who ascended above that point was alright. But everyone else was gone. There were only a few who made the ascent to get high enough to be protected from the water.

I was very surprised by how few there were who self-selected to take the warning seriously and make the ascent.

My interpretation. There are waves of destruction coming with the final wave being the fire that burns the earth. To safely live through it all, each person must make the ascent to at least have their calling and election made sure. This is the first token of the Melchizedek Priesthood and qualifies you to enter the terrestrial world.

There will only be a few, very few, who make the ascent to rise above and received the seal on their foreheads. But it is what will save you.

2 Peter 1:1-11

1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:

2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,

3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divinenature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Covenants - How to Break a Covenant

Covenants - Being Added Upon

There are a lot of comments made about the 144,000. I would like to add a few thoughts. How does one become sealed so that they can become a member of the 144,000? First of all, who are the 144,000? What made them the 144,000 and why is that important? "Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." - Revelations 7: 3-4, 14 In the Kingdom of Glories vision, Joseph Smith continues the description of the 144,000. However, he uses different language to discuss them. This describes those who have been sealed. "And again we bear record—for we saw and heard, and this is the testimony of the gospel of Christ concerning them who shall come forth in the resurrection of the just— They are they who received the testimony of Jesus, and believed on his name and were baptized after the manner of his burial, being buried in the water in his name, and this according to the commandment which he has given— That by keeping the commandments they might be washed and cleansed from all their sins, and receive the Holy Spirit by the laying on of the hands of him who is ordained and sealed unto this power; And who overcome by faith, and are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, which the Father sheds forth upon all those who are just and true. They are they who are the church of the Firstborn. They are they into whose hands the Father has given all things— They are they who are priests and kings, [queens and priestesses] who have received of his fulness, and of his glory; And are priests [priestesses] of the Most High, after the order of Melchizedek, which was after the order of Enoch, which was after the order of the Only Begotten Son. Wherefore, as it is written, they are gods, even the sons [and daughters] of God— Wherefore, all things are theirs, whether life or death, or things present, or things to come, all are theirs and they are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s. And they shall overcome all things." D&C 76: 50-60 All of these blessings are preliminary. Each person must be thoroughly proven. "When the Lord has thoroughly proved him, and finds that the man [or women] is determined to serve Him at all hazards, then the man [or women] will find his [her] calling and his [her] election made sure, then it will be his [her] privilege to receive the other Comforter, which the Lord hath promised the Saints, as is recorded in the testimony of St. John, in the 14th chapter, from the 12th to the 27th verses." TPJS 149 - 150 "What was the power of Melchizedek? 'Twas not the Priesthood of Aaron which administers in outward ordinances, and the offering of sacrifices. Those holding the fulness of the Melchizedek Priesthood are kings and priests [queens and priestesses] of the Most High God, holding the keys of power and blessings. In fact, that Priesthood is a perfect law of theocracy, and stands as God to give laws to the people, administering endless lives to the sons and daughters of Adam" TPJS 322 Are all of these connected? Is the 144,000 connected to the church of the Firstborn? Is the 144,000 connected to becoming a King/Priest and Queen/Priestess? Is receiving your calling and election connected? Is that also connected to the terrestrial world and a point of fellowship required to be able to receive "they that come"? Is this token central to receiving Christ in His glory? Is this communicating getting "added upon"? Is this the desired outcome of the fulness of the gentiles? What begins this process? Is it a covenant or something else? Potential progress chart: Faith >> Repentance - Translates into Laws and Commandments Laws >> Covenant >> Priesthood >> Added Upon >> Sealed Sealed >> Zion >> Second Comforter

The Scripture Project – The Means to a Covenant

Covenants are the means of progression for all intelligent beings in this universe. It is THE means Heavenly Father uses to enable the progression of his children. Without a covenant, there is no progression.

Commandments and Law

A covenant must be based on something. God uses commandments and laws to base the condition of covenants on. When Moses first came down from Mount Sinai, he presented the children of Israel a set of commandments based on a Melchizedek law. After 400 years in Egypt, the children of Israel were not ready for the higher law, with higher blessings. A golden calf was built, and Charlton Heston had to go back up the mount to get a lesser law with a lower set of blessings. 

Faith

The children of Israel could have received a higher law. They, however, did not have the necessary faith to receive it. They put their faith and trust in the gods of the Egyptians and lost out on the higher law. In the first generation of the LDS church, Joseph Smith had the desire for all members of the church to receive the Melchizedek priesthood. The Melchizedek priesthood is given through the calling of His own voice.

“And thus, having been approved of God, he was ordained an high priest after the order of the covenant which God made with Enoch,
It being after the order of the Son of God; which order came, not by man, nor the will of man; neither by father nor mother; neither by beginning of days nor end of years; but of God;
And it was delivered unto men by the calling of his own voice, according to his own will, unto as many as believed on his name.” -  JST Genesis 14: 27- 29

Obtaining the Melchizedek priesthood by the calling of His own voice didn’t work out, and was one of the biggest failures of the restoration. As a result, the School of the Prophets was formed and the Lectures on Faith were given to communicate how to have faith in God. The Lectures on Faith communicate foundational principles on what is necessary in order to have faith unto salvation.

1. A person must believe in God;
2. Have a correct understanding of his character attributes and perfections
3. Know the course in life one is pursuing is according to his will.

Repentance

With the correct faith, men and women can know what is required to repent and become like the God they believe in. The children of Israel, with the correct faith, would have been able to repent and know a golden calf was idolatrous and ineffective in assisting them to achieve the level of salvation God and Moses desired for them. Moses continued to work with the children of Israel in the wilderness, but Israel wouldn’t soften their hearts.

“Now this Moses plainly taught to the children of Israel in the wilderness, 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 the wilderness, which rest is the fulness of his glory.

Therefore, he took Moses 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." D&C 84: 23-26

In the first generation of Mormonism, the correct faith enabled them to repent.  It showed them the conditions by which they were to receive the blessings God and Joseph Smith desired for them. Like the children of Israel, they hardened their heart and would not receive the higher commandments and law.

“And your minds in times past have been darkened because of unbelief, and because you have treated lightly the things you have received—

Which vanity and unbelief have brought the whole church under condemnation.

And this condemnation resteth upon the children of Zion, even all.

And they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon and the former commandments which I have given them, not only to say, but to do according to that which I have written.” D&C 84: 54-57

Israel and the early Mormon church communicate how difficult it is to receive all that God offers us. It also shows how difficult it is to receive and keep covenants. When there is a group of people who have faith, and know how to repent, then they are in a position to receive a covenant.

Covenants

Covenants are a promise with a blessing. Men and women do not make covenants with God. They can make oaths or vows, but that is discouraged. They can only receive a covenant. In order to receive a covenant, a person must have something to base it off of. In each dispensation, the covenant is based off a set of commandments and laws. If the people obey the commandments, they are blessed. If they do not obey the commandments, they are cursed.

“Wherefore, I, Lehi, have obtained a promise, that inasmuch as those whom the Lord God shall bring out of the land of Jerusalem shall keep his commandments, they shall prosper upon the face of this land; and they shall be kept from all other nations, that they may possess this land unto themselves. And if it so be that they shall keep his commandments they shall be blessed upon the face of this land, and there shall be none to molest them, nor to take away the land of their inheritance; and they shall dwell safely forever.” 2 Nephi 1:9

Right now, there is an ability to present to the Father a set of scriptures which will be approved by common consent. These scriptures represent a set of commandments and a law, that if obeyed, can constitute the conditions for a possible covenant with God. God has the right to accept the conditions set forth and the associated commandments and law. The group who is presenting the scriptures do not have the right, and they are unable to create a covenant. The group is presenting the conditions, God accepts or rejects them. God has the only right to provide a covenant.

What is missing in the narrative and conversation around the scripture project is that if the project isn’t presented with one heart and one mind, why would the Lord give a covenant? This process must be presented meekly with a lowly heart. It needs to include every voice who wants to receive the covenant. Everyone should read and add their voice to the project. The scripture project can result in a great blessing. Covenants always come with related blessings. The people need to qualify for it first. That will then allow the people the opportunity to be added upon with blessings.