Excommunication Appeal Letter

On April 6, 2017, my wife and I were excommunicated from the LDS Church on grounds of apostasy. This is our Appeal Letter to the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This letter was sent to the First Presidency on May 8, 2017.

This Appeal Letter communicates a message directed to the LDS Church leadership and indirectly directed to the entire LDS Church.

Excommunication Appeal Letter - Scribd

Excommunication Appeal Letter - Download

We ask you do not judge our intentions. We are sharing what we have been directed to share. Especially don't judge us if you haven't read the entire letter. See link above.

The restoration of the gospel is very incomplete. There is a lot of truth which is not known or understood. We recommend you read the letter to understand why certain events have happened in distant and current history. Hopefully, this letter can help you understand the restoration and its founders a little better. 

God and eternal progression.

The first thing is the need to re-frame the understanding of God. It is my belief that all progression in this life and the next life is based on covenants. Covenants enable grace. Grace enables progression.

The Father and Mother of Heaven would be best understood as the Covenant Patriarch and Matriarch of the Heaven and the common Father and Mother of us all.

We can understand them through looking at the types that have been provided in scripture that reflect the Divine Family. Abraham and Sarah are the best types and examples of the Covenant Father and Mother of Heaven.

Abraham began by seeking the blessings of the Fathers.

"And, finding there was greater happiness and peace and rest for me, I sought for the blessings of the fathers, and the right whereunto I should be ordained to administer the same; having been myself a follower of righteousness, desiring also to be one who possessed great knowledge, and to be a greater follower of righteousness, and to possess a greater knowledge, and to be a father of many nations, a prince of peace, and desiring to receive instructions, and to keep the commandments of God, I became a rightful heir, a High Priest, holding the right belonging to the fathers."

The right of the Fathers is the right given by the Covenant Father of us all, even Heavenly Father.

Abraham, first was sacrificed by his father, which an angel stopped. Then he was asked to sacrifice his covenant son. Both of these are types and shadows.

Abraham's family is symbolic of heaven - Covenant Patriarch, Covenant Matriarch, cast out son, and covenant sacrificial son who received the birthright (even though he was younger).

You can find this pattern again in Isaac - Covenant Patriarch, Covenant Matriarch, son who loses the birthright, and younger son who becomes the covenant son and receives the birthright.

You can find this pattern again with Jacob - Covenant Patriarch, Covenant Matriarch, Twelve Sons (representing the world - Revelations 12:1), and covenant Son (who was cast out).

In all of these are types and shadows where one had to descend (sacrificing son, being sacrificed, receiving undesired wife first, being cast out) before they ascended (receiving the birthright and covenant).

If these are symbolic of receiving greater blessings, then all of these examples communicated progress. They communicated a development cycle which required a descent, then an ascent. Greater blessings and covenants were then received as a result.

This mortal experience is an experience where wisdom is developed. Wisdom is obtained through experience. The greater experience, the greater amount of wisdom. This is why in order to ascend, one must first descend. Progression is related to wisdom and knowledge. When both of these are received in greater doses, one can obtain greater capacity. Greater capacity to love, to have empathy, to care, to have faith, etc.

Progression then communicates added knowledge (from truth), more wisdom (from experience) and more capacity (to love, care, etc.) Perhaps this is why one mortal experience is probably inefficient in achieving the necessary knowledge and wisdom to progress eternally from grace to grace.

Since the Covenant Patriarch and Matriarch of Heaven are the ones who "lends us breath from day to day" (Mosiah 2:21), they are the ones we should worship. Worship should be defined as emulate. They have all perfections, and powers. They have the right of Dominion over ALL creation. They also enable progression eternally through the acquisition of light and truth or Knowledge and Wisdom.

Loftiness and Producing Fruit

Over the weekend of April 7-9, there was a storm that came into the Salt Lake Valley. It first started with wind. The wind then picked up and became stronger. The strong wind pushed in a late season snow storm. On Sunday, April 9, six inches of new heavy wet snow welcomed us in the morning. Snow storms happen in Utah. This is a normal. What made this storm different, was the warm spring weather that arrived weeks before resulting in the trees being unprepared for the storm.

The month pervious, the weather warmed up. The trees and flowers responded. Trees were in full bloom, beautiful and brilliant. The storm that rolled in placed a heavy layer of snow on the blooming trees. This created broken branches and down trees all over the Salt Lake Valley. Driving down the street, large branches could be seen broken off countless trees. Small thin trees where toppled. It appeared that every yard was affected. I currently have two houses; my current house and the house we are moving into. At my current house, I had a thin small tree snap at the base. This tree was planted two years ago, but never developed a deep root system. At my new house, there was a large branch that broke off. This branch was in full bloom, but could not support the weight of the snow.

In the allegory of the olive tree the “loftiness of thy vineyard” is the cause of the tree (aka Israel) not producing good fruit.

“And it came to pass that the servant said unto his master: Is it not the loftiness of thy vineyard—have not the branches thereof overcome the roots which are good? And because the branches have overcome the roots thereof, behold they grew faster than the strength of the roots, taking strength unto themselves. Behold, I say, is not this the cause that the trees of thy vineyard have become corrupted?” – Jacob 5:48

When a tree becomes lofty, the branches take strength unto themselves. They outgrow the roots. In the allegory of the olive tree (Jacob 5), the roots represent the covenants of God and the gospel of Jesus Christ. The lofty branches represent the pride, vanity, and unbelief of the faithful.

The fruit of the tree represents eternal life. It is to become a son or a daughter of God. The process of becoming a son or a daughter begins with meekness, humility, and faith. Pride, vanity, and unbelief is the antitheses of becoming fruit meet for His kingdom.

Pride verse Meekness

“The meek shall inherit the earth.” – Matthew 5:5

What does it mean to be meek?

Christ is the epitome of one who is meek. “Nevertheless not my will, but thine be done.” (Luke 22:42) Christ did “nothing of himself” (John 5:19). He always sought the will of the Father. He didn’t have an agenda. He did not aspire. He was not stubborn, seeking to vindicate a viewpoint or tradition. He watched for the Father’s words and follow them when he received them.

“If God were your Father, you would love me, for I am sent by and represent God. I am not speaking my own words or pursuing my own agenda, but the Father's words and agenda... I not only know him, but I watch for his words like a sentinel always awaiting his direction.” – Testimony of John, Chapter 6, pg 17, 19

Vanity vs Humility

How do you become vain?

Vanity seeks to be popular. It is more interested in doing what will please others verse doing what will please God.

“Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen?

Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men, that they do not learn this one lesson—

That the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness.

That they may be conferred upon us, it is true; but 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.” – D&C 121: 34-37

Compare this to:

“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” – Matthew 5:5

Why do you do the things you do? Is it because it will make you feel special, smart, powerful, popular, etc.? Are you looking forward to other people’s reaction? Or do you do the things you do because you seek to do God’s will? Do you hunger and thirst after righteousness? Do you seek to fellowship with the heavens? Do you long for God’s word?

Unbelief verse Faith

In the lectures on faith, there are parts of faith that must be present in faith for the faith to lead to life and salvation. These things include: 1) a belief in God, 2) a correct understanding of God’s character, attributes and perfections, 3) the knowledge the course in life you are pursing is according to God’s will (fellowships from heaven), and 4) the willingness to sacrifice anything the Lord requires.

Unbelief is not no belief. Unbelief is believing things that won’t produce salvation. Unbelief comes from teaching doctrines the commandments of men having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof. Many who have unbelief connect themselves to a man (Bishop, Pope, Prophet, etc.) or rely on a man to guide them to God. Many who have unbelief are kept from the truth because they are in a tradition which tells them they already have it. The keeper of the gate is the Holy One of Israel and he employeth no servant there (2 Nephi 9:41). Believing untrue things or trusting in untrue things or the arm of the flesh, will not produce fruit.

True faith, on the other hand, teaches a person to connect themselves directly to God. True faith, causes a person to act, knowing that faith without works is dead. True faith, doesn’t just say, but does the will of the Father. True faith, works out its own salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12).

What is the fruit God is trying to produce from the tree?

The message of the gospel, the good news, is the divine family. God is looking to make sons and daughters of God.

“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, who have received of his fulness, and of his glory;

And are priests 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 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: 51-60

Sometimes the Lord sends storms and drops heavy trials with the goal of removing lofty branches. These storms can be given to us individually or to entire groups of people (Mosiah 20-22). These storms are good. They strengthen the core and remove those who are uninterested in taking up their cross.

“I am the true vine or head of the Father's family, and my Father is the husbandman over that family. Every branch connected to me that does not produce fruit, he will remove, and every branch that produces fruit he will prune back so that it produces better fruit. You will bear fruit if you follow the things I have taught you. Stay connected to me as part of the heavenly family, and I will nourish you. Just as a branch cannot produce fruit if it is not connected to the vine, neither will you be able to bear fruit unless you remain connected with me. I am the vine, and you are the branches. He that stays connected to me, and I to him, will be abundantly fruitful; but without the connection to me you will perish. If a man loses his connection with me, he is merely a withered branch; and men take the withered branches, cut them away and burn them. If you stay connected to me, and my words live in you, you will ask according to my will, and you will be given the ability to accomplish my will. It will please and vindicate my Father if you produce abundant fruit, and that will prove you follow me. Just like the Father has loved me, I have in turn likewise loved you. Therefore, remain connected with me and my love will be with you. If you practice my teachings you will always remain connected with me; just as I have kept my Father's teachings and have remained connected with him.” – Testimony of John, Chapter 10, p 10

The Lord is seeking to produce fruit. May we all seek to remove our loftiness and produce fruit meet for the Father’s kingdom.

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.