Temporal Equality and Spiritual Gifts
by
Caleb MitsVotai
Outpouring of miracles among so-called believers is
hampered by inequality in earthly possessions.
Part I
From: <CalebM@PandaMgmt.COM>
To: <sterlingda@greaterthings.com>
Sent: Monday, April 16, 2001 7:48 PM
Subject: RE: Charismatic and LDS Both Have Something Wonderful to Offer
One Another
[click here to view original post to
which the following is a reply]
Some food for thought....
"Nevertheless, in your temporal things you shall be equal, and this
not grudgingly, otherwise the abundance of the manifestations of the Spirit
shall be withheld." (D. & C. 70:14)
Obviously, the spirit is lacking in the LDS church. They don't know
how to praise God or worship. The gifts of the Spirit enjoyed by the
early Saints are not found today. Why? Or should we ask, why were
they evident in that early church era? When studying Church History, you
will note that the most significant manifestations of the spirit were poured
out from the Church's organization in 1830 (starting with Newell Knight's
exorcism by Joseph Smith) until climaxing in Kirtland, Ohio with the building
of the temple. Why? This was the period of gathering to Kirtland
and Jackson County when the Saints were obeying the commandment to unite under
the law of consecration. After they failed, the temple changed (the
Kirtland temple was never built to perform the temple ordinances of today but
was built for a different purpose), and the manifestations of the spirit
generally ceased. I believe the answer is in the Lord's quote
above. Nevertheless, in your temporal things you shall be equal, and
this not grudgingly, otherwise the abundance of the manifestations of the
Spirit shall be withheld. "
Now a word about the other side of your observation. There was
an experience in Colesville, I think it was, where Joseph came to visit and
saw the "holy rollers" gettin' down and gettin' Jesus. He
rebuked them in the name of Jesus Christ and told them that what they were
feeling or evidencing did not come from the Spirit of Christ but of Satan and
that if it did not stop at once, either He would leave or Satan would have
to.
Now, I personally am not condemning any man. But, according to
the gospel of Christ as I understand it, the manifestations of the Spirit are
gifts with a purpose that are revealed to those which have shown
"substance" in the faith in Christ by taking steps toward being
equal in temporal things.
It can be summed up like this... There are save two churches
only, one is the church of the Lamb of God and the other is the great and
abominable church of the devil. And for all the card carrying Mormons
out there, Elder Simmons in the last Stake Conference in Manti said in the
general session on Sunday, that "you can be a member of this church (the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints), and not be a member of the
Church of the Lamb of God". That makes the distinction very
clear. It cuts away the Mormon, Baptist, Evangelical, Presbryterian,
Catholic, etc. nonsense. The difference between these two churches can
be summed up with the two great commandments: 1) Love God with all your heart,
might, mind, and strength, and 2) Love your neighbor as yourself. Using
these two commandments, each of these two churches can be summed up by asking
two questions:
1) Whom do you call "father"? Whom do you look for
your protection, laws, and benefits?
2) How do you take care of the poor?
If we desire to see the real manifestations of the Spirit of God in
our lives, we must begin to show some "substance" to God.
Where is our faith really? If Jesus be God, then let's follow Him, but
if Baal be God, then follow him. But let's be aware of those that may
(not labeling or condemning any in particular here- but recognizing that the
Kingdom of God is real, not just something on our lips or in our minds) render
praises to the Holy One of Israel, and at the same time are actively
participating in the devil's system of force and compulsion to care for his
poor, or commercially insuring themselves against their own negligence or
"acts of God", or thieving and robbing by trading their God given
time and talents for scrip from the Great and Abominable Church of the
Devil.
Part II
From: <CalebM@PandaMgmt.COM>
To: <sterlingda@greaterthings.com>
Sent: Monday, April 16, 2001 8:07 PM
Subject: FW: Charismatic and LDS Both Have Something Wonderful to Offer
One Another
I forgot to add this quote which I really like from Franklin D. Richards.
It has to do with the difference between the Kirtland temple of the temples
after that...
The Priesthood in the last days has to be manifested in sufficient power to
bear off the kingdom of God triumphant, that all Israel may be gathered and
saved. If all Israel will not be sanctified by the law which their Moses first
offers them, they will peradventure receive a law of ordinances administered
to them, not according to the power of an endless life. Men will be saved in
the last days as in former days, according to their faith and willingness to
receive the word of God, and walk in it. (F. D. Richards, J.D. 1: 321)
Just as the children of Israel rejected the fulness of the Gospel at first,
and received a system or performances and ordinances, so too, we as latter-day
Israel rejected the fulness of the gospel from our "Moses" and
received also a system of performances and ordinances designed to hide
"the way" from those who do not have eyes to see and ears to hear.
Both systems of performances and ordinances were designed to prepare the
people for the Lord's coming- IF they saw through the symbolism, were
"obedient to the laws and ordinances of the gospel" and made the
"power of godliness manifest among men"! (See 3rd AofF and DC
84:20-21)
