Why Greater Things

In addressing this difficult and glorious subject, I desire to speak to you as friends in the cause of Zion, for I trust that you have desires for a godly walk both for yourself as well as for the inhabitants of this earth.

The imminent wrapping-up scenes of this world's telestial, carnal existence in preparation for the paradisaical new heaven and new earth, will try our souls to the very ultimate degree.

T i m e , March 9, 1998

lready, we are faced with ironies and choices that penetrate to the core of our beings, to the holy of holies of our inmost heart. 

That is the level on which we want to have our allegience be fastened to the unshakable Rock of our Redeemer.  What is coming on the earth will prove all other foundations to be unsound.  He, who is known as "the word," is the only sure stone upon which man might build and have safe foundation.  (Helaman 5:12; 3 Nephi 11:39,40; 18:12,13; Luke 6:48; D&C 10:67-69; 18:3-5; Jacob 4:15,16; Psalms 18:22,23; Matthew 21:42-44; Isaiah 28:6; 2 Ne. 28:28.)  Therefore the importance of feasting upon the words of Christ, for they will tell you all things what ye should do.  (2 Ne. 32:3.)

hile God's invitation to greater light andknowledge is held out to all the inhabitants of the earth, this particular work seems specially, though not exclusively, addressed to the Judeo Christian world who believe in the God of Abraham, which God is  God over all the earth and all the starry heavens, and who reigns in the affairs of men in a most intimate and personal way -- to some extent whether or not a person even acknowledges that.

Not only do we share a common heritage, but we also possess common cannon. 

           
"For behold, the Lord doth grant unto all nations, of their own nation and tongue, to teach his word, yea, in wisdom, all that he seeth fit that they should have."  (Alma 29:8)

Holy scripture and the work of God of which it bears witness is the main subject of the material found herein. 

This work proves the truthfulness of our scripture and uses a foreordained code of word arrangements to provide a means of better understanding and thus obeying God's holy word to pilot through the narrow straits ahead, both as individuals and as a people -- bringing forth Zion.

"Many shall say, A Bible, A Bible, we have got a Bible! There cannot be any more Bible!"
  (II Nephi 29:3)

You will notice that in addition to the law and the prophets of the Jews' Torah, and the Christian's Old and New Testament, this work also features heavily from scripture brought forth by Joseph Smith, the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, especially the Book of Mormon.  Ironically while these studies are directed for the benefit of all these groups, none are initially inclined to want to pay any attention, for they can see from the outset that these things take them beyond what they have come to accept as truth.   This isn't a matter of close-mindedness either, for we all are enlightened seekers of truth and like to think that we are open to additional light when it comes along.

But cannon scripture and core theology are an entirely different matter.  Each of the major religious cultures has embedded within it a deep theological mistrust and even animosity toward what are considered apostate, damnable offshoots.  Hence Muslims shun Judaism; Jews shun Christianity; Christians shun Mormonism; and Mormons shun those humble saints from its ranks who seek yet higher ground, each being anathema to the previous, though they have actually advance to higher light and knowledge about God and how to obtain a personal walk with Him.

Therefore, though there be an urge to shun, far be that from embracing, there is usually a willingness to at least look -- to consider.   This is the path to greater light and knowledge.  That is what we ask of you here for considering these things.  In the spirit of the words of Paul, we embrace the motto:  "Prove all things, hold fast that which is good."  (I Thessalonians 5:21.)

Muslims will see amazing new evidences of the divine callings of Isaac and of Joseph, his son, who was sold into Egypt to preserve his father's household from perishing with famine; of Moses, the great law-giver and mediator for a people who insisted on doing things their own way and were given a law designed to show them the futility of doing so.  You will rejoice in the prophecies of the ultimate deliverance of your people and the establishment of a peace that will last 1,000 years.

Jews, will find evidences never encountered before for the divinity of Jesus Christ  -- unlocked through your own favorite methods (and some novel variations on those) of unfolding the mysteries laiden in the Words of Holy Writ.  You will see a chiasm from your man of men, Moses, with focal-point statement: "I Am that I Am" featured and emphasized in a parallel with that text in the second chapter of the Book of Mormon.

A concept that is thematic to this work, which you will find both humerously ironic and sadly relieving is that the Christians, who have given you such a hard time over all these centuries are going to commit a blunder in these latter days that will match and even surpass the blunder of your ancient ancestors who called for the crucifixion of their God.  The government of Messiah, the kingdom of God on the earth, for which your people have so earnestly sought, was the manifest destiny of the Christians to fulfill.  However, because they have been so preoccupied with what you did to Jesus, they have neglected this responsibility, and instead have even built up the very kingdom of the devil, the New World Order (for which you have been no small advocates yourselves).  But the kingdom of God will come out of the ashes of destruction poised over the heads of these people, and your reborn nation will delight in it.

Christians, meanwhile, you will find in these studies new and compelling evidences from the Bible for the divine calling of Joseph Smith and his successors, which surpass anything you have ever considered, presenting endless witnesses of God's hand in directing that work, especially as it pertains to the scriptures brought forth:  the Book of Mormon, Doctrine & Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price.

Something you will find to be a welcome irony is the powerful witness these scriptures give of the fact that salvation is through Christ and is indeed a free gift of grace, and that receiving a mighty change of heart, being born again, through the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost is heart and core to the gospel of Jesus Christ.  The statment, "after all we can do" which so many Mormons have set as a motto for working their way to the highest heaven, is shown to actually mean, "notwithstanding all we can do."  Of ourselves we are nothing.  The righteousness for which we seek flows as a gift from God, the Holy Ghost dwelling in us, transforming us, as we press foreward in humble faith in Christ.  It is perfection in Christ, not perfection then Christ.

Latter-day Saints will not be much less hesitant about these word studies than the previous religious bodies mentioned, even though they are based predominantly in their Restoration scriptures; and the evidences further prove the truthfullness of the Restoration as well as of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints today, speaking of that subset body who have repented and come to Christ, who are, by definition, His church (D&C 10:67) -- which scriptural definition, incidently, does not exclude those individuals of other denominations who have done the same (though the LDS Church is the institution ordained of God foremost to carry forth this work in general). 

What the traditional Mormons (namely the tares among them) will have a hard time accepting is the very clear testimony that the words of scripture (expounded by these God-ordained methods) give of the foreordained falling away of the Mormon Church generally speaking -- not essentially speaking (e.g. JST-Rev. 12:7).  As any other people, we like to wishfully think ourselves to be somehow immune to the follies of other churches and dispensations.  The lack of vigilance inherent in this glib attitude produces the very apostasy that supposedly wasn't supposed to happen.   Prophecies foretell a time shortly to come that Satan will wage war with the saints (and that includes far more than just Mormons) and prevail for a short time.  (Daniel 7:21; Revelation 13:7; III Nephi 16:15; 21:19; D&C 103:8-10; 50:3-9; 76:29-31.)   That proves that the Lord's people have not sufficiently built their anchor in Christ, for the promises of God are that satan will not prevail if they are thus rooted.  (3 Ne. 11:39,40; III Nephi 27:11; JST-Mark 9:44-46.)  It is not God's power that wanes in this time of Satan's climax of control prior to his expulsion from the earth.

As foreordained, generally speaking, the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have been more richly blessed and given more full access to the light and knowledge of God than any other religious body.  They are therefore held most accountable as a body for carrying out God's work, more than any other people on the face of the earth.  The coming triumph of evil for a short while will therefore be directly answerable upon their heads, for they were to have overcome it, not seccumed to it.   They not only have the Old and New Testaments that prophesy of the rise in the latter-days of a vast satanic kingdom, but their Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants shed even more discerning light on the proper role of government and the threats which come against it.  They know that two previous civilizations on this American continent were destroyed because of secret combinations, and that this will be a primary threat yet again for us.  These scriptures explicitly foretell with utmost clarity that a vast conspiracy to overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations and countries will arise in these latter days.  (e.g. Ether 8:23-25.)  But as a people, the Mormons have not stood as vigilent watchmen on the tower against this threat to God's kingdom.  They have not adequately sent forth a warning to all that might hear, serving as a light to the world and savor of men.  Instead, they have given of their talents, means, and energy to uphold these very exchangers who are buying up and selling out the world for power and gain.  (D&C 101:49; compare Hel. 6:38-40.)

Nevertheless, the Lord's intended bride, though having played the whore with the nations of the earth, and especially with the New World Order, will be purified.  A core remnant, the wheat, the wise waiting virgins who are at present slumbering (Matthew 25:5) (including not just Mormons, but Christians, Jews, Muslims -- even of all the churches of the earth, the Lord having sprinkled his people everywhere) will awake to a sense of their awful situation and put on strength in the Lord (Ether 8:24; Isa. 52:1; 51:9; 3 Ne. 20:36; 21; Moroni 10:31).   Like the disciples of Christ were persecuded by the Jews when he ministered among them in the flesh, these disciples will be persecuted by those who ought to have been their allies. (e.g. Hel. 3:33-35; 13:22.) Some will be put to death, others tortured (Rev. 14:9-13); but in it all the power of God will be manifest as he makes bare his mighty arm in the eyes of all the nations (e.g. Isa. 52:10; 53:1; D&C 103:15,17; 133:3;66,67 & II Ne. 7:2; 1 Ne. 22:10-15).   The manchild will be born. (Rev. 12:5; Isa. 66:7.) The kingdom of God -- entailing both the church aspect and the government aspect -- will be established on earth, no more to be thrown down.  (Daniel 2:44; 7:27; I Nephi 14:2; D&C 65; 103:5-20.)  He will be their God, and they will be his people.   (Jeremiah 31:31-33; 24:7; 32:38; Ezekiel 14:11; 37:23,27; Zechariah 8:8; 2 Cor. 6:16; Heb. 8:10; Rev. 21:3; 1 Ne. 22:24,25.)

As Jesus spoke in parables to those who had ears to hear in his day, so also does the Lord speak in parables to those of this generation who have ears to hear, who will redeem Zion.   Those who do not hearken to the words of life will be cut off from among the people.  (e.g. 3 Ne. 21:11.)

That is what these studies are all about -- as a rudimental part of the great and marveous works being wrought by God through his many servants.   These are modern parables sent from God to us, encoded in the very words of the scripture we all know and love, placed there by God from before the foundation of the earth, to be revealed in this time, enobling each person as they learn to be a prophet in the process of unfolding these wonderful mysteries of plainness.  They are designed for this remnant who will gather out from all the nations, nurturing a kingdom of kings and priests to the most High God. (Rev. 1:6; 5:10.)  They serve as a tool whereby greater light and knowledge may be poured out through God's spirit, so that with this added faith and understanding in the Lord we might accomplish what will be required of us.  They repeatedly witness of the invitation extended to all men,  bond and free, male and female, black or white, to come to the fountain of all righteousness and be saved:  to establish themselves upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Jesus Christ; to come into his very presence; to go out of the midst of Babylon; to no more place their trust in the arm of flesh, but to worship the Lord in truth and righteousness.  The society built by those who do this will be called Zion.  And all nations shall flow unto it.  And its rest shall be glorious.

The Great Mystery:
       "For God hath concluded them all in unbelief,
that he might have mercy upon all."
                                                -- Rom. 11:25,32

Nevertheless, as the children of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob had their Moses to ignore; as the Jews had Jesus to deny and crucify; and as the Christians had Joseph Smith to spurn -- each at pivotal junctures of history when God moved his people forward in a major way -- so also will the wayward Mormons have one whom they will mar in this day that the Father works a work among them, which servant will be instrumental in bringing to them the words of Christ according to the will of the Father, that all who believe might be numbered among the house of Israel, as God makes bare his holy arm in their midst.  (e.g. 3 Ne. 21:9-11; D&C 103:15-17; Ezek. 20:33-44,49.)  This is a topic with scriptural validity which could fill an entire volume itself.  For now, suffice it to say that this rejection will   serve to the glory of God in carrying out His purposes for the salvation of all mankind -- this time that deliverance being of a temporal order, a political kingdom, Jesus having already paid the price for our spiritual salvation. (e.g. Rom. 11:24-27; 32; 3 Ne. 20:26; Dan. 2:44; 7:44.)

        "In that day when I came unto mine own, no man among you received me, and you were driven out.  When I called again there was none of you to answer; yet my arm was not shortened at all that I could not redeem, neither my power to deliver."

(D&C 133:66,67; also 2 Ne. 7:2; 8:10,13,18-20; 3 Ne. 20:26; Psalms 69:20; JST-Ps. 14:1-7; Job 5:1; Isa. 41:26; 42:22; 54:4; 59:1,16; 63:3-6; 65:12,11-17; 66:4; Ezek. 22:30; Zeph. 3:6; D&C 10:57; 35:8.)

Each person is individually responsible for his own walk with God as well as his interactive role in society to bring about a better world, even to the bringing of heaven to earth.  That is literally what will happen in the New Jerusalem.  The kingdom of heaven will come down to meet the kingdom of God that is established on the earth.  (D&C 65:6; Matt. 6:10.)  The veil will be rent.  What a glorious destiny is ours!

Therefore, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand, that you might be numbered with the people of God in this great and terrible day of judgement upon the wicked and of glorious fulfillment of the great and marvelous promises unto the righteous.  I declare these things unto the fulfilling of the prophets.  Whosoever will not believe in the words of Christ, which the Father has caused to be brought forth to the Gentiles in these latter days, among those husbandmen who were set to be a light to the world and the saviors of men, will be cut off from among the people.   They shall be trodden under foot of the remnant of Jacob, who will go through among them in an instant suddenly like a lion among the beasts of the forest.  From them shall be taken the gospel and it shall be given to the House of Israel, that the Father may remember His covenant that he has made with them.  And they shall be restored in all their lands of promise, for the Lord God has spoken it.

-- Sterling D. Allan, Mapleton, Utah; March 19, 1998; revised October 8, 1998

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