Sadducees

Being a witness is both an honor and a burden.  Those who would claim to be witnesses and yet harbor worries about the honors of men have not tasted of the power and simultaneous meekness there offered.  Having such a witness of HIS living reality and being set as a witness of it, leaves no room for twisted and deceiving tongues!  There is no deception in him.

Christ set the fruit and type of a witness of Him in JST John 5 by telling us that John’s witness of Him is true.  He is indeed the God the Eternal father made flesh (JST john 1 and DC 93).  But, Christ said that he had an even greater witness than that!  The works, or the fruit, that he did bore witness that the Father sent him.  His very presence is the strongest, “greatest” testimony of all (John 5:36) that God lives.  Being a witness, literally, of his resurrection allowed his disciples to go in power to the great cities of the world (Acts 1:8).  It was said that only those who were witnesses, literally, of his life in Glory and subsequent resurrection, where allowed to be ordained to that calling of witness (Acts 1:22).  Having been cleansed and made pure, given power, in Pentecost, Peter (whose voice we hear again), boldly declared that He and all these were and are literal witnesses to that resurrection, “this Jesus hath God raised up , whereof we are all witnesses!” (Acts 2: 31-32).

Raised up is a fabulous term, as it spans the symbolism of seven thousand years to a time all the true prophets looked forward to, when “A prophet shall the Lord your God raise UP unto you of your brethren”.  The fact that Christ was then raised up to do his work amongst the Jews and is here testified to do the same amongst the Fullness of the Gentiles is not a coincidence.  He is raised up to perform this work, and will be seen amongst our brethren.  That is resurrection, resurrection to Life at it’s best.  He testified in D&C 27 that he would drink of this new vine with many other prophets.  Revelation 7 shows us that he will direct the sealing in the forehead of one hundred and forty four thousand of those who have been prepared for this work since the beginning.  This is resurrection to be a witness in its purest sense, knowing the process themselves they are in a solid place to testify.

The Lord promised to Enoch, “As I live, even so will I come in the last days, in the days of wickedness and vengeance, to fulfill the oath which I have made…And righteousness will I send down out of heaven; and truth will I send forth out of the earth to bear testimony of mine only begotten; his Resurrection from the dead; yea, and also the resurrection of All Men; and righteousness and truth will I cause to sweep the earth as with a flood, to gather out mine elect from the four quarters of the earth…”  That same calling which was given to those in the meridian, with Peter, they will find amongst His people, the ‘little flock’ in the last days.  They carry the same powerful witness of Him that they carried.  He will be in our midst, as Righteousness and will be able to rely on Truth to spread the word about him.  And the testimony they all bear, loudly and clear is that HE LIVES!  He is amongst them, he is one of them.  And indeed, they too, being of ‘all men’, are here as living witness of the resurrection, having been brought here from ages past for this purpose.  Truth will go forth to bear testimony of the Only Begotten, and He will go forth as Righteousness.

Finally, we also can use these verses to gain another tint on the seemingly destructive word ‘flood’, as seen in other apocalyptic writings such as Isaiah.  The “truth” will sweep the earth, gathering and reaping at the same time. Doing the ‘greater things’ until the consummation of the earth is complete, leaving only those who are attracted to light left as a remnant in a field. Righteousness and truth will Flood the earth.   We can recall that sweeping the earth with water, as a river overruns its banks, leaves a very fertile place for planting behind, as seen in the major river drainages of the world.  We are seeing this course of events happen again, as Resurrected beings are again here as men to perform the Great and Marvelous Work a final time, bearing witness of the Only Begotten of the Father.

That witness is not ‘too sacred’.  In fact, it’s very sacred reality is the REASON it needs to be shouted from the housetops.  This is resurrection.  He and WE are resurrected and have come to sweep the earth as a flood. They say the Sadducees were sad because they didn’t believe in resurrection, will the corporate church and world proclaim the same thing, a disdain for the living reality of our resurrection?


Compassion

Years ago while spending time in meditation; I had an experience I feel worth recording here.  Back then, there was no base of reference to describe them to the world here.  However, with the preceding posts over the last few months it hit me in talking with my wife that we now have the foundation


The Plan chapter 1 (Intro)

The purpose of this collection of verses is to investigate what has become for me, the central core feature of the plan for God’s “strange act” as portrayed in scripture. These are the surgically in-depth micro events of the last days, in contrast to the large scale macro events which will affect us globally. Several


The Plan chapter 2

FOR WHOM THIS PLAN IS WROUGHT   SOULS WITH NO LIGHT   8 Yea, and thou heardest not; yea, thou knewest not; yea, from that time thine ear was not opened; for I knew that thou wouldst deal very treacherously, and wast called a transgressor from the womb. (1Nep 20:8)   10 Who is among you


The Plan Chapter 3

RECORDS TO COME FORTH   The Book of the Generations of Adam (The Book of Remembrance) 5 And a book of remembrance was kept, in the which was recorded, in the language of Adam, for it was given unto as many as called upon God to write by the spirit of inspiration; 6 And by


The Plan chapter 4

THE WORK   WHY WE DO THIS WORK 3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.


John 1 Addendum Spirits of Elias, Elijah, Messiah

As is generally the case for those who seek, I have continued to learn.  The Lord has given me many wonderful insights, revelations and discussions since I first began writing on the book of John.  Sure, it has only been a few months, but I feel like the Lord has given me more insight and


Patriarch Smith has Moved on-prophecy in waiting?

The passing of Eldred Smith ends a long run of four generations of Gentile church patriarchs. http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/56111780-78/smith-lds-patriarch-church.html.csp You can also read some thoughts on him as a man and an interview of him here; barerecord.blogspot.com   The direct line from father Smith to today has had an odd, troubled and storied past.  This though is


The Father and the Son-One Eternal God

THE FATHER AND SON–ONE ETERNAL GOD   Following is a brief compilation of scriptures which give us a slightly broader view of identity, for your reference.  These verses give clear and direct ties to the Son being the Father, regardless of time identity.  the previous compilation was geared toward the Father doing the Work as


Nephi Builds a Boat

In telling the following Story, Nephi give us two parallel stories of the same event in type, using the brethren and ‘space of many days’ to define the structure for us.   In both, we see the people of captivity and in blindness created, fall into drunken blindness and finally healed to power by the Hand


Osage Forest

wandering through the forest, a man was looking hard for a particular tree.  Though Osage was all around him, there was a particular tree he had in mind.  This type is incredibly hard and prized for bow’s and tool handles because of it’s strength.  Yet, it generally only grows very twisted and knotty.  Everywhere his


All The Prophets Have Testified of Him

Following the testimony of Christ in 3 Nephi 20 and 21, as well as of that of Acts 3, we are including here a limited and not exhaustive sample of verses throughout our canon that can apply to this doctrine.   THE FATHER WILL DO HIS OWN WORK   Title Page of Book of Mormon:


The Great Isaiah Chiasm – The Father Doing His Work

Isaiah, one of the greatest literary prophets, if not THE greatest, included a Great and Marvelous chiastic structure from chapters 41-46.  When viewed in its entirety it is a beautifully descriptive series of events which give us both sequence and identity of the greater things surrounding the restoration of the house of Israel and subsequent


The Father Will Do His Own Work-Isaiah

Let’s first cover a magnificent structure which Isaiah has built into a chapter full of identity and calling for the Latter-Day servant.  This structure will lead us into multiple other descriptions throughout the book, establishing them as consistent. Isaiah 45 A   His Birth as a Dual-King to Reap  [1] Thus saith the LORD to his


The Father Will Do His Own Work-Ezekiel

The intro begins like this And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?


The Father Will Do His Own Work-3 Nephi

From an earlier post, we discussed this incredible set of chiasm’s as found in chapters 20 and 21.  However, there is one more here that is also worth discussing, which literally ties the two together. 3 Nephi 20 & 21 These chapters are the fulcrum upon which all the history of this world has been


The Father Will Do His Own Work-Jacob

In Jacob 4, Jacob gives us a little foreknowledge as to what he will reveal using Zenos’s allegory of the Olive Tree.   We should remember that this isn’t the first we’ve heard from Jacob. The 2 Nephi 6 & 10 chiasms, though in Nephi’s books, were written by Jacob too. Here we have two chiasms, one


The Father Will Do His Own Work- 2 Nephi

Following up his first book, Nephi continues to give us similar concepts and wording to describe these events.  He goes way out of his way in these structures to give us obvious signs as to his intent.  We will only go over a few of the many structures, types and definitions that are found in this


The Father will do His Own Work-1 Nephi

Nephi, in what we have now as the opening book of his record, gave us multiple testimonies of the events we have been discussing.  Let’s analyze a few in chiastic structures from his first book together. In 1 Nephi 13-14 we have Nephi’s timeline of events as they unfold on the American continent.  Included in


The Father Will Do His Own Work-Intro

Throughout this discussion of John’s gospel we have brought to light the sign of the fulness of his record.  What is his record? And I, John, bear record that I beheld his glory, as the glory of the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth, even the Spirit of truth, which came


Fulness of the Record of John

And then shall my revelations which I have caused to be written by my servant John be unfolded in the eyes of all the people. Remember, when ye see these things, ye shall know that the time is at hand that they shall be made manifest in very deed. (Ether 4:16)   And it shall


Anti-Christ;John addendum

Shadows: the ‘Anti-Christ’ Anti-Christ has a very negative view in our minds, and rightly so.  The mention of the word conjures up images of darkness scary enough that we know we would never wade through them.  It doesn’t seem attractive to get off the iron rod and going whoring after such ideas.  Yet in Lehi’s


Going Fishin John 21

This story starts out as it started, with the disciples fishing.  I’ll have to admit, I’m drawn to any story that ends or begins with the principle characters fishing.  More than once I have found myself ‘standing in a river waving a stick’ while trying to mull over a major life moment.   In this


Gathering Out John 20

The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulcher, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulcher, and two angels sitting thereon. Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken


Roles Reversed John 19 pt 2

This chapter is the fulcrum upon which all the history of this world has been swinging since the Lord covenanted with Israel.  This is the moment when roles are reversed, the covenant is taken from the Gentiles and the tares are left to be burned, even while the wheat escape in bundles (3 Nephi 16,


Power Percieved John 19 pt 1

 Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? Knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee? Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power against me, except it were given thee from above; therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin. (John 19:10-11)  


Entangling Alliances John 18 pt 2

We would do well to mention the close ties which Caiaphas has with the ruling governmental and policing power over Jerusalem.  He is in their inner circle enough that Pilate is in the same place as he is.  After Caiaphas’ interview, it is a small thing to take the Lord (and presumably the beloved disciple,


Divorce John 18 pt 1

Perhaps no figure in the gospels is more fraught with internal struggle than Peter.  From the very first chapter, Peter follows Christ.  He is referred to instantly by the Lord upon meeting him, calling him by name and giving Him a new name, Cephas, the moment he meets him.  John is the only book that


Singularity John 13-17

Since all of John 13-17 are a single discourse taking place during a single dinner, it is worth looking into them as being a single cohesive unit, now organized into four chapters.  Our story begins with the washing of feet in John 13:3-17.  This story has a ton of gravity associated with it.  First and


Davidic Peace John 17

In preparation for what the world will see as an abrupt end of a sudden and short mission, we get a final wrap up of how it all works.  In this “intercessory prayer“, the Lord emphasizes the doctrines we have presented throughout the first sixteen chapters.  He is one with God, came out of God


One with the Father John 15-16

M y Father and I are One.   The Words he Speaks offer both Peace to his followers and cause the world to hate them   If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own; but because ye


the True Vine John 15 pt 1

As the central idea, lets pause for a minute to discuss the next 17 verses in John 15; Purged Branches bear fruit and are made clean I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away; and every branch that beareth fruit, he


John 13-14

O my beloved brethren, remember my words. Behold, I take off my garments, and I shake them before you; I pray the God of my salvation that he view me with his all-searching eye; wherefore, ye shall know at the last day, when all men shall be judged of their works, that the God of


Isaiah and Arm Rejected John 12 pt 2

Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there; and they came not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead. But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death; because that by reason of him many of the


Gather in Love John 12 pt 1

When you’re a seventeen year old kid, you generally think you’ve got it all figured out.  Having spent a lot of time in the woods, relative to my peers, I really thought I was invincible tunder the grand canopy of evergreens.  I rarely ever was worried about being lost, or of getting hurt, or afraid


Relief addendum to John

At this point my question for Nephi was, how far from his family was he when he slayed those wild beasts in the wilderness?  Since I was presently labouring under nearly 200 pounds of elk meat, carrying it a few miles back to my jeep, I hoped for his sake that they were small goats and he was


Dead are Raised John 11

John Chapter 11 is full of imagery considering the last days and our own people, if we are willing to apply them to ourselves.  John is once again the only place in scripture that we can find this story, pointing to the necessity of us being willing to apply them to us.  The only people


Paradoxical Shepherd John 10

I even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out. As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where thy have been scattered in the cloudy and


Blindness John 9

If ye were blind, ye should have no sin; but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth. In a big way, we are doing these chapters an injustice by posting them in solitary motion, as if each is a segregated group of the whole.  It is for this reason that I would like


Dichotomy John 8 pt 3

I am the light of the world; he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. In chiastic structure again, we are given the whole purpose of His life.  Those who will follow him will be saved, those who will not will find death.  There is a division