I Am One With The Force, The Force is With Me

“That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.”(John 17:21–23)

These were the words Christ offered up to the Father in the Great Intercessory Prayer just before He went into the Garden of Gethsemane to atone for the sins of the world.  In this prayer, Jesus Christ explains the whole purpose and intent of why He is about to partake of the bitter cup and perform the atonement. It is to make us AT-ONE with Him and God the Father. The whole purpose of the Doctrine of Christ is to receive the Holy Ghost so that you can become AT-ONE with God. 

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my doctrine, and I bear record of it from the Father; and whoso believeth in me believeth in the Father also; and unto him will the Father bear record of me, for he will visit him with fire and with the Holy Ghost. And thus will the Father bear record of me, and the Holy Ghost will bear record unto him of the Father and me; for the Father, and I, and the Holy Ghost are one."(3 Nephi 11:35–36; emphasis mine)

Oneness With the Force

The Atonement is more than just about receiving coverage, or forgiveness, for your sins.  We short-sell the atonement when we view it that way.  The atonement is about becoming ONE with God.   Christ forgives us because it is in His character to do so, but it is through the atonement, or the blood of Jesus, that we are changed and become one with God.  How does it change us so that we can become one with God?  It sanctifies us.  The blood which Jesus bled out from every pore while he suffered through the atonement is the blood that sanctifies you, for it is by the blood ye are sanctified.  (Moses 6:60) In the Intercessory Prayer Jesus says:

“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.”(John 17:17–19)

Jesus first sanctified himself so that we may be sanctified.  Because no unclean thing can dwell in the presence of God, you cannot become one with God unless you are first sanctified.  This sanctification does not come from your own works, because no matter how hard you try, you will always fall short of the Glory of God if you seek to obtain perfection by yourself.  You need the Mediator Jesus Christ in order to be sanctified.  The Lord is the “true vine” and ye are the “branches” (see John 15:1-8)  If the branch is not connected to the vine, it will not bring forth fruit, but will shrivel up and die.  If you do not abide in Christ, you cannot be sanctified.

The Atonement of Jesus Christ is NOT yet complete. The Lord declares in the Doctrine and Covenants concerning His experience of drinking the bitter cup in Gethsemane:  

“Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men.” (Doctrine and Covenants 19:19; emphasis mine)

Christ only finished his “preparations” for us.  Christ is still continuing to make us one with Him.  Listen to Alma's testimony of the atonement:

“And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities. Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me.”(Alma 7:11–13; emphasis mine)

In Gethsemane the Lord took upon himself the sins of the ENTIRE world.  He suffered pains, afflictions, and temptations of EVERY kind.  He experienced EVERYTHING!  Every possible human experience any of us can go through, Christ actually went through first hand through the atonement, thus making Him omniscient (all-knowing).  (Don’t ask me to explain the quantum physics behind Christ’s agony, go ponder it and learn it from God if you desire) Because Jesus became omniscient, he now knows according to the flesh, how to succor his people according to their infirmities. 

“He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.”(Isaiah 53:11; emphasis mine)

Because the Light of Christ (energy) is in all things, (D&C 88:6-13) Jesus Christ is omnipresent.  (Dued 30:9-14, Lectures on Faith 2:2).  Because Jesus is everywhere He can lead, instruct, and teach you directly if you will have Him.  Because He has experienced everything, he knows EXACTLY what you are going through and how to help you. Our God, just like a good father is to his children, is a very personal teacher.   God’s knowledge of all things, especially concerning us, is what makes Him Holy! (2 Nephi 9:20) Surely by His knowledge shall the Lord justify many.  Will He justify you? Will you allow Him to sanctify you?  

The Jedi Master Will Teach You How to be One With The Force

How do we get sanctified by Jesus?  3 simple words:  Come unto Christ.  

“Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God. And again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot.”(Moroni 10:32–33; emphasis mine)

When you come unto Christ with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy or deception before God, and a broken heart and contrite spirit with the willingness to sacrifice all things for the truth’s sake, choosing this day to make Jesus Christ your master and Lord, (2^nd Ne 31:13, Ether 4:15, Lectures on Faith 6:7, Lordship) Then will His grace be sufficient for you, then will you be sanctified in Him.  When you are sanctified in Him and can dwell in His presence, He will TEACH you DIRECTLY.

 

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”(Matthew 11:28–30; emphasis mine)

What does Jesus really want to teach you? He wants to teach you how to access the powers of heaven.  He wants to teach you how to be more godly and holy, He wants to teach you how to become a god yourself so that you can be just like him.   When you are just like him, you are At-ONE with Him, for Christ said concerning those who follow Him:

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.”(John 14:12)

And he has said by the mouth of His servant Joseph Smith: 

“Here, then, is eternal life--to know the only wise and true God; and you have got to learn how to be Gods yourselves, and to be kings and priests to God, the same as all Gods have done before you, namely, by going from one small degree to another, and from a small capacity to a great one; from grace to grace, from exaltation to exaltation, until you attain to the resurrection of the dead, and are able to dwell in everlasting burnings, and to sit in glory, as do those who sit enthroned in everlasting power.”(Teachings of The Prophet Joseph Smith pg 346)

If you think you can become a god just by belonging to a church and going through a ceremony you are going to be very disappointed on the day of judgment.  Just as Christ was taught directly by the Father and only did what He saw the Father do,(see John 5:17-22) you must likewise let Jesus be your master to be taught and trained directly by Christ to become exactly as He is, to be AT-ONE with Him.  If not, you cannot be saved.  

“We think that it will not be a matter of dispute, that two beings who are unlike each other cannot both be saved; for whatever constitutes the salvation of one, will constitute the salvation of every creature which will be saved. And if we find one saved being in all existence, we may see what all others must be, or else not be saved. We ask then, where is the prototype? Or where is the saved being? We conclude as to the answer of this question there will be no dispute among those who believe the Bible, that it is Christ.”(Lectures on Faith 7:9)

You must become precisely like Christ, become Love, Mercy, Just, Truth, Righteous, Holy, ect... You will need to go through the process to become that.  It’s a refining process which will sanctify you. It can be very hard and painful and will surely require the sacrifice of all things (See Lectures on Faith 6). If you think being God is all easy fun and games think again. Are you willing to go through the sanctification process to be perfected into Godhood?  

This is why Christ has commanded:

“Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect.”(3 Nephi 12:48)

Jesus Christ is a celestial being.  If you want to have a place in the Celestial Kingdom, you need to LITERALLY become a celestial being yourself.  Section 76 of the Doctrine and Covenants states the requirement concerning the those who will inherit Celestial glory:

"These are they who are just men made perfect through Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, who wrought out this perfect atonement through the shedding of his own blood. These are they whose bodies are celestial, whose glory is that of the sun, even the glory of God, the highest of all, whose glory the sun of the firmament is written of as being typical."
(Doctrine and Covenants 76:69–70)

Wait? Do we really need to be perfect? We are human, and it is impossible to be perfect!  Aren’t we are saved by grace which is a free, unmerited gift?  

Nothing is impossible with God (Luke 1:37) Perfection is attainable through Him. It is true we are saved by grace; however, it is grace that transforms and changes you.  It is by the grace of God you are perfect in Christ. (Moroni 10:32) Grace is not a free hall pass into heaven.   Grace is the Spirit of God at work in your life.  If you haven’t experienced a mighty change of heart, if your life doesn’t mirror or have similarities to the prophets in the scriptures where you are witnessing miracles and the hand of God in your life, if you aren’t any different of a person from the day you first professed to come unto Christ, you are doing something very wrong.  You aren't experiencing the grace of God,  you haven’t unwrapped that free, unmerited gift.  

You see, Christ give us the capacity to change.  Returning to the Intercessory Prayer, He states:

"Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one..."(John 17:20–23; emphasis added)

If you read D&C 93:24,36, and 84:85 you will see that:
 Glory= Intelligence=Light=Truth=Knowledge.
These words are synonymous.

 So, when Jesus says ”… the glory which thou gavest me I have given them” he means the knowledge which the Father gave Jesus, Jesus gives to us.  This is the knowledge we must obtain from Christ directly in order to be like Him and AT-ONE with Him. Through this knowledge we will be made perfect, in one, with God.  

 This is why Joseph Smith taught: 

“A man is saved no faster than he gets knowledge, for if he does not get knowledge, he will be brought into captivity by some evil power in the other world, as evil spirits will have more knowledge, and consequently more power than many men who are on the earth. Hence it needs revelation to assist us, and give us knowledge of the things of God.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith pg 217)

I am One with the Force, The Force is with Me

When you follow the doctrine of Christ with exactness and become sanctified by the blood of Jesus you receive the greatest gift:  The Gift of the Holy Ghost, or you could say you are quickened in the inner man and your ghost/spirit and soul becomes Holy.  (Moses 6:52,65) The Holy Ghost shall become your CONSTANT companion, given to abide in you the Record of Heaven. (D&C 121:46, Moses 6:61)  The Holy Spirit is referred to as the Record of Heaven because it is the actual mind of God, not a being like the Father and Christ (Lectures on Faith 5:2; seriously, study that lecture, shatter your paradigm as you unlock the beautiful paradoxes of the mysteries of God!) A closely held belief many have is that the Holy Ghost is the third member of the Godhead, and its rumored that the Holy Ghost is a Jehovah-in-training.  This may be true if you consider that we have got to learn to become gods ourselves.  When you achieve that complete AT-ONE-ness with God by partaking in the fullness of the gospel, or in other words the fullness of God’s glory, intelligence, or mind, you become that third member of the Godhead, and therefore a Jehovah-in-training.  Perhaps this is why the promise and power of “asking all things in his name, and whatsoever ye shall ask, it shall be given you” is given after you receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

"And he also said unto him: If thou wilt turn unto me, and hearken unto my voice, and believe, and repent of all thy transgressions, and be baptized, even in water, in the name of mine Only Begotten Son, who is full of grace and truth, which is Jesus Christ, the only name which shall be given under heaven, whereby salvation shall come unto the children of men, ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, asking all things in his name, and whatsoever ye shall ask, it shall be given you."(Moses 6:52; emphasis mine)

Another promise that is given to us when we partake of the glory of God is the promise of the Second Comforter. The Lord states in the 14^th chapter of John

"And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;  Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you."(John 14:16–18)

Joseph Smith teachings us the following concerning this promise:

"Now what is this other Comforter? It is no more nor less than the Lord Jesus Christ Himself; and this is the sum and substance of the whole matter; that when any man obtains this last Comforter, he will have the personage of Jesus Christ to attend him, or appear unto him from time to time, and even He will manifest the Father unto him, and they will take up their abode with him, and the visions of the heavens will be opened unto him, and the Lord will teach him face to face, and he may have a perfect knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom of God; and this is the state and place the ancient Saints arrived at when they had such glorious visions--Isaiah, Ezekiel, John upon the Isle of Patmos, St. Paul in the three heavens, and all the Saints who held communion with the general assembly and Church of the Firstborn."(Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith pg. 150; emphasis mine)

John 14 continues:

"At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him… If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him."(John 14:20–23 emphasis mine)

Again John 14 is clarified in the Doctrine and Covenants:

"John 14:23—The appearing of the Father and the Son, in that verse, is a personal appearance; and the idea that the Father and the Son dwell in a man’s heart is an old sectarian notion, and is false."(Doctrine and Covenants 130:3)

When you become AT-ONE with God you will be just like him.  Your heart will be pure and your body will be celestial, just as His heart is pure and His body is celestial.   Because you will be like him you will be able to SEE him.

"Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure."(1 John 3:2–3; emphasis mine, see also Moroni 7:48)

This is why:

"Verily, thus saith the Lord: It shall come to pass that every soul who forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and obeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments, shall see my face and know that I am"(Doctrine and Covenants 93:1)
"Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God."
(Matthew 5:8)

And again, in Joseph Smith’s account of the three degrees of glory we see the promise of John 14:23 of Christ making his abode with us, to teach us and impart of his glory directly when we love Him:

"Neither is man capable to make them known, for they are only to be seen and understood by the power of the Holy Spirit, which God bestows on those who love him, and purify themselves before him; To whom he grants this privilege of seeing and knowing for themselves; That through the power and manifestation of the Spirit, while in the flesh, they may be able to bear his presence in the world of glory."(Doctrine and Covenants 76:114–118)

Being the presence of Jesus Christ and beholding him face to face, while in the flesh, is to be taken literally, and is an open invitation for all, and a requirement for exhalation, salvation, and redemption. 

"And when he had said these words, behold, the Lord showed himself unto him, and said:Because thou knowest these things ye are redeemed from the fall; therefore ye are brought back into my presence; therefore I show myself unto you."(Ether 3:13; emphasis mine)

When you are one with the force, the force is with you.

When you are one with God, God is with you. 

The Orem “Area 70” Has Ordered That My Candle Be Placed Under a Bushel

Last week I bore my testimony of Jesus Christ in an Orem college housing single’s ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  I was very hesitant and nervous to show my face in a church, but it was the will of the Lord that I do, so I did according to his will.  In my testimony I did not “scripture bash” or talk about how the LDS church has strayed from the Book of Mormon and the teachings of Joseph Smith.  I simply spoke of Jesus. I spoke about what I have come to know for myself about Him concerning His character, attributes, and perfections.  I bore testimony of the Book of Mormon and the Lectures on Faith and how those books have brought me closer to Christ.  I shared my experience of how and when I decided to give myself to God and to trust wholly in Jesus Christ. I testified of the fruits that have shown forth in my life since I have turned to Him.  I taught in parable for those who had eyes to see and ears to hear as I expounded upon the scriptures.   I spoke the words of Christ to that congregation and invited all to seek to know the Lord and place their full faith and trust in Him.   

Since last week I have had several people approach me and thank me for bearing that testimony.  Many said they loved and appreciated it.  Two young men even went out of their way to chase me down to express their gratitude of what I shared and told me that in my testimony I had said everything they had been thinking their whole life. 

Yesterday afternoon I was not too busy so I decided to attend the 2^nd block of church for the gospel doctrine class because I love talking about Jesus and studying the scriptures.  I had no intent or desire to “scripture bash” or talk about the apostasy of the LDS Church Corporation.   I simply desired to hear others talk about Jesus and study from the scriptures.  Perhaps we could edify one another through the words of Christ and each leave that class with a greater personal conviction to know Jesus Christ.  We were having a good lesson when part way through the class I was asked to come into the bishop’s office. 

I was excited to meet the bishop.  He was a very friendly man who constantly expressed his desire to be obedient, specifically to his church leaders.  We spoke for good 20 minutes or so about the gospel, but he was very interested in talking about me.  He said that after I bore my testimony that Sunday he looked me up and noticed that my name was not on the records of the church, but it showed that my name had been removed.  He spoke to the stake president about me who then spoke to the “Area 70”.  By direct order of the “Area 70”  I am forbidden to pray, share my testimony, ask questions, or speak about the gospel and scriptures.  The Bishop then told me that if I attend church and I am directed by the Spirit to speak, not to do so. 

So I then asked, “So if the Lord is telling me to speak, you want me to deny the power of God?”

He answered, “yes.”

“…and they shall teach with their learning, and deny the Holy Ghost, which giveth utterance. And they deny the power of God, the Holy One of Israel”(2 Nephi 28:4–5)

He told me that the testimony I had bore the previous week felt “dark” to him.  I then proceeded to ask him what about my testimony made him feel dark?  He told me he could not remember.  I then asked if I had said anything that was doctrinally incorrect.  He could not answer.  

I find it interesting how several people appreciated what I had to share and the God in whom I testified of.  They received light and truth from what I spoke from the pulpit, yet this religious leader perceived it to be full of darkness.  How can one person listening to a testimony, full of the words of Christ and scripture, receive light while the other person, listening to the exact same thing, receive darkness?

“The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!”(Matthew 6:22–23)

This is why the religious leaders in the meridian of time, who because of traditions and religious pride, were trapped in their paradigm of thought and could not recognize the Light of the world.  They received the teachings of Jesus Christ as darkness.   

“Hearken and listen to the voice of him who is from all eternity to all eternity, the Great I Am, even Jesus Christ—The light and the life of the world; a light which shineth in darkness and the darkness comprehendeth it not; The same which came in the meridian of time unto mine own, and mine own received me not”(Doctrine and Covenants 39:1–3)

 Because I am not a member of their institution and no longer have any say in their policies and rules, (do actual members really do?) and because their church buildings are their property, I respect the fear-based rules established by the “Area 70”.  However, I did not leave that bishop’s office without first giving him a warning in a very calm yet direct manner. I opened my mouth and it was given unto me in that moment what I should say:  

“There are people here who are seeking and who can benefit and come closer unto Christ from what I can share with them.  By shutting me up you are denying them that opportunity.  Wo unto you Pharisees, wo unto you scribes, wo unto you lawyers, for ye have hedged up the way, ye have taken away the key of knowledge, ye enter in not yourself and those that were entering in ye hindered.”  (see Luke 11:52)

I then shook the bishop’s hand, clasping it with both of my own, looked him in the eyes, and said, “May God bless you.” 

I meant it. 

I am very saddened by this experience. I really wanted to start attending a gospel doctrine class.  I am passionate about the word of God, especially the Book of Mormon.  I love Jesus Christ.  He is my greatest Love and His gospel is my favorite topic of discussion.   I was looking forward to hearing others talk about Jesus, to study the scriptures together, and enjoy their association.   It may sound from my posts that I am bitter towards the members of the LDS church and that I have been “offended” by them.  That is not the case!  I have no reason to be angry with anyone.  I am grateful to LDS Church for introducing me to Mormonism and the restoration.  I love the Mormons which is why I take the time to write the things I do.  The church is under condemnation and it needs to repent.  (see D&C 84:54-58)

The world is being consumed by darkness all ye who have light share what little is left.

“Behold, do men light a candle and put it under a bushel? Nay, but on a candlestick, and it giveth light to all that are in the house; Therefore let your light so shine before this people, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”(3 Nephi 12:15–16)

If you are still able to attend church and have been awakened to the beautiful gospel of Jesus Christ and have light and truth to share, do not hide it under a bushel of fear.  Let it shine before the world.  The Light of Jesus is meant to be enjoyed by all that are in the house.  If you have a testimony, share it.

It was by human testimony and human testimony alone which excited the inquiry and diligent search of the ancient saints to seek after and obtain a knowledge of the glory of God, The inquiry frequently terminated, indeed, always terminated when rightly pursued, in the most glorious discoveries and eternal certainty. (see Lectures on Faith 2:56)  That is still true today.

“How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?” (or one sent to tell them?) Romans 10:14

Despite the idolatry, wickedness, and unbelief of this generation, there many people who are seeking for a relationship with Christ but are struggling in their corrupt church system to find it.  If ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work. (D&C 4:3) It hath become every man who hath been warn to warn his neighbor. (D&C88:81) Seek not to declare my word, but first seek to obtain my word. (D&C 11:21)  If it is your desire, and you have sought diligently to obtain the words of Christ, then He will direct your paths, He will loosen your tongue and lead you to those who are hungry for the truth so that you might be an instrument in the hands of God. (Alma17:9)

Gadianton Government

In the Book of Mormon we read of various small secret groups of conspiring people of who form secret societies and alliances to obtain power and wealth.  As a result, these people managed in just a few short years to bring entire nations, governments, and civilizations down into utter destruction.  These people worked in secrecy to conceal their evil doings. On the outside they may have appeared to be benevolent good leaders, yet their wicked influence and power were felt by all.  They were able to lead the masses into wickedness, iniquity, and abominations.  In the Book of Mormon these people were called the Gadianton robbers.   Although that group of people has long left the earth, their leader, Satan (Helaman 6:26-30), still exist today and he continues his work through his servants to bring men into bondage and captivity. 

“And behold, it is he who is the author of all sin. And behold, he doth carry on his works of darkness and secret murder, and doth hand down their plots, and their oaths, and their covenants, and their plans of awful wickedness, from generation to generation according as he can get hold upon the hearts of the children of men.”

(Helaman 6:30)

These people would band together in secrecy to protect one another from having to answer to the law. 

“But behold, Satan did stir up the hearts of the more part of the Nephites, insomuch that they did unite with those bands of robbers, and did enter into their covenants and their oaths, that they would protect and preserve one another in whatsoever difficult circumstances they should be placed, that they should not suffer for their murders, and their plunderings, and their stealings….And thus they might murder, and plunder, and steal, and commit whoredoms and all manner of wickedness, contrary to the laws of their country and also the laws of their God”

(Helaman 6:21,23)

Sound familiar? Hillary Clinton has been put in several difficult circumstances where, according to the law, she should be in prison.   With the help of those loyal to her cause, she has yet to suffer for her murders, plunderings, and stealings. Through secret combinations, she has attained to the position of power she currently holds and may attain to the highest position of power in the land.  

The Clintons belong to that secret society of the Devil.  They have their secret murders, their plots, their oaths, their covenants, and their plans of awful wickedness.  If Hillary becomes president she will have the power to fill the upcoming vacancies in the Supreme Court, or in other words appoint the "chief judges" of our land, thus giving power to those she has conspired with and who are part of this modern day band of "Gadianton Robbers". 

The members of those secret combinations will then have sole management of the government- a precursor for the everlasting destruction of a civilization. 

“And thus they [Gadianton Robbers] did obtain the SOLE MANAGEMENT of the government, insomuch that they did trample under their feet and smite and rend and turn their backs upon the poor and the meek, and the humble followers of God.  And thus we see that they were in an awful state, and RIPENING FOR AN EVERLASTING DESTRUCTION. “

(Helaman 6:39–40)

If Hillary Clinton is allowed to obtain that power, if Satan gains sole management of the government, if what was started 8 years ago continues,  you can kiss your so-called freedom and constitution goodbye.  This nation will no longer be under the protection of the Almighty God.  This nation will be brought into captivity and bondage. 

The God of this land declared in covenant language concerning this continent:

“And now, we can behold the decrees of God concerning this land, that it is a land of promise; and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall serve God, or they shall be swept off when the fulness of his wrath shall come upon them. And the fulness of his wrath cometh upon them when they are RIPENED in iniquity.

For behold, this is a land which is choice above all other lands; wherefore he that doth possess it shall serve God or shall be swept off; for it is the everlasting decree of God. And it is not until the fulness of iniquity among the children of the land, that they are swept off.

And this cometh unto you, O ye Gentiles, that ye may know the decrees of God—that ye may repent, and not continue in your iniquities until the fulness come, that ye may not bring down the fulness of the wrath of God upon you as the inhabitants of the land have hitherto done.

Behold, this is a choice land, and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall be free from bondage, and from captivity, and from all other nations under heaven, if they will but serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ, who hath been manifested by the things which we have written.”

(Ether 2:9–12)

May God so help us.  

A Candidate You Can Place Your Faith In

    

With the Presidential election coming up there is much debate going around as to which candidate is a better fit for office.  All candidates make great promises and ask that you place your trust and faith in them through your vote.  They use persuasion (or finger pointing) to explain why they would make a better leader than their opponent, and why you should be able to place your confidence in them. 

I want to present to you a candidate in whom you can a place your full trust and faith in. A leader who does not make false claims in order to win your confidence in him, but instead possesses the full capacity to accomplish what he says he will accomplish.  A savior who can deliver you from the coming tribulations.   I want to explain WHY you can trust fully in this Leader without any doubt.

This candidate's name is Jesus Christ.  He is God. He is not running for the highest position in politics, He is running for the highest position in your heart.  He seeks to be your Lord, King, Savior, and Redeemer.  He wants to be your best friend, your closest love, and your personal guide to your loving Heavenly Father.   He desires an intimate, loving, two-way relationship with you.  He asks that you believe and have faith in Him.  What he needs from you is a broken heart and a contrite spirit, which will ultimately require the sacrifice of ALL things.  The sacrifice of all things may sound scary at first, but it is not as bad as it seems.  Because in exchange you will gain the greatest gift of all:  an actual knowledge of Jesus Christ, whom to know is eternal life. (John 17:3)  All thing which you formally would have considered valuable you will then consider waste if it did not bring you closer to God.  You be able to proclaim like Paul:

“But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.”
(Philippians 3:7–8)

 So why is Jesus Christ the chosen Redeemer of mankind? Why should you be able to have the confidence to be able to place everything you hold dear on the altar of sacrifice to the Lord? Why can you fully give Him your heart, turning your will to Him, and trusting wholly upon His merits?

1.    Because He is the Almighty God over all, from everlasting to everlasting, the creator and upholder of all things. 

There is nothing that can overcome and defeat the power of the Lord Jesus Christ - No military force, foreign nation, or even the USA government.  When you have perfect faith in Him, you can:

“…break mountains, to divide the seas, to dry up waters, to turn them out of their course; To put at defiance the armies of nations, to divide the earth, to break every band, to stand in the presence of God; to do all things according to his will, according to his command, subdue principalities and powers; and this by the will of the Son of God which was from before the foundation of the world.”     (JST, Genesis 14:30–31)

It was the Lord who directed the stone that knocked unconscious the giant Goliath. (1st Sam 27)  It was the Lord who caused the walls of Jericho fall to the earth. (Joshua 6) It was that same Lord who carried the Jadeites in barges across the ocean to the promise land(Ether6), and that same Lord who delivered Laban into the hands Nephi. (1st Ne 4)

There is nothing in the world you need to fear when you are on the Lord’s side.  There is not a single trial, no task, relationship issue, insecurity, demon, or sin too great for Him to overcome if you will but have faith in Him. When He said: "I am more intelligent than them all" (Abr. 3:19); when He said He was "the greatest of all" (D&C 19:18); there wasn't one whit of arrogance in His statements. What He was saying is: "Please have confidence in me. Please trust what I say to be true. Please recognize that I paid a price in order to be able to minister."

2.    Because He is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abundant in goodness. (Psalm 103:6-8,17-18,Alma 9:26) 

 He is quick to forgive sin.  One of the first things He does when man enters His presence is to forgive all sins. He cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance, but He has the capacity to forgive sin. Therefore although your sins may be as scarlet, He can, He will and He does, make you white as snow, no longer accountable for your limitations. Therefore, you need not fear, but you can approach boldly. 

This is important to know because such is the weakness of human nature, and so great the frailties and imperfection of men, that unless they believed that God was merciful, forgiving, patient, and abundant in goodness, they would be in constant doubt because of their weakness and liability to sin, and therefore could not exercise faith in Him.  It is important to understand that Lord does forgive iniquity, sin, and transgression because He yearns for us to be in His presence.  He is not the distant, overbearing, fear-based, and cruel God many religions make him out to be. 

3.    Because He is no respector of persons, but in every nation that fears God and works righteousness is accepted of Him.  (Acts 10:34-35) 

During the mortal ministry of Christ, He spent much of His time among the outcast and lows of society. He dined with sinners and publicans (Luke 5:30).  He sat and conversed with a woman who lived a life of fornication. (John 4:1-26) The first person the resurrected Lord appeared to was Mary, a woman.  (John 20:11-18)  The people He ministered to and who accepted Him were not the high-ranking religious authorities of the time, but quite the opposite.  If He were here today He would be spending time ministering to drug addicts, porn stars, and the social outcast- those who are awkward, broken, and who could never quite fit mold of society. 

You do not need to be the president the church to commune directly with God or to speak with him face to face.  God does not care about your rank in society, degree, what leadership position you hold in a church, what family heritage you come from, how much money you make, or the sexual orientation of your parents.  He gives no respect to those things.  What is important to Him is your broken heart and contrite spirit. (3rd Ne9:20, 2nd Ne 2:4)

 Just because you may be a male with a priesthood calling that does not give you any exclusive rights to the miracles, powers of heaven, and communion with God.   That is controlled only upon principals of righteousness and faith which women have equal access to.  We can see from the scriptures that women had access to heaven and that here were many prophetesses. (Luke 2:36, Exo 15:20, Jdg 4:4, 2Kings 22:14,)  All men and women in every nation have an equal privilege and equal authority to have a relationship with Christ. He invites ALL to come unto Him.

”...and he inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile.”    (2 Nephi 26:33)
“And now, he imparteth his word by angels unto men, yea, not only men but women also. Now this is not all; little children do have words given unto them many times, which confound the wise and the learned.”    (Alma 32:23)

4.    Because He is a God of truth and cannot lie. (Ether 3:12) 

We all know politicians will lie through their teeth, making empty promises, to gain your vote and trust.  Our Lord does not need to lie to gain our confidence in Him.  He 100 percent truthful to His word.  In fact, he says:

“I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise.” (Doctrine and Covenants 82:10)

God is literally bound when He makes a promise to you if you keep His commandments, and when He gives you commandant He prepares a way for you to accomplish the thing which He has commanded you to accomplish. 

“And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.”(1 Nephi 3:6–7)

That is a God I can trust!

5.    Because He changes not, neither is there variableness with him; but that he is the same from everlasting to everlasting, being the same yesterday today and forever; and that his course is one eternal round, without variation.  (Malachi 3:6, D&C 3:2, 35:1)

"For do we not read that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and in him there is no variableness neither shadow of changing? And now, if ye have imagined up unto yourselves a god who doth vary, and in whom there is shadow of changing, then have ye imagined up unto yourselves a god who is not a God of miracles."(Mormon 9:9–10)

 The Lord doesn’t just change his mind whenever He feels like.  His character, attributes, and perfections are always the same.  In the experiment or test of whether we will be exalted, He is the unchanging constant while we are the changing variable that will dictate the outcome of our salvation.  It is comforting to know this, because if He could change we would be in constant doubt that the doctrine taught today could become the deadly heresies of tomorrow.   The character of the God in whom I place my trust in is forever unchanging.   He doesn’t contradict himself nor does He change His mind about doctrine to bend to what is popular in society or what might put a tax-exempt church in trouble with the law.  I can have faith in Him because He is constant, making Him a reliable God. 

6.     Because He is love. (1st John 4:16) 

It is difficult to convey in words just how vast and eternal the love of God is, it is something you have to experience to comprehend, but He truly is the God of love.  His love is pure, perfect, and eternal.  Christ was our first love from the beginning (Rev 2:4) We love Him, because He first loved us (1st John 4:19)  God so love the world that he gave He sent His only begotten Son to save it.  (John 3:16) It was charity, or the pure love of Christ, which sustained our suffering Lord in the Garden of Gethsemane while He took upon Himself the sins of all mankind.   He suffered for each of us so that we might not suffer if we would repent.  (D&C 19:15-16) The Lord likens His relationship with us to a marriage (Matt 22: 1-14, 25:1-13). He is the bridegroom and because we take upon ourselves His name, (Moroni 4:3) we are His bride.  Although we may fail in that relationship constantly, He is the good husbandman and remains faithful in His love for us.  All he wants in return is our heart; to love Him.

God is Love, you can trust that He has your best interest in mind.  He is all-knowing and therefore possess the foresight to know what is best for you.  Your eternal life, your happiness and joy, is His work and glory.  (Moses 1:39) He is preparing a place for you in His Father’s house. (John14:2) Any trials and tribulation He has placed in your path will be for your benefit and learning.  Those adversities and afflictions will be but for a small moment, and if you endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high.  (D&C 121:7-8)   Your sacrifice to Him will not be in vain.  Although you will struggle and fail Him at times, the Lord will never condemn you, but rather you will condemn yourself for not accepting His love. (Mormon 9:3-6) Jesus Christ fights for you.  He loves you eternally.  That is a God in whom I can place my faith in.

Once you have an idea of God’s character, that He is all-powerful, merciful and good, no respector of persons, truthful and honest, unchanging and constant, and Love, it becomes much easier to trust in Him.   Placing everything on the altar of sacrifice for Him, or in other words giving your entire life and all you hold dear into His hands, is not as daunting and complicated of a task as it seems.  It actually becomes quite plain and simple.  When you trust wholly upon the merits of Him who is mighty to save, the path to eternal life becomes a very narrow and strait one with Christ as your constant guide.  (2^nd Ne 31:19-20) There is nothing more valuable in this world than having that personal intimate relationship with the Lord, no sacrifice too great for the knowledge and fullness of the glory of God.  Jesus Christ is worth it all! So what do you have against submitting your will to Him, is it really more valuable than the Love of God? Choose ye this day whom ye shall serve.  Elect to have Jesus Christ as your Lord, make him your King, and allow Him to be your Savior and Redeemer.    

“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I know that if ye shall follow the Son, with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent, repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ, by baptism—yea, by following your Lord and your Savior down into the water, according to his word, behold, then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost; yea, then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost; and then can ye speak with the tongue of angels, and shout praises unto the Holy One of Israel.”
(2 Nephi 31:13)

The Most Influential Book in My Life: "The Lectures on Faith" by Joseph Smith Jr.

My birthday was this weekend.  I remember 2 years ago celebrating my 20^th birthday in the Philippines.  At the time I was a serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the Philippines Baguio Mission assigned to the Buwang, LaUnion Branch.  I remember one evening in October while returning to our apartment we were walking on the main road passing the municipality market.  I gazed into the night sky to witness a total lunar eclipse.  The moon appeared to have turned red and spectators were gathered in the street, staring into the night sky.  This was the second “blood” moon in a series of four consecutive lunar eclipses over the course of 18 months.  A talk was given that following Sunday in church from a young man, preparing for a mission, about signs being made manifest in the heavens.  I gave very little thought to the subject and shrugged it off as “dooms-day” hocus-pocus nonsense.  However, whether or not there is scriptural significance to these cosmic events, it was during this season of the Tetrad in which the Lord did begin to pour out His spirit upon me.

Just less than 6 months prior to this event in late April of 2014 I was involved in a bike wreck which knocked me out.  Although my helmet had a couple of scratches, my face took most of the impact.  I had gnarly road rash and an injured wrist which prohibited me from working out and resulted in muscle loss.  This knocked my prior oversized ego down, and over time it allowed me to focus on things more important than my good looks and muscular physique.  This accident was a tender mercy from the Lord. 

It wasn’t until the time of my 20^th birthday when I began to have a desire to know more about my Savior Jesus Christ.  I guess you could say this is when I first began to “awaken” to the truth and reality of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I had grown up in the LDS church and have gone through the motions my whole life of living church standards.  I did all the outward things a good Mormon-boy was expected to do, but I never really knew much about Jesus Christ.  Although God revealed the truth of the Book of Mormon to me at a young age, I had never taken that testimony of the book in a serious pursuit to truly comprehend God’s character, perfection, and attributes.  My teenage years had made me slothful and careless in the things that mattered most.   Religion to me was more traditional and about living a certain lifestyle than actually having a relationship with Christ.  At that point as a missionary I knew a lot about “the Church”, but very little about Jesus Christ.   Although I had heard stories about Jesus, I wanted to know for myself who is this God we claim to worship and whose name is on all our churches.  What did he do?  How did He do the things He did? What is He like?

So I began to study the Gospels in the New Testament to learn more about Him from what was recorded of His mortal ministry in Jerusalem.  The more I learned about Him from my study, the more I wanted to know Him.  Not just know about Him, but to actually know Him for myself.  I wanted a personal intimate relationship with my Lord Jesus Christ.

I began to actually earnestly pray to God in private.  At night after my companion had fallen asleep I would go out to the roof or the lot behind our apartment where I could be alone to pour my heart out to God vocally without worrying about other’s listening.  There was no set from or recitation or guide to my prayers.  I would speak to Him as if He was right in front of me.  It was just God and I, and I cried from the heart. 

Our Lord is not an aloof God, He is very personal and invested in each one of our lives.  He answers our sincere prayers.   In January of 2015 I decided to trust wholly upon the merits of Him who is mighty to save.  I made a conscience decision that I would no longer trust any man, including my family, or the church organization and its leaders.  I came to the conclusion to rely solely upon God and God alone for truth, and that I would not rely on any other person for my relationship with Jesus Christ.  My loyalty would be first and foremost to the Lord before anything else.   I began to fast and pray more diligently for light and truth and direction from the Lord.  Because I was seeking, during this time the Spirit of the Lord began to expound the scriptures unto me.  The Lord taught me through the word of God.  Passages of scriptures which I had read before and thought I understood were opened up unto me with clarity and a completely new perspective.  It was as if there was a conduit from heaven coming down into the scriptures and flowing into me.  It was overwhelming and delicious, but sometimes the things I learned scared me; shaking me to the very marrow of my bones because it revealed my wicked and awful state before God.  However, the things the Lord taught me by the power of the Holy Ghost through the scriptures has always been edifying, logical, pure intelligence, and full of light and truth.

The first scripture the Lord opened up unto me was the account of the Brother of Jared in the Book of Ether. From the Brother of Jared’s personal encounter with the Lord, I learned what it meant to be redeemed from the fall: It is to receive the “Second Comforter”. (John14:15-21, D&C130:3) To be in the literal presence of Jesus Christ and speak with Him face to face. 

“And when he had said these words, behold, the Lord showed himself unto him, and said: Because thou knowest these things ye are redeemed from the fall; therefore ye are brought back into my presence; therefore I show myself unto you.”  (Ether 3:13)

This is what Moses sought diligently for the Children of Israel to receive.  (Exodus 19:7-11,20:18-21, D&C84:23-27)

This is what it means to have the actual Melchezidek priesthood.  (JST Genesis 14:25-32)

This is what it means to come unto Christ.  (3^rd Nephi 18:25, 15:24)

This is the “end” of the “enduring to the end” of the Doctrine of Christ. (2^nd Nephi 32:6)

Coming into the presence of Jesus Christ is a commandment.  In Chapter 4 of the Book of the Ether the Lord commands both the Jew and Gentile to come unto Him. 

“And in that day that they shall exercise faith in me, saith the Lord, even as the brother of Jared did, that they may become sanctified in me, then will I manifest unto them the things which the brother of Jared saw, even to the unfolding unto them all my revelations, saith Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of the heavens and of the earth, and all things that in them are. And he that will contend against the word of the Lord, let him be accursed; and he that shall deny these things, let him be accursed; for unto them will I show no greater things, saith Jesus Christ; for I am he who speaketh.”

(Ether 4:7–8)

“Come unto me, O ye Gentiles, and I will show unto you the greater things, the knowledge which is hid up because of unbelief.

Come unto me, O ye house of Israel, and it shall be made manifest unto you how great things the Father hath laid up for you, from the foundation of the world; and it hath not come unto you, because of unbelief.

Behold, when ye shall rend that veil of unbelief which doth cause you to remain in your awful state of wickedness, and hardness of heart, and blindness of mind, then shall the great and marvelous things which have been hid up from the foundation of the world from you—yea, when ye shall call upon the Father in my name, with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, then shall ye know that the Father hath remembered the covenant which he made unto your fathers, O house of Israel.”

(Ether 4:13–15)

It is unbelief that keeps us from the presence of Jesus Christ, it is unbelief that keeps the heavens close.  (Moroni 7:37) It is by faith that miracles are wrought.  It is our faith which allows us to behold the face of Jesus Christ.  So the question I had after being taught this is: How does one have faith even as the Brother of Jared?

I took this concern to the Lord and He taught me what faith truly is and how I am to have faith even as the Brother of Jared did.  Our Lord is not an aloof God.  He answers prayers and He taught me what faith really is.   By the grace of God I was able to obtain a copy of a book about a week or two later which has forever changed my life: The Lectures on Faith. 

The Lectures on Faith is a series of lectures written and prepared by Joseph Smith which contains the LEADING ITEMS of the religion which He professed to believe.   It teaches us how we are to have faith, even like the Brother of Jared did, to come to know God.   In the preface to Lectures on Faith in the 1835 edition Joseph wrote: 

“We deem it to be unnecessary to entertain you with lengthy preface to the following volume, but merely to say that it contains in short the leading items of the religion which we have professed to believe. The first part of the book will be found to contain a series of lectures as delivered before a theological class in this place. And in consequence of their embracing the important doctrines of salvation, we have arranged them into the following work. We do not present this little volume with any other expectation than that. We are to be called the answer to every principle advanced.”

He defended every principle advanced in Lectures on Faith. Before publishing it as scripture, it was presented to a council of the church to be sustained as scripture.

“On 17 August 1835, a general assembly of the church met for the purpose of examining a book of Commandments and Covenants that had been compiled and written by the publications committee.” [Joseph Smith headed the publications committee.] “This committee having finished the said book according to the instructions given them, it was deemed necessary to call the General Assembly of the Church to see if the book be approved or not by the authorities of the Church. That it may, if approved, become a law of the church, and a rule of faith and practice of the same.” (JS Papers, Revelations and translations, Vol 2, beginning on page 311)

In the JS Papers, Revelations and Translations, Vol. 2, beginning on page 565 and running through page 567 you can read the account of how the Lectures on Faith was canonized on August 17, 1835 as the Doctrine and Covenants was approved by the church as scripture.

After all the quorums of the church had accepted the Doctrine and Covenants, the first 70 some pages of which were Lectures on Faith, the general assembly voted.  Everyone present voted, including women and children. They all sustained this as the “Doctrine” of the church. When that step was taken it became a law of the church, and a rule of faith and practice to be followed thereafter.

The print of the 1835 Doctrine and Covenants physically emphasizes the priority of the Lectures over the revelations. Lectures is identified as “Theology” and is printed in the first 74 pages in larger, apparently 12 pitch type. The revelations begin on page 75 under the title “Part Second” and are in smaller, 9 or 10-pitch type. Visual inspection of the document in the photostatic reproduction available through the Joseph Smith Papers shows the apparent priority of the Lectures over the revelations.

The Lectures on Faith is Joseph Smith’s commentary on the Doctrine of Christ and that religion which was restored to the earth through him.  It is of great importance. Our salvation is dependent upon abiding by the principles laid out in that book.  It is scripture.  Joseph Smith vouched for it and the church sustained it to be part of the standard works.  So why is not in the current LDS edition of the Doctrine and Covenants?

It was removed from the scriptures in 1921 by a committee of 6 church leaders who thought they knew better concerning the character, perfections, and attributes of God than the only president of LDS church to have actually proclaimed to have stood in the presence of God the Father and Jesus Christ.

Joseph Smith called the Lectures “doctrine”—important doctrine. “Leading items of the religion.” He declared he would answer to every principle advanced in their content.  It was sustained unanimously by the members of the church as a law of the church, and a rule of faith and practice of the same. 

When this committee of 6 men removed the Lectures on Faith from the scriptures they disregarded the rule of faith, the law of the church, and abandoned true doctrine.    They denied Joseph Smith’s testimony of the content and therefore have rejected him as a prophet. 

The Lectures on Faith has been the most influential book in my life because it taught me what faith is and how to obtain it.  When you have a correct knowledge of what faith is and the object upon which it rests, you can then properly exercise faith and enjoy the effect which flow from it.  In February 2015 I came to the conclusion that I needed to do the will of the Lord before anything else.  I did as Joseph Smith counsels in the 6^th Lecture on Faith.  I went to the Lord and submitted myself fully to Him.  I didn’t have much to offer, but I placed everything I had, including the one thing which was most dear and close to my heart at the time, on the altar of sacrifice to the Lord.  I gave it all to the Lord placing it all in His hands and told Him “not my will, but thine, be done”.  The Lord accepted my sacrifice and took what was necessary to align my life with His will.  Over the course of the next few weeks the Lord orchestrated several events that needed to take place before the conclusion of my mission.  After I fulfilled what the Lord needed me to do, He called me home by His voice.  He made it known unto me that my service as an LDS missionary was complete and that I accomplished what He needed me to accomplish in the Philippines, at that time, in the 16 months I served. The Lord had a different work for me and I was needed elsewhere.  Because I had chosen to fully submit myself to the Lord, my service to Him has not been limited to a full-time proselyting church-mission.  Although I am still unworthy do be in His Holy presence and do stumble often, and am at His constant mercy, my entire life belongs to God.

Because I had placed everything I held dear to me on the altar of sacrifice, submitting myself to Jesus Christ giving it all to the Lord, counting all things but filth and dross for the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ, the Lord was able to alter the course of my life to one which is in a greater accordance with the will of God.  The path that God has place me on has brought me far-far away from the LDS Church Inc., but it has brought me ever closer to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

The Lectures on Faith has been long forgotten by the mainstream Mormon community, but it is not completely lost.  I am so grateful to have found that book.  It is the most influential book I have ever read and it has forever changed the course of my life.  It is because of the teachings in the Lectures on Faith I was able to receive the voice of the Lord and have been blessed to witness His miraculous hand in abundance in my life.  I cannot go into detail here about what the Lectures contain, but let be sufficient for me to say it contains in short the leading items of the religion which I profess to believe.  I testify it is scripture.  If you want to understand the actual religion (not the legally recognized church organization that came as a result) that was restored through Joseph Smith, then go read the Lectures on Faith.  If you desire to have that personal intimate relationship with Jesus Christ, then study and apply those Lectures in your own life so that you can have faith, even as the Brother of Jared did, sufficient unto life and salvation to be redeemed from the fall and to know the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Here is a free PDF file of The Lectures on Faith