Glory in my Jesus

Nephi's last words

Nephi leaves an ominous warning to the reader of his book.

And now my beloved brethren 

all those who are of the house of Israel 

and all you ends of the earth 

I speak unto you as the voice of one crying from the dust 

farewell 

until that great day will come 

and you that will not partake of the goodness of God 

and respect the words of the Jews 

and also my words 

and the words which will proceed forth out of the mouth of the Lamb of God 

behold I bid you an everlasting farewell 

for these words will condemn you at the last day 

for what I seal on earth will be brought against you at the judgment bar 

for thus has the Lord commanded me and I must obey 

Amen

2 Nephi 15 SC

Having completed a recent reading of 1 and 2 Nephi over the last few months, I ask myself, "What is Nephi's message?"  

Here he warns, that if: 

• you who choose not to partake of God's goodness, 
• nor respect the words of the Jews (not necessarily their traditions, which Nephi denounces, but the testaments which come from them), 
• nor respect Nephi's own words, 
• nor have ear for the words which come from the Lamb

– these words will condemn those who choose to ignore them.  What is Nephi's overreaching message?  He's pretty serious about wrapping up the book.  He clearly took a lot of effort to share certain things for us.  

My observations: 

• Nephi's books are filled with visions, revelations, dreams
• His books recount the consequences of sin
• He laments openly about his weaknesses
• He is passionate about loving his God, who he calls "my Jesus" (reminds me of this guy!)
• He has sealing power
• He encouraged face to face meeting with God
• He glories in plainness – there are not "hidden" gotchas that one must try feverishly to read between lines.  
• He reveals everything he possibly can about how to enter the "path", states little or nothing of special churches, groups, clubs or groups which require pacts, promises, or combinations
• He preaches the importance of baptism of water, of fire, of Holy Ghost, and entering into the "path"

I have grown to have an immense appreciation and love for Nephi.  I have read and heard others say that they find his writings and personality dry, boring, and humorless.  One author I read commented that he would probably not be likely to participate in friendship with Nephi because he seemed to be a bland kind of guy.  People used to comment in church how they could never "get through" his book, especially his retelling of Isaiah's accounts.  I find that reading Nephi's account in the Simple Copy has opened my eyes up to his heart, his passion, and his personality.  I don't find him dry at all.  I find Olde English dry.  

The Tongue of Angels

- 2 Nephi 14 SC

A New Tongue

But 

behold 

my beloved brethren

thus came the voice of the Son

unto me saying

"After you have repented 

of your sins 

and witnessed 

unto the Father

that you

are willing to keep 

my commandments 

by the baptism of water 

and 

have received 

the baptism of fire 

and of the Holy Ghost 

and can speak with a new tongue 

yes 

even with 

the tongue of angels 

and after 

this should deny me 

it would have been better 

for you 

that you had not known me"

And I heard a voice from 

the Father 

saying "yes, 

the words of my beloved 

are true and faithful

He 

that endures to the end 

the same 

will be saved" 

And now my beloved brethren

I know by this 

that unless a man will endure 

to the end 

in following the example 

of the Son of the living God 

he cannot be saved 

wherefore do the things which I have told you 

-Nephi

2 Nephi 13 RE

I love you, pass it on

Lambs and Doves

In 2 Nephi 13 (Simple Copy), Nephi says – and I take liberty in likening it in form of a poem for deeper analysis – and items in parenthesis are added by myself:

And now if the Lamb of God 

he being holy

should have need 

to be baptized 

by water 

to fulfil all righteousness 

O 

then how much more need 

have we 

being unholy 

to be baptized 

yes 

even by water 

And now 

I would ask of you 

my beloved brethren 

wherein the Lamb 

of God did fulfil 

all righteousness 

in be(-)ing 

baptized by water 

Know you not 

that 

he was holy 

But 

notwithstanding he being holy 

he shows 

unto the children 

of men 

that according to the flesh he humbles himself 

before the Father 

and witnesses 

unto the Father 

that 

he would be obedient 

unto him 

in keeping his commandments 

wherefore 

after 

he was baptized with water 

the Holy Ghost descended upon him 

in the form of a dove 

And again 

It shows unto the children 

of men 

the straightness 

of the path 

and the narrowness 

of the gate 

by which they should enter 

he having set the example before them 

And he said unto the children 

of men 

follow you me 

Wherefore 

my beloved brethren 

can we follow 

Jesus 

save we will be willing 

to keep the commandments of the Father 

And the father said 

repent you repent you (YOU REPENT!  YOU REPENT!!!)

and be baptized 

in the name of 

my 

beloved Son 

And also 

the voice of the Son came 

unto me saying 

he 

that is baptized in my name 

to him 

will the father give 

the holy Ghost 

like 

unto me 

wherefore follow me 

and do the things 

which you have seen me do 

Wherefore 

my beloved brethren 

I know that if you 

will 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 you are willing 

to take upon you the name of Christ 

by baptism yes 

by following your Lord and your Savior down into the water according to his word 

behold then 

will you receive the holy Ghost 

yes then 

comes the baptism of fire 

and of the Holy Ghost 

and then

can you speak 

with the tongue of angels 

and shout 

praises unto the Holy One of Israel(!)

As an aside: 

Nephi is well aware of Christ's given name.  He refers to the Lamb of God several times in chapter 13.  He also references the dove.  He also references the voice of the Father.  If Christ is both described and named as the Lamb, the Holy Ghost is as a dove, what do you suppose the Father may be likened to? 

Phases of a New Dispensation

I am always open to self-introspection, and self-examination.  As I have identified myself in the past few years to be a part of the "LDS Remnant" movement, constant examination of what is going on within myself and without in the greater movement it is critical.  If one believes they are on a straight and narrow path, examining the compass is ALWAYS welcome, in my opinion.

What follows is a copy of a piece I was invited to share anonymously from a small fellowship which desires their identity to remain private.  I believe it valuable for introspection and examination.  If false, it could be disregarded.  If true, it could be used to re-align the compass.

Note: this is part of a larger document which may provide added insight into reasons why these items were included here.  Readers may leave a comment should they be desire to be connected with the authors. :)

Phases of A New Dispensation

• Phase 1: The Second Comforter
  • Began with his book The Second Comforter, published in 2006
• Phase 2: Remembering the Covenant
  • Noted by: "Still not getting it, still need help."
  • Began with his blog. Ended before 40YIM with A Sign, though the blog continued for two more years, almost exactly, lasting six months after the last 40YIM talk.
  • Ended with A Sign and the next post was an announcement publishing a 5 volumes series of Blog. The Fifth volume ends with A Sign.
  • Started 2/2010 (blog start date)
  • Ended 3/2013 (blog titled A Sign. Blog continues for two more years)
• Phase 3: Forty Years in Mormonism
  • Noted by: 40 Years in Mormonism talks
  • These talks contained a mix of "get your own" and setting up a non-legal organization, loose fellowships with rules on how to act in those fellowships so there would be some order (public vs. private). For example, authority was only to be had between the individual and the Lord. Authority to act in the fellowship required a vote.
  • Announcement of an eventual temple.
  • Forty years was a condemnation given to Israel until the current generation died off. On 4/2017 Denver posted a scripture that referenced the number 10. "Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice; Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it."
  • Started 9/2013 (first talk)
  • Ended 9/2014 (last talk)
• Phase 4: Suffering an Idolatrous People
  • Creation of DenverSnuffer.com (3/2015). His first real post and action on the site was to nominate a recorder.
  • Recorder’s Clearing house and objections are raised to Keith using the official site/logo to promote his opinions. (4/2015)
  • Adrian Larsen’s logo. (9/2015)
  • Claimed that “Moses” gave the higher law and now we are getting something lesser. Noted by Why a Temple blog post where he states temples are a mercy for those who can’t “obtain the covenant” on their own. (4/2016)
  • Claimed by some that there is an effort to “overthrow the doctrine of Christ” by adding requirements for salvation.
  • Announcement of scriptures as a covenant and that those who make a covenant should be allowed to depart those who didn’t. (3/2017)

The Phoenix Dream

A few months ago, I had a dream, where I was heading to attend a conference in Phoenix.  I had driven thousands of miles from home, to attend a conference, where members of the LDS Remnant group were gathering.  Driving in a caravan of white vans, we were led into a sports complex, where there was a covered building where these friends were gathering.  I entered the building, and there were ladies of the Remnant Relief Society, who were gathered and sitting at tables, crocheting or crafting small spinner crafts made with paper and craft sticks.  Walking close to a round table of ladies, I observed over the shoulders of those who had already arrived earlier than I had, and tried to gather, through context clues, what they were making, and how to make my own.  I watched and watched, but couldn't quite gather all the details.

Realizing I'd have to make a gamble on my own, I sat down at a table, where a few other women were seating, working on their projects.  Beginning my own craft, I picked up the paper and craft sticks and glue, and started focusing on my work.  I sat in frustration, knowing I should ask for help, but also knowing it was the nature of the individuals in this group to censure one another when new people didn't understand the way.  And not that I was new and ignorant, I just didn't have all the instruction that they had received, due to arriving later to the gathering.  After sitting for what felt like 15 minutes, I dared to look up to the lady next to me, and ask her for some help.  But I knew I shouldn't have.

Immediately she furrowed her eyebrows, scolding me with her eyes.  Then her lips.

"If you needed help you should have asked long ago!  You've been here for 15 minutes already!"  Her insults didn't stop, even though her lips did, as I knew what she was thinking as she stood up and walked away behind me.

I heard a voice whisper to my right ear, from someone different.  Not understanding it, I turned my head to the right in hopes to hear better.  I asked, "What?"  The message was repeated, with hands covering the individual's mouth, so only I would hear.  But again, I didn't understand it.  Still with my head to the right, I said, "I'm really sorry, I don't understand what you're saying.  Can you say it again please?"

The third time the woman spoke to me, and I understood.  She told me, through the back of my head somehow, to "Look up to the hands that hang/come/reach down."  I am unsure if I saw hands reaching down through the clouds, or just knew they were there, but the image is emblazoned in my memory.  I knew she was an angel at this point.  

This is my report of the dream from February, 2017.