They say I have a "persecution complex".

A couple of days ago (February 23, 2017) I saw some friends I haven’t seen or spoken with for about a year. They were quite startled at my appearance (I haven’t cut my hair for 14 months and my beard is rivaling “Duck Dynasty”). I love and respect these friends; they know something is going on with me; but I perceive they think it is of a “rebellious” nature. Although I didn't elaborate my reasons, I did say it is of a "spiritual" nature. Suffice to say, the "Nazarite Vow" means something to me. 

One of my friends made an interesting comment to me, something like “you have a persecution complex”. A few years ago I vented my displeasure about being told by a local church leader that my growing a beard after being released from the Bishopric was being a “bad example”. My friend is right, I’ve told that story countless times and the comment from the Stake President still does bother me. So it's an easy guess that my current appearance is connected to that event; but it really isn't. 

So am I suffering a “persecution complex”? Should I get back in line with the expectations of others? … I think not. I'm not asking others to pay my bills or support me in any way. I don't expect others to comply with my preferences and only expect the same courtesy in return. Thankfully my Wife and grown Children accept me, even in my strangeness. They are my happiness, my cup runeth over.

It has been said "you can't un-see things", you also can't un-learn things. After thirty years of laziness, I've been studying scriptures and history for a couple of hours almost daily for the past six years. My paradigm began shifting immediately, especially when I discovered and studied the “Lectures on Faith” (http://lecturesonfaith.com/). In particular, Lecture Sixth, verses five through seven.

I was blown away by these teachings, and in attempting to live by them, feel closer to the Father, the Son, and the Mind of God (Holy Spirit, a/k/a Holy Ghost). Now my prayers with my Heavenly Father, through my Savior, are more sincere and real than any time before. I expect to know Them personally, as They have promised in the scriptures (D&C 93: 1). Joseph Smith’s Lectures on Faith were introduced to the Latter-day Saints in 1835. They were unanimously accepted as doctrine and scripture by the members. Unfortunately in 1921, a panel of five General Authorities removed the Lectures on Faith from the Doctrine and Covenants. Perhaps they figured since no one noticed, no one cared. If anyone wants to know what really happened, follow this link: http://denversnuffer.com/2016/10/joseph-smith-papers/ The Joseph Smith Papers Project cleared the matter up for me.

Additional understanding came to me while reading LDS author, Avraham Gileadi (http://www.josephandjudah.com/). In my training as a Latter-day Saint, I was taught the latter-day Gentiles that would reject the fullness of the gospel are every Christian church except the LDS church. Brother Gileadi cleared this up for me; he explains something so simple a child can understand. In 3 Nephi 16: 10, the Lord states: ”At that day when the Gentiles shall sin against my gospel, and shall reject the fulness of my gospel … behold, saith the Father, I will bring the fulness of my gospel from among them”. I believe the Book of Mormon restored the “fullness” of [the Lord’s] gospel to the earth, so only those churches that embrace The Book of Mormon are capable of “reject[ing]  the fullness”, resulting in “the Father … bring[ing] the fullness of my gospel from among them [the LDS]”. I guess you can say that Catholics and Protestants have rejected the “fullness” when LDS missionaries unsuccessfully attempt to teach it to them; but how does the Father take something away from Catholics and Protestants when they never accepted it in the first place?

3 Nephi 16: 10 describes other characteristics of the Latter-day Gentiles who “reject the fullness”:

(1)”and shall be lifted up in the pride of their hearts above all nations, and above all the people of the whole earth”. The average LDS member believes “pride” is a sin; some even feel guilty if they express pride in their children. Many others, however, express pride in being descendants of “faithful and noble pioneers”. Many LDS hymns carry this theme (As Zion’s Youth in Latter Days: “upon a noble past we build”; Carry On: “oh youth of a noble birthright, carry on, carry on, carry on”).

A glimpse into the mindset of early LDS pioneers reveals the genesis of these "noble" and "great" ideas: “I wish to write now of the Prophet Joseph Smith. The Lord revealed to this Prophet as early as the year 1831 that in consequence of great wickedness which would come upon the earth in the latter days, it would be necessary for great men to take the noblest wives. The Lord had reserved the most noble of His choice spirits to come forth through a pure lineage, as the noble spirits were not willing to come through a lineage that was corrupt” (Autobiography of Mosiah Lyman Hancock, 1834 – 1907).

I have reservations whether Joseph Smith taught this concept in the presence of ten year old Mosiah Hancock (Joseph Smith was killed in 1844). Brother Hancock wouldn't have been old enough to begin practicing plural marriage until well after it was introduced to the general church population in the Utah Territory under Brigham Young. It is more likely young Mosiah Hancock was trained by parents and church leaders, people he loved and trusted, that he and all Latter-day Saints were the "noble, great, and choice" ones identified in scripture (ref. Abraham 3: 22 https://www.lds.org/scriptures/pgp/abr/3.22?lang=eng#21) Hopefully they were interpreting scripture correctly because the consequences are eternal. Brother Hancock obviously believed he was one of the "great men" since he adopted the practice of plural marriage and left a very sincere testimony of it. More than 80 off-shoots of the LDS religion are still practicing plural marriage today. Hopefully the Lord has ratified with "His own voice" (JST Genesis 14: 26 - 29 https://www.lds.org/scriptures/jst/jst-gen/14?lang=eng) that they are authorized to do so; again, the consequences are eternal.

Were early Latter-day Saints noble, faithful, and obedient to the Lord's commands? Chapter 124 of the Doctrine and Covenants (given in 1841) contains the answers in the form of promises and warnings from the Lord. Obedience was required for a positive outcome, which would have been manifest by divine protection from all enemies; disobedience would have been manifest by “cursings, wrath, indignation, and judgments” brought upon themselves, and a loss of divine protection. We can call our ancestors “faithful and noble” all we want; but let us not overlook that Zion was not established in Nauvoo, IL and the Lord allowed internal and external enemies to drive our ancestors out. Read this post for more details https://callingitstraight.blogspot.com/2017/02/why-nauvoo-illinois-isnt-headquarters.html

In June 2016, LDS Apostle Dallin H. Oaks delivered an impressive speech at Oxford University in England that contains very specific statistics about the LDS Church and its contributions to the world http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/transcript-elder-oaks-university-oxford. He quoted that in 2015 alone, the LDS Church donated 40 million dollars in world-wide humanitarian aid. Impressive as that sounds, tithing payments to the LDS Church during the same year are estimated at 7 billion dollars. The LDS people are certainly wealthy and might make more friends by donating more than 0.006% (six one-thousandth of a percent) of its annual proceeds to the worlds poor and needy, who, after all, are our brothers and sisters.

It has become customary leading up to the two semi-annual General Conferences in downtown Salt Lake City, UT, to begin removing (arresting) homeless persons from Temple Square and City Creek Center properties, owned by the LDS Church. It might seem like the best solution to the "homeless problem"; but in any case, it sure makes it easier for faithful General Conference attenders to avoid the reminder that many of their brothers and sisters could use their love, compassion, and maybe a job (teach a man to fish).

I am certainly guilty of pride; my non-LDS relatives never appreciated my claim that I belong to the "One true Church of God". That seems a bit prideful to think, let alone say; but I did say it, and have need to repent. We Latter Day Saints are a lot like ancient Israel, mistaking a covenant with God as God's favor.  Luke 13: 34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!

Does the LDS church meet the rest of the description of 2 Nephi 16: 10?

(2)”and shall be filled with all manner of lyings” (the Lord will not allow the leaders to lead the members astray / never was "doctrine" to deny the priesthood to black LDS men), (3)”and of deceits” (unpaid clergy / modest stipend, use of tithing funds for financial investments, HeartSell™, polls, surveys), (4)”and of mischiefs (changing / removing scripture ie. Lectures on Faith, changing temple ordinances, altered historical records, excommunication orders from headquarters), (5)”and all manner of hypocrisy” (continued affiliation with Boy Scouts of America, political influencing ie. Prop. 8 campaign), (6)”and murders” (Blood Atonement, Oath of Vengeance, Mountain Meadows Massacre), (7)”and priestcrafts” (celebrity status of leaders), (8)”and whoredoms” (Polygamy, past, present, and future), (9)”and of secret abominations” (all of the above and others yet unknown); ”and if they shall do all those things”, (the fullness of gospel will be taken away).

Moroni saw our time:

Mormon 8: 35 Behold, I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not. But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing.

What did the Lord show Moroni?  

Mormon 8: 33 O ye wicked and perverse and stiffnecked people, why have ye built up churches unto yourselves to get gain? Why have ye transfigured the holy word of God, that ye might bring damnation upon your souls? Behold, look ye unto the revelations of God; for behold, the time cometh at that day when all these things must be fulfilled.

 36 And I know that ye do walk in the pride of your hearts; and there are none save a few only who do not lift themselves up in the pride of their hearts, unto the wearing of very fine apparel, unto envying, and strifes, and malice, and persecutions, and all manner of iniquities; and your churches, yea, even every one, have become polluted because of the pride of your hearts.

 37 For behold, ye do love money, and your substance, and your fine apparel, and the adorning of your churches, more than ye love the poor and the needy, the sick and the afflicted.

 38 O ye pollutions, ye hypocrites, ye teachers, who sell yourselves for that which will canker, why have ye polluted the holy church of God? Why are ye ashamed to take upon you the name of Christ? Why do ye not think that greater is the value of an endless happiness than that misery which never dies—because of the praise of the world?

 39 Why do ye adorn yourselves with that which hath no life, and yet suffer the hungry, and the needy, and the naked, and the sick and the afflicted to pass by you, and notice them not?

 40 Yea, why do ye build up your secret abominations to get gain, and cause that widows should mourn before the Lord, and also orphans to mourn before the Lord, and also the blood of their fathers and their husbands to cry unto the Lord from the ground, for vengeance upon your heads?

 41 Behold, the sword of vengeance hangeth over you; and the time soon cometh that he avengeth the blood of the saints upon you, for he will not suffer their cries any longer.

Did you notice that “every church” will be corrupt in the last days, without exception. When will we LDS humbly recognize we are not exempt and repent?

Each of us must decide whether or not we believe the message of the Book of Mormon. What are its warnings? Does it say all will be well in the last days (or at least for the LDS in Zion)?

2 Nephi 28: 21 And others will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, that they will say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well—and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell.

 22 And behold, others he flattereth away, and telleth them there is no hell; and he saith unto them: I am no devil, for there is none—and thus he whispereth in their ears, until he grasps them with his awful chains, from whence there is no deliverance.

 23 Yea, they are grasped with death, and hell; and death, and hell, and the devil, and all that have been seized therewith must stand before the throne of God, and be judged according to their works, from whence they must go into the place prepared for them, even a lake of fire and brimstone, which is endless torment.

 24 Therefore, wo be unto him that is at ease in Zion!

I have never studied the Gospel of Christ more seriously than over the last six years. I am grateful for the Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price. Yes, I've read all the arguments against the scriptures (especially the Pearl of Great Price); I don't believe it wise to cast anything off without prayerful consideration. So whether or not the things I have written here manifests a “persecution complex” is of little concern to me … I have plenty of flaws to repent of. If you've read to this point, I hope you took the time to at least read Lecture Sixth, verses five through seven, or better yet, read all seven lectures http://lecturesonfaith.com/. I am astonished they were considered expendable; or could their removal have been motivated by doctrinal conflicts in practice in 1921? Whatever the case, I have read and prayed about these teachings, and taken my questions to the Lord, the only reliable source of light and truth (Jeremiah 4: 2, D&C 84: 45).

Do you have the faith to seek counsel from the Lord in all things and humbly correct your course with His guidance (Jeremiah 17: 5, 2 Nephi 4: 34, 2 Nephi 28: 31)? Can you trust the Lord alone or do you prefer a middle-man? Ancient Israel chose the middle-man and they are still waiting for the Messiah.

God bless you, my dear brothers and sisters.

... ye [Lawyers] have taken away the key of knowledge ... and ... hindered ... [them that seek it] Luke 11: 52

If someone in my home Ward asks "I haven't seen you at church lately ... is everything OK?" I think I will answer with the following explanation from Brother Phillip G. McLemore:

https://www.sunstonemagazine.com/hindering-the-saints-taking-away-the-key-of-knowledge/

https://www.sunstonemagazine.com/hindering-the-saints-taking-away-the-key-of-knowledge-part-ii/

Brother McLemore's explanations cover my sentiments to the tee. I especially appreciate the fact he is a "convert" to the LDS faith, and rather less blinded by the traditions of [his] fathers than the multi-generational Latter-day Saints tend to be (myself included).

A gift from God for my 55th birthday.

Early this morning a vivid dream came upon me. I was standing in a wide hallway and it was quiet before I heard footsteps at the base of a wide staircase. The stride was familiar to my senses, it sounded like my Father’s stride. I walked toward the staircase and looked down seeing my Father standing there and looking at the staircase. Tears began flowing as I quietly sobbed “Dad … oh Dad”. He began to ascend the stair and at the top, paused. I was in tears and again sobbed “Dad … ”. I discerned he could not see me and was following the sound of my quiet sobs. He raised his arms as if feeling for me in the dark and began slowly walking toward me. I reached to touch his hand, worried that I would not feel it; but I DID feel it and we clutched each other in a desperate embrace. I suddenly awoke with crystal clear consciousness of what had just happened and thanked my Heavenly Father over and over.

My Father died in 2005 and tomorrow is my 55^th birthday. Thank you, God, for this wonderful gift.

Why Nauvoo, Illinois isn't the headquarters of the LDS Church

I was taught that hostile non-Mormons drove my ancestors out of Nauvoo, IL at gunpoint, in the winter of 1845 - 1846, after vile men had unjustly jailed and killed Joseph Smith, Jr. and his brother, Hyrum Smith, in Carthage, IL. Fortunately, my ancestors made it through the winter exodus that led to 600 deaths at Winter Quarters, Nebraska, and many more while crossing the plains to Deseret (Utah). I have always wondered why the Lord allowed these persecutions rather than protect His covenant people. I believe I’ve discovered the answer in the scriptures and finally can make sense of my LDS heritage.

Doctrine and Covenants chapter 124, a Revelation given in January of 1841, opens with the Lord directing Joseph Smith, Jr. to prepare to make a “solemn proclamation” to all the leaders of the Nations and World (verses 1 – 5), the Lord says “For, behold, I am about to call upon them to give heed to the light and glory of Zion, for the set time has come to favor her” (verse 6).

The Lord is preparing the World for “the day of [His] visitation, when I shall unveil the face of my covering” (verse 8). The Lord is creating “Zion” and calling the righteous in the World to come to it (verses 9 – 11).

The Lord commands the Latter-day Saints in Nauvoo to build two houses; the Nauvoo House (verses 22 – 24) and the Temple (verses 25 – 27). The Lord explains the purpose for building these two edifices: 

28 For there is not a place found on earth that he [the Lord] may come to and restore again that which was lost unto you, or which he hath taken away, even the fulness of the priesthood.

 29 For a baptismal font there is not upon the earth, that they, my saints, may be baptized for those who are dead—

 30 For this ordinance belongeth to my house, and cannot be acceptable to me, only in the days of your poverty, wherein ye are not able to build a house unto me.

The purpose for the Lords command is:

1.       To restore the fullness of the priesthood, ”which was lost or taken away”.

2.       To accommodate the performance of a sacred ordinance (baptism for those who are dead) in His house, where it belongs.

3.       Verse 27 states a very important purpose, “and build a house to my name, for the Most High to dwell therein”.

The Lord places the Saints under specific commandments which will result in specific blessings if obeyed, or cursing’s if disobeyed.

31 But I command you, all ye my saints, to build a house unto me; and I grant unto you a sufficient time to build a house unto me; and during this time your baptisms shall be acceptable unto me.

(The Lord was temporarily accepting vicarious baptisms in the Mississippi river),

 32 But behold, at the end of this appointment your baptisms for your dead shall not be acceptable unto me; and if you do not these things at the end of the appointment ye shall be rejected as a church, with your dead, saith the Lord your God.

33 For verily I say unto you, that after you have had sufficient time to build a house to me, wherein the ordinance of baptizing for the dead belongeth, and for which the same was instituted from before the foundation of the world, your baptisms for your dead cannot be acceptable unto me;

The Lord explains some major consequences for failure to build a house unto the Lord in the “sufficient time” granted:

1.       The Lord will reject the church, with your dead (vicarious temple ordinances).

2.       Baptisms for your dead are unacceptable.

In verses 34 – 41 the Lord explains more reasons for His commandment to build the Temple. While He doesn’t specify the duration of “sufficient time” granted, considering that Joseph Smith Jr. and Hyrum Smith were killed three and one half years after this commandment, it is important to carefully examine what transpired in Nauvoo during that period of time and how it affected the performance of the Saints.

After giving these warnings, the Lord makes conditional promises to the Saints. 45 And if my people will hearken unto my voice, and unto the voice of my servants whom I have appointed to lead my people, behold, verily I say unto you, they shall not be moved out of their place.

Recollect the history of the Church to this point (1830 – 1841); one third of the membership, including Apostles, drove Joseph Smith, Jr. and the balance of the Church members out of Kirtland, OH (the detractors also attempted to kill Joseph Smith, Jr.). The Missouri troubles (extermination order, Hans Mill massacre, mobbing’s, etc.) upon Mormons are well-documented.  The Lord now covenants that the Saints “shall not be moved out of their place”, as long as they hearken unto (obey) His voice, and the voice of His servants whom He has appointed to lead His people.

The Lord makes the consequences of disobedience crystal clear:

 46 But if they will not hearken to my voice, nor unto the voice of these men whom I have appointed, they shall not be blest, because they pollute mine holy grounds, and mine holy ordinances, and charters, and my holy words which I give unto them.

 47 And it shall come to pass that if you build a house unto my name, and do not do the things that I say, I will not perform the oath which I make unto you, neither fulfil the promises which ye expect at my hands, saith the Lord.

 48 For instead of blessings, ye, by your own works, bring cursings, wrath, indignation, and judgments upon your own heads, by your follies, and by all your abominations, which you practice before me, saith the Lord.

The Saints had been driven “out of their place” twice before (Kirtland, OH and Missouri), yet now the Lord promises He would not let anyone move them out of their place (Nauvoo). UNLESS they disobey Him and the servants He had appointed (Joseph Smith, Jr. and Hyrum Smith).

Verses 49 and 50 are very important to examine, and take to the Lord in prayer:

49 Verily, verily, I say unto you, that when I give a commandment to any of the sons of men to do a work unto my name, and those sons of men go with all their might and with all they have to perform that work, and cease not their diligence, and their enemies come upon them and hinder them from performing that work, behold, it behooveth me to require that work no more at the hands of those sons of men, but to accept of their offerings.

 50 And the iniquity and transgression of my holy laws and commandments I will visit upon the heads of those who hindered my work, unto the third and fourth generation, so long as they repent not, and hate me, saith the Lord God.

I had always perceived ”those who hindered” the Lord’s work in Nauvoo were non-Mormon mobs and government officials; therefore, the Lord didn’t hold the Latter-day Saints responsible for completing  the Nauvoo Temple within the time limit. Easy enough, huh, it wasn’t our fault! But I’ve since put in the effort and learned there’s much more that happened in Nauvoo that identifies ”those who  hindered” the Lord’s work.

Let’s start this examination with an eye-witness account of Dennison Lott Harris. In 1844, Harris was nineteen years old; he kept a secret for thirty seven years of events he witnessed in Nauvoo, IL, having promised Joseph Smith, Jr. he would not reveal, even to his own father, for a minimum of twenty years. Harris first told of these events to a member of the First Presidency while attending a meeting in Ephraim, Utah in May 1881. His family believes he also told his story to Brigham Young several years earlier while Brigham Young lodged at Harris’ home in Monroe, Utah. Dennison Lott Harris (1825 - 1885) was a Bishop of the LDS Church in Monroe, Utah, for nineteen years, and his body rests in the Monroe City Cemetery.

A detailed account of the "Conspiracy of Nauvoo" was published in the Latter-Day Saints MILLENNIAL STAR on August 11, 1884. Conspiracy of Nauvoo

An abbreviated version of this history was shared with the general population of the LDS Church in the Priesthood Session of General Conference in April 1987, in a talk given by Dallin H. Oaks. http://historyharrisfamily.blogspot.com/2010/03/dennison-lott-harris-story-told-by.html

I wasn’t paying attention back in 1987, and so this history didn’t come to my attention until a few years ago when I found some posts by descendants of Martin Harris (one of the three witnesses of the Restoration).

https://familysearch.org/photos/artifacts/1379379   http://historyharrisfamily.blogspot.com/search/label/Dennison%20Lott%20Harris  

Also, a fine gentleman posted the story here:

https://familysearch.org/patron/v2/TH-303-43991-480-10/dist.pdf?ctx=ArtCtxPublic

Here’s a little background on what is termed the “Conspiracy of Nauvoo”.

Former Latter-day Saint, John C. Bennett, had become hostile toward Joseph Smith Jr. and the LDS Church following his excommunication for immorality. In 1842, Bennett raised charges against Joseph Smith, Jr. for essentially the same immoral crimes for which Bennett was convicted and excommunicated. In early June, 1844, Bennett published defaming accusations against Joseph Smith, Jr. and the LDS Church. 

William Law and others within the LDS Church leadership quietly adopted belief that Joseph Smith, Jr. was a “fallen prophet”, due primarily to accusations of polygamous teachings and practices alleged to have been initiated by Joseph Smith, Jr. On January 8, 1844, William Law was removed from the First Presidency of the LDS Church and he and his wife were excommunicated on April 18, 1844.

If you have already read the links above, you know what the “Conspiracy of Nauvoo” is. For those of you breezing through this post, I’ll give you a summary.

The Conspiracy of Nauvoo

In January, 1844, a secret meeting was called by William Law at his residence in Nauvoo. Among the Latter-day Saint men invited were Dennison Lott Harris and Robert Scott. The perplexed and confused young men brought the invitation to the attention of Harris’ father, Emir, (brother of Martin Harris). Emir brought the young men to Joseph Smith, Jr. where they repeated the details of the invitation. After listening to and discerning the hearts of the young men, Joseph instructed them to attend the secret meeting and afterward visit the details upon him. The secret meeting revealed a plan to murder Joseph Smith, Jr., Hyrum Smith, and potentially other leaders of the LDS Church. Joseph Smith asked the two young men to attend two more meetings, but warned that the last meeting may cost them their lives. The two chose to accept the risk and went. At the last meeting, the leaders of the conspiracy decided to put everyone (approximately 200 Latter-day Saint men) under a secret oath. When the two young men attempted to dismiss themselves, suggesting they were only foolish boys who didn’t understand what was going on, angry voices in the crowd demanded they be taken to the cellar and killed before they spilled the beans on the conspiracy. Miraculously, the boys were expelled with the threat of certain death if they spoke of this with anyone. At the final meeting with Joseph Smith, Jr., he put the two young men under a vow (for their protection) to never speak of what they witnessed with anyone for a minimum of twenty years.

On June 27, 1844, Joseph Smith Jr. and Hyrum Smith were ambushed and murdered by a mob while being held at a Carthage, IL jail. History says the “mob” was a local militia (Carthage Greys) who were supposed to be protecting the LDS leaders awaiting a pending trial. Now I wonder if there were any of those 200 Latter-day Saint men among the mob.

Knowledge of this history certainly opens one’s eyes as to what was happening in Nauvoo, IL from 1841 through 1844. ”Those who hindered” the Lords work were not only non-Mormon hostiles, but also current members and former leaders in the LDS Church and former allies of Joseph Smith, Jr. and Hyrum Smith. Let’s remind ourselves what the Lord promised upon the heads of those who hindered His work? 48 For instead of blessings, ye, by your own works, bring cursings, wrath, indignation, and judgments upon your own heads, by your follies, and by all your abominations, which you practice before me, saith the Lord.

So, am I suggesting these “defectors” brought the Lords wrath upon ALL Latter-day Saints (200 bad apples condemned 12,000 righteous)? Yes I am (strike one). And what about whether or not the Nauvoo Temple was completed within the “sufficient time” given by the Lord? It clearly was not (strike two). https://history.lds.org/article/museum-treasures-nauvoo-temple-in-ruins-lithograph?lang=eng#

Another very distressing question is why the Lord allowed Hyrum Smith to accompany Joseph Smith to Carthage, IL. Sure, because Hyrum was accused of crimes too! The Lord could have protected Hyrum Smith; but instead, He allowed Hyrum to die minutes before Joseph, thrusting the LDS Church into a “Succession Crisis”. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Succession_crisis_(Latter_Day_Saints)

So why then, if the Latter-day Saints in Nauvoo were worthy of the Lords promised protection, did the Lord allow Hyrum to die? Did you know that the Lord had appointed Hyrum as a prophet, seer, and revelator in 1841? Consider the Lords feelings for Hyrum at that time:  D&C 124: 15 And again, verily I say unto you, blessed is my servant Hyrum Smith; for I, the Lord, love him because of the integrity of his heart, and because he loveth that which is right before me, saith the Lord.

D&C 124: 91 And again, verily I say unto you, let my servant William be appointed, ordained, and anointed, as counselor unto my servant Joseph, in the room of my servant Hyrum, that my servant Hyrum may take the office of Priesthood and Patriarch, which was appointed unto him by his father, by blessing and also by right;

 92 That from henceforth he shall hold the keys of the patriarchal blessings upon the heads of all my people,

 93 That whoever he blesses shall be blessed, and whoever he curses shall be cursed; that whatsoever he shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever he shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

 94 And from this time forth I appoint unto him that he may be a prophet, and a seer, and a revelator unto my church, as well as my servant Joseph;

 95 That he may act in concert also with my servant Joseph; and that he shall receive counsel from my servant Joseph, who shall show unto him the keys whereby he may ask and receive, and be crowned with the same blessing, and glory, and honor, and priesthood, and gifts of the priesthood, that once were put upon him that was my servant Oliver Cowdery;

 96 That my servant Hyrum may bear record of the things which I shall show unto him, that his name may be had in honorable remembrance from generation to generation, forever and ever.

You know, when my Wife and I taught 8 – 9 year old Primary children, we wondered why Hyrum Smith isn’t recognized in LDS curriculum as the second “prophet, seer, and revelator” of the LDS Church. We thought it wrong that Hyrum wasn’t mentioned as a “prophet, seer, and revelator”, but only as the second “patriarch”, having succeeded his father, Joseph Smith, Sr. We cringed while singing those “cute” Primary songs “Latter-day prophets … are number one … Joseph Smith … then Brigham Young …”. How can Hyrum Smith’s name be had in “honorable remembrance from generation to generation, forever and forever” if we aren’t teaching the entire truth from the scriptures? It wouldn’t take very long before Hyrum Smith became known only as “the second patriarch” and “devoted brother” to the prophet, Joseph Smith, Jr.

From his appointment in 1841 as co-prophet, seer, and revelator of the LDS Church, Hyrum Smith was never accepted as such by his contemporary Latter-day Saints. Could the Lord have allowed Hyrum Smith to go to his death at Carthage as an exclamation point on the disobedience of the Latter-day Saints in Nauvoo? (strike three, you’re out!!!)

Can we identify any “cursing’s, wrath, indignation, and judgments” that have followed the Saints since Nauvoo?

How about the fact the LDS Church was “moved out of its place” and broke into at least six factions, a/k/a the “Succession Crisis” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Succession_crisis_(Latter_Day_Saints) (“Brigham-ites”, “Rigdon-ites”, “Joseph-ites = RLDS”, “Strang-ites”, “Hendrick-ites”, “Wight-ites“.

Those of us whose ancestors followed Brigham Young to Deseret (Utah) might argue that there have been no “cursing’s, wrath, indignation, and judgments” upon us “the authorized religion”; yet a historically honest examination tells a different story. Hundreds of deaths at Winter Quarters and during the exodus to Deseret (Utah), absence of ongoing revelation (four canonized revelations in 173 years), Polygamy and effects of Edmunds – Tucker Act (members fled to Canada and Mexico to avoid jail and asset seizures), Fundamentalist break-offs (80 and counting), controversial doctrines (Blood Atonement, Oath of Vengeance, Curse of Cain – Lesser Valiancy), “Mormon War”, “Mountain Meadows Massacre”, settling of Brigham Young Estate, Senator Reed Smoot hearings (need for 2^nd Manifesto), financial distress (solved by alignment with Babylon a/k/a Wall Street), societal maladies (prescription drug abuse, pornography, fraud and white-collar crime (Ponzi-schemes), bankruptcy filings, teen pregnancy/suicide), and throughout all the generations since Nauvoo, pride (ref. Mormon 8: 35 – 41, 3 Nephi 16: 10 – 15).

“Zion”, as described in Moses 7: 18, has not been achieved by any of the groups that stem from what the Lord started in Nauvoo, IL, 173 years ago. And has anyone seen evidence that “that portion of the priesthood which was lost or taken away” (D&C 124: 28) was actually restored sometime after January 1841?

The Lord promised, however, that the cursing’s, wrath, indignation and judgments would only be upon the third and fourth generations? So what if you’re part of the fifth generation and beyond, would you be encouraged at evidence the Lord has turned to face the “Restoration” again? I am, and so are many others. I encourage your review, with sincere prayer, of the following link: http://www.preservingtherestoration.info/