tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2542751172925608884.comments2021-10-24T09:04:44.831-07:00Seeking Further Light & KnowledgeVaughn Hugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15590305285033613259noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2542751172925608884.post-57030316477299988622021-08-27T10:49:05.457-07:002021-08-27T10:49:05.457-07:00This is an excellent post. Thank you SO much!This is an excellent post. Thank you SO much!Connie Watermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06222246280740158410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2542751172925608884.post-61838066980201332532021-08-27T09:37:36.806-07:002021-08-27T09:37:36.806-07:00Vaughn, once again you have taught me things I had...Vaughn, once again you have taught me things I had never even connected before. And you did it all concisely! I really do have to learn how to do that on my blog!Alan Rock Watermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04971243364867111868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2542751172925608884.post-9364488724620867702021-08-08T16:37:54.344-07:002021-08-08T16:37:54.344-07:00Here's a sequence from the New English Transla...Here's a sequence from the New English Translation of the Septuagint Isaiah translation chapter 8. <br />http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/nets/edition/33-esaias-nets.pdf<br />It is instructive to compare this translation with the Isaiah quotes in the Book of Mormon, especially in 2 Nephi.<br /><br />13Sanctify the Lord himself, and he himself will be your fear. 14And if youc trust in him, he will become your holy precinct, and you will not encounter him as a stumbling caused by a stone nor as a fall caused by a rock, but the house of Iakob is in a trap, and those who sit in Her- ousalem are in a pit. 15Therefore, many among them shall become powerless, and they shall fall and be crushed, and people who are in safety shall draw near and be taken. <br /><br />16 Then shall become manifest those who seal up the law so that they might not learn. 17And one shall say, “I will wait for God, who has turned away his face from the house of Iakob, and I will trust in him. (cf. T&C 163:4)<br /> . . .<br />21And a harsh famine will come upon you, and it shall be that when you become hungry, you will be dis- tressed, and you will vilify your ruler and your pat- achra (idol). And they will look up to heaven above, 22and they will observe the earth below, but look: affliction and distress and darkness—dire straits and darkness so that they cannot see <br /><br />So first a comes one who rejects those who "seal up the law so that they might not learn," (correlation) and he chooses instead to wait for God.<br /><br />Later after great distress, the people vilify their ruler and their idols who have failed them.<br /><br />This matches with your excellent presentation.<br /><br />Evan in Provo<br /><br /><br />Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07575384777133612132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2542751172925608884.post-79596602835958055602020-10-26T00:09:40.766-07:002020-10-26T00:09:40.766-07:00This is really great Vaughn! Thank you!This is really great Vaughn! Thank you!Connie Watermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06222246280740158410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2542751172925608884.post-35234795770775374062019-05-15T07:48:27.004-07:002019-05-15T07:48:27.004-07:00In the Jubilee calendar we had the plant years (20...In the Jubilee calendar we had the plant years (2008-2014) we are in the Water years (2015-2021), next are the Nourish years (2022-2028)<br />Cachemagichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12500063086532939408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2542751172925608884.post-20059390220366642512018-12-21T14:08:18.119-08:002018-12-21T14:08:18.119-08:00Wow man. Thanks for writing all this up. Wow man. Thanks for writing all this up. Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18157207426274845984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2542751172925608884.post-52946512065246536522018-10-13T20:07:11.052-07:002018-10-13T20:07:11.052-07:00This is a great post. Thanks!This is a great post. Thanks!Connie Watermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06222246280740158410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2542751172925608884.post-3171132783726314962018-07-10T13:38:27.406-07:002018-07-10T13:38:27.406-07:00We are called by God, not by man unto the Priesth...We are called by God, not by man unto the Priesthood; he personally will give it to us for the higher Priesthoods. I did not fully realize that until a few years ago; which was what took place almost 30 years ago, when the Lord came to me in vision 3 times in one night and said, "By my authority I give you power in the Priesthood." At the time I was still just beginning to be awakened by the Lord. It was near the same time that I revived my Baptism of Fire or something greater . Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10632785288526440644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2542751172925608884.post-57972100125188629282018-02-13T16:26:00.711-08:002018-02-13T16:26:00.711-08:00Thank you for expressing these ideas and thoughts....Thank you for expressing these ideas and thoughts. I find them comforting and uplifting. LoriLorihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17155664862229733620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2542751172925608884.post-81023067296541847482017-11-15T13:24:11.613-08:002017-11-15T13:24:11.613-08:00It is curious that Denver would make the following...It is curious that Denver would make the following statement (from above) if none but Joseph (or Hyrum) were permitted to "inquire of the Lord" for the people: "When he [Joseph] died, they were unable to call down a revelation for themselves. No one proposed to solve succession by revelation."<br /><br />It was also interesting to me what Denver taught the scripture committee about this intended replacement document--the difference between something given by commandment versus as wisdom. (see the log of Scripture Committee updates from earlier this year)<br /><br />I also found the "explanation" from the scripture committee to be persuasive. I.e., in that the assignment had been completed and met until some few of us responded negatively and the Lord changed the requirement to something still not fully clear: http://scripturesproject.blogspot.com/2017/10/explanations.htmlVaughn Hugheshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15590305285033613259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2542751172925608884.post-39603635951879458922017-11-09T08:12:47.280-08:002017-11-09T08:12:47.280-08:00Connie, kind of gives new meaning to the scripture...Connie, kind of gives new meaning to the scripture from the sermon on the mount about letting your replies be "Yeah, Yeah, or Nay, Nay." Max Skousen did a talk about Moroni 7, where he described the "Peaceable followers of Christ) as those who have no need to "be right" or to prove that they're right. New knowledge - very valuable.scootd28https://www.blogger.com/profile/18049734458416531463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2542751172925608884.post-71608364445156860862017-11-09T00:48:45.444-08:002017-11-09T00:48:45.444-08:00Thank you Vaughn, for saying what you have said, s...Thank you Vaughn, for saying what you have said, so simply and beautifully.I am so grateful for truly thoughtful, humble souls such as yours. Thank you.<br /><br />I am amazed at how simply and plainly you have written; and yet after feeling such a strong spirit of truth in your words, I see that there are other souls picking them apart.<br />I feel more sorry than I can say. It never seems to end.I will leave it at that.Connie Watermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06222246280740158410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2542751172925608884.post-57157696838898770562017-11-07T11:33:06.220-08:002017-11-07T11:33:06.220-08:00Continued from previous comment...
What if those w...Continued from previous comment...<br />What if those who feel strongly about the original document re-examined what they asked the Lord about? Some people asked if the Lord wanted section 20 replaced. Others asked if Jeff was given the assignment. Still others asked if Jeff received revelation. The Lord would answer an astounding yes to all of those questions. But, what if one asked the Lord if the exact document Jeff produced is to be the replacement for section 20? What if one asked if not only Jeff, but other people throughout the body of believers were called by His own voice to work on a document? What if one asked if Jeff’s revelation was for all the body of believers or was for his own personal experience to help him practice conversing with the Lord through the veil? And so on.<br /><br />I believe that the laws of Heaven are unchangeable, therefore, there is only one spokesperson for the Lord to the entire body of believers today and that man is Denver Snuffer, Jr. <br /><br />While Denver wants to be our equal and wants us to all know the Lord, he will remain the messenger for the family of God on the earth until Christ returns and we all know Him. We can and should go to the Lord ourselves in regards to our own person, family, and fellowship, however, any revelation we receive should be in harmony with scripture. When there is a message for the entire body of believers, over multiple fellowships, the economy of heaven and the laws by which it is bound will necessarily require that Denver is the one to receive and disseminate those revelations.<br /><br />I accept the words Jeff stated in his apology, that the Lord called him to work on a replacement for D&C 20 and that the Lord used Jeff as a vehicle to allow the Lord to call all of us to the work in His vineyard. I do not know how the Lord will bring to pass the completion of this document. While it seems that there is more documents written every day, more ideas on how to accomplish this task, etc, I believe that this is evidence that more and more of us are turning to the Lord and practicing conversing with Him through the veil. If Zion is required to be made up of individuals that all know the Lord, then what a wonderful and marvelous thing for the Lord to give us a project whereby we can all practice connecting with Him. <br />It takes a group of people to build Zion, it cannot be accomplished by one or two, it must needs take dozens of people laboring and working together to bring about God’s purposes in these last days; He intends to save many of His children, as many as will hear His voice and do His work. I believe that when this document is completed and accepted that we will be surprised at what He has done. He is a God of miracles, even today and even with such small, mundane tasks such as this. Let us move forward with love for each other, faith in the Lord and with open hearts and minds, willing to allow the Lord to work a work in us and through us is my prayer.<br />She's the Bishop's Wifehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00693126958275625707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2542751172925608884.post-26924953781306189972017-11-07T11:32:07.711-08:002017-11-07T11:32:07.711-08:00I appreciate the time and effort you have taken to...I appreciate the time and effort you have taken to lay out the reasoning behind why so many would like the original Governing Principles or one of the 3 group variations adopted into scripture.<br /><br />I understand your reasoning that we cannot rely on Denver for our revelations. And that is true as far as personal, familial revelations go. However, in the economy of heaven there is only one dispensation head at a time else confusion and mistrust run havoc. While we can all be and should be little “p’s” (little prophets) there is only one Big “P” (big prophet) who is the Lord’s authorized servant, sent with a message and a ministry from His very presence. What if one of the tests of this Governing Principles/Guide and Standard/Statement of Principle’s is whether or not we can recognize and accept a true messenger sent from the Father? It has been stated that the purpose of the scripture project was to as accurately as possible, preserve the words of the servants of God, going back to the extant sources and removing anything written by those who we do not accept as authorized messengers (i.e. Sydney Rigdon and Oliver Cowdrey). Why would we not do that with a set of governing principles?<br /><br />If Denver were to stand up and claim that no revelation can come to the body of believers but by him there would be those who would label him a strong man. However, we can understand the laws of heaven and we can make sure to only accept and recognize the authorized servant which God has sent to us. This does not mean that we need to rely on Denver for our every need as the saints in early Mormondom did to Joseph. We can and should go to the Lord ourselves for personal, private revelation. However, if the Lord has anything He wants to say to the entire body of believers He will do so through, and only through, His authorized servant which at this time is Denver Snuffer. Could the Lord say to us today, inserting Denver’s name in place of Joseph’s, “8 Oh, this unbelieving and stiffnecked generation—mine anger is kindled against them. 9 Behold, verily I say unto you, I have reserved those things which I have entrusted unto you, my servant Joseph, for a wise purpose in me, and it shall be made known unto future generations; 10 But this generation shall have my word through you;” D&C 5:8-10<br /><br />In Enoch’s day there were several prophets on this earth, however, all of them gave deference to Adam. Adam was the authorized servant who disseminated truth to the earth; the others taught truth to their families, or fellowships, but anything that affected the entire world came through Adam until he passed away.<br /><br />I have no doubt that the Lord asked for a replacement for D&C 20. I have no doubt that Jeff was called to the task by the scripture committee. I have no doubt that Jeff received personal revelation and put into his document teachings from Denver from meetings and emails as he set about accomplishing his task. However, the Lord required others, plural, to write it. Jeff wrote it by himself. Furthermore, he introduced new ideas that are not based in scripture. Shouldn’t this raise alarm in us? If it cannot be found in scripture is it really from the Lord? If some of the new information came from Denver, shouldn’t we have some source material to verify it? The scripture committee was going to the earliest extant words of Joseph Smith and documenting it to provide the purest revelations. Wouldn’t it be wise for Jeff to do the same? Every single thing Denver has ever taught is based on scripture. Everything! Even the 7 women for priesthood is found in ancient familial structure else why is it mentioned that Midian had 7 daughters? Continued on next comment...<br />She's the Bishop's Wifehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00693126958275625707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2542751172925608884.post-38234774203360001182017-11-06T09:47:11.148-08:002017-11-06T09:47:11.148-08:00My wife and I and our two oldest sons (ages 13 and...My wife and I and our two oldest sons (ages 13 and 11) have all been born again in dramatic fashion. Night and day difference every bit as stark as Alma's. For it was not the angelic appearance that changed him; it was the cry from within his heart directly to Jesus for mercy. All who cry with his same desperation of soul, focus of soul, and sincerity of soul are born again in an instant as it were. It really does mirror what it's named after: a birth! Babies are not born gradually over the process of years or decades. This event is immediate every time it is ever recounted in scripture, and it is immediate with everyone who receives it today just as it was immediate for Adam and everyone in between. To say that it happens gradually and imperceptibly is a lie straight from hell itself.<br /><br />The Lord says that where two or three are gathered together in his name, he is there in the midst of them. The Lord says his church is composed of those who have been born again of his Spirit, as I have just described. And the Lord also says that little children are automatically saved by his redeeming blood. So everyone in our home is part of the true church of Jesus Christ. And as we live in Missouri, a 3 hour drive from the nearest individual who feels as we do (that we have been able to find, anyway), we have created the following as the guiding principles for our home:<br /><br />Come unto Christ. Feast on his words. Do all things by his Spirit. Come unto Christ.<br /><br />That's it! That's our whole guiding principles. 4 sentences. 16 words. 18 syllables. Set to memory in seconds, and remembered always.<br /><br />The rule of thumb is that the more detailed and controlling our guiding principles become, the more we stifle the Spirit. In the celestial kingdom, as in a mature Zion, everyone is governed by the Spirit of truth in all things. And this truth sets them free. The terrestrial has a few more commandments and statutes laid out, but strives to follow and teach by the Spirit. Telestial guiding principles look like Section 20 of the D&C. A few pages of material, but helpful in spurring the pure in heart toward Christ and his Spirit.<br /><br />Perdition's guiding principles, however, are volumes in length. The Talmud is over 2,800 pages long. The Church Handbook of Instruction is now several hundred pages across multiple volumes, too. Both have become legalistic and oppressive. Both stifle the Spirit of God from governing. Indeed, they replace the Spirit of God which gives instruction in all things with endless commandments and wisdom of men to give instruction in all things. They replace the truth which sets us free with the confusion that binds us to darkness and chains.<br /><br />Come unto Christ. Feast on his words. Do all things by his Spirit. Come unto Christ.<br /><br />Amen.JPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02993976374069209015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2542751172925608884.post-37538299446104895082017-11-05T07:50:07.731-08:002017-11-05T07:50:07.731-08:00Vaughn, as we discussed yesterday, I fear that it ...Vaughn, as we discussed yesterday, I fear that it is only the pride of our hearts that has prevented this task from being accomplished already. I fear the ship has sailed. I fear that there is no way we are going to come together on this. I fear that we have fallen into the same trap that the early saints did. I KNOW that perfect love casteth out fear. I pray that we can find that perfect love, and that the Lord can direct us toward a reconciliation.scootd28https://www.blogger.com/profile/18049734458416531463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2542751172925608884.post-26207287624330301002017-11-04T20:51:40.128-07:002017-11-04T20:51:40.128-07:00Thank you for writing this. It was beautifully sta...Thank you for writing this. It was beautifully stated and echoes the feelings of my heart. Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05519636807755825969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2542751172925608884.post-41774907557713547992017-11-03T05:50:43.843-07:002017-11-03T05:50:43.843-07:00Well that certainly lays it right out. Thankyou fo...Well that certainly lays it right out. Thankyou for the time, effort and love so apparent in this post. Very sincerely appreciated. Lynne McKinleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03214443750817421904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2542751172925608884.post-56638366663528262502017-04-08T19:55:30.107-07:002017-04-08T19:55:30.107-07:00Vaughn,
My wife and I laughed heartily at the fol...Vaughn,<br /><br />My wife and I laughed heartily at the folly of the Mormons of the Mormon corridor.<br />It seems to be a church of almost 16 million, perhaps 4 million that are active, and virtually no one who has read the Doctrine and Covenants.<br /><br />Thank you for your great post and blog!<br /><br />John Scott Petersonjstcommentaryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02512182618919698191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2542751172925608884.post-59133639879442598052017-04-06T00:53:23.972-07:002017-04-06T00:53:23.972-07:00Yes yes yes. When I realized the trek west was st...Yes yes yes. When I realized the trek west was straight up punishment for failing to build the temple, I thought I was crazy in thinking it. Glad I'm not alone.matt lohrkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05159067604487338024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2542751172925608884.post-15062099103362159382017-03-02T14:47:10.390-08:002017-03-02T14:47:10.390-08:00 “Not a thousandth part of that which Joseph Smith... “Not a thousandth part of that which Joseph Smith revealed to the church has yet been unfolded, either to the church or to the world. The work of the expounder has barely begun. The Prophet planted by teaching the germ-truths of the great dispensation of the fullness of times. The watering and weeding is going on, and God is giving the increase, and will give it more abundantly in the future as more intelligent discipleship shall obtain. The disciples of “Mormonism”, growing discontented with the necessarily primitive methods which have hitherto prevailed in sustaining the doctrine, will yet take profounder and broader views of the great doctrines committed to the church; and departing from mere repetition, will cast them in new formulas; cooperating in the works of the Spirit, until they help to give to the truths received a more forceful expression, and carry it beyond the earlier and cruder stages of its development.” - B.H. Roberts, Improvement Era, 1906<br />Lynne McKinleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03214443750817421904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2542751172925608884.post-61499374840491708352017-03-01T18:19:41.275-08:002017-03-01T18:19:41.275-08:00This is excellent! Pure genius!This is excellent! Pure genius!Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04771021470896894211noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2542751172925608884.post-47258309540900700022017-02-27T12:56:38.437-08:002017-02-27T12:56:38.437-08:00It's a good parenthetical. ;)It's a good parenthetical. ;)matt lohrkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05159067604487338024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2542751172925608884.post-61970665826477387462017-02-27T11:18:06.036-08:002017-02-27T11:18:06.036-08:00I still had Daymon Smith's humorous comments r...I still had Daymon Smith's humorous comments rattling around in my head when I added that parenthetical. (see <a href="https://daymonsmith.wordpress.com/2013/12/16/racing-to-erase-race/" rel="nofollow">https://daymonsmith.wordpress.com/2013/12/16/racing-to-erase-race/</a>)Vaughn Hugheshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15590305285033613259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2542751172925608884.post-33786154245898477722017-02-27T11:11:32.965-08:002017-02-27T11:11:32.965-08:00This is a tremendous breakdown. Thank you for mak...This is a tremendous breakdown. Thank you for making it. I have to admit I laughed out loud at the "sugar cookie" reference. matt lohrkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05159067604487338024noreply@blogger.com