Petition to the First Presidency

Thursday, August 31, 2006

 
To The First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:

I humbly come before you as a servant of Heavenly Father with this petition that I may serve a mission for the greater work of the Kingdom.  I ask not to serve a mission to glorify myself or to magnify myself in front of my fellow brethren but to be an instrument, as were the sons of Mosiah, in the hands of God to bring as the Lord wills the knowledge and truth to those still blinded by the teachings of their forefathers.  The reason I write to you with this petition because I am a convert of almost 2 years and also divorced.  I was married before I joined the church and divorced before I was a member a year.  The divorce was mutual and just did not work out I was 19 and she was 26 when we got married.  I ask to serve a mission because as a convert and a former licensed and ordained minister, I have experienced first hand the teachings of those ill-educated in the fullness of the truth of the gospel.  Many of my brethren in Christ live in the darkness of the principal of salvation by grace and what grace truly means.  That grace is only the covenant between Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father that prepares the way that we may return to glory.   

As Alma stated in Alma 29.9 “I know what the Lord hath commanded me, and I glory in it.  I do not glory of myself, but I glory in that which the Lord hath commanded me; yea, and this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy.”

My whole life has been about me and doing what I want.  I have taken and taken out of life without contributing anything back.  Serving a mission will allow me to unselfishly serve the Heavenly Father doing His work, it would allow me to give back to the kingdom for the greater glory.  All I have ever wanted to do and all I continue to do in my life is serve Heavenly Father.  It breaks my heart to see so many people who desire to know the truth but they don’t have anyone to share it with them.  I am the Lord’s servant and I am at His will regardless if I am allowed to serve a mission or not.  I know that I am a missionary whether I serve a full time mission or not and regardless what your decision is I will continue to serve Heavenly Father and the church.  

I know without a doubt The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the true church.  I know that Joseph Smith was and is a true prophet called by God and not by man to open the final dispensation and restore the Church and gospel.  I testify that Gordon B. Hinckley is the true Prophet, Seer, and Revelator of this church.  I know The Book of Mormon is a true testament of our Father’s love for us.  I humbly bear my testimony knowing that all things will be done according to the will of Heavenly Father.  I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

Sincerely in Christ,                          

Elder Andrew Swallow                      

This was on my myspace page at the time

Do you believe in faith and awesome power of prayer?  Well I do first hand.  My life since the age of 10 has been built on the foundation of faith.  Hebrews 11:6 Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for He that comeths to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder to all them that diligently seek Him.  I learned that very foundation, the keystone to who I am at a very early age and I have been on fire ever since.  As I said I started going to church by my own desire at the age of 10.  I remeber the zeal I had for serving Heavenly Father.  I remember I hated going to junior church and occasionally had to be forced to go, for I loved to sit in the main church and listen to Pastor Miller preach from the pulpit.  I loved just sitting there in the auditorium and feasting on every word he had to say.  I was there Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday night, and any other time the doors were opened.  I loved being at church and know one ever had to make me go.  My thirst for the Word grew over the years and I grew more and more involved in church. Anything that had to do with God I was all for it over playing outside, nintendo or anything.  I rememeber when i was 13 I went to  a promise keepers crusade and it was awesome thousands of people at Qualacom Stadium(was still Jack Murphy then) praising God.  At the age of 14 I started studying the Bible on my own for I longed for the truth to totally understand the Bible. (Did you know the wiseman were not in the original Christmas story-they appeared 2-3 years after Jesus was born. I realized this at the age of 14)  As I started studying out the Bible  Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ two separate beings came to me literally, and no I wasn't dreaming, and said "We have a plan for you however we aren't going to reveal it yet.  Stay steadfast in the faith continue to study the scriptures and it will be revealed soon."  Over the next 6 years I started studying even more.  My Aunt Lorrie and My Grandma Vroegindewey have been two major key players in my life that have continually have shown me the importance and blessings of faith.  My Aunt was diagnosed with cancer and a large tumor in head, the doctors told her they needed to try chemotherapy and other hopeful treatments.  She told them just give me some pain medication and I will handle this with prayer and my Bible. 3 months later it was completely gone.  These two ladies have been through so much pain and yet they continue to praise Heavenly Father and ailments disappear.  These Ladies are modern day Jobs.  (Lorrie may you rest in peace and I will make sure the work is done for you)

The age of 18 I went to Bible college and became financially withdrawn.  Also around this time my uncle was trying to get me to join the mormon church.  He was the only one in my family who belonged to this cult and I wanted nothing to do with it (except for the free movies I liked to order of TV.) the age of 20 I went back to School both law and Bible college.  I dropped out of law school to concentrate solely on my AA and BA in Christian studies and theology.  I became a licensed and ordained baptist minister.  However something was missing in my life.  There was a void in my life and I could not understand it.  I was thirsting for and hungering for something that I could not find that i thought did not exist. I started study other religions and nothing calmed the tempest that was raging in my soul. April 2004 I drove to Utah to visit my Uncle and it turned out to be the Mormon General Conference weekend.  There, my cousin on the way out to snow canyon, she was 14 years old at the time, made me promise her to read the Book of Mormon. I have had many copies of this book through out my life, however i think they were usually thrown in the trashed or I used them for Lego tents and platforms. So I promised her I would read it. To me it was just another book and I was just going to read it and get it over with just to say I read it.  However as I read it, i started to recieve a calming feeling over me.  Everything in this Book was everything I already believed in.  I finished ready the Book of Mormon May of 2004 and I took the Moroni challenge.  Moroni 10:3-5

"Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.  And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.  And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things."

As soon as I prayed asking if these things I just read and that the feeling I had was true, Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ both came to me again as two personages telling me this is what they have planned for me, I was to resign as a minister and join The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  I study out the Book of Mormon until September and I was ready to join the Church. I started to look for the missionaries.  They are always around when you don't want them around, but when you do want them they are no where to be found.  Finally I found them, and we had our lessons, I would have been baptized that first day if it was allowed.  October 15 2004 I became a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Jul 15, 2006

I am slowly getting back into journaling and letting my thoughts.  Truthfully I love to journal, i just do it on my blog on myspace.com.  Ironically, myspace is the reason I am going back a few weeks in time to a explain a few things happening in my life.  I live on myspace actually, not as much as I was two months ago , however myspace is the cause of a budding friendship, my mission being paid for (now I just need to petition the First Presidency to let me go), and a new found testimony of the power of Faith.

Memories

Recording memories of my past:


I don't know why I remember this over all memories but I'll record it here.  It was Labor day Weekend and I was 13 years old (i think) so that would have been 1995 and my family was camping on the beach down in Camp Pendleton, San Diego California with friends of the Family Tom and Harriett Adametz.  Before going I stole my step fathers speedos from his room.  I took my little sister Holly over to the Jetti there was no waves and took of my swim trunks (I was wearing the speedos underneath)  Try to make sure Holly did not notice but she did, told my parents. Just say I got in trouble.

*****Don't know why these first few entries are the ones I am remembering first but they are all from the same period of my life Go figure**********

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I was living off Joann Dr. in Oceanside, San Diego, California (cross streets college and olive)  I remember i would sneak out late at night through the garage and out through the side gate and go streaking up and down the streets.  I t was a rush I enjoyed it.  Just be free unrestrained by clothes.  I liked to run through the sprinklers naked run in front of cars stopped at the stop light and flash them-  I was around 12-13  -- it was fun for me.

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This I remember definately happened before the last two entries.  I was living in base housing Wire Mountain II on Camp Pendleton on Dogwood St.  I had a couple of friends of friends named Cory (age 12) and Ammon (about age 15 or 16)----- (Actually next few  entries will be during my life on base, actually I am surprised how much I am remembering)  Life on base was from the ages 11.5-13.  However one day Cory, Ammon and myself where down in the canyon and it was hot.  There was a small creek and we would strip down and go wading.  However one day  while we were just sitting down there drying off  Ammon reached over and started to rub his hand on my crotch..... I will not go into any further detail except to me I did not know it was wrong doing things with other boys- - was natural to me I was raped at the age of 6 whn living in Jacksonville, North Carolina. Ammon and Cory and I did all different things. (I apologize to myself just recording my life regardless what has happened in it.  To me it was just having fun and confusing.  And we did stuff over a period of time.  most of the time not by choice just did not want to lose any friends others because it was a little fun.  This is the only incident I am recording

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Age 12

I spent the night one night at Cory's we stayed up all night playing video games- NES we played soltice all night long. We drank so much coffee and ate so many MRE's  it was not funny.  That morning we helped Cory's father deliver newspapers and as soon as we got back home I threw up all over the van.  Later that day we found a grenade in the canyon never detonated.  We carried it back towards Cory's house in my shirt(the canyon was right behind Cory's house)  We told hs parents that we found it in the slope behind his house.  Bomb squad was called then we had to tell the truth.

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5th Grade I went to Santa Margarita right there on base.  My teacher was Mrs. Haggerty.  I remember learning about the slave trade in History.  We roped off areas with tape to demostrate the area of space these slaves had to themselves.  It was very cramped.  I remember Times test, where you had to master multiplication tables in a certain time period.  I remember reading 100 Dresses and the Witch of Blackbird Pond.  Also 5th grade was my first introduction to sex education.  I loved to play 4 square at recess.

6th grade went to two different schools 1st part of the year Jefferson Middle school and second part of the year to Washington Middle school.  We will concentrate on Jefferson for now.  At Jefferson (mascot falcons) I was in cross country and I also played the sax.  Jefferson I had my first Middle School crush Rebecca Chasee.  I think she liked me two.  We would always exchange trinkets with one another and always hung out together.  At lunch we played handball and we and our clique of people who hung out together.  A few other guys and this kid in the wheelchair, wish I could remember his name, but we had our group.  I also remember playing the sax at lunch upperclassmen, 7th and 8th graders would toss money inmy case to get me to shut up.  I took the money but I did not shut up.

July 11, 2006

I start this journal with the intent of recording daily life.  I start this journal with a story of stupidity one i find humor in anyways.  Yesterday about 6pm I wiped out on my friend Josh's bike (moped).  I went to brake, i ended up hitting the gas and turned at the same time throwing me off the bike.  The bike suffered a few scratches nothing major. However me on the otherhand suffered a bruised hip, couple of cuts on the elbow, and a really bad sprained ankle.   We had a great FHE at Bishop Hoopes house for the single ward.  Joe my roommate and a few others jumped off Bishop Hoopes rock wall into the pool.  My friend Josh hit it off with Elizabeth, my roommate chase's ex.  I tried to hold out until today to go to the doctor however by 10pm yesterday I could not move my foot or put any pressure on it for it really hurt. 

Today I went and saw the Testaments at the Visitor Center here in St. George even though I have seen it many times.  It is a great day everyday when we are in the presence of our Heavenly Father.

Oh btw I am on crutches.

20 May 2006

I continue to think of myself as a perpetual sphere. I say this because i feel that everything i do, say, or feel somehow reacts with everything and everyone around me. I am becoming somewhat of a spiritual person. Searching for my cause and what is not necessarily known to be the truth. Questioning everything that has determined the outcome of who and what I am. Thus forth helping me to come into contact with those i have not met and those in which i see only in my dreams! For only within my hidden dreams will you see what i call the "animus".

Endowment

Personal Endowment- St. George, Utah Temple

The temple is all about symbolism, a sacred place that can not be put into words or described. The whole time you are there, there is a special calming and indescribable feel that allows you to be in total reverence for the House of the Lord.  I received my garments that will serve as a shield of protection and a reminder of my covenants made to Heavenly Father.  Also the biggest and one of the most important covenants made is the covenant of Chasity- remaining pure until marriage.  To break any covenant would be a mockery of God

The lesson I learned: Any ordinance we perform for the glorification of the kingdom is sacred, some even more sacred then others, sacred nonetheless.  We perform the ordinances that they maybe perfect for the Lord is perfect and deserves nothing less.

What Grace Really Means

First of all I want to say yes we are Christians.  The term Christians simply means belief in Christ. Jesus Christ is the foundation of the Church.  As a former Baptist minister I will be the first to say the doctrine of grace that many churches believe in is fallible, is not correct.  I'm not saying they are wrong just half right.  Let me explain.  This is from a talk I gave in the LDS church: 

The churches of today are greatly blinded, I myself was blind but now I see.  Churches of today, many of them, believe in salvation by grace and not of works.  Churches pick a belief that fits their lifestyle.  If churches really preached the full word of God then they would understand there is more to just grace.  Yes by grace we are able to enter the kingdom of God but we must also do works.  For we are sinners, the Bible says we fall from grace every time we sin willfully and we are damned (Hebrews).  Also in first Corinthians the Bible says if you do certain things you can not enter the kingdom of God.  People rely on Salvation by grace to cover any sin past, present, and future so they can sin if they want and say its ok we are saved by grace.  The Bible in numerous places talk on how we are  suppose to do works that we may enter the celestial kingdom (yes the celestial kingdom is talk about in the bible.)  Grace is the open door and pathway to heaven through Christ’s blood.

We fall from grace every time we sin and certain sins will not let us enter the kingdom if kept being done.  If a man accepts Christ as his Savior and then goes and commits murder is he still under grace.  No, therefore it is not grace that allows us into heaven but by serving God.

I praise Heavenly Father I was blind and now I see, for I have been shown the truth of salvation.  Grace is the forgiveness of our sins through the atonement of Christ.  Every person born has grace in the sense that Christ died for us all, however grace alone will not save us but through faith in Christ and by serving His kingdom and doing good deeds for the glorification of Heavenly Father may we obtain the kingdom.  Salvation is the understanding that Christ will be our rock and fortress in the time of need and protection. And also salvation is God providing for our needs that we may not go without.  Salvation does not get you back into Heaven. Serving and trusting in Heavenly Father is what allows us to return home.

Grace is the blood that was shed by Christ, who willing left Glory to come to earth to suffer and die for our sins (to become sin), sealing a covenant between Himself and Heavenly Father opening the door and pathway that we may once again enter the kingdom of Heaven if we are deemed worthy.  Short definition- grace is the forgiveness of our sins.

Works must be done for the kingdom and we will be rewarded for our deeds.  However we need not confuse good works for the kingdom of God with works that are done to glorify ourselves.  For works must have a purpose one which honoreth God, because only through Jesus Christ may we reenter into heaven.

Through Faith in Christ may we only then come to know His promises.  To enter the kingdom of Heaven you must:

1)    Trust in Jesus Christ and believe the Word of God

2)    Believe that Jesus paid the price for our sins by His blood (grace)

3)    You must serve the kingdom (works)

4)    Daily repent from your sins

5)    Refrain from sinning intentionally

Only the blood can wash away sin and make one whole.  However it is by serving God that we may enter the kingdom of Heaven for we are stewards of God here on earth to see if we can be trusted with the great things of Heaven.

Until we pass from this life sin reigns in us.  Heavenly Father will raise us up free from sin, but by that time we need to have served Christ prior to death and believe on Him- ref. Romans 6

Bible talks of those who will call upon the Lord shall be saved. Basically what it is saying is when we believe in Christ he will protect us in times of trouble.  If you trust in Him he will deliver you.  However the devil believes in Christ and trembles. It is not enough to believe but you must serve the kingdom of God.  You must trust in Heavenly Father’s promises.  You have to be obedient to the will of God.

Our works are just important as our faith.  We will be judged by our fruitfulness and unfruitfulness whether they glorify and honour God or that they go against Him. 

Why should Heavenly Father reward us when we do not repent?  Old saying actions speak louder then words. 
Our actions (works) help to show that we are sincere when we repent.  If we continue to sin willfully then how can we say we are sincere in our walk with God?

Again, salvation comes through the intercession of Christ.  Salvation gives protection to those who believe in God and Jesus that we may be cared for here on earth. We will be protected from our enemies.  And through the atonement receive a probationary passport that only opens the door to Heaven for us, however to enter we must be accepted in.  Our deeds, is the condition into heaven.  How are we going to serve God in Heaven if we can not serve him here on earth?

There is nothing that says you will be forgiven for all sins past, present, and future.  You need to constantly come to Him asking for forgiveness.  Because you will still fall from grace if you sin willfully and will be damned.  Only in heaven will your sins be remembered no more.

The grace of Christ, is that he was willing as a perfect being came from glory to suffer and die upon the cross for our sins.  That’s why we remember the atonement in our baptism covenants and renew these covenants professing our sins before we partake of the sacrament.  Grace without works is dead.

The shedding of Christ blood was nothing more than the sealing of a covenant between Him and Heavenly Father saying, “I died for them, that through me they may rejoin us here in Glory.  His resurrection was the true feat which marked that we too when we die will be able to be raise from the dead to glory.

 © May05 by Elder Andrew J Swallow All rights reserved.  Can not be used in any form or reproduced without permission from the author.

First Temple Experience

Baptisms-St. George, Utah Temple

Today was the first time I entered a temple.  What a time of nervousness of the unknown- not knowing what to expect, but at the same time a soothing and calming feeling overwhelms you.  From the first time you enter, that very moment I stepped through those doors I was at peace, the world outside did not exist, not at that time and moment anyways.  I can not describe the inside because of its sacrity, even if I tried it would not have the same impact as it would for one experiencing it for themselves.  1 week from today I will be receiving my endowments and to prepare and have an understanding of the temple and its symbolism before hand I was strongly guided to go to perform baptisms.  What a great blessing in itself to act as a proxy, on behalf of someone else that they may know the same joy we have in the truth and fullness of the gospel.  When I was be confirmed as a proxy for those who died I strongly felt the Holy Spirit upon me.  I remember seeing, it could have been my imagination, however I honestly don't think it was; as I sat there during the confirmations as each name was being confirmed I could swear I was in the Spirit World or at least watching through a window- it was a little blurry- but as each name was confirmed I saw each person saying thank you and shouting out acclamation's to the Lord.  At this time and this time only did each person who was accepting came into clear view while everything else remained blurry.  The temple is a privilege that we may use and have if we are worthy.  We do not have the right to abuse the privilege or cause ourselves not to be worthy of a recommend.  Because we serve in the temple that others who have gone on may come and know the Father that they too may bask in his glory.

The lesson I learned:  We are to humble ourselves in the service of Heavenly Father that we may be used in the glorification of His Kingdom.  For we are not here on earth during this dispensation to ourselves, but to serve our fellow man both here on earth and on the other side of Death.

Thoughts To ponder

During the time of Adam and Eve since the beginning of time, dinosaurs roamed the earth that is why Cain was afraid of roaming the earth when Heavenly Father exiled him.  The land would have been changing and it would have been dangerous out there.  Volcanoes would be erupting, constant earthquakes, land constantly changing and of course dinosaurs roamed the earth.  Scientists say that an ice age killed off the dinosaurs; would Noah’s flood covering the whole earth have frozen the water in some places killing off the dinosaurs? Or was that part of it raining for 40 days and nights been snow in some climates killing of the entire species

Great Apostasy/17 points of the Church The True Church Must Possess

What have I learned about the apostasy from Christ’s original church?

The Church of Jesus Christ or The Church of the First Born is built on the foundation of apostles and prophets[i].When the last apostle died, the priesthood keys left the earth there was no one worthy
to pass the priesthood keys onto.  This was to be the final apostasy before the Second Coming.  In Revelations the Bible talks about seven dispensations which before another dispensation could happen, the keys had to be priesthood keys had to be removed from the earth and the restored in the next dispensation.  This is known as an apostate state.  Heavenly Father puts prophets here on this earth to restore the gospel
in each dispensation.  The prophets are chosen by God, more than likely not one prophet would have wanted the position but they served anyways because they were called.  Before our current dispensation several
things had to happen before the keys could be restored.  Christians had to be ready to understand Christ truth and want His gospel.

“The gospel was first established on earth beginning with Adam and has been taught in every dispensation through such prophets as Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and others…[ii]” It was decided in the council of heaven during the preexistence that these things need to be done on earth that we may learn to appreciate the blessings of Heaven that we may enjoy and in the end the fulfillment of time when we return to the Celestial Kingdom to be found worthy that we may once again rejoin our brother Jesus Christ in the Church of the First Born. 

When the last apostle died, as stated before, we were left with no one to confer the priesthood to others; therefore no one had the proper authority to lead the Church or to perform the sacred ordinances such as baptisms, conferring the gift of the Holy Ghost, and the saving ordinances of the temple.  The importance of the apostles and prophets is that they were given the sacred calling to keep order and standard of worthiness for Church members, and to keep the doctrines of the gospel pure. Without the leadership of the apostles and the priesthood people relied on their lack of godly wisdom and focuses on their own intellect perverting the truth in interpreting of the scriptures and the principles and ordinances of Jesus Christ.  Churches would preach even to this day, this dispensation, the corrupt or distorted doctrines of faith in Jesus Christ, the ordinance of baptism, repentance, and the gift of the Holy Ghost.  [iii]Through these false beliefs many churches would emerge during the apostasy claiming to be the true church and forcing people to put their faith in the churches beliefs or face consequences that the church thought was necessary to prevent heresy.  The world fell into spiritual darkness which we know as the Dark Ages.  During this apostate time, many people were led and influenced by the Holy Ghost but they did not possess the Holy Ghost in their lives.  People were illiterate and scriptures were not easily available.  Scriptures had to be hand written usually by monks, each taking years to complete causing them to be very expensive to buy.  It wouldn’t be until printing press was invented that people would learn to read and have a desire to have a copy of the scriptures.  The printing press[iv] would also play an even more direct role in the restoration and new dispensation when Heavenly Father would call a prophet to translate the accounts of His prophets. 

It wasn’t until the Renaissance or rebirth that truth-seeking men and women had the desire to seek the truth of the Lord’s church due to the religious practices of that time.  During the time of the apostasy religion had become a way for the church to control people and to become rich off the already poor people of their congregations.  Reformation happened because of these truth seeking individuals.  This people would be led by the light of Christ by the influence of the Holy Ghost but would not know the power of the Holy Ghost.  These individuals would do the best they could in spreading the Word and making the gospel readily available but they did not possess the proper authority of the priesthood or the full understanding of the gospel.  Many churches broke off from the Catholic Church, such as the Lutherans, Pentecostals, Baptists, the Reform aka the Calvinists, any many other sects.  However none was the restored church of Christ.  Many religions to the name of their founders i.e. Lutherans were founded by Martin Luther, the reform or Calvinist by John Calvin etc.  As these reformists grew in number and so did their martyrdom the peoples thirst for the truth increased and many looked for the religious freedom that they may serve Heavenly Father the best they knew how.  However, even with the good intentions that these reformists had religion in the churches had become a pick and chooses your religion and doctrine.  

[v]Throughout history, many people have sincerely believed false creeds and doctrines.  The have worshipped according to the light they possessed and have received answers to their prayers. Yet they are “kept from the truth because they know not where to find it.[vi]”

When I was in the Baptist church serving as a minister the common practice I saw with all churches was that they would pick parts of the Bible to base the doctrine and beliefs of their church on and would forsake the rest.  Churches would preach from part if the Bible and skip other parts if it would suit their lifestyles.  These churches claim that they are based on the Bible but that it is not fully the case.  There are [vii]17 points of that the true church must possess.  However, all these things had to happen to make people thirst for the
truth that the restoration may happen restoring the keys to the last dispensation of our time.  These key points of the apostasy had to happen in order that the restoration may happen that Heavenly Father may restore the priesthood to the last dispensation before the Second Coming of His Son Jesus Christ.  

The Catholic Church became the number one church during the beginning of the Apostasy- Censoring many books and leaving out many writings and teachings from what was to become our Scriptures, the Bible.  This Censoring was necessarily in order for the Catholic Church to control the people, but at the same time for the people to find the light that they may find the truth.Translation of the Bible into Latin and then into English Reformists were tried and executed for being heretics against the church making them martyrs for the truth. Printing press to be invented that copies of the Bible may become available to all people at low costsChurches breaking off from the Catholic Church- Lutherans, Baptists, Protestants, Calvinists, etc. People learning to read by reading the Bible.  The Bible was used as a primer in school both in England and the America’s up to the early 1960’s[viii]Christopher Columbus had to come to the Americas in order for it to be settled and that people would find refuge to practice the religion of their choice[ix].America had to gain it’s independence from Britain. Bill of Rights had to be signed allowing for freedom to practice the religion of their choice[x].The Birth of Joseph Smith 14 years after the signing of the Bill of Rights.

(I know that there were many more key points that had to happen before the Restoration could happen, however at this time I am not writing a book.)

Many churches feel that they have the proper authority to perform the ordinances required by God, or they feel that there is no way to have the full authority so they do the best they can.  However during this dispensation even with the church be restored to its fullness, many people still live in an apostate state do to their unbelief.  Some may not know the truth while others still choose not to believe in the truth.  Bible teaches us that there is “one Lord, one faith, one baptism.[xi]” In order that one may come out of their own apostasy, one must come to Jesus through the Holy Ghost, and ask sincerely what is true.  Bible again teaches us that if we lack wisdom in the understanding of His word and His church all we have to do is ask
and it will be revealed unto us in the fullness.[xii]

The Book of Mormon teaches us, “Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.  And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.  And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.[xiii]”

For we are in the final dispensation, the seventh seal as talked about in revelations, and the truth has been revealed.  Heavenly Father brought us out of the Apostasy through his servant and prophet that he called, Joseph Smith.  We have had since Joseph Smith and currently have a prophet and will continue to have prophets until the Second Coming when our brother Jesus Christ brings us into His Church, The Church of the First Born.



Addendum A

 

17points of the church:The True Church Must posses

 

 

1) Ephesians 5:23
Jesus must lead the church

2) 1 Corinthians 1: 10-13
Name of the church must be Jesus Christ

3) Ephesians 2: 20
Must be built on the foundation of apostles and prophets

4) Hebrews 5: 1
Must be called of God to priesthood and laying on of hands

5) Hebrews 13: 8-9
Should be restoration of the ancient church (same organization)

6) Acts 20: 34
No paid ministry

7) Matthew 3: 13-16
Baptism by immersion

8) Acts 8: 14-17
Receive gift of conferring of the Holy Ghost by laying on of hands

9) James 5: 14
Practice of divine healing

10) Acts 7: 55
Father and Jesus are two separate people

11) Luke 24: 36-39
Profess bodily resurrection

12) Hebrews 5:4
Officers must be called of God

13) Amos 3: 7
Practice divine revelation

14) Luke 10: 1
Must be a missionary church

15) Acts 3: 19-21
Must be a restored church

16) 1 Corinthians 15: 29
Must practice baptisms of the dead

17) Matthew 7: 15-20
Church that does good works





[i] Ephesians 2:19-20; 4:11-14

[ii] Elder Robert D Hales- Preparations for the Restoration and the Second Coming: “Thy Hand Shall Be Over Thee”  November 2005 Ensign: October 2004 Conference talk pg 88

[iii] The emerging of many churches would become known as the reformation.

[iv] The printing press wouldn’t be invented until 1455 by Johaness Gutenberg- just so happens one of his first books to be printed would be the Bible.

[v] Preach My Gospel: The Great Apostasy; investigator Lesson 1: the Restoration pg 36

[vi] Doctrines and Covenants 123:12

[vii] See addendum of the 17 points of the church: The true church must possess

[viii] The government thought it was necessary for them to ban public prayer and the use of the Bible in schools because schools were an institution paid for by the tax-payer in 1962 and 63.  To this day this is a controversial subject walking on the thin line of the separation of church and state.

Engel vs. Vitale declares that prayer forced upon people unconstitutional: In this country it is no part of the business of government to compose official prayers for any group of the American people to recite as part of a religious program carried on by government. – Justice Hugo Black, 1962   Also see Abington School District vs. Schempp and Murray vs. Curlett landmark cases banning the reading of the Bible in School.

[ix] Christopher Columbus founded the Americas in 1492 while looking for a new trade route to India.  He also want to prove that the world was indeed round unlike the popular belief and ignorance by the people who said it was flat.  Christopher Columbus was commissioned by Queen Isabella and it was a voyage ordained by God that the Americas would be found in order that the restoration may happen. 

[x] 1st amendment of the Bill of Rights: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise there of; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; on the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for redress of grievances.

[xi] Ephesians 4:5

[xii] James 1:5  If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him 

[xiii] The Book of Mormon: Moroni 10:3-5