The Coming Crisis & How to Meet It

A great and awful crisis is at hand - such a crisis was never known before since the foundation of the world. All nations are looking through the misty future in order to descry, if possible, what is about to happen. Many sermons have been preached, many speeches have been made, and some pamphlets have been published, with the hope of lifting up the veil of the future. Yet none but the servants of God who have the testimony of Jesus, which is the spirit of prophecy, can unfold the mysteries of the future. They can give the trump a certain sound, and their counsel will not be guess work. God will do nothing except He reveal His secrets to His servants and Prophets. God, the Lord God of Israel, will take the control of these great events which are shortly to come to pass. Not a sparrow will fall to the ground without His notice. But His servants will be fully advised to every important event that is to transpire. They will be the heralds of blessings and also of vengeance. For the Lord hath a controversy with all nations, and the hour of recompense is at hand.

Unravelling the Mysteries of Glastonbury

To embark upon a project of this magnitude is daunting yet exciting as further research uncovers more and more of the potential facts that show a distinct possibility that not only Joseph of Arimathea, but the Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ lived at Glastonbury, Joseph and Mary being buried there.

In the search for the answers to the mysteries that surround Glastonbury the reader will be taken on voyages of historic discovery, not just in Glastonbury and England, but in the Holy Land, Rome and Egypt. I firmly believe that what I have written and what I will write is true and I hope that the reader will also be able to come to that realisation.

Priesthood & Obedience

Men in their ambition have ever sought for power, to rule and to exercise a controlling influence over their fellow men, and generally but little regard has been had to the way and means by which they have come into possession of such power, neither when obtained, has it always been used with an eye single to the salvation or benefit of mankind. The desire, we admit, is a very natural one, from the fact that man is designed by God, and capacitated in his organisation to be a ruler in a greater or less degree in the many grades that exist, from having rule over his own passions, propensities, and person, to that of a family, tribe, community or society, a state or nation an empire or a kingdom; and even his ambition may aspire to rule the world, or like God, peradventure, to sway the sceptre of unnumbered worlds.

Does Joseph Smith Still Hold All The Keys?

“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Individual Accountability

How much responsibility do we have to follow our leaders?

Should this extend to the degree that we should obey those who preside over us even when we know that what they are telling us is wrong?

There is a great difference of opinion within the Church today on this very subject, to the extent that recently a large Sunday School class that the author attended, was literally split down the middle, with one side claiming that: “We should follow our leaders, no matter what they ask us to do, even if we know that what they are asking us to do is wrong,” the other side stressing the point that: “We should only follow our leaders in righteousness, as they follow the Lord.”

Sermons - Written or Extemporaneous?

Firstly, it must be pointed out that the subject under discussion is sermons; given at sacrament meetings, conferences and the like. There has always been room for the reading of prepared papers in seminars and similar meetings, and quite often youth have been encouraged to prepare short addresses on specific topics, like ’scripture gems’ for those who remember them. Likewise, those teaching classes such as Sunday School will often have prepared a short talk, possibly to set the scene for discussion. Also, there may occasionally be letters or notices to be read to the congregation, and probably other exceptions that I have overlooked. However, with these situations excepted, it can be clearly shown that the early practice of the church was extemporaneous sermons, with an abhorrence for written talks. …

Persecution & Hatred - Signs of Truth?

Although it is apparent that hatred and persecution are not solely the prerogative of the true followers of Christ; nevertheless, it would seem sensible to believe that true followers of God in this dispensation would not merit any more popularity with the world than true Saints of any other period.

Avoiding Apostasy & Deception

Joachim was a mere 17 years old. He lived in Jerusalem. His father, Jarusha, was a strict Pharisee, and sat on the local Yad Yeshem of the local synagogue, a leader of the local congregation of Jews. Jarusha was particularly schooled in the Testament, and had studied a particular subject which had drawn him all of his life - the Messiah. Joachim was an excellent student of the Testament, too, having studied under Gamaliel, the famed teacher of the Scriptures, which put him in good stead to succeed his father, one day, as a particularly gifted student and teacher of the Torah.

Conviction or Conversion?

Paul, in his address to King Agrippa, preached Christ and taught the Gospel. In response Agrippa replied coldly, “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.” Agrippa was convinced, but he was not converted. Why? Because of the hardness of his heart. He would not allow his spirit to respond to Paul’s message. …

Joseph Smith also had a message. He revealed to the world the fullness of the everlasting Gospel, never to be taken away, or changed. Yet we find within the Lord’s church those who would appear as Agrippa. If asked to respond to the original writings of the Prophet they too would have to reply, “Almost thou persuadest me to be converted.” It is not enough to be convinced of his divine mission; to know intellectually will not bring about the response of the spirit necessary to receive further light and knowledge. Someone once said that, “Knowledge without use is like a glass eye; all for show.” Knowledge once implemented becomes power. However, the motive of the man must be right, if the man is to exalted. Hell, as they say, ‘is paved with good intentions’. Might we say this also, ‘Hell is filled with inmates who have become sheer intellects. Inmates who know the truth but do not use it?”

What is the Journal of Discourses?

“The Journal of Discourses deservedly ranks as one of the standard works of the Church, and every rightminded Saint will certainly welcome with joy every Number as it comes forth from the press as an additional reflector of “the light that shines from Zion’s hill.” (Journal of Discourses Preface. Vol.

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This statement by George Q. Cannon, Apostle of God, sets the scene for what has become regarded by true Gospel scholars as one of the most important sources of doctrinal teaching in this the dispensation of the fullness of times.