Memo #110

November 1, 2009

From: Dad, Grandpa, etc. Richard Marden Pratt

Re: The ten tribes of Israel

The ten tribes of Israel. Twelve sons were born to Israel (Jacob) . Leah had six and the other three wives each had two. The first born son, Reuben, came from Leah.

In those ancient days, the first born received the “birthright” which held the right of governing at the father’s death. He also received a double portion or twice as much as the other sons. But he had certain responsibilities chief among which was providing for the mother and all the sisters who had not a husband to provide for them. Thus no one in these large and extended families was left in need of the basics of life. In other words it was built in “Social Security” only much more dependable and secure.

If the first born was not worthy then the birthright passed to the next righteous son and in the case of a polygamist family it would be the oldest son of the second wife which in this family was Rachel. The other two wives, called concubines, did not share the birthright. But they and their families received protection and security from the birthright son.

Reuben lost his inheritance by adultery with one of his fathers concubines. Which then passed the birthright on to Joseph the firstborn of Rachel, and from Joseph the birthright went to his second son, Ephraim. Because Joseph received a double portion two tribes emerged headed by Ephraim and the other after his brother Manasseh. Thus creating 13 tribes. Confusing ~ don’t worry about it.

Ephraim became the dominant tribe except there was a constant rivalry over the centuries between Ephraim and Judah, the fourth son of Leah.

We, our family, are descendants of Ephraim. Because of the birthright of Ephraim in these last days his descendants were the first to come forth and restore the church in preparation for the gathering of scattered Israel.

And Joseph, father of Ephraim prophesied: that one of his descendants would be called after him (Joseph Smith) and it shall be after the name of his Father (Joseph Smith Sr.) For the thing, which the Lord shall bring forth by his hand, by the power of the Lord shall bring my people unto salvation. (The church)

My Patriarchal Blessing says: “Thou art a pure Ephramite.” What does yours say about you? In the early years of the church most converts to the church were descendants of Ephraim. But now with the world wide expansion of the church other tribes, especially in Russia have been identified. In fact I understand that all the tribes are now represented in the church.

But Israel has often been rebellious and failed to keep the commandments and have suffered much thereby. Yet even in their wickedness the Lord uses them to bless the gentiles of the world by scattering them through out the earth. Where present and will aid in saving as many of our God’s children as possible.

Ephraim is characterized by these traits, when harnessed, leads to great leadership.

1. He has an itchy foot and always seeks to find out what’s on the other side of the mountain. 2. He is a noted woman chaser. 3. He has a tendency for alcohol.

Because of these problems the blood of Ephraim is scattered among all nations. And when the final records are revealed we will find that the majority of explorers, inventors, and other leaders

of the world are his descendants.

When Joseph was sold as a slave into Egypt by his jealous brothers he in a remarkable short time rose to the second highest command in Egypt the then most powerful nation in the world. And he saved his family from starvation by having hem move to Egypt.

At that time Israel’s family numbered seventy souls. His sons, and his sons’ sons with him, his daughters, and his sons’ daughters, and all his seed brought he with him into Egypt. It appears that besides h is 12 sons he had 15 daughters.

Yet in only 430 years, when they left Egypt, the men twenty years o ld and up who could qualify as soldiers numbered slightly over 600,000 so the estimated total, Moses led into the wilderness, would be about two million souls. About two thirds of that time was spent in dreadful slavery.

But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew....and the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigor. Exodus 1:12-13

So don’t be too hard on these ex-slaves in their unruly behavior. Remember they are your ancestors. Its surprising they turned out as well as they did.

The Lord, then, drug them around in the wilderness under the leadership of Moses for forty years until the old generation had died off. And the new generation were tutored in righteousness and freedom.

Finally about 1451 B.C. under the prophet Joshua, they were disciplined enough to enter the Promised Land.

Coming in from the East they crossed the river Jordan with as great a miracle as when they passed thru the Red Sea. After performing a certain ritual the river at spring flood stage stopped flowing as tho a giant dam had suddenly dropped on it and this vast throng past over the river on dry ground.

Reaching the other side they were stopped by the city of Jericho; a high walled city, heavily defended.

Because we don’t read the Old Testament we get the erroneous idea that the Israelites were to kill everyone. This couldn’t be further from the truth.

The wicked occupants of the Promised Land new all about their escape from Egypt, the many miracles, the crossing thru the Red Sea etc. they also knew that they were being ordered off the land.

Here are the orders given to Moses by God and passed on to Joshua.

The wicked had three options. 1. As they approached a new territory send in the missionaries and invite the wicked to repent and join them. 2. If they elected not to join God invite them to leave the country. And 3. If they elected to stay then remove them from this mortal life.

The word missionary does not appear in the Old Testament. In the case of Jericho it calls them spies. They approached the city leaders and gave them the three options.

Remember a few memos ago I explained that a wicked man and or a wicked people become so proud that they feel that they can defy man and God and still come out victorious in spite of the odds. Such an attitude had brought the destruction of 21 known civilizations, and a like fate awaits the nations of today unless they repent.

Well the two spies who entered Jericho had to flee for their lives but they made a convert. Their land lady believed t hem and made it possible for them to escape. They in turn promised

that she and anyone who believed would be safe if they stayed in her hotel when the city was attacke

The translation says she was a harlot. But that is a faulty translation and not true. Oh! Incidently she became one of those from whom the Savior descended.

The whole nation of Israel were then ordered to march around the city once, every day for six days, staying out of range of arrows which isn’t very far. On the seventh day they were to march around seven times and then give a sudden blast, ear deafening on their horns and the walls would fall down.

Of course the defenders of the city were all on the walls wondering what those crazy Israelites were up to. And when the walls fell down of course the battle was over. The landlady and followers were rescued and no one was hurt but those who figured they could defy man and God.

Only one of all the wicked countries elected to join Israel. But that’s another story.

Then Israel passed thru a stage of wickedness in which they demanded a king so they would be like other nations. They had now been in the promised land about 300 years. When the prophet Samuel ordained Saul their first King and their troubles really started.

David (of Goliath fame) followed Saul. Under the leadership of David Israel became the most powerful nation in the near East.

He was followed by his son Solomon who became king of Israel 1015 B.C. Solomon is an enigma (what does that word mean or did I just make it up?)

Touted as the wisest man in the world he wound up making so many foolish decisions that Israel dissolved in a bloody civil war.

Yet as a young king he started out doing everything right, first building a temple and in so doing. “The word of the Lord came to Solomon saying concerning this house which thou art building, if thou wilt walk in my statues, and execute my judgements, and keep all my commandments to walk in them; then I will perform my word with thee, which I spake unto David thy father;...So Solomon built the house, and finished it.”

“The Lord appeared to Solomon the second time...and promised him, if you do all that I command thee...then I will establish the throne of thy kingdom upon Israel forever. But if ye shall at all turn from following me...but go and follow after gods and worship them; then I will cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them.”

Solomon was then about fifty years old he seemed to do everything wrong. We only hope that he had some disease like Alzheimer that will give him an excuse.

He married 1,000 women and built an immense palace to house them, children, house keepers etc. most of them non Israelites who got him to worshiping their heathen gods. He built many public works and of course financed it by levying higher and higher taxes.

At his death the ten northern tribes led by an Ephramite named Jeroboam went to his succeeding son Rehoboam and demanded a tax rebate. He refused. And a dreadful civil war followed resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands on both sides. And about 975 B.C. they split into two kingdoms. The Kingdom of Judah which also included the tribe of Benjamin and the others who were called various names such as “the ten tribes,” “Israel,” and the Northern Kingdom.

The next two hundred and fifty years were a continuous battle between the two factions. Finally about 721 B.C. a new rising world power called Assyria attacked the Ten Tribes from the

North. The Northern Kingdom appealed to their former brothers for help only to be laughed at. When the war ended. The survivors were taken Northward as slaves.

The only other record we have of this remnant of the Ten Tribes is found in the Book of

2Esdra found not in the Old Testament but in the Apocrypha.

It records that an Ephramite named Tobias led them in counseling that they should disappear Northward thru rugged mountains, so steep that they were only passable just before spring flooding. That by the time they were found missing the Assyrians would be unable to follow until the following year and so they went saying that they would go northward where never before man had been (since the flood.)

Archaeologically they can then be traced passing by the Black Sea on the East then crossing Southern Russia into Europe up thru the Scandinavian countries and Great Briton and disappearing.

All we know is that they will return, join with Judah who is returning to their ancient home and become a United Kingdom.

Of course as they moved North and West stragglers would have dropped off and settled by the wayside. Hence the blood of Israel is strong thru Russia and Europe.

According to Esdra it took them one and a half years to make the journey and their disappearing into the far North.

The lost tribes are not lost to the Lord. They were led by prophets. They were still a distinct nation many hundreds of years later, for the resurrected Lord following his ministry on this continent among the Nephites said....(GO READ IT in:) (3 Ne. 16:1-4, 17:4) Mormon Doctrine page 457

To this day we haven’t the slightest idea where they are, except they are Northward. But they will return in a series of miracles that will surpass Moses and Israel passing thru the Red Sea. “And they who are in the North countries shall come in remembrance before the Lord; and their prophets shall hear his voice, and shall no longer stay themselves; and they shall smite the rocks, and the ice shall flow down at their presence. And an highway shall be cast up in the midst of the great deep (ocean) their enemies shall become a prey unto them. And in the barren deserts there shall come forth pools of living water; and the parched ground shall no longer be a thirsty land. And they shall bring forth their rich treasures unto the children of Ephraim, my servants.

And the boundaries of the everlasting hills shall tremble at their presence.

And there shall they fall down and be crowned with glory, even in Zion, by the hands of the servants of the Lord, even the children of Ephraim. (D.&C. 133:27-35

“O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder consider all the worlds thy hands have made, I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder, Thy power thru out the universe displayed.....

When I think that God, his Son not sparing, sent him to die, I scarce can take it in,

That on the cross my burden gladly bearing, He bled and died to take away my sin;.....

When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation and take me home, what joy shall fill my heart! Then I shall bow in humble adoration and there proclaim, “My God, how great Thou art.”

Then sings my soul my Savior God to Thee, how great Thou art, how great Thou art, then sings my soul my Savior God to Thee how great Thou art, how great Thou art!

My love Always,

Dad, Grandpa Pratt etc.

Memo #109

October 1, 2009

Re: Article of Faith #10

From: Dad, Grandpa, etc. Richard Marden Pratt

“We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the ten Tribes; that Zion (or the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.”

Boy! What a mouthful, I doubt I can cover it in less than two memos after all, thousands of pages have been written on the subject. Let me start by breaking it down into its several categories.

1. “The literal gathering of Israel.” all the tribes, not the Jews only, who are now gathering, but all the tribes and they have been scattered world wide and perhaps, like the people of Enoch, the main body could also be abiding the time of their return on a portion of this earth now out in space. Time will soon tell.

2. “Restoration of the ten tribes.” they were last heard of about 721 B.C. So far as I know our church is the only group of people now living on earth who know anything about them or have any knowledge of their return and the world could care less. So this will be very interesting to develop.

3. “That Zion, (or the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent .”

(this is a total No NO, to the world and they wouldn’t even believe it if they were watching it happen.)

4. That Christ will reign personally upon the earth. Volumes and volumes have been written of this and the world has many different ideas to its meaning, mostly false.

5. The earth will be renewed and receive its Paradisiacal Glory. To this the worlds response is, “What are you talking about?”

So we will start with number 1. “ the literal gathering of Israel.” Who were they and who are they? The name first appears in the Old Testament in Genesis 32:28 there is recorded a fantastic experience of Jacob, grandson of Abraham and the father of twelve sons by four wives who became the heads of the original twelve tribes who passed from slavery to the most powerful nation in the then known world. Some changes were made over the next four hundred years finally winding up as thirteen tribes but still known as twelve. I will point these out as the tale continues.

Jacob was spending the night alone and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. Gen. 32:24 and the man said, “let me go, for the day breaketh”. And he (Jacob) said, “I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.”

And the man said, “What is thy name.” And he said, “ Jacob.”

And he said, “thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a Prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed... and Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.

So the name means Prince or as applied to his female descendants, Princess. And as a prince or princess may become what? A KING , a QUEEN and or GOD and GODDESS. The name also means Jacobs descendants and in another sense Israel means the true believer in Christ as explained by Paul in Romans 10:1; 11:7

The name Israel is therefore variously used to denote 1. The man Jacob, 2. Literal descendants of Jacob, and 3. The true believers in Christ regardless of their lineage or geographical location. Bible dictionary.

All others are Gentiles which means, “other people” or not God’s people.

God and Goddess is just another way of saying Good King, Good Queen.

You temple goers, notice the wording in the endowment or initiatory the next time you attend.

But Israel began long before that naming event. Israel began before the world was as the following scriptures testify. Israel was known in the preexistence.

In Moses farewell talk to Israel, “Remember the days of old, (before earth life) consider the years of many generations: ask thy father, and he will shew thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee.

When the most high divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel.

Deut. 32: 7-8

The number of Israelites was known before the world was and God therefore knew how big to build it to accommodate them.

In Acts we read, “God hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before (the earth was) appointed, and the bounds of their habtitation.

And Abraham was explicitly given an inheritance for his Israelite descendants with Jerusalem as capital and stretching North and East to cover what is today called the near East.

An area larger than the U.S.A. Today it is mostly desert but will be returned to a fertile state when the Lord comes and the earth is renewed and receives its Glory.

Also that land grant includes North and South America. Together they include the choicest lands on earth. However, when the earth is renewed and terrestrialized it will be even more choice.

We conclude, therefore, that there must have been a division of the spirits of men in the spirit world, and those who were appointed to be the children of Israel were separated and prepared for a special inheritance. (Doc. of Salvations 59)

Jacob was born about 1856 B.C. If Israelites are his descendants and they are designated as Princes and Princesses, then what about all who lived prior to Jacob. Remember that another definition of Israel = True Believer in Jesus Christ.

“And the Lord appeared unto them, and they rose up and blessed Adam, and called him Michael, the prince, the Archangel.

And the Lord administered comfort unto Adam, and said unto him: 'I have set thee to be at the head; a multitude of nations shall come of thee and thou art a prince over them forever.'" D.&C. 107:54-55

Then it appears that Jacob was a link between those who lived prior to the flood and those who followed after. Or a new dispensation of the gospel.

Father Adam then is designated by the Lord as a “Prince”, the “Arc (first) Angel,”

“The first flesh” on this earth, he was not subject to death when first put in the garden. His spirit could not be separated from his body unless and until he violated the law that would bring death. And the Lord provided the law so it could happen. Because in our present mortal state it is absolutely necessary to our exaltation.

If Adam had not brought death into the world, he would have remained in the Garden of Eden forever. Eve would have been cast out and they would have been eternally separated.

Did Adam and Eve come out in direct opposition to God? NO and a double NO! NO! Eve was deceived but Adam knowingly broke the law that would further the plan of our Father for all his children.

Not to eat of the forbidden fruit was the only law God has ever given in which he added, “Nevertheless, thou mayest choose for thyself.” in other words God said, I’m leaving the choice up to you but I want you to know the consequences if you do and if you don’t.

Three years previous to the death of Adam, he called Seth, Enos, Cainan, Mahalaleel, Jarred, Enoch, and Methuselah, who were all high priests, with the residue of his posterity who were righteous, into the valley of Adam-ondi-ahman, and there bestowed upon them his last blessing. D&C107:53

One wonders why fifty year old righteous Lamach, the son of Methuselah is not mentioned as being at this great conference, that is all we can do is “wonder” until we receive the Book of Enoch in which the records of that time will be revealed.

And the Lord administered comfort unto Adam, and said unto him; I have set thee at the head; a multitude of nations shall come of thee, and thou are a prince over them forever. D&C107:55

And Adam stood up in the midst of the congregation; and, not withstanding he was bowed down with age, being full of the Holy Ghost, predicted whatsoever should befall his posterity unto the latest generation. vs. 56

So as we talk of the gathering of Israel, we are not only talking about those who have descended from Jacob but also of those who extend back in time to Adam and Eve.

After Adam and Eve were evicted from the Garden it must have been a very interesting

time for them indeed. They had to create or find a place of shelter and food would have been a challenge. Apparently they were temporarily fixed for clothes. Hope they made some home videos. They will surely be interesting to watch.

We don’t know which direction they went or how far but eventually they made their home in the Valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman (means the place where Adam lived) This is about fifty miles Northward from Independence, Jackson County, Missouri where the Garden of Eden was located.

As already mentioned, there it was that the great conference was held three years before Adam’s death. And now we look forward to a second council being held prior to the Lord appearing to the world in Adam-ondi-Ahman.

Adam and all Priesthood leaders from Adam down to the present will be there. Surely the corresponding sisters will also be present. The world will not know of it. The bulk of the church may not know of it.

How do we know that it hasn’t already happened? The only indication we have is that the general authorities still speak of it as being yet in the future.

At this conference of all conferences all keys, powers and jurisdictions will be returned to the Savior, who will be presiding, Adam of course will conduct.

Now there is nothing written, but I can’t help but think that Adam will stand and say something like this: “My brothers and sisters we have concluded the purpose of this grand conference and it is now proposed that all who can sustain Jesus Christ as Lord of Lords, King of Kings and our Savior and Eternal Ruler please make it manifest by the uplifted hand.” Oh! Wow!

Will a negative vote be called for? Of course. But don’t expect any hands to be raised.

Then officially, shortly thereafter will transpire that glorious moment. “When the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout and with the voice of the Arch-angel, and trumpets blaring. The resurrection will take place of those prepared and the living saints together with them will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air.

The Lord will then officially reign upon the earth as has been promised from the beginning.

So Israel will triumph and those who have stayed true and faithful from Adam to the present will rejoice together forevermore. The judgement will take place at the end of the millennium. The earth will die and be resurrected and will be prepared for the “meek” who will inherit it forever.

But the ten tribes still have a mission to preform and I will go into that in more detail next memo.

A note on current Adam-ondi-Ahman. When Mother and I returned from our Iowa mission we visited this beautiful site. It is a lovely valley thru which a small river flows. At that time the church had purchased 1800 acres, including the site of the remains of an alter built by Adam on which to offer sacrifices. They had missionaries stationed there including my cousin Max and Marge Folsom.

Their mission was to restore the valley to its original condition. Old buildings, fences, dead trees etc were being removed. The natural forest pruned and new trees planted. About 600 acres of level land was being farmed by a local farmer who had to keep it “show place” perfect. And would likely be the site of this great gathering.

Now a funny little incident. Joseph Smith pronounced a small pile of rocks as the remains of an alter built by Adam. Our bus driver pointed it out to us. And while looking around every so often a souvenir seeker would approach the pile snatch up a small rock and put it in his pocket until the bus driver saw it. Then he announced that the originals were long gone but the obliging farmer as he cleared rocks from his field dumped them there. Needless to say several pockets were emptied.

So again this is what we believe and it is true. You are watching it happen.

“We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the ten Tribes; that Zion (or the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.”

It’s exciting to study the scriptures and words of the prophets seeing how much has been fulfilled and knowing that the rest will be fulfilled.

I love you my dear family and know we can be an eternal family.

With all my love,

Dad, Grandpa, brother, etc.

Richard Marden Pratt

Memo #108

September 1, 2009

From: Grandpa, Richard Pratt

Re: Article of Faith #9

We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God. (Article of Faith #9)

By faith we accept the principal, “That God knows all things.” Therefore, there is nothing that he doesn’t know. That then would suggest that there is no true inventor. An inventor supposedly creates something because it hadn’t existed before.

True it hadn’t existed here before, but all the elements needed for its development, all the ideas all the thoughts had always existed. The inventor by his diligence had it revealed to him. Therefore so called inventors are really prophets who by applying themselves had revealed to them the thoughts, ideas etc. that would bring into being that which he or she was trying to discover.

To understand spiritual things, a person must have spiritual discernment, that is, guidance by the Holy Ghost.

President Smith said; “we must, in the eternities, reach the time, when we will know all things. We must know, mathematics, science and all things else we can never receive a fulfillment of the promise given; as man is now God once was and as God is now man may become. We must learn all things by learning, by study and by faith.”

The Prophet Joseph Smith said that in the Paradisaical glory we will be able by faith to learn more in five minutes than we learned here in a life time. So that will help considerably. And the more obedient a person is the more faith they will develop and the faster they will learn.

In D & C 132:37 we read, Abraham, and Isaac and also Jacob did none other things than that which they were commanded. They have entered into their exaltation, according to the promises, and sit upon thrones and are not angels but are Gods.

We know Abraham was born 2000 BC followed of course by his son and grandson. We know that they would have been resurrected 2000 years later following the resurrection of the Savior and 1800 years later the Prophet made the above declaration. So sometime in that 3800 years these three great prophets had mastered all knowledge. How? By faith (revelation) work and study. By constant obedience in all things. Seems like a remarkably short time but it must be so.

On the other hand, looking back 96 years, I read not long ago that an estimated 90% of all inventions have been invented (I say discovered) in my life time.

Yes, railroads had been invented but you had to live by a railroad track. Our own fastest vehicle transportation was what we called a light buggy powered by a fast trotting team of small mules. Capacity 2-4 people. Naturally the less people the faster and longer the team could travel. It took them five hours to travel from our ranch to the big city (about 5000 people). That’s four miles per hour.

My Grandpa Peterson was a hunter for the first railroad to cross the South Western states. Because of no refrigeration he would kill only what the crew could eat in one day. All he had to do was shoot the animal, bleed it out, plant a small flag beside it and hope that the butchering crew and wagon would find it. One day he shot eleven elk. That would surely feed several hundred men. Gives one some idea of how many men it took to inch the tracks ever Westward. He also killed many antelope and I can remember the Head of one in Grandpa’s living room which he said was the largest one he had ever seen. It surely had long horns. Grandpa was born about 1877 March 19^th .

Thomas A. Edison is rated as one of the greatest technical geniuses who ever lived. Yet he had no formal education and at age 12 was working on the rail road. By the end of his 84 years he had taken out 1200 patents. Born 1847, died 1931. He employed hundreds of people and his inventions have been rated in the billions of dollars.

He worked on the principle I earlier discussed, the invention he was working on was already “out there” he just had to discover it.

On the light bulb, he tried over 700 times before succeeding. His men wanted him to quit saying that it was not possible and his 700^th+ experiment proved it was.

He answered, “No,” they just prove 700 ways that won’t work. And continued, soon making the break thru that we now take for granted in lighting our homes.

It’s hard to believe that after the civil war in 1865 and sometime before the end of the century the government was considering closing the patent office, the argument being that all the inventions had been made. And now they are coming faster and faster if you can think of it, you can do it.

For thus sayeth the Lord ~ “I, the Lord am merciful and gracious unto those who fear me, and delight to honor those who serve me in righteousness and in truth unto he end.

Great shall be their reward and eternal shall be their glory.

And to them will I reveal all mysteries, yea, all the hidden mysteries of my kingdom from days of old, and for ages to come, will I make known unto them the good pleasure of my will concerning all things pertaining unto my kingdom.

Yea, even the wonders of eternity shall they know, and things to come will I show them, even the things of many generations. And their wisdom shall be great, and their understanding reach to heaven; and before them the wisdom of the wise shall perish, and the understanding of the prudent shall come to naught. For by my spirit will I enlighten them, and by my power will I make known unto them the secrets of my will ~ yea, even those things which eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor yet entered into the heart of man.” D&C 76:5-10

I would like to go back to the beginning of the above quotation and clarify or attempt to clarify the meaning of the word, “FEAR” as used in the phrase. “I, the Lord am merciful and gracious unto those who “FEAR” me.

Like so many words, a word can have two or even more meanings even two opposite meanings. This is the case with the word, “FEAR”

Care should be taken to distinguish between two different uses of this word. The “Fear of the Lord” is frequently spoken of as part of man’s duty. To me it is a yearning desire to do everything I can, to keep every commandment and to obey every law that issues forth from his throne and to tremble and fear that I might do something to displease him. In short using “the Fear of the Lord” this way is to love him and everything that emanates from him with such a fervency that to do anything else would fill me with fear or as the Bible Dictionary states, “in such passages fear is equivalent to reverence, awe, worship and is therefore an essential part of the attitude of mind in which we ought to stand toward the All holy God. On the other hand fear is spoken of as something unworthy of a child of God, something that , “perfect love casteth out.” (1 John 4:18)

Or to remember my small boyhood stage, I loved my earthly Father with such a fervor that to gain his disfavor and correcting love was a fearful thing even tho he was kind and loving in his corrections and mild in punishment. I feared to displease him because I loved him so. This kind of fear, then could be labeled, “Godly or goodly fear.” and is almost diametrically opposed to that awful fear felt by the wicked as expressed by Mormon, “My people with their wives and their children, did now behold the armies of the Lamanites marching towards them; and with that awful fear of death which fills the breasts of all the wicked, did they wait to receive them. Mormon 6:7

Sin destroys that feeling of confidence God’s child should feel in a loving Father and produces instead, a feeling of shame and guilt. Ever since the Fall, God has been teaching men NOT TO FEAR, but with penitenance to ask forgiveness in full confidence of receiving it.

These God delights to honor and great shall be their reward and eternal their glory. Even the wonders of eternity shall they know, and things to come will I show them, even the things of many generations. And their wisdom shall be great, and their understanding reach to heaven. For by my spirit will I enlighten them and by my power will I make known unto them the secrets of my will. ~ yea, even those things which eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor yet entered into the heart of man. D& C 76:5-10 (YES, I have quoted this twice purposefully to emphasize it! Let the heart be full of reverential fear to God and all that pertains to His greatness and your joy will be full and eternal!)

Every person who is sufficiently faithful has the categorical promise that God himself will appear to him. “Verily, thus saith the Lord: it shall come to pass that every soul who forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and obeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments, shall see my face and know that I am. (D&C 93:1) this has reference to the personnel appearance of God to mortal beings. (D&C 67:10-14) Many righteous persons have complied with the law of faith involved and received this promised revelation (Ether 3:19) Mormon Doctrine pages 644-645

Two thousand years B.C. a prophet designated as the Brother of Jared had a remarkable face to face confrontation with Jesus who at that time was a spirit for he still had 2000 years to wait to receive his mortal body. I love this account.

The prophet had molten from rock sixteen small stones; and they were white and clear, even as transparent glass; and he did carry them in his hands upon the top of the mount, and cried again unto the Lord saying.... “therefore touch these stones, O Lord, with thy finger and prepare them that they may shine forth in darkness;...that we may have light while we shall cross the sea”....behold the Lord stretched forth his hand and touched the stones one by one with his finger. And the veil was taken from off the eyes of the brother of Jared, and he saw the finger of the Lord; and it was as the finger of a man, like unto flesh and blood; and the brother of Jared fell down before the Lord, for he was struck with fear...and the Lord said unto him: “arise, why hast thou fallen?”

And he saith unto the Lord; “I saw the finger of the Lord, and I feared lest he should smite me; for I knew not that the Lord had flesh and blood.

And the Lord said unto him: “because of thy faith thou hast seen that I shall take upon me flesh and blood; and never has man come before me with such exceeding faith as thou hast; for were it not so ye could not have seen my finger. Sawest more than this?”

And he answered: “Nay; Lord, show thyself unto me”....behold the Lord showed himself unto him, and said: “Because thou knowest these things ye are redeemed from the fall; therefore ye are brought back into my presence; therefore I show myself unto you.

Behold, I am he who was prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem my people, behold I am Jesus Christ. I am the Father and the Son. In me shall all mankind have life, and that eternally, even they who shall believe on my name; and they shall become my sons and my daughters.

And never have I showed myself unto man whom I have created, (since the flood, for he had shown himself to many men prior to the flood, but this is not more than 100 years since that deluge.) For never (since the flood) has man believed in me as thou hast. Seest thou that ye are created after my own image? Yea, even all men were created after my own image.

Behold this body, which ye now behold, is the body of my Spirit; and man have I created after the body of my spirit; and even as I appear unto thee in the spirit will I appear unto my people in the flesh.

And now, as I, Moroni, said I could not make a full account of these things which are written, therefore it sufficeth me to say that Jesus showed himself unto this man in the spirit, even after the manner and in the likeness of the same body even as he showed himself unto the Nephites..(read about Jared’s brother in Ether in the Book of Mormon Ch. 1-12 great reading!)

And of course all the appearances to the prophets in the Old Testaments would have been his spirit body. Let me mention two.

1. “And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, (portable temple) the cloudy pillar descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the Lord talked with Moses.

And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the Tabernacle door: and all the people rose up and worshiped, every man in his tent door.

And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend.”

Exodus 33:9-11

2. “Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel.

And they saw the God of Israel:(Jesus) and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness. Exodus 24:9-11

(Moses was about 400 years after the brother of Jared and still 1500 years before Christ’s mortal birth.

But Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob also saw God and or Jesus Christ and they were between the Brother of Jared and Moses.

And there are many more. Read the Old Testament you’ll love it IF you persist!

Remember. “What ever principal of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection.

And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life thru his diligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come.”

D&C 130:18-19

My Love always,

Dad, Grandpa, Richard Pratt

(Written February 12, 2009)

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