The LDS Church- Awakening to Our Situation
Understanding what happened during Joseph Smith’s day requires one to become an investigative reporter. One must gather data points and then connect the dots. The scriptures and authentic church history accounts illustrate that the Lord removed the fullness of the priesthood from the Saints. The Lord calls the LDS Church and the restoration branches “my house.”
The LDS Church is fulfilling its mission to publish and disseminate the scriptures of the restoration, give authority in the Aaronic priesthood and baptize with water into the preparatory gospel. All of these missions are of inestimable value. However, for Latter-day Saints to make it, they must repent and return. Members of Christ’s true church must take the Holy Spirit as their guide, receive the truth and avoid deception. They must enter into the new covenant of a broken heart and contrite spirit, as Jesus commanded.
📖 Summary & Study guide
Warning of Condemnation for Early LDS Church
The Lord warned the Saints in 1829 that if they harden their hearts, they will suffer the same fate as those who apostatized and received destruction at Jerusalem.
5 And thus, if the people of this generation harden not their hearts, I will work a reformation among them, and I will put down all lyings, and deceivings, and priest crafts, and envyings, and strifes, and idolatries, and sorceries, and all manner of iniquities, and I will establish my church, like unto the church which was taught by my disciples in the days of old.
6 And now if this generation do harden their hearts against my word, behold I will deliver them up unto Satan, for he reigneth and hath much power at this time, for he hath got great hold upon the hearts of the people of this generation: and not far from the iniquities of Sodom and Gomorrah, do they come at this time: and behold the sword of justice hangeth over their heads, and if they persist in the hardness of their hearts, the time cometh that it must fall upon them. Behold I tell you these things even as I also told the people of the destruction of Jerusalem, and my word shall be verified at this time as it hath hitherto been verified.
The Church of Christ (the original name for the LDS church) came under condemnation in 1832. This condemnation came from rejecting the new covenant in the Book of Mormon, as the children of Israel did under Moses. D&C 84:57 speaks of this. However, the Book of Mormon is not the new covenant. Rather, the new covenant is contained in the Book of Mormon. (D&C 84:54-59, 3 Nephi 9:20)
Understanding the Priesthood Orders
In preparation for the restoration of a new dispensation of the fullness of the gospel or the terrestrial order, the following 2 things happened:
- John the Baptist restored the first two orders of the Aaronic priesthood:
- Levitical – This does not have the power to bless, but only to bind heavy burdens.
- Aaronic – this holds the key to the ministering of angels. This order of the priesthood administers the preparatory gospel. It can perform the baptism of water into the preparatory gospel, or dispensation of the gospel of Abraham. (D&C 84:25-27, 3 Nephi 7:23-26)
- Peter, James, and John restored the first order of the Melchizedek priesthood:
- Apostolic order of Melchizedek priesthood, which administereth the ordinances of the terrestrial order of the gospel or Church of Christ. (D&C 84:19-21, 3 Nephi 11:18-21,23-27, 3 Nephi 18:36-39, D&C 76:51-52)
Later on, the second order of the Melchizedek priesthood, the Patriarchal order of the Melchizedek priesthood resurfaced. This happened at the Isaac Morley Farm on June 4, 1831 during the 4th General Conference priesthood meeting. See D&C 52 section heading and journal entries of Levi Hancock, Ezra Booth, Zebedee Coltrin, Philo Dibble, John Whitmer, John Murdock, John Corrill, and Lyman Wight. This order of the priesthood only exists within the Church of the Firstborn. At this time, members of the Church of Christ and the Church of the Firstborn were called the Holy Order. (Alma 13:1,6,8,10-11, JST Genesis 14:27-33). The LDS church’s use of Melchizedek priesthood by systematically ordaining 18+ year olds didn’t come until much later, by way of policy.
The Purpose of the Church of Christ
The Church of Christ is to help members enter into the new covenant of a broken heart and contrite spirit (3 Nephi 9:20), receive the baptism of fire and the baptism of the Holy Ghost and then continue to feast upon the words of Christ. They then receive instruction about parting the veil and entering into the rest of the Lord, which rest is the fullness of his glory. (D&C 84:23-24, D&C 76:52-54). This is not just seeing in vision or having Christ come here to this earth. Rather, it is going up to the “high mountain,” which is not earthly, but heavenly (Moses 1:1, 1 Nephi 11:1). Other names include the “seventh heaven” (Isaiah & Enoch), or that place in the heavens where Christ reigns in the fullness of terrestrial glory.
The Church of Christ’s purpose is different than the stated purposes of the LDS church and other restoration branches.
Christ Removes His Name From the Church
The children of Israel under Moses rejected the new covenant. As a result, the Lord demoted them to the preparatory gospel. The Lord took the Melchizedek priesthood from them (D&C 124:28, 3 Nephi 16:10, ). They then received the preparatory gospel, the dispensation of the gospel of Abraham (D&C 84:23-26).
As a result, Christ took his name out of the Church in 1834. On May 4, 1834, the name “Church of Christ” changed to “Church of the Latter Day Saints” with a unanimous vote by a Council of Elders. Joseph Smith and many other prominent leaders attended this meeting, with Joseph Smith, Jr. moderating the discussion. Common knowledge evidence of the Lord removing his name from the Church of Christ in 1834 include:
- May 4, 1834 Minutes of the Conference of Elders – Joseph Smith Jr. moderated a unanimous vote to change the name of the church from the “Church of Christ” to “The Church of the Latter Day Saints.” Known persons in attendance include Joseph Smith Jr., Frederick G. Williams, Oliver Cowdery, Sidney Rigdon, Newel K. Whitney.
- Kirtland temple inscription
- 1835 Doctrine & Covenants title page
- Lectures on Faith
Christ’s church must include his name in the title in order to be his church (3 Nephi 27:7-8). Therefore, the “Church of the Latter Day Saints” no longer retained the fullness of Christ’s gospel. Nor was it classified as Christ’s church anymore.
This would remain the official name of the church until Brigham Young incorporated “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” in 1851. This change came seven years after Joseph Smith’s murder, without revelation or authorization from the Lord. To this day, the Utah LDS church uses the name.
Church of Christ Demoted to Preparatory Gospel
Elias restored the dispensation of the gospel of Abraham, or preparatory gospel, to Joseph Smith in Kirtland, 1836 (D&C 110:12). This came as a direct result of the early saints rejecting the fullness of the gospel. Christ prophesied that the latter-day gentiles (LDS church and the restoration branches) would reject the fullness of the gospel during Joseph’s first ministry:
10 …thus commandeth the Father that I should say unto you: At that day when the Gentiles shall sin against my gospel, and shall reject the fulness of my gospel, and shall be lifted up in the pride of their hearts above all nations, and above all the people of the whole earth, and shall be filled with all manner of lyings, and of deceits, and of mischiefs, and all manner of hypocrisy, and murders, and priestcrafts, and whoredoms, and of secret abominations; and if they shall do all those things, and shall reject the fulness of my gospel, behold, saith the Father, I will bring the fulness of my gospel from among them.
“Rejected As a Church” in Nauvoo
During the Kirtland temple dedicatory prayer, Joseph plead that Christ would restore their blessings. This included the terrestrial order, Melchizedek priesthood, and the ability to perform that order of baptism (D&C 109:21,26). He also asked the Lord to put his name back upon the saints (D&C 109:79), but to no avail.
However, the Lord revealed that if the Nauvoo Saints would repent & return, God would give them another chance. God would allow the saints to finish the Nauvoo temple during Joseph’s lifetime. The Lord intended to restore again the Melchizedek priesthood they lost in the Nauvoo temple (D&C 124:28). If the saints didn’t finish the Nauvoo temple, the Lord stated clearly that He would reject the church along with their dead:
31 But I command you, all ye my saints, to build a house unto me; and I grant unto you a sufficient time to build a house unto me; and during this time your baptisms shall be acceptable unto me.
32 But behold, at the end of this appointment your baptisms for your dead shall not be acceptable unto me; and if you do not these things at the end of the appointment ye shall be rejected as a church, with your dead, saith the Lord your God.
The saints never finished the Nauvoo temple, and they murdered Joseph and Hyrum. Shortly after, enemies drove the saints and scattered them out of the country and far from their lands of inheritance.
Joseph Smith’s Return & Second Mission
In the last days, Joseph Smith returns with the “first laborers of the last kingdom” as prophesied. His work is to finish the restoration and gather out “the strength of the Lord’s house” (D&C 101:43-66). The gathered are Latter Day-Saints who repent, return, enter into the Everlasting Covenant via a broken heart and contrite spirit. They are wise virgins who “take the Holy Spirit as their guide,” receive truth with gladness and avoid deception.
Joseph brings the sealed portion of the Book of Mormon (and other scriptures) to Latter-Day Saints. However, only those who repent and return will
5 Wherefore the Lord hath commanded me to write them; and I have written them. And he commanded me that I should seal them up; and he also hath commanded that I should seal up the interpretation thereof; wherefore I have sealed up the interpreters, according to the commandment of the Lord.
6 For the Lord said unto me: They shall not go forth unto the Gentiles until the day that they shall repent of their iniquity, and become clean before the Lord.
2nd Exodus for the Children of Israel
Joseph Smith will lead the “strength of the Lord’s house” on an end-time exodus, as prophesied throughout scripture (D&C 103:1-28). The end-time Exodus culminates with Enoch and his city returning and establishing New Jerusalem for those faithful saints who endure to the end as salt that hasn’t lost its savor (JST Genesis 9:21-23).
Keys to the establishment of the Church of Christ were never taken from Joseph Smith during his first ministry. Nobody else will receive them from Joseph Smith or take them from him. This is true for “this life” (first ministry), as well as “the world to come” (next mortal life, second ministry). This allows him to return and finish the restoration as specified in D&C 101:55 and D&C 103:22.
3 Verily I say unto you, the keys of this kingdom shall never be taken from you, while thou art in the world, neither in the world to come;
4 Nevertheless, through you shall the oracles be given to another, yea, even unto the church.
5 And all they who receive the oracles of God, let them beware how they hold them lest they are accounted as a light thing, and are brought under condemnation thereby, and stumble and fall when the storms descend, and the winds blow, and the rains descend, and beat upon their house.
The restoration of Church of Christ in Joseph’s second ministry (not his first) will fulfill a prophesy that it will be established “no more to be thrown down.”
13 Behold, this is the blessing which I have promised after your tribulations, and the tribulations of your brethren—your redemption, and the redemption of your brethren, even their restoration to the land of Zion, to be established, no more to be thrown down.
Telestial LDS Church Must Repent & Return
Nephi pointed out the iniquities of the Latter-day Saint gentiles that they need to repent of in 2 Nephi 28:14,21,24-32. These iniquities include: stiff necks, high heads, pride, abominations, whoredoms, wickedness, being led by precepts of men, teaching false doctrine, believing “all is well,” teaching the prosperity gospel, being lazy, denying the power of God and the gift of the Holy Ghost, not wanting more revelation because they have enough, getting angry because the truth is taught, put their trust in following men and making flesh their arm.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is telestial. Nothing which is telestial makes it into the millennium. Christ declared that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will encounter destruction, which includes all members of the Church who don’t repent and return and thus becoming again a member of the terrestrial order, the “Church of Christ.”
53 And the kingdom of God shall be taken from them [the Jews], and shall be given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof; (meaning the Gentiles.)
54 Wherefore, on whomsoever this stone shall fall, it shall grind him to powder.
55 And when the Lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, he will destroy those miserable, wicked men, and will let again his vineyard unto other husbandmen, even in the last days, who shall render him the fruits in their seasons.
56 And then understood they the parable which he spake unto them, that the Gentiles should be destroyed also, when the Lord should descend out of heaven to reign in his vineyard, which is the earth and the inhabitants thereof.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
The Name “Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day (Latter-day) Saints” is a prophecy about a future day. This occurs during Joseph’s 2nd ministry, when a temple at Far West is to be built (not merely a dedicated corner stone), as outlined in D&C 115:3-12.
4 For thus shall my church be called in the last days, even The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Upon the Lord’s house shall the day of vengeance begin, and it will go forth from his house. And the target of his day of vengeance will be towards those who profess to know him, but do not.
24 Behold, vengeance cometh speedily upon the inhabitants of the earth, a day of wrath, a day of burning, a day of desolation, of weeping, of mourning, and of lamentation; and as a whirlwind it shall come upon all the face of the earth, saith the Lord.
25 And upon my house shall it begin, and from my house shall it go forth, saith the Lord;
26 First among those among you, saith the Lord, who have professed to know my name and have not known me, and have blasphemed against me in the midst of my house, saith the Lord.
Conclusion
The Lord calls the LDS Church “His house”. It is fulfilling its mission to publish and disseminate the scriptures of the restoration, give authority in the Aaronic priesthood, administer a valid sacrament, and baptize with water into the preparatory gospel; all of which is valuable.
However, for Latter-day Saints to make it they must repent and return. They must take the Holy Spirit as their guide (therefore they find the truth and avoid deception), and enter into the new covenant of a broken heart and contrite spirit. They are they who the Lord calls the strength of His house. On the eve of destruction, Joseph Smith will lead them out of the bondage which is soon to come. This exodus culminates with the establishment of New Jerusalem and final preparation for Christ’s coming in glory.
