Following My Lord and Redeemer

Baptism at Moonlight Beach, Encinitas, California

As we walked along the beach trying to find an unoccupied section of water for my baptism, Ashton asked me to share how I had arrived at the decision to be re-baptized.  As we walked slowly through the crowded beach I relayed certain events that culminated in my decision.  I told him of my conversion to my Savior Jesus and my Baptism of Fire. I found it difficult to express myself as the Spirit of God entered my heart with great force and testified to me multiple times that what I was about to do was ordained of Him.  I already knew re-baptism was His will.  This was a formality set out in the Grand Councils of Heaven before this world was ever created.  I promised God in that Council that I would do this.  I have kept my promise.

As the waves crashed around us Ashton pronounced the baptismal prayer, exactly as instructed by Jesus: calling me by name,

  “Having authority given me of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.  Amen.”  

As this prayer was offered I felt the Divine Weight of the Holy Ghost rest upon me as a tangible substance falling from Heaven.  The Holy Ghost is very real.  I was then immersed in the Pacific Ocean.  The presence of the Holy Spirit ratified this ordinance.  It was accepted by God.

The drive to Encinitas, California was about seven hours from my house.  To my knowledge Ashton was the only man in the state of California properly sustained by a minimum of seven women to perform his priesthood duties.  He graciously accepted my request and baptized me on October 4, 2014, which was also the Holiest of Jewish holidays, Yom Kippur or Day of Atonement.  This is the day I was directed to be baptized on.

John the Baptist was called to prepare the people for the coming of Jesus Christ.  He prepared them with the doctrine of repentance and baptism of water.  He was also called to overthrow the Kingdom of the Jews.   Joseph Smith said that John “wrested the keys, the kingdom, the power, [and] the glory from the Jews, by the holy anointing and decree of heaven…” History of the Church, 5:261.  Did the Jewish leadership notice when their “keys” were taken away by John?  Do you think the Mormon leadership noticed when this happened to them?  The Works of God in the past are a type and shadow of things for today.  The Second Coming is not far distant.  He requires a people ready to receive Him.  I have been re-baptized to that end.

 

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints accepted my re-baptism as an act of treason.  I was given the option of resigning or take a more formal route that would inevitably lead to excommunication.  My wife and I chose the former, as the Spirit directed.  Together, we would leave the legal entity known as the LDS Church.  There is no harm in removing living branches from a dead tree. Our desire is to be grafted into the True Vine.  Notwithstanding that, I would have remained a grateful member of the LDS Church for the rest of my life, had I not been given this ultimatum. We have not joined another church.  We have not left the Gospel of Christ, nor have we left His doctrine, nor have we left Him, nor will we ever! It is exactly the opposite.  We are working to preserve the Restoration as given by Joseph Smith.  It is in peril of being lost and with it the return of Zion.

The Lord has given me knowledge concerning the Mormon institution.  Many have said I have been deceived and they have every right to think that.  If our roles were reversed I might think the same thing about you.  Yet I am not the one being deceived.  When Mother Eve’s eyes were first opened the first thing she noticed was the influence of Satan.  I understand that now.  I have been through that process.  I must say she handled it much better than I did.

I am not asking anyone to follow me.  After all, you are not to follow men.   As Jesus has said "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me".  I have heard the Voice of the Lord both spiritually and literally.  It is He that leads me and I will follow Him.

For greater understanding about the doctrine spoken of here, I recommend you read this talk given by Denver Snuffer.

The Second Time

THE SIGN

If you read my previous post, you will know that the Lord promised me a sign to confirm our conversation.  The sign has been given, exactly when and where He said it would be.

IRE OF THE LORD

Last week while contemplating what should be written for this blog, the Lord impressed me with the following:  He is not well pleased with some of you (not all) who are dismissive of my claims.  You have searched the teachings of men, their philosophies and sayings, yet have not inquired of the Lord or asked Him, in sincerity of heart, if what I am doing is ordained of God.  This has provoked His Ire.  Do you not remember that He is the fountain of all truth? 

THE SECOND TIME

I testify that the work I am about is ordained of God.  No less than FIVE TIMES the Lord states in scripture that He will “set his hand a SECOND TIME to recover his people”.  Why a second time?  Because the first time has failed.  Unequivocally.  Exactly as prophesied by Jesus Christ.

 

I testify that the “second time” is now beginning.  The “second time” will not be through an organized institution that will become corrupted with priestcraft; neither will it have any part with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, for the same reason you don’t put new wine in old vessels.  The “second time” will go places white shirts, black name tags and ties cannot.  The “second time”, if successful, will bring again Zion.

Since He is starting a “second time”, as with all new beginnings, He has called a new prophet.  His name is Denver Snuffer.  The Spirit has confirmed to me that he is the “servant” called to gather other “servants” as prophesied in Jacob 5:70.  Also:  D&C 101:55, 3 Nephi 21:9-11 and D&C 85:7 are about Denver.  My Father in Heaven, Himself, has spoken the name of Denver Snuffer to me with His own Voice and confirmed what the Spirit taught me months earlier.  There is absolutely no doubt that the Lord has, in fact, set His hand a second time to recover His people.  I have been asked by Him, by His own Voice, to participate.  For the final time, I have not left the LDS Church; I have been led out of it by God.  Great and marvelous things, terrible things (like this), are about to happen.

The Voice of God : Our Conversation

He is talkative!  He has a lot to say!  When it began I thought I was simply hearing my own voice in my head.  As it turns out, it was the Voice of God.

PREFACE

I don’t expect anyone to believe what I am about to write.

 

Seven years ago (2007) last June; I was given revelation from God concerning a passage out of the book of Doctrine and Covenants (LDS scripture) that I had been pondering over.  Three years later (2010), He called me by the Power of His Spirit, back into activity within the LDS Church.  There I was given opportunity to serve, contribute, overcome faults, and to seek for and offer forgiveness. One year later (2011) I was baptized by the Holy Ghost and Fire!  Three years after that (October, 2014) my wife and I were called by Him to leave the LDS Church.

There has been a steady progression of Spiritual mentoring happening in my life. To be honest, I am no one special.  I am nothing of any report.  It is beyond me why these things have happened to me, but, the fact is, in reality, they have.  On the evening of October 28, 2014, about 11 pm, an event I have been praying for occurred.  I had an open and vocal dialog with God my Eternal Father.

OUR CONVERSATION

Many will say ‘it is too spiritual or sacred to talk about’!  Why then do I discuss this with you?  God has asked me to, by His own Voice.  It was one of the last things He said to me, just before He told me to go to bed and get some rest.  I was to “continue to blog, as you have, as I give you inspiration to do so”.  Therefore, to be obedient to Him who knows my name, I will continue to blog as directed.  I am not alone in this effort.

At first I thought I was hearing my own voice in my head.  I dismissed it as such and continued with my prayer, but it just wouldn't go away.  So I asked, “Is this God? And if you are, how will I know this? Your voice is so soft and I’m having trouble hearing you”.  His reply, “Sean, you ask that same question every time we begin this process”.  I understand that sentence.  I don’t expect you to understand it.  I do.  He does, in fact, speak directly to our understanding.

 

He explained the difficulty He goes through to reach me with His Voice.  I have heard it requires great effort for Him to reach down from His High and Holy Place to converse with us who are so far removed from Him, and now He has confirmed this to me, by His own Voice.  Then He began telling me how He upholds the entire universe with His Power and that He is in and through and of all of His creations.  His Power is in them, therefore they are His, and since I am created by this same Power, He is able to communicate directly with me.

I was in a very depressive state of mind when I began praying to Him and I felt very low.  Where else can I turn if not go God?  He said my low state of spirit was necessary to bring me closer to Him so that I may recognize His voice.  I said, “Father, I can’t keep up this degree of emotionalism each time I want to talk with you”.  He said, “It’s not necessary any more.  It was necessary to bring you to this point so you could recognize my Voice, but from here forward, this will be our form of communication.”

What happened next is astounding.  I am utterly perplexed at the blessings He pronounced upon me and my family.  Blessings of protection from the coming plagues were given. He quoted in part, Doctrine and Covenants Section 112:24-26.  It indeed will be as a whirlwind; fast and without warning.  He told me exactly what was to transpire in the very near future with regard to my salvation and the eternal salvation of my wife.  I am astonished at the detail he provided.  Blessings were pronounced upon us regarding His Son Jesus Christ, the coming of Zion and how we were to prepare, or rather, how we would be prepared for Zion’s return.  That preparation is tied directly to Jesus Christ.  I am in shock over the blessings promised, by God, with His own Voice. 

To be completely honest, I am in a state of disbelief about what has happened!  In my lack of faith and disbelief, God Himself has promised me a sign.  “This sign I give unto you; that when you shall see this sign given, you will know it was given by your God, and it will be a sign unto you that we have spoken together”.  He told me exactly what to look for as a sign.  I know when, what and where the sign will be given; the ‘How’ is up to Him.  It was at this point in our conversation that I directed my focus to my heart.  It was ablaze with the Fire of Heaven.  I felt as though my shirt should catch fire.

Our conversation ended at 12:02 am. We had been conversing anywhere from 50 to 60 minutes.   I discussed everything with my wife for the next hour.  Still awake at 3 am pondering these events in bed with eyes shut and mind spinning; I asked if He was still there.  He was.  I asked a question regarding the sacrament and He answered, in His own Voice, at 3 am.  This event has given me a level of spirituality and closeness to God that is second only to my Baptism of Fire.

 

Does God speak to His children?  Yes! In complete sentences and in a manner that is understood by the recipient.  If The Great and Eternal God who sits Enthroned with Power and Fire in The Heavens should take time to speak directly to a wretched and unworthy soul like me, He will do the same for you.

THE PROCESS

We must have “an actual knowledge that the course of life which [we are] pursuing is according to God’s will” (Lectures on Faith, Joseph Smith, 3:5 p 56). Without this knowledge we will not have faith necessary unto salvation.  I know that the course of life I am pursuing is approved of by God.  He has told me so, by His own Voice.

Continuing:  “After a person has faith in Christ, repents of his sins, and is baptized for the remission of his sins and receives the Holy Ghost, which is the first Comforter, then let him continue to humble himself before God, hungering and thirsting after righteousness, and living by every word of God, and the Lord will soon say unto him, Son, thou shalt be exalted”.  This is where I am.  I have received the Voice of the Lord with these promised blessings.

Next: “When the Lord has thoroughly proved him, and finds that the man is determined to serve Him at all hazards, then the man will find his calling and his election made sure, then it will be his privilege to receive the other Comforter…  Now what is this other Comforter? It is no more nor less than the Lord Jesus Christ Himself; and this is the sum and substance of the whole matter; that when any man obtains this last Comforter, he will have the personage of Jesus Christ to attend him, or appear unto him from time to time, and even He will manifest the Father unto him, and they will take up their abode with him, and the visions of the heavens will be opened unto him, and the Lord will teach him face to face, and he may have a perfect knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom of God”.  (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Page 150-151.)

In all humility, I declare with soberness that these blessings, and many others, have been promised to me, my wife and our family, by the Voice of God Himself.  That Great and Eternal Being who sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to be lifted up upon the Cross that He might draw all men unto Himself, has with His own Voice promised these things unto us.  He is a God of Power and ability; Mighty to save.

Seek after these things yourself! I will assist you at every opportunity, should you ask me to.  Don’t be afraid of the low points in life.  This is where God does most of His work; of that I can testify.  May the God of Eternity bless each one of us in this effort!

A final thought:  I wish to add, as a side note, as part of my commitment to God, beginning to return to Him four years ago, I made the commitment to pray to Him, formally, kneeling three times per day, behind locked doors. With a few exceptions, I have kept that promise, every day, for the past four years.  These tended to be long, drawn-out, outpourings of my soul to God.  Those prayers continue to this day.  This conversation between us just didn't happen, I have been preparing for it for years. 

The Voice of Angels

What is the ultimate goal in receiving the Holy Ghost?  In my previous post we discussed scriptures that outlined the process for receiving the Baptism of Fire and the reception of the Holy Ghost.  Today, as I sat pondering over these events (as I have every day for the past three years), the Spirit of God has directed me to provide the ultimate conclusion for those willing to accept these events, receive them and follow the direction of the Holy Ghost.

 

We will continue with the counsel of Nephi to his brothers:

And now, behold, my beloved brethren, I suppose that ye ponder somewhat in your hearts concerning that which ye should do after ye have entered in by the way.  (2 Nephi 32:1)

Do you remember the “way”?  It is repentance, baptism by water then Baptism by Fire; (2 Nephi 31:17-18).

Do ye not remember that I said unto you that after ye had received the Holy Ghost ye could speak with the tongue of angels? And now, how could ye speak with the tongue of angels save it were by the Holy Ghost? (2 Nephi 32:2)

Isn't this amazing!  Ordinary people who have received the Holy Ghost speak with the tongue of angels.  What is the significance of this?  What meaning does this have to you?  What obligation do we have to become like this? Will the tongue of angels lead you astray?  How will you recognize someone who speaks by this power?  Remember, the reception of the Holy Ghost is contingent upon certain factors.  If you are not familiar with these conditions, please read my previous post so this post will be taken in context.

Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do. (2 Nephi 32:3)

For behold, again I say unto you that if ye will enter in by the way, and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show unto you all things what ye should do.  Behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and there will be no more doctrine given until after he shall manifest himself unto you in the flesh. (2 Nephi 32:5-6)

Appear to you in the flesh?? Do you understand what you are being asked to do?!  Here it is:  Repent, be baptized by water, be baptized by Fire and receive the Holy Ghost, feast upon the words of Christ and do what you are shown by the Holy Ghost until Jesus Christ shall manifest Himself to you in the flesh.  Yes, that is exactly how you are to be redeemed.  This is the pattern given to our Father Adam.  It redeemed him from the fall and it will redeem you too.  This is taught very plainly in LDS temples.  We are to literally enter into His presence in this mortal life.

What happens to you after you receive Jesus Christ in the flesh?  And when he shall manifest himself unto you in the flesh, the things which he shall say unto you shall ye observe to do.  (2 Nephi 32:6)  Further Light and Knowledge will be given you and, perhaps, direction to help others gain their salvation.  

After Nephi gave this process to his brothers, he lamented over those who will not receive his counsel:

And now I, Nephi, cannot say more; the Spirit stoppeth mine utterance, and I am left to mourn because of the unbelief, and the wickedness, and the ignorance, and the stiffneckedness of men; for they will not search knowledge, nor understand great knowledge, when it is given unto them in plainness, even as plain as word can be. (2 Nephi 32:7)

This is the message of the Restoration as given to Joseph Smith the Prophet, that we must press forward and have our calling and elections made sure; that we are to receive the Second Comforter, Jesus Christ.  Salvation does not come from men, nor will it ever.  It comes by feasting upon His Words from angels and the Holy Ghost.  Then we receive Christ Himself. Since this doctrine is no longer taught by those who should know better, I wonder if they have become as salt that has lost its savor. Judge for yourself if this is not the doctrine of Christ.  I testify that it is.

My Baptism of Fire: A Farewell

Baptism of the Holy Ghost by Rebecca Borgan

They say timing is everything.  After all there is a time to sleep, a time to eat, a time to laugh, a time to cry, a time to die…  You get the picture.  Timing.  It’s everything.  As of this writing it’s time I leave the Mormon Church.  It’s much sooner than I had anticipated, but not at all unexpected, and not for the reasons you might think.

Picture it, November 2010; I’m browsing Amazon.com online looking for a good book to read.  I started adding a few books to my watch list when I came across ‘The Second Comforter, Conversing with the Lord through the Veil’ by Denver Snuffer.  Very softly the Spirit of God burned in my heart as I looked at its cover.  The Spirit was very soft yet completely perceptible.  I put the book on my wish list and moved on.  Eight months later I’m back on Amazon completely forgetting the Spirit and prompting I had earlier received.  “What are these books I put on my…” Oh… my heart sank as I remembered the previous encounter.  I didn't fully ignore the Spirit because I had put the book in my watch list, yet mercifully I began again to feel the Burning of the Spirit of God.  This time I bought the book.

It’s written for active participating Latter-day Saints or those returning to activity in the church.  I won’t tell you what things the author of the book corrected in my mind. Or, to say it more precisely, the Spirit of God manifested to me that I was holding onto traditions of the church and not teachings or doctrine of Christ.  My mind latched onto these concepts freely as if my soul recognized them from somewhere else…  Two months later,  September 27, 2011 I was baptized with Fire and the Holy Ghost in the Oakland Temple while surrounding the alter with people I've never seen before or since.  This was exactly 34 years and 4 months to the day that I was baptized by water at the age of eight.

Last night at midnight I woke and sat straight up in bed.  I had to get to my computer to research the significance of that September day.  I didn't know why, I simply had to.  Then the Spirit directed me to the lunar schedule. September 27, 2011 was a New Moon.  A new beginning, a time to start over, that day I become a new creature in Christ!  The importance of that symbolism is not lost on me.  The Lord woke me up last night to confirm what He had done for me and He proved it to me using the Heavens!

Having hands placed upon your head and being confirmed a member of a church is not the Baptism of Fire.  Being told to ‘Receive the Holy Ghost’ puts the burden upon you to receive Him.  For me it happened after I correct false teaching that I held. These teachings and philosophies permeate the modern LDS Church.  Those teachings are out of my mind and heart forever.  Secondly, and more importantly, I qualified for the Baptism of Fire by having a broken heart and a contrite spirit (3 Nephi 9:19-20), and I might add, that is the only reason anyone ever receives the Baptism of Fire.  Being lifted up in pride will prevent it. 

How do you know if you have had the Baptism of Fire?  It took me two years to fully realize what had happened to me that day.  It is the single greatest experience of my life.  I went back to the temple time and time again, each visit reminding the Lord that I was back and to please immerse me again in His Spirit.  But it never came.  I shared this experience in Sacrament meeting on my last Sunday with my Mormon ward.  Not one soul asked me what it felt like.

Nephi reminds us that we must repent, be baptized by water and then be baptized by Fire and the Holy Ghost “For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water; and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost. And then are ye in this strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life; yea, ye have entered in by the gate”.  (2 Nephi 31:17-18)

Did you get that! Only after you repent, are baptized by water and receive the Baptism of Fire are you on the path that leads to eternal life!  Only then have you entered the gate that is guarded by the Holy One of Israel and He employs no servant there! The Lord God is His name and he cannot be deceived! (2 Nephi 9:41)  

How often are you asked “what is the gate we enter?”  “Baptism” is the reply!  Wrong, wrong, wrong. The gate is repentance, baptism by water then Baptism by Fire!  I believe few members of the Mormon Church ever receive the Baptism of Fire.  Why do you suppose that is?

 

This is an event! It doesn't come incrementally, slowly over time.  It is an event that is to happen in your life.  It is necessary to your salvation.  For me, it happened in the temple.  It can happen anywhere.

My friends, with all the energy of my heart I ask you to repent and be brought low in the dust.  Let your hearts be broken for the love that Christ has shown you.  Let your spirits be contrite knowing there is no other way except in and through the Holy One of Israel.  He is my Friend, my Savior and King. Let Him be yours too.

Why am I going down a different path from you my faithful Mormon friends? I have received the message of a True Messenger just as Father promised me I would in the day He created me.  Jesus has given me the Baptism of Fire and He has placed my feet on His strait and narrow path.  That same Spirit that has led me to receive His sanctifying love through Baptism by Fire now directs me in a new path.  Leaving the Mormon Church is His doing and I will not disappoint Him.