The Lion, The Old Prophet and The Man of God

When I first heard this story I found it difficult to think any such thing existed in scripture.  It went against everything I had been taught but yet there it was, staring me in the face.  Everyone knows the dangers of following false prophets… but what about the dangers of following true prophets?  Stick with me for a few moments as I share the astonishing tale of The Lion, The Old Prophet and the Man of God. 

 

The Man of God

1 Kings 13  The Man of God was sent to the king of Beth-el to deliver a message and, as you might expect, it was rejected by the king.  As if that wasn't bad enough the king put forth his hand to seize the Man of God and when he did his arm ‘dried up’ so that it became useless.  Immediately the alter was rent in twain and ashes spilled upon the ground from it.  These events came as a surprise to the king notwithstanding the Man of God had told him what would happen if he rejected the message. After these signs were given the king became a believer.

With his arm all dried up, the king then asked the Man of God to seek the face of the Lord that his arm may be restored.  The Man of God asked the Lord for that very thing and another miracle was performed and the king’s arm was healed.  He was very impressed with this and asked the Man of God to be his guest and come home with him and refresh himself.  And, oh by the way, he wanted to give the Man of God a reward; you know… as token of his appreciation.

The Man of God refused everything the king offered, even to half of his kingdom… and for good reason.  He had been instructed by God not to eat or drink anything while in Beth-el and when the job was done, he was not to take the same path back to Judea. 

The Old Prophet

Word had gotten out about the great miracle that had happened involving the Man of God and the king.  The Old Prophet’s sons came to him and told him all that had happened.  The Old Prophet had his donkey saddled up and he pursued the Man of God.  He met him along the road while the Man of God rested beneath a tree.

The Old Prophet asked, “Art thou the man of God that camest from Judah? And he said, I am.  Then [the Old Prophet] said unto him, Come home with me, and eat bread.”

The Man of God said, “I may not return with thee, nor go in with thee: neither will I eat bread nor drink water with thee in this place:  For it was said to me by the word of the Lord, Thou shalt eat no bread nor drink water there, nor turn again to go by the way that thou camest.”

Here is where things get really interesting.  The Old Prophet said to the Man of God, “I am a prophet also as thou art; and an angel spake unto me by the word of the Lord, saying, Bring him back with thee into thine house, that he may eat bread and drink water. But he lied unto him.”

It appears the Man of God was being deceived by the Old Prophet.  However, when you take the Joseph Smith translation into consideration it changes everything.  It says:  “I am a prophet also as thou art; and an angel spake unto me by the word of the Lord, saying, bring him back with thee into thine house, that he may eat bread and drink water, that I may prove him; and he lied not unto him.” JST 1 Kings. 13:18  footnote "b"(emphasis added). With this new perspective the Old Prophet suddenly becomes the Old True Prophet.

Here we have one prophet, the Man of God, who was told not to eat or drink in Beth-el and the Old True Prophet telling him that an angel of the Lord sent him to bring him to his house to eat and drink!  What a choice! What a pickle the Man of God was in!  What should he do?  Should he obey the word of the Lord as it was given him or follow a True Prophet?  What would you have done?  What have you been taught to do?

Can you guess what happened next?  Yep – the Man of God went home with the Old True Prophet and ate bread and drank water.  While they were yet eating the word of the Lord came to the Old True  Prophet saying, “Thus saith the Lord, Forasmuch as [the Man of God] hast disobeyed the mouth of the Lord, and hast not kept the commandment which the Lord thy God commanded [him], but camest back, and hast eaten bread and drunk water in the place, of the which the Lord did say to [him], eat no bread, and drink no water; [his] carcase shall not come unto the sepulchre of [his] fathers.”   Wow.  Man of God…, you’re going to die before you get home.  The Man of God failed the test.

The Lion

As the Man of God was riding towards home he was killed by a lion.  His body left for dead in the street.  To the amazement of the passersby, The Lion stood by the remains of the Man of God and did not eat him; neither did the Lion destroy the donkey but they both stood side by side over the carcass of the Man of God.  There they remained until the Old True Prophet carried off the body of the Man of God.  With the bitterness of this ordeal the Old True Prophet lamented, “Alas, my brother!”, then the Old True Prophet had his sons bury the Man of God in his own grave.  The Old True Prophet charged his sons, saying, “When I am dead, then bury me in the sepulchre wherein the man of God is buried; lay my bones beside his bones.”  A very tragic story.  

The Test

This passage of scripture is astonishing to me.  It illustrates the dangers of following true prophets.  The Man of God was given the option of following the Lord, as he was instructed or following the Old True Prophet.  He chose to follow the prophet and was killed as a result.  It would seem there are just as many dangers in following true prophets as there are in following false prophets… and for the same reason:  The Lord alone is to be followed, never a prophet be they true or false.   Never follow the arm of flesh.  Never follow man.  Cursed are those who put their trust in the arm of flesh.   It is well within the realm of possibility for prophets to lead you astray for the purpose of testing you.  The test continues today.  

I hope you will take the time to read and study this story in its entirety: 1 Kings 13 

Latter-day Lion?

There are prophecies yet to be fulfilled regarding a Lion that will go through the "beasts of the forest" and the "flocks of sheep" and shall tear them in pieces and none can deliver.  I wonder if their demise will be for the same reason as the Man of God?  I wonder if his fate was a type and shadow of things to come...?  I wonder…

Conclusion 

Have you received the Voice of the Lord or been instructed by Him to do a certain thing?  Is that action in opposition to the prophet?  Perhaps you are being tested to see if you will follow the prophet or the Lord.  

Those who follow the prophet will not understand the actions of those who follow the Lord.  It will seem foreign to them.  They may mock, ridicule and even scorn those who choose to follow the Lord all the while thinking they are superior because they follow a prophet.  This is as is should be.  It’s all part of the test.  Remember, The Man of God failed his test by following a true prophet.  Let us learn from him and follow the Lord Jesus Christ instead.   

Silent Devotion: My Mother's Testimony

The following is written by my mother.  She has asked me to post the following experience she had nearly thirty years ago:

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Hello Beloved Family and Friends,

 

I ask your patience in reading this.  I may not have an opportunity to talk with you regarding this matter but because of my great love for you I have a desire to share with you.  Please prayerfully consider what I have to say.  I have never before written of this experience and have only spoken of it, limitedly, as mentioned herein.  This came at a time when I fervently wanted to know how I should direct my life and the lives of my children; within weeks of losing my intact family.

 

At the lowest point of my life,  I sought solace and increased witness to know of a surety the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon since it had been explained to me as a child that this book is what set us apart from the rest of the Christian world.   I read from it, constantly, and prayed and pondered nearly unceasingly.   I was finally giving to my God the broken heart and contrite spirit spoken of in the scriptures, which is what he requires of us to be teachable.  I continued to pray and to knock*, as the scriptures say, asking for further witness to the Book of Mormon.  The Holy Spirit continued to increase within my soul and one day after retiring for the evening, while visiting my brother and his family out-of-town  overnight,  I knelt to pray.  I  communed with my Heavenly Father for some time.  

After asking a couple of questions, I realized I was receiving answers more rapidly than I could articulate the questions.  This is how I know, personally, that He knows our very thoughts, every one of them.   I asked a couple of personal questions and rec'd answers by the burning of the bosom which we know to be the Holy Ghost.   I, then, asked if the Book of Mormon was the word of God.   I, immediately, began to notice what seemed like liquid fire originating from the center of my chest which was building rapidly, covering the entire area of my chest.  Excitedly, I raced on asking if the Church was true, expecting the affirmative.  Immediately, the Holy Spirit, entirely, withdrew from me.   I was baffled but continued.  I asked if the prophets were true prophets.  The Spirit remained withdrawn from me.   Baffled even more, yet undaunted, I continued to ask other personal questions for which, in many instances, I rec'd the burning of the bosom, yet again. 

 

Having exhausted my personal questions, I  soon reflected upon the answer I had received regarding the Book of Mormon.   It seemed I could recall that the flooding motion "by Fire" may have been continuing to grow within me  when I had rushed on ahead to another question, so, I returned to ask that question, once again.   Was the Book of Mormon the Word of God?   Immediately,  what felt like Liquid Fire began to overflow from the entire area of my chest and flooded my soul down my arms and legs to my fingertips and to my toes.  I had just been taught, most profoundly, Spirit to spirit that the Book of Mormon was indeed, absolutely, the Word of God!

Reflecting upon this, I was, yet, baffled by the answer I had received as to the truthfulness of the Church so I asked that question, once more.   Again, the Holy Spirit withdrew entirely from me, immediately and completely, as before.  I asked once again, also, if the prophets were true prophets.   The Holy Spirit remained withdrawn from my soul.  For weeks and months, even years, I have puzzled over this knowledge but I knew my allegiance must remain with that sacred book. 

 

So, since then, I have gone about my life silently wondering what, exactly,  I was to do with this "new"  knowledge, even pure intelligence which had been poured into me.  And, incidentally, I thank God, profusely, that I had been given sore trials that I might come to know of these truths about which I now share so as to be able to pass on what I learned at that time. 

 

Because I had rec'd the increased witness for which I sought, I have freely shared my testimony that I know the Book of Mormon to be the Word of God   ...but, I never breathed a word of the times that the Holy Spirit, twice, withdrew and for the following  reasons did I say nothing of it:  1.  I didn't want anyone, especially my own children, to say that there was no reason, then, for them to work out their salvation.   2.  I knew that scripture tells us that to some is given one spiritual gift and to another is given a different spiritual gift that, together, all might be edified.  3.  My Patriarchal Blessing states that I will be able to accept of that which I do not understand with a faith that will be deep and strong within me.  

 

So, I continued forward with my life as a member of the LDS Church silently wondering what I was to do with this sacred knowledge given me.  Surely, there was a reason for that pure intelligence.  No matter how you may feel about this message, I encourage you to forward and/or share it far and wide by whatever media you choose.  My biggest concern is that if I do not broadcast what I learned that evening I will be judged for not having shared sacred truths.  I hope and pray that you're able to keep your heart and mind open to what I have made known.

 

My love to you forever,

 

Karen   ~   Castleton  May  Jensen  Stella 

 

P.S.  Stella is my alias; my maternal grandfather's surname and the name he chose upon entering the USA.  Grandpa is a good memory.  Mom knew that I planned to use, this, her maiden name and the thought made her very happy.

 

*Knocking, as I've learned over time, means to exhaust oneself mentally and emotionally; to labor, physically, also.  One's knees become sore from prayer, one gets saddle sore from reading and searching the scriptures, yet, explains to Father in Heaven that they plan to continue until they receive the answer for which they are searching.

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The Sun, The Moon and the Second Coming

A few days ago I read a blog that pierced me to the very center of my heart.  I felt the love of God as I read it and believed He was speaking directly to me.  I followed the advice given as though it was given from God Himself, which I firmly believe it was.  The message was simple; I wasn't praying enough.  Period.  Being called to repent I spent all that day in prayer.  I continued into the night and when I woke in the morning I began again where I had left off.  That same morning I had pure knowledge poured into my mind regarding the signs being given in the heavens...  I had been asking for that.

"And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:" Genesis 1:14 (emphases added)

When the thought entered my mind I knew it was from another Source.  It was so simple yet so profound.  Look at the picture with four blood moons (below), two on the left of the solar eclipse and two on the right.  They form a mirror image or chiasm of one another.  This has deep significance.  The sacrifice of Christ or His Atonement extends both into the future and into the past.  When they meet in the middle it forms a perfect circle causing me to exclaim:  the Work of God is One Eternal Round.

Next:  The four Blood Moons represent the four tokens received in the Temple.  Two tokens are represented on the left of the solar eclipse and two represented on the right.  The moon passing across the face of the sun during the solar eclipse represents the shifting of the robes from one side to the other, thus entering into a higher Kingdom.  

Prior to this understanding, my wife said she believed the moon rolling past the sun during a solar eclipse to be representative of the stone being rolled away from the tomb of Christ.  What beautiful imagery; and how very true.  Could any of this be possible without Him?  Never.   As with all things, Jesus Christ is represented in the heavens, in the Center of these heavenly events. His blood is also  represented in the moon. Without His blood, would any of this be possible?  How wonderful are the Signs of Christ!

How rare are Blood Moons?  On average, they happen about once every year and a half. As you can see from the diagram, we are having four in a row.  That is very significant.  However, when you factor in the days upon which these Blood Moons appear...  Every one of them, including the solar eclipse, happen on a prominent Jewish Holiday.  It's nothing short of miraculous, indeed extraordinary beyond words.

"The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come.  And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call."    Joel 2:31-32

My Opinion

I believe we are witnessing the promised signs that precede the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.  On March 20, 2015, Jewish New Year, the sun will be darkened.  Then on April 4, 2015, during Passover and then again on September 28, 2015, during Sukkot or Feast of the Tabernacles, the moon will turn to blood.  If this is the Sign preceding the coming of Christ then terrible things are about to happen; great and terrible things.    I will leave you to study that on your own.  As with all my writings, you are not to trust a word I say.  God is the source of all knowledge.

I believe God fully intends to redeem His people, Israel.  He intends to redeem them in the same way any receive salvation in Christ.  I believe that is the very reason these Signs were given on Jewish Holidays.  I believe God is declaring his intentions and warning everyone else at the same time.

I believe we are about to witness the Salvation of our God.  Master, thy servant waits patiently upon Thee.  

Personal Note

I wish to thank Jules from My Journey To The Fullness.  It was her blog that literally became the inspiration for this post.  I recommend her blog to all who desire to Journey into the Presence of Christ in this life.

My wife is priceless in her many contributions.  The Lord could not have given me a better wife.

I praise the God of Heaven and Earth for the information He has given me.  I share my understandings only because He has given His approbation to do so.  May His Grace and Mercy attend us all.

Lehi's Dream, Part 2: The Man in White

Lehi being Visited by a Man in White

I wish to thank my family and friends who have email, called or stopped over to visit me.  Your friendship is extremely appreciated.  I love each of you and thank God for your involvement in my life.  We may disagree on matters of doctrine, but when it comes to loving the Lord our God we are exactly the same.  May His Grace be upon us all.


Man in White

As with all my posts, you are not to believe a word I write.  You are about to learn why.

 "And it came to pass that I saw a man, and he was dressed in a white robe; and he came and stood before me.  And it came to pass that he spake unto me, and bade me follow him.  And it came to pass that as I followed him I beheld myself that I was in a dark and dreary waste." 1 Nephi 8:5-7

Father Lehi is about to learn a very powerful object lesson... for our benefit.  

"And after I had traveled for the space of many hours in darkness, I began to pray unto the Lord that he would have mercy on me, according to the multitude of his tender mercies." 1 Nephi 8:8

In this vision Lehi sees a man in a white robe.  "Follow me" says the man and Lehi followed.  And where did this man lead him?  Darkness.  A waste land.  The middle of nowhere.  So, after traveling for many hours Lehi began to pray to God.  Only after he began to call upon God was he delivered from the path of men and shown the Tree of Life.

Lesson

Never trust man no matter how authoritative or holy he seems to be.  Never trust the arm of flesh. Man, no matter his status, calling or position, will ever bring you to the Tree of Life. That is the work of Jesus Christ.  




The Strait and Narrow Path

"And I also beheld a strait and narrow path, which came along by the rod of iron, even to the tree by which I stood..." 1 Nephi 8:20

What is the strait and narrow path and how do we obtain it?

"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 9:17-18 (emphasis added)

The steps for obtaining the Strait and Narrow Path that lead to Eternal Life:

1. Repentance
2. Baptism By Water
3. Remission of Sins by Fire and the Holy Ghost.
4. Now you are in the Strait and Narrow Path the leads to Eternal Life

Commencing In The Path

In Lehi's Dream there are three main groups of people that commence in the strait and narrow path.

Group 1

"And I saw numberless concourses of people, many of whom were pressing forward, that they might obtain the path which led unto the tree by which I stood." 1 Nephi 8:21

This great numberless concourse of people start in the path but never lay hold upon the Rod of Iron.  Consequently they never reach the Tree of Life.  If any in this group did manage to lay hold upon the Rod of Iron and partake of the Tree of Life, they were so few in number that their accomplishment goes unnoticed by Lehi.

Immediately after this group started in the path their arose a mist of darkness.   Not just any mist of darkness but: 

"an exceedingly great mist of darkness, insomuch that they who had commenced in the path did lose their way, that they wandered off and were lost." 1 Nephi 8:23  

This is the first group to find the path and to start traveling in it.  Notwithstanding their great numbers, none are recorded as finding the Tree of Life.  Lehi never mentions this group holding the Rod of Iron.  They simply started in the path, were overcome by the mist of darkness and were lost.

Group 2 & 3

Group two and three are very similar yet very different.  They both commence in the path and lay hold upon the Rod of Iron.  They both press forward through the mist of darkness.  They both partake of the Tree of Life.  Unlike the first group, they do all this in the shadow of the Great and Spacious Building.  These two groups press forward under the scornful watch of those produced by that Strange Building.

Their Differences

Group 2:

1. Clings to the Rod of Iron
2. They are ashamed after partaking of the Fruit of the Tree of Life
3. Listen to those in the Great and Spacious Building
4. Fall away into forbidden paths and are lost

Group 3:

1. Held Fast Continually to the Rod of Iron
2. Fell down and partook of the Fruit of the Tree of Life
3. Gave No Heed to those in the Great and Spacious Building

The Fruit of the Tree of Life

Father Lehi partaking of the Fruit of the Tree of Life

"Partaking of the fruit of the tree represents the receiving of ordinances and covenants whereby the Atonement can become fully efficacious in our lives."   David A. Bednar, (sustained prophet, seer and revelator and Member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Lehi's Dream: Holding Fast to the Iron Rod, October, 2011).

It is Elder Bedanr's view that partaking of the Fruit of the Tree of Life is to receive ordinances, like baptism.  To him these ordinances are the end of the journey, especially temple covenants.  However, as you have just read, Nephi disagrees.  Ordinances are the beginning of the path, not the end.  It's at the beginning of the path when we repent, are baptized by water and baptized by Fire for a remission of sins.  Then are we in the strait and narrow path that leads to the Tree of Life and its Fruit.  The Atonement becomes efficacious at the beginning of the journey, not journey's end.  

Perhaps his teachings extend from the premise that the LDS Church provides salvation.  If that where true, his explanation would be correct. However, his understanding of the Fruit of the Tree of Life is not in harmony with the Book of Mormon.  It also entices you to look no further as salvation is found through the LDS Church.

This is an example of the philosophies of men being mingled with scripture.  They are dangerous to everyone's salvation.  As Father Lehi has shown, we are to trust no man, apostles notwithstanding.  

The Tree Of Life

I will not be commenting on the Tree of Life.  I am inadequate to do so. 


Conclusion 


Trust no one to lead you except God.

Groups one, two and three may be seen as attempting to reach the Tree of Life simultaneously.  I do not have that view.  The first group has the path available to them, multiple millions commenced in that path but were overtaken by the mists of darkness or the philosophies of men and never reached the Tree of Life.  Groups two and three contend also with these same philosophies yet, unlike group one, they do so in the shadow of the Great and Spacious building.  


If you entertain the premise that the Great and Spacious building is a real structure, then the relevance of Lehi's dream becomes more profound.  It puts his prophecies in our time and further testifies that Lehi and Nephi have, in fact, seen our day.  The LDS Conference Center is evidence that they have, further proving the Book of Mormon.  Prophecy is being fulfilled.  

My View:

Group 1:  Everyone commencing in the path since Joseph Smith to Denver Snuffer.

Group 2:   All who embrace the notion that the restoration has recommenced, are baptized  and fall away from it.  

Group 3:  All who embrace the notion that the restoration has recommenced, are baptized  and remained faithful to it.
   
Group 4:  All who love and remain with the Great and Spacious Conference Center and her owner.  They have no need of the Tree of Life, nor its Fruit. Many, however not all, make it their life's mission to scorn those who do.  I find this very curious seeing they are taught to have Christ like love for everyone, yet in many cases, the opposite is displayed.  This degree of scorn and ridicule exemplifies the hypocrisy in their hearts and how truly far their hearts are remove from Christ.  I have witnessed it first hand. Many of us have.  We must counter it with love.


I believe those who fall away after partaking of the Fruit of the Tree of Life are members of the LDS Remnant, who, like me, have embraced the opposite of vanity and pride being taught in the Great and Spacious Building.  I am deeply saddened by the notion that any should fall away.  I may be one of them.  May God have mercy upon us all.

There is much more to the Fruit of the Tree of Life than Elder Bednar would have you believe. I make no claim to have eaten the Fruit of the Tree of Life myself. However, I have tasted of the Love of God on many occasions and know that I am on the right path because He has told me so, with His own Voice.
  
As I mentioned before, the Lord has spoken Denver's name to me.  Because of this, Denver has great credibility with me.  However, I continue to seek the confirming Voice of God with everything he teaches.  If I fail to do this I might as well begin worshiping idols or following men with impressive titles.

With that, I extend my love and support to all who have heard the voice of the Lord in the teachings of Denver Snuffer.  Several thousand of you have started in the path that leads to the Tree of Life.  Wonderful things are happening as a result.  Many have posted your experiences online: revelations, vision, healings, and visitations from Heavenly Messengers.  Some of you have been taken through the Veil into the presence of Jesus Christ and can bear apostolic witness of Him.  

The Restoration was interrupted.  It has now recommenced.  I am so grateful to be a part of it.  May His Mercy and Grace attend us all.

Lehi's Dream, Part 1: The Great And Spacious Building

I bare absolutely no animosity toward any member of the LDS Church and I hope you feel the same towards me.  I have nothing but love and respect for you.  You are among the most honorable and moral people I know. I have written this post with you in mind.  It is an effort to connect prophecy with current events.  I politely ask you not to believe a word a write.  God is the only True Source of all Knowledge and Wisdom.  I hope you will feel inclined to ask Him about these sayings.

Preface

It is a profound event to have the scales of darkness removed from your eyes.  This began in earnest for me July 2011, although the groundwork for that event was paved a few years earlier.  Things I once held as “true” no longer were.  The very fabric of religion that had been woven into my heart and mind was unwinding.  Falsehoods where shaking and falling to the ground.  They were replaced with Truth and Light.  Many who go through this process choose to remain active in the LDS Church.  For me this was no longer possible.

I thank my Lord and my Redeemer for His involvement. It was His doing and I will forever be grateful to Him.

The Book of Mormon is Prophecy Not History


Lehi and his son Nephi have seen our day.  They, like Moroni, have seen us, the Latter-day Church, and they know our works and have written about them.  Moroni summed up our dreadful condition when he asked us this question:

"Why have ye polluted the Holy Church of God?" Mormon 8:38 

The Conference Center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

"And I also cast my eyes round about, and beheld, on the other side of the river of water, a great and spacious building; and it stood as it were in the air, high above the earth." 1 Nephi 8:26

Look for the similarities in these two pictures: 

#2

#3 Do you see the river of filthy water represented?

"It is huge, and it is constructed in such a way that nothing obstructs the view of the speaker",

Gordon B. Hinckley, fifteenth President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, reminds us that the purpose of this huge and spacious building is to "view" those who occupy the Chief Seats. This is the cornerstone to idolatry. They wish to be "seen of men." 

Inside the Great and Spacious Conference Center - Seating for 21,000 people

President Hinckley continues: "In 1924 Elder James E. Talmage of the Council of the Twelve wrote, “I have long seen the possible erection of a great pavilion on the north side of the Tabernacle, seating perhaps twenty thousand people or even double that number,...

"In 1940 the First Presidency and the Twelve had their architect draw up a plan of a building that would seat 19,000 and would stand where this building stands.  That was 60 years ago. They thought about it, they talked about it, but finally they dropped the idea entirely.

"These statements and actions were wonderfully prophetic. We knew nothing about them. All of them have come to our attention since we began this construction."

President Hinckley confirms it has been the desire of the leadership of the LDS Church to build this large and spacious structure as early as 1924. The fact the President Hinckley knew nothing about the desires of his predecessors tells me that unseen influences were involved it its creation.  This is the making of prophecy.  

Lehi's Dream 

Hidden in plain sight, nearly every aspect of Lehi’s dream can be seen embodied in the LDS Conference Center.  I will not address each element of Lehi's dream in this post.

Do you see the large field where Lehi was taken in vision?   Do you see strange or forbidden paths represented?  What about the fountain of filthy water or the river of filthiness?   What about the great and spacious building itself?  It is open "To All the World in Testimony" that prophecy is being fulfilled.  

The Roof of the LDS Conference Center, Salt Lake City, Utah

Great Multitudes Wearing Exceedingly Fine Clothing

 "And it was filled with people, both old and young, both male and female; and their manner of dress was exceedingly fine..." 1 Nephi 8:27

Great Multitudes Leaving Conference

Still Leaving

People Leaving Conference - Do you see the River Next to the Road outlined with stones?

The Fountain of Filthy Water

"And it came to pass that many were drowned in the depths of the fountain;..." 1 Nephi 8:32.

Fountain atop LDS Conference Center

The fountain of filthy water is situated on the roof of the Conference Center above the pulpit where the philosophies of men are mingled with scripture.   This is also the head waters of the river of filthiness.  Lehi’s family stood at these head waters and knew not where to go.  

"And the angel spake unto me, saying: Behold the fountain of filthy water which thy father saw; yea, even the river of which he spake; and the depths thereof are the depths of hell." 1 Nephi 12:16

Many drown in the depths of this fountain.  Endlessly searching the commandments of men, people suffocate and drown here.  They compare the teachings of this "dead prophet" with that "living prophet" or this "70" with that "apostle".  They are endlessly searching the commandments of men and are kept from the truth because they know not where to find it.  Hence, they drown in the false philosophies of men mingled with scripture that have a form of godliness but deny the power thereof.  Hence you are led carefully down to the "depths of hell."  


Mists of Darkness

"And the mists of darkness are the temptations of the devil, which blindeth the eyes, and hardeneth the hearts of the children of men, and leadeth them away into broad roads, that they perish and are lost." 1 Nephi 12:17.

How do temptations blind your eyes?  How will temptations harden your heart and lead you to parish?  I suppose, more accurately, I should ask what temptations will cause you to be blind, lost and perish?  There is a progression here.  Blindness leads to darkness. Then you loose your way which leads to spiritual death and perishing.  

Look no further than the fountain of filthy water for your answers.  The mists of darkness emanate from the fountain of filthy water.  Just as mists of water are produced by Niagara Falls even so are the mists of darkness produced by the fountain of filthy water.

Maid of the Mist approaching Niagara Falls

False teachings of men are darkness to the soul.  Teachings like "we can never lead you astray" or "you have nothing to worry about if you follow us", or "God has done his work and given His power to us!",  and the very popular "don't search the mysteries of God."  These false teaching blind your eyes and harden your hearts to the truth.  These teachings are prideful in their very essence.  They put you in broad, well traveled roads that lead to spiritual death and Hell.  There is a Hell and Jesus says that broad is the way that leads there and many are in threat.


The Rod of Iron

The Rod of Iron is the Word of God.  It is not found on the same side of the river as the spacious building, as seen in picture #3.  The Rod of Iron is next to the Tree of Life, on the opposite side of the river from the spacious building.  Once you understand the nature of that building, this symbolism becomes self evident.

The Rod of Iron has dual meaning.  The first is the word of God.  The second is the Word of God.

The scriptures are the word of God and they are invaluable in pursuing eternal life.  However, scriptures do not save you.  Jesus has said:

"Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me." John 5:39.   

Eternal life comes through Jesus Christ and no one else.  He is the Word of God. 


The Rod of Iron is both Jesus Christ and His words. As for me, I will hold fast to Him and His teachings.

What is Being Taught?  

The philosophies of men mingled with scripture.

"And great was the multitude that did enter into that strange building. And after they did enter into that building they did point the finger of scorn at me and those that were partaking of the fruit also; but we heeded them not." 1 Nephi 8:33.

21,000 people attending a spacious session of General Conference 

The humble followers of Christ have no place with this great multitude.  All who enter this building are taught by their leadership to mock the humble followers of Christ.  They are also taught to scorn and ridicule them.  They are to be counseled, shunned, excommunicated and cast off. It's happening at this very moment with alarming frequency. Notwithstanding this, there remain many humble followers of Christ among the prideful idolaters.  Jesus has said:

"They wear stiff necks and high heads; yea, and because of pride, and wickedness, and abominations, and whoredoms, they have all gone astray save it be a few, who are the humble followers of Christ; nevertheless, they are led, that in many instances they do err because they are taught by the precepts of men."   2 Nephi 28:14.

Are you a member of the LDS Church and consider yourself a humble follower of Christ? How are you being led?  Do you recognize error in their teachings?  What becomes of those who see error being taught and challenge it?  Are they warmly received or cast out?

How will the Lord react after His followers have been cast out of the LDS Church?  What will then stay His hand against it?

How is This Teaching Received?

Very Well.  

"These are the words of my father: For as many as heeded them, had fallen away." 1 Nephi 8:34.

heed

 verb \ˈhēd\

: to pay attention to (advice, a warning, etc.)

30 foot "bigger than life" head of Thomas Monson looming overhead.  Very imposing. 

Father Lehi is very specific in cautioning us about listening to people that enter that building.  His warning is clear:  if we listen to them we will fall away (If the LDS Church has become corrupted as Moroni says then what are you "falling away" from?  That will be: Lehi's Dream, Part 2).

This counsel is obvious when you look at this picture:

Photo by Tom Smart, Deseret News

Four teleprompters.  No need for the Holy Spirit to guide you when you have prewritten talks of men.  There is no need for that pesky "at the very moment when you need it" stuff.  They write, rewrite, edit by committee, correlate, polish and time these well crafted talks...  All in an effort to make you feel good.  

Is a teleprompter necessary when someone speaks by the Power of the Holy Ghost ?  This is evidence to me that the Holy Ghost is being denied by those who should otherwise know better, but they obviously don't.  


Feeling Their Way

"And he also saw other multitudes feeling their way towards that great and spacious building."  1 Nephi 8:31

The teaching of doctrine has been supplanted by sappy stories that are designed to evoke emotion.  As long as you cry, you have felt the Spirit.  You go home with a "warm fuzzy" and patiently wait to have that same story taught to you again in sacrament meeting, Sunday school, Relief Society, Priesthood, Home Teaching and Stake Conference... Ad infinitum.   

People feel their way to that building, or more accurately they go their to feel emotion. 

Conclusion

I believe the great and spacious building to be the LDS Conference Center.  That building was completed October 2000.  Fourteen years later (2014) the entire General Leadership of the LDS Church lost their claim to priesthood (page 7 paragraph 5).  Can you pollute the Holy Church of God and retain priesthood?  God wants the members of the LDS Church to recognize the Conference Center for what it is.  Prophecy is now being fulfilled.  Do you have eyes to see it?

I knew there was more than the church was offering.  Like Lehi's family, I too stood at the headwaters and knew not where to go. Like Lehi's family, I too have listened to the words of a True Messenger.