How Close is the World of Spirits?

Spirituality, ,

When we die, our spirits go to the world of spirits. Most Christians think of it as heaven or hell.  We can learn much about the world of spirits from the more than 13 million documented near-death experiences (NDEs). 

Going to the scriptures and information from inspiring ancient earthworks we learn more. We find Heavenly Father’s marvelous and perfect plan of salvation mapped out before us. Understanding the world of spirits brings great insights. Most don’t know how important our communication with the world of spirits is.

Near Death Experiences

In these NDEs, they die, but come back and are able to share what they saw and experienced. Howard Storm will tell you “Hell is real!” He died as a self-serving atheist and went to hell. He saw the horribleness. Reaching out to the Savior totally changed his life when he came back. (see pp 153-154 of  my book, It’s About Time, describing Howard’s experience).

In that same book in Chapter 21, I share experimental evidence that time and space are mortal constraints. When a person dies they move into the spirit world in what we call the “Eternity Domain.” This is where God and angels do their great work. The Spirit World is both close by and far away because it is in the Eternity Domain. It includes both paradise and hell.

Our Spirits are the Offspring of God

As the Apostle Paul declares to the Greeks on Mar’s Hill, our spirits are the offspring of God. (Acts 17:33-34) When Jesus taught us to pray, He said, “Our Father which art in heaven.” (Matt. 6:9) Many times when Jesus refers to His Heavenly Father, we see the phrase, “Father which is in heaven.”

As His spirit offspring, we are gods in embryo. And in the Sermon on the Mount, the Savior asks us to be perfect like our Heavenly Father is perfect. (Matt. 5:48) We cannot perfect ourselves, but Christ can, as we come unto Him. (Moroni 10:32-33) In Genesis we read that we are created in God’s image, male and female. (Gen. 1:26-27) In Hebrew tradition and in apocryphal literature we read of our “Mother in Heaven.” Our gender is determined by our spirit birth from our Heavenly Parents. That solves the transgender question!

Inspiring Earthworks Information

In 1848, Squire and Davis documented 4 ½ square miles of magnificent earthworks near Newark, Ohio. These inspiring earthworks map out Heavenly Father’s plan of salvation. These earthworks show the spirit world being a transition epoch between mortality here on earth and the coming millennium epoch.

The Jaredite and the Nephite civilizations are described in the Book of Mormon. We find that Carbon dating indicates these earthworks were first built by the Jaredites and then refined by the Nephites. The Jaredites and Nephites were so inspired by Heavenly Father’s plan of salvation and exaltation that they wanted the world to see. These earthworks show their love and gratitude to our Heavenly Father for His Perfect Plan of Happiness.

Further, these earthworks show that Heavenly Father’s plan of salvation is for all of His spirit children. They illustrate that, because of free choice, one-third of Heavenly Father’s spirit children do not receive physical birth on earth. These are those who chose to follow Satan in our pre-mortal epoch. They became the devil and his angels here on earth. The good spirits are those who have chosen to follow Christ in our pre-mortal epoch, and all of them receive physical bodies here on earth.

When we do the math, we see that there are twice as many good spirits as bad spirits.  These earthworks map out our potential pathway to celestial realms of glory. And it is fascinating that depiction is all the way from our pre-mortal epoch. It took massive effort to build them. The path to paradise is depicted, as is the path to hell.

The depiction of the Celestial Kingdom is in a direction from the Millennium of 51.8 degrees to true north. It is also fascinating that angle denotes the Divine ratio. http://www.allanstime.com/Spiritual/Hopewell_Civilization_Great_Octagon/index.html It is the same angle as the Giza Pyramid, which denotes the Egyptian’s pathway to heaven. The Divine ratio is 1.618… That ratio is the distance from the base of the pyramid to the apex divided by 1/2 the base distance.

The World of Spirits

We see that the spirit world is composed of both the good and the bad. The good spirits in the spirit world include both those who have not yet been born as well as those who have died and gone to paradise. Those going to paradise (heaven) have chosen Christ during their mortal journey. As mentioned above, those who followed Satan in our pre-mortal realm are denied the privilege of getting a mortal body.

The world of spirits also includes those who are privileged to be part of the First Resurrection. As Christ broke the bands of death with His glorious resurrection, His resurrection cap-stoned the infinite atonement–providing a resurrection for all mortals. There was great rejoicing as many of the saints came out of their graves following His resurrection and went into the Holy City and appeared unto many. They are the beginning of the glorious First Resurrection. Like the Prophet Moroni, they have the opportunity to minister to us as well from the spirit world. (D&C 133:36)

The Kingdom of Heaven

The Kingdom of Heaven is perfectly organized, while the Kingdom of God is not because of us imperfect mortals, who make it up. This is why the Savior asked us to pray, “Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” The Lord also asked us, “Seek first the Kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matt. 6:33)

In so doing we are asking the Lord’s angels to help us do the will of the Father, as the Savior did perfectly. Then we have His great promise that “all these things shall be added unto [us].”. The work and will of the Father is: “This is my work and my glory to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.” (Moses 1:39) And the Savior said, “Herein is my Father glorified that ye bring forth much fruit; then are ye my disciples.” (John 15:8)

The Worth of Souls

The worth of a soul is great in the eyes of God. He created the earth in the first place for His spirit offspring to gain a body. “The spirit and the body is the soul of man.” (D&C 88:18)

Only because of the resurrection of our bodies has the Savior opened the door to a fullness of JOY in celestial realms. (D&C 93:33-34; 3 Nephi 28:10) In our pre-mortal epoch, each of us was given our life’s plan orchestrated by our infinitely loving Heavenly Father to best find our way back to Him. This included when and where we would be born. (Acts 17:26)

God’s angels are there in His perfectly organized Kingdom of Heaven to assist us in our mortal journey. But because of Father’s respect for our agency (free choice), His angels will never violate our choices. It is our choice whether we listen to them or not. They speak the words of Christ (2 Nephi 32:3, 5) according to what is in our eternal best interest. Both the good angels and the bad angels are around us. It is our choice who we chose to listen to.

We are all born with the Spirit of Christ to know good from evil. (John 1:9) Often the angels that minister to us are our relatives. Our fourth daughter, Celeste had three children. Her unborn son Jonathan appeared to her and told her he needed to be born. Sarah Heinz, in her book, Life Before Life, has documented several similar experiences for women, who saw their children’s spirits before they were born.

Our Creator Created Us to be Creators

Our Perfect God, our Creator, created us to be creators. In His infinite knowledge, He knows the solution to every problem. As we meet life’s challenges, problems, and opportunities, the Lord and His angels are always there to help us. (Matt. 7:7-8)

I cannot count the number of times I have asked and received answers. I know that His answers will always be in my eternal best interest. Our prayers will be answered according to His timing, not ours. He always knows what is best for each of us.

In our innate creative abilities, we are open to endless opportunities and ideas that can help the world be a better place. However, He leaves us on our own to do so and to enjoy personal growth. As we do so, we become more like our Creator and be creators. While  we create things that help bring peace, love and joy, we are taking upon us His characteristics. His main motivation is love. Following the Lord’s example, we learn to love as He loves.

Below, I share three profound examples of the ministering of spirits from the world of spirits:

Enlightenment – Faith Greater Than Pain

Example 1:  I just finished a most remarkable book, Faith Greater than Pain by Lynn “Doc” Cleland and Susan Imhoff Bird.  The book tells the story of Sarah Goode Marshall, who was the first Mormon handcart pioneer to reach the Salt Lake, Utah, valley. A 34-year-old widow with 6 children; the oldest of which was twelve

She was motivated by her powerful commitment to her newly found faith. A woman who left England, her family, her home, and everything she knew. Doc, who is her 4th great-grandson, was so impressed with her story, stamina, and experience that he tried to replicate it in 2009. He ate the same meager rations, and pulled a handcart like Sarah did the 1385 miles from Iowa City to the Salt Lake Valley.

My wife and I were privileged to meet Doc at the “Book of Mormon Expo” and now have him as a personal friend.  Doc shared with me how it was “no coincidence” that Susan Imhoff Bird co-authored the book. It is an amazing story all by itself and could be another blog article of significant interest. Because of Susan’s and Doc’s spiritual sensitivities, they were able to write Sarah Goode’s words, as if from her never written journal. This book brings the spirit world really close and is a beautiful example of how close spirit world really is to us. The message of the book is so remarkable, a movie is planned to share it with the world.

One of the profound experiences Doc had as he entered the Salt Lake valley, was being told by a Prophet, “There are no coincidences!” Doc told me the story of how Susan Imhoff Bird became an author–helping tremendously to write the book–was no coincidence.

 Heaven Is For Real

Example 2: Another must-read book is, Heaven is for Real. There is also a movie with the same title. This amazing story is of little four-year-old Colton Burpo seeing heaven, Jesus, his great grandfather (Pops), and his sister, who had died during her mom’s pregnancy. The book and the movie have inspired millions.  The movie is well done. However, the book is well-documented and better than the movie. Colton had a ruptured appendix, and during the time they were operating on him, his spirit left his body and he went to heaven.

I love it when Colton sees the drawing of the Savior by Akiane Kramarik, and Colton says in his innocence, “Dad, that’s the one!”  Akiane’s paintings of Jesus are the most recognized portrayal of Christ in the world. Hers are very different than what one sees across the Christian community both now and over the last two thousand years. The pictures we typically see of Jesus are not accurate; false traditions have crept in.

Akiane’s amazing art and poetry abilities are amazing gifts from God. He showed her at a very young age a scene from heaven. She painted “The Prince of Peace” when she was only eight years old. It sold in 2019 for $850,000.

She has been featured on the Glenn Beck show, on the Oprah Winfree show, and on several others. She uses her earnings in charitable ways. She was born in 1994 and has written two books. Over a billion people have visited her website: akiane.com. For her, the spirit world is nearby.

Karie Allan Clingo’s Sketch

Our daughter, Karie, sketched a drawing of what she thinks the Savior looks like. It is very much like Akiane’s.

“I love to envision the Savior’s smiling face in my efforts before Him. I believe in the promise, “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)

George Ritchie

Example 3: Then we have George Ritchie, the physician and psychiatrist’s account, of seeing a spiritual laboratory during his NDE. In his book, Return from Tomorrow, years later he saw these same objects be created in reality patterned after the creation of their spiritual images that he saw in the spirit world. We know so little about the spirit world, but what we know is so magnificent and exciting to realize. We see it as a beautiful part of Heavenly Father’s perfect plan of salvation and exaltation.

The Importance of Listening

As we humbly listen to others with love in our hearts, we are open to learning. As we open ourselves to listen to the good spirits that God has lovingly placed around us, we hear the word’s of Christ. (2 Nephi 32:3, 5) The Lord askes us to always have a prayer in our heart so that we don’t listen to the bad angels around us. (D&C 10:5)

In Heavenly’s perfect plan of happiness, we are so blessed to have the ministrations from His good angels to help guide our lives. They are there to help us fulfill our missions in mortality and to bring us the greatest happiness. There goal is God’s goal to lead us on that path to Celestial realms of glory and a fullness of JOY.

Except for the Lord’s cataclysmic events, it is like he told Elijah. He speaks with His angels with a “still small voice.” (1 Kings 19:11-13) He speaks in our minds and to our hearts. Love, joy and peace accompany His words.

THANK YOU, Heavenly Father for Your perfect plan of happiness in the midst of all our imperfections. It gives us great hope. May we continually treasure up thy word; then we know we will never be deceived. (JS-M 37)

David W. Allan

Photo:  CC Pixabay Heaven Clouds Swelling

The Full Infinite Atonement

Spirituality, ,

In reviewing the beliefs of the Christian community, I feel most don’t appreciate the incredible and glorious full infinite atonement. This includes those members of my own church. and the love of God has given us this most important gift.  Most think of it as his suffering for us. However, it is that and so much more in the FULL DIMENSIONS OF THE FULL INFINITE ATONEMENT. As we look two thousand years ago, it is remarkable what we can learn–bringing us closer to God.

Scriptural Understanding

My search for understanding goes to all the scriptures, to fascinating apocryphal literature, and to personal revelation. My search has been most rewarding and has brought me closer to God. As I have prayed and listened to the Spirit, my heart has been opened to better understanding and comprehension. I am delighted to share some of my insights the best I can. I hope you  feel the same JOY and appreciation I feel with this deeper understanding.

In an earlier article, I shared the seven steps or dimensions of the infinite atonement with seven sub-steps in each step.  In step six, the Savior visits the spirit world, which is an enormous part of the infinite atonement. This step is not appreciated by all most all Christians. Step seven is His glorious resurrection, which most don’t think of as part of the infinite atonement. However, it is the capstone. With out His resurrection we would be toast. It is His resurrection that opened the door to a fullness of JOY for all who will come unto Him. It is His resurrection that brings us into the presence of God.

Dimensions from the Scriptures

The Apostle Paul profoundly states we are the offspring of God, and as the Lord told Moses, we are created in God’s image, male and female. In ancient Hebrew tradition, Eloheim has both genders. (Acts 17:28-29; Genesis 1:26-27. We have infinitely loving Heavenly Parents, who gave birth to our spirit bodies. This is the real you, and our spirit bodies were created by Them to last forever.

Our spirit bodies are immortal! Our intelligences housed in our spirit bodies give us agency–the ability to choose. (D&C 93:30-31) This gives us individual sovereignty.

Because we are the offspring of God, we are gods in embryo. Our choices make all the difference in our lives; our infinitely loving God honors our desires. If we were forced to heaven, it could not be and would not be heaven. Before we were born, our infinitely loving Heavenly Father shared “His Plan of Happiness and Joy.” He told us of our opportunity to gain a physical body in our path to be like our Heavenly Parents. Ironically, as part of the plan, the fall of Adam and Eve brought about both a spiritual and physical death, which was totally and perfectly overcome by the full infinite atonement.

The Savior’s glorious resurrection overcame physical death—which is the crowning step in the infinite atonement. He also overcame spiritual death. However, in the perfect plan, the gift of eternal life is offered. But it can only be appreciated and received by those who desire the gift. (D&C 88:33) We best express our desires as we come unto Christ and internalize and share His glorious gospel. We do this best when we are primarily motivated by our pure love for God and for all of His children.

Importance of Faith

This plan was explained to us in our pre-mortal epoch. We would need to exercise faith during our mortal journey. That faith would need to be focused on our Savior. While He overcame the effects of both the fall of Adam and Eve, He also suffered for our sins, as we repent and exercise faith in Him. For those who don’t accept the Christ, they will suffer for their sins. (D&C 19:15-18)

Faith in Christ is paramount. We read, “My Beloved Son, which was my Beloved and Chosen from the beginning, said unto me—Father, thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever.” (Moses 4:2)

However, Lucifer stepped forward saying, “Behold, here am I, send me, I will be thy son, and I will redeem all mankind, that one soul shall not be lost, and surely I will do it; wherefore give me thine honor.  Wherefore, because that Satan rebelled against me, and sought to destroy the agency of man, which I, the Lord God, had given him, and also, that I should give unto him mine own power; by the power of mine Only Begotten, I caused that he should be cast down; And he became Satan, yea, even the devil, the father of all lies, to deceive and to blind men, and to lead them captive at his will, even as many as would not hearken unto my voice.” (Moses 4:1, 3, 4)

The Jaredites and Nephites in the Book of Mormon, were so profoundly inspired by Heavenly Fathers’ Perfect Plan of Happiness and Joy, that they built a four and half square miles of earthworks near Newark, Ohio, to share with the world Father’s marvelous plan.  The carbon dating of the earthworks shows that they were originally built by the Jaredites. Then the Nephites refined them, who fully appreciated what the Jaredites had done .

There were over a hundred thousand earthworks in North America built by the Jaredites and the Nephites, and only about a half percent of them remain. Most of the earthworks were destroyed because of the evolutionary attitude of John Wesley Powell and others. They believed that the Native American Indians were savages—giving white Americans “eminent domain” over them. My wife Edna and I have been fortunate to visit the earthworks near Newark, Ohio. All that we saw that was still evident denotes the Celestial Kingdom and the Millennium epochs in Heavenly Fathers’ plan, which is now, ironically, part of a golf course.

Lucifer’s Rebellion

Lucifer’s rebellion caused a war in heaven, as told by the Apostle John (Rev. 12:7). These earthworks illustrate that a third of the children of our Heavenly Parents followed Lucifer, the son of the morning. (Isaiah 14:12-14) Lucifer was very brilliant and subtle with his message, claiming that he would save everyone. However, his plan would have destroyed our agency to choose. Free choice is fundamental to our growth and our doorway to the fullness of JOY.

Satan and those who followed him were cast down to the earth, as part of the plan. (Rev. 12:4) This is one of the many ironies in God’s perfect plan in the midst of all our imperfections.

Opposition In All Things

Opposition is part of the plan. It gives us the opportunity to grow as we exercise faith in our Savior, as we meet life’s challenges. But because of the wonderful gift of agency to choose and the law of opposition, sin came into the world with the Fall of Adam and Eve. Opposition is a needful and critical part of the plan. The Prophet Lehi profoundly explains the Law of Opposition in Chapter Two of Second Nephi.

In that same chapter, Lehi shares a beautiful summation of Heavenly Father’s Perfect Plan:

  • 26 And the Messiah cometh in the fulness of time, that he may redeem the children of men from the fall. And because they are redeemed from the fall they have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon, save it be by the punishment of the law at the great and last day, according to the commandments which God hath given.
  • 27 Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.

Jehovah was both the Firstborn of our Heavenly Parents, and also the “Only Begotten” of the Father (Colossians 1:15; Luke 1:35; JST John 1:14; D&C 76:13). Speaking for the Lord, Isaiah shares: “I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me, there is no Saviour.” (Isa. 43:11); Jesus clearly clarifies: “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)

From Apocryphal Literature

From apocryphal literature, we can better appreciate the glorious full dimensions of the infinite atonement. Chapter five of the Gospel of Joseph of Arimathea shares that Joseph “took the scroll of his parentage” to Bethlehem, with a servant, so that his lineage could be easily established Finding “every home… filled up” they were kindly offered a stable. That night “Mary suffered the pains of giving birth and cried out in pain. Nearby, there were some Levitical Shepherds, who were tending the sacrificial sheep… hearing her cry, they went over to help. They provided a shepherd’s basket… filled with straw” and the “baby was wrapped in swaddling cloth.” (Chapter 5)

Bethlehem means “the house of bread.” Christ is the bread of life. It is fascinating that these “sacrificial sheep” were the type and shadow of the Savior’s sacrifice. There they were, close by, at His birth.

This chapter also declares that an angel appeared to Joseph, proclaiming that the baby born of his wife, Mary, is the hope for all humankind. “THE ANOINTED MESSIAH.” The wise men, who visited the babe, were knowledgeable in “The Books of the Cosmic Light”. They follow the star. Evidence shows this information was in the writings of Abraham, which also testified that this Babe would touch the lives of all humankind.

Journey of Young Jesus Christ

Jesus was one of eight siblings, “developing a strong body and a sharp mind, for he was uniquely talented. He was wise beyond his years and excelled in perfection with his hands.” (Chapter 5:51) The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus Christ by Levi tells of His remarkable ministry in Asia. Christ’s stepfather, Joseph, died when Jesus was seventeen.

Jesus spent time with the seven sages in Egypt. They blessed Him, and He shared with them His rejection by “my own kindred… And they will spurn me, scorn my work, accuse me falsely, bind me, take me to the judgment seat of carnal men who will convict and slay me on the cross. But men can never slay the truth; though banished it will come again in greater power; for truth will subjugate the world.” (Levi, 60:11-13)

Atonement of Jesus Christ

In Gethsemane, where He went three times in prayer ALONE to plead to the Father, His suffering for our sins was so great that He bled from every pore. A “Red-Glowing MOON on the horizon, empathetically looked on (Chapter 23:212 Gospel of Joseph of Arimathea)  On the cross, He prayed, “My Mother, Abba Father, this is my chosen destiny, and for this, I have been prepared.” (Chapter 24:341 with my words interspersing for clarification)

He was not killed by the Jews or the Romans. His indescribable suffering ended only when this part of His infinite atonement was finished–step five. He said, “No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself” (John 10:18). The seven steps of the infinite atonement are summarized in this blog article: https://itsabouttimebook.com/spiritual-science-seven-steps-in-atonement/ The Earth mourned with the suffering of our Savior during those three hours from noon until 1500 (3:00 p.m.).

We read, “that insomuch that it did shake the whole earth as if it was about to divide asunder (3 Nephi 8:6).” “And behold, the rocks were rent in twain; they were broken up upon the face of the whole earth, insomuch that they were found in broken fragments, and in seams and in cracks, upon all the face of the land (8:18).”

My Unique Experience

I used to be a white-water guide. When I would lie on my back on my sleeping bag in Ladore Canyon on the Green River. I would look up and my soul was touched as I witnessed all the “rocks… in broken fragments, the seams and in the cracks, denoting their witness of His suffering on the cross. I knew them well as I climbed this area many times. My heart is touched to this day by that witness of Mother Earth’s empathetic suffering for our Redeemer.

Jerusalem rocked To and Fro

The Aquarian Gospel records, “A Roman soldier in compassion said, ‘This agony is too great; relief shall come.’ And with a spear, he pierced his heart… And then the earth was shocked again; the city of Jerusalem rocked to and fro; the hills were rent…” (Levi 171:10-14)

Christ’s Death and Resurrection

As the Savior’s spirit left His body and went to Paradise, the New Testament is nearly silent about those three days in which His body lay in the tomb. The above-cited blog article fills in that gap for this most important sixth step in His infinite atonement. https://itsabouttimebook.com/the-infinite-atonement-and-paradise/ .

Similarly, the New Testament is silent about what happened that night just before His resurrection. There were a hundred Jewish soldiers guarding the tomb. All of them heard a voice at midnight, “Adon Mashich Cumi, which meant, Lord Christ, arise.” This command from the heavens was heard three times over the night. “The soldiers blanched with fear, and still to flee meant death for cowardice, and so they stood and watched.”
After the third time, an angel came down and “tramped on the Roman seal… he took the stone in hand as though it were a pebble from the brook, and cast it to the side. And Jesus opened his eyes and said, ‘All hail the rising sun! the coming of the day of righteousness!’” (Chapter 172 Levi)

Pontius Pilot’s Record

Then Pontius Pilot’s remarkable record states, “all who had been hungry for His blood walked away from Calvary in near Sorrow and Shame. As though the insanity that had been upon them had passed away and their souls knew the sorrow that their minds could not—that they had been instruments in The Death Of The Son Of God.” (page 20)

Pilot’s wife had the “gift of foresight” and shared, “Beware, Beware And Touch Not That Man: For HE is Pure. Last night I saw him in A Vision. He was walking on the waters; … He spoke to the tempest and to the fishes of the lake: all were obedient to him.” (page 20)

Pilot’s trusted servant, Malcus, reported to him: “At About The Beginning Of The Fourth Watch [this is like 3 a.m.] A Soft And A Beautiful-Light Up Above the Sepulcher.” Then after Christ was resurrected, “The Entire Place was Lit-Up and there seemed to be A Crowd of the Dead Walking around in their grave clothes. Each of them Seemed To Be Shouting and Filled with Ecstasy while all around and above, was heard, the Most Beautiful Music” he had ever heard. “And the whole sky seemed to be full of voices praising: YHV/God.”  “At This Time there seemed to be a reeling and a rocking back and forth of the Entire Earth.” (pp 16-17, verses 147-152) The Earth was rejoicing in the resurrection of our Lord and of the resurrection of many of the righteous dead, “who went into the holy city and appeared unto many (Matt. 27:52-53).”

The Most Transcendent Event

This most transcendent event–the full infinite atonement–totally covers the effects of the fall of Adam and Eve. It then in our day will bring about a paradisiacal millennial epoch. The Lord will bring forth a new heaven and a new earth. And, because of the full infinite atonement, the Lord will bring forth again a new heaven and a new earth at the end of the millennium. And lastly, the full infinite atonement shows Jehovah’s infinite love for each of us in the final judgment. Gloriously, those who have accepted Him are then presented by Him–our advocate–to the Father on a celestialized Earth. The earthworks near Newark, Ohio, depict these glorious events yet to come.

As my wife and I stood on the perimeter of that 20-acre perfect circle denoting the celestial Kingdom we felt a special spirit. It denotes the place where our Heavenly Parents will rejoice with those who have chosen to follow the path outlined and provided by their perfect and Beloved Son. They have promised us a “fulness of joy.” Can we even imagine a more perfect plan?

It is fascinating that the line connecting the millennium to the Celestial Kingdom is at an angle denoting the Divine Ratio to the true North. It is the same angle as the Giza pyramid, which denotes the Egyptian’s path to heaven. Everywhere we look we see the infinite love of our Creator God designed to bring us back home. We read, “GREAT EXCITEMENT Arose About The Sepulcher Being Empty.” (Pontius Pilot’s Report, verse 144, by Desert-Owl.) 

The Growth of Christianity

The Lord’s resurrection was the main driving force for the rapid growth of early Christianity. Modern Christianity seems to have lost track of that great momentum. I would love to see it come back, and I believe it will as the Bride prepares herself to meet the Bridegroom at His Coming. The exciting thing is that we can be part of that ideal ZION heavenly society, which is coming, as we come unto Him and listen to His voice (D&C 29:1-2; 93:1).

David W. Allan

P.S. Here is an E-book version of the Gospel of Joseph of Arimathea. It has been translated into modern English. There are some mistakes, and it is not as complete as the one referenced above, but there is a lot of good information there.

Photo://CCPxfuel The Christ Resurrection

The Infinite Love of God

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The infinite love of God for each of us stretches our souls to perfection with the hope in our bosoms that we can be like Him. The following poem was so powerful that it became the Jewish hymnology in their synagogues used for the Feast of Weeks, which Christians know as Pentecost. In 1050 A.D. a German poet and Rabbi, Meir Ben Isaac Nehorai penned the following marvelous lines to try to touch on the majesty and magnitude of God’s love. The English translation is as follows, which ties to LOVE being the FIRST LAW of HEAVEN:

Could we with ink the ocean fill,
and were the skies of parchment made;
were ev’ry stalk on earth a quill,
and everyone a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above,
would drain the ocean dry;
nor could the scroll contain the whole,
though stretched from sky to sky.

These words come as close as any I have seen in comprehending God’s infinite love for each of us. In turn, that makes LOVE, the first law of Heaven.

How Words and Music Came About

We have a fascinating and very inspiring story of how the words and music for “The Love of God” came about. This amazing and inspiring story shows the hand of the Lord in the details of our lives and over the ages.

German-born, Frederick Martin Lehman (1868–1953), was a famous American Christian hymn writer.  In 1917, he was working on a hymn entitled, “The Love of God,” and had written two verses, but was struggling with the third. His ten-year-old son, Blynn, wanting to help, as Divine design would have it, came across the above lyrics. A great growing experience followed for Blynn. Orchestrated by the Lord,  Blynn was led to a Jewish Rabbi, who immediately recognized the words and knew who had written them.

These words then became the third verse, and it was immediately recognized for its outstanding merit. Today, it is one of the favorite Christian hymns. Here are all three verses. These are as written by Lehman with the help from his son, Blynn:

1) The love of God is greater far,
than tongue or pen can ever tell;
it goes beyond the highest star,
and reaches to the lowest hell.

The wandering child is reconciled,
by God’s beloved Son.
The aching soul again made whole,
and priceless pardon won.

Refrain:
O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure—
the saints’ and angels’ song.

2) When years of time shall pass away,
and earthly thrones and kingdoms fall;
when men who here refuse to pray,
on rocks and hills and mountains call;
God’s love so sure, shall still endure,
all measureless and strong;
Redeeming grace to Adam’s race,
the saints’ and angels’ song. [Refrain]

3) Could we with ink the ocean fill,
and were the skies of parchment made; 
were ev’ry stalk on earth a quill,
and everyone a scribe by trade;

To write the love of God above
would drain the ocean dry;
nor could the scroll contain the whole,
though stretched from sky to sky. [Refrain]

The movie, INDESCRIBABLE, is a very inspiring description of how the hymn, “The Love of God,” came into being. The movie is an amazing true story. The modern Christian version has varied some from Lehman’s original. They leave out verse two. I love verse two also.

God’s Primary Motive

The infinite love of God is the primary motivation for all He does. The creation, the fall, and the Lord’s infinite atonement were motivated by that love—the three pillars of eternity. Learning to love as God loves us is our pathway to perfection. This is why the first two and most important commandments are as stated in Matthew 22:37-40:

Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

“On these two commandments hand all the law and the prophets.” Because of the paramount importance of LOVE, Chapter 4 of my first book, It’s About Time, is totally devoted to the grand importance of describing LOVE and sharing how to love God and our neighbor. As a major event in the end-times, we anticipate the establishment of a Zion society to be the Bride to receive the Bridegroom at His Coming. The main motivation of that society will be LOVE! Let it be our principal goal to be prepared for the same. Therein is a fullness of JOY.

Love is the First Law of Heaven

When you think about it, if all the people in the world would live these two commandments, it would solve all the world’s problems. If you don’t believe this profound statement, try to think of a situation that would not be solved if everyone lived the Law of Love?

Some believe Obedience is the first law of  Heaven. In the 14th chapter of the Gospel of John, we read, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” In other words, if you love, you will obey. Then in verse 21 we read, we have the message that if we keep His commandments, then we love Him. In logic, if A implies B, and B implies A, then A and B are equivalent. This raises obedience to a celestial level. In other words, we obey because we want to please the Lord. Often obedience is thought of as you do it or else there will be serious consequences.

So we see that Love is the First Law of Heaven, and is equivalent to Celestial obedience. And it is this Celestial love that will solve all the world’s problems. Let us bask in God’s infinite love and internalize it ourselves. The Lord’s promise is a fullness of JOY. What could be better? Did you know the Torah is a Law of Love?

David W. Allan

PS Here is a beautiful rendition of “The Love of God.” The Love of God – Christian Music Videos (godtube.com)

 

Photo:  Designed by Freepik (www.freepik.com)

 

What Is the Most Important Gift To Mankind?

Spirituality, , ,

What is the most important gift of God to mankind mentioned in the Book of Mormon? The most important gift? What a value judgment. However,  let us see if there are reasons it is so.

I believe the most important gift of God to man is mentioned in the Book of Mormon. It is the gift of charity. Another way to name that gift is to say it is the gift of a pure heart. Only a pure heart can love fully and purely. Charity is the pure love that Christ has for all others.

Moroni 7:43-48: “And again, behold I say unto you that he cannot have faith and hope, save he shall be meek, and lowly of heart. If so, his faith and hope are vain, for none is acceptable before God, save the meek and lowly in heart. If a man be meek and lowly in heart, and confesses by the power of the Holy Ghost that Jesus is the Christ, he must needs have charity; for if he have not charity he is nothing; wherefore he must needs have charity.  And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.”

“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail— But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.”

Why Charity?

There is an important reason why charity, pure love, is the greatest gift of God to man. Any human being can be saved from the penalty, due to his having sinned, only through his having faith in Jesus Christ.

The penalty due for sins includes suffering for those sins with the same amount of suffering the person caused in others through that person’s sinning.  He must also make restitution for having wounded or deprived those whom he has sinned against.

The person cannot be forgiven of having sinned until the suffering caused by the sinning has been met by an equal amount of suffering and until the person(s) he has sinned against is fully recompensed for the damage done to them by those sins.  He or she remains as if he or she had never been sinned against.

A person who has sinned must do all he or she can to repair the damage done to others through his or her sinning. However, no one except Christ can fully make those who sinned against the whole as if they had never been sinned against.  They must suffer an equal amount to the suffering they have caused others through sinning unless they repent and come unto Christ and keep covenants with him. Then the suffering of the Savior in the Atonement answers the law of justice by his suffering, and the Savior forgives the one who has come unto him in covenant, keeping the faith.

The Pure Love of Christ

The great thing about the gift of charity, which is the pure love of Christ, is that the person who receives this gift no longer sins. This person who has charity has become like the Savior. The greatest thing we know about the Savior is that because he does his Father’s will in all things, he never sins. The work of Christ is to help us to become as he is and sin no longer.  It also helps us make payment for sins we have committed. Only after those two things are accomplished can anyone be exalted.

For both, we must come unto Jesus Christ and become his little child, “submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.” (Mosiah 3:19)

So, to gain this gift is to become everything. Not to attain it still to be nothing. Our Father and Savior do not want us to remain as nothing. They are trying to share with us the most important thing they have, charity, which is a pure heart.

And you may wonder why faith in Christ is not the greatest gift. Actually, faith is not a wrong answer. It is just that a little faith does not do the job. Charity is the fullness of faith. Only faith that serves God and neighbor with all one’s heart, might, mind and strength can be the greatest gift. The name for that fullness of faith in Christ is charity, the pure love of Christ from Christ.

Eternal Life

But what about D&C 14:7, which says: “And if you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all of the gifts of God.” What is eternal life?

“God works to enable his children’s return to his presence so that they may both live with him and live as he does.” (Encyclopedia of Mormonism, article “Eternal Life.”) How does he live? He lives to bless, to minister to others. And how does he bless? He blesses with a pure love, divine charity, doing nothing but helping each person or thing he blesses to have as much joy as possible. So it turns out that “eternal life” is but another name for the fullness of love, which is charity, which is the fruit of a pure heart. So the greatest gift of God to man is eternal life, or charity, or a pure heart, or a fullness of faith in Jesus Christ, all four being different names for doing the same thing.

Chauncey C. Riddle – Guest Post

Other Posts by Chauncy C. Riddle

Most Important Spiritual Warning
Most Important Temporal Warning
Most Important Verse in the Book of Mormon
We Do Not Know Much About Ourselves

Chauncey C. Riddle is an American author, professor, and religious leader. He has written many articles for the Ensign, Sunstone, BYU Studies, The Encyclopedia of Mormonism, Deseret Language and Linguistics, and FARMS. He is also the author of the book:  Book: Think Independently

Who Is Vivek Ramaswamy?

Spirituality,

Who is Vivek Ramaswamy? He is a political newcomer who has just announced that he is running for President. Vivek is running as a Republican candidate for the 2024 elections, and his popularity is rising rapidly in the poles because of his message and the hope that it brings. His brilliance, knowledge, and credentials are amazing.

Vivek Ramaswamy’s Background

Ramaswamy was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on August 9, 1985 (37 years old) His lineage comes from India. We have a millennial running for President, who understands well millennial problems and has solutions.

He graduated valedictorian from  St. Xavier High School, a Jesuit school, in Cincinnati, Ohio. This is interesting because he comes from a Hindu background. He clearly has studied America’s amazing and unique history and is most enthusiastic about Americans coming back to the American dream.

Four years later, in 2007, he graduated summa cum laude from Harvard with a degree in biology. He was awarded a post-graduate fellowship by the “Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans.” He then went on to get his law degree at Yale in 2013.

Family

Ramaswamy met his wife, Apoorva, while he was studying law at Yale University. Apoorva is an assistant professor and clinician at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. They have two sons. His family is his first priority, as he believes it should be for everyone.

Credentials

His integrity is a major hallmark. As he speaks, he shares his heart. At age 37, he is the first millennial Republican candidate for the presidency with an amazing business track record. He founded the biopharmaceutical company, Roivant Sciences, one year after graduating from Yale, 2014, and he has made great contributions there.

He co-founded and became the executive chairman of Asset Management. His company, Strive, was designed to give people a better asset management path than those promoting ESG. The Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance framework is anti the American Dream. Vivek understood this issue and he helped set up this alternative management system. Amazingly, Strive’s total assets surpassed $500 million as of November 11, 2022.

Author

Ramaswamy has authored three books.

  1.  Woke, Inc. – Inside Corporation America’s Social Justice Scam – Aug. 17, 2021. Woke, Inc. quickly became a New York Times best setter. Yale law professor and author, AMY CHUA, shares, “A provocative critique, wrapped in a gripping personal story that pulls you in from page one. Vivek Ramaswamy is breakthrough brilliant and arrestingly original. Woke, Inc. is essential reading for anyone who cares about America’s democracy, economy, and future.”
  2.  Nation of Victims: Identity Politics, the Death of Merit and the Path Back To Excellence – Sept. 13, 2022 BEN SHAPIRO, best selling author and host of the Ben Shapiro Show, shares, “This book shows why Vivek Ramaswamy is one of the most original thinkers–and doers–of our time. Instead of wallowing in the left’s cult of victimhood and its recipe for mediocrity, Vivek challenges all of us to return to the path of achievement and excellence.”
  3. Capitals Punishment: How Wall Street is Using Your Money to Create a County You Didn’t Vote For – April 25, 2023 ARTHUR C. BROOKS shares, “Vivek Ramaswamy… offers a path back toward a more free and prosperous society.”

Opinion Writers

  1. Bloomberg shares that Ramaswamy is “the leading anti-ESG crusader,” and his books show how to deal with the Woke movement as well. His youthfulness, brilliance, and hustle are most inspiring, and I am very impressed with his knowledge of how America came to be—its true history—which has been covered up by the radical left and the teachers associated therewith. You can see why Vivek wants to get rid of the Department of Education.
  2. The New York Times explains that “confidence is Mr. Ramaswamy’s gift,” and that this “smooth-talking” can be “infectious.” For me, his brilliance comes through and shows how well-educated he is and clearly understands the problems now facing America and the world. He is clearly well founded in America’s true history.
  3. Zeeshan Allem, an MSNBC Opinion Writer/Editor shares, “Ramaswamy is affirming the Republican base’s instincts by promising to succeed where Trump failed to deliver.” He supports a six-week abortion ban, with exceptions for rape, incest, and the woman’s life. Furthermore, he supports abolishing not only the Department of Education but also the FBI and the IRS. In addition, he supports an 8-year term for all government employees.

Interviews

Vivek Ramaswamy is willing to be interviewed by anyone, and his podcasts with John Stossel, Jordan Peterson, Monica Crowley, and James  are inspiring examples of his open-heart honesty and very knowledgeable position to be President. His brilliance and broad knowledge bypass the need for a teleprompter! Lindsay is especially interesting because he was an atheist. Similarly, Peterson has found the Bible to be a most amazing book.

John Stossel   “Pro Woke Candidate”
Jordan Peterson’s “Pro-American Future”
Monica Crowley  Great insights on China’s aggressive stance.
James Lindsay “The ESG Cartel–Corporate Manipulation and National Security Threats.”

Solution to Woke

One of the ways he wants to deal with the Woke’s lack of understanding of what it means to be an American is by raising the voting age to 25 unless citizens in the 18 to 24 age range were in the military, or work as emergency first responders, or pass a civics test like the test taken by those who are applying for citizenship.

What is ESG?

ESG stands for E: environmental, S: social, and G: government. ESG is being used to promote Woke. A sharp political divide has emerged between conservatives and leftists concerning ESG. Ramaswamy has a solution for this massive problem. Listen to  his talks; he has several on his website.

Ramaswamy – Thomas Jefferson

On Ramaswamy web site he quoted Thomas Jefferson: “We hold these truths to be sacred and undeniable,” he lists some important bullet points:
·         God is real
·         There are two genders
·         Reverse racism is racism
·         An open border is no border.  He makes the very important point that we don’t want the first step a person makes into this land of the free to be an illegal one, and further believes entrance into this country should be made by merit—what a person can contribute to our national identity.
·         Parents determine the education of their children.
·         The nuclear family is the greatest form of governance known to mankind.
·         Capitalism lifts people up from poverty.
·         There are three branches of the U. S. government, not four.
·         The U.S. Constitution is the strongest guarantor of freedoms in history.

I Support Vivek Ramaswamy

I was so excited to learn from our son, Nathan, that Vivek Ramaswamy is running for the President of the United States. His energy, brilliance and vision for today on how we can realize the “American Dream” gives me great hope. He reminds me of Jefferson. In my view, no person in America before or after Jefferson comes close to what he accomplished in his lifetime.

Vivek’s amazing business acumen and brilliance at age 37 have earned him a net worth of $600 million.

The 4th government branch of government mentioned above is the unelected bureaucratic state elite, who are trying their best to take us away from our U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights. Vivek has a solution to this major problem as well.

I love how Vivek shares that it’s not about him, but about the extremely important message he is transparently and enthusiastically placing before the American people. He shares that if you ask a Woke person what does it mean to be an American; you get a blank look. They don’t know our divinely orchestrated history. Re-invoking the “American Dream” and our “National Identity” are driving forces in Vivek’s campaign to be President.

Ramaswamy’s vision for America, as a presidential candidate, comes closer than anything I have ever seen. He, appropriately, calls it our “National Identity” crisis! His solutions are far-reaching and achievable with great benefits for seeing the return of the American Dream for millennials and for all of us. Since, he knows how to deal with the Woke movement and ESG agenda crises. Let’s let him.

Great Hope

I see him as being our best hope to bring back the American Dream and provide solutions for the several extremely serious problems facing America and the world community today. His website is Vivek 2024.

When I listened to his talk to the NRA on the Second Amendment, I had tears of rejoicing in my eyes because of his appreciation of the importance of that amendment to our constitution. He closed his talk with an enthusiastic, “God bless America!”

David W. Allan

Photo:  CC Ficker – Vivek Ramaswamy

 

 

 

The Infinite Atonement and Paradise

Spirituality, ,

The Glorious Infinite Atonement is one of the most important and yet most misunderstood doctrines in Christianity. Most think of the atonement as Christ’s suffering for our sins. It is so much more than that. But how do you comprehend infinite? As mortals we cannot, but the closer we come to understanding and internalizing this most important gift given by God (John 3:16), the closer we are to receiving His promise of Eternal Life.

As an important part of the infinite atonement, as Jesus hung on the cross, paradise was promised by the Savior to the repentant malefactor that very day. (Luke 23:43) Where is paradise and what happened there during those three days Jesus’ Spirit visited? The Apostle Peter shares that Jesus Christ “went and preached unto the spirits in prison:… that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.” (1 Peter 3:19; 4:6) Most don’t consider Jesus Christ’s visit to “paradise” a part of His infinite atonement. However, it is a major part since there are nearly ten times more folks there to minister to than here on Earth!

What and Where is Paradise?

We know that paradise is spiritually close by since the Savior and the repentant malefactor went there right after they died on the cross. We will see what the Savior did there during those three days was and still is an extremely important part of the infinite atonement.

President Joseph F. Smith’s Vision of Paradise

President Joseph F. Smith received a vision “on October 3, 1918,” while “reflecting upon the great atoning sacrifice that was made by the Son of God, for the redemption of the world.  The great and wonderful love made manifest by the Father and the Son in the coming of the Redeemer into the world,” (D&C 138:2-3)

The Savior prophesied, “The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.” (Jn 5:25) President Smith saw, “…the dead had looked upon the long absence of their spirits from their bodies as a bondage. These souls the Lord taught, and gave them the power to come forth, after his resurrection from the dead, to enter into his Father’s kingdom, there to be crowned with immortality and eternal life. Henceforth, their labors had been promised by the Lord, to be partakers of all blessings, that are held in reserve for them that love him.” (D&C 138:50-52)

Paradise –  A Part of the Infinite Atonement

We see that His visit to paradise was a major part of the infinite atonement, opening a glorious resurrection for the faithful who had died. President Smith also saw that during those three days, the Savior organized missionary work for those in spirit prison, as the Apostle Peter described. We see the great significance of Malachi’s prophecy that the fathers’ hearts would be turned to the children and children’s hearts would be turned to the fathers. Otherwise, the purpose of the earth was wasted at His Coming. (Malachi 4:5-6) The teaching of the gospel in the spirit world is totally integral to this grand purpose of why the earth was made by the Lord in the first place and is a major part of the infinite atonement.

Other Books Give Major Insights

Other Books Give Major Insights into Paradise and the Resurrection as Part of the Infinite Atonement. Nephi tells of “other books” coming forth in the last days. (1 Nephi 13:39) We read the following amazing account now of what happened after Christ visited Paradise and then was resurrected:

When it happened that early Sunday morning, it was witnessed by the hundred Jewish soldiers standing guard as a brilliant light came down from the heavens, and over the night they heard three times: “Adon Mashich Cumi,” which means, “Lord Christ arise.”

The last time was just before sunrise, “the heavens blazed with light… And then the white-robed form tramped on the Roman seal, and then he tore it into shreds; he took the mighty stone in hand as though it were a pebble from the brook, and cast it to the side. And Jesus opened up his eyes and said, ‘All hail the rising sun! the coming of the day of righteousness!’

“They saw the body of the Nazarene transmute they saw it change from mortal to immortal form, and then disappeared. The soldiers heard a voice from somewhere; yea, from everywhere, it said, ‘Peace, peace on earth; good will to men.’” (Chapter 172:26-41 of the Aquarian Gospel of Jesus Christ by Levi)

In Pontius Pilot’s account, he sent his trusted secretary, MALCUS, “He said that at about the beginning of the fourth watch, They Saw A Soft And a Beautiful-Lyght Up Above the Sepulcher. The Entire Place was Lit-Up and there seemed to be A Crowd Of The Dead Walking around in their grave clothes. Each Of Them Seemed To Be Shouting And Filled With Ecstasy while All Around And Above, was Heard, The Most Beautiful Music he had ever experienced: And The Whole Sky Seemed To Be Full Of Voices Praising: YHV: Yahll’Vol’Hay/God. At This Time there seemed to be a reeling and rocking back-and-forth of The Entire Earth…” (THE CRUCIFIXION REPORT OF PONTUS PILOT TO: TIBERIUS CAESAR,  147-151 by A Micah Hill Dezert-Owl)

The gospel of Matthew reports that “the graves were opened; and the bodies of the saints which slept, arose, who were many. They came out of the graves after his resurrection, went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.” (JS Matt. 27:56-57)

Major Mis-understanding of  Infinite Atonement

The limited view that most have is that the atonement of Christ is His suffering on the cross for our sins. Again, it is that and so much more. The infinite atonement totally overcame the effects of the fall of Adam and Eve, overcoming both the spiritual and physical deaths brought about by the fall. He told John the Beloved, “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.” (Rev. 1:18) His infinite atonement took Him from the deepest sorrow and suffering to the greatest of heights of ecstasy. He cap-stoned the infinite atonement with His glorious resurrection. (D&C 88:6) We cannot comprehend the joy that filled the souls of the many resurrected souls in both the Eastern and Western hemispheres.  They rose from the dead following His glorious resurrection in great rejoicing. He conquered death and hell, as a major part of the infinite atonement, and their souls were filled with a fullness of JOY as a result of HIs infinite love for all of Heavenly Father’s children.

The phrase “atoning sacrifice” only occurs once in our scriptures, as is beautifully explained by President Smith in his vision of the redemption of the dead and its relevance there. Yet we hear the phrase “atoning sacrifice” to describe Jesus’ atonement for us when this phrase misses the grand dimensions of the glorious infinite atonement. Let us do our best, and God will open up the rest as we ponder, study, pray, apply, and share this most important doctrine of the glorious infinite atonement.

Most Christians leave out both the importance of Christ’s visit to Paradise and His glorious resurrection in their worship of the Christ. They look to the blood of Christ and His suffering on  the Cross for their sins for redemption. I was surprised to see that the importance of Christ’s visit to Paradise had been left out of the proclamation, “THE LIVING CHRIST”. This proclamation was issued on January 1st, 2000, by the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve. Also, many members of my church use the phrase “atoning sacrifice” in describing the atonement, which misses the full grandeur of the glorious infinite atonement.

So, we have a problem with the false tradition that has crept into our language saying we are grateful for the “atoning sacrifice” and leaving out the great importance of what the Savior did, is doing, and will yet do because of the infinite nature of this most marvelous and infinitely loving gift from God.  In the Spirit World, during those three days, he opened the prison doors and provided a glorious resurrection for the faithful. What an enormous blessing His three-day visit was as part of the infinite atonement, as we think of it today, with nearly ten times more souls in the Spirit World than there are here on Earth. A great work is being done and yet will be done so that every soul has the opportunity to hear the fullness of the everlasting gospel. Thanks to Christ for the three-day visit to paradise. The best thing we can say is, “THANK YOU, LORD, for the glorious infinite atonement! Which also includes His visit to paradise and His glorious resurrection.

My Hope and Prayer

My hope and prayer are that each of us will be eternally grateful for the glorious infinite atonement, and I hope here to have shared a better understanding of how our Savior truly overcame the full effects of the fall of Adam and Eve and conquered the effects of death and hell—for those on both sides of the veil. Because of His resurrection, the door to eternal life and a fullness of joy is available for all who choose Jesus Christ as their Savior and Redeemer, the bridge to our Heavenly Home.

The Seven Essential Steps to the Infinite Atonement

In the following article, I share the seven essential steps in the infinite atonement. Step one is His suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane. Step two is His suffering before the Jews. Step three is His suffering before the Roans (Gentiles). Step four is His horrible crucifixion. Step five is Him volunteering to give His life for us (John 10:18). His “atoning sacrifice” is these first five steps. His all important visit to Paradise is step-six, and extremely important to help complete the infinite atonement. His glorious resurrection is step-seven and is the capstone to His infinite atonement. https://itsabouttimebook.com/the-infinite-atonement-of-jesus-christ/

David W. Allan

Photo: CC Pixabay

 

 

Burrows’ Cave Artifacts Authenticity

Spirituality, ,

The Barrows Cave artifacts have been a subject of controversy for some time. There are many sources, such as Wikipedia, that suggest that the artifacts are hoaxes. However, the tide is changing as investigators are digging deeper into the authenticity of Russell Burrows’s claim that a number of artifacts were found in a southern Illinois cave.

A March 4, 2020 article by Frank Joseph in the Atlantis Rising Research Group publications supports that previous researchers could be wrong. The article titled “Burrows Cave’ Controversy” gives some credence to the validity of the Burrows’ artifacts. They pose the question: “Could the Debunkers Have Gotten Ahead of Themselves?”

Russell Burrows and Brian Nettles

Russell Burrows discovered the cave in 1982 and has found some thousands of artifacts in the cave, which he discuses in the interview below.

This month on April 1st, 2023, my good friend and expert on ancient languages Brian Nettles, went to Windsor, CO to interview Russell Burrows. Russell is 87 years old and no longer resides in Illinois. Russell Burrows discovered the cave in 1982 and has pulled some four thousand artifacts from the cavern.

Russell is 87 years old and had a stroke three years ago, so speaking is a challenge for him. I have listed the link to the interview below. For me, it is “Gold,” in terms of uncovering the truth about the authenticity of the Burrows’ Cave Artifacts,

A Burrows Artifact Goes to Russia

In 2015, I was invited to give a lecture, prepare a paper, and chair a panel at an international navigation conference in St. Petersburg, Russia. After learning that I was going to Russia, a friend of ours, Duane Erickson, drove all the way down to Fountain Green from Evanston, WY. to give me a stone from the cave that had been given him by Russell Burrows.

On one side it has the face of Jesus, and on the other side of the stone was depicted the Savior’s hand with a nail mark in the wrist. Duane wanted me to help the Russians, and my colleagues, to know that Christ had been in America.  I took the stone with me and shared it with my Russian colleagues. The response was positive.

The image at the top of this article is a picture of that stone showing the nail mark on the wrist of the Savior’s hand. On the other side of the stone with the image of the face of the Savior are the five nails of the crucifixion. It is called the mystic symbol, which is the Native North American’s name for their God, Yod Hey Vau, which sounds like Jehovah. Below the Savior’s image is a symbol which Wayne May believes denotes, “Son of my Right Hand.”

A little side note: When I was in Russia, I included in the paper, “How to be ONE with God”. However, they kindly asked me to remove the religion part, which I did. The unedited paper can be seen at Allans Time publications and I have also written a blog article about it. 

The Book of Mormon Controversy

Many members of the LDS church—believe in the Mesoamerica model for Book of Mormon geography. Believing that The Book of Mormon location is in South America,  is a factor in labeling Burrow’s artifacts as hoaxes. However, others believe that the Book of Mormon geography is in the “Heartland” of America which includes Illinois and the New York area, where Joseph Smith recovered the plates that he translated. Many artifacts have been found by others besides the Barrows cave artifacts, which support the “Heartland” location for the Book of Mormon.

Brian Nettles

My amazing friend, Brian Nettles, is learning how to read these ancient languages. His website: Book of Mormon Heartland  describes some of his work. The following characters were copied from the small plates that Joseph Smith translated are not “Reformed Egyptian.”  These characters were copied by John Whitmer who occasionally acted as a scribe while Joseph Smith was translating from the small plates in Fayette, New York.

Unlike the Anthon transcript, which was copied and translated by Joseph Smith in Harmony, PA,  the “Caractor” document does not include a translation of the characters.  Brian Nettles has studied Demotic Egyptian and a “translation” of those “Caractors” is now being made.

Brian focused on 1 Nephi 2-3 as John Whitmer’s handwriting is found in the “Original Manuscript” throughout those chapters.  This image is from Brian’s website, and I quote from him. “This document is now mostly translated. It is a mix of early demotic with heratic Egyptian.”  Brian was able to read to me from this “Caraters” set from First Nephi chapters 2 and 3.

I quote from my blog article the following:  “Interestingly, in 600 B.C. the Egyptians were transitioning their writing system from hieratic to demotic Egyptian.”

Archaeologist Wayne May

Another good friend of mine, Wayne May, archaeologist and owner of Ancient American magazine sent me a JPG picture of an artifact that Russell Burrows had given to him. Wayne has started a new magazine this year (2023), LAND OF PROMISE; Uncovering Ancient America. I posted an image of Wayne May’s Burrows artifact in a previous blog article, which I consider to be the most important blog article I have ever written:  Wayne’s artifact by itself disproves the hoax theory for this artifact while validating its authenticity.

The Christian world celebrates Good Friday as the day of Christ’s crucifixion—making only two days that He was in the tomb before His glorious world-changing resurrection on Sunday morning. The artifact shows the three days that he was in the tomb, which is documented in this blog article and was not known by Burrows. In addition, this artifact shows the wound marks on the wrist, which was also the same marking as on the stone I took to Russia and displayed above.

Brian Nettles Interview With Russell Burrows

I consider April 1, 2003, Brian Nettles’s interview with Russell Burrows a Godsend to give validity to the authenticity of Burrows’s four thousand artifacts that he pulled from the cave.

I believe the Lord is in the details with His infinite love in our lives. Russell is an unbiased non-member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He knows nothing of the controversy in this church about the geography of where the Book of Mormon took place. He clears up the controversy. He provides authentication for the thousands of items he found. Here is the link to Brian’s interview with Russell Burrows.

Heartland or Mesoamerica?

As a scientist, I placed on the alter the two theories for the Book of Mormon geography: 1) the Heartland model, and 2) the Mesoamerica model.  In the following article, I prove the Mesoamerica model false and the Heartland model true. 

Having the same writing system in the Michigan artifacts, as in the Burrows’ cave artifacts gives correlation but not proof.  But how could that be? It seems logical and indisputable. To have the Egyptian correlations as well, which gives a significant degree of validation, is fully consistent with the Heartland model for Book of Mormon geography.

For me and with the Spirit to confirm, the strong Book of Mormon story of Christ’s visit to America and the Nephites’ knowledge of the Savior’s three days in the tomb and the infinite atonement gives total authenticity for me for the Burrows’ cave artifacts.

David W. Allan

Two Hundred Names for Jesus

Spirituality, , ,

There are more than two hundred names for Jesus, our Redeemer.  Jesus, Yod Hey Vau, YahShuah, YHVH, Eternal God, and Mashiach are just a few of the large number of names which have been used to describe our Lord. The meaning of names is significant.

So, the various names of Jesus reveal a different characteristic of his divine nature. The more we learn about the names that are attributed to Christ, the more we understand about Him. Eternal life is the greatest gift from God, and Jesus defines Eternal Life as knowing the Father and the Son (John 17:3). As the Savior prayed in this same chapter, being ONE with the Father and the Son is our primary goal. Jesus’ infinite love for each of us makes it a challenge to name this all wise Being who has given us the infinite atonement opening the only path back to the Father (John 14:6). In His infinite love, He has promised to perfect us as we come unto Him. (Moroni 10:32-33)

Since, Jesus perfected Heavenly Father’s Plan of JOY with His Full Infinite Atonement, all people in time and space should praise Him and Honor Him because of what He has done, is doing, and will do to bring us back to the Father. In the End-Times, every knee will bow, and gladly so when they fully know who He is , the significance of all His names, and all He has done, is doing, and will do for us.

We are not only discovering many of Christ’s names, but we are finding artifacts with various names and Christian symbols. My good friend, Wayne May, has the original Burrows artifact—given to him by Russell M. Burrows, who found the artifact in a cave named after him. Wayne sent me a photocopy of this artifact to use in this article.

The Burrows Artifact

The five nails are denoted from the crucifixion at the top. The two nails in His hands, the two nails in his wrists, and a nail pinning his two feet to the cross. These five nails are called the Mystic Symbol, which symbol has been found in thousands of places across North America. It is the symbol for the Native North American’s word for their Deity, which they pronounce: Yod Hey Vau (Sounds like Jehovah). You can see the nail mark in the wrist on the left of the depiction of the crucified Christ.

Over the tomb, you see the three suns denoting the three days He was in the tomb. Coming out of the tomb we see Him shouting Hallelujah, as He has overcome death and hell with His resurrected body, as depicted here. His resurrection is the capstone to the infinite atonement. The eleven vertical lines below Him denote the eleven Apostles rejoicing with Him in His glorious resurrection. To the right is a serpent and a line denoting Judas’ betrayal of our Savior. Under His right Arm is a symbol, which I believe represents “son of my left” hand. This denotes that His infinite atonement overcame Satan. Christ is His “Son of my Right Hand.”

One of His profound names is the “Son of Righteousness”–having completed the perfect and infinite atonement–is titled, “RIGHTEOUSNESS,” by His Father and our Father. The phase “Son of Righteousness” occurs three times and is unique to the Book of Mormon, and ties to the Jaredites, the Nephites, and to our day–denoting the importance of us coming unto Him now.

A Micah Hill Dezert-Owl

I am delighted to have made friends with A. Micah Hill (Dezert-Owl). He is one of the most devoted Christians you will ever know and has spent most of his life bringing forth ancient religious texts—from when he was 22 until now at age 68.

He feels the Lord gave him the name Dezert-Owl, a bird that can see well in the night. In the light of Christ, he has exposed a lot of the evil in the darkness of the world’s history. He has been persecuted greatly for doing so. He uses “YahShuah” for the name of Jesus in his translations. YahShuah means ‘Yah saves’ or ‘The Lord is Salvation. In his “trans-literations,” he uses YHV for the Father–leaving off the H.

The Name YHVH

YHVH means Jehovah–the name of the God of Israel and was used by Christians in the Middle Ages.  Jews reading the Scriptures aloud substituted Adonai (“My Lord) for the sacred name. He is the way and the truth and the life (John 14:6). The early Christians called His Church the Way.

My good friend, Rob Kay, a Jewish convert, recognized the Book of Mormon as a Hebrew document when he was fifteen years old. He has a three-volume set showing those Hebraisms called “Voices from the Dust” which is available on Amazon. He uses YHVH for Jehovah in much of his Hebraisms, and Elohim for God. Rob has given me permission to share his conversion story on our website.

Mashiach – English Rendering of Messiah

Mashiach is the English rendering of Messiah from the Hebrew. In Greek, it is Christ. Jesus the Christ then is the promised Redeemer of all of Father’s children and of the Earth itself. We cannot comprehend His infinite atonement, but the more we pray and ponder its infinite significance the closer we come to Him who accomplished it perfectly.

LDS New Testament Study

This year (2023) the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is focusing us on the New Testament, my hope with this emphasis, we will all of us come closer to our Lord and Savior, and “listen to His voice.” (D&C 29:1-2) I worry that we sometimes get caught up with who said what and where and miss the grand importance of the infinite atonement. We often forget, in our business, the first two laws of heaven, (Mt. 22:36-40). With Satan trying to tempt us at every turn, we need to look to Jesus in every thought, (D&C 6:36). As we meet the challenges life, the Lord counsels us “pray always,” so we can receive direction during our mortal journey. (D&C 14:7)

The Chosen – A Christian Historical Streaming Series

Much of the world has gotten to know the series, THE CHOSEN, based on the gospels in the New Testament and produced by Dallas Jenkins and his team at Angel Studios. With over 300 million streaming views and subtitles in several languages, the series has become an international phenomenon. They just released “SEASON THREE,” and my wife and I watched all the episodes from SEASON THREE. We watched and enjoyed the other two seasons, as well. They have done a great job in their research of Hebrew traditions and how life was under the thumb of the Roman Empire. But then one needs to realize that their story is not what really happened—even though they have tried to base the production on the scriptural account.

In the Book of Mormon, Nephi prophesied of “other books” that would augment the Bible (1 Ne. 13:39). With some help from my friend, Dezert, I have recently learned of several apocryphal books giving additional insights and information on our Savior’s life. I have augmented my scripture studies with some of them, and I have learned a lot of exciting information about our Savior, which I believe is much more factual and useful in drawing closer to Him than the pictures painted in the television series, THE CHOSEN. Facts are better than fiction.

The Apocrypha

The Apocrypha are biblical or related texts that are not part of the accepted canon of Scripture.

The Lord told the Prophet Joseph Smith: “Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you concerning the Apocrypha—There are many things contained therein that are true, and it is mostly translated correctly; There are many things contained therein that are not true, which are interpolations by the hands of men. Verily, I say unto you, that it is not needful that the Apocrypha should be translated. [by Joseph Smith at that time] Therefore, whoso readeth it, let him understand, for the Spirit manifesteth truth; And whoso is enlightened by the Spirit shall obtain benefit therefrom;” (D&C 91:1-5)

I believe reading apocryphal literature with the Spirit—along with the scriptures–can open great-big doors of truth and light about our Redeemer, and how to come to better know the Father and the Son (John 17:3). It is doing that for me, and I am having a great time learning. In fulfillment of Nephi’s prophecy, we are seeing “other books” coming forth to shed light and truth. My personal joke at age 86 is to learn faster than I forget. As I read other books, I measure them against the truths that I know from the restoration, from the Spirit, and from what I have learned otherwise. The Lord has promised that in the last days, “nothing shall be withheld.” (D&C 121:28) When the Lord uses “shall,” that means for sure!

Joseph of Arimathea – Gospel to Britain

Before I got to know Dezert, I had bought a copy of THE GOSPEL OF THE WISE STRANGERS or THE KAILEDY by Joseph of Amamathia—Tranz-Literation by Dezert-Owl. In fact, this is how I got to know him. I was so impressed with what he had done in this book that I listened to a three-and-a-half hour podcast featuring him. At the end of the podcast, he provided a number, so I gave him a call, and we had a wonderful visit. We have become friends and have corresponded and shared information ever since.

As an example, I share two very important and major highlights from the Gospel brought to Britain by Joseph of Arimathea and tranz-literated by Dezert. These are not known in the Christian community.

1) It describes in great detail that Jesus first appeared to His mother, Mary. You can imagine that no heart was heavier than Mary’s with what she saw her Son go through those three days from Gethsemane to the empty tomb and knowing that He was the Son of God. So, this version shares what an enormous blessing it was to see her glorious resurrected Son. That feels right to me Dezert’s tranz-literation shares this most inspiring story in detail.

2) On page 234 of this book we read of “TWO SABBATHS.” In other words, the Lord orchestrated in Hebrew tradition that two Sabbaths would occur in conjunction with the infinite atonement.

Jesus Body Laid for Three Days in the Tomb

The Apostle John alludes to this in John 19:31. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus needed to take Jesus’ body from the cross for burial before that “Sabbath day was an high day” followed by a regular Sabbath—making the three days for the infinite atonement. Jesus gave the Jews a sign that as Jonah spent three days and three nights in the belly of a whale, so He would spend three days and three nights in the “heart of the earth.” (Mt. 12:40)

Nephi prophecies, “Behold, they will crucify him; and after he is laid in a sepulchre for the space of three days he shall rise from the dead, with healing in his wings; and all those who shall believe on his name shall be saved in the kingdom of God.” (2 Nephi 25:13)

The above North American artifact from Illinois denotes that He was in the tomb for three days. There were three days and three nights in America where it was totally dark while He worked out the infinite atonement, as detailed in the Book of Mormon. The rocks of the earth were broken up and “the God of nature suffers,” was heard in both the eastern and western continents.

In the NEW TESTAMENT IN MODERN ENGLISH translated from Greek by Ferrar Fenton, John 20:1 reads, “Now on the first day following the Sabbaths (footnote 3; Bolding is mine.)” Footnote 3 reads, “This is literally according to the Greek text; and it is important to observe that at that particular period, two Sabbaths, or days of second rest, actually fell together in the Jewish calendar. The Gospel of John 19:31 suggests the possibility of two sabbaths, as it mentions that the coming Sabbath “was an high day.”

“The Crucifixion took place on Thursday, and not on Friday, as is popularly supposed. This allows for the Lord Jesus to be held in the grip of death for three full days and nights.” So, Good Friday should be Good Thursday. Christianity has been celebrating it wrong for how many years? We have direct evidence on both the Eastern and Western continents of this important three day fact–so important to the infinite atonement.

Our good friend, Bob Arbon, told us about the Gospel that Joseph of Arimathea took to England. This started me on this current research journey. The e-book referenced in this article is great, but not nearly as good as the above book and has some mistakes. It leaves out the above two important messages in Desert’s “Tranz-Literation.” The e-book folks, also, allow no copying, which is frustrating for me as a person who wants to share TRUTH at every opportunity, and as I feel the Lord’s Spirit is prompting me.

The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus Christ

The AQUARIAN GOSPEL OF JESUS THE CHRIST By Levi Dowling (1844-1911) is an amazing apocryphal contribution with its 182 chapters telling Christ’s life story and teachings from birth all the way to Pentecost.

Before  Jesus’ three-year ministry in the Holy Land, He had a significant ministry in several countries in Asia. In Chapter 23:3-5 we read, “And Jesus sought to learn the Hindu art of healing, and became the pupil of Udraka, one of the greatest of the Hindu healers. Udraka taught the uses of the waters, plants, and earth; of heat and cold; sunshine and shade; of light and dark. He said, “The laws of nature are the laws of health, and he who lives according to these laws is never sick.”

This is the same message I share in Chapter 5 of my new book, Time & Eternity; The End-Times & Beyond Revealed, where I discuss the virtue of the “Gospel of the good earth” with the same promise of overcoming the diseases of the world.

Jesus visits Seven Sages in Alexandria–during the Sages time together. At the end of their time together, the Seven Sages laid their hands on Jesus’ head and gave him a profound blessing. (Chapter 59:22-24). In the next chapter, Jesus tells them of His crucifixion and how that will bring forth God’s magnificent truth to the whole world.

In Chapter 160 we learn that the Passover meal with the Twelve Apostles was held in Nicodemus’ home. In Chapter 172:15-22 we read a synopsis of Doctrine and Covenants Section 138 where Christ visits the spirit world during the three days His body was in the tomb, as the sixth step in His infinite atonement. The seventh step being His glorious resurrection. The infinite atonement is like a perfect balance between mercy and justice (watch podcast 33, 2021) orchestrated by Father and Mother and their Son’s perfect love for each of us.

The Crucifixion Report

I was deeply touched by THE CRUCIFIXION REPORT OF PONTUS PILOT TO: TIBERIUS CAESAR: ALL BASED UPON THE ORIGINAL THOUGHT By A Micah Hill Dezert-Owl. Pilot’s wife was a very spiritual person and she had warned Pilot to protect Jesus. Pilot did many things to do so, but, of course, failed in the final events as the Savior was on His fore-ordained path to work out the infinite atonement. I was totally fascinated to learn that Pilot shares that the lights came from the heavens with the glorious event of the Savior’s resurrection on that sacred Sunday morning and that when He arose, many others arose in jubilant rejoicings. The same occurred in America as recorded in the Book of Mormon. Pilot and Jesus were friends and Pilot wept when Christ was crucified.

All we have in the New Testament is: “Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, saying, Father, it is finished, thy will is done, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent, and the graves were opened; and the bodies of the saints which slept, arose, who were many, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.” (KJV Mt. 27:54-57) The NIV has a better translation of verse 52, “The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.”

Many of the English translations of these verses in the Bible imply the souls sleeping until the resurrection. The Book of Mormon and the some 13 million near death experiences clearly share otherwise. The spirit at death does not sleep but goes to the spirit world and to paradise or to spirit prison depending on the lives we have lived.

Christ’s spirit went to the paradise during the three days His body laid in the tomb. There He completed the sixth step in His infinite atonement.

Sharing Exciting and Inspiring Research

I could go on and on about sharing my exciting and inspiring research, but this blog article is getting too long. I hope you feel the Spirit in what I have shared, and I again hope and pray that all of us will grow closer to our Savior and Redeemer—ever listening to His voice for each of us and to our Beloved Heavenly Parents. We are their offspring. Christ in His infinite love does everything needed to bring us back to our Heavenly home through His infinite atonement. I also did a podcast on this incredible stone shown above.

May we be part of the Bride to meet Him (the Bridegroom) at His Coming and participate in His ideal society, ZION. It will happen, and we can be part of this glorious event! I have a whole chapter in my new book devoted to this. Let us come to know the Father and the Son, which includes Heavenly Mother, and their infinite love for each of us and have eternal life with them. It is a perfect plan of Joy, in the midst of all our imperfections and worldly problems. AN AMAZING AND EXCITING TRUTH!

David W. Allan

PS Dezert has over 30 Tranz-Literations and several supporting dictionaries on Amazon, on LULU.com, and on KOBO.com.

PSS Interview of Russell Burrows – YouTube by my good friend, Brian Nettles, in Russell Burrows home on 1 April 2023 in Windsor, CO. Russell is 87 years old and had a stroke three years ago. Extremely important interview. Thank you, Brian.

PSSS Many believe the Burrows’ Cave artifacts in Illinois are hoaxes because of their strong Christian imagery. They ignore that the Book of Mormon people, who lived in North America were Christians. The above artifact disproves the traditional Christian belief that Good Friday commemorates the day of Christ’s crucifixion, and traditional modern Christians do not know of the nail holes in Christ’s wrists.

Wayne May: Thank you for the image. IT IS GOLD!

 

 

 

 

 

Book of Mormon EXPO Highlights – 2023

Spirituality,

The Book of Mormon Conference and EXPO was held 6-8 April 2023 at the American EXPO Center in Sandy, UT. I was honored to be a speaker at this event and I shared a summary of my new book. You can go to the “Book Of Mormon Evidence” website to see the large variety of fascinating topics that were presented. You can sign up for their streaming service, which will allow you to view all presentations, once they are processed. Below, I share a few highlights from the conference.

Lynn “Doc” Cleland – A  Journey of  nearly 1,400 Miles

I had the opportunity to meet Lynn “Doc” Cleland, a gentleman from the Salt Lake area. He reported that his third great-grandmother, Sarah Goode joined the Church and was widowed in 1854. She was left alone with six children under the age of 12.

Before leaving England in April of 1856 to join the saints in Salt Lake, she was given a blessing and promise she would complete the journey successfully and not lose one of her children on the way. She was also promised that she would be the first handcart to enter the valley.

After they arrived in the States they went by train to Iowa City. On September, 26th she got permission from Captain Ellsworth to leave early, and she and her six children were the first handcart to enter the Salt Lake valley. With her permission, her six children were swept up by horsemen who came to meet them at the mouth of Immigration Canyon. It was a time of great rejoicing.

She is featured in the movie, Seventeen Miracles. Her experience was also featured in a 2006 ENSIGN article: “Some Must Push and Some Must Pull”. The article touched Doc’s heart and Knowing her story through his family history. He decided to honor this brave woman in 2009 by replicating her experience.

Doc built a handcart, ate the same kinds of food Sarah would have eaten, and pulled a handcart nearly 1,400 miles, following the same path as best he could. Over the 110-day journey, he lost 48 pounds, and nearly died three times during his trek and was miraculously healed.

He has written the book, “Faith Greater Than Pain”, which is available on Amazon. A full-length Hollywood level movie is also being made about his experience.

Angelic Experiences

Doc had some major angelic assistance experiences during his trek and learned that Sarah had been with him all the way. The orchestration of the following is a most inspiring example. When he got to Douglas, WY, he noticed that there was an LDS church not far from the trail. So, he went there that evening where he met the Young Men’s President, Martin Harris, who is the third great son of Martin Harris who shares his profound testimony which is in every copy of the Book of Mormon.

Grandfather, Martin Harris, also mortgaged his farm to provide the necessary monies needed to print the first 5,000 copies of the Book of Mormon. Martin is also one of the three witnesses, who heard the voice of God telling them the truth of this most remarkable book. He also is the one who took the characters to Professor Charles Anthon to validate their correctness that Joseph Smith had copied and translated from the gold plates.

A Coincidence?

Doc called the local Bishop and got permission to set up his tent on the lawn of the church. Since this was a Wednesday evening and Brother Harris was at the church with the young people, Doc asked him for a favor. Doc had a replica of the first copy of the Book of Mormon and felt to ask Martin to write in it and share his testimony of the book, and Martin agreed to do that.

After a long evening, at about 10 o’clock Martin gave the book back to Doc. Doc being tired, didn’t read what Martin had written until two days later. He was so touched by his testimony, he decided to make a trip back to Douglas, and have Martin tell him, “the rest of the story.”

When Doc went back, to Douglas, Brother Harris shared that over the course of that Wednesday evening, he couldn’t think what to write; he just stared at a blank page. Finally, after all, his church duties were taken care of and while pondering what to write a phrase came into his mind. He wrote it down. Then waited; another phrase came into his mind. He wrote it down, and this continued until the testimony was completed.

Doc shared with me this testimony, which is most inspiring. It is the original Martin Harris dictating his testimony to his third great grandson. Doc also shared with me a four-minute video he obtained from the grandson telling of this unique angelic experience.

So, we have this unique ministering angel Divine orchestration where Martin’s third great-grandfather, Martin Harris—one of the three witnesses of the gold plates, gets to share his testimony again through his third great-grandson by the same name. In due process, Doc will be sharing that marvelous testimony that is written in his first replica edition of the Book of Mormon.

This is much like Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon. He would study the characters on the gold plates through the Urim and Thummim and then a phase would come to mind. The phrase needed to be correct–including the spelling of a lot of unique names– before he could move on. A MARVELOUS WORK AND A WONDER; not a coincidence!

David W. Allan – Highlights of New Book, Time & Eternity; the End-Times & Beyond Revealed

I highlighted the contents of my new book, Time & Eternity; the End-Times & Beyond Revealed. I got a lot of positive feedback on my presentation, and I am pleased that they recorded it to be part of their Streaming Service. We sold a case of books; the book gives hope and significant insights into God’s perfect plan of salvation and exaltation—manifesting God’s infinite love for each of us.

I shared also a very important statistic that I pulled from the last General Conference (1-2 April 2023) that the number of converts per thousand members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints went from 10 in 2021 to 12.5 in 2022. That is a 25% increase in one year. We hope and pray that trend continues even more.

President Russell M. Nelson has asked all young men to serve missions, and the nations of the earth appear to be receptive and preparing for Zion. Over the last four decades or longer that statistic has been seriously declining from 47.5 in the 1980s down to 7.6 with the COVID pandemic in 2020. I did a linear regression on the last four decades of the converts per thousand members. The extrapolation would indicate that we would have no converts in about a decade and a half, if that trend continued.

The Lord as a solution for every problem. That 25% increase from 2021 to 2022 may be the beginning of the Lord bringing about ZION. Let us hope, pray and help bring ZION about.

Tim Ballard – Invoke God’s Covenant On This Land

Tim gave a great presentation calling us all to invoke God’s covenant on this land by keeping the commandments and coming to the God of this land, who is Jesus Christ. He quoted extensively from Abraham Lincoln’s final inaugural address, which was inspired by the Lord and needs to be fully appreciated and implemented today.

“Fondly do we hope, fervently do we pray, that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue until all the wealth piled by the bondsman’s two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said: “the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

“With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation’s wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations”

He also shared the exciting news that the movie they have made, about his great success with the underground railroad activities rescuing children from human trafficking, is going to be produced by Angel Studies—the people who have created THE CHOSEN

Did Columbus Discover America?

I have a blog article concerning this question. The next issue of LAND OF PROMISE; Uncovering Ancient America will include my article by the title of this question.

I listened to Tim Ballard’s audio version of The Pilgrim’s Hypothesis while driving back and forth during the three days of the conference. He totally believes that Columbus was the man spoken of in 1 Nephi 13:12 whom the Spirit of God wrought upon to discover America. I believe the Lord often has backups to fulfill His divine purposes because of free will.

The data indicate that it was John Cabot, who actually came to this “Promised Land.” It was Cabot’s voyages that opened up the floodgates for the pilgrims and other European countries to come to America. Columbus didn’t come to the “Promised Land” spoken of in the Book of Mormon.

It is estimated that Columbus and his entourage were responsible for deaths of 12 to 15 million of the indigenous in the Caribbean. Columbus later repented. The Savior says, “By their fruits ye shall know them.” Cabot’s fruits were good; Columbus’ fruits were very bad before he repented.

Was Christ Married to Mary Magdalene?

In rabbinical tradition, most rabbis are married. We read the following:

Since marriage is a central institution of Judaism, it is appropriate that a communal leader lives in accordance with this ideal, and his obligation to marry is thus greater than a layman’s.

Also there is a certain gravitas that comes naturally with the responsibility of being married and caring for a family. Additionally, it is more likely that an unmarried man may find himself in an inappropriate situation with women he encounters in the course of his work. A principle area of a rabbi’s responsibility is guiding couples through the mitzvah of Family Purity, and very personal information is often shared with him. Even if no improper action is taken, the very conversation (and the thoughts it may generate) are inappropriate for a person who does not have a healthy home life to anchor him.

Apocryphal literature shows that Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene. He appeared to her after his resurrection after His resurrection. She went from the depths of despair to the heights of ecstasy as she saw the resurrected Lord and her husband, and some translations read that she ran and embraced Him. Scribes and translators have removed this information from our New Testament and that she was married to Jesus. Most Christians have the false tradition that Mary Magdalene was a prostitute, as in the movie, THE CHOSEN.

It is well documented that Joseph of Arimathea, Mary, the mother of Jesus’ uncle, took the family of Christ and close friends to England. This included Mary, Mary Magdalene, Lazarus and his sisters, Mary and Martha, and the blind man, whose name was Maximum, whose recording healing is in Chapter 9 of the gospel of John, and others totaling twelve.

The Druids, who are Hebrews, were fully expecting them. Joseph of Arimathea was ordained an Apostle, and their Christian outreach to the world was greater than what we have in the New Testament. Mary Magdalene had a beautiful singing voice–praising the Lord and was an amazing missionary–being the first to see the risen Lord.

One of the Apostles in General Conference shared that there are those who have asked is the seed of Jesus found in England. He said, “I can tell you yes, and there are those here who are of His seed.

Our youngest daughter, McKaylee, is our genealogy researcher. She found a line for my wife, Edna, going back to Jesus and Mary Magdalene in Edna’s ancestry. At the conference, Kris Kimball shared a slide showing a mural in England depicting our risen Lord standing with Mary Magdalene holding her hand, and she is pregnant.

The Book of Mormon Evidence Conference was great, and it was so wonderful to reconnect with dear friends and meet several new friends.

David W. Allan

 

Easter – The Most Important Holiday

Spirituality, , , , ,

Easter is the most important holiday for the world to celebrate.  Easter commemorates the completion of the three days and three nights of the infinite atonement, with two Sabbaths back-to-back.He is Risen

“He is Risen” changed the dynamic for the whole world, as the Savior completed the seven steps of His infinite atonement. “He that ascended up on high, as also he descended below all things, in that he comprehended all things, that he might be in all and through all things, the light of truth;” (D&C 88:6) The Father’s infinite love for each of us is manifest in this most important of all gifts of His Beloved Son. The Savior’s infinite atonement perfected Heavenly Father’s Plan of salvation for all of His children. Our praise and gratitude need to extend to the core of our hearts for this gift given by our infinitely loving Heavenly Father.

His Resurrection Miracle

His resurrection is the best-documented miracle in history and the most important miracle. We are all the beneficiaries of His glorious resurrection bringing us all back into the presence of God to be judged. The resurrection also opens the door to the fullness of JOY. (D&C 93:33-34)

The Fifth Gospel

I recently learned of a Fifth Gospel that was actually written before the four gospels. It was taken to England by Joseph of Arimathea, Jesus’ great uncle, who became an Apostle there.  I just got a hard copy last Monday (3 April 2023). It is in old English format and is hard to read, but I found it most fascinating. I have gone through all 288 pages and learned three new and very important things:

1.  After the Savior was resurrected, one of the first things He did was appear to his Mother, Mary, and the book gives a remarkable description of what a great blessing this was to her. I don’t think we can comprehend the trauma in her heart because of what her son had gone through the previous three days. When you think about it, why wouldn’t Jesus do this for her—giving her love for him and knowing who He was, as the Son of God, from the time of her miraculous conception? (Luke 1:35)

2.  The E-book Fifth gospel that I have shared before is clearly a modern translation of the ancient text in the book that I have but using modern English words. They have done a great job from the original but with some errors. None of the gospels are perfect translations. As always, we need to read the scriptures with the Spirit.

3)      The Apostle John talks about a high Sabbath—preceding the regular Sabbath—two Sabbaths in a row, which can happen as is part of Jewish tradition orchestrated by the Lord. (John 19:31) In other words this double Sabbath occurred so that prophecy would be fulfilled, as He lay in the tomb for three days. As the Savior said, it was just as Jonah was three days in the belly of the whale, (Matt. 12:39-40) Jesus earlier declared to the Jews, who asked for a sign. A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh for a sign, but He would give them the sign of the Prophet Jonah.  So, He was crucified on Thursday and was in the tomb Thursday, Friday, and Saturday until Sunday morning–making Thursday the GOOD THURSDAY we should commemorate for the weekday of His crucifixion. On page 234 of this new book I just got, it tells of the “TWO SABBATHS” to complete the three days. So, “Good Friday” should be “GOOD THURSDAY,” but false traditions have changed it over the years.

Three Days and Three Nights

The three days and three nights of darkness here in America correspond exactly with the time he suffered—starting in Gethsemane until he arose from the tomb—completing the seven steps of His perfect and infinite atonement. The resurrection is the capstone of His infinite atonement.

The fall of Adam and Eve brought both spiritual and physical deaths into the world. The infinite atonement overcame both. The Apostle Paul said it well, “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” (1 Corinthians 15:20-22) The Book of Mormon is very clear on this important doctrinal point. It is Christ’s resurrection that brings us back into the presence of God. (2 Nephi 9:6, 12, 22; Helaman 14:15-16)

The Infinite Atonement

Most Christians look to the cross and the blood of Jesus for salvation. Members and leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints express their gratitude for the “atoning sacrifice.” These views miss the incredible depth of the infinite atonement, which includes both His suffering & sacrifice and His glorious resurrection. The word “infinite” is needed to describe the atonement. As best we can comprehend it we should speak and think of the infinite atonement. As mortals, this is a major challenge for us, but the better we understand the infinite atonement, the closer we come to knowing the Father and the Son, which is eternal life. (John 17:3) Without Christ’s resurrection, we would be “toast.” We would all be damned.

Three Religions Acknowledge The Infinite Atonement

I find it fascinating how the Lord has orchestrated events to focus the Christians, the Jews, and the Muslims on His infinite atonement. The Christians have Easter; the Jews have Passover, which commemorates the Lord saving the House of Israel from Egyptian slavery, and the Muslims have Eid Al-Adha, which means “The Feast of the Sacrifice”.

We witnessed this celebration specifically among our Muslim friends while we were serving a mission in West Africa. This celebration commemorates Abraham’s willingness and obedience to sacrifice his son on Mt. Moriah, which significantly is the same Mt. where Jesus finished the infinite atonement.

Abraham walked from Hebron to Mt. Moriah taking three days. Three days of great emotional pain for Abraham–signifying the three days of infinite atonement. When Isaac asked where is the sacrifice? Abraham responded, “My son, God will provide himself a lamb for the burnt offering…” Genesis 22:8 in the Hebrew language has the meaning God will be the sacrifice—the lamb without blemish.

Join Me In the Celebration

I pray that you will join me in continually expressing gratitude for the infinite atonement. The three pillars of eternity are the creation, the fall, and the atonement which includes Christ’s glorious resurrection.  Have a blessed Easter and also join me in commemorating these three days for the incomprehensible gift of Christ’s infinite atonement from the Father because of His infinite love for each of us.

David W. Allan

Below I share additional information for further study.

The Infinite Atonement of Jesus Christ

What is the most important common holiday for Arabs, Jews, and Gentiles?

The Drama of The Lost Disciples 

The Gospel Before the Four Gospel

Photo Credit: Public Domaine Pictures