Lo Here, and Lo There
“I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong, and the personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in His sight: that those professors were all corrupt; He said: They draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; they teach for doctrines the commandments of men: having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.” -Avahr 6:33-36
When Joseph Smith Jr. walked into the grove to pray, after reading James 1:5, he had a miraculous experience. We do not know exactly what occurred, but we do know that he had a revelation. The different versions of this vision or revelation may be studied in Appendix 1 of the Book of Avahr. The thing they all have in common is that he was told not to join any of the denominations he had explored. Why not? And does this revelation mean that all churches were evil? And if they were, are they still today?
The Word of Wisdom
“A Word of Wisdom, for the benefit of the council of high priests, assembled in Kirtland, and the church, and also the saints in Zion; to be sent greeting, not by commandment or constraint, but by revelation and the word of wisdom…” -Doctrines of the Saints 58:1-2
Section 58 of the Doctrines of the Saints is known as the Word of Wisdom and is an interesting doctrine of all Latter Day Saints and Mormons that accept some form of the Doctrine and Covenants share. While we all enjoy the blessing of the revelation, it seems that each sect interprets it very differently. What does the Fellowship do with it?
Multiple Mortal Probations
Note: This article originally ran February 8, 2020.
“Thus are the five stages of man: Intelligence, Spirit, Flesh, Soul, and Resurrected Being; the final being all stages in one, a Morning Star—forever complete.” –Melchizedek 4:9
The Church of Jesus Christ in Christian Fellowship has no official position on gilgul (גלגול, Hebrew for “rolling”), past lives, reincarnation, or multiple mortal probations (or MMP). There are a number of views on these within the Latter Day Saint movement, from their necessity to reach the highest degrees of Heaven, to outright disdain. Here we will introduce you to some of these concepts as they relate to both the Latter Day Saint movement and Kabbalah. Please note that this is just an introduction. More study on these topics is encouraged.
Latter Day Sisterhood
The Sisterhood of Christ is doing more than give women a voice in the Lord’s Fellowship; it is extending the keys of the priesthood of God to any woman who feels called of God to do His works.
The Divine Feminine
Note: This article was originally posted May 12, 2018
“And it came to pass that the Spirit said unto me, Look! And I looked and beheld a tree; and it was like unto the tree which my father had seen; and the beauty thereof was far beyond, yea, exceeding of all beauty; and the whiteness thereof did exceed the whiteness of the driven snow.” -1 Nephi 3:46 RAV, 11:8 OPV
Within the Latter Day Saint movement, there are a number of theologies regarding the nature of God. In the Fellowship, and within Mormon Kabbalah, we accept all of them. It’s about how God reveals Himself, or Themselves, to us as individuals. We build, as it were, our own religions.
God Loves His LGBTQ Children
“ As to thy call, my Fellowship, to unite my people, I say: accept those that all others reject with hope, joy, and happiness. Worry not that there are those that judge others by the color of their skin, or their gender or sexual orientation, or in any way, for those who seek to hear my voice and heed my call must soften their hearts to these, my children. Homosexuality is neither a sin, nor a confusion, it is an eternal principle, for thus did I create them; and so too are my transgender children; therefore, exclude them not, hide them not, and forgo them not; for these are my children, and I say unto thee: bring these children unto me. Worry not what the world shall say unto thee for obeying my Law and my doctrine, but be thou obedient and thy tolerance shall be a light in the darkness; but know that this is my light, the very light of Christ, and the darkness shall comprehend it not; therefore, let my love and my light shine forth through the darkness that these, my children, shall no longer be lost, but be found in me and find a home in thee. This is my commandment to my Church and my Kingdom, yea even all my Saints that wish to fellowship in my name; so mote it be, Amen.” -Doctrines of the Saints 125:33-40
Editor’s note: This article contains topics of a more sensitive nature discussing sex and sexuality. Reader discretion is advised. This article was originally posted in July of 2019.
In the Church of Jesus Christ in Christian Fellowship we fully accept the LGBTQ community. We will marry and/or seal same-sex couples for all time and eternity. The Fellowship fully supports all marriages based on unity, love, and a committed relationship with God. We encourage everyone to follow the law of Christ to the best of their abilities. In the Fellowship of Christ, all unions and marriages may be sealed for all time and eternity.
Why the Book of Mormon is True
“And [God] gave him power from on high, by the means which were before prepared, to translate the Book of Mormon; which contains a record of a fallen people, and the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles and to the Jews also; which was given by inspiration, and is confirmed to others by the ministering of angels, and is declared unto the world by them—proving to the world that the holy scriptures are true, and that God does inspire men and call them to his holy work in this age and generation, as well as in generations of old; thereby showing that he is the same God yesterday, today, and forever. Amen.” -Doctrines of the Saints 2a:8-11
All holy books have truth and wisdom in them; yet we do not accept all holy books as scripture the way we do the Bible and Book of Mormon. We claim the Book of Mormon is “true.” We say that the Gospel is “true.” But what does this mean? What is “truth?”
Jesus Taught the Kingdom
Note: The following was originally published March 6, 2019
“And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy.” -Acts 2:17-18
I shared in my book, “The Destiny of Ephraim and the Restoration of the House of Israel” that around the year 2000, a message came to rest very powerfully in my conscience. I believed it to be a message from the Holy Spirit. “It is the end of the Church Age and the beginning of the Kingdom Age.” After this, I wrote an entire book on the subject, as the the Lord confirmed this word, again and again, through many witnesses and in many dreams, visions, and testimonies.
Christ and the Spirit of Ubuntu
The following was originally posted March 17, 2018
“And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one.” -John 17:22
The early Christians were different than what people see Christians as today. They were pacifists, they enjoyed communal living, and their focus was on love. One might say they embodied the spirit of ubuntu.
Taking the Book of Mormon at Its Word
“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions” -Joel 2:28
We, as Latter Day Saints, claim to be living in the last days. When we look at the life of Joseph Smith Jr., his visions and revelations, it does appear to be the case. Before, during, and after the translation of the Book of Mormon he received numerous dreams, visions, and revelations. And it wasn’t only him. Lucy Mack Smith, Joseph Smith Sr., Oliver Cowdery, Sidney Rigdon, and other also received dreams, visions, and revelations. Truly the Spirit of God was poured out, and Joel’s prophecy was coming true! (See Joel 2:28)
The Sealed Book of Mormon & Kabbalah Presents Solutions
“The Nephite people, taking then, by their highest sentiments, banished from their midst all resentment that came from the evil one, beginning with sorrow and rancor, then anguish and fear, anger and covetousness, lasciviousness, and many others derived from Satan; and whenever an adverse feeling to the Heavenly gifts was identified, a record was made of it for the purpose of being worked out at Church meetings in general, for the purpose of being replaced by the noble sentiments derived from the greater Gift, coming from the name of our God, one at a time, until he strife between the brethren ceased to exist, and there were no more quarrels among the Nephite people… Therefore, it became necessary to keep a record of those who have the desire in their hearts to fulfill this Law, and after, to be individually analyzed in relation to the spiritual state and faith of each one to the promises of God and the building of Zion.” Acts of the Three Nephites (A3N) 8:1, 11a
As I read this scripture, my comment here is that I know that with God all things are possible. The United order will not succeed, as have so many attempts have failed. This is due to the necessary revelation regarding the spiritual psychology that is not clear or understood. The personal psychology of every individual needs to be evaluated, not just in men but also in women and in families, for the issues regarding the individuals and families to be resolved.
Worshipping at Home
“And in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.” -Acts 5:42
Some of the members of the Fellowship currently attend local congregations of other branches of our shared religion. While there are over 100 Latter Day Saint denominations that doesn’t mean there will be a place of worship near everyone. And that’s okay, the Lord has told us we only need two or three people to worship in His name (Matthew 18: 20).