A good friend just asked me, “Am I creating situations in my own home that allow my family to feel the spirit?” “Do I feel and recognize the spirit even though I am unable to meet with others in church each Sunday?”
Just over a year ago President Nelson prophetically shifted the focus of the church to home based worship and study. We were all encouraged to study and teach in our own homes, allowing our testimony to grow because of spiritual experiences had at home. Little did any of us know that just 1 year after these changes were made, the church would be cancelled all together. Now, what have we learned as the Covid scare is relenting? I believe it was a government scare that was for money and control, but were we able to learn from it?
I invite all of us to seek spiritual moments in our homes even when the outside world seems to be all messed up. I hope we can all recognize and treasure some sacred moments of spiritual growth constantly. I promise that as we seek the spirit in our home, we will find peace of mind and a deep sense of appreciation for everything we have. I testify that President Nelson is a prophet, seer, and revelator who holds and properly exercises all the priesthood keys. And because he does this, we can all benefit from the blessings and guidance of the Holy Ghost in our personal lives at home. Personal revelation is very possible.
“No one can ever take away a witness borne to your heart and mind about what is true.”
You don’t have to wonder about what is true. You do not have to wonder whom you can safely trust. Through personal revelation, you can receive your own witness that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, that Joseph Smith is a prophet, and that this is the Lord’s Church. Regardless of what others may say or do, no one can ever take away a witness borne to your heart and mind about what is true.I urge you to stretch beyond your current spiritual ability to receive personal revelation, for the Lord has promised that “if thou shalt [seek], thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge, that thou mayest know the mysteries and peaceable things —that which bringeth joy, that which bringeth life eternal.” Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives by President Russell M. Nelson
Evil is Alive and Well
With so many wrong ideas and evil opportunities in the world, how can our personal revelation keep us on Pres Nelson’s “Covenant Path”? There are so many apostates wanting to see the Church fail and to catch the Prophets telling lies, I would say that the Gadianton’s are alive and deceiving many, even the elite.
“Korihor is alive and well at Mormon Stories Podcast. It seems that modern-day apostasy has found a new home at a well funded website dubbed “Mormon Stories Podcast.” As Hugh Nibley once said, if you want to write an anti-Mormon book, just get an old one, dust it off and take a bit of a different slant and republish it under a new name. Now hiding in plain site, the website pretends to be faith-affirming, but then all of the old charges that the Book of Abraham was a ruse or that Joseph Smith dabbled in the occult surface without even an effort to show both sides of an argument. Several my blogs and many articles by the Joseph Smith Foundation have answered many of these phony charges but the website ignores all that. Yes, Korihor is alive and well and now has a website. The ironic thing is that it is a fulfillment of prophecy that “calumny will defame…” But, we know how it ends. In the meantime, “Mormon Stories” continues its deception after the order of Korihor. And, it is well funded. Unfortunately, money talks.”
Mormon Stories is WRONG. They are selling you you a bill of goods. This gospel is true and you need to follow President Russell M. Nelson who speaks for the Lord Jesus Christ!
Evil Teachings of Today
You will find many other people and organizations who mean well but hide behind certain little lies. They love the Church and believe they are teaching truth, but after you study and pray you get a different feeling. For example the Interpreter Foundation just released their movie called “Witnesses”, it was nicely done, the acting was wonderful and I felt the spirt when the witnesses kept their faith in the Book of Mormon. However, the silly story of Martin hiding a seer stone, and everyone showing Joseph looking in a hat for translation I believe is a serious challenge to faith and what the Prophet said. Joseph Smith said, “Also, that there were two stones in silver bows—and these stones, fastened to a breastplate, constituted what is called the Urim and Thummim—deposited with the plates; and the possession and use of these stones were what constituted “seers” in ancient or former times; and that God had prepared them for the purpose of translating the book.” (Joseph Smith—History 1:34–35) This is clear that Joseph did not use a peep stone or a seer stone to translate the Book of Mormon.
What about Critical Race Theory today, that teaches the White race are all racist and others are constantly oppressed and permanently held back. All Whites need to feel guilt for their whiteness. How absurd.
What about the new word “equity“? What does it mean? “True equity implies that an individual may need to experience or receive something different (not equal) in order to maintain fairness and access. For example, a person with a wheelchair may need differential access to an elevator relative to someone else. … Few people would find [this] unfair.
However, within Critical Social Justice conceptions of the world … invisible systems of power and privilege are understood to hold some people back in often invisible ways because of their race, gender, sexuality, or other marginalized identity factors. Therefore, “equity” requires giving some identity groups privileges in order to redress the perceived imbalance. …” Wentworth Report
What about the 1619 project? “The project dedicated an issue of the Time Magazine to a re-examination of the legacy of slavery in the United States, at the anniversary of the 1619 arrival of the first slaves to Virginia, challenging the notion that the history of the United States began in 1776 or with the arrival of the Pilgrims.” Wikipedia These race hustlers are trying to wipe out our true American history and base it on the slavery question.
What about the problem at BYU and other universities teaching organic evolution as a law and not a science? Some of these professors begin teaching theory as if it were truth. I believe a cat can never become a dog, many professors try and teach us otherwise. Elder Packer said, “Historians seem to take great pride in publishing something new, particularly if it illustrates a weakness or mistake of a prominent historical figure. For some reason, historians and novelists seem to savor such things. If it related to a living person, it would come under the heading of gossip. History can be as misleading as gossip and much more difficult—often impossible—to verify. The writer or the teacher who has an exaggerated loyalty to the theory that everything must be told is laying a foundation for his own judgment. He should not complain if one day he himself receives as he has given. Perhaps that is what is contemplated in having one’s sins preached from the housetops.” The Mantle Is Far, Far Greater Than the Intellect Elder Boyd K. Packer
What is the Answer?
Personal Revelation! Like President Nelson said, “You don’t have to wonder about what is true.”
How do you answer the voice of critics? Are you a conservative or liberal? Are you a traditionalist or a progressive? Do you love the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or do you constantly seek to change it’s history? Is your testimony of the Lord growing or remaining neutral? Are you green and growing or ripe and rotten? Do you need to get a check up from the neck up to get rid of stinkin’ thinkin’? Remember, if you do what you’ve always done, you will get what you’ve always got! I know if you read and pray to the Lord for help, He will answer you. don’t get caught up in all this negative revisionist histroy. Stick to the Lord’s word in scripture and prayer!
Zebedee Coltrin an amazing High Priest of the Lord, while praying with Joseph Smith and others said, “While engaged in silent prayer, kneeling, with hands uplifted each one praying in silence, no one whispered above his breath, a personage walked through the room from from East to west, and Joseph asked if we saw him. I saw him and suppose the others did, and Joseph answered that is Jesus, the Son of God, our elder brother. Afterward Joseph told us to resume our former position in prayer, which we did. Another person came through; He was surrounded as with a flame of fire. He [Bro Coltrin] experienced a sensation that it might destroy the tabernacles as it was of consuming fire of great brightness. The Prophet Joseph said this was the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. I saw Him.
I believe the answer to all questions can come from prayer, scripture study, listening to Prophets, reading good books, serving others, and you will receive personal revelation just as many of the saints of old did. You will be amazed at some of the following stories in our Church History that confirm the Lord speaks to us in today’s world. Seek Him and ye shall find Him!
“Many important revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith happened in the Whitney store in Kirtland. The saints had many spiritual experiences in this store and I believe our understanding of these events may assist us in receiving revelation for our own stewardships in these last days. One of my favorite pioneers not well known in the church is Zebedee Coltrin. In 1835 Coltrin was appointed to be one of the first seven presidents of the Seventy. In 1873, John Taylor ordained Coltrin to be a church patriarch, a position he held until his death in Spanish Fork at the age of 82. Visit the Joseph Smith Papers here for details about his life.
“Referred to as the “House of God” in D&C 88, the Newel K. Whitney and Co. store in Kirtland, Ohio, was the site of seventeen revelations recorded in the Doctrine and Covenants and of sacred visions.
House of Revelation
Church life in Kirtland, Ohio, from 1831 to 1834 revolved around the Newel K. Whitney and Co. store. For eighteen months, this store served as the headquarters of the Church, and it was here that the First Presidency was given the keys of the kingdom. (See D&C 90:6; History of the Church [HC], 1:334.) Joseph Smith and family also lived here for eighteen months, and during that time, the Prophet finished his work on the texts of the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible.
The first meeting of Joseph Smith and Newel K. Whitney took place in this room, the main part of the store. A post office and the United Firm (a co-op) were also operated here. And it was here that a clerk, Orson Hyde (who later became a member of the Quorum of the Twelve), gained a testimony of the gospel.
In addition, some of the most sacred events of early Church history took place in an upstairs room at a conference held 23 January 1833. Further, the ordinance of the washing of feet was given here for the first time in this dispensation. (See HC, 1:323–24.) Several of those present experienced “divine manifestations of the Holy Spirit,” including a vision of God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ.
Seventeen revelations were received in the Translation Room from March 1832 to December 1833: sections 78, 84–98, and 101 of the Doctrine and Covenants [D&C 78; D&C 84–98; D&C 101]. It was also here that the Prophet finished his work on the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible.
In recent times, on 18 November 1988, the President’s Historic Preservation Award was given to Church authorities in a ceremony at the White House in recognition of the excellent restoration of this building.
“Thou Art the Man!”
“‘About the first of February, 1831, a sleigh containing four persons drove through the streets of Kirtland and drew up in front of the store of Gilbert and Whitney. One of the men, a young and stalwart personage alighted, and springing up the steps walked into the store and to where the junior partner was standing. “Newel K. Whitney! Thou art the man!” he exclaimed, extending his hand cordially, as if to an old and familiar acquaintance. “You have the advantage of me,” replied the merchant, as he mechanically took the proffered hand, “I could not call you by name as you have me.” “I am Joseph the Prophet,” said the stranger smiling. “You’ve prayed me here, now what do you want of me?” ‘The Prophet, it is said, while in the East had seen the Whitneys, in vision, praying for his coming to Kirtland. ‘Mother Whitney’ [Elizabeth Ann, wife of Newel] also tells how on a certain night prior to the advent … , while she and her husband were praying to the Lord to know how they might obtain the gift of the Holy Ghost, which of all things they desired, they saw a vision as of a cloud of glory resting upon their house, and heard a voice from heaven saying, ‘Prepare to receive the word of the Lord, for it is coming.’” (HC, 1:146.)
Conversion of Orson Hyde
“I attended the Saints’ meeting in Kirtland, Sunday, October 30, 1831, and offered myself a candidate for baptism, which was administered to me by the hands of Elder Sidney Rigdon; was confirmed and ordained an elder in the Church on the same day under the hands of Joseph Smith, the Prophet, and Sidney Rigdon. Not until about three days after did I receive any internal evidence of the special approbation of Heaven of the course I had taken. When one evening behind the counter, the Spirit of the Lord came upon me in so powerful a manner, that I felt like waiting upon no one, and withdrew in private to enjoy the feast alone. This, to me, was a precious season, long to be remembered.” (Millennial Star, 26 [1864]: 761.)
Joseph Smith III was born in this bedroom on 6 November 1832. He was the fourth of nine children born to Joseph and Emma, but the first to survive to adulthood. The Smiths were also caring for adopted twins at this time. One of them died in March 1832.
The Need for the Word of Wisdom
“Over [the] kitchen was situated the room in which the Prophet received revelations and in which he instructed his brethren [the School of the Prophets]. The brethren came to that place for hundreds of miles to attend school in a little room probably no larger than eleven by fourteen. When they assembled together in this room after breakfast, the first thing they did was to light their pipes, and, while smoking, talk about the great things of the kingdom, and spit all over the room, and as soon as the pipe was out of their mouths a large chew of tobacco would then be taken. Often when the Prophet entered the room to give the school instructions he would find himself in a cloud of tobacco smoke. This, and the complaints of his wife at having to clean so filthy a floor, made the Prophet think upon the matter, and he inquired of the Lord relating to the conduct of the Elders in using tobacco, and the revelation known as the Word of Wisdom was the result of his inquiry.” (Brigham Young, in Journal of Discourses, 12:158.)
Brother Zebedee Coltrin adds the following information to this story: “When the Word of Wisdom [D&C 89] was first presented by the Prophet Joseph … there were twenty out of the twenty-one who used tobacco and they all immediately threw their tobacco and pipes into the fire.” (Minutes, Salt Lake City School of Prophets, 3 Oct. 1883, p. 56.)
The kitchen is about ten by fourteen feet in size, with several pantries. Emma, wife of the Prophet Joseph, fed many people here including members of the School of the Prophets, who came down to the kitchen after fasting and holding meetings.
Visions of the Father and the Son
Zebedee Coltrin shared the following sacred experience: “At one of these meetings after the organization of the school, (the school being organized on the 23rd of January, 1833), when we were all together, Joseph having given instructions, and while engaged in silent prayer, kneeling, with our hands uplifted each one praying in silence, no one whispered above his breath, a personage walked through the room from east to west, and Joseph asked if we saw him. I saw him and suppose the others did and Joseph answered that is Jesus, the Son of God, our elder brother. Afterward Joseph told us to resume our former position in prayer, which we did. Another person came through; he was surrounded as with a flame of fire. … The Prophet Joseph said this was the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. I saw Him.” (Minutes, Salt Lake City School of Prophets, 3 Oct. 1883, pp. 56–57.)
The Brethren met here, in the store’s School of the Prophets Room, during the winter of 1832–33. Also, from 3 December 1832 to 21 June 1833, at least eighteen meetings were held here, including the hallowed meeting of 23 January 1833. The nature of the events that took place here lend the room the sanctity of a temple. “Behold, verily, I say unto you, this is an ensample unto you for a salutation to one another in the house of God, in the school of the prophets.” (D&C 88:136.)
This event is corroborated by John Murdock, missionary companion of Zebedee Coltrin at the time and also present at the meeting: “In one of these meetings the prophet told us if we could humble ourselves before God, and exercise strong faith, we should see the face of the Lord. And about midday the visions of my mind were opened, and the eyes of my understanding were enlightened, and I saw the form of a man, most lovely, the visage of his face was sound and fair as the sun. His hair a bright silver grey, curled in most majestic form, His eyes a keen penetrating blue, and the skin of his neck a most beautiful white and he was covered from the neck to the feet with a loose garment, pure white, whiter than any garment I have ever before seen. His countenance was most penetrating, and yet most lovely. And while I was endeavoring to comprehend the whole personage from head to feet it slipped from me, and the vision was closed up. But it left on my mind the impression of love, for months, that I never felt before to that degree.” (John Murdock Journal, typescript, Brigham Young University archives, p. 13.)
Landing between stairway (lower left corner) and School of the Prophets Room (at right).
The Keys of the Kingdom
On 18 March 1833, “Elder Rigdon expressed a desire that himself and Brother Frederick G. Williams should be ordained to the offices to which they had been called, viz., those of Presidents of the High Priesthood, and to be equal in holding the keys of the kingdom with Brother Joseph Smith, Jun., according to the revelation given on the 8th of March, 1833. Accordingly I laid my hands on Brothers Sidney and Frederick, and ordained them to take part with me in holding the keys of this last kingdom, and to assist in the Presidency of the High Priesthood, as my Counselors; after which I exhorted the brethren to faithfulness and diligence in keeping the commandments of God, and gave much instruction for the benefit of the Saints, with a promise that the pure in heart should see a heavenly vision; and after remaining a short time in secret prayer, the promise was verified; for many present had the eyes of their understanding opened by the Spirit of God, so as to behold many things. I then blessed the bread and wine, and distributed a portion to each. Many of the brethren saw a heavenly vision of the Savior, and concourses of angels, and many other things, of which each one has a record of what he saw.” (HC, 1:334–35.)”
[photos above] by Welden Andersen Official Web site of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
© 2014 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All Rights Reserved Jan. 1993
https://www.lds.org/ensign/1993/01/house-of-revelation?lang=eng
The Kirtland School of the Prophets
Zebedee Coltrin: “Coltrin became a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy on 28 February 1835. The mouthpiece for that ordination was Presiding Patriarch of the Church Joseph Smith, Sr., with his sons, the Prophet Joseph Smith Jr. and Hyrum Smith; Assistant President of the Church Oliver Cowdery; First Presidency members Sidney Rigdon and Frederick G. Williams; and apostle David Whitmer, laying their hands upon his head in the Melchizedek Priesthood circle. The next day, Coltrin was appointed to be one of the first seven presidents of the Seventy. When the church hierarchy realized that Coltrin had previously been ordained a high priest, Coltrin was released as one of the presidents of the Seventy on 6 April 1837 and took his place among his brethren of the high priesthood.” Wikipedia Zebedee Coltrin
The first session of the School of the Prophets continued from 23 January into April. Little is known of the details of the daily classes. Two interviews with Zebedee Coltrin who participated in the first session of the School of the Prophets, give us our only real look into the daily activities of the School. In an interview held 3 October 1883, the following was reported:
“The salutation, as written in the Doctrine and Covenants was carried out at that time, and at every meeting, and the washing of feet was attended to, the Sacrament was also administered at times when Joseph appointed, after the ancient order; that is, warm bread to break easy was provided, and broken into pieces as large as my fist and each person had a glass of wine and sat and ate the bread and drank the wine; and Joseph said that was the way that Jesus and his disciples partook of the break [bread] and wine; and this was the order of the church anciently, and until the church went into darkness. Every time we were called together to attend any business, we came together in the morning about sunrise, fasting and partook of the Sacrament each time; and before going to school we washed ourselves and put on clean linen.”(Salt Lake School of the Prophets Minute Book 1883, p. 38)
In an interview held on 10 October 1883, Coltrin stated:
Elder Orson Hyde was the teacher and saluted the brethren with uplifted hands, and they also answered with uplifted hands. Spoke of the administration of the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. The brethren always went fasting; they went in the morning, remained until about four o’clock in the afternoon, when each had a glass of wine and piece of bread, after the ancient pattern. Joseph was the president and appointed Elder Orson Hyde teacher, as the school was not only revelations and doctrine, but also for learning English grammar, etc. The teacher saluted the brethren (one or more) as they came in. This salutation was given every morning when they met. Brother Sidney Rigdon lectured on grammar sometimes. (Salt Lake School of the Prophets Minute Book 1883, p. 44)
Zebedee Coltrin stated in this interview:
Once Joseph gave notice to the school for all to get up before sunrise, then wash temselves and put on clean clothing and be at the school by sunrise, as it would be a day of revelation and vision. They opened with prayer. Joseph then gave instructions to prepare their minds. He told them to kneel and pray with uplifted hands. (p. 44)
While engaged in silent prayer, kneeling, with hands uplifted each one praying in silence, no one whispered above his breath, a personage walked through the room from from East to west, and Joseph asked if we saw him. I saw him and suppose the others did, and Joseph answered that is Jesus, the Son of God, our elder brother. Afterward Joseph told us to resume our former position in prayer, which we did. Another person came through; He was surrounded as with a flame of fire. He [Bro Coltrin] experienced a sensation that it might destroy the tabernacles as it was of consuming fire of great brightness. The Prophet Joseph said this was the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. I saw Him.
When asked about the kind of clothing the Father has on, Bro Coltin said; I did not discover His clothing for He was surrounded as with a flame of fire, which was so brilliant that I could not discover anything else but His person. I saw His hands, His legs, his feet, his eyes, nose, mouth, head and body in the shape and form of a perfect man. He sat in a chair as a man would sit in a chair, but This appearance was so grand and overwhelming that it seems I should melt down in His presence, and the sensation was so powerful that it thrilled through my whole system and I felt it in the marrow of my bones. The Prophet Joseph said: Brethren[,] now you are prepared to be the apostles of Jesus Christ, for you have seen both the Father and the Son, and know that They exist and that They are two separate Personages.
This appearance occurred about two or three weeks after the opening of the school. (p. 38-39)”
“House of Revelation” from the Ensign in 1993.
As Moroni said, “And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.” Moroni 10:5. Develop your own plan for receiving Personal Revelation and then share that revelation with your calling as head of the household.