Encounters with Angels and Prophecy Fulfilled

I have been a fan of the Sid Roth show for a few years now, and occasionally I share some of my favorite episodes. Here are two recent videos that really lit up my heart. The first video reminds me of the type of work 311 workers are engaged in this last hour, and the second video is a man named Mike Bickle who I have mentioned before. He started a prayer movement on 9/19/1999 (significant numbers) known as IHOP (International House of Prayer) in Missouri. In this video he shares how a prophetic minister prophesied over his life back in the 70's and it has since all come to pass.

My friend Lynn Ridenhour who founded our Believer's Building Bridges movement and also lives in Missouri, is a part of Mike Bickle's movement as well. In Lynn's books he talks about Mike Bickle, Bill Johnson, and Randy Clark who are all apart of this restoration movement in which their core beliefs are:

• Recognizes  the  prophetic; particularly  the  offices  of prophet and apostle.
• Believes in open revelation.
• Believes that God speaks today.
• Embraces  kingdom  theology;  i.e.,  the  kingdom  of God not  only will  be  established on earth
but is on the earth.
• Embraces  remnant theology that will overcome this world's present - day government.

With all of their commonalities with what we believe as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and what the prophet Joseph already has restored to the earth, we are excited to bring these groups together to become more acquainted with each other, as we believe this interfaith unity will bring about Zion.

I have provided recent videos below of Mike Bickle, Bill Johnson, and Randy Clark so you can hear their incredible testimonies and stories of faith, prayer, and healing. God is working with so many wonderful Christian men and women all over the earth to bring about His purposes. I believe we will see more of this as we continue building Zion together all throughout the world.

The Heart of Zion - And Changes Coming to the Church!

The Lord has plans for our hearts in this 11th hour. Let's talk about what He's already been doing. In this week's video message, I share insight on this coming General Conference in relation to the winds of change, and was there a message from Heaven in the hurricanes? Watch to find out. 

 

The Winds of Change

I have been putting together my notes for the next video message which relate to this upcoming General Conference, and what I feel will be shared and announced. Yesterday, President Nelson visited Seattle, and spoke to over 49,000 people. As I listened to this summary it confirmed what I have been feeling is coming. In my recent video message I spoke about the message God is sending through Mother Nature right now. The winds of change are blowing. I am so excited for General Conference. Let the countdown begin!

God's Message in Mother Nature

Why the increase of violent weather activity all over the globe and what does it all mean? Watch to find out. God is doing something!

Sabbath Day Observance and Drought

Lately, I have been pondering the droughts in which I plan to share more about it an upcoming video message. The headlines continue to speak of farmers having to sell their cattle because they can't feed them. Farmers letting their crops die because they can't water them, and this effecting the Utah economy, and councils meeting about new Utah water conservation regulations for all of Utah.

It was no surprise when the other day I received an email from an acquaintance who shared this compilation of council and prophecy from Latter-day Saint leaders about this very topic in relation to keeping the Sabbath day holy. This is a topic I have written about many times over the past several years, and I feel it's ever so important in 2018.

Here's a link containing two blog posts from 2017, in which I addressed drought and blessings:
https://allstandtall.blogspot.com/search?q=drought

Here is link containing several posts in which I have written about keeping the Sabbath day holy:
https://allstandtall.blogspot.com/search?q=sabbath+
https://allstandtall.blogspot.com/2017/10/the-three-types-of-tares.html

Here is a video in which I shared my thoughts last year about the drought in the Southwest connected to blessings:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsqoUvELwcg&t=4141s

Here are the summarized points and council I took away from this friend's email. I would love to hear any additional thoughts.

Ucon, ID Stake conference, April 24 2016

(Anonymous Latter-day Saint) - Elder Sexton spoke and said, "I was recently taught by the first presidency a few weeks ago, just prior to General Conference and it's my responsibility to bring that spirit with me, to teach you the message they send to you. I'm not here teaching my own message."

Promised Blessings When Keeping it Holy

The protections promised us when we keep the Sabbath Day Holy and obey the
commandments as laid out in Leviticus 26:1-13 (reading theses verses will help you understand the notes):

• Rain in due season = prosperous (scripture is talking in agricultural terms for the time period; but we can apply this to our day and whatever our needs are now or in the future).
• Eat your bread to the full 
• Shall not want  
• Dwell in our land safely (Stake wide or individually, community of safety)  
• None shall make afraid  - (5 shall chase away 100, 100 shall chase away 10,000)  
• Take confidence
• I will make you fruitful and multiplied
• I will walk among you

Elder Sexton renewed theses blessings upon our stake, but said these promises are perpetual to ALL that keep the Sabbath Day Holy and obey the commandments.

If we choose not to keep it holy:

• I will appoint over you terror... terrorism (He asked if anyone had seen any terrorism happening in the world. He then said it gets worse and to read the rest of Leviticus (verse 14 & on) if you want to know... it's really bad but we don't want to dwell on that here today).

Faith will increase as we see the fulfillment of this promise. Sabbath observance is the great test of the faithful and shows the depth of our conviction.

The Blessings of Not Working on Sunday

A local sister bore her testimony about being in High School and wanting to do well. She said her father did not value education and if she was going to be able to go to college it was going to have to be on scholarships. She made the goal to do well enough to get as many scholarships as possible ensuring her a full ride to college. She also had made a promise to Heavenly Father early on to not do any work on Sunday, including homework. Her father owned a business and felt that hard work was

the only way to make it and the kids were expected to help daily with this business leaving little time to get homework done. In High School it was so hard for her to get all her assignments done, and she stayed up late many times so as to never miss one and never be late with one. One week in

particular her father kept them all very busy working long hours after school and it was this same week a huge report was due. One that was half the grade for the semester, not doing this report would give her a failing grade. Her heart ached as she went to bed very late Saturday night having

only finished the rough draft. She knew this particular teacher was a fair teacher, but that she was a teacher that did not budge on due dates. This sister kept her promise of never doing homework on Sundays, but went to school with a heavy heart Monday morning. When she got to this class she

was waiting for the teacher to ask for the reports to be turned in, but what she heard instead was, 

"Wow, I’m not sure what’s up, but I’m in a terribly good mood today. I think I will give you all one more day to finish up and finalize those reports. They will be due tomorrow."

A Measure for Sifting the Saints?

Stake President said that the brethren taught that there is a great "sifting" going on right now - and that Sabbath Day Observance is the sifting - and that this is the sifting that was prophesied would happen just prior to the 2nd coming of the Lord. Also, they said that Sabbath day observance will offer protection - and those who do not honor it will, "see their faith disintegrate." 

January 29th 2018 Raleigh North Carolina 

(Anonymous Latter-day Saint) - I had a spiritual feast last night. I had some pretty cool dreams and some neat spiritual experiences. Before I went to bed though I was contemplating the Sabbath day and why such a huge push from the Lord on this. I know the brethren have pushed this as a very big thing and strait from the Lord. There are a couple things I have known and that are common sense.

1) The obvious blessing of taking the sacrament

2) The protection that comes from keeping the commandment

We all know that the Lord is using this as a tool to sift the saints. There will be great blessings and divine protection for those who do it. The old saying some people use for paying your tithing is like paying your fire insurance. So you don't get burned. Well with the Sabbath day it is like life insurance and will literally entitle people to divine protection.

As I was contemplating this the spirit also said. They will need to be independent and strong because there will be times when there are no church meetings. There will be great disturbances and chaos through out the world and times of sickness and distress. This will be the ultimate form of self-reliance. Those who don't have the foundation of strong Sabbath day observance will struggle and will fall. This gives them strength and a foundation to keep them focused on the savior as there are times away from church. It kind of surprised me.

Elder Quentin L. Cook - Shipshape and Bristol Fashion

"For members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, honoring the Sabbath is a form of righteousness that will bless and strengthen families, connect us with our Creator, and increase happiness. The Sabbath can help separate us from that which is frivolous, inappropriate, or

immoral. It allows us to be in the world but not of the world. .....

The Spirit will help us avoid temptations and dangers, and comfort and lead us through challenges. 'The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith.'

Adherence to sacred gospel principles will allow us to be temple worthy, enable us to find happiness in this life, and lead us back to our heavenly home.

My dear brothers and sisters, life is not easy, nor was it meant to be. It is a time of testing and trial. Like the old ships in Bristol Harbor, there will be times when the tide goes out and it seems as if everything in this world keeping us afloat disappears. .......

Amid such trials, I promise you that living and maintaining temple-worthy lives will hold together all that really matters. The sweet blessings of peace, happiness, and joy, along with the blessings of eternal life and celestial glory with our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, will be realized."

Elder Randall K. Bennett - Your Next Step

"Two essential weekly signposts that mark our journey back to our Father in Heaven are the perpetual covenant of the ordinance of the sacrament and our Sabbath day observance. President Russell M. Nelson taught us last general conference that the Sabbath is the Lord’s gift to us. Our devoted weekly

observance of the Sabbath is our sign to the Lord that we love Him.

Each Sabbath day we witness that we are 'willing to take upon [ourselves His name], and always remember him, and keep his commandments.' In return for our repentant heart and our commitment, the Lord renews the promised remission of sin and enables us to “always have his Spirit to be with [us].” The Holy Spirit’s influence improves, strengthens, teaches, and guides us.

If, in remembering Him each Sabbath, we turn our hearts to the Savior through these two important signposts, our efforts are again more than matched by the Lord by His promised blessings. We are promised that, with devoted Sabbath day observance, the fullness of the earth will be ours."

Elder Holland - Upon My Holy Day

"The world you're living in has some serious challenges. Today I want to emphasize a principle of the gospel that can* greatly bless your lives and protect you..........

I do remember what it was like to be your age. And I remember being confused a little about what I should or shouldn't do on Sundays. I want to speak with you about that for a moment, about understanding the Sabbath day and why it is so very important to keep it holy--more important than most of us ever realize.

In so doing, I plead with you not to see Sunday as a day of negative rules and stifling restrictions or a day of tedious duty or a day devoid of any pleasure or joy. Any such view could not be farther from the truth."

Spencer W. Kimball counseled,

"...To observe it [Sabbath], one will be on his knees in prayer, preparing lessons, studying the gospel,

meditating, visiting the ill and distressed, sleeping, reading wholesome material, and attending all the meetings of that day to which he is expected. [Failure] to do these proper things is a transgression on the omission side.”

It's Our Covenant

Jesus taught,  “The Sabbath was made for man. Wherefore the children of Israel [which includes all Latter-day Saints] shall keep the Sabbath … throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever.”

The Sabbath is More Than Just Church

John Taylor taught,  " It is customary for men in the world from which we have gathered out, to

talk on Sunday about spiritual things, when they are dressed in their Sunday coats and at meeting, and then on Monday to pack up their religion with their Sunday clothes in their trunks, to have nothing more to do with it until next Sunday. … O, the folly of man in not acknowledging God in all

things, in laying aside God and his religion, and trusting in their own judgment and intelligence.

There is something that goes a little further than we think about sometimes; and that is, while we profess to be followers of the Lord, while we profess to have received the Gospel and to be governed by it, a profession will amount to nothing unless we have washed our robes and made

them white in the blood of the Lamb. It is not enough for us to be connected with the Zion of God, for the Zion of God must consist of men that are pure in heart and pure in life and spotless before God, at least that is what we have got to arrive at. We are not there yet, but we must get there before we shall be prepared to inherit glory and exaltation; therefore a form of godliness will amount to but little with any of us, for he that knoweth the master’s will and doeth it not shall be beaten with many stripes [see Luke 12:47]. It is “not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven: but He that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” [Matthew 7:21.] 

These are doctrines of the Gospel as I understand them. And it is not enough for us to embrace the Gospel and to be gathered here to the land of Zion and be associated with the people of God, attend our meetings and partake of the Sacrament of the Lord’s supper, and endeavor to move along without much blame of any kind attached to us; for notwithstanding all this, if our hearts are not right, if we are not pure in heart before God, if we have not pure hearts and pure consciences, fearing God and keeping His commandments, we shall not, unless we repent, participate in these blessings about which I have spoken, and of which the Prophets bear testimony.

It is our business to be Saints. And to be worthy of that character it is our duty to live by the principles of virtue, truth, integrity, holiness, purity, and honor that we may at all times secure the favor of Almighty God; that His blessings may be with us and dwell in our bosoms; that the

peace of God may abide in our habitations; … and that we, as a people, may be under His divine protection.

Most Would Not Believe This Miracle!

Hearts are changing, the Lord is bringing His children together. Men's hearts will either fail or prevail in these last days. When our hearts fail, it's because our love has waxed cold. When our hearts prevail it's because we are filled with such a love for God. I pray that the latter can become the norm. The miracle shared in this video increases my hope.

 

Our New Tradition!

When we decided to no longer celebrate Halloween last year, I suggested to my kids that since we were axing a tradition/holiday, maybe we could create something new. This opened up their minds to being excited to let go of Halloween, rather than feel like they were missing out. And so, they decided to create a celebration of summer and friendship. A day to celebrate all the wonderful memories we made during the summer and all the wonderful blessings we enjoyed. It was so fun for them to collaborate on what this celebration would be about, and how we could make it special and fun. We agreed that it should not be during the fall season, as it needed to be something totally separate from and not to be confused with Halloween. No "fall costume parties" or "trunk-or-treats" for this family. We agreed to be completely free of Halloween.

If you follow our vlog, then you know that we love to have fun and are definitely not a boring family. As we let go of traditions and activities of the world and of the past, we won't look back, have regrets, or feel we are being deprived. Fall has so much beauty, and we can celebrate it's beauty in better ways that are more pleasing to the Lord. We are entering a new season where all things will be made new. I believe it's the perfect time to create new traditions that align with our family values and the teachings of the Lord. Traditions and celebrations that elevate, strengthen, and build.

Yesterday we threw our first annual Summer's End Party. Each of my kids got to invite their best friend. Now, my kids do love dress-ups, and so we agreed for the theme to be "dress up as something that reminds you of summer". Tatem was a fireman (because of all the summer wildfires), Cambrey was Lady Bug, Paisley was a unicorn, and I was a butterfly. We played carnival games for prizes, made crafts, had a BBQ, and watched a summer movie. It was a beautiful night! We’ll for sure do this again next August.