His Atonement Covers You!

 What people misunderstand about the Atonement... and shifting into a better place! 

              

An Interview You Need to See!

I came across this interview today. Steven Bancarz was at one time one of the most wealthy and successful New Age teachers in America. After a wakeup call, he renounced all New Age and energy healing and accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior. He's been on a mission ever since to expose the lies. 

I have heard Steven Bancarz's testimony before and after watching this video, it was another witness to the things I have been sharing. Now it's important to know that Steven is not a fan of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and our theology, as most born again Christians are not, so keep that in mind if you choose to watch his other interviews and videos. However, when it comes to the deceptions of New Age philosophies and energy work, Steven is spot on! I realize my videos and articles are very long, so I thought I'd share a shorter, to-the-point video that explains part of what my message has been over the last few weeks. It has been humbling to hear from so many LDS people who are finding my videos and article, and are now giving up New Age and energy work. It makes my heart rejoice! 

Another Life Transformed!

Another inspiring story of a life transformed through Jesus Christ! I came across this the other day and just had to share.

Laura Perry believed at a young age that she should have been born a boy. She completely transitioned into living and legally being a male. But a chance request by her mother to design a Bible study website put her on the path to discovering her true identity.  Here's what happened.

 

Opening the Door that Lets God In - My Experience

It's been a week of profound experiences and BIG events in the news...

Jesus' DNA Proven to Be Half Human

Ron Wyatt

A few weeks ago, a friend of mine texted me a link to a video and asked me to watch it - I absolutely loved it! I wanted to share the video here, but unfortunately it has since been taken down from YouTube. The video was a documentary about Ron Wyatt's discovery of the Ark of the Covenant and Jesus's DNA.

I have heard of Ron's work before, but because he passed away in 1999 his name doesn't circulate much these days. After watching that documentary, I was surprised that I have not heard about some of his greatest discoveries. I remember first learning about him when I heard about the discovery of Noah's Ark. It perplexes me that so many wonderful discoveries over the past half-century, go unrecognized and are often dismissed by scientists, historians, biblical scholars. Unfortunately, this was the case for Ron.

Plug Stone for Cross Hole

Many witnesses who were apart of his archeology team, gave their testimonials in the documentary and they were powerful. The discovery that stood out the most to me was Jesus' blood. In 1982, Ron and his team, discovered the cross hole that held Jesus' cross into the ground. In the cross hole was a square stone that plugged the hole. In verse 51 of Matthew 27 we read of the earth quaking and the rocks splitting after Jesus gave up the ghost. Interestingly enough, next to the cross hole was a deep split in the ground/rock. As they removed the stone and continued digging in an underground grotto,  they soon noticed something quite incredible - a pool of dried blood that had been undisturbed for almost 2,000 years. The blood had made it's way down through the crack next to the cross hole and onto what they soon would discover to be the mercy seat of the Ark of the Covenant. In the New Testament we read that Christ’s side was pierced and blood and water flew from it, thus getting into the crack, running through it and getting through the cracked stone lid of the box which housed the Ark of the Covenant, and thus anointing the Mercy Seat. The dots began to connect it was clear that Jesus truly was the sacrificial lamb. Just as it was in the days of Moses, the blood of the sacrificial lamb was sprinkled onto the mercy seat!

Depiction of Blood Falling on Mercy Seat

Now, the Mercy Seat did not derive its worth from the purity of its gold but from the fact that it was the place where the blood of sacrifice was sprinkled in the presence of Yahweh. The word for "mercy seat" is the same root for the word "atonement". It means to cover, cancel, appease, or cleanse. The details about the full discovery of the Ark of the Covenant can be read here, in which it is mentioned that Ron soon learned that the Ark must remain in it's place as a proof that the blood upon it is indeed Yeshua’s, and this site will be supernaturally protected until the time when the Ark and the tablets of stone (ten commandments) must be shown to the public.

Ron and his team took samples of the dried pool of blood to an Israeli geneticist, in which it was discovered that this blood contained only 23 of the 46 chromosomes found in human DNA - making it half human. Human blood generally contains 23 chromosomes from each parent. This blood showed the impossible - one set of chromosomes coming from only one parent. Video of blood analysis.  The geneticists asked him, "Who's blood is this?", to which Ron replied in tears, "This is the blood of your Messiah." Those geneticists lives forever changed that day. 

In the documentary, it showed the original raw footage of Ron making these discoveries, including the pool of dried blood as it was being discovered. It was very incredible to witness. I couldn't believe I was actually looking at Christ's blood and my heart almost burst.  I felt there was great truth to Ron's testimony and I believe that the world was not ready to hear or receive it. At the FIRM expo I attended in April, I have shared in a video that Shawn Littlebear said that location of the Ark of the Covenant was known and he had been invited by Jewish leaders to assist in moving the Ark into the newly built temple, when the time was right. He said that the temple site had already been dedicated and he believed the site would be ready in the very near future, and was already assembling a team to assist him.

By the time of his death in 1999, Ron Wyatt claimed to have discovered several sites and artifacts related to the Bible and Biblical archaeology. Many of these artifacts can be seen today in a museum located near Nashville Tennessee. Ron's discoveries include:

• Noah's Ark 
• Anchor stones (or drogue stones) used by Noah on the Ark
• The post-flood house, grave markers and tombs of Noah and his wife
• The location of Sodom and Gomorrah and the other Cities of the Plain: Zoar, Zeboim and Admah
• Bones of giants
• Sulfur/brimstone balls from the ashen remains of Sodom and Gomorrah
• The area of Djoser's pyramid complex believed to be the remains of Joseph's grain distribution bins used during the seven-year famine
• The Tower of Babel site (in southern Turkey)
• How the Egyptians may have built the pyramids
• The site of the Israelites' crossing of the Red Sea (located in the Gulf of Aqaba)
• Chariot wheels and other relics of the army of Pharaoh at the bottom of the Red Sea
• The site of the biblical Mount Sinai (in Saudi Arabia at Jabal al-Lawz)
• A chamber at the end of a maze of tunnels under Jerusalem containing artifacts from Solomon's Temple, including the Ark of the Covenant
• The site of the Crucifixion of Jesus
• Christ's blood in an "earthquake crack" beneath the crucifixion site, the DNA of which, according to Wyatt, contained 24 chromosomes, rather than 46
• Burial pots off the coast of Ashkelon

These videos below are worth watching! I highly recommend the last two videos, you must watch them until the very end. 


 

Why Don't Latter-day Saints Wear the Cross?

When I did my Q&A, a question came in by a subscriber, "Why don't Mormons wear the cross?" I didn't plan to address it in a separate video, but everything happens for a reason. It's amazing how much I learned from this one question, in addition to my personal opinion. 

Miracles, Fasting, and New Insight on the Millenium?

In this week's video message I share Shawn Littlebear announcement, incredible new miracles, more on 3-day fasting, prophecy updates, and a valuable piece of knowledge about the Cheyenne calendar you need to know! :)

3-D Copy of the Savior?

In April 2011, I wrote this blogpost https://allstandtall.blogspot.com/2011/04/real-face-of-christ.html
about the real face of Christ, based on a 3-D image scan of the famous Shroud of Turin which is believed to be the cloth that covered Christ's body in the tomb. To this date, my post has received 27,091 views making it my most viewed post on this blog.

Yesterday, this video popped up in my YouTube feed and seeing how it was seven years ago this week that I wrote my post, I thought I would share this recent video which was also published this month, with updated images. Technology is sure amazing!

 

Healing, Signs, Miracles, and Wonders!

What does it mean to operate in third day power while in the eleventh hour? I share some personal experiences of how healing, signs, miracles, and wonders are alive more than ever!

Here's Why You Should Celebrate When Things Go "Wrong"!

When life dumps challenges on you, get excited! The more you lose the more you are about to gain. This week's video message is one of my favorite yet! I share several incredible and recent miracles that have forever changed the way I view trials. Plus more insight on the 3rd day and 11th hour. 

 

The Super Blue Blood Moon - Being Called "Trifecta Moon"

So what was this recent rare moon all about? The battle of darkness and light is ramping up as time winds down. I've experienced the truth of this in my own life over the past week and experienced a profound healing miracle! This is the hour to claim wholeness and experience the Lord's power. What does this mean for you? 

   

A Profound Dream I Had - This Week's Video Message!

2018 is going to be quite the year! I had a profound dream about a personal forecast for the new year that can be applied to all. Part of that message is how loving your enemies is crucial to your spiritual growth and success. I'm amazed at the feedback I've already been receiving about this video in private messages. It truly is inspiring!

Uncovering the Mysteries and History of Prayer - The Questions We Have All Wondered

Over the past five years, I have observed the various differences across many cultures when it comes to prayer. Some cultures pray with hands clasped together and fingers interlocking, some pray without fingers interlocking, some pray with hands crossed, some pray arms crossed, some pray with arms bowed down to the ground and other pray with arms extended towards the Heavens.

HATS ON OR OFF?

Women in the southern states and women in England, often don Sunday hats to church fastened tightly with hair pins which are not expected to be removed during prayer. At girls camp it's common along with men to see some women remove their hats for prayer. In the 19th century, pioneer women prayed in their prairie bonnets while pioneer men removed their hats. Pagan traditions taught the contrary - men were to cover their heads when praying. Though the Hebrew Bible and Talmud taught men to pray uncovered and women to cover, the Pagan traditions were adopted and later confused as Jewish tradition with Hebrew origins (see reference). And we've all seen the famous painting of George Washington in prayer at Valley Forge with his hat off. In one version his hands are open and his head is raised with eyes closed, in another version he is depicted on one knee with head bowed. So, what does scripture teach us about this?

I remember about five years ago reading my scriptures and coming across this curious passage from Paul to the Corinthians;

1 Corinthians 11:4-7

Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.

But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.

For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.

For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.

Why would a man dishonor God by praying with his head covered? Because the blood of Jesus was the final sacrifice and covers all as it serves as our atonement before God. It is believed that to have covered his head would have been to undermine the Atonement. (See reference).

As for women, it was tradition to veil their heads for prayer. Why? In the first century and the centuries before and after, for a woman to wear a head covering was an act of propriety in respect for her husband and his covering role for her as protector. Further, it recognized that the Lord Almighty was over her husband as well who covers man and woman with his rule and makes them clean by his atoning blood. If the woman acted improperly in respect to her husband by uncovering her head, Paul said, she "dishonours her head" (11:5). What is her head? The answer is three-fold:

1) Her own head - herself as a whole being.

2) Her husband.

3) The Lord God.

For a woman, wearing a head covering showed her "sign of authority on her head" (11:10). Paul was counseling the people on the importance of this tradition and what it symbolizes. Today we can liken it to a woman's cover being the protection of her husband through his priesthood. Paul reminds us of the patriarchal order in 11:3

But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the ahead of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

We learn from Exodus (28:4, 37, 40), that the high priest covered his head and that it was
generally considered a sign of mourning to cover the head and face (2 Samuel 15:30, 19:5; Jer 14:3-4; Esther 6:12). Mourners and lepers covered their heads as to show uncleanness and unworthiness before God. Their unjustified state shown in the unclean state of death (see reference).

Paul then goes on to tell us in verses 14-15

Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?

But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.

This is most likely where the cultural rule of thumb for it being appropriate for women to have long hair and men to have short hair stemmed from. Long hair acted as a covering.

Why then was Samson told not to cut his hair as it contained spiritual power? And why is Jesus almost always depicted with long hair, and also praying in head covering? 

Samson was a Nazirite, and in that he was given immense strength to aid him against his enemies and allow him to perform superhuman feats, including slaying a lion with his bare hands and massacring an entire army of Philistines using only the "jawbone of an ass". However, if Samson's long hair was cut, then his Nazirite vow would be violated, and he would lose his strength.

According to the Bible, a Nazarite (not to be confused with Nazarene) was one who voluntarily took a vow to abstain from alcohol, refrain from cutting hair, and be ritually pure (Numbers 6:1-21). Samson’s long hair was not the source of his strength. Rather, it was the symbol of his covenant relationship with God, who was the source of Samson’s strength.

Could Jesus have also have taken the Nazarite vow? A Nazarene Nazarite? It's possible and would explain the depictions of long hair. Otherwise according to Paul who taught after the teachings of Jesus, it was a shame for man to have long hair.

In Native American culture however, it is believed that long hair is a physical manifestation of the growth of the spirit, and some say it allows for extrasensory perception, and connection to all things. Some Native American tribes even believe that the hair is connected to the nervous system. That long hair reaches out like tentacles, and pulls energy and information from the world around us similar to a cat’s whiskers (see reference). In fact, during the Vietnam war, special envoys of the war department were sent to Native American reservations in search of Men with a reputation of having seemingly supernatural tracking abilities. Once the men were enlisted however, their extra sense and supernatural tracking abilities seemed to vanish. When the privates were asked about why they would fail to perform as before, they would consistently answer that their required military haircuts left them unable to harness the sixth sense that was previously very natural to harness. They could no longer sense an enemy approach, and felt as if their natural intuition was no longer reliable. After this was uncovered, further tests involving privates who were allowed to keep their hair against those who had received the required military haircut commenced (see reference).

Is there validation to long locks and spiritual power?

In Numbers 15:38-40 it says: 

Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue:

And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the Lord, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring:

That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God.

Jews refer to this as a "tzitzit" and is worn as a reminder of their covenant with the Lord. Jesus wore a tzitzit as a practicing jew. In fact, Mark 6:56 tells us this about Jesus' tzitzit,

And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole.

The word "tzitzit" comes from the root word for "flower" and originally meant a "tassel" or "lock", as in the Book of Ezekiel where Ezekiel is picked up by an angel and carried by a "lock" (Hebrew tzitzit) of hair (see reference). Interestingly, orthodox jewish men sport long side burn locks called a "peyot" which have a separate unknown purpose to the tzitzit. The Torah states, “Do not round off [the hair] at the edges of your heads.” The Talmud explains that the term “edges” refers to the hair between the ears and the temples. “Rounding out the edges” refers to removing the sideburns so that there is a straight hairline from the forehead to behind the ears (see reference).

When pondering on this tzitzit or tassel, I thought of the graduation ceremony and the square cap. In the Old Testament, the square symbolizes the four corners of the earth, the four angels, and the four living creatures that surround the throne of God. We use the sign of the square to sustain church leaders and according to Elder Robert D. Hales in 2008 April conference, "...even a covenant, to sustain and to uphold the laws, ordinances, commandments, and the prophet of God..." 

The gesture of moving the tassel from one side of the cap to the other symbolizes the individual’s movement from candidate to graduate. Prior to the ceremony the tassel is expected to be worn on the right. During the ceremony it should be moved to the left side. This reminded me of advancement in the priesthood from candidate to "graduate" and also advancement from glory to glory through our covenants we make here and in the realms hereafter. We can learn quite a bit in the temple through the guidance of the Spirit about the great symbolism in the ordinances we participate in.  

Many paintings depict the Lord with his head covered while blessing and praying. In today's western culture Christian men uncover their heads as a sign of respect and humility when praying. In these paintings it appears also to be a sign of humility to cover the head - as to cover your own glory when in the sight of God's glory. Whichever the case may be, it's universally agreeable that prayer should always be offered in humility - whatever that looks like between you and the Lord.

There is no official church doctrine on men and women covering or uncovering their heads or how our prayer stance and arm positions should be. Culture and tradition have led to arms folded, head bowed, and eyes closed. According to legend the origins of the pretzel had everything to do with teaching children to pray this way, when an Italian monk invented pretzels as a reward to children who learned their prayers. He called the strips of baked dough, folded to resemble arms crossing the chest, "pretiola'" meaning "little rewards."  Praying with arms folded, head bowed and eyes closed is taught in the church to primary children to help them maintain their reverence and keep from being distracted. Though this is what we are accustomed to, a much different custom of of raised hands during prayer can be traced to the early years of Israel. 

HAND POSITIONS?

Aaron, the first High Priest, raised his hands in prayer as he blessed the Israelites when the sanctuary was first established. The book of Psalms speaks of raised hands regularly:  "Because thy loving kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name." (Psalms 63:3-4). Further, the congregation is exhorted to lift their hands in worship of God: "Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord.The Lord that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion." (Psalms 134:1-2).

So, what does raised hands signify? For one, raised hands are symbolic of our dependence on someone else. Raising hands during worship can be similar to children who lift their hands to be picked up, comforted, protected, or carried: "I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah." (Psalm 143:6). Thus, raised hands in worship may suggest a reaching out for God's presence, blessing, comfort, or strength.

Another significant meaning of raised hands is to bless God, much like Aaron's blessing of the people. In Psalm 63:3-4 the psalmist says he raises his hands to bless God. "Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name." This symbolizes both gratefulness and joy for the blessings God has given. Indeed, many of the psalms indicate that hands are raised in song and prayer to show thankfulness and joy for God's great works (Psalms 134, 141).

The lifting of a hand may also signify a vow or covenant. This is practiced throughout scripture: "Therefore he lifted up his hand against them, to overthrow them in the wilderness:" (Psalms 106.26) and "And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven. And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:" (Revelation 10:5-6)

The raising and showing of hands can also symbolize clean hands before God. "I say unto you, can ye look up to God at that day with a pure heart and clean hands? I say unto you, can you look up, having the image of God engraven upon your countenances?" Alma 5:19

The custom of raising hands during worship was a common practice in the early church, especially during prayer. In Paul's letter to Timothy he writes, "I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting." (1 Timothy 2:8). Indeed, according to some Jewish commentators, the Israelite practice of lifting hands during worship in the synagogues was stopped in reaction to the Christians who customarily raised their hands during prayer. (see reference)

The thought has crossed my mind that an unseen power flows from the Lord into us through our hands. It reminds me of a TV antenna AKA rabbit ears. These are used to pick up the stronger VHF signal (frequencies) which transmits the picture and sound onto your screen. The rabbit ear antennas are the strongest indoor antenna for picking up the best signal. One reason for the V shape is that when receiving channels at the top of the band with the rods fully extended, the antenna elements will typically resonate at their 3rd harmonic. In this mode the direction of maximum gain makes it advantageous to be able to adjust them to various angles.

I felt great symbolism in this as the "V" reminds me of a compass, and resonating in "3rd harmonic" reminds me of resonating in the third heaven, the Celestial Realm. Our hands are pointing towards Heaven and acting as an antenna picking up frequencies from our Heavenly home. Direct communication through the Spirit. 

In some churches, the congregation holds hands during prayer. Science can teach us much about the power of connection during prayer. I have shared before in books, videos, and blog posts the work of Greg Braden. He speaks about a scientific discovery known as the "Divine Matrix". This is the energy field in which thoughts, feelings, and emotions are transmitted, and how they travel. I will share more on this in my next blog post. In a Manila, Italy conference he conducted a live experiment in which he created a powerful circuit of energy by having the audience hold hands, creating one long chain together. He asked the audience to feel the feeling of love in their hearts. He then measured the calibrated frequency in the room when hands were connected before feeling love, during feeling love, and then disconnected while still feeling love. He demonstrated that hearts can be knit together without a physical connection. We can unite through love and prayer throughout the world without holding hands, and it is just as powerful!

In a the March 2017 Face to Face with Elder Eyring and Elder Holland, Elder Eyring mentioned that when praying you are approaching the throne and you should act as such. He said that he wears a suit or Sunday best when kneeling before God. On the contrary, a few years ago I was listening to Kirk Duncan speak at a conference, and he mentioned that when he thought of Heavenly Father as God on the throne he felt intimidated and unworthy. He found it difficult to pray and develop a relationship. So one day he asked God for to permission to think of Him more as God the Father - rather than God the Deity. He asked Heavenly Father if he could imagine him in a cabin in the woods and the two of them fishing together and wearing flannel shirts. He felt if he could imagine Heavenly Father that way, he would feel more comfortable talking to Him. He felt God's love surround Him and tell him that was just fine. God would take a relationship with Kirk in any way He could get it. That story touched me, as it reminded me of the fatherly, nurturing side of God.

In the Church, if a person has been found unworthy by the bishop to take the sacrament, he/she is usually asked to refrain from praying in church, until he/she is deemed worthy again. I have always pondered on this and thought it must have everything to do with being clean before God and having a pure vessel to be able to pray by the Spirit. The way to the Father is always though Jesus Christ. Personal prayer however, is never refrained from. We are always encouraged to pray to our Father especially when we need help and especially when we have sinned. Through Jesus and His Atonement, we can be made clean so that we can be worthy of the companionship of the Spirit. So that we can have clean hands and receive His signal. We are always worthy of the love of our Savior and our Heavenly Father, that is something we don't ever have to earn, but being worthy to be in the presence of the Father has everything to do with being clean. If Moses was asked to take off his shoes in the presence of the Lord, how much more mindful should we be about our personal cleanliness when we exercise our faith and approach the throne of God? Just think of what the brother of Jared may have missed out on, had he been unclean when petitioning the Lord. He was clean, he was pure, he had faith, and the veil could not constrain him. 

Elder Russell M. Nelson said in April 2003 conference in regards to prayer, 

"Jesus taught us how. We pray to our Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Ghost. This is the “true order of prayer,” in contrast to “vain repetitions” or recitations given to 'be seen of men.'

Jesus revealed that we pray to a wise Father who knows what things we have need of, before we ask Him."

  

I often ponder on the way in which we are taught to pray in the temple when petitioning the Lord for greater miracles on behalf of the names of those who are afflicted whose names we write on the prayer roll. There is so much we can learn when we are in the temple. 

IN SUMMARY

I will say that the way I pray in my closet is much different than the way I pray in public. If we follow President Nelson's counsel, we can't go astray when we pray. Whether we prefer to clasp our hands, fold our arms, kneel, extend our hands, etc. when praying alone in our closets, what's most important is where our heart is and our intentions are. When we are humble, meek, and submissive before the Lord, He hears us. When we are repentant the Spirit can be with us during prayer, and miracles happen when we pray in the Spirit. 

Remember prayer is a two-way street. We can't just be good talkers, we must be good listeners too. I know this to be true, and I know that the Spirit can teach us more about prayer if we desire, if we ask, and if we are willing to listen and be taught.

Peace in All Things - And How I Spent October 31st!

Looking for peace in your marriage? Peace in your job? Peace in your family? Peace in your ward? Peace on social media? Peace in the world? Then I think you are going to like this week's video message. Also, see how I spent October 31st!

Have a great weekend!

America's Cleansing

 The Spirit has impressed upon my mind and heart so much lately. Things are happening so quickly and yesterday my sister texted me and said, "It feels like a movie. You just can't make this up."

I feel very strong that now is the time to get our lives and our homes in order. Remove all the clutter, all the distractions, and the things that are eating up valuable time. Teach your children how to really pray and how to have a close walk with God. Fast and pray on a weekly basis to be shown what the Lord's will is for you and your family. Ask Him to purify and sanctify your family, your home, and the land that you live on. Ask to receive the mantle of charity. Ask to receive the Spirit of peace.

It's time to finally put away the natural man. Things of the flesh block the bridge between you and the Lord. Clear the bridge and get to know your Savior Jesus Christ in a way you have never known Him before. Talk to God as often as you can, and do it often on your knees. Open up your heart and remove all forms of doubt and pride. Cease all judgement and criticism of those in your family, your ward, your neighborhood, your community and those in authority of the Church and government of this nation. Begin to build them up, pray for their protection, and extend unconditional love. Repent of all sins holding you back and keeping you from the presence of the Lord. Forsake the very sight of sin and evil. Fill your heart and home with the things of God. Your home must be a sanctuary and Holy like a temple. Stand ye in Holy places.

This is a season of change. With the arrival of fall, will come the fall of the old ways, the old man, and the old world. The wheat and tares are separating and the wheat is being strengthened and purified. This brief grace period is a gift from God to allow us to get our lives in order. To align with the will of the Lord in all things. Take advantage of this gift to the fullest that you can. Express gratitude all throughout the day for all of your blessings. As the world enters a period of chaos just remember that the Lord has a purpose for it all. He is doing a marvelous work and a wonder in preparation for His return. Don't allow fear to enter into your heart. Trust God in all things and through all things. Smile, have hope, and keep your eye single to the glory of the Lord. :)

The Sacred Mystery of Blood Sacrifice

This may be one of the longest posts I have ever written. The science of blood and the mysteries surrounding blood lines have always fascinated me. I often speak about it in workshops and in my books. So, I thought I would put together a collection of all of my thoughts and research, and see what conclusions you might make for yourself.

For this post, I have chosen to focus on the connection between blood sacrifice and eternal life. My apologies in advance if this essay seems to jump around quite a bit. I have laid out the dots that I have discovered (and there are so many), but am still trying to understand how they all connect.

This post is a little different than what I usually write about on my blog, but I feel there is some importance in sharing it. Though there are no concrete conclusions, and I share some things that may be a bit on the fringe, ponder as you like and if the Spirit takes you in any certain direction while reading this - I recommend that you go with it! :)

The Sacred Mystery of Blood Sacrifice

There's an age old fascination among children that you've probably heard of or participated in yourself. "Blood brothers" or "blood sisters". Sound familiar? Pricking your fingers and promising loyalty to each other for life. As children, did we really have any idea what that meant and what we were doing? 

Throughout time;  blood, sacrifice, oaths, covenants, and the mysteries of life, all seem to interconnect with one another. Whether used for good or evil - it's clear that there is some kind of underlying force at hand when it comes to blood. A force that seems to hold the keys and secrets to life. Throughout the ages, men have relied upon this knowledge to learn more about salvation, eternal life, and their personal relationship with God; or on the flip side - to obtain personal gain and power.

Mysterious Blood

About a year ago, after a blood donation I began to ponder about my blood type. I am A negative. Because of what’s called the “RH factor” (which makes my blood negative), my blood is usually in high demand at the American Red Cross blood bank - which is why they call me A LOT. A donor (a form of sacrifice) sacrifices their blood to save the life of another.

Now, RH negative blood is very interesting because not only do scientists have no clue where it originated or "evolved" from (they speculate that it was introduced in Europe and spread from there), many believe that it is of non-human origin. This mysterious blood produces antibodies that will fatally attack a mother’s new born baby if the baby’s blood type is positive. In fact, up until 1973 (after the Rhogam shot was discovered) it’s estimated that RH disease claimed the lives of 10,000 babies each year in the US alone. By 1973, it was estimated that in the US alone, over 50,000 babies' lives had been saved. The use of Rh immune globulin (the Rhogam shot) to prevent the disease in babies of Rh negative mothers has since become standard practice, and the disease has been virtually eradicated. Without it, all four of my children would not have survived birth.

Joseph Smith Jr.

My mother was married in the late seventies and began having children. She is also RH negative - (as is her mother) and were it not for the Rhogam shot, my siblings may not have survived. While pondering on this I began to wonder why I was the only child in the family with RH negative blood and why it didn’t pass on to any of my four children. Also, why would a mother’s blood attack and kill her own children? I began to think about all the women prior to the 1960’s who lost their babies at birth and had no idea why. I thought of Joseph and Emma Smith – they had four children who died at birth. I later discovered that I was related to Joseph Smith as a distant cousin through my mom’s side of the family. I began to wonder if Joseph had RH negative blood?

Shortly after I began to ponder on the strange “coincidences” through my mother’s family bloodline. The line that is related to Joseph’s father’s line and descends from Suffolk England. Her grandfather was an orphan and up until about eight years ago (when I cracked the mystery), we had no idea who his parents were and where they descended from. That side of the family has struggled with faith and low self-esteem for many generations. The last few generations left the church as did their posterity. Who would have ever imagined that they descend from Joseph Smith’s family in addition to one of the most powerful families in Northern England, who built and lived in Raby Castle. In this castle, my 19th Great Grandfather’s daughter, the mother of kings Edward IV and Richard III. Cecily Neville, was born. It’s almost as if Satan did not want that generation to know their incredible heritage. He didn’t want them to know who they really are. When Satan keeps us from knowing our true identities (even in a spiritual sense as children of God), He keeps us from our purpose.

Bloodline Theories

During my research on RH negative blood, something interesting I discovered was that my freckles and blue eyes are considered mutations. Having blue eyes, blond hair, and freckles is apparently rare. I am also the only child in my family covered in freckles. I didn't pass the freckles on to my kids.

Though this combination is rare, I learned that red hair (which is more rare), freckles, and green, hazel or blue eyes are reported as more common among RH negative carriers. I don't yet understand how that works scientifically/genetically (though I read various explanations) but I did read that in ancient times, red heads were considered very special and holy - red being the color of blood/life/creation. I find it interesting that throughout history they have been a target for ostracizing and bullying. Wherever and whomever Satan attacks, you can rest assured that there is something good he does not want us to discover. Some truth he does not want us to figure out.

The more I pondered about blood and my blood type, I realized just how many theories are circulating about RH negative blood. I had no idea. Many of these theories are pretty wild so I won’t go into detail but I will say that they cover everything from copper blood, iron deficiency (which I used to have for years), gods, to aliens, to the Nephilim from the Book of Enoch, and to legends of the Holy Grail. There has even been research done on personalty types connecting with certain blood types. In fact, one site listed the following traits being connected to those with RH negative blood:

• A feeling of not belonging
• Truth seekers
• Sense of a "Mission" in life
• Empathy & Compassion for Mankind
• ESP Ability
• Increased of psychic/intuitive abilities
• Predominantly blue, green, or Hazel eyes
• Piercing Eyes
• Tend to be Healers

I immediately thought of our Savior Jesus Christ and then of the prophet Joseph Smith who was known as a seeker of truth and described as "a tall, elegant-looking man, with piercing eyes, and features, which if not handsome, were imposing”. I then thought of a comment my husband had shared with me early in our marriage. He told me that it was my eyes that first got his attention and drew his attraction to me. 

Orson Hyde

I thought about how Jesus' blood was part mortal and part God. His DNA would have been very different from those ancestors before Him. 

Around this time I discovered the book, Dynasty of the Holy Grail: Mormonism's Sacred Bloodline by LDS scholar and BYU graduate, Vern G. Swanson. After studying it’s 576 pages, I learned of the many teachings of the early leaders of the Church who openly testified of Christ having offspring and many of the leaders receiving personal revelation that they were descendants of that bloodline.

At the October General Conference of 1854, Church apostle, Orson Hyde spoke of the literal seed of Jesus Christ.

In 1859 Brigham Young clarified,

Brigham Young

“Hidden in the blood of many LDS runs the blood of Israel from numerous directions, including that of the Savior. But it is specifically through the divine blood-right of Christ through Joseph Smith Jr. that all members of the Church are lawful heirs of the promise.”

George Q. Cannon

According to Vern's research, many early church leaders openly spoke of being literal descendants of Jesus Christ and spoke of the prophet Joseph also receiving this revelation for himself. Vern cites that in 1899, member of Congress and LDS Church apostle George Q. Cannon reportedly told a Salt Lake Temple assembly,

"There are those in this audience who are descendants of the old Twelve Apostles - and shall I say it, yes, descendants of the Savior himself. His seed is represented in this body of men."

Joseph Smith once said,

“Many men will say I will never forsake you, but will stand by you at all times, but the moment you teach them some of the revelations (mysteries) of the kingdom of God that are retained in the heavens and are to be revealed to the children of men when they are prepared for them, they will be the first to stone you and put you to death. Would to God, brethren, I could tell you who I am! Would to God I could tell you what I know! But you would call it blasphemy, and there are men upon this stand who would want to take my life.”


President of the Church, Joseph Fielding Smith was the last to make mention of the topic when his response to a question about Christ having children was,

Joseph Fielding Smith

"**Yes! But do not preach it! The Lord advised us not to cast pearls before swine!"

Today, the Church has no official position on this subject and has made it clear that Christ having offspring is not Church doctrine. The First Presidency has said,

"Not every statement made by a Church leader, past or present, necessarily constitutes doctrine. A single statement made by a single leader on a single occasion often represents a personal, though well-considered, opinion, but is not meant to be officially binding for the whole Church."

I would like to add to that, the importance of personal revelation. We know that there are many truths yet to be revealed to the Church as a whole, which is all apart of the restoration of these Last Days. However, through personal revelation, the Spirit can reveal any truths to us that we desire to know for ourselves. We are often encouraged by the Church to ponder and seek out further revelation for ourselves. It is wonderful advice!

An interesting side note: In his book, Vern Swanson suggests a connection between the Bloodline and the Priesthood line - King and Priest as Joseph was ordained a King over the immediate House of Israel by the Council of Fifty. Vern also mention’s his own theories based on over 30 years of research. He suggests the possibility that the literal descendants of Christs bloodline, have natural healing gifts in their DNA, and that in the Latter Days, these gifts may possibly be activated and these children (the lost seed, AKA Holy Grail), will discover who they really are as they assist in the gathering of restoring the House of Israel.

Over the last five years I have personally witnessed a large gathering and movement in the healing arts especially in the LDS church. Many members are fascinated with learning and practicing different healing modalities and natural medicines. I am aware of 6,000 LDS members alone who are activating and nurturing these gifts to bless their friends, families, and communities. I found this correlation very interesting.

Mysteries of DNA

Through a remarkable discovery linking Biblical alphabets to our genetic code, author and scientist Greg Braden discovered a code written in the DNA of every human being. This code reveals an eternal message which reads "God Eternal within the body." The meaning: Humankind is one family, united through a common heritage, and the result of an intentional act of creation!

Greg believes that just as an artist will paint their signature on a painting or a sculptor will stamp their name on the bottom of a vase, God has placed His stamp/signature on each of us in our DNA.

Romans 1:19-20

Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

A few years ago, in my own research, I had discovered a powerful connection between our DNA and the atonement. I was so intrigued that I shared this in my book, You Were Meant to Prosper. Studies conducted by the U.S. Military in the late 1990's, showed that our feelings and emotions actually change our DNA. Researchers watched as blood samples changed right before their very eyes while study participants miles away were experiencing powerful feelings – negative and positive. Several more scientific articles have since been written about trauma being passed down to generations through DNA. This would mean that those who share our same DNA are also effected when we heal ourselves of negative emotions. When we use the atonement to cast out sin, it blesses all who share our DNA. We’ve heard of families being cursed with addiction, illness, depression, abuse, crime, etc. and when someone is born into the family and heals the patterns, future generations are healed. It’s a new way to look at being born into a family of “problems”. Maybe you were sent to be the victor – the one who heals the family and breaks the patterns – rather than the victim.

Back to the mystery of RH negative blood. Researchers say that among the world population, only 15% is RH negative. The Basque people of Spain and France have the highest percentage of Rh negative blood per region. About 30% of their population has Rh negative and about 60% carry one (r) negative gene. There is also a theory circulating that this is a location where some of the offspring of Jesus went into hiding during the great Christian persecution.

There is something to be said about the sacred mysteries of blood. It is lambs blood (symbolic of the blood of the Lamb) that the Israelite people painted on their doorways during Passover to protect them against the destroying angel.

In scriptures we read,

Numbers 18:17

But the firstling of a cow, or the firstling of a sheep, or the firstling of a goat, thou shalt not redeem; they are holy: thou shalt sprinkle their blood upon the altar, and shalt burn their fat for an offering made by fire, for a sweet savour unto the Lord.

There is a connection between the blood sacrifice of the Firstborn Son and the firstling blood sacrifice.

Leviticus 20:9

For every one that curseth his father or his mother shall be surely put to death: he hath cursed his father or his mother; his blood shall be upon him.

I believe this relates to bloodline curses and patterns. When we introduce sin into the bloodline we introduce death (spiritual and physical). As spoken of in my recent posts, sin equates to death as repentance equates to life. We are either going forward or backwards, progressing or regressing, living or dying. We are never standing still. Our own blood will testify against us at Judgement Day, (as mentioned later in this essay) our DNA being the Book of Life according to Bruce R. McConkie.

We often read in the scriptures about the blood of the innocent crying out.

Doctrine and Covenants 135:7

...their innocent blood, with the innocent blood of all the martyrs under the baltar that John saw, will cry unto the Lord of Hosts till he avenges that blood on the earth. Amen.

Mystery of Blood Sacrifice

According to the Bible Dictionary, blood was regarded by the Israelites as the seat of the life or vital energy of all flesh. The atoning power of a sacrifice was in the blood because it was regarded as containing the life of the animal and because the sacrifice was a type of the great sacrifice who is Jesus Christ. Scripture says that “almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission". Joseph Smith, as have many other prophets, sealed his testimony with his blood that the righteous might be honored and the wicked might be condemned. In the Old Testament, often a covenant was sealed with blood.

In the book of 3 Nephi chapter 9, we see a significance of blood testifying and pleading for justice, as the Savior speaks five times of:

"that the blood of the prophets and the saints whom I sent among them might not cry unto me from the ground against them."

In occult practices blood sacrifice is used to gain power over life. In Old Testament times, blood was forbidden as food which restriction was continued in the Church in New Testament times.

The Essenes were a sect of Second Temple Judaism that flourished from the 2nd century BC to the 1st century AD, and have gained fame in modern times as a result of the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls, which are commonly believed to be the Essenes' library.

According to Joseph Lightfoot (an English theologian and Bishop), the Nazarenes were a sect within the Essenes. The Nazarenes were Jews who kept all the Jewish observances, but they would not offer sacrifice or eat meat.

Feodor Andrejewitsch Bronnikow - The sun hymn of Pythagoras

In the Essene Books, which were Hebrew and Aramaic texts translated and edited by Edmond Bordeux Szekely, and are believed to contain words spoken by Jesus and His beloved disciple John, we read in what is referred to as The Higher Law given to Moses.

26. Thou shalt not take the life from any living thing. Life comes only from God, who giveth it and taketh it away.

It is believed that the Essenes including the Nazarenes were vegetarian.

In the Word of Wisdom, we have been counseled about meat, “to be used sparingly”.

JST, Gen. 9:9–11

...And surely, blood shall not be shed, only for meat, to save your lives; and the blood of every beast will I require at your hands.


In March 1831, it was revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith that though vegetarianism was not to be enforced as a doctrine for mankind, men were still responsible for their killing of animals.

“And whoso forbiddeth to abstain from meats, that man should not eat the same, is not ordained of God;

“For, behold, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and that which cometh of the earth, is ordained for the use of man for food and for raiment, and that he might have in abundance.


“And wo be unto man that sheddeth blood or that wasteth flesh and hath no need.” (D&C 49:18–19, 21.)

Lorenzo Snow

President Lorenzo Snow preached multiple times about his preference for vegetarianism, saying that “it was not right to neglect one part of the Word of Wisdom and be too strenuous in regard to other parts.” In 1897 he “introduced the subject of the Word of Wisdom, expressing the opinion that it was violated as much or more in the improper use of meat as in other things, and thought the time was near at hand when the Latter-day Saints should be taught to refrain from meat eating and the shedding of animal blood.”




In October 1978 General Conference President Spencer W. Kimball said in regards to hunting for sport,

Spencer W. Kimball

“I do not believe any man should kill animals or birds unless he needs them for food, and then he should not kill innocent little birds that are not intended for food for man. I think it is wicked for men to thirst in their souls to kill almost everything which possesses animal life. It is wrong, and I have been surprised at prominent men whom I have seen whose very souls seemed to be athirst for the shedding of animal blood.”

"It is quite a different matter when a pioneer crossing the plains would kill a buffalo to bring food to his children and his family. There were also those vicious men who would kill buffalo only for their tongues and skins, permitting the life to be sacrificed and the food also to be wasted."

In the days of the Law of Moses (the lesser law), the Israelite people were permitted to eat certain meats. The book of Leviticus covers the specifics. In Jewish law, the mixture of dairy products and meat products is forbidden. I once heard a rabbi explain that it was because death and life were not to be mixed. Milk symbolized life and meat symbolized death. For this reason you will not see a practicing Jew eat a cheeseburger.

Furthermore where meat is concerned, according to the Torah, a kosher species must be slaughtered by a "Schochet," a ritual slaughterer. Since Jewish Law prohibits causing any pain to animals, the slaughtering has to be effected in such a way that unconsciousness is instantaneous and death occurs almost instantaneously.

After the animal is slaughtered, the Kosher Supervisor and his team treiber the carcass by removing certain forbidden fats and veins. After the meat has been treibered, it is soaked in a bath in room temperature water for a half hour. To draw out the blood, the soaked meat is then placed on special salting tables where it is salted with coarse salt on both sides for one hour.

The connection of sacrifice, blood, and life, is quite intriguing. With what I am about to share, there seems to be a correlation in regards to the feelings an animal experiences at the death, and carries in the blood, and the effect of those feelings on our own mind, body, and spirit when we consume that flesh and blood. If DNA is the Book of Life, would consuming another's DNA write their Book of Life into our own? Or at least, could we be effected by it? In addition to that, sacrifice made in vain may warrant negative consequences.

Research studies have shown that promiscuous women hang onto the DNA of their sexual partners. Their body stores the DNA and the altered effects are passed on to their offspring. It has also been said that men's DNA is also effected by multiple partners.Virtue truly is holy. When disregarded, a person not only participates in sin, but inherits the sin of various other partners and their bloodlines, having a negative impact on future generations (bloodline curses). A person who commits adultery, also introduces sin/foreign DNA into their spouse's DNA. Every time a person engages in this act, they truly give a piece of their soul away.

In My book, You Were Meant to Prosper I have said,

"If you Google “organ transplants and inherited memories”, you can read about the many different cases in which donor recipients experienced personality changes, unexplained memories, new talents, new interests and likes, all after receiving their organ transplant. In nearly all cases, those changes mirrored traits of their donor. Researchers seem to attribute this to “cellular memory”. This phenomenon, though still not considered 100 percent scientifically-validated, is supported by several scientists and physicians. The Spirit has born witness to me that we inherit other’s cellular memory, when we inherit their DNA.

It’s a fascinating concept, and one of those things that you tuck away in a folder in the back of your mind and save for a rainy day. However, as my mind usually does, it began thinking about so many other possibilities related to this subject. In fact, I was walking into the grocery store when the thought popped into my head about animal meat. Would consuming DNA also carry with it similar consequences? Science validates that the acids and enzymes in our stomachs destroy the DNA, but is there room for error? Could there be an unseen influence that we are unaware of? Could this be a factor as to why we are counseled to eat meat sparingly in the Word of Wisdom?

 In Genesis 9:3-4 God says to Noah,

3 Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.

4 But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.
JST, Genesis 9:10-11

10 But, the blood of all flesh which I have given you for meat, shall be shed upon the ground, which taketh life thereof, and the blood ye shall not eat.

11 And surely, blood shall not be shed, only for meat, to save your lives; and the blood of every beast will I require at your hands.

It sounds as though the Lord is telling Noah not to eat raw meat, and to only eat meat when necessary for survival. In addition to the many foodborne illnesses that come from eating raw meat, could the Lord be implying an added meaning? Could “flesh with the life” be referring to the Book of Life (DNA) of that creature? Could this be an additional reason as to why we are to cook our meat, eat it sparingly and why we should bless our food?

Though research is still fairly new on the topic of DNA swap and cellular memory, I believe there is something to it – some kind of incredible connection. Not to create worry when eating sushi, needing a blood transfusion or borrowing someone’s lip balm, rather this is a topic that’s meant to emphasize the importance of keeping God’s commandment and following His counsel in all things – even when we don’t understand the deeper reasoning behind it.

Shortly after pondering on this subject, the Spirit led me to Elder Bruce R. McConkie’s own words on the topic. One day while trying to pass time during the hour that my girls were in dance lessons, I had felt prompted to go to the library. While browsing the shelves, there was a book sticking out, so I grabbed it and checked it out. The day that I found this passage in the book, I was amazed at this second witness. Elder McConkie says,

“In a real though figurative sense, the book of life is the record of the acts of men as such record is written in their own bodies. It is the record engraven on the very bones, sinews, and flesh of the mortal body. That is, every thought, word, and deed has an effect on the human body; all these leave their marks…” (Elder Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 97.)

Now, read that scripture from Revelation 21 again from above. To be written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, is to be written in His blood. The blood of the Lamb saves us. He is perfect, and when we receive Him, we too can be made perfect in Him. When we use His atonement and our sins are erased from the Book of Life – they are erased from our DNA. Wiped clean! That is how be break those family patterns. That is how we can heal generations."

Women and Sacrifice

During this time that I felt prompted to study blood (and had not shared with anyone), a friend of mine out of the blue messaged me a link to an LDS institute teacher's podcast. She told me I would love it. As I listened, one day I came across a podcast that spoke of the sacred connection to women and sacrifice. The Spirit covered me from head to toe and I felt there was something about this I was to learn.

The teacher pointed out that there is a strong correlation between women and sacrifice. When a woman marries, she sacrifices her name and takes on a new name - that of her husband. She sacrifices her time to take care of the needs of her children and family. He suggests that the shedding of her own blood each month is an additional sacrifice in connection to bringing life into this world. Her menstrual cycle is a type of  sacrifice and atonement. Blood sacrifice has a powerful connection with life.

As I pondered this, I began to think about the law of Moses. Women who were shedding blood were considered unclean.  It was viewed that as she passed the potential for life from her (the egg), this represented a form of death/sin. A man was not to touch his wife during this time as not to mix life with death. Just as the Jews are not to mix meat with dairy (life with death). In Leviticus 12 it explains how a woman is unclean after childbirth, and how she is doubly unclean after giving birth to a girl. The Bible is filled with examples of how a woman's body (especially the blood she sheds), is unclean for seven days. So unclean in fact, that just being around a woman who is bleeding can make you unclean.

Could it be that women serve as a form of proxy Savior for their family bloodline? Similar to Lent, the menstrual cycle is a time to give things up to purify ourselves. The church has set the first Sunday of each month as a fast Sunday. A day of sacrifice. We give something up for something better. One week out of a 30 day cycle. I have learned that patterns serve as flags to help us make connections. It's important to take note when you see something repeat.

As this concept has continually crossed my mind I can't help but feel that it is not my own thought, and not on my mind by accident. The number seven represents completeness and wholeness. After she sheds, it is complete. During a menstrual cycle a woman is shedding and considered unclean. Scriptures teach us that sin causes us to be unclean. Science teaches us that negative actions, thoughts, feelings, and emotions (sins), change our DNA. As the "unclean" blood is purged, the woman must be quarantined until the seven days are fulfilled. The shedding of blood makes is possible for new life. If there is truth to this, then how powerful would it be to perform generational cleansing during that week of shedding?

If this is true, then it would make sense as to why Satan would attach such a negative stigma around menstrual cycles and being female. The "dreaded time of the month." Why he has attacked the identity of women all throughout the ages through oppression. What if instead of a menstrual cycle being something to dread it was rather something to embrace? What if there is such spiritual power and significance behind this natural and physical ritual, that if we understood it, we would change our entire perception about what it means to be a woman, a daughter of God, and a Savior on Mount Zion?

In relation to the DNA research study mentioned earlier, if women take on the DNA of their sexual partner - then when done inside of the marriage covenant, a woman partners with God and her husband and they become one. Is it possible that by proxy/generational healing - she is also cleansing the DNA of her husband and his bloodline? In addition to hormones, could this be an added to factor as to why women are so emotional during this time? As they shed blood, they experience sorrow, pain and suffering. As the Savior took on our own sins and pain, He experienced great suffering which caused Him to sweat great drops of blood. There seems to be a connection here.

I once heard an interview with a renowned Rabbi who said that women experience sadness during their menstrual cycle because their spirit is sorrowing over the lost possibility for life with each egg that is passed. Their is a sadness at the subconscious level as her spirit mourns the undermining of her divine destiny as a creator of life.

While further pondering on this, I happened to be listening to a sermon of a renowned pastor while washing the dishes. I can't remember what the topic was about, but it had nothing to do with the topic of this post. However, somewhere in his sermon he said something that caught my attention. He said that when a woman sheds blood on her honeymoon night - it seals the covenant between husband, wife, and God. Blood is required for that covenant. He then went on to say that when a baby is born in blood and water, it seals the covenant of family and God. He said the purpose of blood in regards to covenants is to seal.

Saved by Blood

“We literally become saviors on Mount Zion. What does this mean? Just as our Redeemer gave His life as a vicarious sacrifice for all men, and in so doing became our Savior, even so we, in a small measure, when we engage in proxy work in the temple, become as saviors to those on the other side who have no means of advancing unless something is done in their behalf by those on earth” Gordon B. Hinckley

We have been taught that it's far more difficult to repent in the spirit world, without a physical body. Could it be that as we are separated from that blood, we no longer have a physical stewardship over it? While separated, we cannot release sin from the body and blood we no longer possess and give it to our Savior for healing - therefore we are bound. However, our progenitors share our blood and as they choose to heal it of family addictions and negative emotions that have been passed down, we can be freed from that pain. After forgiveness takes place, the blood is healed, and restitution goes forth. I believe this to be part of the definition of proxy saviors. Our work in the physical, assists the Savior in the great Plan of Salvation.

A few years ago, I had a personal experience in which I began growing a strip of red hair right out of the center of my scalp. My friend at the time who was doing my hair was very curious about it. She had never seen anything like this before in all her years of working with hair. Generally when hair color changes it's gray hair - not bright red. As the months passed by, she continued to point out my read strip of hair and even asked to take a picture of it.

Months later as she brought it to my attention again, I felt there was something spiritual connected to it. The Lord was trying to get my attention about something and so I began to ponder. Through the Spirit, I began to learn that there were trapped and inherited emotions in our family line. They originated from an ancestor who had emotional issues related to a traumatic head injury that took the life of her baby. I believe the red strip of hair was symbolic of that head injury. There were many other physical signs popping up in our family that all pointed to the same issue. As I went to the Lord and offered up forgiveness to this ancestor, and pleaded for our bloodline to be healed of these inherited emotions, something incredible happened. All of the physical symptoms within our family - related to blood and to this issue cleared up that day. We felt a physical, emotional, and spiritual change come over us. The following month as I went back to my hair dresser she pointed out that the red hair strip was now growing out normal root color. She could not make any sense of it. So, I shared this story with her and then it made sense. The bloodline was healed and therefore the strip of red hair was gone.

The thought has also crossed my mind, that as a blood donor - I feel good about donating my blood, especially when I am one with the Lord and using the Atonement each day to cleanse my blood. I can only imagine that my blood not only blesses the recipient with physical life, but with spiritual life. But what if you receive a blood transfusion from a donor immersed in sin? Will your own blood be tainted? Again, I view this as a blessing in disguise. By using the Atonement, cleansing your blood (according to the DNA studies) will also cleanse those who share your DNA. I don't believe in coincidences or fate. Could it be that God so perfectly orchestrates our lives in such a way that deadly accidents line us up with a blood donor whose blood exchange, somehow blesses the lives of both the donor and recipient? Another form of proxy Savior? I think it would be an added benefit if families and doctors prayed over blood transfusions and organ/marrow/tissue transplants. We should be blessing anything that enters our body. Our body is the tabernacle that houses the Holy Ghost.

While writing this article a video popped up in my YouTube feed that had just barely been published. I had not been searching for any videos related to this topic. The title of the video had nothing to do with blood but the Spirit prompted me to watch it, so I did. To my astonishment this video is all about the saving power of the blood of Jesus Christ. The guest being interviewed wrote a book titled, "This Blood Is for You". It's amazing how the Lord works. When we are pondering certain topics and questions, He will always put answers in our path and the Spirit will prompt us to take notice.

You can't ponder on the topic of blood sacrifice and salvation without including covenants. Covenants and blood go hand in hand. A blood covenant is a promise made by God that He will choose a people for Himself and bless them. The Abrahamic Covenant  and Mosaic Covenant of the Old Testament were “shadows,” of the better covenant to come. The atoning power of a sacrifice was in the blood because the blood was regarded as essential to life.

When the destroying angel passed over Egypt, the children of Israel who had painted unblemished lamb's blood on their doors were saved. It is only pure and sanctified blood that can save us. Jesus Christ is the unblemished Lamb whose blood saves us from the eternal destruction of our own sins.

Remission of sins under the law of Moses required the shedding of an animal’s blood. In setting forth the laws respecting sacrificial ordinances in ancient Israel, the Lord explained: “For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.”

As the ancient high priest entered into the Holy of Holies on earth and sprinkled the goat’s blood upon the mercy-seat, so Jesus Christ entered the sacred sanctuary of heaven itself, there to intercede before the Father in behalf of those whose penitence makes them eligible for his act of mercy.

“… In legal usage, a testator is one who leaves a valid will or testament at his death. The will or testament is the written document wherein the testator provides for the disposition of his property. As used in the gospel sense, a testament is a covenant. Jesus is the Mediator of the new covenant or testament, that is of the gospel which came to replace the law of Moses. …

“… In other words, Christ had to die to bring salvation. The testament or covenant of salvation came in force because of the atonement worked out in connection with that death. Christ is the Testator. His gift, as would be true of any testator, cannot be inherited until his death. Christ died that salvation might come; without his death, he could not have willed either immortality or eternal life to men.” (McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, pp. 784–85.)

The gospel was a “better covenant” because it offered the principles and ordinances of salvation in their fulness, while the law of Moses did not. The Israelites, in general, rejected the fulness of the gospel on both occasions when it was offered to them, first while wandering in the desert under Moses and later when Jesus came to earth in the meridian of time. Joseph Smith once said: “This covenant has never been established with the house of Israel, nor with the house of Judah, for it requires two parties to make a covenant, and those two parties must be agreed, or no covenant can be made.

"Thus after this chosen family had rejected Christ and His proposals, the heralds of salvation said to them, ‘Lo we turn unto the Gentiles’; and the Gentiles received the covenant, and were grafted in from whence the chosen family were broken off: but the Gentiles have not continued in the goodness of God, but have departed from the faith that was once delivered to the Saints, and have broken the covenant in which their fathers were established [see Isaiah 24:5]; and have become high-minded, and have not feared; therefore, but few of them will be gathered with the chosen family.” (Smith, Teachings, pp. 14–15.)

Moroni says that the faithful saints are "sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission’ of their sins, that they become holy and without spot. (Moroni. 10:33.)”

“To be sanctified is to become clean, pure, and spotless; to be free from the blood and sins of the world; to become a new creature of the Holy Ghost, one whose body has been renewed by the rebirth of the Spirit. Sanctification is a state of saintliness, a state attained only by conformity to the laws and ordinances of the gospel."

“… Those who attain this state of cleanliness and perfection are able, as occasion may require, to see God and view the things of his kingdom." (D. & C. 84:23; 88:68; Ether 4:7.)

The word covenant appears about thirty times in the New Testament. The word not only summarizes God’s relationship with the Church, but it is also prominent in connection with the most frequent early Christian public ordinance—the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper.

 Jesus not only paralleled Moses’ words in speaking of the “blood of the new covenant,” he also required the same pledge of repentance of the ancient covenant. Through Christ there is indeed a “miracle of forgiveness”—extended to those who seriously seek to know and follow his teachings.

The baptismal covenant is summarized in Moroni 6:3, which declares that disciples take upon themselves “the name of Christ, having a determination to serve him to the end.” That commitment is paralleled in the sacrament promise to “take upon them the name of thy Son, and always remember him.” (Moro. 4:3. [Moro. 6:3])

The Savior unfolded the meaning of the bread and wine that should be administered “unto all those who shall believe and be baptized in [his] name” (3 Ne. 18:5); then he said: “Ye shall do it in remembrance of my blood, which I have shed for you, that ye may witness unto the Father that ye do always remember me. And if ye do always remember me ye shall have my Spirit to be with you.” (3 Ne. 18:11; see also 3 Ne 18:7.)

In the September 1990 Ensign, Hugh W. Nibley wrote an article titled, The Atonement of Jesus Christ (Part 3) in which he wrote regarding religious ceremonies,

There is one expression connected with the ceremonies that seem strangely paradoxical. It is having one’s garments washed white with the blood of the Lamb. Washed white with blood? The Book of Mormon clarifies the apparent contradiction. Alma tells us that “there can no man be saved except his garments are washed white; yea, his garments must be purified until they are cleansed from all stain, through the blood of him of whom it has been spoken by our fathers, who should come to redeem his people from their sins.

“And now I ask of you, my brethren, how will any of you feel, if ye shall stand before the bar of God, having your garments stained with blood and all manner of filthiness? Behold, what will these things testify against you?

“Behold will they not testify that ye are murderers, … guilty of all manner of wickedness?” (Alma 5:21–23.)

Being guilty of the blood and sins of your generation, you may not “have a place to sit down in the kingdom of God, with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob, and also all the holy prophets, whose garments are cleansed and are spotless, pure and white.” (Alma 5:24.) This is nothing less than the yeshivah, literally “sitting down” in the presence of God. 16

Note that there are two kinds of blood-stained garments here—the one showing the blood and sins of this world, the other attesting (for Alma expressly states that “these things testify”) that Aaron and his sons have completed the sacrifice of the Lamb and thus cleansed the people of their defilements, and their garments are white. The blood that washes garments clean is not the blood that defiles them, just as the serpent that healed the people in the wilderness was not the serpent that killed.

Summary

The mysteries surrounding blood and sacrifice are intriguing. There is so much to explore and so many stones un-turned. There is definitely more to our DNA than meets the eye. If our DNA truly acts as our own recorded Book of Life, then our own blood as well as the blood of others surely will testify against us at Judgement Day. All memories, feelings, thoughts, and acts are stored there.Truth is written.

Regardless of how the dots connect, one thing is concrete above all else. We are saved by the blood of Jesus Christ (God's grace) when we repent and forsake our sins - period. His atonement can alter our DNA and wipe clean the sin that has been recorded. We don't have to live a life of pain and suffering - we can be cleansed and healed! We can claim the blood of Jesus and by drinking of it we may always remember Him and what He has done for us, and always have His spirit to be with us. We may be blessed children in God's eternal family. This I know to be true. In His holy name, Jesus Christ - amen.