Dwellingin the

Presence of God

William LeutzingerGeneseo Retreat

September 20-21, 2008

If you find a path with no obstacles, it probably does not lead anywhere.

Frank A. Clark

And, now, after the many

testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him, that he lives; for we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father; that by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created; and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God. DC 76:3g-h

Joseph Jr.Joseph Jr.

Satan cast down from presence of God

• And this we saw also, and bear record, that an angel of God, who was in authority in the presence of God, who rebelled against the only begotten Son; whom the Father loved, and who was in the bosom of the Father; and was thrust down from the presence of God and the Son, and was called Perdition; for the heavens wept over him; he was Lucifer, a son of the morning. And we beheld, and lo, he is fallen! is fallen! even a son of the morning.

DC 76:3i-j• Ref. Gen 3:1-5

Adam & Eve cast from presence of God

• And Adam and his wife went to hide themselves from the presence of the Lord God, amongst the trees of the garden. Genesis 3:14

Adam & Eve cut off from presence of God

• 2 Nephi 6:14 And because man became fallen, they were cut off from the presence of the Lord;

• Mosiah 1:127 And if they be evil, they are consigned to an awful view of their own guilt and abominations, which doth cause them to shrink from the presence of the Lord, into a state of misery and endless torment, from whence they can no more return: therefore, they have drunk damnation to their own souls.

• Alma 19:88 And now we see by this, that our first parents were cut off, both temporally and spiritually, from the presence of the Lord; and thus we see they became subjects to follow after their own will.

Cain

• And Cain was shut out from the presence of the Lord, and with his wife and many of his brethren, dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden. Genesis 5:26

Adam instructed by angel• And Adam called upon the name of the Lord, and Eve

also, his wife; and they heard the voice of the Lord, from the way towards the garden of Eden, speaking unto them, and they saw him not; for they were shut out from his presence.And he gave unto them commandments, that they should worship the Lord their God; and should offer the firstlings of their flocks for an offering unto the Lord.And Adam was obedient unto the commandments of the Lord. And after many days, an angel of the Lord appeared unto Adam, saying, Why dost thou offer sacrifices unto the Lord? And Adam said unto him, I know not, save the Lord commanded me.And then the angel spake, saying, This thing is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father, which is full of grace and truth;Wherefore, thou shalt do all that thou doest, in the name of the Son. And thou shalt repent, and call upon God, in the name of the Son for evermore.And in that day, the Holy Ghost fell upon Adam, which beareth record of the Father and the Son, saying, I am the Only Begotten of the Father from the beginning, henceforth and forever; that, as thou hast fallen, thou mayest be redeemed, and all mankind, even as many as will. Gen 4:4-9

Adam Redeemed

• And in that day Adam blessed God, and was filled, and began to prophesy concerning all the families of the earth; saying, Blessed be the name of God, for, because of my transgression my eyes are opened, and in this life I shall have joy, and again, in the flesh I shall see God.And Eve, his wife, heard all these things and was glad, saying, Were it not for our transgression, we never should have had seed, and never should have known good and evil, and the joy of our redemption, and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient.And Adam and Eve blessed the name of God; and they made all things known unto their sons and their daughters. Gen 4:10-12

The Testimony of Jesus Christ handed down to the Sons of Adam

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High Priests after the Holy Order of the Son of God

Jacob blessing 12 sons

Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions; then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions; And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand….Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand. Ezekiel 37:16-20

Stick of Judah

• Enoch brings entire city into presence of God

Enoch• And he heard a voice from

heaven, saying, Enoch, my son, prophesy unto this people, and say unto them, Repent, for thus saith the Lord, I am angry with this people, and my fierce anger is kindled against them; for their hearts have waxed hard, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes cannot see afar off….And an hell I have prepared for them, if they repent not;

Gen 6:27-32

Enoch

• And the Lord said unto Enoch, Go forth, and do as I have commanded thee, … Behold, my Spirit is upon you; wherefore all thy words will I justify, and the mountains shall flee before you, and the rivers shall turn from their course; and thou shalt abide in me, and I in you; therefore walk with me.And the Lord spake unto Enoch, and said unto him, Anoint thine eyes with clay, and wash them, and thou shalt see; and he did so. And he beheld the spirits that God had created, and he beheld also things which were not visible to the natural eye; and from thenceforth came the saying abroad in the land, A seer hath the Lord raised up unto his people. Genesis 6:33-38

Enoch• And it came to pass, as I journeyed from the land of Cainan by the

sea east, I beheld a vision; and lo, the heavens I saw, and the Lord spake with me, and gave me commandment; wherefore for this cause, to keep the commandment, I speak forth these words….And death hath come upon our fathers; nevertheless, we know them, and cannot deny, and even the first of all we know, even Adam; for a book of remembrance we have written among us, according to the pattern given by the finger of God; and it is given in our own language. And as Enoch spake forth the words of God, the people trembled and could not stand in his presence. And he said unto them, Because that Adam fell, we are; and by his fall came death, and we are made partakers of misery and woe. Behold, Satan hath come among the children of men, and tempteth them to worship him; and men have become carnal, sensual, and devilish, and are shut out from the presence of God. But God hath made known unto our fathers, that all men must repent. And he called upon our father Adam, by his own voice, saying, I am God; I made the world, and men before they were in the flesh. Gen 6:44-52

Enoch• And I have given unto you another law and commandment;

wherefore teach it unto your children, that all men, everywhere, must repent, or they can in no wise inherit the kingdom of God. For no unclean thing can dwell there, or dwell in his presence; for, in the language of Adam, Man of Holiness is his name; and the name of his Only Begotten is the son of Man, even Jesus Christ, a righteous judge, who shall come in the meridian of time. … Even so ye must be born again, into the kingdom of heaven, of water, and of the Spirit, and be cleansed by blood, even the blood of mine Only Begotten; that ye may be sanctified from all sin; and enjoy the words of eternal life in this world, and eternal life in the world to come; even immortal glory. For, by the water ye keep the commandment; by the Spirit ye are justified; and by the blood ye are sanctified. Gen 6:59-63

Immanuel “God with us”

Enoch’s City• And all the days of

Zion, in the days of Enoch, were three hundred and sixty-five years. And Enoch and all his people walked with God, and he dwelt in the midst of Zion. Gen 7:76-77

Earth Sanctified

Earth sanctified• And, behold, Enoch saw the day of the coming of the Son of Man, even

in the flesh; and his soul rejoiced, …and through faith I am in the bosom of the Father; and behold, Zion is with me! And it came to pass, that Enoch looked upon the earth, and he heard a voice from the bowels thereof, saying, Woe! woe! is me, the mother of men! I am pained, I am weary, because of the wickedness of my children! When shall I rest, and be cleansed from the filthiness which has gone forth out of me? When will my Creator sanctify me, that I may rest, and righteousness for a season abide upon my face? And when Enoch heard the earth mourn, he wept, and cried unto the Lord, saying, O Lord, wilt thou not have compassion upon the earth? wilt thou not bless the children of Noah? And it came to pass, that Enoch continued his cry unto the Lord, saying, I ask thee, O Lord, in the name of thine Only Begotten, even Jesus Christ, that thou wilt have mercy upon Noah, and his seed, that the earth might never more be covered by the floods. And the Lord could not withhold; and he covenanted with Enoch, and sware unto him with an oath, that he would stay the floods; that he would call upon the children of Noah; and he sent forth an unalterable decree, that a remnant of his seed should always be found among all nations, while the earth should stand. Gen 8:54-58

Stick of Judah

• Moses enters presence of Lord

• Moses strives to bring 3million people into the presence of God

• 3 days Sanctify the people

Moses sanctify people in 3 days

• And Moses went up unto God, and the Lord called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself. Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people; for all the earth is mine; And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. … And the Lord said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee forever. And Moses told the words of the people unto the Lord. And the Lord said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes, And be ready against the third day; for the third day the Lord will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai. Exodus 19:3-11

Moses people unprepared• And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified

the people; and they washed their clothes. And he said unto the people, Be ready against the third day; come not at your wives. And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled. And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount. And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire; and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly. And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice. And the Lord came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount; and the Lord called Moses up to the top of the mount; and Moses went up. And the Lord said unto Moses, Go down, charge the people, lest they break through unto the Lord to gaze, and many of them perish. Gen 19:14-21

Punishment• Exodus 34:1 And the Lord said unto

Moses, Hew thee two other tables of stone, like unto the first, and I will write upon them also, the words of the law, according as they were written at the first on the tables which thou brakest; but it shall not be according to the first, for I will take away the priesthood out of their midst; therefore my holy order, and the ordinances thereof, shall not go before them; for my presence shall not go up in their midst, lest I destroy them.34:2 But I will give unto them the law as at the first, but it shall be after the law of a carnal commandment; for I have sworn in my wrath, that they shall not enter into my presence, into my rest, in the days of their pilgrimage. Therefore do as I have commanded thee, and be ready in the morning, and come up in the morning unto mount Sinai, and present thyself there to me, in the top of the mount.

• Ref. Deut.10:2

40 years wilderness

40 years wilderness• Numbers 14:22-24 Because all those men which have seen my

glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice; Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it; But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it.

• Numbers 26:63-65 These are they that were numbered by Moses and Eleazar the priest, who numbered the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho. But among these there was not a man of them whom Moses and Aaron the priest numbered, when they numbered the children of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai. For the Lord and said of them, They shall surely die in the wilderness. And there was not left a man of them, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.

• Ref Hosea 3:4, Ezek. 34:1, Dan 9:11

Priesthood by birth rite

• Levites– Aaron & Moses

• Aaronic Priesthood

• Bishop– Son of Aaron

• Presides over Aaronic Priests

Melchisedec Authority

The power and authority of the higher, or Melchisedec, priesthood, is to hold the keys of all the spiritual blessings of the church; to have the privilege of receiving the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven; to have the heavens opened unto them; to commune with the general assembly and church of the Firstborn; and to enjoy the communion and presence of God the Father, and Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant. DC104:9a-b

• Behold, thus saith, the Lord unto the elders of his church, who are to return speedily to the land from whence they came. Behold, it pleaseth me, that you have come up hither; but with some I am not well pleased, for they will not open their mouths, but hide the talent which I have given unto them, because of the fear of man. Woe unto such, for mine anger is kindled against them. And it shall come to pass, if they are not more faithful unto me, it shall be taken away, even that which they have, for I, the Lord, ruleth in the heavens above, and among the armies of the earth; and in the day when I shall make up my jewels, all men shall know what it is that bespeaketh the power of God. …Thou shalt not idle away thy time; neither shalt thou bury thy talent that it may not be known. DC 60:1-3

Stick of Judah

• Jesus communed with God in the Garden of Gethsemane

Stick of Judah

Stick of Judah• 12 Apostles in presence of Lord

Class 1Stick of Judah

• 12 Apostles

Priesthood Authority It being after the order of the Son of God; which order

came, not by man, nor the will of man; neither by father nor mother; neither by beginning of days nor end of years; but of God; And it was delivered unto men by the calling of his own voice, according to his own will, unto as many as believed on his name. For God having sworn unto Enoch and unto his seed with an oath by himself; that every one being ordained after this order and calling should have power, by faith, to break mountains, to divide the seas, to dry up waters, to turn them out of their course; To put at defiance the armies of nations, to divide the earth, to break every band, to stand in the presence of God; to do all things according to his will, according to his command, subdue principalities and powers; and this by the will of the Son of God which was from before the foundation of the world. And men having this faith, coming up unto this order of God, were translated and taken up into heaven. Gen 14:28-32

Stick of Joseph(Ephraim & Manasseh)

• Doctrine & Covenants

• Book of Mormon

Stick of Joseph(Ephraim & Manasseh)

Book of Mormon

Stick of Joseph

“And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates.” Ezekial 38:11

Stick of Joseph

• And they shall bring forth their rich treasures unto the children of Ephraim my servant. And the boundaries of the everlasting hills shall tremble at their presence.

DC 108:6

Stick of Joseph

Gen. 49:22-26 “Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall…The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills. (Rocky Mountains)”

Ref. Habak. 3:6

Stick of Joseph

Isaiah 18:1 Woe to the land shadowing with wings, which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia;

?

Stick of Joseph

Land Shadowing with Wings• Malachi 4:2 But unto you that

fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

• Matthew 23:37 O Jerusalem! Jerusalem! Ye who will kill the prophets, and will stone them who are sent unto you; how often would I have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, and ye would not.

Winged authority

Wings of Eagles = Priesthood

• Eagles gather around carcass

• Matthew 24:28 And now I show unto you a parable. Behold, wheresoever the carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered together; so likewise shall mine elect be gathered from the four quarters of the earth.

• Mark 13:30 And now I show unto you a parable. Behold, wheresoever the carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered together;

• Luke 17:37 And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is gathered; or, in other words, whithersoever the saints are gathered, thither will the eagles be gathered together; or, thither will the remainder be gathered together.

Revelation 12:7 And the dragon prevailed not against Michael, neither the child, nor the woman which was the church of God, who had been delivered of her pains, and brought forth the kingdom of our God and his Christ.

Revelation 12:14 Therefore, to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might flee into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.

Wings of Stork = False Priesthood

• Zechariah 5:9 Then lifted I up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came out two women, and the wind was in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork; and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heaven.

Angel Flying thru Midst of Heaven

• Revelation 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,

• DC 66:1b Verily I say unto you, Blessed are you for receiving mine everlasting covenant, even the fullness of my gospel, sent forth unto the children of men, that they might have life, and be made partakers of the glories, which are to be revealed in the last days, as it was written by the prophets and apostles in days of old.

• Ref. DC 20:1a, 108:11a, Hebrews 13:20, DC 1:3d

Wings references• Exodus 19:4 Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on

eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself.• Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall

mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

• 2 Nephi 11:22 Behold, they will crucify him, and after he is laid in a sepulcher for the space of three days, he shall rise from the dead, with healing in his wings, and all those who shall believe on his name, shall be saved in the kingdom of God;

• 3 Nephi 11:23 But unto you that fear my name, shall the Son of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth and grow up as calves of the stall.

• DC 107:7b and I will bear him up as on eagle's wings, and he shall beget glory and honor to himself, and unto my name, that when he shall finish his work, that I may receive him unto myself, even as I did my servant David Patten, who is with me at this time,

• DC 107:30b He shall heal the sick, he shall cast out devils, and shall be delivered from those who would administer unto him deadly poison, and he shall be led in paths where the poisonous serpent can not lay hold upon his heel, and he shall mount up in the imagination of his thoughts as upon eagle's wings; and what if I will that he should raise the dead, let him not withhold his voice.

Adam-ondi-ahman• Three years previous to the death of

Adam, he called Seth, Enos, Cainan, Mahalaleel, Jared, Enoch, and Methuselah, who were all high priests, with the residue of his posterity, who were righteous, into the valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman, and there bestowed upon them his last blessing. And the Lord appeared unto them, and they rose up and blessed Adam, and called him Michael, the Prince, the Archangel. And the Lord administered comfort unto Adam, and said unto him, I have set thee to be at the head: a multitude of nations shall come of thee; and thou art a prince over them forever. And Adam stood up in the midst of the congregation, and notwithstanding he was bowed down with age, being full of the Holy Ghost, predicted whatsoever should befall his posterity unto the latest generation. DC 104:28-29

Adam-ondi-ahman

• Gallatin, Missouri

• Melchisedec Priesthood in Americas from beginning to end. Shadowing this Continent like wings of eagle.

• Now this same priesthood which was in the beginning, shall be in the end of the world also.

Genesis 6:7

• Enoch’s City originated in Jackson County

Book of Mormon• Lamanites separated from Presence

of the Lord when separated from Nephi!

• 1 Nephi 1:55 And inasmuch as thy brethren shall rebel against thee, they shall be cut off from the presence of the Lord.

• Ref. 1 Nephi 2:87

Priesthood by birth rite

• Levites– Aaron & Moses

• Aaronic Priesthood

• Bishop– Son of Aaron

• Presides over Aaronic Priests

• Lehi of Manasseh– Couldn’t be son of Aaron

Nephi and Brother of Jared

• 2 Nephi 4:31 Wherefore, the word of the Lord was fulfilled which he spake unto me, saying: That inasmuch as they will not hearken unto thy words, they shall be cut off from the presence of the Lord.

• Alma 7:16 And again it is said, that inasmuch as ye will not keep my commandments, ye shall be cut off from the presence of the Lord.

• Alma 7:17 Now I would that ye should remember, that inasmuch as the Lamanites have not kept the commandments of God, they have been cut off from the presence of the Lord.

• Ether 1:94 And the Lord commanded the Brother of Jared to go down out of the mount from the presence of the Lord, and write the things which he had seen; and they were forbidden to come unto the children of men, until after he should be lifted up upon the cross;

• Ether 1:41 And the Lord said unto him, I will forgive thee and thy brethren of their sins; but thou shalt not sin any more, for ye shall remember that my Spirit will not always strive with man; wherefore if ye will sin until ye are fully ripe, ye shall be cut off from the presence of the Lord.

Jacob & Joseph consecrated

• 2 Nephi 5:3 And having been consecrated by my brother, Nephi, unto whom ye look as a king or a protector, and on whom ye depend for safety,

• Jacob 1:18 For I, Jacob, and my brother Joseph, had been consecrated priests, and teachers of this people by the hand of Nephi.

• Alma Consecrated• Alma 3:3 I, Alma, having been consecrated by my father

Alma, to be a high priest over the church of God, he having power and authority from God to do these things, behold, I say unto you, that he began to establish a church in the land which was in the borders of Nephi;

Class 2Stick of Joseph

(Ephraim & Manasseh)

Seek Face of GodSeek Face of God

Lectures on FaithLectures on Faith

• The Lectures on Faith constitute the The Lectures on Faith constitute the Doctrine of SalvationDoctrine of Salvation

• It contains principles to bring It contains principles to bring members of priesthood into the members of priesthood into the Presence of God. 2:55 “…Presence of God. 2:55 “…until like until like Enoch, the Brother of Jared, and Enoch, the Brother of Jared, and Moses, they shall obtain faith in God, Moses, they shall obtain faith in God, and power with him to behold him and power with him to behold him face to face.face to face. ” ”

Lectures on FaithLectures on Faith• Introduce God, Jesus Christ & the Holy Spirit.Introduce God, Jesus Christ & the Holy Spirit.

• The FatherThe Father being a personage of spirit, glory & being a personage of spirit, glory & power, possessing all perfection & fullness.power, possessing all perfection & fullness.

• The SonThe Son, who was in the bosom of the Father, a , who was in the bosom of the Father, a personage of tabernacle, made or fashioned like personage of tabernacle, made or fashioned like unto man, or rather, man was formed after his unto man, or rather, man was formed after his likeness & in his image.likeness & in his image.

• The Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit, “…being filled with the fullness , “…being filled with the fullness of the Mind of the Father, or in other words, the of the Mind of the Father, or in other words, the Spirit of the Father; which Spirit is shed forth Spirit of the Father; which Spirit is shed forth upon all who believe on his name & keep his upon all who believe on his name & keep his commandments” 5:2ocommandments” 5:2o

TESTIMONY OF THE SPIRITTESTIMONY OF THE SPIRITA Testimony of the Holy Spirit, Given at Beloit, Wisconsin, January A Testimony of the Holy Spirit, Given at Beloit, Wisconsin, January

29, 1854,29, 1854,

•Concerning the Saints at Zarahemla. Ye ask truly, but ye ask Concerning the Saints at Zarahemla. Ye ask truly, but ye ask amiss; cleanse ye yourselves of all bitterness and come before me amiss; cleanse ye yourselves of all bitterness and come before me as one man, and prove me hereby, saith the Lord, by the voice of as one man, and prove me hereby, saith the Lord, by the voice of his Spirit; and lo! I will scatter darkness, and thy watchmen, oh his Spirit; and lo! I will scatter darkness, and thy watchmen, oh mine Israel, shall see eye to eye, and this remnant shall arise out mine Israel, shall see eye to eye, and this remnant shall arise out of obscurity and out of darkness. Uphold the first elder, or senior, of obscurity and out of darkness. Uphold the first elder, or senior, by your faith and prayers, and I will give you knowledge and by your faith and prayers, and I will give you knowledge and strength, of whom I have spoken in days of old, whom I have strength, of whom I have spoken in days of old, whom I have appointed to speak comfortably unto the captives, and give them appointed to speak comfortably unto the captives, and give them bread and water in their journey.bread and water in their journey.

• Therefore, seek the preparation, for that which I have promised, Therefore, seek the preparation, for that which I have promised, even power over false spirits and disease;even power over false spirits and disease; and if you seek it in and if you seek it in unity, with all your hearts, I will bless the sacrifice, and you shall unity, with all your hearts, I will bless the sacrifice, and you shall have peace and joy, beyond that which you have before tasted in have peace and joy, beyond that which you have before tasted in Zarahemla. Zarahemla. —Church History, Vol. 3, pp. 228, 229.—Church History, Vol. 3, pp. 228, 229.

• DC 110:11a Now the great and grand secret of the whole matter, and the summum bonum of the whole subject that is lying before us, consists in obtaining the powers of the holy priesthood. 110:11b For him to whom these keys are given there is no difficulty in obtaining a knowledge of facts in relation to the salvation of the children of men, both as well for the dead as for the living.

Restoration ApostlesRestoration Apostles

• After the 12 Apostles After the 12 Apostles were selected and were selected and ordained Oliver ordained Oliver Cowdery provide a Cowdery provide a directive to them to directive to them to seek the face of God. seek the face of God.

• And they should not And they should not give up until obtained!give up until obtained!

• 'The following charge was given to the Twelve by President O. 'The following charge was given to the Twelve by President O. Cowdery: Dear brethren, …Cowdery: Dear brethren, …You have been ordained to the holy You have been ordained to the holy priesthood, you have received it from those who have their power and priesthood, you have received it from those who have their power and authority from an angelauthority from an angel; …. I therefore warn you to cultivate great ; …. I therefore warn you to cultivate great humility; for I know the pride of the human heart. … Let your ministry humility; for I know the pride of the human heart. … Let your ministry be first. Remember, the souls of men are committed to your charge; be first. Remember, the souls of men are committed to your charge; and if you mind your calling, you shall always prosper. "and if you mind your calling, you shall always prosper. "'You have 'You have been indebted to other men, in the first instance, for evidence; on been indebted to other men, in the first instance, for evidence; on that you have acted; but it is necessary that you receive a testimony that you have acted; but it is necessary that you receive a testimony from heaven for yourselves; so that you can bear testimony to the from heaven for yourselves; so that you can bear testimony to the truth of the Book of Mormon, and that you have seen the face of God. truth of the Book of Mormon, and that you have seen the face of God. That is more than the testimony of an angelThat is more than the testimony of an angel. When the proper time . When the proper time arrives you shall be able to bear this testimony to the world. When arrives you shall be able to bear this testimony to the world. When you bear testimony that you have seen God, this testimony God will you bear testimony that you have seen God, this testimony God will never suffer to fall, but will bear you out; although many will not give never suffer to fall, but will bear you out; although many will not give heed, yet others will. heed, yet others will. You will therefore see the necessity of getting You will therefore see the necessity of getting this testimony from heaven. Never cease striving till you have seen this testimony from heaven. Never cease striving till you have seen God, face to face.God, face to face. Strengthen your faith; cast off your doubts, your Strengthen your faith; cast off your doubts, your sins, and all your unbelief; and nothing can prevent you from coming sins, and all your unbelief; and nothing can prevent you from coming to God. to God. Your ordination is not full and complete till God has laid his Your ordination is not full and complete till God has laid his hands upon you.hands upon you. We require as much to qualify us as did those who We require as much to qualify us as did those who have gone before us; God is the same. If the Savior in former days have gone before us; God is the same. If the Savior in former days laid his hands on his disciples, why not in latter days?laid his hands on his disciples, why not in latter days? (CH Vol (CH Vol 1 pages 542-544)1 pages 542-544)

Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. … Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; Eph. 6:12-18

Zion• DC 45:6d “and a remnant shall be gathered unto this

place; and then they shall look for me, and behold I will come; and they shall see me in the clouds of heaven, clothed with power and great glory, with all the holy angels; and he that watches not for me shall be cut off.”

• DC 90:1 “Verily, thus saith the Lord, It shall come to pass that every soul who forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and obeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments, shall see my face, and know that I am, and that I am the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world.”

• Ref. DC 49:5

Zion

• DC 28:2c-d “…for mine elect hear my voice and harden not their hearts; wherefore the decree hath gone forth from the Father that they shall be gathered in unto one place on the face of this land, to prepare their hearts, and be prepared in all things, against the day when tribulation and desolation are sent forth upon the wicked.”

• DC 94:5c “…for this is Zion, THE PURE IN HEART”

• Ref. DC 77:1g, 107:2d

• “Fear not, little children, for you are mine, and I have overcome the world, and you are of them that my Father hath given me, and none of them that my Father hath given me shall be lost; and the Father and I are one; I am in the Father and the Father in me; and inasmuch as ye have received me, ye are in me, and I in you; wherefore I am in your midst; and I am the good Shepherd (and the Stone of Israel: he that buildeth upon this rock shall never fall), and the day cometh that you shall hear my voice, and see me, and know that I am. Watch, therefore, that ye may be ready. Even so. Amen.” DC 50:8e-g