Joseph, Steward of the Land of Zion A New Jerusalem Jacob and Moses were not the only prophets who spoke of Joseph inheriting a land at the ends of the earth—a land distant from Abraham’s covenant land.[151] Another remarkable prophecy regarding Joseph’s land was preserved in the Book of Mormon by God’s design and for […]
Archive | Covenants
Why Look to “the Stick of Joseph” as a Standard – Chapter 6
Chapter 6: Jacob’s Well and the Waters of Mormon Mosiah 9:33,65-67 – Now there was in Mormon a fountain of pure water… yea, the Place of Mormon, the Waters of Mormon, the Forest of Mormon—How beautiful are they to the eyes of them who there came to the knowledge of their Redeemer! Yea, and how […]
Why Keep the New Commandment of the New Covenant
[Printable pdf copy] Jesus Christ is the prophet we must hear in all things or be cut off from among God’s people.[1] III Nephi 9:60,61 – Behold, I Am He of whom Moses spake, saying: A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren like unto me; Him shall ye […]
Why Look to “the Stick of Joseph” as a Standard – Chapter 5
Chapter 5: Choice Above All Other Lands The Book of Mormon provides us with an abundance of details[1] about Manasseh’s small remnant which God led out of the land of Jerusalem in 600 B.C. to an inheritance in the land blessed for them by Jacob and Moses.[2] With these unique details come fresh insights into […]
Why Look to “the Stick of Joseph” as a Standard – Chapter 4
Chapter 4: Pushed to the Ends of the Earth Details given in Joseph’s birthright blessing—as stated by his father Jacob (Israel) and as confirmed by Moses—give us invaluable insights into the double portion of land his eldest son’s tribe received in the covenant land promised to Abraham and his seed. Each statement of the blessing and […]
Why Look to “the Stick of Joseph” as a Standard – Chapter 3
Chapter 3: The Learning of the Jews and the Language of the Egyptians The authors of the Book of Mormon were from a small remnant of the line of Manasseh[1] which God led out of the land of Jerusalem in 600 B.C.[2] As the family that formed the core of this remnant departed the ancient […]
Why Look to “the Stick of Joseph” as a Standard – Chapter 2
Chapter 2: Called After the Land of Mormon We learn about the remnant of Manasseh God led to Joseph’s land from an abridged set of records known as the Book of Mormon.[1] The Lord called a man named Mormon to prepare this unique book from sacred records kept over the course of many generations by a […]
Why Look to “the Stick of Joseph” as a Standard – Chapter 1
Chapter 1: Introduction And of Joseph he [Moses] said, Blessed of the LORD be his land, for the precious things of heaven, for the dew, and for the deep that coucheth beneath, and for the precious fruits brought forth by the sun, and for the precious things put forth by the moon, and for the […]
Why Adultery is of a Far Greater Concern than Polygamy
[pdf copy] D&C 111 4a All legal contracts of marriage made before a person is baptized into this church, should be held sacred and fulfilled. 4b Inasmuch as this Church of Christ has been reproached with the crime of fornication, and polygamy: we declare that we believe that one man should have one wife; and […]
Why Micah’s Prophecy About Horses and Chariots Matters Today
Introduction [pdf version] When teaching the people of the Book of Mormon about His covenant with them as a remnant of the house of Israel (Jacob), Jesus Christ quoted from a number of prophecies, including Micah 5:8-15.[1] According to our Lord, Micah’s prophecy pertains directly to Mormon’s people. It also pertains, Jesus said, to the […]
Why the Call to Pray for Healing at the Uttermost Part of the Rivers of Egypt
On Friday, July 27, 2018, the Lord greatly increased my understanding and appreciation of why He had called for prayers of healing on the southern shore of Lake Victoria in Tanzania, Africa, at the start of 2017. Earlier in the week I had been writing further on why the Book of Mormon is the new […]
Why the Book of Mormon is the New Covenant – Part 4: The Melchizedek Priesthood
[pdf of full document] Introduction The authors of the Book of Mormon wrote that they kept the law of Moses until Jesus Christ visited them following His resurrection and ascension into heaven. Have you ever wondered how they could have kept the law for over 600 years without priests of the Levitical priesthood officiating over […]
Why The Book of Mormon is the New Covenant: Part 3 – Is Not This Joseph’s Son?
[Printable Draft Version] [Printable Expanded Version] Introduction (Expanded Version) Jesus Christ was assumed by many to have been fathered by Joseph, the carpenter of Nazareth. Similarly, the Book of Mormon was assumed by many to have been authored or “fathered” by Joseph Smith Jr. In both instances, the presumed “father” was named Joseph. In both […]
Prayers for the Healing and the Gathering of the House of Israel
On the evening of January 17, 2017, I joined four others for prayers on the southern shore of Lake Victoria in Mwanza, Tanzania, East Africa. These four included my wife, Pam Burford, Seventy Frank Frye (both of the United States), Elder James Yogo of Kenya, and Elder Paul Makawiti of Tanzania. Select this link to […]
Why ordinances and sacraments
When speaking to the members of His church in these latter days about ordinances and sacraments, the Lord has referred to ordinances as “mine” ordinances and to sacraments as “thy” sacraments. …and the day cometh that they who will not hear the voice of the Lord, neither the voice of his servants, neither give heed […]
Why Not Live For What Gets Heaven Excited?
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise and coming, as some men count slackness; but long-suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (II Peter 3:9) I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and […]
Testimony: All Nations North America (ANNA) & All Tribes DC
Upon waking on August 31, I received a gracious invitation to fast. It was a quiet word of faith accompanied with a peaceable assurance. Because I had so much work to accomplish that day for my business, I soon found myself focusing on how best to go about getting everything done that I felt pressing […]
Why the Book of Mormon is the New Covenant – Part 2
In the previous post under this title I related how I had received a convincing witness that the Book of Mormon is indeed the new covenant spoken of in Hebrews 8:8 (a related post is linked here). Hebrews 8:8 8) For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when […]
Why the three disciples tarry
Below is the text of an email I sent to my older children April 26, 2015. It is on how I learned the names of the three disciples who tarry and how and for what purpose they are currently laboring among us. This initial email is then followed by a question I received from my […]
Why hast thou forsaken me? – Part 3
[Printable Version] This third part (Part 3) in the series on Jesus’ question “…why hast thou forsaken me?” includes replies to questions and comments that I received regarding the initial post in the series (Part 1). It also includes additional discussion on related topics which are meant to further explore the depth and significance of Jesus’ questioning […]
Why strong delusions – Part 1
[Printable Version] In judgment, God will send strong delusions unto those who do not answer when He calls or hear Him when He speaks. Because they choose to go on in their own ways and thus do evil in His sight, God will choose their delusions. …Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their […]
Passover 2016, the fellowship of Christ’s sufferings, and the joy of the Lord
This post is meant to contrast the anguish of Christ’s love with the love of men’s hearts waxing cold in these last times (Matthew 23:36-38 vs. Matthew 24:10,31). According to God’s calendar, the Passover obervance this year begins this evening, Friday April 22 (Easter was last month). Here are a few thoughts I would like to […]
An Appointment with the Woman I Would Marry
Upon arriving at Graceland College in Lamoni, Iowa, in the fall of 1978 I had a dream of the woman I would marry someday that continues to increase my understanding and appreciation of marriage. Most importantly, it continues to focus my attention on our Lord’s commitment to marriage and His personal involvement in this sacred […]
Why the Book of Mormon is the new covenant
Printable Version In his sermon on April 19, 2015, Seventy Gary Whiting spoke on D&C 83:8 and, in particular, on how the restored church is under condemnation for taking lightly the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon, as stated in verse 8b. D&C 83 8a) And your minds in times past have been darkened […]
Why cast our coats before Him
Yesterday evening, while Pam and I prepared family worship for our church services this morning, she read selections from articles on Palm Sunday that she found on various websites. One in particular opened up a new insight to my understanding about our seasonal observance of Palm Sunday that I would like to share with you […]
Why covenant love
[pdf copy] Jesus Christ both taught and lived by covenant love. John 15:9,10 – As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you; continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. John 10:17,18 […]