Natural Fruit
A Good Old-Fashioned Scripture Study
10/6/2024
Goals
Hellenistic Tendencies - Road to Emmaus
This discourse [on the road to Emmaus], perhaps, would rival even the Sermon on the Mount if we had it preserved for us. However, other than mentioning the subject, we have nothing left of this talk. What they will tell us is: "He Lives!" These apparently Greek-influenced disciples are most taken by the fact a man has returned from death to life. It is unprecedented, of course, even though purportedly believed to be true by many Jews. In contrast to their fixation on the miraculous return to life, Christ wanted to impart some intelligence about the scriptures. He wanted them to understand how these things were foreshadowed by everything done under the Law of Moses and was spoken of by the prophets. (Denver Snuffer, Christ’s Discourse on the Road to Emmaus, April 14, 2007)
Original Witnesses to the Plates
What was the locus of their focus?
No Fruit from a Neglected Vineyard - T&C 82
And your minds in times past have been darkened because of unbelief, and because you have treated lightly the things you have received, which vanity and unbelief have brought the whole church under condemnation. And this condemnation rests upon the children of Zion, even all, and they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon, and the former commandments which I have given them, not only to say but to do according to that which I have written, that they may bring forth fruit meet for their Father’s kingdom. Otherwise, there remains a scourge and a judgment to be poured out upon the children of Zion, for shall the children of the kingdom pollute my holy land? Verily, verily I say unto you, nay.
Front Cover
A message through symbols
Back Cover
A message through symbols
Descriptions of Fruit in the Jacob 3 Allegory
Throughout the allegory, fruit is described in several ways:
Positive:
Natural, tame, good, original, best good (most precious)
Negative:
Corrupt, wild, bad, bitter, evil
Part 1
Diagnosis and Self-Awareness
Quick to Forget - Helaman 4:10
This is an example of how false and unsteady mankind's hearts are and shows that the Lord in His great infinite goodness blesses and prospers those who trust in Him. It shows how, at the very time He blesses His people with expanding crops, flocks, herds, gold, silver, and every kind of valuable, sparing their lives and rescuing them from the power of their enemies, softening the hearts of their enemies, so they don't start wars against them, and in short, doing everything for His people's well-being and happiness, that's when they harden their hearts, forget the Lord their God, and turn their backs on the Holy One. They do this because their lives are easy, comfortable, and prosperous. It shows us that unless the Lord disciplines His people using hardships, including the threats of death, terror, famine, and diseases, they forget Him. How foolish, vain, evil, and devilish are mankind; how quick to commit iniquity and slow to do good; how quick to follow the words of the Evil One and to set their hearts on the worthless things of the world; how quick to be prideful; how quick to brag and become evil; and how slow they are to remember the Lord who is God and to follow His counsel; indeed, how slow they are to let Wisdom guide them. They don't allow the Lord who is God, who created them, to rule and reign over them. Despite His great goodness and His mercy toward them, they treat His advice as worthless and they refuse to let Him guide them.
Quick to Forget - Alma 21:6
Alma 21:6 - [W]e see how quickly mankind forgets the Lord who is God, how quick they are to commit iniquity and to be led astray by the Evil One.
Quick to Forget - Mosiah 8:1
You should understand that it was necessary for there to be a very strict law given to the Israelites. They were a stubborn people, quick to commit iniquity and slow to remember the Lord who is God. So a law of performances and ordinances was given to them, one they were to strictly follow on a daily basis to remind them of God and their duty toward Him. But I tell you all these things symbolized what was to come.
The Solution
Remember… remember…
Remember - Mosiah 4:1
After finishing his speech to the people, king Benjamin decided to make a record of the names of everyone who had made a covenant with God to keep His commandments… Additionally, he appointed priests to teach the people, so that they could hear, learn, and understand God's commandments, and to remind them of the covenant they made.
Remember - Mosiah 1:1
My sons, I want you to remember if it weren't for these plates containing these records and commandments, we would have remained ignorant, even now, not knowing God's mysteries. Without the help of these plates, it would have been impossible for our father Lehi to have remembered all these things and taught them to his children. Since he could read the written language of the Egyptians, he was able to read these engravings and teach them to his children so they could teach them to their children, and by this fulfill God's commandments from then until now. I tell you, my sons, if it weren't for these records that have been kept and preserved by God, so we could read and understand His mysteries and have His commandments always with us, even our forefathers would have fallen away in unbelief. Then we would have been like our Lamanite relatives, who, because of the incorrect traditions of their ancestors, know nothing about these things, and don't believe them when they're taught. My sons, I want you to remember these words are true and these records are true. The plates of Nephi, containing the records and teachings of our ancestors from the time they left Jerusalem until now, are also true. We have them and can study them to know their value. Now my sons, remember to study them carefully, and you'll benefit from them. I want you to keep God's commandments so that, according to the promises of the Lord to our fathers, you can prosper in the land. King Benjamin taught his sons many other things not written in this book.
Remember - Alma 17:7-8
And now, my son Helaman, I command you to take the records that have been entrusted to me. And I also command you to maintain a record of this people on the plates of Nephi, in the same way I have, and keep these things sacred which I've protected, just as I've kept them sacred. They've been maintained and kept safe for a wise purpose…Now you may think that I'm being foolish. But I tell you great things are accomplished by ordinary, simple things. And simple methods, in many instances, prove the wise are wrong.The Lord God can use anything to accomplish His great and eternal purposes. And by very simple methods the Lord proves the wise wrong and accomplishes the salvation of many souls. Now it has been wisdom in God for these things to be kept safe until now. Because they've increased our people's memory and convinced many of the error of their ways and brought them to the knowledge of God, for the salvation of their souls. Indeed, I tell you: If it weren't for the things contained in the records on these plates, Ammon and his companions wouldn't have convinced so many thousands of the Lamanites of their ancestors' false traditions. It was these records ***and their content*** that brought them to repentance; that is, they let them know of the Lord who is God and to rejoice in Jesus Christ their Redeemer. And who knows whether they might turn out to be instruments in bringing many thousands more of them - and even many thousands of our stubborn fellow Nephites also, who are now hardening their hearts in sin and iniquities - to know of their Redeemer. Now I don't fully know about that future, so I'll stop there. It may be enough to simply say these records are kept safe for a wise purpose, a purpose that's known to God. Because He wisely guides all His works, and His direction is straight and He moves continually in one eternal round.
Simple - Alma 17:16-17
Now, my son, I want to discuss the thing our forefathers called a ball or Director - or rather, they called it Liahona, which translates to a compass - that the Lord provided... if they had faith to believe God would make the pins point the way to go, then it happened. Therefore they saw this miracle, and many other miracles, performed by God's power day after day. However, even though those miracles let them accomplish miraculous things, they happened by ordinary methods and they got lazy, took it for granted, and neglected to exercise their faith and diligence. So then the miracles stopped, and they didn't make progress in their journey. Then they wandered in the wilderness, no longer traveling a direct path, and suffered hunger and thirst due to their faithlessness.
Now, my son, I want you to understand these things foreshadow coming events. As our ancestors were disinclined to pay attention to this physical compass, they didn't advance; so it is with spiritual things. Because it's the same thing to pay attention to Christ's word, which will point out to you a straight path to eternal bliss, as it was for our ancestors to pay attention to this compass, which would point out to them a straight path to the promised land. I ask you: Isn't the one symbolic of the other? Because just as surely as this Director brought our ancestors, by following the way it pointed, to the promised land, so will Christ's word, if we follow the way it points, take us beyond this valley of tears into a much better promised land. My son, let's not get lazy because the way is simple, because our ancestors were like that. They had the way opened for them; if they would just look, they could live. And it's the same for us: the way is still open; and if we choose to look, we can live forever. And now, my son, please care for these sacred things. Indeed, see that you look to God and live. Go minister to this people and declare the word, and be serious in mind and purpose. Farewell my son.
Simple - 1 Nephi 5:20
The Lord…remembered the covenants He had made; so He freed their children out of Egypt. And He disciplined them in the wilderness with His rod because they hardened their hearts, just like you have. The Lord imposed afflictions because of their iniquity. He sent flying fiery serpents among them. But after they were bitten, He prepared a way to heal them. It required them to look. But because the cure was so simple, many died. They hardened their hearts from time to time and dishonored Moses and also God. Still, you know they were led by His unequaled power into the promised land.
Christ’s Word, Simple! - Words of Mormon 1:4
Now I'll go on to finish the record I'm taking from the plates of Nephi, making it according to the knowledge and understanding God has given me… I pray to God they can be preserved from now on. I know they'll be kept safe, because there are great things written on them from which my people and their Lamanite relatives will be judged on the great and last day, according to God's written word.
We Become the People We Spend the Most Time With
When the word branch is used in scripture, it should remind one of Christ’s description of Himself in John 9:10. Christ compared Himself to a “true vine” to which all must connect if they are going to bear fruit. Christ inspired prophecies about a coming servant. All should be His servants. For any of His servants to produce “fruit” they must connect with Him, “the true vine.” Life comes from that connection. All are preserved by Christ, nourished by His word, and the sacrament prayers ask that we always have His spirit to be with us. The “vine” and “fruit” refer to the “family of God.” The context is about becoming a “son of God.” (Glossary: Branch)
Spending Time with the Lord
There are two things that will bring you closer to God than anything else. First, personal scripture study. Learn from them when you have time. Your personal study will be more important that what others tell you about the scriptures. Second, personal prayer. Your private time spent in prayer will have the power to shape your life. If you study the scriptures when you are alone, and you pray in private, these two things, more than anything else, will draw you to God. (Denver Snuffer, 2018)
Survey 1 - Covenant Scriptures
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/86S7CKB
Part 2
Fruit
The Allegory of the Olive Trees
In preparation for his flagship prophecy, Jacob wanted us to understand a couple of ideas about good and bad fruit.
Jacob 3:3 - Good Fruit
Therefore, dear people, be reconciled to God through the atonement of Christ, His Only Begotten Son, so you can receive a resurrection according to the power of the resurrection which is in Christ and so you can be presented to God as Christ's first harvest, having faith and receiving the promise of glory in Him before He reveals Himself in the flesh.
Jacob 3:5 - Bad Fruit
However the Jews were a stubborn group, and they treated plain words with disdain and killed the prophets, and only wanted things they couldn't understand. Therefore because of their blindness, which came from looking beyond the mark, they couldn't help but fall. So God removed His plain word from them and left them with things they can't understand, like they wanted. Therefore God lets them puzzle and argue [bad fruit].
Atonement and Reconciliation
The atonement came in paired waves – In the first part of each of the waves, the Lord suffered the pains of those who had offended another. These, after seeing themselves aright, felt the guilt and shame of their sin. The Lord was able to overcome this, finding peace with his Father and all mankind.
In the second portion of each wave, He suffered the pains of those who had been the victims of the offenses and had to overcome the likely justified anger and forgive the offenders. He accomplished this, finding peace with his Father and all mankind.
What Fruits Have We Produced?
Since the 2017 covenant was offered, Denver and Stephanie have given over seventy talks. If we include instruction given before that point, they have given 100 talks. They have published hundreds of blog posts, over twenty books, and nearly 30 revelations. How have we responded?
As a movement, we have produced and participated in one movement-wide statement of principles project, several women’s councils, we reworked the scriptures and were offered a covenant in 2017, we produced a high-quality leather-bound set of scriptures, a laser engraved steel plates project, a word-searchable scripture website, a restoration archive, the new Covenant of Christ, a Biblical Hebrew language Stick of Joseph, we have translated some of Denver’s books into other languages, we have organized regional and international conferences that have been recorded, live streamed, and archived, and have saved hundreds of thousands of dollars to build a future temple.
These are not the fruits you are looking for…
“In the work you have performed there are those who have been Satan, accusing one another, wounding hearts, and causing jarring, contention, and strife by their accusations. Rather than loving one another, even among you who desire a good thing, some have dealt unkindly as if they were the opponents, accusers, and adversaries. In this they were wrong.” (T&C 157:9)
What We Ought to Learn - T&C 176:13
Whereas I look upon the heart and see faithful service, many among you do not look at, nor see, nor value what I, the Lord, love in the hearts of my people. As I have said before, I say again: Love one another, labor willingly alongside each other. Learn what you ought, and when I ask you to labor, do so wisely, even if you know not beforehand what you will find. I do not ask what you cannot do. Trust my words and proceed always in faith, believing that with me all things are possible. All who have been faithful are mine.
Wanted: Good Fruit
I desire to heal you from an awful state of blindness so that you may see clearly my will, to do it. I promised to bring unto you much of my gospel through the Book of Mormon and to provide you with the means to obtain a fullness of my gospel, and I have done this; yet you refuse to receive the truth, even when it is given unto you in plainness. How can you who pursue the truth yet remain unable to behold your own weakness before me?
Unto what can I liken it, that you may understand? For you are like a man who seeks for good fruit from a neglected vineyard — unwatered, undunged, unpruned, and unattended. How shall it produce good fruit if you fail to tend it? What reward does the unfaithful husbandman obtain from his neglected vineyard? How can saying you are a faithful husbandman ever produce good fruit in the vineyard without doing the work of the husbandman? For you seek my words to recover them even as you forsake to do them. You have heretofore produced wild fruit, bitter and ill-formed, because you neglect to do my words. (T&C 157:16)
The Lord’s Displeasure -T&C 157:20
The Book of Mormon was given as my covenant for this day and contains my gospel, which came forth to allow people to understand my work and then obtain my salvation. Yet many of you are like those who reject the Book of Mormon, because you say, but you do not do. As a people you honor with your lips, but your hearts are corrupt, filled with envy and malice, returning evil for good, sparing none — even those with pure hearts among you — from your unjustified accusations and unkind backbiting. You have not obtained the fullness of my salvation because you do not draw near to me.
Not Only to Say - T&C 82:20
And your minds in times past have been darkened because of unbelief, and because you have treated lightly the things you have received, which vanity and unbelief have brought the whole church under condemnation. And this condemnation rests upon the children of Zion, even all, and they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon, and the former commandments which I have given them, not only to say but to do according to that which I have written, that they may bring forth fruit meet for their Father’s kingdom. Otherwise, there remains a scourge and a judgment to be poured out upon the children of Zion, for shall the children of the kingdom pollute my holy land? Verily, verily I say unto you, nay.
Not Only to Hear - Epistle of Jacob 1:6
But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves, for if any are a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a mirror, for he beholds himself and goes his way, and immediately forgets what manner of man he was.��
The Lord’s Displeasure
For there are those who are humble, patient, and easily persuaded. Nevertheless, people who are quarrelsome and proud are also among you, and since you seek to unite to become one people, I answer you as one...For you to unite I must admonish and instruct you, for my will is to have you love one another. As people, you lack the ability to respectfully disagree among one another. You are as Paul and Peter, whose disagreements resulted in jarring and sharp contentions. Nevertheless, they both loved me and I loved them. You must do better…there have been sharp disputes between you that should have been avoided. I speak these words to reprove you that you may learn, not to upbraid you so that you mourn. I want my people to have understanding… In the work you have performed there are those who have been Satan, accusing one another, wounding hearts, and causing jarring, contention, and strife by their accusations. Rather than loving one another, even among you who desire a good thing, some have dealt unkindly as if they were the opponents, accusers, and adversaries. In this they were wrong….
The Lord’s Displeasure, cont’d
You have sought to recover the scriptures because you hope to obtain the covenant for my protective hand to be over you, but you cannot be Satan and be mine. If you take upon you my covenant, you must abide it as a people to gain what I promise. You think Satan will be bound a thousand years, and it will be so, but do not understand your own duty to bind that spirit within you so that you give no heed to accuse others. It is not enough to say you love God; you must also love your fellow man. Nor is it enough to say you love your fellow man while you, as Satan, divide, contend, and dispute against any person who labors on an errand seeking to do my will. How you proceed must be as noble as the cause you seek. You have become your own adversaries, and you cannot be Satan and also be mine. Repent, therefore, like Peter and end your unkind and untrue accusations against one another, and make peace. How shall there ever come a thousand years of peace if the people who are mine do not love one another? How shall Satan be bound if there are no people of one heart and one mind?
Yeah but that was seven ye…
“[M]any things provoking arguments [bitter fruit] among the people are born from pride, stubbornness, aspiring for control, and reckless indifference toward me and one another. I bear with the people still, and patiently await the return of natural fruit in my vineyard. Do not be misled by my patience, for the time is quickly approaching for the harvest of my vineyard. Amen."
- Jesus, 4 months ago
Defining the Issues
Let’s see what the scriptures tell us.
Pride
Thinking Ourselves Better than Another
Pride - 2 Ne. 12:2
Indeed, they've all departed from the pathway and become corrupted because of pride. And because of false teachers and false doctrines, their churches will have become corrupted and prideful; because of pride they're full of conceit. They rob the poor because of their fine places of worship and they rob the poor because of their expensive clothing. They persecute the humble and poor in heart because they're inflated with pride. They're unyielding and arrogant; and because of pride, wickedness, abominations, and whoredoms, they've all gone astray except for a few who are Christ's humble followers. However, they're led by false teachings, so that in many cases they go astray because they're taught to obey man-made rules and principles.
Pride - Jacob 2:4
Because some of you have acquired more than your brothers and sisters, you’re filled with pride to your core, and are stubborn and arrogant, because of your expensive clothing, and you look down on those around you because you think you’re better than them.
Stubborn
Not Easily Persuaded by Truth
Stubborn - Enos 1:6
…we had a great many prophets, but the people were stubborn and hard to persuade. Nothing kept them from destruction except for blunt and unequivocal language preaching and prophesying about wars, conflicts, and destruction, and constantly reminding them of death and the length of eternity and God's judgments and power - all this continually threatening them to keep them in the fear of the Lord - I say there was nothing except for unmistakable blunt language that could keep them from quickly being destroyed. This is how I would describe them.
Stubborn, Jacob 3:5 - Were the Jews Worth the Squeeze?
However the Jews were a stubborn group, and they treated plain words with disdain and killed the prophets, and only wanted things they couldn't understand. Therefore because of their blindness, which came from looking beyond the mark, they couldn't help but fall. So God removed His plain word from them and left them with things they can't understand, like they wanted. Therefore God lets them puzzle and argue [bad fruit].
Stubborn - Words of Mormon 1
And after there had been false christs - who had been silenced and who had been punished according to their crimes. After false prophets, preachers, and teachers among the people - who had also been punished consistent with their crimes - and after many, conflicts and disputes, resulting in some joining the Lamanites, king Benjamin, joined by holy prophets, taught his people repentance. Now because king Benjamin was a holy man and ruled over his people in righteousness, and was joined by many holy men in the land who spoke God's word with power and authority, rebuking the people because of their stubbornness, with their help, king Benjamin again established peace. It required him to exert all his physical strength, and all his soul. He was helped by the prophets as well.
What is it that made them stubborn?
They would refused to spend time on their own “remembering”, and so the Lord sent messengers to remind them, and gave them the rites and rituals of the Law of Moses as a daily reminder.
Aspiring for Control
Rejecting God’s Counsel and Establishing Your Own Counsel
Aspiring for Control - A Warning to Priesthood
Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen, and why are they not chosen? Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men, that they do not learn this one lesson — that the rights of the Priesthood are inseparably connected with the Powers of Heaven and that the Powers of Heaven cannot be controlled nor handled, only upon the principles of righteousness. That they may be conferred upon us, it is true, but when we undertake to cover our sins or to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control, or dominion, or compulsion, upon the souls of the children of men in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the Heavens withdraw themselves, the spirit of the Lord is grieved, and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man. Behold, ere he is aware, he is left unto himself, to kick against the pricks, to persecute the saints, and to fight against God. We have learned by sad experience that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion. Hence many are called, but few are chosen. (T&C 139:5)
Aspiring for Control - T&C 141:29
And with my servant Almon Babbitt there are many things with which I am not well pleased. Behold, he aspires to establish his counsel instead of the council which I have ordained, even the presidency of my church, and he sets up a golden calf for the worship of my people.
Reckless Indifference
Returning Evil for Good
Reckless Indifference - T&C 157:21
As a people you honor with your lips, but your hearts are corrupt [bad fruit], filled with envy and malice, returning evil for good, sparing none — even those with pure hearts among you — from your unjustified accusations and unkind backbiting.
Reckless Indifference - “Well God Told Me…”
Yeah, He probably did. However, the Lord told us seven years ago that we ought to:
“Take care how [we] invoke [His] name. Mankind has been controlled by the adversary through anger and jealousy, which has led to bloodshed and the misery of many souls. Even strong disagreements should not provoke anger, nor to invoke [His] name in vain as if [He] had part in [our] every dispute.”
God’s Revelation to You is Most Likely for You
I will inform you that it is contrary to the economy of God for any member of the [congregation] or any one, to receive instructions for those in [the Holy Order]; therefore you will see the impropriety of giving heed to them; but if any person have a vision or a visitation from a heavenly messenger, it must be for his own benefit and instruction; for the fundamental principles, government, and doctrine of the Church are vested in the keys of the kingdom. (Joseph Smith letter, 13 April 1833)
Reckless Indifference - An Order to Things
Behold, I say unto you, [member of the congregation], that it shall be given unto you that you shall be heard by the [congregation] in all things whatever you shall so teach them by the Comforter concerning the revelations and commandments which I have given. But behold, verily, verily I say unto you, no one shall be appointed to receive commandments and revelations in this [congregation] excepting my servant… for he receives them even as Moses. And you shall be obedient unto the things which I shall give unto him, even as Aaron, to declare faithfully the commandments and the revelations, with power and authority unto the church. And if you are led at any time by the Comforter to speak or teach, or at all times by the way of commandment unto the church, you may do it, but you shall not write by way of commandment, but by wisdom. And you shall not command him who is at your head and at the head of the [congregation], for I have given him the keys of the mysteries of the revelations which are sealed, until I shall appoint unto him another in his stead.
Survey 2 - Lord’s Rebuke
If there are new people, take the first survey before this one.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/JY6M9JT
Part 3
Tame Fruit
Denver’s Remarks at the 2017 Covenant Conference
The Lord revealed His plan for our day approximately 3000 years ago. We now begin fulfilling that ancient prophecy. Our current struggles were foreseen and foretold. The Lord of the whole earth considered destroying all the wicked. But His servant plead for Him to grant more time, Jacob chapter five verses 49 to 50. The Lord of the whole earth hearkened to His servant and decreed that He would spare it and would labor within His vineyard a final time in our day, verse 51. The Lord determined long ago He would use a Covenant to graft back people who had become wild and bitter and connect them to the original roots of the tree of life or in other words restore people in our day to His Covenant. The Covenant offered today is from God and is the first step required to restore the family of God or tree of life on the earth. It will change the lost, wild and bitter fruit and begin to recover them and turn their hearts to the Fathers. This will connect those who are living today, with the natural roots or those Fathers who still hold rights under the original Covenant, verses 52 to 54.
Work for this grafting began years ago and it took a great leap forward approximately two years ago with the effort to recover as near as possible the text of the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith revelations. The initial graft happens today.
Denver’s Remarks at the 2017 Covenant Conference, cont’d
We look forward to more nourishing or restoring of truths, lights and commandments which will bless those who receive, but for those who will not the continuing restoration will prune them away, verse 58. These bitter and wild branches must still be cut off and cast away. These steps are necessary to preserve the opportunity for the natural fruit to fully return. It’s verse 59. The good must overcome the evil, this takes time and it means that the Lord's patience is extended to give time to develop and further improve. We are not expected and cannot become natural fruit in a single step. But we are expected to accept the initial graft today. The Lord is taking these steps so that perhaps, that’s a deliberate word, perhaps we may become natural fruit worthy to be preserved in the coming harvest. That’s verse 60. Perhaps is the right word. Some who are grafted will still be plucked away and burned. But others will bear natural fruit and be preserved. Accepting the Covenant is not the final step. Our choices will determine whether we are bitter or natural fruit, that will decide our fate. Just as the ancient allegory foretold, the Covenant makes us servants and laborers in the vineyard, verse 61. We are required to, this is from the Covenant, “seek to recover the lost sheep remnant of this land and of Israel and no longer forsake them. Bring them unto the Lord and teach them of His ways to walk in them.” If we fail to labor to recover them we break the Covenant. We must labor for this last time in the Lord’s vineyard.
Denver’s Remarks at the 2017 Covenant Conference, cont’d
There is an approaching, final pruning of the vineyard, verse 62. The first step to be...the first to be grafted in are Gentiles so that the last maybe first. The lost sheep remnant next and then Israelites so that the first maybe last, verse 63. But grafting is required for all, even the remnants, because God works with his people through covenant making. There will be more grafting and further pruning. As more is revealed and therefore more is required, some will find the digging and dunging too much to bear and will fall away or in other words will be pruned despite the Covenant. That’s verse 64. The Covenant makes it possible for natural fruit to return. The bad fruit will still continue, even among the covenant people, until there is enough strength in the healthy branches for further pruning. It requires natural fruit to appear before the final pruning takes place, verse 65. The good and bad will coexist. It will damage the tree to remove the bad at once. Therefore, the Lord's patience will continue for some time yet. The rate of removing the bad is dependent wholly upon the rate of the development of the good. It is the Lord's purpose to create equality in his vineyard. (Denver Snuffer, Opening Remarks, 3 September 2017)
Covenant Obligations
Four questions:
Three directives:
Covenant
How seriously do we take the covenant? Have we read the fullness of the contract?
Survey 3 - Covenant
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/JY5NCCN
Take a Breath!
Take a moment to relax. We got this!
Fruits: Results that Grow from Obedience- Galatians 1:20-22
This I say then: walk in the spirit and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh, for the flesh lusts against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh. And these are contrary the one to the other, so that you cannot do the things that you wish. But if you are led of the spirit, you are not under the law.
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like — of which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. Against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the spirit, let us also walk in the spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
Diligent Labor: Digging, Dunging, Nourishing - Alma 1:5
But those who didn't belong to God's congregation began to persecute those who belonged to it and had taken upon themselves the name of Christ. They abused, harassed, and insulted them, knowing their humility. Members of the congregation were neither proud nor viewed themselves as superior. They shared God's word with each other freely, without money or cost. There was a strict law among congregation members prohibiting persecution of those who didn't belong to the congregation, as well as persecuting one another. Nevertheless, there were many who were proud and who got into heated arguments over disagreements, even sometimes getting into fistfights. This was during the second year of Alma's rule, and it caused a considerable amount of trouble and difficulty for the congregation. The hearts of many were hardened, and their names were removed, and they were no longer included as part of God's people. Many also resigned from the congregation. This was a difficult test for those who were faithful. Despite this, they were firm and immovable in keeping God's commandments, and they patiently endured the persecution piled on them. When their priests left their work to share God's word with the people, the people also left their work to hear God's word. When the priest had shared God's word with them, they all returned diligently to their work, the priest not regarding himself as better than his audience, since the preacher wasn't any better than the hearer and the teacher wasn't any better than the learner. They were all equal; and they all worked, each person based on their ability. They shared what they had based on their ability to do so, with the poor, the needy, the sick, and the distressed. And they didn't wear expensive clothing, yet they were well-dressed and clean. This is how they arranged things in the congregation and they began to have peace again, despite all the persecution.
Family of God- The True Fruit
Now, my people, this is the message to you: Many of you have begun to search for gold, silver, and all kinds of precious metals this promised land, which is for you and your descendants, has in generous amounts. God, in His foreknowledge and generosity, has blessed you and allowed you to become wealthy. Because some of you have acquired more than your brothers and sisters, you're filled with pride to your core, are stubborn and arrogant, because of your expensive clothing, and you look down on those around you because you think you're better than them.
My friends, do you think God justifies you thinking and acting this way? I tell you: No; He condemns you. If you continue doing this, His judgments will crash down on you. I wish He would show you He can pierce you and with one glance of His eye strike you down to the dust! If only He would rescue you from this foolish sin and abomination! If only you would pay attention to His commandments and not let pride destroy your souls! Care for those around you like you care for yourselves and treat everyone like family and be generous with your money and possessions, so they can prosper like you. Before you ever try to be wealthy, seek God's kingdom. And after you've obtained a hope in Christ, you'll have wealth, if that's your goal; and you will want it as the means to do good to others: to clothe the naked, feed the hungry, free the enslaved, and to help cure the sick and injured.
The Most Repeated Message of the Covenant
To the degree you keep the commandments you’ll prosper in the land, and to the extent you don’t keep His commandments you’ll be cut off from His presence.
The Remedy is the Experience -
Covenant of Christ Pattern
Good Fruit, Bad Fruit - Alma 1:6
Now because of the stability of the congregation, they became wealthy, having plenty of everything they needed: flocks, herds, and young, fattened animals; grain, gold, silver, valuables, furs, fine woven linen, and all kinds of simple, comfortable cloth. And in their prosperous circumstances they didn't send away any who were naked, hungry, thirsty, sick, or malnourished. And they didn't set their hearts on wealth. They gave freely to all, old and young, slaves and free men, male and female, whether in or out of the congregation, treating everyone in need the same. So they prospered and became far wealthier than those who didn't belong to their congregation. [Good Fruit]
Those who didn't belong to their congregation indulged in sorcery, idol worship, laziness, gossip and foolish empty talk, jealousy, arguments, wearing expensive clothes, proudly viewing themselves as superior, persecution, lying, theft, robbery, committing whoredoms, murder, and all kinds of evil. Nevertheless, those who broke the law were prosecuted so far as it was possible. [Bad Fruit]
What Awaits Bad Fruit - 2 Ne. 10:2
Start wailing, for the day of the Lord is coming; it will come like destruction from the Almighty. Everyone will faint, everyone's heart will sink, and they'll be overcome by terror. Pain and fear will seize them, they'll thrash about like a woman in childbirth, looking in horror at each other's shocked faces. See, the day of the Lord is coming, cruel, wrathful, and full of fierce anger, to make the land desolate and destroy the sinners occupying it. For the stars above and the constellations won't be seen; the rising sun will be darkened, and the moon won't permit her light to shine. I'll punish the world for its evil and the wicked for their iniquity. I'll put an end to the arrogance of the proud and knock down the cruelty of the ruthless. Survivors will be more refined than pure gold, and it will be harder to find people than the gold of Ophir. Therefore I'll shake the heavens, and the earth will violently quake in response to the anger of the Lord of Hosts on that day. Then like chased deer or wild sheep, everyone will try to gather with friends and flee to a safe place. Whoever is captured will be torn apart, men will be slaughtered. Their infants will be dashed to pieces while they watch, their houses will be robbed, and their wives abused. I'll bring [foreign nations] against them, who don't value silver and gold. Their weapons will massacre the young men, and they'll have no pity for infants; they won't spare the children.
What Awaits Good Fruit -T&C 158:12
And I, the Lord your God, will be with you and will never forsake you, and I will lead you in the path which will bring peace to you in the troubling season now fast approaching. I will raise you up and protect you, abide with you, and gather you in due time, and this shall be a land of promise to you as your inheritance from me. The earth will yield its increase, and you will flourish upon the mountains and upon the hills, and the wicked will not come against you because the fear of the Lord will be with you. I will visit my house, which the remnant of my people shall build, and I will dwell therein, to be among you, and no one will need to say, Know ye the Lord, for you all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. I will teach you things that have been hidden from the foundation of the world and your understanding will reach unto Heaven. And you shall be called the children of the Most High God, and I will preserve you against the harvest. And the angels sent to harvest the world will gather the wicked into bundles to be burned, but will pass over you as my peculiar treasure.
Promises of the Lord - T&C 157:64
In the world, tares are ripening. And so I ask you, What of the wheat? Let your pride, and your envy, and your fears depart from you. I will come to my tabernacle and dwell with my people in Zion, and none will overtake it.
Cry peace. Proclaim my words. Invite those who will repent to be baptized and forgiven, and they shall obtain my spirit to guide them. The time is short and I come quickly, therefore open your mouths and warn others to flee the wrath which is to come as men in anger destroy one another. The wicked shall destroy the wicked, and I will hold the peacemakers in the palm of my hand and none can take them from me.
Be comforted, be of good cheer, rejoice, and look up, for I am with you who remember me, and all those who watch for me, always, even unto the end. Amen
END
So much more to be said about fruit.
Do this study:
As you read the scriptures, pay attention to the use of agricultural vocabulary (ie. Fruit, Ripe/Ripen, Harvest, Vineyard, Wheat, Tares, Olive, Tree, Branch, Root, Seed, Grow, Decay, etc. etc.)
Survey 1 - Results
Survey 1, Question 1 - Results
Survey 1, Question 2 - Results
Survey 1, Question 3 - Results
Survey 1, Question 4 - Results
Survey 1, Question 5 - Results
Survey 1, Question 6 - Results
Survey 2 - Results
Survey 2, Question 1 - Results
Survey 2, Question 2 - Results
Survey 2, Question 3 - Results
Survey 2, Question 4 - Results
Survey 2, Question 5 - Results
Survey 3 - Results
Survey 3, Question 1 - Results
Survey 3, Question 2 - Results
Survey 3, Question 3 - Results
Survey 3, Question 4 - Results
Survey 3, Question 5 - Results
Survey 3, Question 6 - Results
Survey 3, Question 7 - Results
Survey 3, Question 8 - Results
Bonus Slides
2 Ne 1:11
Now, my sons, I want you to look to the great Mediator and follow His great commandments and be faithful to His words and choose eternal life according to the will of His Holy Spirit, and not choose eternal death according to the will of our fallen and vulnerable bodies, with their weaknesses and appetites, which allows the accuser to tempt and mislead you to fall into hell, so he can rule over you in his own kingdom. I've spoken these few words to all of you, my sons, in the final days of my life. I've chosen to follow those good principles taught in the prophets' words. I have no other objective than your souls' everlasting happiness. Amen.
Wild Ripe - Helaman 4:9
The [Gaddianton] robbers continued to increase and gain strength, reaching a point where they defied the entire Nephite army, and the entire Lamanite army as well. Everyone throughout the land was afraid of them. They raided many parts of the land and inflicted great ruin upon them; indeed, they killed many and carried away others captive into the wilderness, particularly their women and children. Now this great evil, which resulted from the people's iniquity, again reminded them to remember the Lord their God. And so ended the 81st year of the judges' rule. But in the 82nd year they again began neglecting the Lord their God. In the 83rd year, they grew worse in their iniquity. In the 84th year, they didn't change their ways. In the 85th year, they got increasingly prideful and wicked. They were again ripening for destruction. Thus ended the 85th year.
Covenant of Christ
The new name for the book is fitting because it is Christ fulfilling His end of the deal. It is Christ outlining the covenants He made with the first fathers so we, their children, can turn our hearts to them and participate in the fulfilling of those covenants.