Is the Church restored or is it being restored?

[mahalanobis]

Like President Nelson said, it is continuing to be restored.

I attended a meeting a few months ago with Presiding Bishop Gérald Jean Caussé. He told us some things that President Nelson told the brethren. I took some notes at the meeting, and two statements would be of interest that Bishop Gérald Jean Caussé relayed to us from the prophet.

1. "There will be an acceleration of events between now and the second coming and a corresponding acceleration of change in the church, and acceleration of the restoration."

2. "The events of the restoration between now and the second coming will far exceed everything that has happened since the first vision."

It looks like the restoration continues, and there is much more coming in the future, than what has come in the past.

Well those are some pretty bold statements.

"far exceed everything that has happened since the first vision."

That's a really bold statement. Considering all that happened in the early days of the Church AFTER the fist vision. That's a really, really tall order. We know of some specific events as laid out in Scriptures, but I get the feeling he is speaking more than just what is written in Scripture.

So any takers on Priesthood to all members over the age of 11 come April?

I agree that such are very bold. I hope he's correct. But yes, that's bold.

Also, keep in mind that this is now 3rd hand (allegedly), and from the internet. So take it with a few bags of salt.

If the changes go in the progressive direction (worldly direction), I hope they can make a VERY strong case for it actually coming from the Lord.

[Phantom]

I’m personally in the “the church WAS restored and is now being slowly disassembled” camp.

But in order for the church to keep making all these changes they have to claim continuing restoration.

Continuing revelation is an article of faith. Anyone who can't handles the "changes" needs to reflect on that.

We really need to rethink our definition of what constitutes "revelation".

Why? You can't receive revelation? Has that changed? It doesn't matter what the Church does. You have the power to know whether or not the Lord directs whatever is happening.

[SPIRIT]

restored and lost again - just as the Book of Mormon warned and prophesied we would.
It's one of the reasons we have their book. The Book of Mormon.
To warn us, to not repeat their history and make the same mistakes as they did;
when, through their apostasy, forfeiting their blessings and the gospel was restored and came to us.
but looks like the warnings didn't do much good., because now we are doing the same thing and losing the gospel back to them, The House of Israel.

[johnBob]

I’m personally in the “the church WAS restored and is now being slowly disassembled” camp.

But in order for the church to keep making all these changes they have to claim continuing restoration.

Continuing revelation is an article of faith. Anyone who can't handles the "changes" needs to reflect on that.

We really need to rethink our definition of what constitutes "revelation".

Why? You can't receive revelation? Has that changed? It doesn't matter what the Church does. You have the power to know whether or not the Lord directs whatever is happening.

Oh I know all right-it ain't pretty.

What I was more referring to is we think what Nelson is doing is the same thing as what Joseph Smith was doing-but it's not. Not even close. Joseph Smith had God's Word directly delivered to him-that's pure revelation. Mostly what happens in the Church these days is more inspiration than God speaking.

If God was actually speaking, why do we not have additional sections of DC? Are we just more righteous? Are we better? I thought God was the same today, yesterday and forever. He spoke directly with Joseph Smith and we have it written down what God directly spoke, yet we have nothing from Nelson. We have vague words-but we have no direct recording of God speaking through Nelson to direct His people.

We have a poor imitation and a poor shadow of what the Restoration and Revelation was about.

[SPIRIT]

the gospel was restored - as far as we would receive it.
But we lost it about the same time we received it.
It is not still being restored - it is being taken from us.

When the Lord wanted to build up Zion - for the saints to be united - (United Order) living the Law of consecration and live " by the principles of the law of the celestial kingdom, otherwise I cannot receive her unto myself", the saints failed to do so, and we have continued to fall more and more ever since.

D&C 105
4 And are not united according to the union required by the law of the celestial kingdom;

D&C 101
1 Verily I say unto you, concerning your brethren who have been afflicted, and persecuted, and cast out from the land of their inheritance—
2 I, the Lord, have suffered the affliction to come upon them, wherewith they have been afflicted, in consequence of their transgressions;

Interesting after being "cast out from the land of their inheritance" how the saints were driven to a salty desert - The Great Salt Lake Desert.
Hmm - wonder if that means anything ? Why Salt Lake City ?
a salty lake and desert.
In 3 Nephi Jesus refers to members as the “Salt of the earth:” "salt that hath lost its savor"

But if they will not turn unto me, and hearken unto my voice, I will suffer them, yea, I will suffer my people, O house of Israel, that they shall go through among them, and shall tread them down, and they shall be as salt that hath lost its savor, which is thenceforth good for nothing but to be cast out, and to be trodden underfoot of my people, O house of Israel. (3 Nephi 16:15)

When Christ uses the term “the salt of the earth”, He means His covenant people, as the following passage explains:

When men are called unto mine everlasting gospel, and covenant with an everlasting covenant, they are accounted as the salt of the earth and the savor of men;

They are called to be the savor of men; therefore, if that salt of the earth lose its savor, behold, it is thenceforth good for nothing only to be cast out and trodden under the feet of men. (D&C 101:39-40)

D&C 84:
54 And your minds in times past have been darkened
because of unbelief, and because you have treated
lightly the things you have received—

55 Which vanity and unbelief have brought the
whole church under condemnation.

56 And this condemnation resteth upon
the children of Zion, even all.

57 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—
--------------------------------------------------------------
Doctrine and Covenants
Section 101:
1 Verily I say unto you, concerning your brethren who have been afflicted, and persecuted, and cast out from the land of their inheritance—

2 I, the Lord, have suffered the affliction to come upon them, wherewith they have been afflicted, in consequence of their transgressions;

6 Behold, I say unto you, there were jarrings,
and contentions, and envyings, and strifes,
and lustful and covetous desires among them;
therefore by these things they polluted their inheritances.

D&C 105:
2 "Behold, I say unto you, were it not for the transgressions of my people, speaking concerning the church and not individuals, they might have been redeemed even now.
3 But behold, they have not learned to be obedient to the things which I required at their hands, but are full of all manner of evil, and do not impart of their substance, as becometh saints, to the poor and afflicted among them;
4 And are not united according to the union required by the law of the celestial kingdom;
5 And Zion cannot be built up unless it is by the principles of the law of the celestial kingdom; otherwise I cannot receive her unto myself.
6 And my people must needs be chastened until they learn obedience, if it must needs be, by the things which they suffer."

For this the Lord said that Zion would have to "wait for a little season"
D&C 105:
9 Therefore, in consequence of the transgressions of my people, it is expedient in me that mine elders should
wait for a little season for the redemption of Zion—

3 Nephi 16:10,11,12
10 And thus commandeth the Father that I should say unto you: At that day when the Gentiles shall sin against my gospel, and shall reject the fulness of my gospel, and shall be lifted up in the pride of their hearts above all nations, and above all the people of the whole earth, and shall be filled with all manner of lyings, and of deceits, and of mischiefs, and all manner of hypocrisy, and murders, and priestcrafts, and whoredoms, and of secret abominations; and if they shall do all those things, and shall reject the fulness of my gospel, behold, saith the Father, I will bring the fulness of my gospel from among them.

11 And then will I remember my covenant which I have made unto my people, O house of Israel, and I will bring my gospel unto them.
12 And I will show unto thee, O house of Israel, that the Gentiles shall not have power over you; but I will remember my covenant unto you, O house of Israel, and ye shall come unto the knowledge of the fulness of my gospel.

D&C 45:28-31
28 And when the times of the Gentiles is come in, a light shall break forth among them that sit in darkness, and it shall be the fulness of my gospel;

29 BUT THEY RECEIVE IT NOT;
for they perceive not the light, and they turn their hearts from me because of the precepts of men.

30 And in that generation shall the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

31 And there shall be men standing in that generation, that shall not pass until they shall see an overflowing scourge; for a desolating sickness shall cover the land.