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Hey Nightlion, I thought you might find this interesting. I read your story and I agree with some of your views. There is a lot of people that believe in the redemption of Zion. Here is a e-mail I got from Joseph F. Smith (not the LDS prophet who is dead) this is a great, great, great, grandson of Joseph Smith Jr. You may be able to relate to him.

AN OPEN LETTER
TO ALL SAINTS. LDS,RLDS,COC
PLUS ANY OTHERS THAT MIGHT BE INTERESTED

When one considers the scope and plan of our God in the restoration of His Church, His Kingdom, that was accomplished in the 1820's-30's, and compares that plan with the accomplishments of the many segments of the Restoration in extistance today, we find a definite unbalance. For instance, what was had in the Church in the 1830 period was a full example of the Spirit of Christ. There were unquestionable visions, revelations given by the power of God, healings, divine directions, undeniable manifestation of the Spirit, plus many other visible evidences, which showed the existance of that Spirit, or I could say signs following those who really believed. In comparison, what do we witness today? How long has it been since you have heard the voice of the Lord speaking through one of His servants and the Spirit witnessing to all present ? Do we see the healing power of God in use? What revelations or directions have you received lately? What Spiritual manifestations have you seen lately that show, beyond a doubt, the evidence of the presence of the Spirit?

There is an interesting revelation given in March of 1829, which is found in section #5 of the Doctrine and covenants.(RLDS&LDS) However, there is some words left out from the origional given in the Book of Commandments, the first Evening and Morning Star, and the Painsville paper, which becomes very revealing when considered with todays condition. I will quote the 5th and a portion of the 6th verse from the Book of Commandments Chapter 4. “And thus, if the peole of this generation harden not their hearts, I will work a reformation among them, and I will put down all lyings, and deceivings, and priestcrafts, and envyings, and strifes, and idolatries, and sorceries, and all manner of iniquities, and I will establish my church , like unto the church which was taught by my disciples in the days of old. And now, if this generation do harden their hearts against my word, behold I will deliver them up unto Satan, for he reigneth and hath much power at this time, for he hath got great hold upon the hearts of the people of this generation .......”

Satan tends to bring about confusion, contention and division.

Did the Lord work that reformation? Did He put down those things that He listed? It should pretty obvious to most students of this restoration that He did not. If He did not, then we ask the question. Why??? And why was these words left out of the 1835 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants??? I believbe they were left out because these early Saints had hardened their hearts against the word of God and the Lord let them have their way, to drift off into darkness and confusion, thus opening the door to the Adversary. When this occurred the Spirit of Christ was removed to some extent, thus leaving their minds much darkened as was revealed by the Lord in Section 83, verse 8 (RLDS) Section 84, verse 54 (LDS)
There is of course, much controversy along these lines. In the Restoration movement we have many “Spin Doctors” who are very intelligent. Thse are able to twist and turn until they find a way to excuse themselves around these questions. They have done this for some 175 years. Each generation coming up with new versions of “Spins” and where are we today.
Lets consider a few things that the Lord had planned for the Restoration Saints to accomplish. They were to teach the doctrine of Christ. Faith, Repentance, Baptism, The Laying on of Hands for the Gift of the Holy Ghost. The Resurrection
of the dead, and Eternal Judgment. Which they did quite well. They were to unify the Saints both temporally and Spiritually. Not accomplished. They were to locate the land of Zion. They did that in August of 1831 in Jackson County Missouri, and two years later were driven from that land. Why? Because they had rebelled against the Lord. (RLDS 64:7ab LDS 64:35-36) They were to go forth teaching the gospel and establishing churches until the New Jerusalem was ready. It still is not ready... They have done a good job of dividing the Saints instead of Unifying them. They were to purchase the lands around Independence Mo. and establish a place of refuge, a holy city, a temple, and a zionic order among the Saints. Well..... That is not accomplished and here we are at the beginning of tribulation. What now???
If we were place the value of the Restored Kingdom of God on one side of a scaleand the value of the differences between all the Restoration segments on the other side, the Kingdom of God would outweigh all those differences ten times over.
I am not interested in controverting the many questions and divisional situations some can come up with. If you want to uphold an agenda that is your privilege, and I do not condemn you for it. The only agenda I am interested in is God's. If you are willing to cast aside all the “baggage” we have collected over the years and go back and pick up the work of the Lord that was laid down in the early years, I would love to hear from you.

In the hope of Zion

JOSEPH F. SMITH

Is this a Joseph Feilding Smith from the LDS side or probably from the RLDS?
Do you already have a community of Zion minded individuals Shixon 1?
Should I google this Joseph? Have you contact information you could PM me?

I sent you Joseph's e-mail. Tell him that I gave it to you and ask him if I could share some of the other e-mails he sent with you.
[quote="Nightlion"][quote="Shixon1"]Hey Nightlion, I thought you might find this interesting. I read your story and I agree with some of your views. There is a lot of people that believe in the redemption of Zion. Here is a e-mail I got from Joseph F. Smith (not the LDS prophet who is dead) this is a great, great, great, grandson of Joseph Smith Jr. You may be able to relate to him.

Shixon1 wrote:I sent you Joseph's e-mail. Tell him that I gave it to you and ask him if I could share some of the other e-mails he sent with you.

You did? By PM? I found him already online and contacted him.

His middle name is Frederick.

I have to agree with most things in the letter. But I wish to point out that each of us is separate from the church. But having said that many members rest on the church instead of Christ for their guidance. This is a big mistake and it is exactly what was feared by Joseph Smith and Brigham Young. Instead of the church receiving its strength from the members the members are attempting to get their strength from the church. A sad state of affairs.

We all have an opportunity to know this if we wish. Many find comfort in attaching them self to an institution of man. It is less scary than casting one's self into the unknown. There is an idea that exist in the mind of the faithful that is a terrible seed. And that idea is that God pours out His Spirit at various times and only some are lucky. This I know is a false idea. If the members took that leap of faith to a spirit filled life then they too would receive the outpouring which is always available. But they act as a closed door. Once you don't need the evidence of God He fills you with it. Those who by faith know God and walk in the spirit have made the leap so evidence means little. They have satisfied the requirement of faith.

Now what I have said can be viewed as a slam on the church. Believe me that is not my intent. The restoration of the present truth stands alone and is independent of the actions of the members or the leaders of the church. Truth does not need a defender it stands apart. But over time a church that possesses the truth and is not lead by the Spirit of God will drift from the present truth.

By the way present truth as defined by Peter. This would be the original Gospel. There are some that saw the need for a restored gospel by reading the Bible and looking at the RCC and its doctrines. I saw this before I knew about the LDS church. I am a member because of what it should be and because it recognizes the need for the restoration. Those churches which deny the need for a restoration are adrift. The members can still be righteous and saved but they still are limited because of their lack of spiritual scriptural discernment.

Aww, this is heartwarming. So glad you guys found each other.

Cylon wrote:Aww, this is heartwarming. So glad you guys found each other.

Thanks Cylon, I think you are the one that suggested we meet. I look forward to meeting everyone here. I think everyone has someting to offer. I have learned that there is a lot we can learn from one another. I love to see the views of other people.

Shixon1 wrote:

Cylon wrote:Aww, this is heartwarming. So glad you guys found each other.

Thanks Cylon, I think you are the one that suggested we meet. I look forward to meeting everyone here. I think everyone has someting to offer. I have learned that there is a lot we can learn from one another. I love to see the views of other people.

I won't take credit for that, although I won't deny I thought it when I read your first post. Lots of people suggested it, though, it was rather obvious you shared a lot of the same perspective.