Understanding The Truths Restored In The Book Of Mormon

I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents.  Therefore having been taught somewhat in all the learning of my father.



Nephi equates being a good parent with teaching children in ALL of the learning that an individual may posses.  The children may not retain all of this learning, but if our desires are to live according to the definition that Nephi gives of being a "good" parent: we will teach them.

This principle was emphasized in the days of Joseph Smith.  On May 6, 1833 The Lord explained, "I have commanded you to bring up your children in light and truth."  A commandment given to all Latter-Day saints to bring up your children in light and truth.

Previously in the same discussion the Lord told Joseph, "The glory of God is intelligence, or in other words light and truth."  

A few months earlier He explained, "The Word of the Lord is truth, and whatsoever is truth is light, and whatsoever is light is Spirit, even the Spirit of Jesus Christ."

So the first truth restored in The Book of Mormon that we encounter is the reality that all parents have a command from God to bring up their children in light.  Whatsoever is truth, is light.  Whatsoever is light, is the Spirit of Jesus Christ.  Which is His glory.  Which glory is intelligence.  

Earlier in the process of the restoration came a warning, however.  The Lord explained to Joseph's brother Hyrum that, "Seek not to declare my word, but first seek to obtain my word, and then shall your tongue be loosed; then, if you desire, you shall have my Spirit and my word, yea, the power of God unto the convincing of men."  This warning is puzzling in our day.  We are not familiar with a process of how to obtain the Word of the Lord unless it means simply to purchase scriptures.  Hyrum did have scriptures available to him at this point.  However, not the Book of Mormon as it had not been published yet...   

So on one hand we are commanded to teach our children after the all of our learning.  While at the same time we are warned against declaring the word of the Lord until we have first obtained the word of the Lord.  

-What does it mean to obtain the Word of the Lord?  
-What does that look like?
-Why the warning of not declaring before first obtaining?

Going back to the discussion the Lord gave to Joseph on May 6, 1833 He stated, "that wicked one cometh and taketh away light and truth, through disobedience, from the children of men, and because of the tradition of their fathers."  The warning of declaring before first obtaining is given because we don't/shouldn't want to be responsible for passing on disobedience to God to anyone, especially our future generations due to the traditions of our fathers which traditions we are not adequately trained to differentiate from the Word of the Lord.

In speaking of faith, Mormon explained, " ...so great was [The Brother of Jared's] faith in God, that when God put forth His finger He could not hide it from the sight of the brother of Jared, because of His word which He had spoken unto him, which word he had obtained by faith.  

And after the brother of Jared had beheld the finger of the Lord, (because of the promise which the brother of Jared had obtained by faith) the Lord could not withhold anything from his sight; wherefore He showed him all things, for he could no longer be kept without the veil."

If we go back and read the Brother of Jared's account preserved within the Book of Ether, we find that -after praying that he, his family and friends not be confounded- he later petitioned the Lord to know whether it were His will to lead the Brother of Jared, his family and friends out of the land where they currently resided and into a new land of promise.  

He received a promise that the Lord would lead this group to such a place.  As a result of obtaining this promise, the quote cited above indicates that the Brother of Jared was able to posses the faith necessary to enter into the presence of the Lord; to see not only His finger but His face and whole body; and to commune with Him there.

Obtain is not a passive verb.  It is an action verb.  It requires effort from the person doing the obtaining.  If effort is not exerted then the appropriate word to use would not be obtain but rather received.
  
We have a commandment to bring up our children in light.  We are warned against the folly of declaring God's word when we have not obtained it.  

The Book of Mormon has restored the light to understand the escape from this conundrum.  

Joseph Smith Knew What He Was Talking About

Joseph's Last Recorded Dream 

"I was back in Kirtland, Ohio, and thought I would take a walk out by myself, and view my old farm, which I found grown up with weeds and brambles, and altogether bearing evidence of neglect and want of culture. I went into the barn, which I found without floor or doors, with the weather-boarding off, and was altogether in keeping with the farm.

"While I viewed the desolation around me, and was contemplating how it might be recovered from the curse upon it, there came rushing into the barn a company of furious men, who commenced to pick a quarrel with me.
"The leader of the party ordered me to leave the barn and farm, stating it was none of mine, and that I must give up all hope of ever possessing it.
"I told him the farm was given me by the Church, and although I had not had any use of it for some time back, still I had not sold it, and according to righteous principles it belonged to me or the Church.

"He then grew furious and began to rail upon me, and threaten me, and said it never did belong to me nor to the Church.

"I then told him that I did not think it worth contending about, that I had no desire to live upon it in its present state, and if he thought he had a better right I would not quarrel with him about it but leave; but my assurance that I would not trouble him at present did not seem to satisfy him, as he seemed determined to quarrel with me, and threatened me with the destruction of my body.

"While he was thus engaged, pouring out his bitter words upon me, a rabble rushed in and nearly filled the barn, drew out their knives, and began to quarrel among themselves for the premises, and for a moment forgot me, at which time I took the opportunity to walk out of the barn about up to my ankles in mud.

"When I was a little distance from the barn, I heard them screeching and screaming in a very distressed manner, as it appeared they had engaged in a general fight with their knives. While they were thus engaged, the dream or vision ended." (recorded June 27, 1844)

I post this recorded dream because I have become aware to the fact that those who inherited Joseph Smith's "authority" almost always seem to do so in opposition not only to those who also claim that authority, but also to Joseph, himself.  

A Shift In Paradigm 

As a result of this recognition I have encountered many who are willing to give up on what was restored through Joseph Smith.  I believe this is because they are confronted with carefully parsed and selected tidbits of what Joseph restored.  Most of these tidbits are used to support some dominion of one group or individual over a population of people.  
It seems to me that not only are these tidbits carefully parsed and selected but often times they seem to have no other explanations than wholesale fabrications.  This presents a huge stumbling block for any who seek to find what Joseph is claimed to have restored because nearly anywhere one seeks she is required to accept many things which are either halve truths or complete misrepresentations of the truth.

Joseph Smith Papers 

I applaud the efforts of those who are shoulder deep engaged in the work that is known as The Joseph Smith Papers.  Although it is not without its slant, seeking to uphold positions that I find untenable, this project is nevertheless of tremendous value in opening up, to the sincere seeker, the treasure trove of material that is what Joseph restored.

What Did Joseph Restore? 

I believe that to begin to get a grasp on what Joseph did that was so important it is necessary to understand the difference from what he declared and what other religious leaders declare.  
Joseph breached the wall of Heaven.  He said so plainly, and he declared that it happened on numerous occasions.  He joined his voice with James in proclaiming that if anyone lacked wisdom, let him ask of God.  Because God will give liberally instead of upbraiding.  He declared that the Heavens were open to any.  
You may believe that you have NO evidence to validate such a proclamation in your life.  I believe that the worn out maxim applies here perfectly: Whether you think you can or you think you can't; you're right.  
Let me make things clear by stating, that I personally have never seen an angel.  I've never even been able to hear a sentence formed by the voice of God in my mind, that I have been able to recognize as such.  Therefore I am a terrible witness.  I apologize to you for that.  I wish I was better.  I wish that I were one that was sent from the presence of God to be able to declare to you that I speak by knowledge.  Yet at this point in my life, I can not. 
Allow me also to declare that it is my belief that without this knowledge, it is impossible to enter into the highest of God's kingdoms prepared for us after this life.  Whether you call that the Celestial Kingdom, or Heaven or anything else, it is my belief.  Therefore I currently believe that as of yet, I lack the hope or assurance that I have anything secure in the afterlife. 
Having said that, let me now say that Joseph declares that he received these things.  He is a witness, proclaiming to have entered into the presence of God and returned if nothing else with the testimony that if he could do it, then you can as well.  That Jesus the Christ seeks to reclaim all who will meekly come to Him and learn of Him.  All who will put away whatever it is in this world that they hold fast to, and lay hold on His word, may receive the same witness.  
This is the single most consistent testimony of Joseph Smith.  

But What Of The "Other Stuff" Joseph did or taught?  

Now you may be of the opinion that Joseph was a liar, womanizer, cheat, conman, charismatic charlatan or whatever else there is.  But I want to ask you: how much of what you know about Joseph comes from a source that has or had ulterior motives?  Whether it's one who is/was trying to defend a practice that was their personal choice, and so attached Joseph's name to it..what evidence that would stand in a court of law to support this personal choice exists?  
Whether your hang up is Polygamy, Polyandry, Magical Practices, Masonic rituals, lack of scientific proof, or whatever it is: what evidence could you bring up that isn't based on hearsay or conjecture by one that had a vested interest in the outcome one way or the other?

I'm not saying that evidence doesn't exist.  However, in my research the evidence that exists often times is more nuanced and/or tenuous at best and in matters concerning our relationship with God, everything should be weighed very carefully in the balance.  I commend you to do that for yourself.  I recognize that there are many more arguments than the simplified ones that I have presented here.  I only ask that you treat the matter as carefully as you think your relationship with God should be.

Great Evidence In Defense Of Joseph's Testimony 

For me, I believe that the greatest evidence that supports Joseph's testimony lies in his exposition of the scriptures.  I acknowledge that this "evidence" requires you to believe the scriptures.  So you will need to decide first whether that is something that you can do.  If you can or already do then I intend to give some illustrations of what I find compelling.  If not, then I invite you to read the scriptures and ask God to help you believe them.  He is the one who can do all things, not me.
Now for a case in point: we have no evidence to show in the Old Testament that God or the Israelites anticipated in a clear and evidentiary manner that there would be a Messiah, Jesus the Christ.   Currently this is one of the arguments against the Book of Mormon because within it is presented a narrative that requires the reader to believe that at least some Israelites already knew, believed in and anticipated the life of our Savior as it is presented in the accounts found in the New Testament.  Nothing like that is found to be the case in the Old Testament.  
So either the Book of Mormon is right or the presentation of the Old Testament is, but both can not be right in this one aspect.  (It is beyond my desire to present the evidence that both could be wrong, but that is something that you should decide your personal feelings about.  As I said above, this presentation will require you to believe the scriptures.)  Perhaps this is at least one of the reasons why the Book of Mormon warns us about the Bible that we as Gentiles have inherited. (See 1st Nephi 13:24-29)  

However, despite the contrast found between the Old Testament and the Book of Mormon in at least this one aspect; Joseph Smith demonstrated that there is no such discrepancy on this detail between the New Testament and the Book of Mormon.  
To show the point I will point out the scriptures that Joseph used as proof text.  (See Pg 60 of Teachings of The Prophet Joseph Smith)

First let's go to the Galatians 3:8 where it states, "And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed."
Here Paul declares that Abraham had the Gospel preached to him.  Paul understood what the Gospel was.  He knew that the Gospel is, "The Good News."  The Good News is that Jesus Christ would come to this earth and die for all men, so that we through His death could be redeemed.  Paul would not use the term Gospel (Good News) for anything other than Jesus Christ's death and resurrection, because anything that doesn't contain that, isn't Good News, but is as dead as the law!  This Paul had already declared and should be easy to see.  However, in case you want more evidence we shall next turn to the Gospel of St. John 8:56, "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad."  Abraham, in vision was shown the life of Christ; a prophet indeed!  He had seen the mortal ministry of our Savior and was glad.  Why else would he be glad unless he had seen that the Lamb would be slain for all mankind to be redeemed? 
Now perhaps you now accept that Abraham had seen these things; but reject that many if any others had seen or known of them?  

Once again Joseph Smith swoops in with abundant exposition to defend the position demonstrated in the Book of Mormon by going to the Book of Hebrews 3:15-4:2, "While it is said, Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.  For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.  But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?  And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?  So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.  Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.  For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it."  

Once again that word "Gospel" is used.  And here Paul, directly associates what he and his associates had received with what the Children of Israel in the time of Moses had received!  

Argue it, attack it or leave it, but once again the instructor of Joseph Smith stands forth untarnished in the ability to declare simply and profoundly the truth of a matter so heatedly disputed.  

If you believe that Joseph was able to construct these matters on his own as a preacher does, then I leave you to it.  I don't deny you what is rightfully yours to pursue.  

But I ask you to consider that this is only one of literally thousands of truths restored through Joseph Smith that he left for you so as to embolden you to have faith.  Not faith in Joseph Smith, not faith in an institution or some other fallible man but faith in the being that Joseph had faith in: Jesus the Christ!  If you don't believe that's what Joseph was trying to do, I challenge you to read The Lectures on Faith.  If you don't believe that Joseph authored or at least heavily edited those Lectures, then I invite you first to read the original introduction to those lectures and then also catch up on the evidence brought forth in the Joseph Smith Papers.  They illustrate that Joseph spent MANY HOURS, editing those Lectures for publication.  He left the revelations to the publication committee for editing, but took on the Lectures personally in the realization that, "We do not present this little volume with any other expectation than that we are to be called to answer to every principle advanced, in that day when the secrets of all hearts will be revealed, and the reward of every man's labor be given him."

If like many others, -including the committee that removed the Lectures from the scriptures in 1921- you are offended by some doctrine advanced in those Lectures, I invite you to consider how those doctrines comport with what Joseph actually taught and not with what you have been told Joseph taught.  

My Piss-Poor Witness  

I believe the Book of Mormon is the most correct book in accomplishing the task of getting you closer to God than any other book.  I believe Joseph Smith was a preacher sent by God to help you have faith in God and not in an institution or men.  

I believe if you will use him to do just that, then you will get nearer to God; even to the fulfilling of the New Covenant expressed in Jeremiah 31:31-34.  I believe that the prophesy of Joel recited to Joseph by the angel who visited him on September 21, 1820 will come to pass in your life.  I believe that when they who are coming, come; you will not be burned without root nor branch.

This is my witness, to you. 

Dust of the Earth

Mosiah 2:25  And now I ask, can ye say aught of yourselves? I answer you, Nay. *Ye cannot say that ye are even as much as the dust of the earth*; yet ye were created of the dust of the earth;

 Everybody wants a purpose

My wife and I were talking recently about what it means to fulfill the purpose of our life.  We talked about how some people find the purpose of life in religion.  Others in civic duty or political office.  Some in their profession.   Others in a hobby.  The list really could extend on for quite a distance.  
However, as we spoke, it made me wonder: Why is it that so many people feel that there is a purpose to life?  I have met a few folks in my journeys who proclaim that they don't believe there is a purpose.  They may profess as much, however I have never met a person who didn't live in such a way so as to indicate that to some degree they feel that they are fulfilling some purpose or obligation to something.  That's not to say that people who live completely without purpose doesn't exist; but just that I haven't met them, yet.  
I surmise this from the detailed actions taken by people that I have observed or recollected in my mind.  In my opinion, a person without a purpose would necessarily be a complete sociopath, and perhaps it's my naivete but I have met some who have been clinically labeled as having sociopathic behaviors.  Yet, even those who I know with conditions that fall in that category still act in at least small degrees towards some form of what they see as a greater collective purpose for society in general.  Never have I met someone completely devoid of this. 

Does everything posses a sense of purpose?

As the conversation continued my mind wandered into a consideration of non-human's.  As I considered both domesticated and wild animals it was apparent in my mind that all things act in faith to some sense of purpose in what they do in their life in this mortal sphere.  All animals seek to breed and protect what they see as their preferable genes in contrast to the inferior genes of their opponents.  Even to the laying down their lives for their offspring, animals are given this inherent purpose for the existence of their life and they are loyal to it, almost to a fault.  

So what about trees?  Rocks?  Earth?  These are harder to observe and measure, but for me there is no difficulty in imagining that even inanimate objects have a sense of purpose.  I realize that there is no discernible proof for such a statement, but even if it's only in my imagination, I can believe it.  


If trees could talk

If you can imagine it, then I invite you to do so.  I invite you to imagine: what do trees feel?  What would a tree want to accomplish?  What would a rock want to accomplish?  What would dust want to accomplish?

In stories like Daniel and the Lion's den, (see Daniel 6) there seems to me to be a recognition among animals when the presence of God is in their midst.  I do not believe that God just waved a magical wand and made the lions friendly for Daniel's sake.  I believe that the lions sensed the presence of God with Daniel when he descended in to their lair.  I believe that they had a sense of obligation to protect this being as a result of the Presence that was with him.  

I believe that animals are naturally much more in tune with God's will for them, than are we.  And if this is true with animals, then why not inanimate objects?  Despite our inability to detect very much from them, do we not have the example from plants like the pre-budded, young sunflowers which testify to us of God's beauty by turning throughout each day to face the sun?  Is there not accounts of rocks splitting apart when our Savior died? (See Matt 27:50-51)  Enoch testified of hearing the Earth groan because of the sins of men. (See Moses 7:45)
If you accept that these are or could be true events, and testimonies by nature of God and His power, then I ask you to consider, what is man's place in all of this?  

For dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return

In the account found in Genesis, The Lord tells Adam that he was made of dust, and that his body would return to dust.  
If God saw fit to make man of the dust, does that then inform us of our purpose?
If dust had a purpose what would it be?  If dust were able to talk, what would she declare her purpose to be?  How would dust judge the measure or worth of her existence?
Would it not be found in what or perhaps who she upholds?  She supports, sustains, upholds people and things; then wouldn't that be how dust would judge herself?  
Man was made of dust.  King Benjamin says that we are not only made of the dust of the earth, but also that we are not even as the dust of the earth.  Meaning we are lower than it.  
Why does King Benjamin insist on insulting us?

Mormon says, "Helaman 12:7 O how great is the nothingness of the children of men; yea, even they are less than the dust of the earth.  8 For behold, the dust of the earth moveth hither and thither, to the dividing asunder, at the command of our great and everlasting God."  So he agrees with King Benjamin because the dust of the earth fulfills all of the commands of God, even as God commands.  Yet men are given their own will to choose.  Therefore, in the very day that they are given a gift of eternal life they would rather choose to disobey. 

Why I believe we should look to dust for our purpose

In Ether chapter 12 we find a dialogue between Moroni and God.  Moroni declares that by the Faith of his fathers, God gave a promise that the writings contained in the Book of Mormon would one day come from the Gentiles unto the descendants of the Lamanites and Nephites.  Moroni then declares he was commanded by God to maintain the record for this reason.  

However, because of his charity towards us as Gentiles, Moroni prays for us realizing the obvious reasons that the Gentiles will have to mock the record when it comes forth.  It is here where God states that, "Fools mock, but they shall mourn; and my grace is sufficient for the meek,"  

This teaching seems to be connected to what the Savior taught in His mortal ministry that, whosoever exalteth himself, shall be abased.  And he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.  (see Luke 14:11) 

The Lord goes on to tell Moroni that, "I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me."  (See Ether 12:27)

From this I declare that God wants us to be humble.  He wants us to be abased.  This because, it is only through our coming down into the depths of humility that we do see our true position before God, as beggars to God.  As no better than the dust of the earth. 

In this we see that our position is to uphold and lift others.  If you want to know the mission or purpose for your life, that God has sent you here to accomplish, then look no further than the dirt beneath your feet.  For this is the same position that all of us are in.  Dust beneath the feet of a merciful God.  

For this reason, I believe the Savior could truly teach that, "he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.  For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as He that serveth."  

In all things He was our perfect example, and in this teaching He did not fail. 

The Book of Mormon's teachings

This teaching is evident in the example and teachings of our Savior.  However, the Book of Mormon time and time again draws out this most sublime principle of one who desires to follow in the pathway of our Lord.  It is the teaching of charity.  It is the teaching of forgiveness.  It is the teaching of redemption.  To get, we must give.  What we give was a gift anyway, and is not our own.  
I believe King Benjamin and Mormon in declaring: We really are not any better than the dust of the earth, yea we are not even as the dust of the earth.  
I believe that life is more fulfilling when we set our life's purpose to allow ourselves to be walked on by the ignorant, the ungrateful, the abusive.  When we take the trampling and return it with upholding and loving them; then we are best fulfilling our mission on earth.  As Alma declares (see Alma 42:30) I pray that these words shall bring you down into the dust in humility. 

 

My Understanding of part of the process known as Apostasy

Apostasy

(This post is given as a precursor to the next.  It was originally all one, but this tangent made things too long for just one post.)

"He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned-" 
Mark 16:16.
With such an easy condition, mortal men still managed to screw things up.
Following the death of God who came in the flesh, True Teachings were given to those who possessed True Belief.  Those who possessed True Belief and thereby received True Teachings, were then known as True Witnesses of God.  This because they had known and received a Testimony from God, Himself; as opposed to having received it from another.  With a desire to perpetuate these  Teachings from God, these True Witnesses...witnessed to any who would listen.  This in hopes that others might gain True Belief through Faith on the name of God, so that they might also be saved by Him.
Initially, God came and taught those whom He found to be True Believers that could Witness of The Way which other men should go to obtain True Belief.  He commanded them to write those things which would assist others to believe so that they could in turn come unto Him.  However pride, envy, whoredoms, and all manner of abominations were present among those who received the teachings of the True Witnesses.  The desire to maintain possession of these prevented those who had received the teachings from receiving the same Witness, which is free to all who believe truly.
As a result of their refusal to abandon these, the True Witnesses died off, and those who remained were left with their pride, envy, whoredoms, etc., to be their god.  (This may seem a harsh judgement, but sadly it is no less a judgement that I pass upon myself at present, so with what judgement I judge, I know I am judged.)  This is not to say that there was nothing good about those who sought to carry on the tradition of believing in God who had come in the flesh.  It only signifies the reason for the results of what they received by what they performed.  With their hearts set upon the things of this world, the teachings that had been given by the True Witnesses were incrementally left to abandon.  Parts of the teachings were kept, but only the parts that appealed to the gods worshiped by those who also received the True Teachings.

Change and Decay  

An institution can live indefinitely whereas mortal men pass away with relative rapidity.  Among those who persisted in trying to obtain True Belief some saw that the best way to assist future generations in receiving these required teachings, was to give birth to an institution.
There is a funny thing about institutions.  In order to best preserve an institution, it is often easier for those who hold affiliation with it to deem it a "Corporation."  Corporation coming from the same root word Corps, or Corpse.  A body.  Bodies are either living or dead.  The rule (always followed by exceptions) is that once alive, bodies will always fight to perpetuate their existence.  Fight or flight, a cognizant body will seek its self-preservation. 
This new body, was created by good intentions.  However, as with Frankenstein, the corporation spawned by the institution ends up seeking the destruction of its maker.  Which is odd, because the creator of the corporation being an inanimate, immaterial being (good intentions) is sought to be destroyed by another inanimate, immaterial being.  A virtual arcane battle played out in the real world, long before virtual reality was only expected in an arcade.

The New Name Given by the New Father

The Corporation was dubbed -by itself- the "Catholic" church rightly so because as catholic -meaning universal- those who came together wanted a united, universal organization where all questions regarding God could be answered easily and systematically.  You see, the problem before the creation of the Corporation, was the widely varying interpretations of what exactly it was that mankind was suppose to believe about this God, Immanuel of whom the True Witnesses had taught others.  These others, in turn tried to pass on the teachings they had received to even more "others."
The inception of Apostasy had arrived before this point.  Yet like a liquid that transforms into a solid must receive a new name, the Apostasy born by those who insisted on serving other gods also received a new name.

Father of Righteous Desires

Truth isn't of this world.  It is comprised of a body, but It is humble, meek, and submissive.  It will permit you to seek after it or to seek to murder it.  It won't even put up so much as an appearance of a fight in return if you seek to do it harm.  (As a result of this disposition, Truth is given life over death; it cannot be killed.  It has been said, and that accurately so"...whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it.")  Truth always seeks God's sake or will. 
Being formed in weakness, men who insist on being alone without God in this world; are allowed by God to receive whatever it is that they desire.  Natural consequences occur from decisions made by imperfect men, that then create the flow of history, and God will prophecy of it for His sake that pertains to future generations.  
He prophesied of the Flood, He prophesied of the descendants of Abraham going down into Egypt, He prophesied that He would raise up Moses to lead them out of Egypt, He prophesied of their wickedness and thus their refusal to receive all that He would give them and subsequent condemnation/scattering away from their covenant land, He prophesied of His coming in the flesh, He prophesied of the apostasy of those who had covenanted to believe in Him after His coming in the Flesh and He prophesied of the redemption of the Remnant of Israel.

Diabolical Divisions

In this state of apostasy those who previously declared belief in Him, accepted those things that appealed to them, and left to wither on the vine those things which they either didn't understand or didn't want to hear. 
Not all chose the same things to accept.  Some, by reading the teachings of the Witnesses, interpreted that God was not originally God, but rather God was man who later got to be God because of His perfect devotion to the will of a true God.  Others interpreted, that the God who had come in the flesh was not God at all, but rather an inferior creation to God.  
As many as had received the Teachings, -of the The True Believers who were Witnesses of God- interpreted different aspects of those Teachings differently.  With the result being many different factions of believers of God.  
So some people started declaring that certain teachings were truer than others, and that there were other teachings that were wholesale fabrications!  Obviously what one chose to interpret about the Teachings dictated what was declared true, false and truer-than-false.

Nothing good comes to those, gullible enough to believe...too much

Well if True Belief is necessary, then the problem that a few realized was that there was too much belief.  So a reduction of belief was sought.  The dangerous problem was observed lying in the obfuscating grasses that were the Teachings of The True Witnesses. Because people could read and interpret them in any way they wanted; the teachings were far to dangerous to allow too many people to have access to them.
As a good disciple of God, it wouldn't be rightly pious to allow others to believe in false teachings or perpetuate truer-than-false teachings.  So attempts were made to round up copies considered (by your own consideration) error filled copies of the teachings that were floating around and discreetly as possible, destroyed.  This made angry those who supported the teachings which were deemed erronic by those doing the rounding up.  Battles ensued, tumults occurred, and eventually dissensions were the result.  
Some saying lo, here and others lo, there.  Normally nobody would give a crap, and everybody could go off and create their own version of build-o-religiously-based-institution, but the root of all evil was to be gained by some if unity could be gained.  In fact, due to the (depending on who you believe) imagination/machinations of one Emperor Constantine, by this point a whole empire depended upon the cohesiveness of the teachings, and a fractionation would be catastrophic to the overall corps of the Empire.  Once again, a body seeks to protect its own existence, and fighting instead of flight, always was the Roman way.  

This Means WAR!!!

This fighting with the virtual heretical opponent who threatened all with the loss of tithing income was achieved by...calling together "councils."  Or more clearly stated, those who were receiving the tithing money from those who believed whatever they were being taught by those who were receiving the tithing money (conflict of interest much?), were called together and told to get their act together....otherwise the result would be that they all would lose the cash cow they had come to live on.  In order to facilitate this putting together of their Acts (distant relation to the book of) it had been decided that this council must come to an agreement on: of what The Teachings consisted, who were the Witnesses (and who were not), how the teachings could be interpreted, and what would be the protocol for future divisions.  
As you might imagine, resulting from the many divisions more than one council was called and heated contention was a common visitor.  However, this God in which all present professed belief, never was stated to have made an appearance to help in clarifying any of the matters disputed.  An odd non-reaction, for One who promised to visit again and restore any missing knowledge.  No matter it seems because evidently in His omniscience He must have known the results that would come.
After a handful of councils,many difficult to understand statements were produced that nearly satisfied all present by confusing all, even if it didn't bestow any clear knowledge unto those whom lacked.  With this, creeds were issued, and finally a universal, one-size-fits-all institution born!  The various Bodies of believers previously divided now had been brought to the operating table together.  Some parts removed here, others altered there but nevertheless the important parts had all been sown together in one nice, albeit somewhat unsightly and kind of disjointed, universal body.  Expectations were that this disjointedness would eventually coalesce into a stronger, more efficient machine to produce salvation for all!      
The matter of what the Teachings consisted was fairly (but not really) settled, and the naming of the true witnesses could be hammered out overtime.  (Absence may make the heart grow fonder, but as earlier generations died off, the authoritative dogmatism of the Universal Church could settle into the minds of later generations to settle such matters by truth or fear.)  

Inoculation Against Heresy

Yet the problem of what to do with any future divisions needed immediate reprisal.  This because those who had been rejected by the council's vote, were still out their preaching vehemently their disgust at having been cut off from what a majority considered Orthodox.  Not really a problem if those pesky parishioners didn't demand on being taught the truth.  Yet the parishioners also stubbornly insisted on maintaining the highly coveted tithing income to remain in their sole possession and to only be allocated to the preacher of their own choice.  Something had to be done!  Preaching of course; to persuade the minds of those who might listen that you possessed orthodoxy while your opponents were the REAL heretics.  Which meant more battles.  Which meant continued contention.  Which signified the ever present problem of not getting your full measure of tithing dollars.  
Attempts were continually made to persuade opposing sides to come to the universal teat of a larger offering base than what one could build through individual effort.  Where the persuasion of bribery failed, threat of damnation would be the contemporary champion to prevail.  Fathers, preachers and ministers who wouldn't bow a submissive knee to the Universal Golem, were publicly excommunicated.  Allowing all who listened to the excommunicants to know that if they persisted, they would be damned to hell as well.  
Despite the complete lack of such a thing in the Teachings of the Witnesses, an easy explanation was contrived to show how in the Teachings of the Witnesses there was an account of God having given one man the power to seal on earth and in heaven.  Seal what?  To what?  Apparently that question wasn't asked or answer passed along.  No matter.  A line was connected from that first witness to another man who liked and really, really admired the first man.  The second man liked the first so much, that he followed him around a lot, and when the first died, he took the Teachings of the first and taught them to whomever would listen.  The group who listened decided second hand knowledge is as good as first and decided he would be a good teacher.  He taught for a while but came into some personal problems with the local authorities in Rome.  He knew another guy who also knew the first and so the group that followed the second guy, now followed the third.  There was even a fourth guy who knew the first guy.  He later became the leader of the group.  
This group wasn't official but declared their Officiality because of the supposed awesomeness of the first guy.  So because the first guy knew God, from actual first hand knowledge, and because he ended up dying in their barrio they believed that they were the premier group of believers in God.  
This then resulted in a line of people claiming to be The Officials of all believers in God, leading down to the group who decided that as a result of this line of Office being present with them in Rome, they now had the power to offer or reject salvation to any who rejected them.  Despite God having said that He alone maintains that right, and He employs no servant there.

Might Makes Right

With this new found power, everything was right with the world.  Occasionally dissidents would pop up, but nearly always the new Exaclibur of excommunication beat any who defied the Universal church.  However, sometimes the problem wasn't dissidents, but rather usurpers. 
With the resultant marriage of the body of the Universal church, and the body of the Roman Empire there came disputes in the midst of the Empire regarding ownership of lands.  Divisions resulted in the Empire, yet all of the dividing conquerors claimed to be believers of the same god.  This positioned the Officials of the Corporation with authority to settle matters between the conquerors.  Except for those whom the Officials ruled against in a particular matter.  Then a common problem came by a tantrum thrown by the losing party against the very Officials they had once petitioned.  More battles, more tumults, more dissensions.  
Once again something had to be done!  A group of wealthy nobles volunteered to be the military arm of the Corporation.  However, it was sensed that it would be (maybe just slightly) questionable for a Body of Officials who had declared to follow a God that required His followers always to turn the other cheek against antagonists; to instead bring down a war against its own adherents.  
Well this group of wealthy nobles that had nothing better to do, decided that they would create a pathway for all in Europe to safely traverse from their homelands all the way down to walk where God had walked, while in the flesh.  Now it wouldn't be prudent for the wealthy nobles to put their lives at risk seeking to defend these poor followers on the road to Jerusalem, so they sought volunteers.  Only a few from each divided part of the Empire so as not to show favoritism to the travelers of any given part of the Empire.  With the poor volunteers guarding the way, the wealthy noblemen found it becoming to establish bases in each divided portion of the empire and who better to head each base up...but the wealthy noblemen.  This they said would be so that the travelers could easily bring their monies to the base of the military arm, headed by the nobles and deposit it there.  In return for this deposit they would get a slip noting the transaction so that when they got to their destination, they could present the slip to the nobleman heading the military base there and he would in turn give them the amount prescribed on the slip.  This was done in hopes to cut down on the marauding bands of land pirates that would stalk the trails for the pilgrims making their way to the Holy Land.  
All of this was done for a nominal fee, exacted by the nobles.  The military arm of nobles began to make a good wage for their honorable duties.  However, wars resulted in Jerusalem from the arrival of all of these believers in a different God than the one in whom those who currently resided in the area now believed.  Additionally when the pilgrims were found without money, they were either murdered or kidnapped and held for ransom.  The nobles would keep the money if the owner of the slip died, because the pirates weren't very good about returning the slips to the families of the deceased.  The pirates had little interest in tracking down a base of the military arm, because often times those whom they had robbed had been peasants and therefore to travel hundreds of miles to try to redeem what ever small amount the peasant had deposited would not be worth the risk for a criminal to go to a city where they might be recognized by others whom they had assailed.  
Regardless, the nobles that comprised this military arm of the Corporation of the Universal church amassed an incredible wealth.  So large that pretty soon as there began to be battles between the differing factions of the Roman empire, the leaders of these factions would seek out this military arm for loans to finance battles.  Despite it being against the law in all of Christendom, the Nobles would oblige these leaders by lending; with interest.  However, that was the OLD law/covenant, and therefore could be disregarded with impunity...unless it was advantageous not to do so.  
These loans made to rulers of the Empire -paid back with interest- gained the Order an even greater wealth.  With this the Corporation realized how it could keep down the destruction caused by a tantrum if thrown by a leader of one of the factions of the Holy Roman Empire.  Their enemies would be financed by this "military" order, and in this: international banking as we know it today, was born!  Simple and effective.  
However, with every new thing created a new paradox is born.  Power to lend money used to finance wars creates a lot of convenient friends and admirers.  This took the heat off the Corporation of the Universal church, and placed it squarely on the military order.  As had been done before, all of the factions of the empire at first sought the military order's blessing (of money to fight their competitors) and when winners were ordained and losers condemned...the losers gained a distaste for the financiers.  Beyond that problem The Corporation of the Universal Church, didn't like competition for affection created an equal if not larger one.  Suspicion begat paranoia and pretty soon kisses to the ring of the Officials slowed and so the Sceptre had to come out to remind everyone of who the REAL god of this world is.
The race was on and as can be prognosticated by any of the three Juwes thirsty for the blood of Hiram Abiff, one of the leaders of the Empire brought charges of heresy against the military order and received the blessing of the Highest Official of the Universal church -who sought to bring unity to the divided secular and spiritual sides of the Empire- to confiscate the wealth of the military order.  A vicious trial of interrogation ensued and after enough inhumane torture, confessions of the oddest variety came forth.  So odd it sounded convincing enough to not only excommunicate the nobles, but to burn them at the stake!  (The authority to "seal" on earth, taken to its limits.)  
Well just like a young teenage couple in love experimenting with a first kiss, the Corporation having once crossed the line figured there was no reason not to keep crossing it.  Despite proclaiming to abide the precepts of a New Covenant, this practice could be justified by applying advantageous excerpts of the Old.  However, selectivity was permissible because obviously the Official line descending upon them from the first Witness authorized them to interpret what was and what was not Official teaching.  
Over the following centuries more excommunications, more burning's and murders happened in order to keep "heresy" out.  

Radioactive Fall Out

Yet despite this extreme activism to ensure orthodoxy, more and more dissidents popped up and became convinced of the error of the Corporation.  
A strangle hold had been placed on the Teachings of the Witnesses of God.  Nobody but those authorized by the Corporation was permitted to not only own a copy, but to even read them.  With time, language had changed, and yet the Teachings were still only read by those educated in the old language of the Officials of the Corporation.  This ensured that the average person had little to no understanding of what was being read to them in their religious services.  
The Officials of the Corporation preferred this.  Ironically they declared that it would keep heresy down and thereby perpetuate the living status of the organization.  However, one of those authorized by the Corporation to read the Teachings, felt like a great wrong was being done by the Officials in the Corporation.  He wasn't the only one, but he became one of, if not the loudest to proclaim it.  Having been educated to read in the old language he could read the teachings for himself.  From His reading, he began to interpret the teachings very differently than any other official inside the corporation.  This was not authorized!  He began teaching that everyone should have their own copy of the Teachings.  This was expressly forbidden!  He translated the Teachings from the old language to his contemporary language and began teaching from his interpretation.  "WO, WO, WO!!!" proclaimed the Officials of the Corporation.  They excommunicated him, as they had the dissidents before.  However, in time they realized that this didn't have the effect that it once did.  Those who heard the preaching of the man, didn't care that he had been excommunicated.
The Officials of the Corporation began to fear for the continued existence of their institution.  After much discussion, it was decided: they were the administrators ordained by the mysterious, unseen, indiscernible hand of god to protect the homunculus bride of god.  They must protect her sanctified life!  
They excommunicated any who professed belief in what the man had taught.  They sought diligently to find any who possessed copies of his Satanic interpretation, and to destroy the copies and excommunicate those evil possessors!  
All to no avail.  Like a smoldering candle that is brought to flame with the opposition of breath blowing against it, the man and his Teachings jumped from the candle to the parched wheat-and-tear field upon which it stood.  (Kind of a silly, place to hold a candle if you don't want fire.)
Soon there were other dissenters.  These would not be entertained as the first.  Having previously put to death usurpers under the justifications explained above, there was no reason any longer for the same justifications to be unequally applicable for dissenters.  The gloves were now off.
These dissenters were seeking to steal the hearts of others who would be true believers in the body of this bride of their god, if it were not for hearing the persuasiveness of the evil dissenters!  The ends justify the means!  As maniacally uttered as the Queen of Hearts, "Off with their heads!" was the mantra. 
Maybe not always to the fulfillment of that statement, many were burned at the stake and murdered by other means...but murder was the result of apostasy sewn in corruption centuries before by those bearing good intentions, yet having no direct, personal Testimony from Jesus. 

Thesis  

Many suppose that the Truth was fully rectified when the battle of those protesting the Universal church was won by independence to worship how they chose.  However, sadly such was not, nor can not be the case.  The Truth is only rectified when the Truth is known.  None of those who dissented from the Corporation ever professed to have known God as the original witnesses did.  In fact I am not aware of any of them that professed to posses or know the Truth; only that they BELIEVED the Truth could be found in the teachings given to them by the Corporation.
To compound the problem of this matter, in the intervening millennia because of the dissensions that occurred among those who sought positions of power over mankind, the Teachings were changed.  Some excised from the whole, others altered, some by translations and most by way of interpretation.  
God with His omniscience, foreknew all that would be fall the generations of the world.  In His power and compassion He prophesied of these things by preparing Teachings from more True Witnesses of Him that wouldn't be passed down by the hands of mankind trusting their prideful ability to maintain the precious Truth contained therein.  Rather these Teachings were principally prepared and handled only by True Witnesses of God.  According to covenants made by God to these Witnesses, they were preserved by the Power of God to come forth in our day.  That this generation may have the opportunity to lay hold on the truths contained in the Teachings handed down to us by our fathers.  
These Teachings are known to us as The Book of Mormon.  I have read this book.  The greatest message that I get out of the Book of Mormon, -that would otherwise be hard to extract from the teachings passed down to us by our fathers- is that Christ is knowable.  Nearly every author in The Book of Mormon saw Him, spoke with Him, was redeemed by Him and received His Testimony.  Almost everyone of the authors of The Book of Mormon were people who were not Officials, administrators, or in any type of earthly positions of power over others.  Yet, only because of their Faith in Jesus Christ, they were able to come into His presence and know Him.  
Jeremiah, having lived in a time when God's people -Israel- had broken their covenant with Him; prophesied of a time when God would once again make a new covenant.  The qualifier Jeremiah explained the Way to know when that covenant had been made.  It would be when there is a people on the earth that will need not say one to another, "Know, ye the Lord!" for they will ALL know Him, from the least to the greatest.  
Through The Book of Mormon, God seeks to make this covenant with you.  He wants to restore to you knowledge about Him.  This so you can Know Him. 
The Book of Mormon proclaims that it is only the first in a line of Teachings to be restored; but that the others will only be restored when there is a people on the earth with Faith to receive more.  
I don't care what, if any Corporation you're joined to currently.  I am not inviting you to leave it or to be a part of some earthly Corporation.  I invite you only to read the Book of Mormon.  Doubt not, but be believing!  Come as in times of old and work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.  Gather from its pages the Truth given as a merciful gift there by One who loves.  
I believe that by doing this you will come to know God.  He will come to you as He has promised, and manifest Himself unto you.  

What greater gift can their be?