This is part seven of a series looking at the role of suffering in the life of the Savior, and how our own suffering brings us closer to Him. Stephanie: Okay. So, I am a “how” person. All of this stuff is great. And then there’s this gigantic disconnect about, “Okay, yeah, it all sounds really good. Now, what are we supposed to do?” I’m not an expert, by any means, but I have recently embarked on a new journey which is full of all kinds of interesting and edifying...

This is part six of a series looking at the role of suffering in the life of the Savior, and how our own suffering brings us closer to Him. Christ was essentially an Eastern mystical teacher with whose deepest teachings the Buddhists and the Hindus resonate. Because the kind of allegories He spoke with, the kind of similes He used, the language that He used, it’s music in the ears of some of the Eastern cultures. And to us, we want to measure it, we want to define it, we want...

This is part five of a series looking at the role of suffering in the life of the Savior, and how our own suffering brings us closer to Him. Christ was born a King. In fact, wise men from the East came inquiring saying: "Where is he that was born King of the Jews?" Because that was His status, that was what the prophecies said of Him. That was the role He occupied. And the person they approached to find out where they might identify the newborn king was the king of the land who...

This is part four of a series looking at the role of suffering in the life of the Savior, and how our own suffering brings us closer to Him. You cannot endure a Terrestrial glory in a Telestial state. Lying, and stealing, and deceiving, and adultery, and whoremongering (all of the abominations that people prize in this generation), your lusts, your ambitions, your desires to lord it over one another (the common affliction of the Gentile)—all of those things are a level below...

This is part three of a series looking at the role of suffering in the life of the Savior, and how our own suffering brings us closer to Him. Doctrine and Covenants section 93, verse 1, says: VERILY, thus saith the Lord: It shall come to pass that every soul who forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and obeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments, shall see my face and know that I am (see also T&C 93:1). Every soul who forsaketh his...

This is part two of a series looking at the role of suffering in the life of the Savior, and how our own suffering brings us closer to Him. From what, then, were your spirits organized? Light and truth. Okay... At your core, at your nub, at the very essence of what it is that constitutes you to be you, what is it that constitutes you to be you? Light and truth. There’s another place where a description is given of the Lord—Christ—in the pre-existence: In the beginning...

This is part one of a series looking at the role of suffering in the life of the Savior, and how our own suffering brings us closer to Him. The incident that I want to look at is recorded only one place in Scripture. And even though it only appears one place in the Scripture, I think it’s one of the most thought-provoking and potentially rewarding discussions about the Lord that appears anywhere else. I’m talking about the incident that Luke records of two disciples who were...

This is the fouth part of a series on ascension, the process of rising up to the throne of God. The Lord is equal to the challenge. He will establish a new civilization. It will be founded on the fullness of His gospel. Lost truths will be restored; the path of righteousness will be returned.  Society is broken. Everywhere we see corrupt cultures based on corrupt laws, corrupt religions, corrupt values, and ultimately, corrupt thought. Beginning again requires re-...

This is the third part of a series on ascension, the process of rising up to the throne of God. In the tenth talk, given in Phoenix two years ago, you were warned about false spirits, as happened in Kirtland, which you were warned would come among us. That warning has proven true. False spirits have mislead some into foolish errors. I am astonished at vain, foolish and prideful ideas that are anti-Christ, degrading and dark, but have been welcomed by some. Remember Pharaoh’s...

This is the second part of a series on ascension, the process of rising up to the throne of God. I’m gonna read from the Seventh Lecture on Faith, paragraph 9, about Christ:  Where shall we find a saved being? for if we can find a saved being, we may ascertain without much difficulty what all others must be in order to be saved…. We think that it will not be a matter of dispute that two beings who are unlike each other cannot both be saved, for whatever constitutes the...

This is the first part of a series on ascension, the process of rising up to the throne of God. In the tabernacle and, subsequently, in the temple that was built by Solomon, the temple divided up into three areas. There was an outer court into which was welcomed all of Israel. You had to enter Israel whether you were a priest or not a priest; all of Israel entered into the outer court. There was a Holy Place into which, on a rotating basis, the priests alone were allowed to...

This is the second part of a series on the Book of Abraham, where Denver uses the text of the Book of Abraham itself to provide powerful proof of its authenticity. The best evidence of translation authenticity is the text itself. As Hugh Nibley put it, “...it is the Book of Abraham that[‘s] on trial, not Joseph Smith as an Egyptologist, nor the claims and counterclaims to scholarly recognition by squabbling publicity seekers...” (Abraham in Egypt, p. 3). The text of the Book of...

This is the first part of a series on the Book of Abraham, where Denver uses the text of the Book of Abraham itself to provide powerful proof of its authenticity. After Melchizedek, an apostasy lasted until Abraham. Although he was raised by an idolater and lamented that his fathers offered sacrifices to idols, Abraham searched for the true God of Heaven. Abraham found God, and the covenant of the first Fathers was renewed and conferred upon him by Melchizedek. Generations of...

In this installment, Denver discusses the new civilization to be built around a temple, that the Lord intends to bring about if we are willing. Enoch saw the crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension of Christ into heaven. He wanted to know if Christ would return again from heaven to save the earth. In response to Enoch’s inquiry, the Lord gave a promise and covenant that is still unfulfilled. Here is the account. Enoch asks:  Wherefore, I ask you if you will not come...

In this installment, Denver discusses what it means to have a firm mind in every form of Godliness. The right pathway is always filled with peril. King Benjamin said, and this is from the traditional account: (Mosiah 4:29-30 “I cannot tell you all the things whereby ye may commit sin; for there are divers ways and means, even so many that I cannot number them. But this much I can tell you, that if ye do not watch yourselves, and your thoughts, and your words, and your deeds,...

In this series, Denver addresses the importance of becoming peacemakers, learning to live together peacefully, and crying peace in these last days. If the original Mormonism needed to recover the fullness that was lost, then to revive an original, it will require a recovery of what was lost, and more. If recovered, believers will be able to receive a holy spot, accepted and defended by God. In that place the religion of Adam will be taught. The promised original religion...

In this series, Denver addresses the importance of becoming peacemakers, learning to live together peacefully, and crying peace in these last days. Moses had power to divide the seas. And he did that by the word of God (see Exodus 14:15-16, 21; see also Exodus 9:3-4 RE). And yet, when Moses used the power to cause the rock to bring forth water (and not at the command of God), he suffered some loss. Possession of the power does not mean you freelance. Because in the very...

In this series, Denver addresses the importance of becoming peacemakers, learning to live together peacefully, and crying peace in these last days. Listen, if you’re faithful to the Lord, you have no reason to pick a fight with anyone else. Our Lord was a peacemaker. We ought to be peacemakers as well.  The more we contend and dispute with one another the better we become at contention. We polish the rhetorical skills to oppose others. That spirit of contention can take...

In this series, Denver addresses the importance of becoming peacemakers, learning to live together peacefully, and crying peace in these last days. READING FROM THE ANSWER TO PRAYER FOR COVENANT: 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...

In this episode, Denver addresses the questions, "What is the purpose of our coming to this earth? What are we supposed to learn, or do, while we are here?" There is nothing more fun, however, than gathering light and truth. We’re sent down here on a journey in which we are supposed to be getting “added upon.” Those are the words. That was the goal. We’re gonna send people down to the second estate, and what’s the goal? The goal is to be added upon. But what are we adding? What...

This installment is titled Good Cheer, Part 3, where Denver discusses how we can be of good cheer even when the world around us seems to be getting darker. Take any event at any time, in the Book of Mormon for example. You have the family of Lehi and what went on there, or later in time during Alma and Abinadi in the courts of King Noah. Take any of those circumstances and ask yourself: Let’s assume that that was happening today. Let’s assume God was doing things today similar...

This installment is titled "Good Cheer, Continued" as a follow-on to the Good Cheer podcast originally released in 2019, where Denver discusses how we can be of good cheer even when the world around us seems to be getting darker. Would you like to be like your Father in Heaven? Well, then, receive ye the Holy Ghost. He is as close, He is as intimate, He is as in connection with you as the very substance out of which you were originally organized. If you would like to be in...

This is the second part of a series where Denver discusses how Christ faced greater contradictions than any man, and was able to reconcile them as part of the Atonement. There's a gulf between knowledge and wisdom. We may have access to greater knowledge, but we often display very little wisdom. Knowledge can be arrogant. Wisdom is humble. Knowledge inflates our pride, but wisdom cautions us that we are still very far from being godly people. Great spiritual development...

This is the first part of a series where Denver discusses why contradiction exists, why it is a necessary part of our development, and how we can understand apparent contradictions in gospel principles. The gospel is vast, and only the beginning, introductory part of the Restoration was established through Joseph Smith. There’s still a great deal left to recover. The task is daunting. Unto what can I liken it to help you see it clearly? I stand beside a great ocean, and...