Sunday, June 5, 2011

05: GOD IS IN CONTROL

 Apostle Orson Hyde, in April of 1846 received a revelation with a magnificent and profound message:
In my meditations this morning, the Spirit of the Lord came upon me, and I was moved to write:
And being grieved in my spirit on account of false pretenses by evil designing persons to gain power, and lead away the flock of God, it whispered [to] me and said: Evil men, ambitious of power, must needs arise among you, and they shall be led by their own self-will and not by me. Yet they are instruments in my hands, and are permitted to try my people, and to collect from among them those who are not the elect, and such as are unworthy of eternal life. Grieve not after them, neither mourn nor be alarmed. My people know my voice and also the voice of my spirit, and a stranger they will not follow; Therefore such as follow strangers are not my people.

(Unpublished Revelations, vol. 1, comp. by Fred Collier, pp. 104-105)

Some things to look for in true messengers:

 1.They speak against the wicked.
 2.They defend the gospel fullness.
 3.They oppose false prophets.
 4.They sustain all the commandments of God.
 5.They proclaim all of Jesus' teachings.
 6.They prophesy, have true revelations and visions.
 7.They follow the living Lord.
 8.They are appointed by the Lord.
 9.They may not be educated.
10.They are spiritual.
11.They enjoy spiritual gifts.
12.They do not change the ordinances.
13.They are not worldly.
14.They sustain the dead prophets and their teachings.
15.They are filled with the Spirit of the Lord.
16.They do not boast of their calling.
17.They have Power in the Priesthood.