With God's help all things are possible

Appendix 2
The Prophesied Falling Away from the Original Church and Gospel of Jesus Christ
(The rest of the story: Two millennia of major events impacting Christian belief.)

The Apostle Paul said: “Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ (Second Coming) is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first ...” (2 Thessalonians 2: 1-3 – written circa 50 AD).

INDEX

Introduction

Chapters

1. Jesus Christ, Savior, Redeemer and Exemplar - Apostle’s and Scripture’s description.
2. Jesus Christ is born – His birth year becomes year-one in the world’s calendar.
3. Jesus Christ establishes his Church with a foundation of 12 Apostles (29-33 AD).
4. Jesus Christ charged Apostles - go into all nations – teach and baptize.
5. Filling vacancies in quorum of 12 Apostles – how Matthias was selected.
6. Apostles wrote epistles (letters) to Church units.
7. Emperor Nero blames Christians - Rome burns – 64 AD – (starts 248 years of persecution).
8. New Testament contains a small fraction of letters written – subject to misinterpretation
9. Jews revolt – Roman General Titus razes Jerusalem – 70 AD - Masada.
10. John, last Apostle - 100 AD - Revelation/ Authority cease - Falling-away is complete.
11. God’s prophets foretold of the momentous “Falling-away” and consequences.
12. Most Christian churches teach Revelation ceased circa 100 AD; – The Bible canon is fixed.
13. The Church without Apostles. Roman Empire persecutes Christians: 64-312 AD.
14. Constantine becomes one of Roman Empire’s four co-emperors succeeding Diocletian.
15. Constantine’s dream – 312 – His military, wearing Christian symbols, conquer.
16. Constantine changed Christian belief from persecuted to privileged – under his control.
17. Constantine calls Bishops together in 325 - Product: Pagan-acceptable Nicaean Creed.
18. Constantine dedicates Constantinople - Empire’s eastern Capitol (New Rome) in 330.
19. Constantine orders Eusebius: Compile fifty bibles for bishops in Constantinople – 331.
20. Second Nicene Creed written in Constantinople – 381.
21. Other Trinity creeds: Athanasian Creed and Apostles Creed.
22. Comparison: Trinity creeds vs. Scripture: Father, Son & Holy Ghost one in purpose.
23. Jesus Christ said, “Join none of them … all wrong … their creeds are an abomination.”
24. Emperor Theodosius I - 380 - “Nicene Christianity:” Empire’s state religion - pagans convert.
25. New Testament - 27-book compilation approved - 393.
26. Original Sin doctrine – origin - Augustine (354-430) proponent – church Councils affirm.
27. Infant Baptism doctrine – consequence of Original Sin doctrine.
28. Eternal fate of unbaptized infants: Hell/Limbo/God’s mercy vs. “Alive in Christ.”
29. Mode of infant baptism changed – From immersion to pouring and sprinkling.
30. World Religions - afterlife: Heaven/Hell/Purgatory vs. “God’s Plan of Happiness.”
31. Life begins at conception or birth vs. We lived as individual spirits before mortal birth.
32. Advent of monasticism and celibacy doctrines - Augustine (354-430) early proponent.
33. Communion/Eucharist/Sacrament: Transubstantiation vs. Do in remembrance.
34. Jerome translates Holy Bible - from Hebrew and Greek into Latin (Vulgate) - 404.
35. City of Rome falls – 476 – “Nicene Christianity” continues as state religions.
36. Eastern half of the Roman Empire (Constantinople) largely unaffected by fall of Rome.
37. Mohammedanism (Islam) – begins circa 610 - conquers Holy Land in 638.
38. Islamic Caliphates – Islam grew by conquest: North Africa, Asia - threatened Europe.
39. Charlemagne, emperor of Holy Roman Empire - 800.
40. Great Schism of 1054 – Roman and Eastern Orthodox split - excommunicate each other.
41. Roman Catholic (less so for Orthodox) developed innovative doctrines and practices.
42. Western Catholic Liturgy was in Latin – Orthodox Catholic, Greek.
43. Purgatory doctrine defined by Second Council of Lyon 1274 – afterlife purification.
44. Crusades – at least eight – Pope-initiated - take Holy Land from Islam (1095 to1291).
45. Sale of Papal indulgences – fund-raising method – less time in purgatory for money.
46. Fourth Crusade (1202-4) - Pope Innocent III - diverted to sack Orthodox Constantinople.
47. Inquisitions (1184-1834) – Instituted by church/royalty: Purpose: Punish dissenters - heretics.
48. Spanish inquisition – brutal – Spain’s Queen Isabella II abolishes in 1834
49. Waldensians (1140-1205) – Ruled heretics - centuries of deadly persecution - to 1655.
50. Cathars - France (1209-29) – Pope Innocent III pronounced them heretics – many killed.
51. Bible access: Laity censored: Toulouse Council 1229 – Roman and Orthodox different.
52. Printing press invented -1440 – non-Latin Bible translations - King James version (1611).
53. Advent of Christian nation states in Europe with state religions – no religious freedom.
54. Renaissance in Europe – approximately 300 years of cultural and intellectual rebirth.
55. Forerunners to Protestant Reformation - ruled heretics – many burned at the stake.
56. Martin Luther - Protestant Reformation begins in 1517 – continues for two centuries.
57. Certain 15th and 16th century Protestant Reformers after Martin Luther.
58. “Divine Right of Kings” – Monarch’s right to rule comes from God.
59. King Henry VIII, England (1491-1547), expels Catholic, confiscates property – new Church
60. Telescope (1608) - Galileo proves geocentric doctrine false – punished as heretic - 1633.
61. Christopher Columbus (1451-1506) – Looking for the East Indes lands in the Americas.
62. Indegenous people of North and South America before Columbus.
63. After Columbus - Eleven European Explorers of North and South America.
64. Founding 13 British Colonies (1607-1663) - Slavery - French & Indian War (1754-1763) - British tax colonists (1765) – Lexington, “The shot heard round the world” (1775).
65. Integrally related: Revolution (1775-83) - Declaration (1776) - Constitution (1788) - Bill of Rights (1791) - War of 1812 -1815 - Jesus Christ calls Prophet to restore his Church (1820).
66. No difference between true religion & true science.
67. Hubble & Webb Space Telescopes inadvertently confirms PGP Moses 7: 30 (1830 revelation) is true.

Introduction

This appendix chronicles major events - prominent individuals - during the eighteen centuries between the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ and the pivotal events at the turn of the nineteenth century – largely chronological. (see Index).

This treatise is “Christ centered!” Jesus Christ established his Church in the meridian of time with a foundation of twelve Apostles. Because of wickedness and deadly persecution, the Apostle Paul’s prophesied “falling away” from His Church (cited above) was complete when John, the last Apostle, was taken circa 100 AD.

With John’s passing, revelation ceased, and God withdrew his authority for his church, the original “Church of Jesus Christ.” However, the Holy Ghost, the comforter, is on earth to testify of truth, our Savior Jesus Christ – and at critical times in earth’s history he inspired men and women to accomplish the mission for which they were called in the premortal world - foreordained or fore designated - including those who founded the United States of America. (Chapter 64).
Much of this treatise is devoted to profiling the consequences of the “falling away, including Lucifer aka Satan’s hand in fostering wickedness, control, censorship and the horror of wars.

For those willing to “ask, seek and knock,” they should be able to see the hand of the Lord, Jesus Christ in the affairs of mankind – it is evident.

Without infringing on people’s God-given agency to choose for themselves – even preventing wicked people from using their agency to do terrible things – God does not interfere – (The answer to the question: Why does God allow terrible things to happen?).

God often fulfills his purposes by “sending a baby,” placing inspired leaders on earth just at the right time and place, people foreordained for that purpose in the premortal world - to fulfill critical missions.
The founding of the United States of America was God-inspired. It was the only nation in the world at the time, a republic, founded on principles of individual rights and religious freedom (Chapter 64). All other nations of the day were government-controlled – either state-religions, autocracies or theocracies.

This treatise concludes with the restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ and certain restored truths which science is now corroborating.

Achieving objectivity in profiling many of the matters presented herein has been difficult at best. History is written and rewritten by the “winners or survivors;” biographers and scribes representing emperors, kings, queens, church leaders and other clergy, including the leaders of state-religions – biasedly wrote to make the sponsor or their institution look good - to justify their narrative, positions, doctrines and traditions – or they omitted or distorted opposing views.
For more than a millennia, church-state officials controlled the narrative - they labeled and indited anyone who opposed them, heretics – a potential capital offense.

When researching what purports to be history, it is helpful to compare different accounts - and ask such questions as: Is it possible; if it is possible, is it plausible and credible?

Prior to the invention and widespread use of the printing press in the fifteenth century, the written word was generally crafted by scribes using primitive writing instruments and inks; writing on parchment or papyrus - making copies - and copies-of-copies - by hand; likely carefully written, but – but subject to the writer’s clarification and biases - as well as inadvertent error.

Independent evaluations were also lacking because the vast majority of the people were illiterate. Communication was often facilitated by one person reading a document in a group setting and discussing.
Finally, some writers had a desire to embellish their story. Mark Twain said, “History is strewn thick with evidence that ‘a truth is not hard to kill,’ but a lie, well told, is immortal.”

Johnothan Swift (1667-1745) is credited with saying, “A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes.”

With regard to Biblical writings, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches: “We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly.” (PGP, Article of Faith, 8).

Commentary – Efforts to “control” began with Lucifer in the premortal world when Satan aka Lucifer rebelled - he proposed forcing people to obey: “… I will redeem all mankind, that one soul will not be lost, and surely I will do it; wherefore give me thine honor.” PGP Moses 4: 1).

Offer rejected; Satan became wroth – and was expelled from God’s presence; cast down from Heaven – our premortal world - to earth – where he continues to promote his doctrines of control through evil mortal beings:

• “Wherefore, because that Satan rebelled against me and sought to destroy the agency of man … I caused that he should be cast down.” (PGP, Moses 4:3-4).
• How art thou fallen from Heaven, O Lucifer, Son of the mourning … For thou has said in your heart … I will be like the most High … Yet thou will be brought down … They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble and did shake kingdoms…” (Isaiah 14: 12-16).
• “And there was war in Heaven ... and Satan … was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” (Revelation 12: 4, 7-13). Those people who followed Satan were termed a “third part.” Meaning there were at least three divisions of spirit people in the premortal world – of unspecified size. One part came to earth and took on mortality, the destination of one part unspecified and the third part followed Satan.
• “for he (Satan) seeketh that all men might be miserable, like unto himself. (BM, 2Neph1 :27).

Chapters

1. Jesus Christ, Savior, Redeemer and Exemplar – Apostle’s and Scripture’s description: “Jesus Christ … was the Great Jehovah of the Old Testament, the Messiah of the New Testament. Under the direction of His Father, He was the creator of the earth (and worlds without number) … He gave his life to atone for the sins of all mankind. He was the great vicarious gift on behalf of all who would ever live upon the earth.

We solemnly testify that His life, which is central to all human history, neither began in Bethlehem nor concluded on Calvary. He was the Firstborn of the Father, the Only Begotten Son in the flesh, and the Redeemer of the world.
His priesthood and His Church have been restored to the earth – built upon the foundation of … apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the first cornerstone (Ephesians 2: 20).

We testify that He will someday return to earth. “And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together” (Isaiah 40:5). He shall rule as King of Kings and reign as Lord of Lords, and every knee shall bend, and every tongue shall speak in worship before Him. …

We bear testimony, as his duly ordained Apostles – that Jesus is the Living Christ, the immortal Son of God. He is the great King Immanuel, who stands today on the right hand of His Father.

He is the light, the life, and the hope of the world. His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come. God be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine Son.” (Excerpts from “The Living Christ” - 2000 - by the Church’s First Presidency and Twelve Apostles, Appendix1)

The scriptures teach our Father in Heaven; Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost (Comforter) are three individual persons – one in purpose – some scriptural references that define them:

• Their purpose - “To bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.” (PGP, Moses 1: 39).
• Jesus Christ, “… the express image of his (Father’s) person … by himself (He) purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.” (Hebrews 1: 1-3).
• Three separate - “But he (Stephen prior to being stoned to death), being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God. And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” (Acts 7: 55-56).
• Mary Magdalene outside the empty garden tomb: The resurrected Lord Jesus Christ “… saith unto her, touch me not; for I have not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren and say uno them, I ascend to my Father and to your Father and to my God and your God.” (John 20: 11-18).
• The resurrected Lord came into a room with a closed door and appeared to ten of his Apostles: … “And he said unto them … Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; handle me and see for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have … and he did eat before them.” (Luke 24: 36-43).
• In the beginning was the Word (Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God), and the word was with God (Our Father in Heaven) … All things were made by him … and the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. (John 1: 1-5 and 14).
• “And worlds without number have I created … and by the Son I created them, which is mine Only Begotten.” (PGP, Moses 1:33, Appendix 1).
• “The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s; the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones … (He) is a personage of Sprit.” (D&C 130: 22).

• Jesus Christ said, “And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judea flee to the mountains ... And they shall fall by the edge of the sword and shall be led away captive into all nations; and Jerusalem shall be trodden down …” (Luke 21:20-24).
• “And Jesus departed from the Temple … (he said) verily I say unto you; there shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.” (Matthew 24: 1-2)

• Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day (Second Coming) shall not come, except there comes a falling away first ...” (2 Thessalonians 2: 1-3). (see above).
• “The Lord hath poured out upon you a deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes; the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered.” (Isaiah 29: 8-10).
• “Now the spirit speaks expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. Speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their conscience seared with a hot iron - Forbidding to marry and commanding to abstain from eating meat which God has created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. (1 Timothy 4: 1-3).
• “They have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance(s) and broken the everlasting covenant. (Isaiah 24: 5).”
• “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but of their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears.” (2 Timothy 4: 3).
• Apostles and other leaders were given, so “That we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the slight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.” (Ephesians 4: 14).
• Repent ye therefore and be converted that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. And he shall send Jesus Christ which before was preached unto you. Which the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoke by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. (Spoken by Peter, Acts 3: 19-21).
• The existence of thousands of versions of Christian belief and practice begs the question: How did this happen? The Apostle Paul said to Church leaders: “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also, of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore, watch and remember ...” (Acts 28-31).
• “Enter ye in at the strait gate … not everyone that saith unto me Lord, Lord, shall enter into my kingdom … by their fruits ye shall know them.” (Matthew 7:13 24).

• Constantine “convoked a general council and invited the speedy attendance of bishops from all quarters ... for he allowed some the use of public means of conveyance, while he offered to the others an ample supply of horses for their transport. …The place too, (he) selected for the synod, the city Nicaea in Bithynia (Victory) … appropriate to the occasion.
• Now when they were assembled … men who had been so widely separated, not merely in sentiment, but also personally and by difference in country (he names the countries).
• Constantine is the first prince of any age who bound together such a garland … presented to his Savior a thank offering for the victories he obtained over every foe.
• For the maintenance of all, ample provision was daily furnished by the emperor’s command. …
• Now when the appointed day arrived on which the council met for the final solution of the questions in dispute, each member was present … in the central building of the palace … on each side … seats … occupied … according to rank. … a general silence prevailed, in expectation of the emperor’s arrival. …
• All arising … (as Constantine) proceeded through the midst of the assembly, like some heavenly messenger from God. … (Constantine was) clothed in raiment which glittered, as it were, rays of light, reflecting the glowing radiance of a purple robe, and adorned with the brilliant splendor of gold and precious stones. …
• As soon as (Constantine) advanced to the upper end of the seats … (a) chair of wrought gold had been set for him … and set down, and after him, the whole assembly did the same. …
• After his opening remarks, Constantine “gave permission … (for each bishop) to deliver their opinions … numberless assertions were put forth by each party, and a violent controversy arose. …
• The emperor gave patient audience … persuading some, convincing others by his reasonings …
• Until he succeeded in bringing them to one mind and judgement respecting every disputed question (Constantine essentially authored the Nicaean Creed).”

• See Chapter 1 for description of Jesus Chris. Other descriptions given in scripture follows.
• “And God said, let us (who is us?) make man in our image, after our likeness … So, God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them.” (Genesis 1: 26-27).
• “But he (martyrdom of Stephen) being full of the Holy Ghost, looked steadfastly into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing on the right hand of God. And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God.” (The Holy Ghost made it possible for Stephen to see - and he saw two personages, the Father and Son -Acts 7: 55-56).
• “God - Hath in these last days spoken - by his Son - appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds. Who (Jesus Christ) being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his (Father’s) person, and upholding all things by the word of his power - sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.” (Hebrews 1: 2-3).
• “Phillip said unto him, show us the Father … Jesus said unto Phillip, … he that hath seen me hath seen the Father (separate persons with similar appearance).” (John 14: 8-9).
• Jesus Christ said to the Pharisees, “It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true. I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.” (John 8: 17-18).
• Jesus Christ praying in Garden of Gethsemane: “Neither pray for these alone (Apostles), but them also that shall believe on me through their word. That they may be one, as thou, Father; art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us … that they may be one, even as we are one (in purpose).” (John: 17: 20-23).
• Jesus Christ said to his apostles; “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:26).
• “And Jesus, when he was baptized, wet up straightway out of the water; and lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God (Holy Ghost) descending like a dove and lighting upon him; and the voice from heaven saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3: 16-17).
• Jesus Christ is a man. He has a glorified resurrected body of flesh and bones – (no blood). When he appeared to ten of his Apostles: “And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed they had seen a spirit. And he said unto them; why are ye troubled and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet that is I myself: handle me and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. … and they gave him a piece of boiled fish and honeycomb …and he did eat before them.” (Luke 24: 36-43).
• “But Thomas, one of the twelve … was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples (Apostles) said unto him; We have seen the Lord - Thomas said unto them (Like many people say today), Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.” (John 20: 24-25).
• “And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and Jesus stood in their midst, as said, Peace be unto you. Then saith to Thomas, reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side; and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed; blessed are they that have not seen and yet have believed.” (John: 20:26-29).
• “And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose (Resurrected, as was Jesus Christ). And came out of the graves after his resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many.” (Matthew 27: 52-53).
• “The Son of Man (Son of Man of Holiness, see below) must suffer many things and be rejected … and be slain, and be raised the third day.” (Luke 9: 22).
• “For the Son of Man is come to save that which was lost.” (Matthew 18: 11).
• “Beloved, now are we the sons of God. And it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” (I John 3: 2).
• “The Father has a body of flesh and bones, as tangible as man’s, the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit. Were it not so, the Holy Ghost could not dwell in us. (D&C 130: 22-23).
• “Behold, I am God, Man of Holiness is my name (another name for our Father in Heaven); and Endless and Eternal is my name also.” (PGP, Moses 7:35).
• “And I God said unto my Only Begotten Son which was with me from the beginning; Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and it was so. (PGP, Moses 2: 26-27; 3:7. Appendix 1 -Mortality begins – the necessary Fall of Adam and Eve).
• “There is no such thing as immaterial matter. All spirit is matter, but it is more fine and pure - and can only be discerned by purer eyes.” (D&C 131: 7).
• “(Jehovah, the premortal Jesus Christ, said:) … Seest thou that ye were created after mine own image? Yea, even all men were created in the beginning after mine own image. Behold, this body which ye now behold, is the body of my spirit; and man have I created after the body of my spirit; and even as I appear unto thee to be in the spirit will I appear unto my people in the flesh.” (BM, Ether 3: 15-16)”
• “For I the Lord God created all things of which I have spoken spiritually, before they were naturally upon the face of the earth.” (PGP, Moses 3: 5).
• The resurrected Lord Jesus Christ appearing to the people of the American continent: “… (they) heard a voice … Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name – hear ye him … (and) they saw a man descending out of heaven; and he was clothed in a white robe, and he came down and stood in the midst of them … Behold, I am Jesus Christ who the prophets testified shall come into the world. Arise and come forth unto me and that ye may thrust your hand into my side and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet that ye may know that I am the God of Israel and the God of the whole earth and have been slain for the sins of the world … and when they had all gone forth and witnessed for themselves … they cried out … Hosanna! Blessed be the name of the most high God! And they fell down at the feet of Jesus and did worship him.” (BM, 3 Nephi 11: 3-17).
• The resurrection … is an event wherein the elements of the mortal body which has died and the elements of the spirit, which is immortal, are inseparately connected throughout the balance of eternity; (living) in a state of incorruption – no longer subject to physical aging and death that we experienced in our mortal bodies. (Appendix 1).
• The 14-year-old boy to be prophet, Joseph Smith, praying to know which church is right: “I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me … When the light rested upon me I saw two personages whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spoke unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other – This is my Beloved Son. Hear Him! … I asked the personages … which of all the sects … should I join. I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; the Personage who addressed me said that their creeds were an abomination in his sight … they teach for doctrines, the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.” (PGP, Joseph Smith – History 1: 10-20).
• “… when Joseph left the grove that day (in 1820), he knew more about the nature of God than all the learned ministers of the gospel” (Gordon B. Hinckley, June 18, 1998).
• “All human beings – male and female – are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose. In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshiped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His Plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize their divine destiny as heirs of eternal life. The divine Plan of Happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.” (Excerpts from “The Family, a Proclamation to the World, the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” - 1995).

• Denial of free speech by despotic governments, institutions and officials - a practice that has gone on for millennia.
• A person’s inability to read and write is, in a way, a regrettable form of censorship. General illiteracy has existed throughout history - empowering the elites: Royalty, state religions and wealthy were better able to control the masses.
• Unfortunately, some who have opportunity do not choose to “open the door to new horizons.” They, in effect, restrict their own intellectual development.

1. I am a child of God, And he has sent me here, Has given me an earthly home, With parent’s kind and dear.
2. I am a child of God, And so my needs are great; Help me to understand his words, Before it grows too late.
3. I am a child, Rich blessings are in store, If I but learn to do his will, I’ll live with him once more.

1. Catherine of Aragon – Married 1509 – annulled – Mother of Queen Mary - died 1536.
2. Anne Boleyn – Married 1533 – executed – 1536 – Mother of Queen Elizabeth I.
3. Jane Seymour – Married 1536 - died childbirth 1537 – mother of male, King Edward VI.
4. Anne of Cleves – Married 1540 - annulled – unattractive – lived to old age.
5. Catherine Howard – Married 1540 - Beheaded for adultery – 1542.
6. Catherine Parr – Married 1543 - outlived Henry VIII – remarried after his death.

• He explored and mapped the coast of Siberia and the North Pacific Ocean – earning the praise of other navigators and explorers, e.g., Captain James Cook.
• He proved North Asia (Siberia) was separate from the North American continent; with a Sea, and a Strait bearing his name - the International Date Line passes through the Bering Strait.
• Bering died during his second expedition, but the captain and crew of the surviving ship explored the Aleutian Islands and Alaska, discovering large populations of sea otter.
• Russian fur trappers moved quickly to build settlements on the Alaska coast to harvest the animals for their highly prized fur – and lay claim to Alaska for Russia.
• With the sea otter trapped out, and needing money to pay debts from its defeat in the Crimean War (1853-1856). A war which it started, Russia sold Alaska to the United States for $7.2 million in 1867 - about two cents per acre.
• Columnists and reporters in the U.S. press called the purchase of Alaska a “folly;” paying taxpayer dollars for a baren, worthless wasteland!

• The Stamp Act (1765) – Required colonists purchase and affix revenue stamps to all written documents, including newspapers – pay for British troops stationed in colonies.
• The Townsend Acts (1767) that imposed taxes on imports: Glass, lead, paint, paper and dried tea leaves grown in China,
• The Boston Massacre (March 1770) – Colonists protesting – British troops felt threatened – fired into the mob – killed five colonists – Troops stood trial for murder, employed future patriot and president of the United States, John Adams, as defense attorney. Adams won the case in court. Albeit anti-British sentiment inflamed.
• The Boston Tea Party (December 1773) – Great Britian imposed taxes on imported tea - about 100 colonists, the Sons of Liberty, disguised as Mohawk Indians stealthy boarded three English merchant ships - Boston Harbor – threw 342 chests (92,000 pounds) of British East India Company tea overboard – destroying the cargo. British Parliament closed Boston Harbor and suspended Massachusetts colonial government.
• Colonial leaders started a government - the first “Continental Congress” convened in September 1774, Philadelphia – colonies agree to organize their own militias and build armories for storing weapons and powder. Massachusetts Colony - armory at Concord.
• Each colony had two types of militias: a) Able bodied men age 16 to 60, train a few times a year, fought as the British - stand as a body and fire weapons. b) Minutemen: Physically fit younger men, rigorous training twice a week, paid, respond at “minutes notice” - use guerrilla tactics, spread out, harass, fire from behind trees or other protection, reload on the run to a new protected location and fire again at British Regulars who did not break ranks, but stood and fired in volleys.
• British intelligence learned of the weapons cache at Concord and dispatched 700 Regulars to destroy the stockpile. Their route: About 15 miles NW from Boston to Lexington, then west a few miles to Concord.
• The Massachusetts Colony patriots knew British troops had been ordered to destroy the weapons and powder stored at Concord. However, they didn’t know the details of the British troop movement – needed time to prepare. The plan: Patriot spies would notify the Sexton at the Old North Church which route the British were taking. The sexton would light one lantern in the steeple window if they marched overland, two lanterns if they went by boat – Boston Harbor / Charles River. With that intelligence, the riders, Paul Revere, William Daws and Samuel Prescott mounted their horses and rode off to Concord, alerting the Minutemen living on the farms and in the towns along the way: “The Regulars are coming!” The event was memorialized by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem, “Paul Revere’s Ride: Listen my children, and you will hear of the midnight ride of Paul Revere ...”
• When the 700 British Regulars reached Lexington on the morning of April 19 - Marching onto Lexington Green, they were met by about 70 Massachusetts militiamen. Tension was high - no order to fire was given – however, a musket of unknown origin discharged – fingers on trigger, Regulars fired a volley - Eight colonialists fell dead; remaining 62 militia retreated with 10 wounded. One British Regular was wounded.
• British Regulars reorganized - formed platoons of 100 each and continued their march, to search for the Concord Armory. The platoon crossing Concord’s North Bridge was met by volleys of musket fire from about 400 Minutemen. The surprised British pulled back - hundreds more Minuteman came running. Now outnumbered and a bit disorganized, the British Regulars formed ranks of eight or more abreast and retreated back to Boston - 15 miles turned bloody as hundreds of Minutemen skirmishers in the woods, running ahead, firing from protected positions at the retreating British soldiers. The British back in Bosten were alerted and sent help - 1,000 Regulars sent to provide cover for their retreating comrades. Total Casualties: British, 73 killed, 174 wounded, 26 missing. Colonists: 49 dead, 40 wounded, five missing.
• The climatic event at Lexington was the catalyst that started the American Revolutionary War - etched in history as, “The shot heard round the world!” (Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Concord Hymn” written for the dedication of the obelisk monument at Concord in 1837).

1. Continental Congress - Philadelphia – Army - George Washington Commander – June 1775.
2. Second Continental Congress – Thomas Jefferson - Declaration of Independence, 1776.
3. Constitutional Convention – Philadelphia - approves U. S. Constitution – ratified 1788.
4. First ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution - Bill of Rights – ratified 1791.
5. Another war with Great Britian – War of 1812 - Washington DC sacked - ends 1815.
6. Jesus Christ and our Father in Heaven – appear to and call Joseph Smith – to usher in the restoration of their Church and the fullness of their Gospel – 1820.