Some already know, but I recently found out that I will need to be on medication to treat my liver–will see how it is a year or so from now. So, for those who wish to help me with my ever-growing medical expenses (liver; OCD; chronic migraines), you can do so via:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/d285a-medical-expenses
Alternatively:
Paypal or Venmo would work, too.
Thanks!
We read the following, purportedly from Mary, concerning the Third Apparition of Fatima, July 13, 1917, concerning the cessation of World War 1 but also the then-future World War 2:
The war is doing to end; but if people do not
cease offending God, a worse one will break out during the pontificate of Pius
XI. (Mark Miravalle, Private Revelation: Discerning with the Church [2007], 1387 of 1854, Kindle ed.)
On Mary informing the three Fatima seers the incorrect pontiff,
Mark Miravalle, a leading Roman Catholic Mariologist, wrote that:
To the objection that the Second
World War, (September 1, 1939-1945), actually began during the pontificate of
Pope Pius XII, Sr. Lucia has responded that the war in fact began with the Nazi
occupation of Austria in 1938, which took place during the pontificate of Pius
XI. The promised light that would illuminate the night as a sign of the
forthcoming war corresponds with the reported “aurora borealis” that lit up the
European skies (and beyond) on January 25, 1938. War would be a punishment
permitted by God due to sin, a just punishment because the human cooperation
and conversion necessary to avert justice through acceptance of divine mercy
was not satisfied. (Mark Miravalle, Private Revelation: Discerning with the
Church [2007], 1406 to 1414
of 1854, Kindle ed.)
Another Catholic apologist who tried to salvage the prophecy
from the Third Apparition is Robert Sungenis:
As we all know too well, that
prophecy became a reality in 1938-1939 when World War II began. Pius XI died on
February 10, 1939, but already in…
·
September 1938 Germany annexed Czechoslovakia
and occupied it in March 1939. (Robert A. Sungenis, Fatima: Fulfilled But
Still Foreboding [State Line, Pa.: CAI Publishing, Inc., 2021], 1-11)
The problem is that no historian believes that the
annexation of Austria by Germany, called “Anschluss,” is when World War 2 began
(not even conservative Roman Catholic historians). However, be that as it may,
it does show that Roman Catholics, like Latter-day Saints, have to appeal to
historical contingencies and engage in nuanced interpretations of prophecies
and revelations (note: Fatima is an approved Marian apparition).
On the nature of prophecy, see:
Resources on Joseph Smith's Prophecies
For more on Lucia's failed prophecies, see:
Retconning Fatima: How Lucia updated a Prophecy of Our Lady of Fatima about the End of World War 1
Hymn 122. (8’s & 7’s.)
1 Come! all ye who seek salvation,
Walk the path that Jesus trod;
be baptized for sin’s remission,
Thus obey the law of God.
. . .
4 Buried with the Lord, and rising
To a life divinely new,
Fearless, though the world despising,
In the heav’nly way pursue (Joel J. Johnson, Hymns
of Praise for the Young: Selected from the Songs of Joel [Salt Lake
City: Deseret News Company, 1882], 124. 125)
HYMN 123. (S. M.)
1 The joy that’s born of grace,
Is in the Gospel found.
Prepared for all of Adam’s race
Who will obey the sound.
2 Now, all who wish to win
Salvation, must believe,
And be baptized for all their sin,
The spirit to receive.
3 Come, then, with all your woes;
Of them you shall be healed,
For a spring of healing water flows
From a celestial field.
4 Ye thirsty, come and taste,
And living waters, then,
Within you shall spring up in haste;
You’ll no more thirst again. (Ibid., 125-26)
HYMN 128 (S. M.)
1 O sinner, now be wise!
Eternal life to win;
Arise, repent, and be baptized,
And wash away your sin. (Ibid., 129)
HYMN 129. (S. M.)
1 Now is the day of grace:
O sinner, why delay
To seek your Father’s face,
While it is called to-day?
2 Your sins you now may leave;
Oh, then, no longer wait!
Too soon the Spirit you may grieve,
And then ‘twill be too late.
3 Then come, obey his word,
Repenting of your sin,
and be baptized into the Lord,
And life eternal win. (Ibid., 130)
HYMN 132. (C. M.)
1 O sinner! hear the Gospel word,
And all its truth believe;
Come, be baptized into the Lord,
And life for death receive.
2 Put off the old man of your sin,
Put Christ, the new man, on;
And let his Spirit reign within,
Till all your sins are gone.
3 No more let sin and darkness gain
Possession of your breast;
But walk with Christ, till you shall reign
In his eternal rest. (Ibid., 132)
HYMN 102. (7’s.)
1 On the morn of the third day,
See! the rock is rolled away;
Seals are broke and guards are fled,
Jesus rises from the dead.
2 ‘Tis the Savior: see him come!
See him triumph o’er the tomb!
Yes; through shedding of his blood,
Flesh and bones can dwell with God.
3 He, our elder brother is,
And our bodies must, like his,
Rise triumphant from the tomb,
Glowing with immortal bloom.
4 Praise him, then, ye Saints above;
Praise him, all who know his love;
Praise unto the Lord belongs;
Praise him in ten thousand songs. (Joel J. Johnson, Hymns
of Praise for the Young: Selected from the Songs of Joel [Salt Lake
City: Deseret News Company, 1882], 107-8)
HYMN 228. (L. M.)
1 To Kolob now my thoughts repair,
Where God, my Father, reigns above;
My heav’nly Mother, too, is there,
And many kindred whom I love. (Joel J. Johnson, Hymns
of Praise for the Young: Selected from the Songs of Joel [Salt Lake
City: Deseret News Company, 1882], 215)
HYMN 231. (7’s.)
1. Once our Father was like us,
In a world of toil and pain;
And in tribulation, thus,
Did his exaltation gain.
2 In a city paved with gold,
Shining with celestial light.
him, in love, we did behold,
And rejoiced with great delight.
3 By the blissful fountains there,
We once knew each parent’s face;
We received our Mother’s care,
And our Father’s love and grace.
4 Now they’ve sent us here to school,
In this world of toil and pain,
That we may, like them, by rule,
Endless exaltation gain.
5 Here, if faithful we remain,
‘Till our exit day arrives,
We’ll return to them again,
Crowned like them, with endless lives. (Joel
J. Johnson, Hymns
of Praise for the Young: Selected from the Songs of Joel [Salt Lake
City: Deseret News Company, 1882], 217-18)
I was at Joseph Smith’s when the Word of Wisdom was given and have
strictly harkened to its precepts from that day to the present, by not using
tobacco, strong drinks of any kind, teas or coffee, and but a very little
flesh. (Joel
H. Johnson autobiographical sketch, c. 1879, p. 3)
THE WORD OF WISDOM.
I was with Joseph Smith, the Prophet, when the Word of Wisdom was
given by revelation from the Lord, February 27, 1833, and I think, I am the
only man now living who was present.
I was then thirty one years of age, and had used tobacco somewhat
extravagantly for fifteen years. I always used some strong drink, and tea and
coffee.
I knew that God had spoken and condemned the use of these things, and,
bring determined to live by every word that proceeded from His mouth, I laid
them all aside, and have not used them since.
I well remember that, soon after the publication of the Word of
Wisdom, the same excuse was made, by some of the people, for drinking tea and
coffee that is now made—that hot drinks did not mean tea and coffee.
On a Sabbath day, in the July following the giving of the revelation,
when both Joseph and Hyrum Smith were in the stand, the Prophet said to the
Saints:
“I understand that some of the people are excusing themselves in using
tea and coffee, because the Lord only said ‘hot drinks’ in the revelation of the
Word of Wisdom.
“The Lord was showing us what was good for man to eat and drink. Now,
what do we drink when we take our meals?
“Tea and coffee. Is it not?
“Yes: tea and coffee.
“Then, they same what the Lord meant when He said ‘hot drinks.’”
Brother Hyrum Smith spoke to the same effect.
It is said all wholesome herbs are ordained for the use of man. Physicians
tell us that tea and coffee are not wholesome. And the Lord says they are not for
the body or the belly.
When children see that their parents slight the Word of Wisdom, they
are apt to follow their example.
I have recorded this testimony that all who read it may be without
excuse. How pleasant it would be at last, if we could say to our Heavenly
Father, “I have obeyed all your counsels,” and hear these kind words in return:
“Well done! thou hast been faithful over a few things, be thou ruler over many.”
(Joel H. Johnson, Voice
from the Mountains, Being a Testimony of the Truth of the Gospel of Jesus
Christ, as Revealed by the Lord to Joseph Smith, Jr. [Salt Lake City:
Juvenile Instructor Office, 1881], 12-13)
The Holy Ghost is a holy personage that can minister to man for his
salvation only on certain conditions. These are, belief in the Lord Jesus
Christ, repentance and baptism for the remission of sins, with hands laid on to
confer the Holy Ghost.
These ordinances must be administered by one having authority before man
is in a condition to have the Holy Ghost act as a medium of communication
between him and the Lord.
Jesus Christ again says, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a
man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of
God.” (John, iii. 5.)
The apostle John says, “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin;
for His seed remaineth in him: and he can, not sin, because he is born of God.”
(I John, iii. 9.)
These passages force the conclusion, that a man must be baptized and
receive the Holy Ghost, or be born of the Spirit, before he is a member of the
kingdom of God. And when he is a legal member, with the Spirit or seed of God abiding
in him, he cannot, or will not sin, therefore he is entitled to, and can have a
continual communication with God through the Holy Ghost which leads into all
truth, brings all things to remembrance, and teaches things to come. (Joel H.
Johnson, Voice
from the Mountains, Being a Testimony of the Truth of the Gospel of Jesus
Christ, as Revealed by the Lord to Joseph Smith, Jr. [Salt Lake City:
Juvenile Instructor Office, 1881], 7-8)