They Are Very Good People

"They Are Very Good People"

by Randolph E. Maudsley

I thought I might discourse upon the common comment and argument we hear from members of the LDS Church against God's ever rejecting them as His Church -

"They are very good people"

First, let us determine from scripture what constitutes a good man or a good woman -

"And there are none that doeth good except those who are ready to receive the fullness of my gospel, which I have sent forth unto this generation." (Doctrine and Covenants 35:12.)

So, according to Jesus Christ, no one is doing good or is "good", unless they "are" ready or prepared, not just getting ready or preparing to receive, but are ready to receive the fullness of His gospel - which He has sent forth to this generation through His prophet and lawful administrator, Joseph Smith. In other words, the Gospel of Jesus Christ in it's fullness, not in it's watered-down-ness or changed and alteredness, but in it's fullness as it was restored into this dispensation by the man who holds all the keys to this dispensation -

"Thus saith the Lord, verily, verily I say unto you my son (Joseph Smith), thy sins are forgiven thee, according to thy petition, for thy prayers and the prayers of thy brethren have come up into my ears. Therefore, thou art blessed from henceforth that bear the keys of the kingdom given unto you; which kingdom is coming forth for the last time. Verily I say unto you, the keys of this kingdom shall never be taken from you, while thou art in the world, neither in the world to come;" (Doctrine and Covenants 90:1-3.)

Joseph Smith is this man and he holds all the keys on both sides of the veil, even at this time. Therefore according to scripture, unless a man or woman "is" ready to receive the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as it was revealed to this dispensation by the Prophet Joseph Smith, they not only do not do any good, but they can't do any good! It doesn't matter if they feed the poor and clothe the naked or walk little old ladies across the street. God says that unless a man or a woman "is" ready to receive His Gospel in it's fullness, they do not good or in other words, they are not a good man nor a good woman. You will probably not agree with me or with God on this point? Nevertheless, it is true.

Remember in the Endowment when the Preacher walks in the very first time, he observes, "My, what a fine congregation!" and then the Devil proclaims, reinforcing the Preacher's observation -

"Yes, they are very good people!"

Now, what constitutes the fullness of the Gospel? Again let us look to the revealed word of God through the Prophet Joseph Smith -

"Verily I say unto you, blessed are you for receiving mine everlasting covenant, even the fullness of my gospel, sent forth unto the children of men, that they might have life and be made partakers of the glories which are to be revealed in the last days, as it was written by the prophets and apostles in days of old." (Doctrine and Covenants 66:2.)

So, we are to understand from this scriptures that the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is His everlasting covenant or the New and Everlasting Covenant. Now, what is the New and Everlasting Covenant? Again, let's turn to the revealed word of God through His Prophet Joseph Smith at the first part of this dispensation -

"Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you my servant Joseph, that inasmuch as you have inquired of my hand to know and understand wherein I, the Lord, justified my servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as also Moses, David and Solomon, my servants, as touching the principle and doctrine of their having many wives and concubines -

Behold, and lo, I am the Lord thy God, and will answer thee as touching this matter (polygamy). Therefore, prepare thy heart to receive and obey the instructions which I am about to give unto you; for all those who have this law revealed unto them must obey the same. For behold, I reveal unto you a new and an everlasting covenant; and if ye abide not that covenant, then are ye damned; for no one can reject this covenant and be permitted to enter into my glory. For all who will have a blessing at my hands shall abide the law which was appointed for that blessing, and the conditions thereof, as were instituted from before the foundation of the world. And as pertaining to the new and everlasting covenant, it was instituted for the fullness of my glory; and he that receiveth a fullness thereof must and shall abide the law, or he shall be damned, saith the Lord God." (Doctrine and Covenants 132:1-6.)

So, from these scriptures we learn that the New and Everlasting Covenant is a law and -

"all those who have this law revealed unto them must obey the same."

And -

"if ye abide not that covenant, then are ye damned; for no one can reject this covenant and be permitted to enter into my glory."

Wow! That's pretty powerful stuff! So, the only man or woman that does or can "doeth good" are those who "are" ready to receive or have already received, and actually live the law of Celestial Plural Marriage and the Sealing & Adoption Principle. Or am I and the scriptures in error? I know that the scriptures are the word of God, even the "iron rod". I suggest that we never take our hand from the "iron rod" and that the scriptures are correct.

Therefore, the next logical question is whether or not any member of the LDS Church is or can "doeth good"? And if there are in fact any good people in the LDS Church -

Does the LDS Church teach, practice or condone Celestial Plural Marriage? No, it does not. In fact, the leaders and the general membership of the LDS Church have become haters of those who do or even begin to prepare themselves to receive this law. Or am I wrong? No, I am not wrong. The leaders and general membership of the LDS Church hate the New and Everlasting Covenant!

So, what did the Prophet Joseph Smith have to say about his understanding of the law of Celestial Plural Marriage and the New and Everlasting Covenant?

"The same God that has thus far dictated me and directed me and strengthened me in this work, gave me this revelation and commandment on Celestial and plural marriage (D&C 132) and the same God commanded me to obey it. He said to me that unless I accepted it and introduced it, and practiced it, I, together with my people, would be damned and cut off from this time hence forth. And they say if I do so, they will kill me. O, what shall I do? If I do not practice it, I shall be damned with my people. If I do teach it, and practice it, and urge it, they say they will kill me, and I know they will. But we have got to observe it. It is an eternal principle and was given by way of commandment and not by way of instruction." (Joseph Smith Jun., 1843, the "Contributor"5:259.)

Therefore, there my be nice people in the LDS Church and those who show forth great brotherly kindness, but there are no good people in the LDS Church or anywhere unless they are ready to receive or have received the fullness of the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ through the Prophet Joseph Smith, and as Joseph plainly declared -

"...if any man preach any other Gospel than that which I have preached, he shall be cursed;" (Joseph Smith, 'Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith', pg 366.)

The membership and leaders of the LDS Church are cursed and there are none of them that doeth good. I leave this testimony with you in the name of Jesus Christ, whose apostle I am. Amen.

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