Left to Right: Jeff, Joanne, Amandah, Derek, Kelly, and Heidi

Jeffrey Gordon Hanks My Wife Amandah's Testimony My Wife Joanne's Testimony Click here for an older family picture

His high school years were spent full time with grandfather Hanks on the farm and attending Wayne High School. It was there that he excelled in basketball, becoming the first all-state player in the school's history. He also won the Utah state championship in the High Jump as a Senior. Plays, musicals, and playing in a rock and roll band also were components of his early years.

He always had a deep and abiding testimony of Joseph Smith and the restoration. He remembers well the strong testimonies borne by the older members of the church regarding the faith and courage of the early pioneers in being driven to Utah and settling the new frontier. His great-great grandfather Ephraim Knowlton Hanks was a trusted scout for Brigham Young and helped save the 1856 Martin Handcart Company from a devastating blizzard in Wyoming. Jeff draws great strength from the pure lineage that is flowing in his veins. Most all of his ancestors were valiant saints who lived the higher laws of Zion, including Celestial Plural Marriage. He remembers the accounts given in which his great grandmother and grandfather, Walter E. and Mary Ellen Hanks, were called upon often to administer to the sick and cast out evil spirits. Mary Ellen would anoint with oil and lay hands on the sufferers. Her great faith was combined with the gift of healing. Jeff always loved the accounts of the visitations of spirits and messengers and heavenly manifestations which abound in his family history. Jeff also loved to sing the hymns of Zion in church meetings.

After serving an LDS mission to Colombia, Jeff studied and received his Doctor of Chiropractic degree in 1986. He practiced full time for 8 years maintaining his own clinic in Orem, Utah. He served as President of the Utah Association of Chiropractic Physicians in 1993.

Through a series of events in early 1992, Jeff was spiritually awakened to the signs of the times and the events of the last days. The more he studied the scriptures and words of the early leaders of the restoration, he found opposing doctrines and principles coming from the modern leadership of the LDS Church. He awakened to the fact that the current church was not the same church that was restored by Joseph Smith; that it had changed crucial doctrines, principles and ordinances that would establish Zion and prepare the earth for the return of Christ in the Millennium.

Once recognizing the prophesied apostasy of the LDS Church in the last days, Jeff followed the promptings of the Spirit which led him to Manti where the gathering of the elect was and is taking place. He has since been called as an Apostle of Jesus Christ and is President of the Quorum of the Twelve. He knows by the Spirit of God that his mission lies in preaching and testifying to this generation, both of the apostasy of the Lord's covenant people and of the redemption of Zion which will take place among the remnant whom God calls by His Spirit.

Jeff is very involved with the writings and declarations that teach and warn this current generation about the apostasy that exists. He has a burning testimony that Joseph Smith is the man who still holds the keys of this last dispensation. He is a missionary for the Lord, crying repentance to this generation for the last time before the Lord comes in judgment upon the earth. He loves the ancient prophets and their example in the scriptures of declaring boldly the truth to their wicked generations. He bears solemn testimony that the True and Living Church of Jesus Christ of Saints of the Last Days is the Lord's vehicle to prepare God's children for the redemption of Zion.

Jeff has two lovely wives, Joanne and Amandah, and five beautiful children.

Personal testimony:

I am eternally grateful to God that I have been awakened and called to this great work here in Manti. It has been through the mercy and grace of God that I have been brought here to help in the establishment of Zion.We, in this gathering of saints from all over the United States, have come to the Manti area of Sanpete county, by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost. We have come from all walks of life and professions. Most all have come out of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Most recognized or awakened to the apostasy of the LDS Church from the principles and revelations laid down by Joseph Smith, the Prophet-founder. Most of us were very active in callings and are returned missionaries and come from pioneer roots of the early days of the church.

The LDS Church has departed from every law and principle that would establish Zion. Over time, the church began to fear men and government more than God and His commandments, and at that point sought friendship with and praise of the world more than keeping their covenants. Many changes followed after the passing of Brigham Young and John Taylor. These early prophets understood the requirement to prepare the people to establish Zion and to be a nation apart, a royal priesthood, who, by their righteousness and good fruits would usher in the Millennial reign of Christ.

The building of the Kingdom of God was a very tangible and real thing to the early leaders and saints. But toward the 1880's and 90's the people and leadership began to succumb to the gentile world's pressures of politics, fashions, appetites and economics. Also the desire to obtain statehood also lead to compromise with the Federal government. Soon the church began to abandon precious eternal ordinances and principles for the sake of getting the government off their backs, and to seek mainstream acceptance with the U.S. at large. Ever since that time the LDS Church has been on a downward slide away from its roots and moorings, finding a new life of popularity and praise. This is clearly defined as apostasy.

The changes in principles and ordinances have continued right into the 1990's to the point now that the LDS Church is so far apostatized that the institution will never be reclaimed. It must and will go to destruction as Brigham Young prophesied. A remnant of the Elect were also prophesied to awake and arise and pull off the work of redeeming Zion in the face of the LDS failure to do the same. This remnant will have a desire to keep all their covenants and build up the true Zion and live all of Zion's laws. It will be this people that Christ will come to and accept as His own because they do His works and follow His words.

We believe the Book of Mormon to be the true. Also the Doctrine and Covenants (minus Official Declarations 1 and 2), Pearl of Great Price, Old Testament, New Testament, words of the Prophets, spoken under inspiration and translated correctly, and any revelation that comes from the mouth of God. There are many records and words which are not yet enjoyed, that are also the word of God, yet to come forth in the due time of the Lord.

It was by Angelic visitation and revelation from Heaven which has gathered this people together here in Manti. The Priesthood authority to act in the name of God has been bestowed upon us because of the open rebellion of the LDS Church toward God. Zion must, and will be built in the last days; and it will be through a small remnant of people who will rise up and serve God and live all the Celestial laws to qualify for deliverance when tribulation and desolation are to be sent forth on the earth without measure. I testify that That Day is at hand.

The fruits are with this people. We have seen angels, been in the presence of Holy beings, received revelation, etc. This is the work of the Lord. Joseph Smith still holds the keys to this last dispensation and he is working with us to do this mighty work of the redemption of Zion. As an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, I have a great and weighty calling to proclaim repentance to God's wayward children, especially those of the LDS Church who are supposed to be God's elect, but who are asleep at the wheel spiritually. The Book of Mormon cries out against letting this apostasy and ruination happen to us in the last days. It is truly happening just as it was prophesied.

On November 25, 1990 Jim Harmston had a through the veil experience where four Angels actually appeared to him and literally laid their hands on his head and ordained him to the Apostleship with all the authority pertaining there unto. These four angels were four patriarchs who are dispensation heads, namely, Enoch, Noah, Abraham and Moses. From this event comes the priesthood authority to organize a Church and gather the Elect from the four corners of the earth and preach with power the Fullness of the Gospel as it was restored to Joseph Smith. This is the Great and Marvelous work of the Father in the last days.

The LDS Church through apostasy and rebellion has failed its mission. Now the Lord has called out those Elect who will serve him at all costs and do the work of the recovery of the house of Israel. Jim Harmston has laid his hands on valiant men, including myself, and has ordained us to the Apostleship and bestowed that authority necessary to do this great work. I testify in the name of Jesus Christ that these things are true and that you have the right and obligation to pray about my words and obtain the witness of Heaven that they are true. You deserve to know for yourself. And if so, then you need to gather here with the saints and labor with us to help redeem the earth in these last days. You will also be under the umbrella of God's protection when all the rest of the world is being sacked by warfare and natural calamity as so strongly testified of in all the holy scriptures. I have been forthright in my words, but I must put out this warning testimony to all who might be the elect of God.

May the Lord's choicest blessings be upon those chosen Elect who will rise up and fulfill their great duty in the last days. Also, may the wrath of God be upon those who reject and fight this mighty work. The last days are referred to as "The great and dreadful day of the Lord"; great for some and dreadful for others. The Elect must hear this message and respond. They must wake up, arise and put on the full armor of God, gather with the Saints here in Manti and help with the establishment of Zion in these very last days.

I testify that Jesus Christ will come to His people, who truly keep their covenants, and heal all their wounds and dry every tear. Every sacrifice made will be worth the cost to be brought into His presence and be known as His friend. We do this work for Christ. We live and labor so that this earth can be justified in becoming the future kingdom of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. Of this I solemnly testify in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

The steps that eventually brought me to where I am today have been inspired by Heaven line upon line and precept upon precept, until I was truly prepared to accept and embrace the living of the Fullness of the Gospel of Christ. It has been quite a journey, but one that was truly fore-ordained for me from before my earthly birth.

I always had a deep appreciation from childhood on up in my LDS upbringing for two main concepts:

1. Appreciation and deep love for my pioneer ancestors and their sacrifices for the truth of the restoration through Joseph Smith.
2. A tangible interest in the teachings of the events of the last days and the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ to the earth again.

These two main anchors have always been very solid in my life, and very real. Like most LDS kids, life was a 'normal' mix of church and secular school activities and all of the attendant sports, camping and playing that kids do. I do remember some spiritual highlights, and most of them center around the retelling of stories of my faithful pioneer ancestors like Ephraim Knowlton Hanks, who first arrived to help the Martin and Willey handcart companies in 1856, and many other historical events in which by the use of the priesthood people were healed and even raised from the dead. I also clearly remember the stories of how my great-grandmother assisted in giving blessings to the sick along with my great-grandfather when he was a Bishop. She would anoint the sick with oil and he would seal the blessing while both of them laid their hands on the head of the sick. She was well known in southern Utah for having a gift of healing. You see, in the earlier years of the LDS Church experience the women understood clearly that as they received the Endowment, that they, too, were given the keys of the Priesthood with which they could officiate within their scope of stewardship in rendering priesthood blessings even alone if the husband was not present. This was a very common and accepted understanding that these endowed women had the power to administer such blessings when needed. Remember the story of Mary Fielding Smith (Hyrum's widow) who anointed and blessed her sick and weak oxen on the trek west? Now, the 'politically correct' spin is put on this event that she only kneeled down and prayed for them and they were healed (a la 'Legacy'). Sisters in the early days of the Church used to give special anointings to sisters who were about to go into childbirth. These were called confinement blessings where only the sisters would anoint specific parts of a woman's body and bless everything to function well. This was done by the power of the priesthood and so invoked by the sisters. Today in LDS 'correctness' such things are completely denied and swept under the rug, and sisters are told they have no priesthood. Now, I do not speak of sisters having priesthood to lead, guide or direct the affairs of the temporal church, etc.. This is not their calling or assignment, BUT they do have the power to bless their own children and others when needed. This knowledge and application has been lost in LDS society to the great misfortune of the sisters and the possible wonderful and powerful experiences they COULD be having.

My love for Joseph Smith was deep and I felt like I knew him. I know to my dying breath that Joseph Smith, jr. was and is a mighty Prophet of God, having done more for the salvation of mankind save Jesus only. He is not just one among many Prophets, he is the great head of this last dispensation which stretches from the closing of Christ's Apostles to the present day. He is not just the 'boy Prophet' who got things started. GBH is not equal to Joseph Smith as is preached about in 'following the living prophets'. Not even close! Brigham Young taught that NO ONE will ever get to meet the Savior Jesus Christ without the certificate and blessing of Joseph Smith, jr. NO ONE! (JD 7:289-90) Joseph's place in the grand scheme of the eternities is much bigger than anyone in LDS land has ever imagined. And yet they do everything they can to refute, deny, hide, misquote and distort the sacred truths that Joseph introduced into this dispensation. This sickens me, truly, and those responsible will be held accountable to God in the eternities for this rebellion to their dispensation head, mark my words. Joseph Smith sealed his life and testimony with his blood and who is it that dares to audaciously change the things that Joseph laid down for the salvation of men?! He spilled his blood for these truths and we set him at naught and trample him under our feet?? Not Jeff Hanks!!!!

I knew the Book of Mormon to be true, never had a doubt in the least. Let me diverge again for a moment: In the missionary effort of the LDS (which I also served in) there are many experiences of people receiving a true witness of God that Joseph Smith is a Prophet and that the Book of Mormon is true. These two things can are eternally true, BUT the catch comes when they are made to associate those truths with the teaching that the current LDS Church is true also. 1 and 2 can be true without #3 ever being in line with the first two. You see, this is the great confusion and connection that is made by the missionary effort. Everyone is made to assume that because Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon are verified as being authentic by the Spirit of God, that somehow automatically and by default that the LDS Church in its present state must also be true. This rhetoric reminds me of Christ's rebuke to the scribes and pharisees when He said, " Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves." (Matthew 23:15)

The Book of Mormon is a true mirror and spiritual barometer with which to measure our society today. Are the LDS repeating the Nephite folly? When you look at it all very clearly, they certainly are. You see, the Book of Mormon stands as a sure witness AGAINST the actions of the LDS society today. Therefore, when the judgments descend upon them, they will be left without excuse, for their own scriptures testify of them and their rebellion to God and the truth. In fact, all scripture was written for the primary benefit of the House of Israel, the covenant people. Nephi gives us the key of how to read and apply scriptural history: "for I did liken all scripture unto ourselves". The patterns and parallels before us in the scriptural record show how we are repeating the same folly and rebellion that got the Nephites destroyed over and over again. It is time for the Elect within the ranks of the LDS Church to awaken to their awful situation as Moroni warns us.

With these basic elements of Mormonism within my soul I entered into adulthood. I served an LDS mission (Colombia Cali 1978-80), married in the Manti Temple, received much schooling which culminated in a Doctor of Chiropractic degree in 1986. I eventually started my own practice in Orem in 1988 and began to be more than moderately financially successful, as the world measures such things. But the world and its ways was beginning to engulf me. Babylon's attraction and pleasures and acquisition of material prestige took its hierarchy over my life. The interesting thing to me was that at the very same time, these acquisitions, prestige and notoriety were the very things that the LDS Church promoted and saw as life's reward for being a church member! In fact, I was told over and over that all of the GA's are rich and affluent and that if I eventually wanted to be a General Authority that I would have to live in the right neighborhoods, have the right education and accomplish much in the business world. These were the unspoken pre-requisites for climbing the church ladder. So anyway, there I was in Orem, the middle of Mormon elitism and sophistry, soaking it all up and following what I thought was the happy ending.

But those with whom God has strong covenants, He awakens when it is time for them to awake and arise and fulfill their fore-ordained mission on earth. I did not know or esteem the afore-mentioned statement at the time, I was just being a good LDS Babylonian, making lots of money and getting caught up in the artificial reality of LDS Babylon. It was 1992 and was the big Presidential election year. I organized a luncheon of all of the Utah county chiropractors in an effort to let them hear from my cousin who was an unknown upstart running for Governor of Utah, even Mike Leavitt. It was at this luncheon that I noticed that DeLynn Hansen had some videotapes under his arm. I inquired what the tapes were about. DeLynn said they were time lines and scriptural support of the events of the last days. I immediately and unequivocally said, "I want those, how much are they?" He said, "$40 dollars". I said, "Sold!" I bought them right there on the spot and took them home and watched all six hours worth. (The tapes were called 'Today through Armageddon' by Ron Garff and at this point have disappeared into relative obscurity as far as accuracy and any true timing.) But, as I sat and listened to the words of the early prophets and brethren as they prophesied of the destruction of the US and the threats to the constitution and the absolute anarchy and tough times to be experienced prior to the coming of the Lord, these things hit me with a force and power of truth like never before. As the various scriptures were displayed and rehearsed before me on the screen, I was acquainted with them and knew also that they do not lie. I was having a paradigm shift, spiritually. All of my memories and appreciation for the early church and the coming of the Lord began flooding back to me like an old friend. My wife, Joanne, can testify of my instant study and focus on these videotapes and my subsequent and immediate re-immersion into the scriptures. The D&C came alive. 2nd Nephi came alive. 3rd Nephi came alive. I began reading materials written by Ezra Taft Benson regarding the Book of Mormon's message about secret combinations and the threat to freedom. This lead me to people who also supplied me with quotes from the early prophets and leaders of Mormonism who spoke ardently about these things. I was wholly unacquainted with the Journal of Discourses, the conference talks of the leaders of the LDS Church from about 1850 to 1886.

I began to read some of these things. I read Nibley's 'Approaching Zion' which gave me a complete nuclear meltdown regarding how Babylon and Zion do not mix, never did, never will. I then realized that the big lie in Mormonism today was the notion that you can be in the world and not of the world. You can make lots of money and enjoy the appetites and fashions and customs of Babylon and yet be untainted by it. Nibley was so 'right on' in his depiction of LDS goals about life and Babylon's pursuits that I was made painfully aware that I was helping to build Babylon, not Zion. And I saw that this sickness and malady had over several generations gripped the LDS Church.

Then, in my excitement and innocent enthusiasm about what I was learning, I began to share these realities with my Bishop and others. I'll never forget my Bishop's response to me one Sunday out in the foyer. I was sharing my enthusiasm of some things in 2nd Nephi which talk about events that apply today, and he piped up and said: "Now don't get too excited about the scriptures, Jeff, that can be dangerous." What? Were my auditory functions operating properly? Did he really say what I thought he said? But he was absolutely serious. At this point in time I had no idea or inclination that the LDS Church was sick with apostasy, I only knew that I was being led to discover the truths that would help ME to change. I always assumed, even at that moment in time, that the LDS Church had to be the vehicle that carried the truths of the restoration into the Millennium. But as I read and studied further I saw that the words and testimony of the early prophets in Mormonism and those of the scriptures compared with the rhetoric spoken over the current day pulpits by LDS leadership, I slowly came to the terrifying thought that these were two different mindsets and churches! No! It couldn't be! Maybe the LDS leaders are strategically not saying anything about the threats to freedom and truth of the events of the last days for the right moment? I did all kinds of contortions in my mind to EXCUSE the brethren and their lack of attention to what were burning realities to me. I spent months telling myself that only the wicked in the LDS Church would be destroyed and God would go on and save the rest of the Church. Then, as I measured the overall LDS behavior and life focus, I realized that there was an overarching spiritual blindness that engulfed the whole people. It was being nurtured and massaged by the very LDS hierarchy that should have been preparing them for the opposite. This was a strange time for me, beginning to be shown clearly that 'All was not well in Zion'. As Elder's quorum instructor I gave a lesson on secret combinations and ETB's words AS PROPHET on the subject. Half of the class came up to me afterward and said that this particular lesson was the best one they had had in years. The other half went running to the Bishop crying that I was teaching false doctrine. This was a fascinating time for me. At that juncture I knew nothing of Jim Harmston or anything about Manti, plural marriage, etc... I was being awakened by the Spirit independently of any outside influence. The fertile ground was being prepared for the future necessary steps in my life.

It was at this same time that Malcolm Jeppson, Seventy over the Utah South area came out with his list of apostate leanings which needed attention. He gave this list out to all Stake Presidents in a meeting at the Edgemont Stake Center in Provo. Among his list were warnings about food storage preoccupation, John Birch society leanings, Home schooling of children, preoccupation with any thought of any corruptness in government, any talk of plural marriage, any teachings of the events of the last days, etc.. etc.. Leaders were warned to begin to discipline and castigate any members who fit this category of thought. When I was made privy to this expose' I did not know what to think at first. Not only was no attention being given to the Saints in order to prepare them temporally or spiritually for the days ahead, BUT actual persecution was being brought against those who DID feel to prepare and awaken. This was disturbing to me. I knew in my heart what was true and as I viewed the surrounding society and my own actions, I could clearly see that we were violating all the warnings that the Book of Mormon and the early leaders gave about such conditions. "How come no one sees this?", I thought. How could they so easily disregard their own roots and scriptures? Then I realized that the LDS Church was 'in bed' with wicked government and global expansionist views in order to further their cause. ETB had taught that these things could not be allowed; so did many of the brethren before him. I finally came to the conclusion that Zion got left on the side of the road by the LDS hierarchy in an effort to become popular and accepted by the world. They had lost their vision, purpose and mission to redeem Zion! Now they were out to reign in the Telestial world, receiving the rewards of those who seek acceptance with the world. The Terrestrial world and its Zion were no longer the goal, the Telestial world became the great decoy to the Saints. Brigham Young said it would become such. Desires for a corporate world empire had replaced the honest desire to come out of the world and live a higher law.

I did not know what to do with these realizations. But I knew in my heart that I was not the 'sick' one spiritually, unless I could deny the scriptures and refute my testimony of truth. It is a strange feeling to look around at your society, as if at a removed distance and view their lives realizing that the whole thing is a big lie and deception and a false hope in exaltation that is being embraced. The scriptures warn so heavily of this syndrome that overtakes an apostate generation. They lose their bearings and assure themselves of a safety that isn't there. This is consistent in time and in eternity when a people reject the truth; they even lose any truth that they once had until they know nothing of the mysteries of God. (Alma 12) And so it is.

At some point late in the '92 year I heard of some rumblings in Manti and some surrounding gossip about 'stockpiling guns and plural marriage innuendos'. I read an article in the Daily Herald about the flap and first saw Elaine and Jim Harmston being quoted about being harassed by LDS Church leaders for discussing the last days. The searcher for truth that I was, I called information and asked if they had a phone number for a Jim Harmston in Manti. They did and gave it to me. I called and talked to Jim, never having met him before. I told him that I had heard lots of rumors and heard that he was teaching some things about the last days. He told me of some weekend lectures that he was sharing in his own home to interested parties. I set up a time that I could come and hear what he had to say. Now, two month previous to this call, Jim had been excommunicated from the LDS Church for apostasy, so I was very wary in my mind and heart toward him. I had always been taught directly and by inference that the most vital thing in life was to retain your church membership. These traditions were very strong in me still.

It should be noted, thankfully so, that my wife Joanne was supportive of the things I was learning and was sharing with her, as she could see a change in me for the better.

I came and met Jim Harmston on the last weekend in January of 1993. I had come to discern and learn what he had to say and see if it matched up with the Spirit and witness of the Holy Ghost that I already held in my breast. Remember, I was very cautious and wary toward Jim, not wanting to be led astray by a recently excommunicated 'apostate'. So, for the first hour or so of his lecture I studied him very intently, measuring the words and the scriptures he was using. I was sitting there with four other 'investigators' in Jim's small office in his home. As I listened to the things he was teaching and showing from the scriptures and words of Joseph Smith and the early brethren, I could discern no error or deception in what he was teaching. I began to listen more to what was being taught than in worrying about Jim's apostate condition. As the two days progressed and many concepts of Zion and the Kingdom of God were presented to my view, according to what Joseph had instituted for the last dispensation and the Church's true mission, a view of the plan opened up before me in such a clarity that I had never known before. It all seemed so right and felt even better. The Spirit was so strong upon my soul and it seemed to me that for the very first time in my life I was being taught the truth of eternity and the purpose of God for His children on the earth. I felt at the same time so limited in my knowledge of the Fullness of the Gospel, and yet I had previously thought myself to be a reasonable student of the Gospel. And here I was, learning that I knew relatively nothing compared to what was really there. It was as if I was sitting at the feet of Joseph Smith and learning the Gospel for the first time. Jim related a Celestial event which transpired with him on November 25, 1990 wherein he was taken through the veil and was anointed to the Apostleship by four Angels. This, he testified was the authority and calling for him to perform this mission in the last days. I received a witness of the Holy Ghost that this was a true event and did happen. (Much more understanding came to Jim later on about the significance of this event, much like Joseph Smith in unraveling the First vision even 20 years after the fact.)

There was a certain point in the weekend when Jim was teaching about being Saviors on Mount Zion and he recited the scripture out of Abraham 3 wherein Abraham was shown to be one of those noble and great ones in the pre-earth setting. Jim turned to me and said that I, too, was one of the great and noble ones prepared to fulfill a great mission in the latter days. The Spirit engulfed me with tears and a sure knowledge that this was verily true. In fact, the peace of the Spirit was with the proceedings of the entire weekend and I knew that God's hand was doing a strange and marvelous work in beginning to gather out the Elect of the failing and apostatizing LDS Church and calling them to gather as a remnant that would be protected and prepared for the work of Zion prior to the coming of the Lord again in Glory. The witness also firmly and simultaneously prompted in me a burning commitment to gather to Manti, as I knew I needed to be there for a sure purpose in the Lord. Mind you, that at this time there was no TLC Church, no pamphlets, and no conception of forming a Church at that time. I just knew that I had to be there. This came to me without any prompting from any living person. I knew I had some kind of mission to perform, but I had no idea how anything would play out in the days ahead.

I floated home to Orem and shared all of the events of the weekend with Joanne and of my witness that it was true and she also knew that it was true and was willing to follow my lead. Within a couple of weeks Joanne herself went down and was taught by Jim the same lectures that I received and she obtained a sure witness that Jim had Heaven's authority to teach these things.

Within four months of first meeting Jim we had physically moved from Orem to Manti and had become involved in this new gathering of other Saints from all over the West who had been prompted to do the same. By August of '93 I had found a buyer for my practice and completely wrapped up my Utah County involvement.

Since 1993 to the present, I have been an integral part of the formation of the True and Living Church of Jesus Christ of Saints of the Last Days. I will not take space here to rehearse the multitudinous steps and passages that the Lord brought us through in order to prepare us for our current roles within this church and Priesthood. The temporal church formation occurred on May 3, 1994. I was ordained an Apostle of Jesus Christ under the hands of Jim Harmston on August 14, 1994, and was set apart by revelation to be the President of the newly ordained Quorum of Twelve Apostles. My eyes were filled with tears that day, tears of joy. My heart was full and there was a unity among the brethren at that time that was tangible. Even the Heavens would resound with claps of thunder each time Jim ordained a new Apostle. These ordinances took place on the east end of Boulder Mountain in Southern Utah. I remember this event very clearly in my mind, even to this day.

Many revelations have been received by myself and others which have called us far and wide to do specific works and ordinances to prepare this nation for the changes that are soon to come upon it. We have laid foot in all 50 States of the Union to seal up the law and bind up the testimony upon this errant generation. The Priesthood on this side of the veil had to put these things in motion in order to release the Holy Order on the other side of the veil to go about fully doing their work. The wheat (Elect) must be gathered out and the tares bound in bundles before the end. Much of this has been put in place by ordinance. We have gone back to Jackson County, Adam-Ondi-Ahman, Far West, Haun's Mill, Nauvoo, etc.. to lay claim upon that land for the return of the Saints at the right time. We also redressed the wrongs done unto the Saints in Missouri and Illinois with petitions and prayers to the Lord over dedicated altars, dressed in the robes of the Holy Priesthood in the True Order of Prayer in many of these locations. These were beautiful sights and experiences to be remembered with great solemnity and respect. To see men in white robes in the beauty of the outdoors, offering up the signs of the Priesthood unto the Most High God is indelible in my memory.

I can hardly begin to relate the many times I have received the powerful manifestation of the Holy Ghost that came as an affirmation to the works we have been involved in. The true witness of the Spirit cannot be duplicated by Satan. I have felt the literal presence of Jesus Christ Himself at times, even to the point of feeling unworthy to be in His presence. The Father and the Son came to me at age 18 in an open vision and spoke with me. Their loving rebuke pierced deeply into my soul in a way that cannot be described in earthly terms. They assured me of a great mission I was to perform and that I must be about my business. I assumed at that time that it was my LDS mission, but now I have come to certain terms that my mission assignment was to gather with the remnant in the last days and become a warning voice to this errant generation. I know this is truly my calling and the Spirit has overpowered me with this witness countless times.

I have seen the sick healed. I have seen revelations come true. I have had words and thoughts come to me straight from Heaven in the very moment that I needed them. I have felt the Lord's hand in my life at every turn. I have learned to trust in God more than my own earning power or the conventions of men. The conventions and traditions of men and churches has turned men away from trusting in God. Man has shown by his actions today that he doesn't need God. Satan inspires this kind of comfortable complacency and I testify that the LDS society is sick with this cancer from the highest leadership to the rank and file membership. I cannot help myself from testifying of this apostasy of the Lord's once covenant people; it is part of my very being to declare it at all times, for my testimony and witness will be verified as true at a day soon at hand. The LDS people need to be left without excuse and their sins rest upon their own heads.

I invite all humble followers of Christ to come and taste of our message and know for themselves that what we preach is the truth. The fruit is sweet to those who are blessed with the Spirit of faith and discernment. Times of apostasy are always very confusing and paradoxical to those Elect who are trying to find their way. Those who know that something just doesn't feel right in the LDS Church are beginning to search for the truth of our times wherever they can find it.

It is my testimony that the Heavens have been opened again and God's power and authority have been restored to a lowly remnant who have been given the charge to do the works of Zion and righteousness that the LDS Church failed to do through fear and rebellion. The TLC in Manti is the nucleus of God's power and at a day soon at hand the Fullness of the Priesthood will be fully invested in men on the earth whom God has tried and proven in the fires of adversity. With this power of the Fullness, mountains will be removed out of their place, the course of rivers changed, the weapons and armies of men defied and driven back, the great destructions of nature called in upon the wicked cities of the earth. All this has been planted as a seedling in Manti, and it will soon bear its mature fruit when the time is right and the earth is ripe. We testify that the Sanpete Valley is God's safe refuge for the righteous. The wicked and rebellious will be driven from this valley at a day soon at hand by a power that man has not here to for seen or experienced. God's holy protection, even His Shekinah will rest over this valley and Temple, and the work of the Millennium will have begun in earnest. This is our work. This is our mission; to reclaim the remnant of the House of Israel and redeem this earth on behalf of our Savior Jesus Christ. For this earth will be given to Christ the King, even He who has labored diligently to receive it as His Kingdom for Eternity. This is the pattern in all earths where the plans of the Gods are in full function. The pattern of a righteous remnant coming forth in the face of apostasy is very well defined in our own scriptural history. This same scenario has occurred over and over in Israel's history, AND THE PATTERN IS IN FULL REPETITION TODAY!

For those who have eyes to see, ears to hear and hearts that can be penetrated, this is the surprise ending that is occurring just prior to the return of our Lord and Master Jesus Christ. Choose ye this day whom ye will serve, God or Satan. There are no inbetweens. There are but two churches, the church of the Lamb and the church of the devil. The events will prove out that my words of testimony have been verily true. My words are consistent with the words of all the Lord's Prophets in every age of this earth. This is a day of warning and not of many words. The great and dreadful Day of the Lord approaches, make ye ready for the feast of the bridegroom.

I bear my truthful witness of the above testimony in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Jeffrey G. Hanks

Click here for an older family picture

E-mail: jhanks@tlcmanti.org

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