THE ROD OF AARON - THE GIFT OF AARON

This is interesting stuff.  If you read my earlier post (Click Link) on how Oliver Cowdery was one who possessed it then was passed to Brigham Young who struck the ground with it to show the location of the Salt Lake Temple, you will know that this is interesting stuff!

Here is more background from the Book of Commandments:

Rod of Aaron

While working as scribe for Joseph Smith in the translation of the Book of Mormon, Oliver Cowdery desired to have the gift of translation. Joseph then received a revelation for Mr. Cowdery granting him that gift, as well as an additional gift: “the gift of working with the rod.”^[1] This revelation was originally recorded in the Book of Commandments (BOC), then later revised and canonized to become the Doctrine and Covenants (D&C). In this revision the phrase, “the gift of working with the rod,” was changed to, “the gift of Aaron.”^[2]

Overview of LDS position

Official LDS church materials refer only to the “gift of Aaron,” which describe it as a spiritual gift to Oliver Cowdery: to assist Joseph in opening up the new dispensation like Aaron did for his brother Moses.^[3] No mention is made of either the “gift of working with the rod” or of the staff which Aaron used when talking to Pharoah.

More info:

Fact, however, is thus confirmed, that a rod was preserved in the Tabernacle as a relic of the institution of the Aaronic priesthood.J. F. McC.
—In Rabbinical Literature:
The Bible ascribes similar miraculous powers to the Rod of Aaron and to the staff of Moses (compare, for example, Ex. iv. 2 et seq. and vii. 9). The Haggadah goes a step further, and entirely identifies the Rod of Aaron with that of Moses. Thus the Midrash Yelamdenu (Yal?. on Ps. ex. § 869) states that "the staff with which Jacob crossed the Jordan is identical with that which Judah gave to his daughter-in-law, Tamar (Gen. xxxii. 10, xxxviii. 18). It is likewise the holy rod with which Moses worked (Ex. iv. 20, 21), with which Aaron performed wonders before Pharaoh (Ex. vii. 10), and with which, finally, David slew the giant Goliath (I Sam. xvii. 40). David left it to his descendants, and the Davidic kings used it as a scepter until the destruction of the Temple, when it miraculously disappeared . When the Messiah comes it will be given to him for a scepter in token of his authority over the heathen."
That so wonderful a rod should bear external signs of its importance is easily to be understood. It was made of sapphire, weighed forty seahs (a seah = 10.70 pounds), and bore the inscription , which is composed of the initials of the Hebrew names of the Ten Plagues (Tan., Waëra 8, ed. Buber).
Haggadic Modification.
Aaron's Rod. (From the Sarajevo Haggadah.)
Legend has still more to say concerning this rod. God created it in the twilight of the sixth day of Creation (Ab. v. 9, and Mek., Beshalla?, ed. Weiss, iv. 60), and delivered it to Adam when the latter was driven from paradise. After it had passed through the hands of Shem, Enoch, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob successively, it came into the possession of Joseph. On Joseph's death the Egyptian nobles stole some of his belongings, and, among them, Jethro appropriated the staff. Jethro planted the staff in his garden, when its marvelous virtue was revealed by the fact that nobody could withdraw it from the ground; even to touch it was fraught with danger to life. This was because the Ineffable Name of God was engraved upon it. When Moses entered Jethro's household he read the Name, and by means of it was able to draw up the rod, for which service Zipporah, Jethro's daughter, was given to him in marriage. Her father had sworn that she should become the wife of the man who should be able to master the miraculous rod and of no other (Pir?e R. El. 40; Sefer ha-Yashar; Yal?. Ex. 168, end). It must, however, be remarked that the Mishnah (Ab. v. 9) as yet knew nothing of the miraculous creation of Aaron's Rod, which is first mentioned by the Mekilta (l.c.) and Sifre on Deut. (Ber. xxxiii. 21; ed. Friedmann, p. 355). This supposed fact of the supernatural origin of the rod explains the statement in the New Testament (Heb. ix. 4) and Tosef., Yoma, iii. 7 (it is to be interpreted thus according to B. B. 14a), that Aaron's Rod, together with its blossoms and fruit, was preserved in the Ark. King Josiah, who foresaw the impending national catastrophe, concealed the Ark and its contents (Tosef., So?ah, 13a); and their whereabouts will remain unknown until, in the Messianic age, the prophet Elijah shall reveal them (Mek. l.c.).
Christian Modifications.
A later Midrash (Num. R. xviii. end) confuses the legends of the rod that blossomed with those of the rod that worked miracles, thus giving us contradictory statements. There exists a legend that Moses split a tree trunk into twelve portions, and gave one portion to each tribe. When the Rod of Aaron produced blossoms, the Israelites could not but acknowledge the significance of the token. The account of the blossoming of Aaron's Rod contained in Clement's first letter to the Corinthians (ep. 43) is quite in haggadic-midrashic style, and must probably be ascribed to Jewish or, more strictly speaking, Jewish-Hellenistic sources. According to that account, Moses placed upon each of the twelve staffs the corresponding seal of the head of a tribe. The doors of the sanctuary were similarly sealed, to prevent any one from having access to the rods at night. This legend of the rod as given by the Syrian Solomon in his "Book of the Bee" ("Anecdota Oxoniensia, Semitic Series," vol. i. part ii.) has Christian characteristics. According to it the staff is a fragment of the Tree of Knowledge, and was successively in the possession of Shem, of the three Patriarchs, and of Judah, just as in the Jewish legend. From Judah it descended to Pharez, ancestor of David and of the Messiah. After Pharez's death an angel carried it to the mountains of Moab and buried it there, where the pious Jethro found it. When Moses, at Jethro's request, went in search of it, the rod was brought to him by an angel. With this staff Aaron and Moses performed all the miracles related in Scripture, noteworthy among which was the swallowing up of the wonder-working rods of the Egyptian Posdi. Joshua received it from Moses and made use of it in his wars (Josh. viii. 18); and Joshua, in turn, delivered it to Phinehas, who buried it in Jerusalem. There it remained hidden until the birth of Jesus, when the place of its concealment was revealed to Joseph, who took it with him on the journey to Egypt. Judas Iscariot stole it from James, brother of Jesus, who had received it from Joseph. At Jesus' crucifixion the Jews had no wood for the transverse beam of the cross, so Judas produced the staff for that purpose ("Book of the Bee," Syr. ed., pp. 50-53; Eng. ed., pp. 50-52). This typological explanation of Moses' rod as the cross is not a novel one. Origen on Exodus (chap. vii.) says: "This rod of Moses, with which he subdued the Egyptians, is the symbol of the cross of Jesus, who conquered the world." Christian legend has preserved the Jewish accounts of the rod of the Messiah and made concrete fact of the idea. Other Western legends concerning the connection of the cross and the rod may be found in Seymour, "The Cross," 1898, p. 83.

SPROUTS, RODS AND GIFTS

 Great comment from a reader on the recent blog post on the Rod of Aaron:

Interesting to note in the initial hand written version the word rod was not mentioned but sprout was; 

"O remember these words & keep my commandments remember this is thy gift now this is not all for thou hast another gift which is the gift of working with the sprout 

Behold it hath told you things 

Behold there is no other power save God that can cause this thing of Nature to work in your hands 

for it is the work of God & therefore whatsoever ye shall ask to tell you by that means that will he grant unto you that ye shall know 

remember that without faith ye can do nothing trifle not with these things do not ask for that which ye had not ought 

ask that ye may know the mysteries "

https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/revelation-book-1/7#ft-historical-intro

 

6 Now this is not all thy ^agift; for you have another gift, which is the gift of Aaron; behold, it has told you many things;

7 Behold, there is no other power, save the power of God, that can cause this gift of Aaron to be with you.

8 Therefore, ^adoubt not, for it is the gift of God; and you shall hold it in your hands, and do marvelous works; and no power shall be able to take it away out of your hands, for it is the ^bwork of God.

9 And, therefore, whatsoever you shall ask me to tell you by that means, that will I grant unto you, and you shall have knowledge concerning it.

10 Remember that without ^afaith you can do nothing; therefore ask in faith. Trifle not with these things; do not ^bask for that which you ought not.

11 Ask that you may know the mysteries of God, and that you may ^atranslate and receive knowledge from all those ancient records which have been hid up, that are ^bsacred; and according to your faith shall it be done unto you.

12 Behold, it is I that have spoken it; and I am the same that spake unto you from the beginning. Amen. 

Remember that the Rod was a branch from the Tree of Life, all a sprout, blossom and fruiting wood in the same thing.   The epitome of life.  Usually, in a state of individual cycling in a telestial setting.  Likely not so when in the terrestrial state.  Something even entirely different in a celestial setting.  Something from a previous posting from a decade ago that explains how this functioned:

https://woodyoubelieveit.blogspot.com/search?q=rod+of+aaron

Here is some more on the topic:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aaron%27s_rod

Please read Exodus 7 to find out about Aaron’s rod.

Exodus 4 about Moses rod. Moses rod is called the “rod of God” in Exo 4:20.

Exodus 7:19 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, "Say to Aaron, 'Take your rod and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt, over their streams, over their rivers, over their ponds, and over all their pools of water, that they may become blood. And there shall be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood and vessels of stone.' "

Exodus 8:5 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, "Say to Aaron, 'Stretch out your hand with your rod over the streams, over the rivers, and over the ponds, and cause frogs to come up on the land of Egypt.' "

Exodus 8:16 So the LORD said to Moses, "Say to Aaron, 'Stretch out your rod, and strike the dust of the land, so that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt.' "

EXO 9:23 And Moses stretched out his rod toward heaven; and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and fire darted to the ground. And the LORD rained hail on the land of Egypt.

24 So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, so very heavy that there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation.

25 And the hail struck throughout the whole land of Egypt, all that was in the field, both man and beast; and the hail struck every herb of the field and broke every tree of the field.

26 Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, there was no hail.

Exodus 10:13 So Moses stretched out his rod over the land of Egypt, and the LORD brought an east wind on the land all that day and all that night. And when it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts.

EXO 17:5 And the LORD said to Moses, "Go on before the people, and take with you some of the elders of Israel. Also take in your hand your rod with which you struck the river, and go.

6 "Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink." And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.

7 So he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the contention of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, "Is the LORD among us or not?"

8 Now Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim.

9 And Moses said to Joshua, "Choose us some men and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand."

10 So Joshua did as Moses said to him, and fought with Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.

11 And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.

12 But Moses' hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.

13 So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.

14 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Write this for a memorial in the book and recount it in the hearing of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven."

15 And Moses built an altar and called its name, The-Lord-Is-My-Banner;

16 for he said, "Because the LORD has sworn: the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation."

18:1 And Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel His people -- that the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt.

HEB 9:3 and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All,

4 which had the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron's rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant;

Just some fun facts but Aarons rod that budded was in the ark of the covenant with the Commandments written in stone and a golden pot filled with manna (food from heaven for Israel when they were in the wilderness)

Interesting note on the Ark of the Covenant not containing this stick when Ron Wyatt discovered it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ay1vFfkji8&t=679s

Is it quite possible that this Rod of Aaron was missing from the cave because JtB possibly delivered it to Oliver Cowdery and Joseph Smith in 1829 and it then fell into the possession of Brigham Young?  I would have REALLY have liked to see this thing used when Johnson's Army rolled into town in 1859.  We need a good showdown between the forces of the evil one and God once again.  We need some schooling just as Pharoah and his peeps did back in the day...  The USA is modern Egypt.

And this is just part of the reason we will not rip on Brigham Young here...

THE ROD OF AARON - REVISITED

In my conversation with a good Christian fellow on the factory floor this afternoon, we touched briefly on the topic of the identity of the two Prophets who will lay dead in the streets of Jerusalem for 3.5 days.  He volunteered the possibility of them being Moses and Elijah (as resurrected beings).  When they first were on the Mount of Transfiguration in the days of Christ, they were translated beings.  Christ was the first-fruits of the Resurrection.  They, by that rule, would have to be changed in a twinkling (from translated to resurrected) after the time that Christ came forth.  The problem is that I am mostly sure that you cannot kill a translated being - and most definitely not a resurrected being.  In order for them to lie dead in the streets for 3.5 days, these two would not qualify - if I understand things correctly.

My guess is that they will be members of the Quorum of the 12 or of another lesser Quorum - but most likely High Priests.  My guess is that they will have power as Moses or Elijah had - power over heaven and earth.  I pointed out in this conversation, that the plagues that afflicted the wicked Egyptians (and the son of Cain who was leading them in that day.....), of a nearly identical nature will afflict us.  In fact, if the Mp is correct, that red dust will be forthcoming by the end of this year.  The famine and lack of water caused by it will be devastating.  My guess is that the dust will be laid down by some sort of body passing thru our atmosphere.  So, the parallels to our day are pretty striking.

One thing those two (who are at least my age - previous blog post) may be sporting in their morbid ministry to stay the hands of the wicked as they assault God's chosen people in Jerusalem, is the original staff that Moses used in many of his miracles.

So far as I understand it, the Church is in possession of that very staff or a portion of it.  It may well be over in Israel on assignment with the two who are there now possibly for their future roles (previous blog post on identities).  What a calling, don't you think?

Here is a previous original blog piece that I did on it.  The information that I came across to put it together came together serendipitously, so I am putting it back out there for perusal.  When miracles happen, I like to get the most mileage out of them that I possibly can.

Enjoy:

Thursday, May 9, 2013

THE ROD OF AARON AND THE SALT LAKE TEMPLE

There are some fascinating artifacts that have been handed down through time.  One, Oliver Cowdery was briefly in possession of and it is referred to briefly in D&C 6 (the gift of Aaron referred to is not the gift of translation, so much as it is being the rightful heir, and having the proper knowledge/authority of the use of that staff) and I would hazard a guess that Cowdery must have been a descendant of Aaron for having had such an integral role in bringing forth the Book of Mormon, receiving the Aaronic Priesthood from the last earthly authorized representative and many other reasons...).   Besides the usual Urim and Thummim, Liahona, etc we have the Rod of Aaron, which was used to provide the miracles that led to the Children of Israel to escape and be free of bondage.  Israel is about to go through another phase of bondage while two prophets (similar to Moses and Aaron) stay the advancing armies of nations who have afflicted them.  Meanwhile, those afflicting nations will partake of the plagues spoken of in Revelations for those 3.5 years as they lose their power and God's people become victorious in the land - just as Pharoah sought to afflict the ancient Israelites and was given plagues as a reward for his insolent behavior.  In part of this dual scenario, there will be a return to a Promised Land to build up a New Jerusalem after the land is swept clean of the trash which formerly inhabited it, just as Israel returned to her promised land so many years ago.  That will be Joseph (Ephraim/Manasseh) here in America in the modern scenario.

I was just reading in D&C 77 this morning and expect that those two prophets will be of Hebrew origin (most likely similar to Orson Hyde - of Jewish descent, but having the Holy Priesthood):

15 Q. What is to be understood by the two witnesses, in the eleventh chapter of Revelation?A. They are two prophets that are to be raised up to the Jewish nation in the last days, at the time of the restoration, and to prophesy to the Jews after they are gathered and have built the city of Jerusalem in the land of their fathers.

 I have to wonder if they will carry this Rod of Aaron (or Gift of Aaron) as they stay the telestial powers who have set about Jerusalem.  I think there will be more to their actions than simply faith, prayer and power in the Priesthood.  If the people of that background are to believe, it sure would help to have a little religious iconery to help the process along.

There is alot of background on this Rod of Aaron - it started out as a branch from the Tree of Life and has worked its way through all the Patriarchs and down to Jesus' day.   This passing along of things of a religious nature is very similar to the Garment of the Holy Priesthood which was fashioned by God after The Fall and that Adam wore; and the same one which Ham attempted to remove from Noah's body after he had passed out from a little too much vino after the Great Flood.  This Rod of Aaron was purported to be from an almond tree and could be in all three stages of the cycle at any given time: buds, blossom, flowers and fruit.

Jesus had a rod and this Rod (or a start from it when it budded) purportedly ended up in England via Joseph of Arimathea (rich uncle of Jesus).  Here is the story that I was reading earlier today:

       http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1337159/Glastonburys-2000-year-old-Holy-Thorn-Tree-hacked-vandals.html

And to tie this all together - Brigham Young had a rod (or some portion of it in the form of a cane) when he struck the ground and declared that the SL Temple would be built in that spot (please see my previous piece on how significant it is that it was built where it was - such that it will endure the great shaking which is coming (previous blog post on temple being built atop 1000 foot tall granite plug rising through the alluvial muck):

  An interesting notation in Anthon H. Lund's Journal for July 5,1901 states:

"in the revelation to Oliver Cowdery in May 1829, Bro. [B. H.] Roberts said that the gift which the Lord says he has in his hand meant a stick which was like Aaron's Rod. It is said Bro. Phineas Young [brother-in-law of Oliver Cowdery and brother of Brigham Young] got it from him [Cowdery] and gave it to President Young who had it with him when he arrived in this [Salt Lake] valley and that it was with that stick that he pointed out where the Temple should be built."

 Folks - we are in for some interesting times directly ahead!  Wood you believe it??  I would!  Buckle up!!

THE ROD OF AARON AND THE SALT LAKE TEMPLE

There are some fascinating artifacts that have been handed down through time.  One, Oliver Cowdery was briefly in possession of and it is referred to briefly in D&C 6 - and I would hazard a guess that Cowdery must have been a descendant of Aaron for having had such an integral role in bringing forth the Book of Mormon, receiving the Aaronic Priesthood from the last earthly authorized representative and many other reasons...).   Besides the usual Urim and Thummim, Liahona, etc we have the Rod of Aaron, which was used to provide the miracles that led to the Children of Israel to escape and be free of bondage.  Israel is about to go through another phase of bondage while two prophets (similar to Moses and Aaron) stay the advancing armies of nations who have afflicted them.  Meanwhile, those afflicting nations will partake of the plagues spoken of in Revelations for those 3.5 years as they lose their power and God's people become victorious in the land - just as Pharoah sought to afflict the ancient Israelites and was given plagues as a reward for his insolent behavior.  In part of this dual scenario, there will be a return to a Promised Land to build up a New Jerusalem after the land is swept clean of the trash which formerly inhabited it, just as Israel returned to her promised land so many years ago.  That will be Joseph (Ephraim/Manasseh) here in America in the modern scenario.

I was just reading in D&C 77 this morning and expect that those two prophets will be of Hebrew origin (most likely similar to Orson Hyde - of Jewish descent, but having the Holy Priesthood):

15 Q. What is to be understood by the two witnesses, in the eleventh chapter of Revelation?A. They are two prophets that are to be raised up to the Jewish nation in the last days, at the time of the restoration, and to prophesy to the Jews after they are gathered and have built the city of Jerusalem in the land of their fathers.

 I have to wonder if they will carry this Rod of Aaron (or Gift of Aaron) as they stay the telestial powers who have set about Jerusalem.  I think there will be more to their actions than simply faith, prayer and power in the Priesthood.  If the people of that background are to believe, it sure would help to have a little religious iconery to help the process along.

There is alot of background on this Rod of Aaron - it started out as a branch from the Tree of Life and has worked its way through all the Patriarchs and down to Jesus' day.   This passing along of things of a religious nature is very similar to the Garment of the Holy Priesthood which was fashioned by God after The Fall and that Adam wore; and the same one which Ham attempted to remove from Noah's body after he had passed out from a little too much vino after the Great Flood.  This Rod of Aaron was purported to be from an almond tree and could be in all three stages of the cycle at any given time: buds, blossom, flowers and fruit.

Jesus had a rod and this Rod (or a start from it when it budded) purportedly ended up in England via Joseph of Arimathea (rich uncle of Jesus).  Here is the story that I was reading earlier today:

       http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1337159/Glastonburys-2000-year-old-Holy-Thorn-Tree-hacked-vandals.html

And to tie this all together - Brigham Young had a rod (or some portion of it in the form of a cane) when he struck the ground and declared that the SL Temple would be built in that spot (please see my previous piece on how significant it is that it was built where it was - such that it will endure the great shaking which is coming):

  An interesting notation in Anthon H. Lund's Journal for July 5,1901 states:

"in the revelation to Oliver Cowdery in May 1829, Bro. [B. H.] Roberts said that the gift which the Lord says he has in his hand meant a stick which was like Aaron's Rod. It is said Bro. Phineas Young [brother-in-law of Oliver Cowdery and brother of Brigham Young] got it from him [Cowdery] and gave it to President Young who had it with him when he arrived in this [Salt Lake] valley and that it was with that stick that he pointed out where the Temple should be built."

 Folks - we are in for some interesting times directly ahead!  Wood you believe it??  I would!  Buckle up!!

THE ROD OF MOSES, A STONE AND LIVING WATERS

Today in church, a speaker spoke on the Children of Israel and how the rod of Aaron (Moses) was used to strike the rock (or mountain) and the living waters came forth to quench the thirst of the wandering Israelites.  This truly was living waters.

I did an earlier piece on this Rod of Aaron:

http://woodyoubelieveit.blogspot.ca/2013/05/the-rod-of-aaron-and-salt-lake-temple.html

I have to wonder, if the living waters that will flow out from underneath both the temples of the ancient Jerusalem and the New Jerusalem with coincide with some action of this Rod of Aaron that Oliver Cowdery was given, as stated in the original Book of Commandments (read the material in the link).

Oliver Cowdery was prophesied of in 2 Nephi 3.  Here is what it speaks of him:

17 And the Lord hath said: I will raise up a Moses; and I will give power unto him in a rod; and I will give judgment unto him in writing. Yet I will not loose his tongue, that he shall speak much, for I will not make him mighty in speaking. But I will write unto him my law, by the finger of mine own hand; and I will make a spokesmanfor him.
18 And the Lord said unto me also: I will raise up unto the fruit of thy loins; and I will make for him a spokesman. And I, behold, I will give unto him that he shall write the writing of the fruit of thy loins, unto the fruit of thy loins; and the spokesman of thy loins shall declare it.

Oliver Cowdery is analgous to Aaron and Joseph Smith is made analgous to Moses - both of whom performed a mighty miracle in relation to the House of Israel - who were made great in writing (the Penatuech and the Book of Mormon) - but who were both given spokesmen in Aaron and Oliver Cowdery.

Here is another article I did earlier on Oliver Cowdery and the Rod of Aaron:

https://woodyoubelieveit.blogspot.ca/2013/08/the-rod-of-aaron-more-tradition.html

The patterns in scripture and woven into the narrative of God's Chosen People are truly awesome.  In all things, there is a type and shadow, when God performs a mighty work among His children to bring them to salvation.

AARON'S WALKING STICK WAS NOT THERE

This is interesting.  The Rod of Aaron was in possession of Oliver Cowdery and Brigham Young.  When Brigham Young thrust his "walking stick" or "cane" into the ground to declare the location of the SL Temple, it was the Rod of Aaron, referred in the D&C as the "Gift of Aaron":

https://youtu.be/9ay1vFfkji8?t=679

Here is a previous blog article on the Rod of Aaron:

http://woodyoubelieveit.blogspot.com/2013/08/the-rod-of-aaron-more-tradition.html

Here is an even earlier article from the Wood Zone archives.  Truly a treasure piece from the days when I was rocking this blog hard:

http://woodyoubelieveit.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-rod-of-aaron-and-salt-lake-temple.html

We know who the the who will likely wield this Rod again in the streets of Jerusalem here very shortly.

Here is another great vid showing the connection of this people to those people:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcWCh7T4m1I

Folks, we are close.  Oh, so close.  This video was prophetic and epic in it's scope and implications.

It is all right before our very eyes.

BURNING A BRIDGE - MORE ROD OF AARON FUN

This is a diary entry along with a little venting:

So, I sent the following information (in blue, below) to a member of my Bishopric that is over the area of the ward that I serve in with my wife.  It was in response to me "teaching false doctrine" in the class.  While the three year olds were coloring away on their pictures of Moses raising the rod prior to crossing the Red Sea, I took the opportunity to tell a few of the adults there my exciting discovery about the Rod of Aaron vs the Gift of Aaron in D&C 8.  

Bro ______, here is the quote I was referencing earlier: An interesting notation in Anthon H. Lund's Journal for July 5,1901 states: "in the revelation to Oliver Cowdery in May 1829, Bro. [B. H.] Roberts said that the gift which the Lord says he has in his hand meant a stick which was like Aaron's Rod. It is said Bro. Phineas Young [brother-in-law of Oliver Cowdery and brother of Brigham Young] got it from him [Cowdery] and gave it to President Young who had it with him when he arrived in this [Salt Lake] valley and that it was with that stick that he pointed out where the Temple should be built."

Enter

You sent

You can look up an early manuscript of the Book of Commandments and see that it clearly states Rod of Aaron instead of the current Gift of Aaron. It likely was given to Oliver by the latest representative of that line which would have been John the Baptist, though I have not found statements to back that. Yet.

Enter

You sent

It is likely this stick or staff that will be used by the two Prophets to stay the armies in Jerusalem. It is my belief that one will be Elder Holland. We are close.

Enter

You sent

Lund was a member of the First Presidency when he made that statement: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthon_H._Lund He also served concurrently as Church Historian during a period of 20 years. If you would be so kind, please pass this info along to any concerned parents…. My sources are quite sound.

Anthon H. Lund - Wikipedia

Yes - kids who can barely count to 3 let alone understand what a tent is (I was trying to explain the ten commandments and about the tabernacle in the wilderness yesterday), were like 99.999998% chance of not understanding the least of what I was talking about to the adults there helping my wife and I, even if it were truly apostate information.  So, we passed on this cool information a few weeks ago and similar adults were there yesterday, so I relayed my "sin" to them joking about how silly it was to a guy who was subbing in for my wife and who also got kicked out of subbing in for Seminary after "teaching false doctrine"....  

After class, I was in the hall and bumped into the guy who has called me out for wearing sandals to church (when my foot was swollen after driving three days non-stop across Canada), having facial hair and so much else (of course, I picture this guy yelling from the crowd to "Crucify him!!!  Crucify him!!! in Pharisaical fashion...).  SMH....  And we wonder why people who are not perfect cookie cutters - but who have great hearts - leave and never come back.  My MIL is among those who were driven out/ostracized after a divorce and that rigidity has resulted in shock waves.  I think of all of those sons who could have gone on missions, etc if people had shown a little more empathy and love, etc.  Ah, the devil is crafty at his game....  Most are just there to commune with God.  Again, it is clear that the gospel must be true - because the work still manages to go forward in spite of the rest of the equation.  So sad - because I do not think we can make it through the narrow spot between now and Zion, until we change that attitude towards our brothers and sisters and shed our destructive traditions.  Jesus said it best when speaking to the Pharisees of the day, that their pedigrees and genealogies are useless unless their hearts are in the right place.  Basically, he could turn the stones into better children of Abraham than the self-righteous Jews were....  Dumb as a rock (spiritually) comes to mind....

I cannot help but think about how important it is here in Cardston to be from one of the founding families.  Usually, you are asked who you are related to.  It is immaterial; we are all children of God.  End of story.  God can raise up rocks who can serve more easily and effectively if we become filled with pride over our genealogies.  There is a lot of looking down on the local natives (who admittedly can have substance abuse issues - and often can bring on crime due to needing drug money, etc).  BUT, the more righteous part of them will win the day when their brothers and sisters from the 10 tribes come through and take them to their glorious destiny in the NJ.  Meanwhile, they are trodden upon by the Canadian government and by many of the citizens, completely unaware of their role in treading down the wicked Gentiles (us), when we have been brought low by (likely) disease and war with other Gentile/Heathen nations (read China, Iran/Indian and Russia - and possibly Brazil; BRIC).

So I am standing in the hall talking with this fellow and asked him if he got my Messenger the other week correcting him on his calling me out on "false doctrine".  I had my back to the foyer as he pointed out that it was a "nefarious comment".  That was stated again as the Bishop (a guy who has his head on straight from everything my daughter tells me) walked past me.  Forgive me for being ignorant of the real meaning of nefarious - but I would have corrected him yet again on the usage of that word:

ne·far·i·ous

/nəˈferēəs/

Learn to pronounce

S

adjective

(typically of an action or activity) wicked or criminal.

Sheesh....  Thankfully, I was ignorant so it did not really blow up.  But I could tell he was pretty mad that I had called him out.  I am not sure if it is an authority thing?  Or what, but I respect those who merit it.  Apologizing for a mistake is part of earning my respect.

So, I continue to get called out.  He then explains that the words of a current Prophet trump anything from someone who was a two-time member of the First Presidency and the Church Historian for over 20 years (concurrent responsibilities).  Lund would have been the next Prophet had he not died from a chronic duodenic ulcer at 77 years old in 1921.  Still not good enough for my "Crucify him!!" buddy.  I pointed out that the section in the D&C referencing that is still in the D&C.  Not good enough for him.  Point out that the Book of Commandments published first and then one or two early editions of the D&C still reference the original wording and those are still doctrine and not nefarious information....

Needless to say, it did not go well.  People hate logic and common sense.

Meanwhile, I will still try and figure out what was so offensive about finding out about a relic that is on par with the Liahona or even possibly the Urim and Thumim (probably more correctly, the seer stone) that is in the church archives, etc.  The way things are worded in verse 9, it makes me wonder if it literally pointed to the spot in the valley (not much unlike a dousing rod in the search for water), where the temple would be placed (Brigham Young: "Here, we shall build a temple to our God!"), where it would rest just above the massive granite plug that rises out of the SL Valley - that will keep it from subsiding during the "big one" on the Wasatch Fault).  So much cool stuff out there....  This stuff just turns my crank!  The problem I think is this:  people are actually embarrassed by this stuff (relics) and consider them backwards or primitive?  As such, they have little faith or belief in this kind of stuff, therefore they just want it to go away?  For the unbelieving DoC crowd, this kind of thing would only serve to bolster anything good about Brigham Young.  Rods of God, seerstones, etc tend to not work in the hands of one who is wicked (has nefarious intent...), so if Brigham was able to receive revelation through it as to where to build the temple so that it indeed will stand through an EQ so large that mountains are literally displaced, then he may just not have been a Joseph murderer and impostor.  See the implications here?  Those who are incapable of having miracles in their lives for whatever reason, see it as impossible only because they are not endowed with such power/means, so it seems ludicrous and impossible to conceive of.

I love knowledge and decry anyone that bats it down.  When I relayed this whole thing to my wife, she just said maybe it is time to leave (Cardston).  This truly is the manifestation of the salt losing it's savor.  The Jews of the day were VERY good at keeping every jot and tittle of the Law - but horribly bad at keeping the true intent of it as their wickedness and adulterating behavior smothered out what it truly meant to be disciples of Christ.

I was talking to my BYU student yesterday about relationships and what are the most important elements in making it work for me, and the thing that makes it special/meaningful for me and way better than any amount of mind-blowing sex, good cooking, earning potential, back rubs, etc:  is that my woman loves and understands the Gospel as well as funky arcane and cool knowledge like this stuff.  I could not live without that love of learning (and open mindedness enough to accept the near impossible) in my life.  All else pales by comparison to that.  It also helps that she is wise, gentle (when I need correcting) and a very attractive 50+ year old!

6 Now this is not all thy ^agift; for you have another gift, which is the gift of Aaron; behold, it has told you many things;

7 Behold, there is no other power, save the power of God, that can cause this gift of Aaron to be with you.

8 Therefore, ^adoubt not, for it is the gift of God; and you shall hold it in your hands, and do marvelous works; and no power shall be able to take it away out of your hands, for it is the ^bwork of God.

9 And, therefore, whatsoever you shall ask me to tell you by that means, that will I grant unto you, and you shall have knowledge concerning it.

10 Remember that without ^afaith you can do nothing; therefore ask in faith. Trifle not with these things; do not ^bask for that which you ought not.

11 Ask that you may know the mysteries of God, and that you may ^atranslate and receive knowledge from all those ancient records which have been hid up, that are ^bsacred; and according to your faith shall it be done unto you.

12 Behold, it is I that have spoken it; and I am the same that spake unto you from the beginning. Amen.