----- Forwarded Message -----
Double Witnesses
God has often utilized double and multiple witnesses to establish truth. Job understood this principle of divine revelation when he said: “For God speaketh once, yea twice . . .” (Job 33:14). Jesus also spoke of this principle: “. . . in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established” (Matthew 18:16).
One of the first examples of double witnesses being utilized to establish the truth of things to come can be seen in the dream of Pharaoh, interpreted by Joseph.
Joseph, son of Jacob, was sold by his brothers as a slave and was taken to Egypt. Later he was falsely accused and put in prison. While in prison, Joseph established a reputation as an interpreter of dreams; a spiritual gift.
The Pharaoh was given a dream [two dreams in one] which troubled him, causing him to call for help. He needed the interpretation of his dreams. One of his advisers; his chief butler, told of his own dream being correctly interpreted by Joseph. Hearing this, “Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph . . . And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, . . . I stood upon the bank of the river; And, behold, there came up out of the river seven kine [cows], fat-fleshed and well-favored; and they fed in a meadow; And, behold, seven other kine came up after them, poor and very ill-favored and lean-fleshed, such as I never saw in all the land of Egypt for badness. And the lean kine did eat up the first seven fat kine . . .” (Genesis 41:14-20).
So I awoke. And I saw in my dream [of two parts] and behold, seven ears [heads of wheat] came up in one stalk, full and good; and, behold, seven ears, withered, thin, and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them; and the thin ears devoured the seven good ears . . .” (Genesis 41:21-24).
“And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, the dream of Pharaoh is one; God hath showed Pharaoh what he is about to do. The seven good kine are seven [good] years. And . . . the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind shall be seven years of famine. . . . Behold, there shall come seven years of great plenty . . . and there shall arise after them seven years of famine” (Genesis 41:25-30).
“And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass” (Genesis 41:32).
Another example of the principle of double witnesses being utilized to establish truth is found in a prophecy of Ezekiel. “The word of the Lord came unto Ezekiel, saying, “. . . thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it for Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions; then take another stick, and write upon it for Joseph. . . and join them one to another . . . and they shall be one in mine hand” (Ezekiel 37:15-19). The records of Judah [The Bible] and the records of the descendants of Joseph [The Book of Mormon] are double witnesses of the truth God has revealed to man from the beginning.
“And the angel spoke unto me, saying These last records which thou hast seen among the Gentiles [The Book of Mormon] shall establish the truth of the first [The Bible] which are of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, and shall make known the plain and precious things which have been taken away from them; and shall make known to all kindreds, tongues and people that the Lamb of God is the Son of the Eternal Father and the Savior of the world; and that all men must come unto him or they can not be saved” (1 Nephi 3:192-193).
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The Lord is still utilizing double witnesses to reveal the ultimate truth that He loves us. He loves each of the seven billion of us.
Elaine and Sara Smith, mother and daughter, were scheduled to sing during the morning worship at the Woodbine Restoration Branch on October 16, 2001. The song they had chosen was God of Wonders. After practicing Friday evening, they accidently left their CD in the player at the church. As they were leaving for church on Sunday morning, Sara said, “I wish we had our CD. We could practice as we drive to church.” Elaine said she should have called KGBI and asked to have the song played. She then dialed the station on their car radio and the entire song they planned to sing was played for them. Sara’s desire had been granted! After their practice with the radio as their accompanist, Sara said, “Mom, you must tell the people what happened this morning!”
After church I said to Sara, “Now you know God knows and loves you. He knows even the desires of your heart. You must never forget this testimony and how much he loves you. Remember this scripture: “Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass (Psalms 37:4-5).
A second witness adding credibility to the testimony of Sara and Elaine Smith happened on March 16, 2020. On this day a memorial service was held for my wife, Iris Lorraine Harper. I was the first to speak during the sharing portion of the service. My extemporaneous words were spoken from my heart. I concluded with these words “precious memories, O’ how they linger!” The Holy Spirit prompted me to close my message with these words. They were not premeditated.
There was a second witness that my final words were from above. After the service Elder Randy Killpack told me he was listening to the radio in his pickup as he was driving to the memorial service, and during his journey the song Precious Memories was played! Once again, double witnesses had removed all doubt. God knows and loves each of us. “Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all” (Hymns of the Saints #265, 1983).
Precious Memories
Precious memories, unseen angels,
Sent from somewhere to my soul.
How they linger, ever near me
And the sacred past unfolds.
Precious memories, how they linger,
How they ever flood my soul.
In the stillness of the midnight,
Precious sacred scenes unfold.
Precious memories, how they linger,
How they ever flood my soul.
In the stillness of the midnight,
Precious sacred scenes unfold.
Precious memories fill my soul.
My Love to All,
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