From: Monique Hummel
mlhummel1@bigpond.com
Australian Restoration Newsletter October 2022 Issue
Dear Saints
I hope this finds you well. Attached is the October 2022 Issue of the Australian Restoration Newsletter. Only two 'Issues' more to go and another year has passed! Everyone is welcome to contribute at any time - please email or post anything you would like included.
Thank you to all those who continue to contribute and for the ongoing provision of support.
With love from Your Sister In Christ, Monique xx
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AUSTRALIAN RESTORATION NEWS
OCTOBER 2022
AROUND AND ABOUT THE CENTRE PLACE
By High Priest Paul J. Gage,
of Independence, Missouri
And time marches on and waits for no man, or person. It certainly often seems that time is speeding up or I am getting slower. Doctrine and Covenants 83:16 speaks to the conditions of the world as well as our lives and says ":until I have completed my work, which shall be cut short in righteousness." Verse 17 then speaks of our hope in the Kingdom. Everything God has done, is doing, and will do is beyond our human comprehension and therefore we lack, to some extent, the ability to truly appreciate God's love. As the seasons come and go, people make various preparations for each season. Each day of our lives is a "new season," so what do we do to prepare for each day and of course, our life? Sanctification seems to be an aspect of the gospel that we like to hear about, but don't want to take the action necessary for us to become "sanctified." Sanctification and sacrifice go together, hand in hand. To sanctify our lives, we must sacrifice those things that keep us from being sanctified. This is brought to our attention in Doctrine and Covenants 85:16-21. This scripture is worthy of an in-depth study and application by each one who has made a covenant with the Lord. Entering God's Kingdom is not an automatic thing that just happens. No one will simply walk into God's Kingdom with no effort to make sure they have on the "wedding garment." This is referenced in Matthew 22:1-14. DC 85 is filled with a great amount of instruction that is given for us to prepare ourselves. Be sure to read verse 20a and b. In verse b we are told several things that we must do on our own, and yet the major part of the cleansing of our lives is done by the Lord, after we do what we are instructed to do Also see DC 81:3. There is always an abundance of events. activities, services, etc going on in the Centre Place. Four to eight local branches meet together on the first Sunday night and third Wednesday night each month. While attendance could be much better, the services have all been very good. Those who choose to attend receive the blessings. The CRE missionary groups continue to be very active... Recent missions have been made to England and Germany with other mission trips planned for Africa. The next issue of Tidings of Zion has been mailed and should be in the homes by early October. Our prayer for the Saints in Australia and the world is that God will continue to open those doors of ministry to each of us as we work toward sanctifying our lives for His Divine purposes. Keep the faith. RICHES FROM THE SCRIPTURES By Elder Neil Kerswell, of Queensland, Australia Vol 5 Chapter 19 Belshazzar’s Writing on the Wall Today’s scripture is one that resonates with parents, grandparents and anyone who has seen people they love or care about making choices/decisions that take them down paths which can bring little to no good in their lives. We have all heard the saying “the writings on the wall” when used, this saying is often accompanied with a tone of passion in the voice. It all goes back to an experience received by King Belshazzar, a man who overstepped his mark and took upon himself honour that was never his to have, he was a heathen nonbeliever in a position of great power in the world of men. Sadly he decided to meddle with very Holy things. A mistake he would live to regret. Let’s read. [Daniel 5:1] BELSHAZZAR the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords and drank wine before the thousand. [Daniel 5:2] Belshazzar, while he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein. [Daniel 5:3] Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king and his princes, his wives and his concubines, drank in them. [Daniel 5:4] They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone. [Daniel 5:5] In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaster of the wall of the king's palace; and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. [Daniel 5:6] Then the king's countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another. Amazing what a change the intervention of God can make, a man of seemingly endless power one minute, a troubled, terrified man the next. Even with this most humbling experience his first reflex would be to call Mystics, Educated and the like to help him. [Daniel 5:7] The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. And the king spake, and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and show me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom. [Daniel 5:8] Then came in all the king's wise men; but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof. [Daniel 5:9] Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astonied. [Daniel 5:10] Now the queen, by reason of the words of the king and his lords, came into the banquet house; and the queen spake and said, O king, live forever; let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor let thy countenance be changed; [Daniel 5:11] There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers; [Daniel 5:12] Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and showing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar; now let Daniel be called, and he will show the interpretation. [Daniel 5:13] Then was Daniel brought in before the king. And the king spake and said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, which art of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jewry? [Daniel 5:14] I have even heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee. [Daniel 5:15] And now the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make known unto me the interpretation thereof; but they could not show the interpretation of the thing; [Daniel 5:16] And I have heard of thee, that thou canst make interpretations, and dissolve doubts; now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom. [Daniel 5:17] Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation. Daniel had great faith and unlike all the others who tried and failed to read the writing on the wall, Daniel had the right Spirit in him, the Power and understanding of God’s Spirit. This makes all the difference and is the key that unlocks the mysteries of the Kingdom of God, which makes them plain to the understanding of Men. Let’s see what Daniel had to say. [Daniel 5:18] O thou king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honor; [Daniel 5:19] And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him; whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down. [Daniel 5:20] But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him;[Daniel 5:21] And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses; they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will. [Daniel 5:22] And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this; [Daniel 5:23] But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know; and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways hast thou not glorified; [Daniel 5:24] Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written. [Daniel 5:25] And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. [Daniel 5:26] This is the interpretation of the thing; MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. [Daniel 5:27] TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. [Daniel 5:28] UPHARSIN; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians. [Daniel 5:29] Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with scarlet, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom. [Daniel 5:30] In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain. [Daniel 5:31] And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old. We might not have whole kingdoms of people as Belshazzar, however we too have influence at home, at work, at church and in all places we are in. If we have received of God’s Spirit, we have within us and without a mighty power the do good and to bring about good all around us. If we choose however to become a law unto ourselves like Belshazzar, believing we are right in everything we do. It could well be said of us, “the writing is on the wall”. We hope that we and all who we love and care about, will stay on the Path that leads to life eternal and not let go. Belshazzar put his trust in the educated and mysterious in his time of desperation, 2nd Nephi gives us guidance on this - [2 Nephi 6:59] When they are learned, they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves; [2 Nephi 6:60] Wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness, and it profiteth them not. And they shall perish. [2 Nephi 6:61] But to be learned is good, if they hearken unto the counsels of God. Within the Restoration many have fallen away over the years, placing too much trust in the Scientific method, in education forgetting the beautiful wise counsel of verse 61 - But to be learned is good, if they hearken unto the counsels of God. May we be blessed in Jesus name, Amen. ~ COVENANT ~ By Elder Murray Broughton, Kelvin View Branch, Euroa, Victoria Alma 5 v27 Yea, come and go forth, and shew unto your God that ye are willing to repent of your sins, and enter into a covenant with him to keep his commandments, and witness it unto him this day, by going into the waters of baptism; Mosiah 9 v39-41 And now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another's burdens, that they may be light; 40 Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times, and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life: 41 Now I say unto you, If this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you? Isaiah 24 v5 The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. Psalm 50 v3-5 Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence; a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him. 4 He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people. 5 Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice. The Scattered Saints RODGER - HE LAY HIS ALL BEFORE THE THRONE Glaud Rodger, faithful missionary of the gospel, was born in Airdrie, Scotland in 1820. When he was baptized into the Restored Church as a youth of twenty-two, his stern old father cast him out of his home. Glaud’s wife, Matilda, was a city girl and they rejoiced together in the gospel of Christ. Elder Rodger traveled and preached extensively in Scotland and England. The home of the young couple, at the headquarters of the English mission in Liverpool, was ever open to visiting dignitaries from Salt Lake City, for the couple believed that was the headquarters of their church by then. And so, they came to America. First, they lived in a log cabin in Council Bluffs, IA, and then a tent home in Salt Lake City. Of course, they had expected recognition from the great men of the church to whom they had given such a warm welcome in their homeland, but the recognition never came. Soon they were given an order to move south. During the journey south, their baby, a little son, died. They had camped by the roadside that night – no sign of human habitation in sight. There was nothing to do but drive on. That winter they slept in their wagon box and then, disillusioned and disappointed, they made a breathless escape from Utah. Brother Rodger and his wife settled in California and began to feel successful in rebuilding their lives. Soon they encountered missionaries of the Reorganization, and Glaud and his wife greeted with great joy this renewal of the faith which they had first embraced in Scotland and England. Glaud was ordained a seventy in California and was soon hard at work in the missionary work of the Pacific Slopes. In 1868 while the Reorganized Church was still in its infancy, came this word from San Francisco in the Saints’ Herald: “We now have some noble men in the ministry. Bro. Glaud Rodger is a most excellent brother and is now on his mission [to various parts of Calif.]. On November 6 of 1873 Glaud, in company with Charles Wandell, was bound for Sydney, Australia to represent the Reorganization there. However, owing to a peculiar circumstance that arose, the ship, in fine weather, sprang a leak soon after they crossed the equator. Despite the captain’s efforts to stem the leak, it soon became so severe it was deemed necessary to put in at Papeete, Tahiti for repairs. There, to the surprise of Wandell and Rodger, they met up with Saints who had been converted before the martyrdom of Joseph the Seer by Addison Pratt. These Saints had remained faithful through the years in the face of much persecution. Some of them had even given their lives in the persecution, and now, after eighteen years of complete isolation, the remaining Saints met the coming of Wandell and Rodger. Language differences were swallowed up in the great joy and excitement. They heard once again the original gospel as they had been taught by Addison Pratt, and they once again sang the old familiar hymns of Zion. (Pratt had been forced to leave the islands after eight years of work when the intense persecution had begun.) Wandell and Rodger knelt in prayer that the planned few days spent in repairs to their ship might somehow be prolonged. It was so, and they were allowed to stay until Christmas Day before leaving for their original destination of Sydney, Australia. Before they left, they had baptized fifty-one members in the Pacific Ocean, and re-ordained several native elders. God had provided a way for the Reorganization to be started in Tahiti. The work of finding new converts in Australia went forward slowly, with just two baptisms in the first few weeks. The year after their arrival, Charles Wandell died. He was buried there in a strange land far from home, and Glaud Rodger was alone from then on. He says that for four months he lived alone among strangers, never during all that time seeing the face of a Latter Day Saint. “It was then, dear brethren, that I saw the wisdom of sending the elders two and two,” he wrote. When Brother Rodger had first been appointed to the faraway continent, his dearest dream had been to find his own brother who had gone some years before to seek his fortune in Australia. His father had died long before, but, true to his convictions as to what he considered evil, he left no mention in his will of the son who had joined the Latter Day Saints. Glaud, now alone, took his way on foot northward from Sydney in search of his brother. The brother was found working in the timber business. Both Glaud’s brother and the employer were baptized, a church was built at Tuncurry, and the gospel was established there. Not only that, but his brother told of the family’s determination to divide with him what they had from their father’s estate. Glaud had given up all hope of such a legacy long ago. Indeed, he and his wife had often said they would gladly part with all they had for the sake of the gospel. It wasn’t much, but it would be enough to help him buy a home in Zion. Glaud kept that as a pleasant surprise to carry home to his wife and children in Lamoni, IA. After five years in Australia, Glaud Rodger returned to a joyful homecoming and to get acquainted with the little folks at home who could not remember him at all. Very soon he made a trip to Independence to look over the little city for the home of his dreams. He sent for Matilda and together they walked up the beautiful streets of Zion. She liked it there, too, and the house he had chosen. The deal was almost closed when he told her of a message he had received – that Brother Joseph had asked him if he was willing to go on one more mission. He had for years known no regular income, and, in those days, there was no family allowance for Matilda. But the calls for preaching were many and the laborers were few. In our minds’ eyes we can see Glaud Rodger giving up the little place he had yearned for so much and saying to his beloved companion, “Well, perhaps I better go on just one more mission.” In the fall of 1883, his family watched their husband and father depart one more time. Every letter from him was filled with love and with his plans for the future. And then the word came that Glaud Rodger had taken sick and died in his mission field. Of course, in those days there was no thought of bringing his body home for burial. So, in a lonely grave in Nevada rests the missionary who gave his life for the sheer love of the gospel. On the altar of that love, he and his family had placed their all. [Vol. 8 of History of the Church tells us that in 1945 the Seventy of the Church raised funds for a monument to Bro. Rodger to be placed in Rose Hill Cemetery in Lamoni, Ia.] Adapted from various sources of Church history. Sent In by Sister Esther Hoover
SERVICE SCHEDULE FOR OCTOBER 2022
Sunday Worship Service
Wednesday Prayer Service
2nd Elder Peter Archer
5th Priest Gary Melling
9th Elder Murray Broughton
12th Elder Danny Archer
16th Elder Peter Archer
19th Priest Peter Churchill
23rd Elder Danny Archer
26th Priest Gary Melling
30th Elder Neville Churchill
Everyone is welcome to join our online services at any time. If you, or anyone you know would like to participate, please email Elder Danny Archer at; danny@inbeta.org to register.
Information on how to connect will be sent to you. Please note, you must have access to the internet for this service. Please include in your daily prayers the following people who are in need of a blessing. Ellen Sheppard, Olive Melling, Alma & Janice Kerswell, Gary Rowlatt, Gwen Whately, Micheal & Patty Fulton. News & Announcements Just a quick reminder that October 2nd is Daylight Savings.
Birthday Announcements Gina Krieg (turning 21 – again) October 30th
INFORMATION TO THE EDITOR
We welcome contributions to the Australian Restoration Newsletter and will endeavour to include all articles received.
Contributions to the Australian Restoration News should be submitted by the 20th of each month and can be sent to Email Address: mlhummel1@bigpond.com
Postal Address: 33 Bassett Crescent, Gawler East, South Australia 5118
or by calling or text messaging Mobile Number: 0428 298 466.
Editor ~ Monique Hummel
CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST - KINGSTON RESTORATION BRANCH 17-19
Juers Street, Kingston, Queensland.
Pastor: Elder Noel Rowlatt.
Phone 07 3824 8386
ACTIVITY SCHEDULE FOR OCTOBER 2022
Sunday 2nd 10:00am
COMMUNION SERVICE Elder Noel Rowlatt Assisted By Priest Glenn Kerswell
11:10am Fellowship Morning Tea – Please bring a plate.
Monday 3rd 6:30pm PRIESTHOOD MEETING (Online) Wednesday 5th 6:30pm
PRAYER MEETING (Online) Priest Gary Melling
Sunday 9th 10:00am PREACHING SERVICE Elder Murray Broughton
11:10am CLASS Elder Neville Churchill Wednesday 12th
6:30pm PRAYER MEETING (Online) Elder Danny Archer
Sunday 16th
10:00am PREACHING SERVICE Elder Peter Archer
11:10am SERMONETTE Priest Glenn Kerswell
Monday 17th
6:30pm PRIESTHOOD STUDY MEETING (Online) Wednesday 19th
6:30pm PRAYER MEETING (Online) Priest Peter Churchill
Sunday 23rd 10:00am PREACHING SERVICE Elder Danny Archer
11:10am CLASS Elder Neville Churchill
Wednesday 26th
6:30pm PRAYER MEETING (Online) Priest Gary Melling
Sunday 30th NO SERVICE AT KINGSTON CHURCH
10:00am PREACHING SERVICE Elder Neville Churchill (Online)
Please Note: Altered times for Prayer & Priesthood Meetings mid-week due to Daylight Savings.
News & Announcements
Happy Birthday Wishes to Cathy Melling for
October 4th and Linda Myers
October 10th. Our branch financial year ends on October 31st. The Treasurer needs to have all outstanding accounts paid by this date.
Branch Officers need to have reports prepared and in the hands of the Secretary Sister Linda Myers to allow time for the minutes for our AGM to be printed and distributed.
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