From: Brian Mundy
Kirtland 2023
Brothers,
I would like to begin by sharing with you a testimony. On June 4th, I was driving home alone from church after a wonderful service and I felt the presence of the Lord and He asked me, Who does the converting? In my mind, I thought this is simple, it is the Holy Ghost that does the converting. Immediately thereafter, the question came to my mind, what do I want for Father's Day? As I pondered on this and also thinking about the previous question, the only thing I wanted for Father's Day was for my children to be at church with me on that Sunday morning. I know the Holy Ghost can work anytime and anywhere but I felt there may be a greater likelihood for the Holy Ghost to touch them if they were at church. Then, my mind was taken to the gathering at Kirtland and it was impressed upon me how much the Lord desired for us to all come together at Kirtland. Two days later, I had someone in Independence ask me about when the Priesthood would be going to Kirtland and I heard the words come out of my mouth, it would surely mean a lot to God if we all came together and went to Kirtland.
I know that not all of you were able to be at Kirtland last year, and I also realize that perhaps not all of you have received a testimony of the message presented by Brother Richard Neill, however I would like to have you consider what all has transpired in the world and specifically the United States since last September. Who would have believed the promotion of transgender, etc. that we are experiencing right now. How it is affecting political issues as well as our school systems. Who would have believed that nearly every county in the state of Missouri including Jackson County would have approved recreational marijana. These are just a few items and yet at the same time we have seen a greater desire within the church to work together not only in the Centerplace but throughout the world.
So we see Satan's destructive work and God's work in the Kingdom taking place simultaneously. The question is, how are we doing individually and collectively with our "listening" and the accomplishment of the 2 stewardships that the Lord gave us. It may have been some time since you have read the message shared, so I have attached a copy for your prayerful review.
So, it's with a great deal of excitement and anticipation that I invite you as His Priesthood to gather at Kirtland this year, Friday, September 22 to Sunday, September 24. Our overall theme for the weekend will be: Preparing for the Great Day of the Lord". Attached you will find a rough draft of the schedule. There are a few things that I am really excited about, we will have 3 hours for each service in the Temple this year instead of 2 and also on Saturday evening, we will be able to worship on both the 1st floor and 2nd floors. We are anticipating the Aaronic Priesthood to meet on the 2nd floor and the Melchisedec on the 1st floor for probably the first 2 hours on Saturday night before all of us reconvene together.
The night of September 21, 1823, Joseph was visited by Moroni multiple times and the next day, approximately mid-morning he was shown the gold plates for the 1st time. With this being the 200th anniversary of this experience, many of us will be in Palmyra Thursday night, (9/21) and go to Hill Cumorah mid-morning for a short worship and prayer time on Hill Cumorah if possible and head back to Kirtland. Please let me know if you would like to join us in Palmyra.
For those who are able, we will have a preparation service at the Kirtland Restoration Branch on Friday evening at 8:00 p.m.
Last year we had 153 in attendance. Can you think of 1 person that was not there that you could personally invite and encourage to come. Unfortunately we are limited to 300 people in the temple, so please get your registration in early.
Please go to the following link to register for Kirland.
https://eldersconference.org/event/kirtland2023/
Brothers, I can not express enough the great need for us to be together in Kirtland. Please come, please begin your preparation right now and please encourage others to come also. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me.
YBIC
Elder Brian Mundy
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“Prepare For the Great Day of the Lord”
D&C 43:5
Priesthood Assembly at Kirtland
September 22–24, 2023
God’s work and glory is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man (D&C 22:23b). As priesthood, our work and glory is to be an instrument in the hands of God (Alma 15:61). To be prepared for this work we must humble ourselves and repent, listen to God, trust His word, and do what He asks.
AGENDA
FRIDAY Listen to the Voice of Jesus
(D&C 28:1a, Psalm 46:10)
8:00 p.m. Preparatory Worship-prayers for the weekend
Presiding: Jason Webster and Kirtland Branch priesthood
SATURDAY Trust the Father’s Word and Find Joy in Him
(Psalm 5:11-12, Psalm 16:11)
7:30 a.m. Aaronic Priesthood Meeting
8:00 a.m. Registration
8:30 a.m. Worship: Enter into His courts with praise. (Psalm 100:4)
Presiding: Steve Bohall
10:00 a.m. Class
11:00 a.m. Small Group Discussion and Prayers
Noon Small Group Reports
1:00 p.m. Lunch & Time for Personal Preparation
3:30 p.m. Temple Preparation Service
Presiding: Sean Telljohann
5:45 p.m. Gather at the Temple
6:00–9:00 p.m. Worship in the Temple
SUNDAY Ye Saints Arise and Live
D&C 43:5c
7:15 a.m. Gather at the Temple
7:30–10:30 a.m. Worship in the Temple
Presiding: Doug Smith
Please register using the following link:
https://eldersconference.org/event/kirtland2023/
Sponsored by the Conference of Restoration Elders www.eldersconference.org
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Message to the Priesthood
Gathered at the Kirtland Temple
September 24-25, 2022
To the Priesthood Assembled,
I come before you this day to bring counsel of the Lord. I have been made aware from the beginning that the Lord desired a message to be brought forth to this body of Priesthood, assembled together.
The spirit of discouragement has taken its toll on the people of the Church. This has affected the whole body, and in particular the youth, the aged, and the vulnerable.
There has been a great loss of hope among God's people for many years. Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, and many have lost their hope and faith in the Church as expressed in the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. Without faith and hope, charity diminishes, and the gospel of Jesus Christ suffers. Many have become lost from the Lord, and lost from each other. The Lord grieves over this condition.
For some time, the Lord has invited me into His presence to share some things with me. I have stepped into the realm of eternity, and I felt an unworthiness to be in such a place. The Lord has comforted me with His Spirit, each and every time, and without exception, when I have felt this unworthiness.
Over the last several months, I have inquired repeatedly of Him, if these thoughts are of Him, to the point that the natural man would have become weary of me asking over and over again the same questions. On many occasions, I was ready to leave this behind, because of my weakness, and walk away, but the Lord is merciful, He is kind, and He is patient.
He has patiently assured me of what it is that He wants done and said at this time. I have promised to Him that I would do what He has asked of me. Not my will, but His will be done.
It is by His Spirit, that I come to you, now, in this hallowed place.
The time has come for these words to be spoken unto you. It is now 38 years since the 1984 World Conference. It is from this point in time that much of the Restoration Movement was formed, because of many decisions that were made within the Church. These events have led you to this point in time.
With good intentions of my servants of the priesthood, you have heard at times differing messages. Some have said to wait, and some have said to act. There is a time and place for each of these responses. Both of these counsels given together, at the same time, have caused confusion and doubt among the people. I am not the author of confusion. I love you, and desire to guide you through this.
These conditions have brought about separation, and despair in the minds of the people.
This has led to different degrees of organization. Churches have been established, groups have been formed, branches have become independently separated, and many of my people have become lost because of the 'mists of darkness', and because of 'wandering in strange roads'. [I Nephi 2;67,81]
The Restoration has become filled, too often, with the spirit of contention. This is unseemly to me, when I have made it clear to you so many times that you must become one. Have you not heard my voice calling to you? I prayed in Gethsemane, in my final hours upon the earth, that you may be one.
You have placed the command to wait, and the command to act, above the commandment that I give unto you. The command I give unto you is to 'listen'. There is a time and a season to wait, and a time and a season to act, but you will never discern the difference if you choose not to listen to Me first.
I have brought this church out of the wilderness, in these latter days, to have and hold a stewardship in the coming forth of my kingdom of Zion on earth. I have not changed in my intentions for you.
If you will be obedient to keep the Two Great Commandments of Love for the Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost, and one another as your neighbors, I will yet use you for this purpose and stewardship that I have given you. If not, my purposes will not fail, but, as I said in former years, I will raise up another people.
As I led the children of Israel across the Red Sea by revelation, and protected them with 'a pillar by day and a fire by night', so I will be in your midst if you will hearken unto my words. With those who I have prepared, and who will be added to this work, along with the forces of Heaven, I have sufficient to fulfill my promise of Zion. But what is lacking is the spiritual condition required of you for Zion to come forth.
I say unto you, listen to me. There are two stewardships that will ensure success if you will do them.
1) As the five wise virgins did in the parable of the last days, 'Gather and sanctify your oil, before the
cry at midnight'. Prepare yourself through scripture, prayer, fasting, and humble service. You must take the Holy Spirit as a guide in all things that you do in your life.
2) Be willing to remove all barriers and hindrances to the achievement of Zion. You must become one.
This would include the groups and associations you have formed, and the responsibilities that you carry. Needful things will be restored. All else is inconsequential.
I give unto you two years to implement these stewardships. Then, if you are obedient, I will give you the things which are to follow. The two years would be by the same time of year as this Assembly.
Do not tarry in these things, like the unwise virgins. You are not adequately prepared for what is to come upon the world in the next two years. How long must I wait? I will have given you 40 years.
If you will heed these words you will marvel at the protection that I will give to you. This I did in the journey to the Promised Land in the days of Moses. You will receive daily manna. I am the Bread.
The Church will yet flourish. I will show you power from on High, but only if you will listen to me and come together in My spirit. I am pleased that you have gathered into my presence, now go forth as one.
Richard F. Neill
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