From: Monique Hummel
mlhummel1@bigpond.com
AUSTRALIAN RESTORATION NEWS
AUGUST 2023
Good Morning Beautiful People
Attached is the August Issue of the Australian Restoration Newsletter.
Thank you to all those wonderful people who have contributed to it. I appreciate your help.
All contributions to the newsletter are welcome, if you have something you would like to share. Also, please let me know if you know of someone who might like to receive it. We also print and post to those who don't have internet access.
With love from Your Sister In Christ,
Monique
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AUSTRALIAN RESTORATION NEWS
AUGUST 2023
AROUND AND ABOUT THE CENTRE PLACE
By High Priest Paul J. Gage, of Independence, Missouri
Hello Lovely Saints in Australia,
I hope and trust that our gracious Heavenly Father continues to bless each of you with His mighty love and power. Here we are in the middle of Summer, and it is pretty warm in the Centre Place. Camps and Reunions will be coming to an end in early August.
Brother Jack Hagensen was in a car accident on July 14, 2023. He had a number of broken bones and a punctured lung but is recovering very nicely.
The Conference of Restoration Elders (CRE) is in planning for the Priesthood Retreat in Kirtland on September 22-24, 2023. All Restoration Branch priesthood are encouraged to attend.
The Pastors of Zion (POZ) are sponsoring the Summer Series each Sunday night preaching from June 11-August 12, 2023. It is held at CPRS/Waldo Avenue RB and all services are live streamed and can be viewed on the Waldo website.
Four to eight Branches in the Independence area meet together on the first Sunday night and third Wednesday night of each month. Services and those presiding are rotated from branch to branch. Some of the branches are Hill Cumorah, Living Hope, Missionary, Outreach, and Waldo.
Independence is Alive and Well is an effort by a number of different churches and people to help “clean up the city” and assist the homeless. They refer to the homeless as, “The Beloveds.” A number of Restorationists are involved.
Center Place Restoration School (CPRS) is out for the summer and gearing up to begin the 32st year of operation. Things seem to be going very well. Brother Dan Schoenemann will continue as the administrator. Enrolment continues to increase.
God Bless
RICHES FROM THE SCRIPTURES
By Elder Neil Kerswell, of Queensland, Australia
Vol 5 Chapter 29 Catholicism
My wife Joanne was Catholic when we first met. She was a beautiful person and I had a witness early that Joanne would one day be my wife. However for this to become reality, we still had years of reasoning together, praying together and having love for each other for this to become life to us. The starting point for me was exposing Joanne to the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as much as I could. This included Zions League youth group, Church camps, and attending church together. I had learnt early in my life that those who are the Lord’s hear his voice and follow the good shepherd and are saved. I also knew that light cleaves to light. I was looking for a partner in life who had the potential to be of one heart and mind. I hoped one day God would call me to the priesthood, and to serve well I needed a wife who was supportive of this.
I thank God that things worked out for us, we have been alive during the most turbulent times in the Church, we have stood against those who taught false doctrines and did so even before we were married. For those who are still to find a partner in life I would like to share a few Gems. When the net is cast out it draws in all kinds of fish and we are to sort them with care. The Apostles were called to be fishers of men, not all people the apostles shared the gospel with responded in a potentially righteous manner. Most rejected the Gospel and were determined to destroy it at all cost.
We in like manner will encounter people with potential to accept God and all His ways, however we shall also encounter many more, who will hate us for sharing and seek to destroy us. This is why we must always sort the fish (people we meet) with care. The most precious gift of God to Man is the gift of Eternal Life in the very presence of God. We must protect this gift with all that we are. Satan seeks to take the gift from us and will throw everything he has at us to cause us to deny God and forsake His principles of Righteousness. We are called to endure to the end of our life so that we may receive a crown of glory in God’s kingdom.
Choosing the right partner in life will play a huge part in helping you receive your place in God’s Kingdom. We are told that those who marry out of the faith are to be considered weak in the faith, this is true because they can never know the fullness of joy, of being one in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I will only touch on a few areas we see differently to the catholic faith, these are areas Joanne and I talked about early in our relationship.
Sprinkling Little Children started in the days of Abraham and was an abomination in the site of God.
Genesis 17:3 And it came to pass, that Abram fell on his face, and called upon the name of the Lord.
Genesis 17:4 And God talked with him, saying, My people have gone astray from my precepts, and have not kept mine ordinances, which I gave unto their fathers;
Genesis 17:5 And they have not observed mine anointing, and the burial, or baptism wherewith I commanded them;
Genesis 17:6 But have turned from the commandment, and taken unto themselves the washing of children, and the blood of sprinkling;
Genesis 17:7 And have said that the blood of the righteous Abel was shed for sins; and have not known wherein they are accountable before me.
Genesis 17:8 But as for thee, behold, I will make my covenant with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.
Genesis 17:9 And this covenant I make, that thy children may be known among all nations. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be called Abraham; for, a father of many nations have I made thee.
Back in the days of Abraham some of the people had started to fall away from God’s precepts and instead of lowering the person down under the water as they were taught by God, they chose to take short cuts and sprinkle only, which destroyed the intended symbolism of Baptism, which is meant to symbolise New Birth, just like as a child is surrounded by water in its mother’s womb. When the time of birth arrives the baby comes forth out of the birth water.
Also Baptism represents being washed clean from our sins, to achieve this properly the whole body/person must be lowered under the water and brought forth again out of the water.
Baptism also represents being buried with Christ and as Christ rose again the third day so shall we in like manor rise again in His likeness in the resurrection.
Genesis 17:11 And I will establish a covenant of circumcision with thee, and it shall be my covenant between me and thee, and thy seed after thee, in their generations; that thou mayest know forever that children are not accountable before me until they are eight years old.
Instead of Baptising little children God instructed Abraham to circumcise the male babies to signify their covenant with God until children reached the age of accountability which is 8 years old.
In the days of Christ Circumcision was done away with and all children male and female were blessed and baptised from the age of 8 years and older if they made the choice to do so, Christening little children takes away the agency/choice of the individual, forcing upon them a religion that they may never have chosen for themselves.
Baptism of little children is an abomination unto God and denies the Atonement made by Christ on the cross.
Moroni 8:8 And the word of the Lord came to me by the power of the Holy Ghost, saying, Listen to the words of Christ, your Redeemer, your Lord, and your God.
Moroni 8:9 Behold, I came into the world not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance; the whole need no physician, but they that are sick; wherefore little children are whole, for they are not capable of committing sin; wherefore the curse of Adam is taken from them in me, that it hath no power over them; and the law of circumcision is done away in me.
Moroni 8:10 And after this manner did the Holy Ghost manifest the word of God unto me; wherefore my beloved son, I know that it is solemn mockery before God, that ye should baptize little children.
Moroni 8:11 Behold I say unto you, that this thing shall ye teach, repentance and baptism unto those who are accountable and capable of committing sin; yea, teach parents that they must repent and be baptized, and humble themselves as their little children, and they shall all be saved with their little children: and their little children need no repentance, neither baptism.
Moroni 8:12 Behold, baptism is unto repentance to the fulfilling the commandments unto the remission of sins.
Moroni 8:13 But little children are alive in Christ, even from the foundation of the world; if not so, God is a partial God, and also a changeable God, and a respecter to persons; for how many little children have died without baptism.
Moroni 8:14 Wherefore, if little children could not be saved without baptism, these must have gone to an endless hell.
Moroni 8:15 Behold I say unto you, that he that supposeth that little children need baptism, is in the gall of bitterness, and in the bonds of iniquity; for he hath neither faith, hope, nor charity; wherefore, should he be cut off while in the thought, he must go down to hell.
Moroni 8:16 For awful is the wickedness to suppose that God saveth one child because of baptism, and the other must perish because he hath no baptism.
Moroni 8:17 Wo be unto him that shall pervert the ways of the Lord after this manner, for they shall perish, except they repent.
Moroni 8:18 Behold, I speak with boldness, having authority from God; and I fear not what man can do; for perfect love casteth out all fear; and I am filled with charity, which is everlasting love; wherefore all children are alike unto me; wherefore I love little children with a perfect love; and they are all alike, and partakers of salvation.
Moroni 8:19 For I know that God is not a partial God, neither a changeable being; but he is unchangeable from all eternity to all eternity.
Moroni 8:20 Little children cannot repent; wherefore it is awful wickedness to deny the pure mercies of God unto them, for they are all alive in him because of his mercy.
Moroni 8:21 And he that saith that little children need baptism, denieth the mercies of Christ, and setteth at naught the atonement of him and the power of his redemption.
Moroni 8:22 Wo unto such, for they are in danger of death, hell, and an endless torment. [Moroni 8:23] I speak it boldly, God hath commanded me.
Moroni 8:24 Listen unto them and give heed, or they stand against you at the judgment seat of Christ.
Moroni 8:25 For behold that all little children are alive in Christ, and also all they that are without the law.
Moroni 8:26 For the power of redemption cometh on all they that have no law; wherefore, he that is not condemned, or he that is under no condemnation, cannot repent; and unto such baptism availeth nothing.
Moroni 8:27 But is mockery before God, denying the mercies of Christ, and the power of his Holy Spirit, and putting trust in dead works.
We need to receive Christ into our lives as a little Child
Mark 9:33 And he took a child, and sat in the midst of them; and when he had taken the child in his arms, he said unto them,
Mark 9:34 Whosoever shall humble himself like one of these children, and receiveth me, ye shall receive in my name.
Mark 9:35 And whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me only, but him that sent me, even the Father.
It’s really quite simple, to know how to sort the fish that the net brings in, whoever humbles themselves like a little child and receives Christ, we are to receive them. Those who hear God’s voice, we are to receive them also
One important point to be made here is that we also need the wisdom to know if the people we meet are diamonds in the rough, who with some heavy abrasion and polishing can shine forth as one of God’s jewels that He gathers when he visits the earth. We need to pray always without ceasing for the wisdom of God’s Holy Spirit to guide us every day.
I hope these thoughts have been of value to you as you have read them. May you be blessed is my prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
~ WALKED ON DRY GROUND ~
By Elder Murray Broughton, Kelvin View Branch, Euroa, Victoria
Exodus 14 4:3 And Pharaoh will harden his heart, and he shall follow after them; and I will be honored upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host; that the Egyptians may know that I am the Lord. And they did so. And it was told the king of Egypt that the people fled; and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people, and they said, Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us? And he made ready his chariot, and took his people with him; And he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over every one of them. And Pharaoh hardened his heart, and he pursued after the children of Israel; and the children of Israel went out with a high hand. But the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pi-hahiroth, before Baal-zephon.
And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid; and the children of Israel cried out unto the Lord. And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness. And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will show to you today; for the Egyptians whom ye have seen today, ye shall see them again no more forever. The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace. And the Lord said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward; But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it; and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea. And I say unto thee the hearts of the Egyptians shall be hardened, and they shall follow them; and I will get me honor upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have gotten me honor upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen. And the Angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them; And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to the Egyptians, but it gave light by night to the Israelites, so that the one came not near the other all the night. And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.
And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the Lord looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians. And took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily; so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the Lord fighteth for them against the Egyptians. And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen. And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them. But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left. Thus the Lord saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the seashore. And Israel saw that great work which the Lord did upon the Egyptians; and the people feared the Lord, and believed the Lord, and his servant Moses.
A Thought for the Month
Before you pray, do you ever stop to think about what an amazing gift it is to be able to talk with God?
A MIRACLE IN TAHITI
Horahitu was the kind of man who would stand out in a crowd. He was tall and raw-boned, and his outstretched hand seem to swallow ours in a vigorous handshake of welcome to Tahiti. This was the beginning of a long and profitable friendship with Horahitu, our native missionary. Horahitu accompanied us on many of our missionary trips to the outer islands and proved to be a wonderful companion and capable minister. It was during these extended missionary tours that we became intimately acquainted.
One day I inquired, “Just what is your relationship to the Royal Pomare family?” He held up a beautifully carved walking stick. “Do you see this raau turutootoo? It belonged to Pomare V the last king of Tahiti. It was given to my father who was a high chief and close relative of the king. It is a long time ago, but I still recall it was my father who helped prepare the king’s body for burial.”
“One week after the burial all the chiefs under the king and the close relatives were summoned to the palace for an important meeting. The outcome of the meeting was a decision to secede to France. When the important day arrived, I was on the palace porch with my father. I did not fully understand the import of the occasion at the time, but I saw my father slowly lower the Tahitian flag, fold it and kiss it, and then hand it to Prince Hinoi. The prince handed it to the French representative without any show of emotion of any kind.”
Horahitu was converted to the Church of Jesus Christ and attended the General Conference of 1930. There he was sent out under Conference appointment as a missionary. When questioned about high points in his long ministry, he presented the following testimony:
“The Taravao Conference of 1951 held here was presided over by President Israel A. Smith and was a high point in my life. I am inclined to agree with my people who believe that President Smith is a true prophet of God and a man of unusual power. We felt this the moment of his arrival at Papeete and the stirring of the elements as he set foot on the wharf. It did seem strange that the wind should blow so furiously, in fact so hard that several tin sheets of roofing were torn from near-by sheds just as his plane arrived, then to subside noticeably just as he stepped ashore from the launch.
“But his visit to the tomb of my ancestor, King Pomare V, is the most miraculous happening of all. Many representatives of royalty from all over the world have visited the tomb, yet only President Smith has actually entered the tomb to honor the last King of Tahiti.”
There had been a strong belief among the natives that a spell of leprosy has long hung over that tomb, and that anyone who touched the tomb would be smitten with the disease. President Smith only smiled when he was told of this. He merely seemed to touch the door with his index finger, yet it fell suddenly to the floor, and he walked to the dusty casket containing the body of King Pomare V. He placed his hand on the bier and stood there silently. He then examined the pictures yellowed with age which hung around the walls, and he finally came outside. The men accompanying Brother Smith helped him replace the door while a small group of wide-eyed onlookers watched at a safe distance. It appeared they were expecting him to emerge covered with leprosy.
But Horahitu hastened to explain to me that it was the belief of the natives that the spell of leprosy was broken when the prophet entered the tomb. This belief was confirmed a few days later when President Smith visited the leper colony.
President Smith was not normally an emotional man, but that day he was completely overcome and could not speak. I was to interpret for him, but when it was apparent, he could not speak, I began to tell the natives that Brother Smith was overcome with compassion for those people confined to their lonely exile. He paused for a full minute or so with the tears streaming down his face. There was a powerful spirit present. The five members of the church, who had been standing at the railing eagerly waiting to hear the prophet speak, also seemed overcome.
Later Horahitu said to me emphatically. “There is no doubt about it, Edua. For as long as I can remember we have had members of the church confined to the colony. Where are they now? Is this not a miracle?”
Brother Tahua Richmond had been an inmate of the colony for over thirty years and was given permission to leave the colony. His daughter Ema had been there for approximately fifteen years, but today [1961] is living a normal life outside the colony. Only a few weeks after President Smith left Tahiti, I saw Sister Ema Richmond’s eyebrows begin to grow back again. Munanui whose rough fingerless hand we shook before leaving Tahiti is working his copra farm. Two young lads who had been recently committed to the colony are back with their families.
I responded to Brother Horahitu, “Yes, we are compelled to believe that a miracle has been performed.” I sincerely believe that the prayers of the prophet and president of our Church for these unfortunate people ascended to the throne of grace and that a miracle was performed.
| ▪ | From Adventures of a South Sea Missionary by Seventy F. Edward Butterworth |
August Birthdays
Alva Robinson 2nd, Joseph Morris 9th, Neil Kerswell 12th & Jacob Hummel 26th
Prayer List
Ruth Mackrell, Kimberly Isle, Cecilia Cash, Dawn Mackrell, Menchie Baugan, Rey Maranan, Mario Narino, Ernesto Narino, Daphne Schubert and family, Catherine Melling and family on the loss of their partners. Gwen Whately, Alma and Janice Kerswell, Michael and Patty Fulton, Gary Rowlatt, Ellen Sheppard, Olive Melling, Ron and Janice Mitchell.
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, QLD. Pastor: Elder Neville Churchill. Phone 07 3848 8209
ACTIVITY SCHEDULE FOR AUGUST 2023
Wednesday 2nd 7:00pm PRAYER MEETING Elder Neville Churchill Sunday 6th 9:45am MORNING CLASS Elder Danny Archer 10:00am PREACHING SERVICE Elder Murray Broughton 11:10am SACRAMENT SERVICE
Elder Neville Churchill & Priest Glenn Kerswell
Monday 7th 7:00pm PRIESTHOOD MEETING
Wednesday 9th 7:00pm PRAYER MEETING Elder Gary Melling Sunday 13th 9:45am MORNING CLASS Elder Gary Melling 10:00am PREACHING SERVICE Elder Peter Churchill 11:10am CLASS Priest Glenn Kerswell
Wednesday 16th 7:00pm PRAYER SERVICE Elder Danny Archer Sunday 20th 9:45am MORNING CLASS Elder Gary Melling 10:00am PRACHING SERVICE Elder Andrew King 11:10am CLASS Elder Gary Melling
Monday 21st 7:00pm PRIESTHOOD MEETING
Wednesday 23rd 7:00pm PRAYER MEETING Priest Glenn Kerswell Sunday 27th 9:45am MORNING CLASS Elder Danny Archer 10:00am PREACHING SERVICE Elder Gary Melling 11:10am CLASS Elder Neville Churchill
Wednesday 30th 7:00pm PRAYER MEETING Elder Neville Churchill
Everyone is welcome to join our services online 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.
We send our condolences to Sr Catherine Melling and family on the passing of Elder Norman Melling and also to Sr Daphne Schubert and family on the passing of Deacon Roy Schubert.
