Restoration News

Saturday, August 16, 2025

LIVING IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD AUGUST 14, 2025

LIVING IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD AUGUST 14, 2025

To the Saints in every corner of God’s Kingdom,

As we near the middle of, the eighth month of 2025, I know, for some, and am sure for others that things have been and are pretty difficult to handle and deal with. We each have to try to resolve all the things that affect us every minute of the day and in so many ways. Even in the midst of great faith, we are constantly challenged by various afflictions and interactions that can easily change the course of our lives IF we place them above God.

The scriptures tells us there is nothing new under the sun, but when something affects us personally, it becomes a new adventure or trial of our faith. It seems difficult for us to really grasp the significance of things that happen that are not particularly close to us, physically or spiritually. I’m sure every congregation has a weekly prayer list that is fairly long. Some are people we may not know and it is often hard to have that feeling of empathy, especially if it is something we have not experienced.

In the midst of such things, how do you often feel or what do you think? Was James really serious in James 1:2-4 when he says, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into many afflictions, 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” Of course, he was serious, because he, along with many others over the years have truly suffered for the cause of Jesus. James was pushed off a ledge on the temple and stoned to death. The real joy comes when we face God and He knows we suffered for His purposes and we receive our reward.

Pure joy is when it looks like everything is falling apart, and we turn to the ONE who holds all, things together. Joy is not merely a fleeting emotion, but a deep-seated enduring state of well-being and contentment that transcends circumstances. Joy is not dependent on external factors or happiness but rather stems from an inner sense of peace and fulfillment even in the midst of hardship.

Arthur Oakman in his “Endowment Series,” makes the following statements:

‘”If only we could gather to ourselves the conviction that what goes on inside us is much more important than what goes on around us.

We know that from the deeps within each one of us there dwells the record, the image, and the Spirit of the living God.

The life and ministry of Jesus Christ our Lord was played out in the world around us, outside us, in order that it might be created in us.

For in you is that power by which every circumstance of life can be taken and made to serve the cause of the Kingdom.

When I experience within myself the knowledge of the Son of God, then all else vanishes into insignificance.

Will what I am doing advance the cause of the Kingdom? If it will not, it has no place in our lives. That is the way to endowment.

Brethren, shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. Courage, brethren, and on, on to the victory! (DC 110:22a)”

God bless

Paul Gage

Please note the following announcement and mark your calendars.

RESTORATION BRANCH HIGH PRIESTS

CLASS SESSIONS: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2025.

9AM – 1 PM WALDO AVENUE RESTORATION BRANCH/CPRS

ALL ARE WELCOME AND INVITED TO ATTEND.

SHARE THIS ANNOUNCEMENT HOWEVER YOU CAN AND WITH WHOM EVER YOU CAN.

CLASSES WILL BE LIVE STREAMED/YOU TUBE.

AN ANNOUNCEMENT HAS GONE OUT TO ALL PASTORS/BRANCHES WITH A LIST OF CLASSES AND TEACHERS.

ZIONWORKS NEWS for AUGUST 15th, 2025

ZIONWORKS NEWS for AUGUST 15^th, 2025

WHILE WE’RE HERE…

What are your earliest childhood memories? Do you remember going through attitude adjustments from responsible parents or learned through interacting with your peers or others? Do you remember struggling with math concepts or problems, then making a revelatory breakthrough? Do you remember the thought that the math solution was already there, but that your thinking process had just made a small jump of higher reasoning? Do you remember all of the rewarding jumps in brain power and reasoning power during your school years, and well beyond? How many times along this journey have you found yourself without answers or solutions and have found yourself unequal to a task or challenge, even though you have tried with all of your thinking power? Do you experience these frustrating, agonizing, even heart-breaking and tragic situations that you must solve, but can’t? And even with faith fully applied, the solution doesn’t happen?

There are times when our faith, resourcefulness and earnest energy seem to fall far short of the resourcefulness needed. There are just times like that…when we know that God has solutions and we don’t. Many people suffer quietly for a lifetime with physical and relational agony and with the heavy burdens of others. When we become aware of their suffering and their perseverance, we call them saints or heroes, and they are. We suffer with them, pray for them, help out if we can and wonder why our burdens are lighter than theirs. Instead of losing our faith in our loving Creator, we pray harder, knowing he has eternal answers because he is all-seeing and all-loving. But the agony remains for us because God has given us hearts to feel and know another’s pain and torture.

We are still children, we’re still making mistakes, we’re still trying to learn life’s and eternity’s lessons, still haven’t arrived at perfection because it is a life-long journey, a life-long endeavor. Thank you, God, that we can forgive and be forgiven. Thank you for the vision and hope that you place before us. Thank you for your love that we can see in others and share with others. Please perfect our vision of the Kingdom and all of our duties, responsibilities, joys and privileges.

Thousands or more people have journeyed to eternal realms through injuries, fatal disease or dreams or visions and returned here, and have been guided by Jesus or angels and have been told that suffering on this earthly realm is for a purpose and that its length is forgotten once a soul has graduated from here. The universe contains (even though the universe cannot be contained) all of the marvels and mysteries of creation, of God’s love, all dynamic science, all dynamic physics, all of God’s intelligence, all beauty ,all of man’s God-given love, intelligence and creativity, all intelligent interaction and is the source of all language, literature and all inquisitiveness and all creative power. Its remarkable wonders have no end. One wonders: during a soul’s eternal discovery of the universe, could that soul see and understand it all? One wonders if the earth-bound or beyond-the-veil imagination has bounds. Imagine if the universe were globe-shaped (no one knows) and could be shrunken to the size of the earth, just so we could imagine it being examined by a thousand individuals. These individuals could be placed in various places above the “surface”, on the “surface” and various places within the sphere for a few minutes of eternity-time, and report, as best as possible, what they could verbalize. It is impossible to imagine the variety of what each of them saw… probably entirely different from what the others apprehended, yet each knowing the eternal wonders they saw were only a tiny fraction of what eternity holds. Awesome! As the scriptures say, “unsearchable”.

In our very best efforts to know and lovingly apply the truth, we can’t see the whole eternal picture; but remarkably, Jesus can; and remarkably, his work will get done through our entire and best efforts to surrender to him. That fact is an eternal wonder. Our individual surrender to Him draws us together as one, seeing eye-to- eye, sometimes sharing the same vision, though we inevitably have varying perspectives. How this works out is possibly beyond human reasoning, yet it is a fact of eternity. Thank you, Creator, for placing us in this earthly realm while we learn all we can, while we can make this place heaven on earth as you have asked us to, and with the wonders of eternity at our door!

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Since this small, yet growing, group that calls itself “Zionworks” gathered in work and worship in late 2021, Jesus has been trying to teach us of the power and responsibility of the individual, unhindered by dogma of culture and religion to do any and all work to make His kingdom on earth a living, breathing reality. This in no way negates or disrespects the pure gospel of Jesus Christ. It can only augment it and bring it to its shining and operating example for the world to see. We know that no unclean thing can enter into the kingdom of heaven, so also, His kingdom on the earth must be His clean and holy place. This is absolutely the happiest prospect for any and all of Jesus’ pure in heart of the world. He knows who they are, where they are and what their sufferings, trials and hopes are. He tells us that all who are engaged in the building of Zion in the last days will have the gift and power of the Holy Spirit. He also tells us that those who will fight against Zion in the last days will be swept off of the face of the earth. We have been placed here at this time. What an incredible time and incredible opportunity! Take it personally and take it seriously; God doesn’t deal in false promises.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

Dean Evatt raises and sells lambs and sheep for meat. He and his wife also have recipes. Local. Call him at 816 263 7763.

Work Day last Saturday at Joel and Kathy Adams. Fabulous fun, fellowship, heat and mosquitoes while picking and sorting berries. Unforgettable for the few that showed up.

Last Monday night, Howard Cozart texted this informative and timely video for us. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sG4TwSgVrAU

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CALENDAR

Next Zionworks meeting: this coming Sunday, August 17^th at 2:00 PM at Central Branch, 919 S. Delaware, Independence. On the agenda: All that we will respond with to meet Christ’s call and instructions for the reality of his kingdom on the earth. Much planning, fellowship and discussion.

At last week’s meeting, there was a very close-to-the-heart discussion among attendees candidly sharing their devotion to the Lord and their desire to please him. It was precious and is still on my mind and heart.

Work Day: Next Saturday, August 23^rd at Central Branch. We will meet at 9:30 AM to clean floors, etc., tidy up and make small repairs. We should be done before lunch.

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Your questions and comments are welcome at zionworkz@protonmail.com and yyeoman@protonmail.com .

With Christ and his love as our bond,

Your friends at Zionworks

Friday, August 15, 2025

Restoration Women's Council - Fall Retreat

Restoration Women's Council - Fall Retreat

Elders Meeting - August 23

Elders Meeting - August 23

Invitation to all Melchisedec priesthood to gathet for discussion at a quarterly Elders Meeting.

August 23rd 8am to noon at Outreach Restoration Branch. Zoom will be available for those unable to attend in person.

Theme: D&C 1:8 "What has God spoken?"

8am worship service led by Elder Andrew King

9:00 discussion on the Inspired Version led by Elder Robert Taylor

10:30 discussion on the D&C led by Elder Mike Stephenson.

Thursday, August 14, 2025

A study letter on why Jesus rose the third day

A study letter on why Jesus rose the third day

Dear Family and Friends,

The following links are to a study letter on the timing of the resurrection of Jesus Christ based primarily on scriptures preserved in the Bible. From a review of the relevant passages of scripture, a timeline of the final events of Jesus’ life in the world shows He fulfilled the law of Moses perfectly as prophesied.

Included in this study is how Jesus was cut off midweek according to the prophet Daniel, and that after being buried three full days and three full nights according to the sign of Jonah, Jesus rose on the third day. The details that justify placing each date on the timeline as shown are outlined in the section titled, “On the Third Day,” starting on page 9 of the pdf version of this study.

In sharing these insights with you, I look forward to hearing your thoughts and insights about this momentous day in the history of the world as well.

Blessings to you all,

Dwight B.

LIVING IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD AUGUST 14, 2025

LIVING IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD AUGUST 14, 2025

To the Saints in every corner of God’s Kingdom,

As we near the middle of ,the eighth month of 2025, I know, for some, and am sure for others that things have been and are pretty difficult to handle and deal with. We each have to try to resolve all the things that affect us every minute of the day and in so many ways. Even in the midst of great faith, we are constantly challenged by various afflictions and interactions that can easily change the course of our lives IF we place them above God.

Pure joy is when it looks like everything is falling apart, and we turn to the ONE who holds all ,things together. Joy is not merely a fleeting emotion, but a deep-seated enduring state of well being and contentment that transcends circumstances. Joy is not dependent on external factors or happiness, but rather stems from an inner sense of peace and fulfillment even in the midst of hardship.