In continuation of my testimony yesterday I share these thoughts :

Joseph Smith came to the earth and opened up the the beginning of the end of the time of the gentiles, a time when the first should be last and the last should be first. He was born 1805, had his first vision in 1820, received the gold plates 1827 and finished the translation by 1830.

Today September 22, just two years after the publication of the Book of Mormon, God, through His servant Joseph Smith Jr, had this to say in regard to ALL saints (or those who profess a belief in the work of that book):

"And your minds in times past have been darkened because of unbelief, and because you have treated lightly the things you have received—Which vanity and unbelief have brought the whole church under condemnation. And this condemnation resteth upon the children of Zion, even all. And they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon and the former commandments which I have given them, not only to say, but to do according to that which I have written— That they may bring forth fruit meet for their Father’s kingdom; otherwise there remaineth a scourge and judgment to be poured out upon the children of Zion." (D& C 84:54- 58)

Though one may be tempted to overlay their own preconceived ideas on top of these verses The Lord is clear. ALL are condemned. Not some. Not all except the leadership. All.

We have been given a period of repentance, for four generations after the murder of our prophets Joseph Smith Jr and Hyrum Smith, and for four generations this scripture of condemnation has remained in effect to today. The time of the gentiles has ended, as The Lord concludes His work in these last days. Still The Lord has promised that His hand is stretched out still, calling us to repentance, willing to accept our humble offering.

Today is the day we must throw off condemnation, do what the Book of Mormon teaches, shake off the dust and rise up.