Professional Documents
Culture Documents
March 20,1996
Subject: Day of the Pentecost; Conversion of the Jews
I want you young people to realize that the work of every prophet is as though our Savior was
there - the prophet, being the key holder, or representative of the Lord.
The man who took the place of Judas Escariot, the twelfth apostle - a man who was faithful to the
end, was named Mathias. On the day of Pentecost, suddenly there was a sound as a mighty, rushing wind.
Scrolls of fire appeared throughout the building and came upon the people. So much of the Holy Ghost
came upon them, they could see it as fire. At that time, the power of their calling rested upon them.
You see, young people, there's a difference between being called to do a work and having the
spirit of your calling. The twelve had been called as twelve apostles long before, but they had to humble
themselves, pray and obey, so the spirit of their calling would rest upon them. And now, with the Holy
Ghost in them, they had the power of their priesthood - the power to act in God's stead, as though God
Himself were performing the work. This is true with every priesthood man, every wife in the celestial
law. They act in God's stead to those they govern and rule over.
The noise was heard by many of the Jews outside of the temple Peter and the other apostles came
out of the temple and saw the crowd - thousands from different countries. The prophet Peter taught the
people the testimony of Jesus Christ. People who were innocent and clean enough to believe, accepted
the gospel. Others who loved evil, though they heard the very same prophet, because of their wickedness
of their lies, they would turn and try to kill the prophets. That day, three thousand people were baptized,
converted. The work of the apostles grew very rapidly. Thousands upon thousands of Jews believed and
accepted the truth. Many people were brought to Peter and the apostles to be blessed and they were
healed.
What does this show us, young people? It shows us that the priesthood of God acts in the same
authority of God. They act in God's stead. Even as Jesus performed these miracles of healing, so did the
apostles, and thus it is with President Jeffs today. He has the power of God and can do things as though
God Himself were here. That's what I want you to believe.
As these thousands of Jews were; converted, the believers were taught the holy united order.
Many of them would sell all their possessions and they would bring the money to the twelve apostles and
give all they had to the priesthood, then they were given what they needed back, to take care of their
needs.
How does a person lie to the Holy Ghost? It's when he lies to the fountainhead of the Holy Ghost
- the prophet, after he has made covenants to live laws of God. You can only live that holy, celestial law if
you give everything. You can't lie and expect to be blessed.
Every day, there were more and more believers who joined with the priesthood, living the holy
united order. They had nothing that was their own, but all things were common. This is what took place
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in this dispensation. One of the very first laws revealed to the prophet Joseph Smith was the united order.
The Saints were driven out of Jackson County, and we've been cast out of that land for the last hundred
and sixty-five years because the Saints wouldn't love one another by living the united order. This law was
required in Jesus' day. It's required today. You can't go to Heaven unless you live the holy united order
and celestial marriage. You must live those laws, and you must be honest in them.
Because there were so many believers, the high priests of the apostate church rose up in anger,
sent the soldiers and arrested the apostles. They put them in prison. During the night, an angel came and
lifted them out of the prison and put them into the temple that morning. The wicked priests called all the
rulers of the Jews together - a huge crowd ready to judge these twelve apostles, who were in the temple,
teaching about Jesus Christ. The priests demanded by what authority they were teaching. Peter answered
this: "We ought to obey God rather than men, etc." The Holy Spirit cut the priests to the heart. They knew
what Peter said was true, but notice what happens to people who receive the witness of the Holy Ghost -
they know the word of the prophet is true, and yet they love evil. They knew it was true but they wanted
to kill the apostles. They didn't love the truth. They wanted the lies and the glories of the world. Just
because people might hear the words of the prophets doesn't mean they will obey those words or love
them. Only those who love truth - who despise evil and want to be good, will obey.
The wicked priests and their followers took the twelve and beat them, spit upon them and they
commanded them to not teach about Jesus being the Son of God. The twelve went back home, among
their friends and rejoiced in the privilege of being persecuted in the name of Jesus Christ. Many
thousands were converted, yet, whenever the Lord sets up His kingdom, the devil sets up his. He will
inspire his followers to stop the work of God. Now persecution would increase. The twelve witnessed a
disagreement among their own people, as though the twelve would take their turn taking care of earthly
things, like waiting on tables and serving people. The twelve were called to an office and calling to teach
the people the truth, not to always handle earthly affairs. In our day, we know those men called to take
care of earthly affairs are the bishops - Uncle Fred (Jessop) and Uncle Winston (Blackmore).
The Lord has promised in this day, a people will be preserved. You see how the work of God
continues through the priesthood - the power of God with that priesthood. Ok, I want you to believe.
Please believe these words. Don't take them lightly.