THE ONLY TRUE AND LIVING CHURCH

The only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth. (D&C 1:30)

This doctrine often generates resistance and repels the casual investigator. Some have said, "We want nothing to do with anyone who makes so presumptuous a claim as that."

The early Latter-day Saints were bitterly persecuted for holding to this doctrine. They were the butt of many clever stories. We, of course, are not free from that today. Should we not then make one accommodation and set this doctrine aside? ...Some have recommended that we confine ourselves strictly to evidences of the gospel: happy family life, and temperate living, and so on. Could we not use the words better or best? The word only really isn't the most appealing way to begin a discussion of the gospel.

If we thought only in terms of diplomacy or popularity, surely we should change our course. But we must hold tightly to it even though some turn away. ("The Only True Church," Ensign, Nov. 1985, 80-81) https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1985/10/the-only-true-church?lang=eng

This is "the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth" according to the word of revelation. Here lies the truth. Here lies the priesthood. Hold to the Church. Do not ever lose sight of the fact that the Church must ever remain preeminent in your lives if you are going to be happy as the years pass. Never let yourselves be found in the position of fighting The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You cling to it and be faithful to it. You uphold and sustain it. You teach its doctrine and live by it. And I do not hesitate to say that your lives will be the richer and the happier because of that. You cannot find happiness fighting the work of God. Those who have done so have gone down to a dismal end. ("Excerpts from Recent Addresses of President Gordon B. Hinckley," Ensign, Apr. 1996, 72-73)

That is not my statement. That is the statement of the Lord himself. A minister once said to me, "Aren't you very arrogant to make a statement concerning such magnitude as that?" I said, "I didn't say it. The Lord said it, and because He said it, I believe it is true." (Gordon B. Hinckley "Inspirational Thoughts," Ensign, July 1998, 4)

Secret Combinations and LDSs

In the Forward to Brother Jack Monnett's book " Awakening To Our Awful Situation - Warnings from the Nephite Prophets", World Affairs Brief Editor, Brother Joel Skousen wrote: "The LDS faith is a great advantage in this world of deception. It is the only church with multiple scriptures warning the Saints to beware of these powerful secret combinations. The Book of Mormon, in particular, points out the way they operate, specifically touching upon their ability to use government and judges to provide cover and immunity....most Mormons pay little attention to this threat....it is disguised and not obvious to the cursory glance....But with those Book of Mormon warnings comes a grave responsibility to see the danger within and warn others, lest we be partially responsible for the fall of liberty. No, its not something you can leave to government, because the modern day Gadianton robbers have fully taken over large parts of government...." In the last paragraph of the Forward Joel wrote: "If....you cannot sense that something is wrong, you will have to await the grand announcements of the Second Coming -- when the secret acts of men throughout all the history of the earth will all be revealed."

Nephi son of Lehi prophesied "concerning the last days;" and included in his prophecy that there will be "secret combinations, even as in times of old, according to the combinations of the devil,..." [2 Nephi 26: 14&22].

Helaman and his son Nephi gave us excellent detailed insights into the evil works of secret combinations in their time. The goal of those conspiracies was "to rule and do according to their wills, that they might get gain and glory...." by plundering wealth and taking control of government.

And Moroni gave us further warning and commandment in writing "....suffer not that these murderous combinations shall get above you. . . . Wherefore, the Lord commandeth you, when ye shall see these things come among you that ye shall awake to a sense of your awful situation, because of this secret combination which shall be among you." and "....awake to a sense of your awful situation. . . ." [Ether 8:20-26]. President Boyd K. Packer reminded us of these statements most recently in the August 2010 Ensign Magazine [Page 23].

In the October 1988 Church General Conference, President Ezra Taft Benson told us that "Secret combinations lusting for power, gain and glory are flourishing. A secret combination that seeks to overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations and countries is increasing its evil influence and control over America and the entire world." Other latter-day prophets and apostles have given us similar such warnings.

But are Latter-day Saints generally awake and alert to this "awful situation"? We have been given commandments to read the scriptures, to be involved in learning about government, history, current events, and prophecy [D&C 88:79 and President Dieter Uchtdorf's reminder of this commandment in the October 2009 General Priesthood Meeting]. We have been told by almost every latter-day prophet and many apostles of the vital importance of studying, defending, upholding and abiding by the Constitution of the United States, with emphasis on understanding the original intent of the Founding Fathers who wrote it under the inspiration of the Lord. The ball is in our court.

https://www.ldsfreedomforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=19473&p=821340#p821340

The People In Whose Heart I Have Written My Law

Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart I have written my law, fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings. (2 Nephi 8:7)

The prophet speaks of a righteous group of people in the last days, and the Lord will write the law in their hearts. Jeremiah taught this same doctrine when he spoke of the new and everlasting covenant to be revealed in the last days.

Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:

Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord:

But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. (Jeremiah 31:31-33)

How will the Lord write the law in their hearts?

The Lord always commands his prophets to write down his laws. In this instance, he is writing the law in the hearts of the righteous. This is exactly what happens when the saints attend the temple - they learn the law of the Lord. However, this law cannot be written down on parchments or stone tablets. Rather, through regular temple attendance and sheer repetition, it is written in the hearts of the temple patrons.