Why The Testimony of Jesus is the DNA of The Body of Christ - Part 1

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I Corinthians 1:4-9 – I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you of Jesus Christ; That in everything ye are enriched of him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you; So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ; Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

Revelation 19:10b – … I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus; worship God; for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

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DNA and the Law of the Spirit of Life

Within every cell of all living organisms there exists a special type of macromolecule (a very large molecule) called deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA for short.[1] Each organism has its own unique DNA macromolecule which serves as a library of information to guide its growth and the maintenance of its overall form and function during the various stages of its life.

An organism’s taxonomy (biological classification), from its domain and kingdom to its genus and species, may be identified by studying its DNA. This highly complex but robust and efficient macromolecule also contains hereditary information and may, for example, be evaluated scientifically for those individuals interested in learning about their family ancestry.

Since the body of Christ (the church[2]) is a living creation of God, its members receive a spiritual form of DNA (of which physical DNA is a type) when they are born of God’s Spirit.[3] This special DNA is understood by considering how God revealed the spiritual things of Himself through His creation, with things which are not seen being understood by the things that are made.[4]

Romans 1:20 – For God hath revealed unto them the invisible things of him, from the creation of the world, which are clearly seen; things which are not seen being understood by the things that are made, through his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse…

Romans 8:1,2 – There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

The principle stated plainly in Romans 1:20 teaches us that organisms, for instance, are created by God to give us insight into the innerworkings of spiritually alive things. Since created organisms have DNA, it is therefore evident that spiritual entities have a spiritual form of DNA.

We can understand this spiritual principle revealed through creation by considering how certain laws are given to all kingdoms. Think taxonomy for a moment.

D&C 85:9a,9b – All kingdoms have a law given: and there are many kingdoms; for there is no space in the which there is no kingdom; and there is no kingdom in which there is no space, either a greater or lesser kingdom. And unto every kingdom is given a law; and unto every law there are certain bounds also, and conditions.

The unique law God gives to a particular kingdom is that kingdom’s governing DNA. It is a spiritual law that is to reside within each of its citizens (its members) like DNA resides in individual cells of a body. That is, those born spiritually of God have a spiritual internal law given to them that is common to all who reside with Him in His kingdom.

Said more particularly, a law is given to each member of the body of Christ. This law is a record that endows each one with knowledge of the Lord their Creator and His ways.

Hebrews 8:10,11 – … I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts; and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people; And they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord; for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.

John 17:1-3 – And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

Genesis 6:64 – Therefore it is given to abide in you, the record of heaven, the Comforter, the peaceable things of immortal glory, the truth of all things, that which quickeneth all things which maketh alive all things, that which knoweth all things, and hath all power according to wisdom, mercy, truth, justice and judgment.

This internal record is the spiritual witness God gives of His Son (His Word), and it is far greater than any witness we may receive of men.

I John 5:9-12 – If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself; he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

Fitly Joined Together

Just as the DNA of all living organisms contains specific information unique to each one, so it is with the spiritual DNA given to each member of the body of Christ. Everyone receives a detailed library of information about their uniqueness in Christ. It not only gives them knowledge of God and His kingdom, but it also holds a library of knowledge of their own gifts, talents, callings, etc., our Lord gives them to edify (build up) His whole body in love.[5]

I Corinthians 12:4-12 – Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues; But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ.

Ephesians 4:11-16 – And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ; Till we, in the unity of the faith, all come to the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ; From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

In fine, by the Lord investing the spiritual DNA of His body (the church) within all who covenant with Him, He makes each member common but unique in all things pertaining to Him and His heavenly realm by the Holy Ghost, whom Jesus called the Spirit of truth.[6]

Acts 4:31,32 – And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul; neither said any of them that aught of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.

Romans 12:1-3 – I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God is. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly that he ought to think, but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

The Law of the New Covenant

Jeremiah, the prophet of God, spoke plainly of a time when the Lord would place the law of a new covenant within His covenant people. He spoke of the new covenant Jesus Christ mediates.[7]

Jeremiah 31:31-34 (Hebrews 8:7-13) – 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 a 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. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord; for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

Ezekiel also spoke of this new covenant and of how God would give His covenant people a new heart, one capable of receiving and abiding in the presence of His Spirit of truth.

Ezekiel 36:26-29 – A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments and do them. And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God. I will also save you from all your uncleanness; and I will call for the corn, and will increase it, and lay no famine upon you.

Through Isaiah’s prophecies, the Lord promised to place and retain the words of His servant, the Messiah, in the mouth of His seed—in His children who are born of Him.[8] That word is the word of faith which is a fruit born out of our lives as expressed in our words and actions. [9]

Isaiah 57:19 – I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the Lord; and I will heal him.

Isaiah 59:21 – As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the Lord; my Spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed’s seed, saith the Lord, from henceforth and forever.

Those who are born of Christ’s Spirit of truth are thus called His children, His heirs.[10]

Mosiah 3:8,9 – And now, because of the covenant which ye have made, ye shall be called the children of Christ, His sons and His daughters; for behold, this day He hath spiritually begotten you, for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on His name; Therefore, ye are born of Him and have become His sons and His daughters.

Romans 8:17 – And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Galatians 3:26 – For ye are all the children of God by faith in Jesus Christ.

The Word of God is a Seed

Jesus said the word of God He preached is a seed.[11] Since every seed brings forth after its own kind[12] and because Jesus is the Word of God,[13] He also brings forth life after His own kind (i.e. after His own character and countenance of light and love) by His Spirit of truth.[14]

I Peter 1:22-25 – Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth [Jesus[15]] through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently. Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever. For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away; But the word of the Lord endureth forever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

As the mediator of the new covenant spoken of by the prophets,[16] Jesus implants within each member of His body (the church) the law or DNA of the new covenant in His blood.[17] It is not a physical macromolecule. Rather, it is Jesus Himself. He is the Law of the new covenant that resides within His church according to and in keeping with the two great commandments upon which all the law and the prophets hang (depend, are based upon).[18]

III Nephi 7:10-12 – Behold, I Am the law and the light; Look unto Me and endure to the end and ye shall live, for unto him that endureth to the end will I give eternal life. Behold, I have given unto you the commandments, therefore, keep My commandments—And this is the law and the prophets, for they truly testify of Me.

Ephesians 3:14-19 – For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.

Matthew 22:36-39 – … Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

This is why Jesus’ words are spirit and life.[19] Like all DNA, His words have all the necessary information within them to bring forth life in His image and likeness. Said another way, as the Word of God, He has life in Himself and His words are able to bring forth the newness of His life in the lives into which they are planted.[20] His words are, in fact, the germ of eternal life, and all who feast upon His words have eternal life residing within themselves through the love of Christ.[21]

John 1:11,12 – He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God; only to them who believe on his name.

I John 3:1-3 – Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God; therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

Hence, we are called to receive with meekness the engrafted word that is able to save our souls.

James 1:19,22 – Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. Wherefore lay aside all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness, the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

Hosea 10:12 – Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.

Not in Tables of Stone

Paul, the disciple and Apostle of Jesus Christ, wrote in his epistles of the inscribing of the law of the Spirit in Jesus Christ within the members of the church.[22]

II Corinthians 3:3-6 – Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshly tables of the heart. And such trust have we through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the Spirit; for the letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life.

II Corinthians 5:17-19 – Therefore if any man live in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new, and receiveth all the things of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God is in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

Briefly summarized, the law of the Spirit, which is the law of Christ,[23] is written within everyone who is born into the new covenant mediated by Jesus Christ. How do we know when we have received this precious law by the Spirit? We will testify of Jesus by the Spirit of truth, which bears record in us of Him and His words.

John 16:12-15 – I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth; for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak; and he will show you things to come. He shall glorify me; for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine; therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you.

Of truth, then, each member of the body of Christ receives the mind of Christ, a mind filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea, and this by the law of the Spirit of life.[24] Just as a unique DNA resides within our cell nuclei, the spiritual DNA we receive from the Spirit of truth resides in the minds of all those who are born again into the kingdom of God.

Romans 7:24 – And now I see another law, even the commandment of Christ, and it is imprinted in my mind.

Romans 15:5,6 – Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according as was Christ Jesus; That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I Corinthians 2:16 – For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

The Testimony of Jesus

Jesus asked His disciples “Whom do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” and “whom say ye that I am?”

Matthew 16:14-16 – And when Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I, the Son of Man, am? And they said, Some say John the Baptist; some Elias; and others Jeremias; or one of the prophets. He said unto them, But whom say ye that I am?

Peter answered confidently and correctly, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”[25] In reply to Peter’s declaration of faith in Him as the Son of God, Jesus declared:

Matthew 16:17-19 – … Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona; for flesh and blood hath not revealed this unto thee, but my Father who is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter; and upon this rock [the revelation of the Father of His Son[26]] I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.[27]

Having the testimony of Jesus[28] from the Father is the only way anyone of us can confidently and correctly answer with Peter who Jesus truly is. To have God’s witness of His Son (His Word) within ourselves we must believe Jesus is the Son of God[29] and that He is God’s very Word[30].

I John 5:10-12 – He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself [i.e. the spirit of prophecy]; he that believeth not God hath made him a liar;[31] because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

John wrote these words from personal experience, which included his eventual detention on the island Patmos where he was held prisoner for the testimony of Jesus.

Revelation 1:9 – I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Like his brethren who were faithful to the end, John overcame the accuser of the brethren by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of his testimony.

Revelation 12:9-11 – And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ; For the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. For they have overcome him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; for they loved not their own lives, but kept the testimony even unto death. Therefore, rejoice O heavens, and ye that dwell in them.

During the vision John received on Patmos, as recorded in the book of Revelation in the Bible, he was ministered to in the Spirit by one of his fellow brethren that have the testimony of Jesus, which is the DNA of the body of Christ. It was this brother in Christ who identified the only sure testimony of Jesus as the spirit of prophecy.

Revelation 19:10 – … I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus; worship God; for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

So Also is the Resurrection of the Dead

To have the testimony of Jesus is to have the DNA of the body of Christ, and how we respond to the testimony of Jesus determines our eternal glory. In the resurrection of the dead, many people will be raised to one of three glories (i.e. one of three levels of intelligence) while the remainder are raised to no glory (i.e. without having received intelligence from God).[32]

I Corinthians 15:41,42 – There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It [the physical the body] is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption.

Those who have the testimony of Jesus and are valiant in this testimony—like John, Peter, Paul, James, and others of the brethren—have a glory like that of the sun, called celestial glory.[33]

D&C 76:5b – They are they who received the testimony of Jesus, and believed on [Christ’s] name …

Those who do not receive the spirit of prophecy in the flesh, or who are not valiant in the testimony of Jesus in this life, are they who are of a glory which shines like that of the moon, which is terrestrial glory.

D&C 76:6c – Behold, these are they who died without law … who received not the testimony of Jesus in the flesh, but afterwards received it.

D&C 76:6g – these are they who are not valiant in the testimony of Jesus; wherefore they obtained not the crown over the kingdom of our God.

Those of a lesser or telestial glory are they who never receive the testimony of Jesus, even though they may have seemed religious in this life through their actions (deeds) and words.

D&C 76:7m – these are they who say they are some of one and some of another, some of Christ, and some of John, and some of Moses, and some of Elias; and some of Esais, and some of Isaiah, and some of Enoch, but received not the gospel,[34] neither the testimony of Jesus, neither the prophets; neither the everlasting covenant.

Those who sin against the spirit of prophecy given through the Holy Ghost will receive no glory. That is, they will receive no light and truth, for the glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth.[35] Instead, they will have their inheritance with the devil and his fallen angels in a place void of all light and truth (i.e. absent the glory or intelligence of God).[36]

D&C 76:4a-e – Thus saith the Lord, concerning all those who know my power, and have been made partakers thereof, and suffered themselves, through the power of the Devil, to be overcome, and to deny the truth, and defy my power; they are they who are the sons of perdition, of whom I say it had been better for them never to have been born; for they are vessels of wrath, doomed to suffer the wrath of God, with the Devil and his angels, in eternity, concerning whom I have said there is no forgiveness in this world nor in the world to come; having denied the Holy Spirit, after having received it, and having denied the only begotten Son of the Father; having crucified him unto themselves, and put him to an open shame:[37] these are they who shall go away into the lake of fire and brimstone, with the Devil and his angels, and the only ones on whom the second death shall have any power; yea, verily, the only ones who shall not be redeemed in the due time of the Lord, after the sufferings of his wrath; for all the rest shall be brought forth by the resurrection of the dead, through the triumph and the glory of the Lamb, who was slain, who was in the bosom of the Father before the worlds were made.

D&C 85:7 – For what doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him, and he receive not the gift? Behold, he rejoices not in that which is given unto him, neither rejoices in him who is the giver of the gift.

That Our Children May Know

By Jesus’ declaration in Matthew 16:17-19, we are assured Peter was indeed one who received the testimony of Jesus from our heavenly Father, and that he would be valiant in testifying of his Lord as commissioned by Him. Scripture bears this out by revealing how Peter testified of Jesus on the day of Pentecost and in the days and years that followed.[38] In ministering the Word of life to the Lord’s flock to the end of his life, Peter showed he also overcame by the word of his testimony.[39]

II Peter 1:13-20 – Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath showed me. Moreover I will endeavor that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance. For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honor and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.[40] We have therefore a more sure knowledge of the word of prophecy, to which word of prophecy ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light which shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts; Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scriptures is given of any private will of man.

Herein lies the reason Moses desired that all God’s people were prophets.

Numbers 11:29 – And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the Lord’s people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his Spirit upon them.

And why Paul likewise desired the same for all the members of the Church.

I Corinthians 14:1,5 – Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy … I would that ye all … prophesied; for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

For everyone who has the spirit of prophecy testifies of Jesus Christ like Nephi of old.[41]

II Nephi 11:48 – And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.

This is also why Alma was such a wonderful teacher and minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He was another one who had the testimony of Jesus and endured through faith on His name.[42]

Alma 4:10 – And Alma went and began to declare the word of God unto the church which was established in the Valley of Gideon, According to the revelation of the truth of the word which had been spoken by his fathers, and according to the spirit of prophecy which was in him, according to the testimony of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, which should come for to redeem His people from their sins, and the holy order by which he was called. And thus it is written. Amen.

Suffer No Ravenous Wolf to Enter Among You

All those who have not had or do not have the testimony of Jesus according to the spirit of prophecy are false prophets and false teachers of Jesus Christ’s gospel. These are they who will hear the Lord say to them, you never knew me, and I never knew you[43]—even if they may have testified of Him and have done many things in His name.

Matthew 7:32,33 – And many will say unto me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name; and in thy name cast out devils; and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I say, Ye never knew me; depart from me ye that work iniquity.

III Nephi 6:34,35 – Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? And in Thy name have cast out devils? And in Thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you; Depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.

Why exactly will these individuals be sent away by Jesus? They did not keep (observe) His word and therefore did not actually know Him. They did not live by the testimony of Jesus the Father gives of His Son. Consequently, they were and are blind guides who caused themselves and others to stray from Jesus as the only way to the Father.[44]

D&C 1:3d-e – for they have strayed from mine ordinances, and have broken mine everlasting covenant; they seek not the Lord to establish his righteousness,[45] but every man walketh in his own way, and after the image of his own god, whose image is in the likeness of the world, and whose substance is that of an idol, which waxeth old and shall perish in Babylon, even Babylon the great, which shall fall.

Either a person has and holds THE testimony of Jesus, the spirit of prophecy, or he does not, and if he does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.[46]

Romans 8:5-9 – For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are after the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not after the flesh, but after the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

According to the words of the Lord, we will know who (this includes ourselves) has the testimony of Jesus by their fruit, which includes both the fruit of their lips and their actions.[47] Although a person may look like a Christian on the outside, he or she must be a follower of Christ on the inside to be one with Him.[48] While some may simply act the part, others enter the body of Christ as wolves in sheep’s clothing (in the name of Christ) to exploit the flock.

Acts 20:29-31 – For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

Alma 3:98,105-106 – And now I say unto you, all you that are desirous to follow the voice of the Good Shepherd: Come ye out from the wicked! and be ye separate! and touch not their unclean things! … And now I say unto you that the Good Shepherd doth call after you; And if you will hearken unto His voice, He will bring you into His fold and ye are His sheep; And He commandeth you that ye suffer no ravenous wolf to enter among you, that ye may not be destroyed.

Who are these wicked ones spoken of here as ravenous wolves? They take the Lord’s name in vain[49] in that they do not seek the Lord their God to establish His righteousness on earth through His Son, through His Word. For God is not in all their thoughts. Therefore, they seek their own things by seeking to gain followings for the fame and riches they may receive for themselves.

Psalms 10:4 – The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God; God is not in all his thoughts.

Philippians 2:21 – For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.

So how do we know we or others have indeed been born of God’s Spirit of truth? As shown in this study, whoever receives the testimony of Jesus, which is the spirit of prophecy, and holds it in righteousness before God, has the DNA of the body of Christ and is received as such by Him. Whoever does not have this DNA is foreign to the body of Christ and is rejected by Him.[50] Therefore, I urge you to take and hold the name of Jesus in all true sincerity.

Believe, Receive, and Rely Upon the Name of Jesus

Like Moses and Paul, I pray everyone receives and is valiant in the testimony of Jesus according to the spirit of prophecy, which is the promised gift of the Father by the Holy Ghost.[51] If you would like to receive this precious gift, prayerfully study the testimony of Jesus given by those called and ordained of God to this ministry so you may believe that Jesus is the Christ.

John 20:30,31 – And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

John 1:11,12 – He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God; only to them who believe on his name.

Ask the Father for the testimony of Jesus so you may know Him and His Son, His true Word of Life. Ask Him to guide you into all truth and then follow Him as the Word of God. If you do this, be prepared to come out from the wicked so you may worship the Father in spirit and in truth and have true fellowship with the general assembly of the church of the firstborn.[52]

Hebrews 13:12-14 – Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.

Watch prayerfully so you may not be led astray by those who do not seek the things of Christ and truth found in His words.[53] For those who do not have the testimony of Jesus from the Father are blind guides who will lead you away from wisdom’s path into forbidden paths.[54] Moreover, fear the Lord and think upon His name so your name may be written in a book of remembrance, whereby you may be kept unto the day of your redemption.

Malachi 3:16-18 – Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another; and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.

Finally, ask in sincerity of heart that you may receive the testimony of Jesus from the Father by having this most precious gift confirmed in you by the Holy Ghost, who testifies of the Father and the Son.[55] Then let this mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus so you may faithfully follow Him as the Good Shepherd.

I Corinthians 1:4-9 – I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you of Jesus Christ; That in everything ye are enriched of him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you; So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ; Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

May you so enter then into the likeness of His death to sin so you may live with Him in the newness of His life.[56] If you do, Jesus will confirm you unto the end of this life and on into eternity by faith on His name.[57]

Ephesians 2:10 – For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Hebrews 13:20,21 – Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

[1] https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/Deoxyribonucleic-Acid and https://biologydictionary.net/dna/

[2] I Corinthians 12:4-31, Colossians 1:9-29 & Ephesians 4:1-16 with Ephesians 5:14-33 & Colossians 3:15

[3] cf. Romans 8:1-17 & I Corinthians 15:50 & Ephesians 1:1-23 with Matthew 19:29, Matthew 25:35 & Luke 3:13

[4] cf. Matthew 13:30-53, 18:23-34, 20:1-15, 25:1-12, Mark 4:24-26 & Luke 13:18-21 with Romans 1:20 & Genesis 6:64-66

[5] I Corinthians 12:3-31 with Ephesians 4:11-16, Moroni 10:8-31 & D&C 46:4a-9b

[6] Acts 2:44 & Acts 4:32 with I Corinthians 1:4-9, John 14:15-26, III Nephi 12:10,11, IV Nephi 1:3,4, D&C 25:1b & D&C 85:6d-6f

[7] Matthew 26:24, Mark 14:23 & Luke 22:20 with Galatians 3:20, Hebrews 8:7-13, Hebrews 9:15 & Hebrews 12:24

[8] Romans 10:8-16 with Deuteronomy 30:14; see Isaiah 42:6 & Isaiah 49:8 with III Nephi 9:81-98 (D&C 3:9d) & D&C 45:2c,2d

[9] Romans 10:8-16 with Deuteronomy 30:14; see Isaiah 42:6 & Isaiah 49:8 with III Nephi 9:81-98 (D&C 3:9d) & D&C 45:2c,2d

[10] IV Nephi 1:17-21 with Mosiah 3:8,9

[11] Luke 8:11, John 12:49,50 & John 14:10-12 with Matthew 13:17-21 & Alma 16:152-173

[12] Genesis 1:15,16 with Genesis 1:23-26