The Irony of the LDS Marriage Ban

From a published article Nov 13, 2008.

California's Proposition 8 was the Right's latest attack on freedom and equality, asserting the legal definition of marriage as between one man and one woman.

What's particularly ironic is that the leaders of the Utah-based Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued a formal request to be read in congregations to "do all you can to support the proposed constitutional amendment by donating of your means and time." Church members responded with a massive campaign that included donating a large portion of raised funds and going door to door to support the amendment.

In the past, the LDS church officials have asserted their reluctance to formally enter into political debates. One of the requirements for active membership is a profession of faith that these same leaders speak directly on behalf of God. Such power can be easily abused. When a church begins actively calling for a public policy change that affects the lives of millions, however, it invites criticism of its motives, history and its ability to persuade its adherents.

Mormonism's founder, Joseph Smith, once said, "We have learned by sad experience that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion." No matter what, people just can't leave other people alone. The United States was founded by people who wanted equality for all white men and religious freedom for themselves. We haven't yet learned that you can't have real freedom without sharing it. These same Christians immediately resorted to persecution and attempted extermination of Latter-day Saints, atrocities that, although staggering, are largely overlooked in our history.

For its belief that the government should not enforce a definition of marriage as one man and one woman, among other liberties, the LDS church was driven from the country to what is now Utah, but was then part of Mexico. Even then, the U.S. government sent armies to prevent them from practicing polygamy, even seizing all their assets and disincorporating the church for a time.

However, the LDS church can't take on the role of an oppressed minority that merely wishes to practice its beliefs in peace if they go on to oppress others once the roles are reversed. From strict control over its membership to culturally damaging and oppressive missionary efforts in the Pacific Islands and throughout the world to the modern culture wars, they have shown a pattern of forcing their values and opinions on people. They no longer need the oppressed role anymore, as the church has become one of the largest stakeholders in the U.S.

The practice most found objectionable under Brigham Young's leadership, and which was decried against by every other denomination of Mormonism, was not so much polygamy, but the practice of "spiritual wifery" or polyandry. Under this system, the highest leaders of the church could "spiritually" marry women who were already legally married to living men. This spiritual marriage then gave said leaders sexual rights to other men's wives. Failure to comply resulted in persecution and excommunication, while cooperation ensured blessings. Not even King David enjoyed such power.

Is it not ironic that the descendants of this legacy are now championing right-wing conservative values on marriage? What's even more ironic is that using the law to limit freedom is in itself in opposition to LDS doctrine.

According to Mormon mythology, a war was fought in heaven over the topic of freedom to choose right from wrong. Lucifer proclaimed that, if chosen to be the Messiah, he would govern the people such that there was no freedom to even choose sin and thereby none would be sent to Hell. Total peace would reign on earth. Jesus' plan, on the other hand, would grant freedom, which ensured that war, crime, poverty, greed, corruption and wickedness would reign on earth, but that in granting choice, the people would be tried. Though many would be lost by their choice of evil, the ones who remained faithful in spite of these circumstances would have proven themselves worthy of exalted glory.

That is a excellent basis for a doctrine of separation of church and state, but unfortunately Latter-day Saints' policies do not reflect their beliefs. By giving in to paranoid views that God's ordained system of marriage and family is under attack, they and other Christians have shown a tremendous lack of faith in God, doubting Joseph's revelation that "the works, and the designs, and the purposes of God cannot be frustrated, neither can they come to naught."

Far from revealing the timeless truths of God, the doctrines of the Utah-based LDS church have been blown to and fro by every wind of social change, always reflecting the views of its leadership, from Joseph Smith's liberal and communist views to Brigham Young's prophesy of the downfall of America to the more modern leaders' embrace of capitalism, patriotism and conservative values. It is time that people stop placing blind faith in human beings and instead utilize their own powers of reason and seek to embrace love and human goodness.

Or as Joseph Smith wrote, "When we undertake to ... gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the ... Spirit of the Lord is grieved. ... No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, (except) by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned; by kindness and pure knowledge ... without hypocrisy, and without guile."

One Mighty and Strang: The Interpretation of D&C 85

One Mighty and Strang

The Interpretation of D&C 85

Scriptural Quotations from LDS.org

 The reader is advised to begin by reading the revelation in its entirety.

Explanation and Interpretation

    Firstly, understand the circumstances that this revelation is given in relation to. It is given regarding (1) inheritances, of a temporal nature as well as spiritual, and the law of consecration. (2) It also regards those among the saints who would be numbered in the church and have their names written in the Book of Life. It then states (3) that this information is given by the spirit, which constitutes this as a legal revelation and a prophecy (D&C 8:2-3) because “It shall come to pass.”

   It commences to state that (4) it shall come to pass (in no uncertain terms) that the Lord will send a mighty one to set the house of God in order and that (5) one who is already in authority, called and appointed by God, would fall as the man who tried to steady the ark.

   Since the revelation first states that it is given to one responsible for temporal inheritances and consecration, that the mission of the “mighty one” has something to do in relation to this purpose, and his coming would settle who has an inheritance with God’s people and, consequently, who has their names written in the Book of Life and who is cut off. Therefore, there is a foreshadowing of a rift in the church and a dispute or confusion that this revelation serves to clarify.

 THE DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS

OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS

SECTION 85

Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Kirtland, Ohio, November 27, 1832. HC 1: 298–299. This section is an extract from a letter of the Prophet to W. W. Phelps, who was living in Independence, Missouri. It was given to answer questions about those saints who had moved to Zion, but who had not received their inheritances according to the established order in the Church.

1–5, Inheritances in Zion are to be received though consecration; 6–12, One mighty and strong shall give the saints their inheritance in Zion.

   1 IT is the duty of the Lord’s clerk, whom he has appointed, to keep a history, and a general church record of all things that transpire in Zion, and of all those who consecrate properties, and receive inheritances legally from the bishop;

  2 And also their manner of life, their faith, and works; and also of the apostates who apostatize after receiving their inheritances.

   Here Joseph is giving instruction to the clerk both in keeping the history, the church records and the membership, and refers to a coming apostasy, in which he would have to record the correct names in the church records and know which to eliminate.

  3 It is contrary to the will and commandment of God that those who receive not their inheritance by consecration, agreeable to his law, which he has given, that he may tithe his people, to prepare them against the day of vengeance and burning, should have their names enrolled with the people of God.

   The third verse prophecies a day of vengeance and burning. This could come in the form of persecution. The saints are to be prepared for this day through tithing and the law of consecration. Those saints who are not united by the law of consecration shall consequently not be prepared and will not be numbered with the saints.

  4 Neither is their genealogy to be kept, or to be had where it may be found on any of the records or history of the church.

  5 Their names shall not be found, neither the names of the fathers, nor the names of the children written in the book of the law of God, saith the Lord of Hosts.

   They are cut off.

  6 Yea, thus saith the still small voice, which whispereth through and pierceth all things, and often times it maketh my bones to quake while it maketh manifest, saying:

   Verse six qualifies this as a revelation, which begins with verse seven.

  7 And it shall come to pass that I, the Lord God, will send one mighty and strong, holding the scepter of power in his hand, clothed with light for a covering, whose mouth shall utter words, eternal words; while his bowels shall be a fountain of truth, to set in order the house of God, and to arrange by lot the inheritances of the saints whose names are found, and the names of their fathers, and of their children, enrolled in the book of the law of God;

  Here we see that the one mighty is sent by the Lord God, which by definition constitutes an apostle of the Lord, i.e. one sent. He shall hold a scepter (a king?). He shall be clothed with light, or in other words, truth. His mouth shall utter eternal words, or words from the eternal realm or eternal God, thus revelation.

  This is the calling of a prophet. His heart shall be a fountain of truth and he will (A) set in order God’s house, which is obviously disorganized and (B) arrange by lot the inheritances of the saints, or those who did not get cut off, because their names and that of their families are enrolled in the church records and book of the Law.

  8 While that man, who was called of God and appointed, that putteth forth his hand to steady the ark of God, shall fall by the shaft of death, like as a tree that is smitten by the vivid shaft of lightning.

   While, (separately) that man who was (past tense) called and appointed of God, who attempts to steady the ark, or in other words, take actions that are not commanded, especially by placing his own judgment above God’s, shall fall by the shaft of death. This is alluding to a specific circumstance in 2 Samuel 6:6-7.

6  And when they came to Nachon's threshing floor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it.

7  And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.

  Uzzah died because he presumed to disobey God and put his hand on the ark when he was not called to do so. His intentions seemed justified to him because he feared the ark falling over, even though he knew he wasn’t to touch it. This illustrates that God knows what he is doing, even if it looks like his ark or his kingdom is falling, and it is not for man to intervene to save it if he is not commanded to do so.

  9 And all they who are not found written in the book of remembrance shall find none inheritance in that day, but they shall be cut asunder, and their portion shall be appointed them among unbelievers, where are wailing and gnashing of teeth.

  The people who are cut off will not get an inheritance, and they are reduced to the class of unbelievers or apostates.

  10 These things I say not of myself; therefore, as the Lord speaketh, he will also fulfill.

  Joseph again states that this is a revelation which will come to pass.

  11 And they who are of the High Priesthood, whose names are not found written in the book of the law, or that are found to have apostatized, or to have been cut off from the church, as well as the lesser priesthood, or the members, in that day shall not find an inheritance among the saints of the Most High;

  In verse eleven, God says that this apostasy goes all the way up to the High Priests, or church leaders, as well as the members and that they are all cut off.

  12 Therefore, it shall be done unto them as unto the children of the priest, as will be found recorded in the second chapter and sixty-first and second verses of Ezra.

In Ezra 2:61-62 we read:

61 And of the children of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of Koz, the children of Barzillai; which took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called after their name:

62 These sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but they were not found: therefore were they, as polluted, put from the priesthood.

63 And the Tirshatha said unto them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, till there stood up a priest with Urim and with Thummim.

  This scripture is about putting people from the priesthood. The heading to Ezra 2 in the Utah edition states, “Children of priests whose genealogy is lost are denied the priesthood.” Thus, when these apostates cut themselves off from the Lord, their genealogy and family names are no longer recorded in the church records (including baptism for their dead) and they are put from the priesthood. Verse 63 goes on to say that they are so cut off as to not be worthy to take the sacrament until someone stands up among them with the Urim and Thummin, or the stones of prophecy and revelation.

   The reference here indicates that the One Mighty and Strong would come with Urim and Thummim. He would have the power to restore the priests to their priesthood or cut them off. This revelation now concerns inheritances, lineage and priesthood.

  A cursory reading of Ezra would indicate that that their genealogical records were misplaced, so they were put from the priesthood and considered unclean. Being put from the priesthood or becoming a lay Israelite would not make someone unclean. Not only were they unclean, they were disfellowshipped until they went before the prophet or until a prophet could be called who possessed Urim and Thummin. To be thorough, we might ask if the records of their priesthood were misplaced, or if they were removed intentionally because the priests were unclean? And if they were removed from the priesthood because they were unclean, what was the crime for which they were removed? 

   A clue may appear just before in Verse 61: Barzillai took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite and were called by their name. The mention of who he married and that he took upon him their name may be the source of the pollution. While there was nothing inherently wrong about Gileadite lineage, there may be something wrong with taking the name of the wife's family and building up that house instead of their own. Coincidentally, James' translation of the Book of Law Chapter XLII Descent of Inheritances covers the taking of an heiress's family name:

4. If a man die having no sons, but daughters, the inheritance shall belong to them: the men who shall take them to wife, shall be called after the name of their fathers, every man after the name of his wife's father: otherwise he shall not possess the inheritance. Thus shall the house and the name of him be kept up, who hath no son.
4.1 An only son, or a son in a small family, ought not to marry an heiress, because, as he cannot perpetuate both houses, he thus become the possible means of extinguishing one or the other. Having once assumed the name of his wife's father, he cannot return to his father's house, even to save it from extinction.

   Thus, the decision to marry a woman with no brothers, which the Law calls an heiress, requires the man to take her name and be considered part of her household, to build up her father's name, and loses all rights to the name and inheritance of his father, in this case also the priesthood. In the Book of the Law Chapter II Sec. 2 notes clarifies that "name" means "authority":

4 It therefore appears that to act in the name of anyone is to act by his authority; and to act in the name of God, is to act by his authority.
5 Hence, taking the name of God in vain, is taking his authority without being authorized; it is attempting to govern, without being called to that office; in any matter wherein God has declared a law, and appointed an administrator of the law.

An explanation of Ezra 2 from www.bible-studys.org says:

  "Till there stood up a priest with Urim and Thummim": As yet there was not any priest that had them; they were not to be found at the return from Babylon. The governor might hope they would be found, and a priest appear clothed with them, when it might be inquired of the Lord by them whether such priests, before described, might eat of the holy things or not; but since the Jews acknowledge that these were one of the five things wanting in the second temple; it is all one, as the Talmudists express it, as if it had been said, until the dead rise, or the Messiah comes. And who is come, the true High Priest, and with whom are the true Urim and Thummim, lights and perfections to the highest degree, being full of grace and truth.

  “These were people who could not trace their ancestry back to the Hebrews. They were possibly of mixed blood. We see in one instance where some children of the priests were grouped along with these because of mixed marriages that keep them from having distinct genealogies. This 70 year captivity had caused some of them to lose track of their family heritage. The priest who wore the Urim and the Thummim spoke as an oracle of God. God spoke to the people through the Urim and Thummim worn by the high priest.

  Thus, it indicates that these priests had perhaps become polluted through mixed marriages, and may not have been considered true Israelites. What is implied is that they chose to build up another house and not their own, and were at least disrespectful to their priesthood by not maintaining their genealogical records, and may have committed other sins not mentioned. 

 Conclusions

   We see that the penalties for the apostates is that they are cut asunder and denied the priesthood. Though “cut asunder” may mean being cut off from the Lord and encountering a spiritual death. Meanwhile, the one ordained who tried to steady the ark, should fall by the shaft of death.

  Because the mighty one would be an apostle (one sent) and prophet and receive revelation, he must needs come after Joseph is taken, as only Joseph could receive revelation for the church while he was alive. And because this revelation was given specifically to W. W. Phelps in a personal letter for use in his calling as the clerk and historian, we may conclude that it was shortly to come to pass in his lifetime, and that the information contained therein would be of use to him. Therefore, this has already come to pass and we need not look for it to happen in the future. This piece of information is overlooked by many who attempt to interpret it. Once you establish the time parameter, you can look for situations that fit the criteria of the revelation.

 Interpretation

    In the wake of Joseph’s martyrdom, the church was in a confused and disorganized state, as people were unsure who would lead them and what would happen to them. Brigham Young and the other apostles, the High Priests, were secretly practicing polygamy and introducing Masonic secret oaths into church practice and spreading rumors of Joseph being a fallen prophet, seeking to wrest control of the Kingdom from him. It was in this time that James J. Strang was called of God through Joseph to be an apostle and prophet, receive revelation of eternal words, hold a scepter as a king, and reorganize the church as it was intended with a first presidency. He would then divide those who would be numbered with the church from apostates and give inheritances by lot to those who remained in the church. 

   It cannot be doubted that James Strang fulfilled this. The Book of the Law chapter XLI, titled INHERITANCES, contains a revelation to James concerned this very topic:

2. And I have appointed my servant James the anointed Shepherd of my flock, to apportion unto every one his portion, for a perpetual inheritance.
3. Let him, therefore, appoint unto every one his inheritance, sufficient for him, and for his children...

   The revelation three times contains the phrase "Book of the Law," which in the context of Strang's succession and his subsequent work, appears highly foretelling. It will be noted that later during the 1840's in Nauvoo, Joseph Smith also kept a journal that he titled "The Book of the Law of the Lord."

  It is a fact that James held a scepter at his coronation and that he gave inheritances to those among his Stake practicing the United Order. It is also a fact that he excommunicated the Apostles who did not follow him and pronounced a revelation from God that cut off all who followed them into the desert, where they experienced mass deaths and much hardship.

   The one who was appointed and then cut off, who presumptuously tried to exert his wisdom over God’s in steadying the kingdom, was none other than Joseph Smith, himself, the recipient of this very revelation. There was not other man in supreme authority who was called and appointed of God to receive revelations for the church. His sudden death is unarguable, without which, or at least his fall from his prophetic office, there was no occasion for a Mighty and Strong one to come with the gifts of prophecy.  

   The reference to steadying the ark is a metaphorical reference to the man who tried to steady the Ark of the Covenant and died when the oxen shook it and it seemed like it might fall over. The turmoil of the division within the church, and the secret combinations and the rumors being spread about Joseph practicing polygamy, especially those that were levied against him in the Nauvoo Expositor, were shaking the church to its foundation. Joseph feared that it would topple the Kingdom and too matters into his own hands without a revelation and ordered the destruction of the printing office. This action set in motion a chain of events that led directly to his assassination.

Doctrine and Covenants 43
4 But verily, verily, I say unto you, that none else shall be appointed unto this gift except it be through him[Joseph]; for if it be taken from him he shall not have power except to appoint another in his stead. 
Doctrine and Covenants 42
10 And again, I say unto you, that my servant Edward Partridge shall stand in the office whereunto I have appointed him. And it shall come to pass, that if he transgress another shall be appointed in his stead. Even so. Amen. 
Doctrine and Covenants 28
2 But, behold, verily, verily, I say unto thee, no one shall be appointed to receive commandments and revelations in this church excepting my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., for he receiveth them even as Moses.
7 For I have given him the keys of the mysteries, and the revelations which are sealed, until I shall appoint unto them another in his stead. 

   We see that God had told Joseph Smith that he was the only one to receive revelations for the church and that God would appoint a successor through him whether he sinned, as in sections 42 and 43, or not, as in section 28. The breaking and entering a closed printing office and destroying private property while suppressing free speech qualifies as sinning. This sin and bitter punishment is repeated in the Letter of Appointment, the last known revelation to Joseph Smith, which is a fulfillment of this prophecy. 

   The high priests referenced in Ezra being put from the priesthood were Brigham Young and the other apostles and leaders with the exception of those who followed James. They married themselves to strange women without Joseph's knowledge and through their secret Masonic rites, created a new unknown third type of priesthood. They chose not to stand in their callings and destroyed evidence of James' appointment, leading to their excommunication in Voree by James and the end of their priesthood.

   The law of consecration and the organization of inheritances is something that James fulfilled without question, and which Brigham did not attempt until 1874, and then with significant changes from the way revealed through Joseph.

 Final Note

    There is nothing in this revelation that promises that any of these people would be faithful and keep these inheritances. This appears mostly to be a reaffirmation of the necessity of living the law of consecration known as the United Order of Enoch, and the utility of this revelation looking back is to approve the calling of the one through whom it was fulfilled. It offers, for those who accept it, a way out of the oppression and usurpation of the Brighamites and acceptance of more of God’s word. After all of these events came to pass, none of these people managed to live according to this law, and the priesthood was taken from all but a few, as promised in D&C 13:

   An extract from Joseph Smith’s history recounting the ordination of the Prophet and Oliver Cowdery to the Aaronic Priesthood near Harmony, Pennsylvania, May 15, 1829. The ordination was done by the hands of an angel who announced himself as John, the same that is called John the Baptist in the New Testament. The angel explained that he was acting under the direction of Peter, James, and John, the ancient Apostles, who held the keys of the higher priesthood, which was called the Priesthood of Melchizedek. The promise was given to Joseph and Oliver that in due time this higher priesthood would be conferred upon them. (See section 27:7–8, 12.)

The keys and powers of the Aaronic Priesthood are set forth.

1 Upon you my fellow servants, in the name of Messiah I confer the Priesthood of Aaron, which holds the keys of the ministering of angels, and of the gospel of repentance, and of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; and this shall never be taken again from the earth, until the sons of Levi do offer again an offering unto the Lord in righteousness.

    Note that the Aaronic priesthood is the only priesthood promised to remain on the earth. There is no such promise for the Melchizedek priesthood. Additional to this and contrary to the popular Brighamite claim that the priesthood was promised never again to be taken, the strange wording here seems to promise that the Aaronic priesthood would be taken from the earth after the Sons of Levi, or the Aaronic priests, make an offering in righteousness unto the Lord, which arguably was fulfilled on Beaver Island on July 8, 1850.

   Generally, prophecies are vague and open to interpretation, and the point of prophecy is not a specific foretelling of what will be but a warning to be faithful and watchful because we do not know when and how they will come to pass exactly, but they are usually understood in hindsight. All the markers of this prophecy fit the circumstances of this interpretation, and as this had to occur between the deaths of Joseph and of W. W. Phelps, and there are no other circumstances under which this prophecy could have been fulfilled during this time, the only reason to reject this interpretation is a dislike for its conclusion. As it had to be fulfilled or Joseph uttered a false prophecy, and its being fulfilled in this way powerfully reinforces Joseph’s claim to prophecy and revelation, both in this and his Letter of Appointment, the decision to accept it rests on how strongly one is committed to believing in the prophetic call Joseph or in following Brigham Young. 

   The several unusual references to the Book of the Law and the similarity of the word “strong” to the name Strang are coincidences in which one might see the hand of an author with foreknowledge. James was the only man in the history of the Restoration who claimed to possess and use the Urim and Thummim. For those with a testimony of the Prophet James and the Book of the Law of the Lord, there could not have been a clearer testimony from the Lord for his servant James J. Strang, and given that the revelation was preserved and added to the Doctrine and Covenants by the Brighamites who have consistently claimed to have no explanation or interpretation for it, it cannot be claimed to have been tampered with by James and it is unlikely that they modified it to fit any needs of theirs, but included it in D&C for unknown reasons other than the wisdom of God. It is unlikely that James even knew of this prophecy's existence, and yet history records him fulfilling it to the letter.

   The key to interpreting this revelation is context (i.e. the boring parts) and its recipient. There is not a piece of information included here that is not crucial to its interpretation. How did people gloss over it without seeing it for 185 years? Because they did not think W. W. Phelps, to whom the letter was addressed, was significant to its interpretation, but merely an unimportant sidenote and focused all the attention on the mysterious Mighty and Strong One. They imagine he received a personal letter containing a prophetic revelation that could be absolutely useless in his lifetime. When the reader chooses not to cast off important details, taking the approach that every word is meaningful in the revelation, the message becomes plain.

   Lastly, though many have come claiming to be the fulfillment of this prophecy (grouping the lot together), James did not claim so, but it has been left for us to see plainly in retrospect. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

 Humbly submitted in the name of Messiah,

 Christopher Mattanovich

11 May 2007

See next:
One Mighty Among Them;
The Interpretation of 2 Nephi 3

James J. Strang - Successor to Joseph Smith

   This publication is dedicated to showing that James J. Strang was the only true and rightful successor to Joseph Smith, the only person meeting the conditions laid out by revelation through Smith himself. Without James and his testimony, we do not have evidence that every prophecy and revelation of Joseph came to pass. With him, we do, and we have a powerful second witness to all that he revealed.

   Establishing that James Strang was the rightful successor also sheds light on Brigham Young and his associates as vain usurpers. This has been adequately demonstrated by history, not only by all the statements of Young himself in church publications, but in all the controversies of Mormonism that trace back to him. Literally everything objectionable - tyrannical government, oppressive culture, racism, sexism, a temple ritual stolen from Masonry - comes from him and not Joseph Smith.

   Joseph Smith's mission was to open the Heavens again and restore to humanity a communion with God. He removed the oppression of the religious institutions of his day and the brought back gifts of the spirit like prophecy. He stated that to be saved, all of us must become prophets. 

   James revealed more truth to set the prophetic record straight. Once his mission was complete, he too was called to seal his testimony in his blood and leave the Saints to find their way back to God with the knowledge they were given. 

   Much has changed since the second great Apostasy. Truth is coming out about the Utah Mormon Church which is threatening to collapse. Meanwhile the economy is on the brink of ruin while a second industrial revolution will change the economic landscape forever. A great awakening is taking place among the current generation, bringing a level of public awareness to all forms of corruption that has been unheard of heretofore. Humanity is finally ready to accept the Gospel and build the Kingdom of God on Earth.