Apostle Christopher Layton (TLC): Enter in at the gate

Apostle Layton's Jersey cows don't like mixing with the Dexter cows. They are known to attack each other, so they are kept separate - which Layton says is a real world experience with keeping fences and gates. (Photo by Christopher Layton)

By Apostle Christopher Layton, TLC

"For, how knoweth a man the master which he hath not served, and which is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart." (Mosiah 5:13)

I've prayed about what to say to my fellow brethren in Christ, and to be honest, it isn't my intention to make bridges among the multitude of faiths within the various Mormon sects, much less the religions of the world. Rather, it is my intention to keep fences and gates.

Why would I want to keep fences and gates? Because Jesus Christ kept fences and gates. He said that there is a right way to enter and a wrong way to enter the sheep pen, and the right way is at the gate. He said that it is the shepherd that knows his flocks and his flocks know his voice, he it is that enters in the gate and comes no other way. He alone guards the gate. It is the thief who comes in other ways over the fence, over the wall, and over the bridge to kill, steal, and destroy.

As the poet Robert Frost once said, "Good fences make good neighbors." God is a segregationist. Even among the tribes of Israel, all were not admitted into the Holy of Holies, only the Levites, particularly the sons of Kohath could come in to minister there. God makes provision for all men from the court of the gentiles outside where they could be taught the Gospel, to the Holy sanctuary where the High Priest could make an atonement for both him and his people. 

All men who want a blessing from God have a place to receive it but not all things are equal in the Kingdom of God. This is why there are many mansions in God's house and not all men can live in the same place, any more than Abraham and Lot could because of the multitudes of their flocks. 

They too had to be segregated so that Lot and his family would live in the east, which was called the Plain of Jordan, where Sodom and Gomorrah were, on account of it being a fertile and irrigated land. Abraham and his family would live in the more arid land of Canaan.

WHAT IS THE GATE?

The gate is the ordinances. From the beginning of Genesis, upon Adam finding himself in the lone and dreary world, built an altar upon which he offered sacrifice. The altar is where Adam (formerly known as Michael) called upon His God and taught his sons the true order of prayer, which was established from the foundation of the world. 

     "And then began these men to call upon the name of the Lord; and the Lord blessed them; and a book of remembrance (which are Holy Scriptures) was kept in the which was recorded in the language of Adam, for it was given unto as many as called upon God, to write by the Spirit of inspiration; And by them their children were taught to read and write, having a language which was pure and undefiled. Now this same priesthood which was in the beginning [the Holy Priesthood, even the Priesthood after the Order of the Son of God] shall be in the end of the world also" JST Genesis 6:5-7

     "And this greater priesthood administereth the gospel and holdeth the key of the mysteries of the kingdom, even the key of the knowledge of God. Therefore, in the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is manifest. And without the ordinances thereof, and the authority of the priesthood, the power of godliness is not manifest unto men in the flesh; For without this no man can see the face of God, even the Father, and live." D&C 84:19-22

God has established this means whereby man may not be deceived by workers of darkness. This is how Adam knew that Peter, James, and John were true messengers sent from Father, and this is how Joseph, just like Adam, knew that the two messengers who dismissed the devil were true messengers from God also. It is from this visit that Joseph revealed:

     "There are two kinds of beings in heaven, namely: Angels, who are resurrected personages, having bodies of flesh and bones. For instance, Jesus said: Handle me and see, for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. Secondly: the spirits of just men made perfect, they who are not resurrected, but inherit the same glory. When a messenger comes saying he has a message from God, offer him your hand and request him to shake hands with you [from the way we learn it in the endowment]. If he be the spirit of a just man made perfect, he will come in his glory; for that is the only way he can appear. Ask him to shake hands with you but he will not move, because it is contrary to the order of heaven for a just man to deceive; but he will still deliver his message. If it be the devil, as an angel of light [whereas the scriptures positively state that he was once an Angel in authority in the presence of God who was cast down for rebellion] when you ask him to shake hands he will offer you his hand, and you will not feel anything [no priesthood token] you may therefore detect him. These are the three grand keys whereby you may know whether any administration is from God." D&C 129

     "O then, my beloved brethren, come unto the Lord, the Holy One. Remember that his paths are righteous. Behold, the way for man is narrow, but it lieth in a straight course before him, and the keeper of the gate is the Holy One of Israel; and he employeth no servant there; and there is none other way save it be by the gate; for he cannot be deceived, for the Lord God is his name." 2 Nephi 9:41

The website of the True and Living Church of Jesus Christ of Saints of the Last Days (TLC), which includes a means of contact with Apostle Layton, can be found here.

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