Article 1: My Testimony About the Sealed Book (written by Bento D'Almeida)
Article 2: To Live for the Sake of Something Greater (written by Valdeci Machado)
Article 3: Get Out of Your Comfort Zones (written by Renee Whitefield)
Article 4: The Second Invitation in History -1878 Interview with David Whitmer
Article 5: Messages from Saints and Seekers,
Dear brothers and sisters, in this edition we are launching this section where we will post some beautiful and inspiring messages from church members and seekers that were published in the social networks.
Volume 6, Article 1-September 2021: written by Bento D'Almeida
MY TESTIMONY ABOUT THE SEALED BOOK
When in June 2019 through the good and sweet feelings of the truth, reading the testimony of brother João Vendemiatti in the Mormon Voices, I understood that something new was happening, something that I could not let pass, I promptly decided to ask for the announced "THE SEALED BOOK".
That account and testimony led me to face in all seriousness, the urgent need to be able to prove for myself, and not by the opinion of others, that THE SEALED BOOK was false, or true, properly substantiated, and it led me to a situation similar to when THE BOOK OF MORMON was announced to me. I had to know for myself, whether it was true, whether it was the translation of the Mormon Plates as now announced, that it had been brought by the ANGEL MORONI.
Just considering the possibility that it might be true was extraordinary enough for me, making it impossible to remain indifferent.
In fact, right at the beginning of the reading, as I read Moroni's words, I awoke to something far greater than I had imagined. Moroni's spiritual level was much higher, and I awoke and trembled. A great restlessness flooded my soul as I read his words in verse 5:
"5 Behold, the time has come for you to tear this veil that leads you to remain in this terrible state of iniquity and hardness of heart and blindness of mind, for the words that come from this record, The Sealed Book of Mormon, are like the hard tip of the mallet that shatters the hardness of the rock that covers your hearts hardened by your traditions and as the fire of the refiner who refines and purifies the filth of his thoughts stained by the precepts of men."
He was able to approach the reading of the SEALED BOOK with courage and determination, for he could easily discover deception and error, or with joy discover the truth.
Leaving aside the hypothesis that MORONI said something there that was not quite so, I decided to validate the suspicion that MORONI's spiritual level was far above what I had known so far, or otherwise, no man could judge that way for himself if he had not been elevated by the knowledge ministered by the Heavens.
I saved those words for later resolution and continued my reading. I had purposed to read the whole book first without stopping.
Each verse was truly a wealth of new things. Before long, my feelings could no longer contain me. Tears of joy flowed, my thoughts soared to heights I had never experienced before. Everything would have to be reviewed later, as it was impossible for me to retain all things. From then on such a stream of new understandings began to flow continuously into me that my mind simply could not stop working. As it was something so extraordinary that I was experiencing, several times I tried to dedicate myself to write it down to remember it in the future, but it was impossible because I would have to write endless pages for each new understanding, because the knowledge that is sent to us from Heaven cannot be written down, because there is no human language that can express and describe it.
When at one point I turned the page and came across the chapter "ACTS OF THE THREE NEPHITES", to my surprise, my heart soared without any intervention on my part or my will. I remember thinking I might die there, but surely that was not GOD's purpose for me, I was to wait. I had never felt my heart behaving as an entity independent of me before. My heart had acted intentionally, but it was very happy, it felt like it was going to burst out of my chest, but like a parent I waited happily for it to calm down. I could barely reason about the title, its reaction was immediate and independent. For some reason, opening that cover was programmed and my heart had that memory and joy even before I could react. In that chapter the time had come to know something about what had happened to the three Nephites who wished to remain in the land until the LORD returned. The account of Jonah is simply remarkable. There was continually knowledge on many levels through his easily understood words. He knew that if he did not re-read THE SEALED BOOK it would remain sealed even though he was reading it. It was impossible to retain it all, and still is today.
Faced with so many experiences and new knowledge not told in human words, I knew I had to meet these people and I knew I had to go to Brazil. Brother Joni, one of the 3 witnesses, was the first one who took care of me and has been my support ever since.
In my research I had read the defenses of Brother Mauricio Berger and in everything it seemed to me that he was like Joseph Smith Jr. which would be impossible for anyone to imitate.
I had also received a firm inner conviction that I could become a witness to the Mormon plates from which the SEALED BOOK was now translated, by the power and gift of GOD. But I did not tell anyone that I had this deep impression.
I strongly advise everyone to read THE SEALED BOOK and thus discover for themselves, by diligent study and with total freedom and spiritual discernment THE SEALED BOOK, so that they may come to know as I know, that it is truly the new Word of God to guide us in our time and in such difficult times.
The Lord Himself bore witness to the vital importance of THE SEALED BOOK in the March 2020 revelation, saying that THE SEALED BOOK is sent to us "as a healing to the nations."
You cannot afford to lose something so valuable.
(2 Nephi 28:21)
The SEALED BOOK opens the door to the promised Redemption of Zion.
(D&C 100:13)
The SEALED BOOK begins its process of obtaining citizenship to Zion.
(D&C 1:34-39)
The SEALED BOOK is the outstretched arm of the LORD as prophesied in Scripture. (D&C 1:12-14)
These are days for our rejoicing, not for strife.
(2 Nephi 28:16, 20)
Let each one accept Heaven's challenge to receive more of God's Words.
(2 Nephi 28:24-30)
By reading THE SEALED BOOK you will have access to the words of the Savior that were not recorded in the BOOK OF MORMON, but were set aside to emerge now in their purity to fulfill the divine purposes of building a heavenly society on earth as happened in the days of Enoch.
Read THE SEALED BOOK, alone or with your family.
GOD HAS NOT YET FINISHED HIS WORK.
(Isaiah 28:21)
ON THE CONTRARY, it is now that the Wonderful Work and the Awesomeness is really beginning.
19 It is at this time that what the Lord revealed to me, Moroni, when he said: "Behold, when ye shall tear away that veil of unbelief, which causeth you to remain in your terrible state of iniquity and hardness of heart and blindness of mind, then shall be revealed unto you the great and marvelous things which were hid from you before the foundation of the world.
I know that THE SEALED BOOK was translated by the gift and power of God, through the chosen servant of the LORD, Maurício Artur Berger, to whom THE ANGEL MORONI delivered with his own hands, before 3 Witnesses, the Mormon Plates and the seer stones for the proper translation.
May we all qualify ourselves to lean on the outstretched arm of the LORD and let go once and for all the arm of the flesh and become, true worshippers of the ETERNAL FATHER, in spirit and in truth.
Your brother in Christ, Bento.
Volume 6, Article 2-September 2021: written by Valdeci Machado
TO LIVE FOR THE SAKE OF SOMETHING GREATER
The earthly experience to which we are subjected leaves us permanently susceptible, in the light of the cosmic conflict between good and evil, to any influence, whether good or evil.
In his epistle, the apostle James taught: Ch. 4: v 7-8: "Submit yourselves therefore to God, and resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you."
Both the epistle of James and that of the other apostles of Jesus Christ are based on admonitions to the saints to foster in them the best feelings. Not long ago the Master ministered and practiced among them all these teachings. And miracles occurred before their eyes, precisely because they were united in love with Him who walked beside the people, and possessed all the virtues and keys necessary to make the connection between earth and heaven. Peter said, "Elijah was a man subject to the same passions as we are, and he prayed and asked that it might not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth yielded its fruit" - I Peter 1:17.
Despite our many imperfections, if we are to be the people foretold in the Scriptures, it is inevitable to develop these qualities in us. Indeed, those who have come to the Second Invitation for some time have already caught the attention of heaven, thus receiving more light and truth (D&C 50:24 - LDS). Obviously, no one is ready yet, and we will improve as a people, together, united in love, bearing with one another. - Colossians 3:13.
The time has come to remember the advice of our dear friend Cephas in his first letter, chapter 2: v4 "And as you draw near to Christ, a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God as precious, v5 You also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house and a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."
The power of the Priesthood is directly linked to our capacity to love and sacrifice for our brothers and sisters, especially the orphans, the widows, the poor and the afflicted.
Now, I invite you to an exercise of beautiful reminiscence and reflection:
Many have recently become acquainted with the Book of Mormon and the restorationist movement, now called Mormonism. The great majority of the Saints in Brazil and Central America have in their parents the first generation of participants in the restored gospel.
Who among us does not remember with nostalgia the days of our conversion to Mormonism? Those feelings are still very much with us. When the missionaries and sisters showed us the first vision of young Joseph. Do you remember the names of the missionaries? Of course you do. They taught us and encouraged us to pray. They introduced us to the congregation, where we have friends to this day. We were sweetly surprised by the first answers to our prayers, with the intensity of the presence of the Holy Spirit. They were our first steps to serve in the Lord's vineyard. And so many other experiences that are strongly engraved in our hearts. Those moments are beautiful, and will always have a special place within us. How can we deny this? We can't. We shouldn't! We have given the best of ourselves, and because of this, because of our sincere selflessness, we have caught the attention of heaven and of the Father. This was the first invitation (The Book of Mormon), and it was gladly accepted. Well, all these moments prepared us for something greater: The second invitation! (The Sealed Book). May all who have received the light and the truth, are eagerly awaiting the fulfillment of the prophecies and the translation of these sacred records.
And if we have come this far, and our influence has helped so many people to remove the scales from the eyes of so many brethren, so that they have accepted Joseph Smith Jr. as the Prophet of the Restoration, they have read and accepted the Book of Mormon as the word of God. Now, at this instant, many are praying for answers, seeking intensely like Saul of Tarsus. May we be watchful like Ananias - Acts 9:10, and be instruments in the hands of the Lord. Even you who have not served in the mission field, but have many experiences in the conversion of your friends and/or family. Therefore, the invitation you are accepting, yes the second one, the Sealed Book, should be extended to everyone you know or will meet. - Ezekiel 33 and D&C 18:28(LDS). It is your mission. It is not yet finished. In fact, it has barely begun.
And in case you are still reluctant to read The Sealed Book, remember the times when you taught in the field, once white for harvest. You taught people to ask God, in the name of the Son, if these things were true. The Holy Spirit teaches how to pray: "And now, my beloved brethren, I perceive that you are still meditating in your hearts; and it is painful for me to speak to you of this. For if ye would hearken to the Spirit that teacheth a man how to pray, ye would know that ye ought to pray; for the evil spirit teacheth not a man how to pray, but teacheth him that he ought not to pray."- 2 Nephi 32:8. If you find, present to Father the reasons why you will NOT read and pray for the answer to the truthfulness of the Sealed Book."
To accept the Second Invitation is, in effect, to embrace with all our might the opportunity we have to build the long-dreamed-of Zion, spoken of by so many prophets, who dreamed and wished to live in these days. We possess the tools that no other people in any other age have possessed. And for this, of course, a new posture of the saints is required. New attitudes, new habits, new thoughts and a level of servanthood that we have not yet experienced. Bringing God's people out of darkness and gloom is our greatest challenge and responsibility. It is the will of heaven conveyed by Moroni, who instructed: You must do the work of Alma, and carry the message of the Sealed Book first to those of the covenant and then to the Gentiles.
God has not separated His people. His will is that all the branches of the restoration be united again. We have Moroni's promise that many will believe the words of the Sealed Book (Words of Moroni-v2). In verse 04, the invitation of the Lord Himself: "Behold, therefore, in these days the Lord invites His people: come unto me, ye Gentiles, and I will show you greater things than these. Yea, the knowledge that is hidden because of the hardness of your hearts. Come to me, O HOUSE OF ISRAEL, and GREAT THINGS will be revealed to you, which the Father has reserved for you from the foundation of the world, and which have not come to you because of your unbelief.
Let us not allow ourselves to forget: Vanity joined with unbelief, which brought the Church to condemnation (D&C 84:54-57) - LDS Version. Therefore, let us step out of the comfort zone in which we finally find ourselves.
It seems fair and reasonable to us that in order to receive "something greater" it is necessary to offer a greater sacrifice. In this sense, I invite you all to listen to the voice of the Father, through His Seer Maurício Artur Berger, a man subject to the same passions as us, but who possesses the virtues and keys necessary to administer and build the Kingdom, yea the Prophet and Translator who translated the sealed portion of the Plates of Mormon, and who brought forth, by the mercy of the Most High, the Sealed Book, to which I bear witness by the power of the Holy Spirit of God dwelling in me, and flowing within me as a fountain of living waters, to be truly the word of God. Let us, then, walk side by side with Maurício, shoulder to shoulder, helping each other, experiencing a form of love that has not been manifested for a long time among the children of men. What we are experiencing in the Sion Project is indescribable, beloved of the Father.
I warn, affectionately and respectfully - to whosoever has ears to hear: to deny the Sealed Book is to deny the Book of Mormon, for it has the same origin, comes from the same set of Plates, which was once in the possession of the Prophet of the Restoration Joseph Smith Jr, and which has already met all the requirements of proof of authenticity. It comes from the same source divinely prepared for the remnant of the Seed. Join us in this noble cause, long awaited by heaven and prophesied by the servants of the Most High. Behold, the building of the long-dreamed-of Zion has begun.
If we accept the second invitation, to read the Book, we know, by the power of the Holy Spirit that comes from the Father! Then, necessarily, we must produce fruits worthy of the Kingdom of God. The Second Invitation requires that. The Second Invitation offers "something greater".
Whenever they lived a law of greater sacrifice, God's people prospered. Why? Because these people have discovered something greater.
Let's discover it together! Because "we know that we are of God, and that the whole world is in the wrong. And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know that which is true; and in that which is true we are, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. II John 1:19-20
May God bless the Zion Project. May God bless his people, yes, all the Branches of the Restoration. This is my supplication to the Father, in the holy and eternal name of his Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen!
Volume 6, Article 3 -September 2021: written by Renee Whitefield
Get Out of Your Comfort Zones
Moving back to the United States after spending nearly one year in Brazil, has presented a string of trials and a very painful heart-break for me. I am only just beginning to kick my way out of a hard shell of difficult circumstances that awaited my return. But there have been several blessings upon my return, also. My new grandson was born while I was in Brazil, and I was able to live with my youngest son and his family, and bond with my grandson for two months, before needing to move again, due to a health concern with asthma I had at that location. Sister Sherri Henson took me in to her home at that point. The same day I began to move in to Sherri’s home, however, we discovered that my oldest son, Charles, had passed away.
The home Charles had been living in needed a great deal of repairs, and I needed my own place to live, so after a couple of months, I decided to begin working, and spending a lot of money to fix structural problems at the house, so I could move to the house and keep working on it. We received a large sum of money from Charles’ family, paternal and maternal sides; as well as from Mike, a good friend of Charles; and an anonymous donor that I have assumed came from some of the saints in order to fix some major damage to the floor. I am able to do some of the repairs on the house, myself. While fixing the house, I spend a lot of time thinking about my son, and the life that he lived. I have not had time to travel, as I originally planned. And, my finances have been affected in a big way. This leads me to my testimony for this article, which took place around one week ago.
Becoming a part of the United Order might seem simple when discussing it. If you read the revelation in Volume 5 of the Herald, then you can see there is a law of consecration, and it starts with the tithe of Moses. First, there is a tithe of everything you own, and then a tithe of ten percent of what you bring home each month. But, that is the most basic consecration. Others will desire to consecrate more; perhaps 20%, 30% or all the way up to 100% of everything they own, to the United Order, voluntarily, of course. Besides the recent revelation, the sealed book describes consecration in detail, in “Acts of the Three Nephites”.
However, what happens when you decide to take action to be in the United Order instead of just talking about the United Order? You will find there is a vast sea of obstacles that seem to stand in the way. One of my obstacles, besides expenses with the house, is that I moved back to the United States. Living in the United States is far more expensive than living in Brazil. When I was living comfortably in my apartment in Brazil, I was able to make my donations to the United Order to the point that I will be able to send a detailed report to the bishop, soon, showing the first required ten percent of everything I owned, was paid while I lived in Brazil. I really wanted to be in the United Order 100%, but I have been in financial bondage for many years now, and I have to pay my debts as well –so I will be one of the saints who will only start my consecration with ten percent until later. However, there is a problem. I do not always have ten percent of my income left, after paying my debts and monthly bills, living here in the United States.
So, I had a dilemma. I had already committed to the United Order while living in Brazil, but now my circumstances had changed dramatically. Then, when the local gas company came to turn the natural gas on in the house, they hung a sign on my hot water heater saying that it was “dangerous” and needed replaced as soon as possible. I also needed a new heater for the house. The cost of those two heaters, plus installation, would be around two thousand United States dollars (and that is a very low bid). I had borrowed a certain amount of money for the repairs on the house, and what I had left, after fixing many other things, was definitely less than two thousand dollars. I still needed to pay my ten percent tithing for last month. I also needed to pay around four hundred in bills that week, and with more bills to come throughout the month. I was also running out of options for borrowing more money to fix the house! I am sincere about the United Order, and serious about actually living the teachings in the sealed book. So what do I do when it seems I will not be able to do the things, and not just talk about the things, regarding the United Order of Enoch? I went to straight to God.
I told God how I really wanted to be a part of the United Order, and that moving to the United States, (which I told God was in obedience to how I interpreted the short revelation during my confirmation at the Third World Conference) –will not help me to pay the ten percent each month. I said to God, “If you want me to pay the ten percent this month, then I need you to help me.” And then, like many other times, I went to sleep and did not think about that prayer again.
The next day, Brother José asked me to write my testimony for this Herald of the Second Invitation. Of course, I said yes, but I spent several days trying to think of which testimonies to include while laying tiles on the kitchen floor which had to be replaced because the old floor was in bad condition and contained asbestos.
I wrote an article that was over 8,000 words! However, I had to go through the “eye of the needle”, and let go of most of my words. The following testimony is the one the Lord wants me to share with you now. Perhaps at a later date, we will meet in person, and I can tell you numerous testimonies, because I could testify to you for days regarding the Second Invitation.
I have a small online business which pays the bills from one paycheck to the next paycheck. When I went to check on the finances, to see if I could pay some bills, a couple of days after José contacted me about writing this Herald article, I was astonished to find something had occurred in my account that I had never seen before in the eleven years since I started my business. A school in California had purchased sixty of my exam services in one day. The amount was equal to the amount of money I had made in one month, many times before. It was the money I needed to go ahead and fix the heaters, pay my bills, and also pay my ten percent consecration for last month, as well as the ten percent I will need for the tithe of Moses, this month, and the taxes the United States and the state of Missouri would require for me to pay them! Family of the Second Invitation, I am a witness to you that God wants us to be in the United Order–and He will help us when we make a commitment to Him and take the first step in faith.
In the class with Maurício on Saturday, Maurício mentioned some things about how Moses led the children of Israel to the edge of the Red Sea. Pharaoh’s armies were riding their chariots to overtake them, and it looked hopeless to the Israelites, who began to lose faith in spite of all the miracles they had witnessed during the plagues on Egypt. The Israelites began to complain and said they would rather go back in to slavery in Egypt than to die in the desert. Brothers and Sisters, we are those children of Israel now. We have a unique opportunity, just like the Israelites at the borders of the Red Sea. We can either continue to complain that it is too hard to obey the law of consecration, and choose financial slavery to the world as our comfort zone; or we can remember all the testimonies we have that this work is of God. God is providing us with a way out of bondage. Do you only see a Red Sea in front of you? God will part the sea of troubles that loom ahead of us. Remember, we do not want to be complainers like the Israelites. Be grateful for the Red Sea in front of you now, because God is about to give you testimonies regarding what you don’t see.
Remember, it was by faith that Enoch walked with God. It was by faith that Moses parted the Red Sea, and Joshua parted the Jordan River. It was by faith that Peter and the other apostles and saints of the church, began to have all things in common. It was by faith that Alma started the United Order among the Nephites who fled the tyranny of King Noah. It was by faith the Nephite nation lived in perfect harmony for two hundred years after Christ ascended. It was by faith that Joseph Smith Jr. translated the Book of Mormon, and through many trials led the early saints to build cities for the cause of Zion in the 19th century; and it is by faith that Maurício Berger translated the sealed book, and it is by faith that Maurício, who is like a Moses in our day, will finish the work that Joseph Smith Jr. did not complete --and that includes a successful United Order of Enoch.
Do we want to stay in financial bondage after we have come so far, just as the Israelites wanted to go back to slavery in Egypt? Of course not! We want to be like the Israelites who crossed the Jordan with Joshua in to the Promised Land! And so it is by faith that we will need to take a step forward now, as Maurício informed us recently.
Also, you need to attend some of the World Conferences in Brazil. You need to intently study the sealed book and the references. You need to get to know the saints in Brazil, and in other parts of the world -- not only saints who speak your own language. Get out of your comfort zones –and you will begin to understand the following statement I am about to make: This website “can not contain even a hundredth part” of what has already taken place, and the things Maurício Berger has been taught by angels since 2007, or all the things that Maurício Berger has taught us in the Second Invitation –neither could many websites. If you do not believe me, then take a look at the wagon loads of the Joseph Smith Papers which are still in the process of being put online nearly two centuries after Joseph and Hyrum’s martyrdom. The Second Invitation is no different –except it is a different century and we have more of the Book of Mormon now. We have new revelations, angels speaking the words of Christ, and there is more to come.
Joshua 1:9 "Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed; for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."
For those who are not yet a part of the Second Invitation, or the United Order --come, be a part of this history! I tell you today that this is not the end of my testimonies of the Second Invitation. I have many more testimonies. There are many other saints with many testimonies --and more will continue to occur beyond today. Learn more about the Second Invitation; the United Order; the holy feelings that are required for latter day saints to become living stones in a spiritual temple. Read the sealed book by downloading it here:
English: https://thesealedbookofficial.org/index.php/download-the-sealed-book/
Portuguese: http://olivroseladooficial.org/baixar-o-livro-selado/
In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Volume 6, Article 4 -September 2021: The Second Invitation in History
Interview by Dr. Poulson with David Whitmer, Deseret News, Friday, August 16, 1878
Interview by Dr. Poulson with David Whitmer, Deseret News, Friday, August 16, 1878
Question: When will the temple be built in Independence?
Answer: Right after the great tribulation is over.
Question: What do you mean by that?
Answer: A civil war more bloody and cruel than the rebellion, it will be the smashing up for this nation, about which time the second great work has to be done, a work like Joseph did and the translation of the sealed plates and peace all over
Volume 6, Article 5 -September 2021: Gleuton França, Maya Assis, Reginaldo Correia, Kael Batista
MESSAGES FROM SAINTS AND SEEKERS
Kael Batista:
This message deserves a special mention because it comes from a 9 year old boy, while his parents were in a class where they were explaining the importance of feelings in the second invitation and about the places to take refuge from the great tribulation, he in the use of his good feelings proposes this, according to his mother:
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