THE WALKING DEAD

Understanding our being is essential to avoid being counted among the WALKING DEAD. In the
beginning of this creation God organized the spirit of Jesus. Jesus then organized the spirits of all living
things in this creation. “1 In the beginning [of this creation] was the Word [Jesus], and the Word was
with God [the Father], and the Word was God [of this creation]. 2 The same was in the beginning with
God. 3 All things were made by him [Jesus]; and without him was not anything made that was made.”
(John 1) “14… These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation
of God.” (Rev. 3) Once a spirit is organized, it is eternal from that point on. Please bear with me when I
give some important background information.

The spirits of man are often referred to as stars in scripture. Jesus was the bright and morning star—the
first of this creation. “16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I
am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.” (Rev. 22) In mortal life, Jesus
was of the seed Abraham, the tribe of Judah, and the house of David through his father Joseph.
Genealogy in the Bible is only counted through the male line; as the seed of man is carried only through
the male line. “1 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of ABRAHAM. 2
Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat JUDAS and his brethren… 6 And Jesse
begat DAVID the king…16 And Jacob begat JOSEPH the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who
is called Christ.” (Matt. 1)

After the organization of the spirit of Jesus, came the organization of all other spirits for this creation.
The first command given to man–even before his physical creation–was to marry and bear children. “24
Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be
one flesh.” (Gen. 2) Jesus noted this command: “5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and
mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?” (Matt. 19) They become one
flesh through their children. All other unions are rebellion against God. This has been an important rule
in Israel and some other nations. Barrenness is considered one of the worst things that could happen to
a woman in Israel.

The first spirits organized by Jesus are called morning stars. “4 Where wast thou when I laid the
foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding… 7 When the morning stars sang together,
and all the sons of God shouted for joy?” (Job 38) The sons of God were those who were loyal to Jesus
during our spiritual estate.
During this spiritual estate (before Adam’s physical body was prepared), Satan rebelled against God. “12
How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground,
which didst weaken the nations! 13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will
exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of
the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. 15 Yet thou shalt
be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.” (Isa. 14)

The penalty for this rebellion—with a third of the host of heaven that followed him–was to be cast
down; never to have a physical body throughout eternity. Imagine: spending eternity as a ghost. The
judgments of God can be very severe. When man departed from the will of God 1,656 years after the fall
of Adam, all but eight souls were destroyed by water. When Sodom and Ghomorrah rebelled against the
law of God for only man and woman to be joined, they were destroyed. The Supreme Court declared
destruction of this country by making a new law. Does man never learn from history? Or, does he think
that God’s arm is shortened. All will soon learn. There is coming destruction even worse than in the days
of Noah. Jesus said, “21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the
world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no
flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake [Israel] those days shall be shortened.” (Matt. 24) Fire goeth
before: famine followeth after; and the pestilence shall waste them. There are hundreds of Bible
passages to prove what is in the near future. “19 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with
wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.” (Isa.
13)

Let us go back to the beginning. After the earth was prepared for man, God created a perfect physical
body—immortal—for Adam. Then, He placed the spirit of Adam—the breath of man—into this physical
body and man became a living soul—spirit and body united. “7 And the LORD God formed man of the
dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”
(Gen. 2) Then the body of Eve was prepared and the spirit of Eve was placed in her body–the same as
with Adam.

There was a tree in the Garden of Eden by which they could eat and remain immortal: the tree of life.
Another tree–called the tree of good and evil–they were forbidden to eat. Why? Because it would
change the chemistry of their bodies, blood would flow in their veins, and they would become mortal.
“17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou
eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” (Gen. 2) Adam was not deceived. He preferred to eat of the
forbidden fruit and become mortal than to lose his wife. What man who is bonded with his wife would
not sacrifice his life for her? “8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the
Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” (2 Pet. 3) All of mankind from Adam to
Noah died within a thousand years. Adam lived 930 years. Methuselah lived the longest at 950 years.
Noah’s father Lamech was 182 years old when Noah’s father was born. Adam knew the first born sons
from the fall to Lamech. Adam died just 126 years before Noah was born. Consider how easy it was for
the knowledge of truth to be passed from generation to generation. Noah knew the first born sons to
Abraham. Abraham spent 37 years in the instruction of Noah and his son Shem.

We have seen that the creation of man was in two parts. The first was spiritual; and the second was
union with his physical body. This is why there are two accounts of the creation of Adam. The spirit of
man is eternal from the time it was organized. The physical or tabernacle of man WILL DIE. This mortal
existence is like a snap of the fingers compared with eternity. Failure to understand eternity will cause
one to put to much value on mortal life. “28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to
kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matt. 10) After
death of the physical body, the spirit is taken back for judgment. “7 Then shall the dust return to the
earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.” (Eccl 12)

There are two places prepared for spirits after death of the physical body: the bosom of Abraham for
members of the Kingdom of God; and the spirits in prison (hell) for all others. Those with the spirits in
prison cannot go outside the prison. “26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf
fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us that would
come from thence.” (Luke 16) The only way out of the spirits in prison is through obedience to the
gospel. After the death of Jesus’ mortal body, He opened a dispensation to the spirits in prison (hell)
some of which had been waiting since the days of Adam. “18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins,
the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by
the Spirit: 19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; 20 Which sometime were
disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a
preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. 21 The like figure whereunto even
baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good
conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: 22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the
right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.” (1 Pet. 3)

Those who failed to obey the gospel in mortal life were THE WALKING DEAD in their time. All who fail to
obey the gospel in mortal life ARE THE WALKING DEAD. They are spiritually dead to the extent that they
have no hope of the best resurrection and the celestial glory. Jesus said, “2 In my Father’s house are
many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” (John 14) These
mansions are glories. “40 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the
celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. 41 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. 42 So
also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption.” (1 Cor. 15) This
resurrected body is of incorruptible material and is therefore immortal. There is to be two major
resurrections beginning about 2,000 years after the death of Jesus. The first is the resurrection of the
just. These are those that followed the will of God in mortal life, obeyed the gospel, and endured faithful
to the end of mortal life.

“4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls
of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not
worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their
hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead lived not
again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he that
hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of
God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.” (Rev. 20)

No one can be “blessed and holy” without obeying the gospel. “16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel
of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also
to the Greek [gentile].” (Rom. 1) “22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin that the promise by
faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.” (Gal. 3) “56 The sting of death is sin; and the
strength of sin is the law.” (1 Cor. 15) Those who do not obey the gospel and law of God are THE
WALKING DEAD OF TODAY. They have no hope of inheriting the earth and the celestial glory in the first
resurrection. They also have no hope of escaping the desolation that is on our doorstep. Jesus is to
return “In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of
our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the
Lord, and from the glory of his power; 10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be
admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.” (2 Thess.
1:8-10)

We have been given a free moral agency to believe whatever we desire. God does not change and His
laws are eternal. “6 For I am the LORD, I change not ; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.”
(Mal. 3) God will not make us do anything; and Satan cannot. Satan can, though, use his experience with
mortal man to tempt him with the delights of the flesh and rather than in obedience to the will of God.
Man never seems to learn from history. Since the days of Adam man has turned away from God and
chose the will of man.

Most of mankind never hears the gospel in mortal life. Why is this? They were not loyal to Jesus in the
time when Satan rebelled against God. A third of the host of heaven followed Satan and was cast down
with him to never have a physical body. After the Millennium they will never have association with
mankind for eternity. It is likely that a third or more just sat on the fence–just as man does today. Only
about ten percent of man is independence thinkers. The rest are simply followers. This happened in the
days of Noah where only eight souls survived. It happened in Sodom and Gomorrah where only Lot and
his daughters barely survived. All the great civilization of man—not of God—have been destroyed.
Consider Persia, Greece, Babylon, Ancient Egypt, Rome, and others. They were the WALKING DEAD in
their day. Only Israel and the few gentiles called of God are to become the people of God once again.
“37 Behold, I will gather them out of all countries, whither I have driven them in mine anger, and in my
fury, and in great wrath; and I will bring them again unto this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely:
38 And they shall be my people, and I will be their God.” Jer. 32) What of the gentiles? “15 For the day of
the LORD is near upon all the heathen [also gentile]: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee: thy
reward shall return upon thine own head. 16 For as ye have drunk upon my holy mountain, so shall all
the heathen drink continually, yea, they shall drink, and they shall swallow down, and they shall be as
though they had not been.” (Obad)

Since the promises of eternal life were given only to Abraham and his seed, it follows that a gentile must
be adopted into his seed to receive the same promises. How is this possible? “27 For as many of you as
have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek [gentile], there is
neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if ye be
Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Gal. 3)

Today we have history repeating itself. What country today is founded on the laws of God? Which one
has been organized through communication with God? Soon, there will be a worldwide destruction
because man has separated himself from God. Why does God not speak with them? “1 Behold, the
LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: 2 But your
iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he
will not hear.” (Isa. 59)

WHO ARE THE WALKING DEAD OF TODAY? They are the same as in times past. They know not God and
obey not the gospel. In 324 AD, the un-baptized, pagan Roman Emperor, Constantine, adopted pagan
doctrines into the Christian church. He was a loyal follower of the sun god. In place of the living God of
Jacob, he made the Trinitarian god of paganism the god of now so called “Christians.” He adopted the
virgin birth doctrine of paganism in place of Jesus who was the seed of Abraham and House of David.

“It [Plate V] represents the Virgin and Child precisely as she used to be represented in Egypt, in India, in
Assyria, Babylonia, Phoenicia, and Etruria.” (Ancient Pagan and Modern Christian Symbolism with an
Essay on Ball Worship, on the Assyrian Sacred Grove and other Allied Symbols, Thomas Inman, p. 7) “The
Christian trinity is of Egyptian origin, and is as surely pagan doctrine as the belief in martyrs and virgins,
gods and demigods, and other forms of faith which deface the greater part of modern religions.” (Ibid.,
p. 13)

The Church of England in the “Homily Against Peril of Idolatry,” first published about the middle of the
sixteenth century, admitted of the great Christian apostasy. “So that laity and clergy, learned and
unlearned, all ages, sects, and degrees of men, women, and children of whole Christendom– a horrible
and most dreadful thing to think– have been at once drowned in abominable idolatry; of all other vices
most detested of God, and most damnable to man; and that by the space of eight hundred years and
more.”

There is a principle of truth pertaining to the gospel that has been lost among sectarian churches today.
By sectarian, I mean all churches that were organized without communication or authority from God.
The foundation creed of the Catholic Church states: “Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is
necessary that he hold the Catholic faith. Which faith, except every one do keep whole and undefiled,
without doubt he shall perish everlastingly.” This is certainly not a church of God. All Catholics,
Protestants, and even Evangelicals accept this error. Evangelicals—having no authority from God—can
only preach that salvation is by faith alone. They completely ignore the true God and the gospel of
Christ. This is a god and gospel invented in the minds of man. “7 Because the carnal mind is enmity
against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” (Rom. 8)

Worse, some claim these false doctrines are of God–when God had no part inventing them. Some
believe all that is necessary for salvation is to accept Jesus as their savior. True, we must accept Jesus;
but, that is only one part of the gospel. “21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord , shall enter
into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” (Jesus, Matt. 7)
“19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But
wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” (James 2) “9 But in vain they do worship
me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” (Matt. 15)

This mortal life is only one phase in our eternal lives. First, we were organized as spirits. Second, our
spirit was united with a mortal body and became a living soul. Third, the physical body will die; and the
spirit will be taken back to Jesus for judgment. Those who fail to obey the gospel of Christ will be taken
to the spirits in prison (hell); because they have no rights in the Kingdom of God. Fourth, as spirits we
will await our resurrection. Fifth, our spirit will be united with an immortal physical body in either the
first resurrection of the just, or the second resurrection of all others. Mortal life is like a snap of the
fingers compared with eternity.
If there is no hope after death, how many billions will be cast off forever into everlasting punishment?
Nonsense! The gospel was not preached to the dead from the days of Adam to the mortal death of
Jesus. While His mortal body lay in the grave, Jesus went to the spirits in prison (hell) to open a
dispensation of the gospel to them. “18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the
unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: 19 By
which [in the spirit] also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison.” (1 Pet. 3) Why? “6 For, for this
cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men
in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.” (1 Pet. 4) Is it any wonder that Jesus warned about
following such false prophets (teachers)? “15 Beware of false prophets [preachers], which come to you
in sheep’s clothing [as ministers of God], but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” (Matt. 7)

WHAT IS THE HOPE OF THE WALKING DEAD SHOUD THEY DIE? After death, they will receive the gospel
in the spirit; and be judged like men in the flesh. This is why the ordinance of baptism of the dead is
administered any time there is a prophet on the earth. It was administered by the Apostles of Jesus,
Joseph Smith and James J. Strang. Sectarian Christians—having no communication with God—have no
knowledge of truth and would leave their dead to everlasting punishment. Not so with God and the
Church of Christ. They are able to accept the gospel in the spirit, be baptized for the dead, and inherit
the earth with those that accept the gospel in the flesh. Their glory, though, will not be the same. Those
who obey the gospel in the flesh have the opportunity to inherit the earth in the celestial glory—glory
like the sun. Those who obey the gospel in the spirit also inherit the earth; but, in the terrestrial glory—
glory like the moon. Those with the spirits in prison that still do not accept the gospel, remain dead
spiritually, will be resurrected into the telestial glory—like the stars—on planets with other men like
themselves. Hope is still not lost. Those who inherit the terrestrial glory will administer to them; and if
they turn to God and obey the gospel, they can progress to the terrestrial glory. Those in the terrestrial
glory are administered to by the celestial; and will be able to change themselves and enter the celestial
glory. Only those who desire to be filthy still are lost forever; although they will have an immortal
physical body. Punishment is not a lake of fire and brimstone; but, an inheritance equal to their works
during both the spiritual estate and the mortal estate. Remorse can be the worst punishment of all.

Knowledge of God was lost completely for 1,260 years beginning when the Bishop of Rome thought to
stand as God on the earth. When we take this time—570 AD—and add the 1,260 years, we get 1830. On
April 6, 1830, Joseph Smith organized the Church of Christ by direct revelation and association with God
and Jesus. Knowledge of God and authority to administer the gospel was again on the earth.
Unfortunately, when the saints failed to live by the commandments given to them, Joseph was taken—
murdered by a gang of ruffians with protection of the Governor of Illinois.

The same hour that Joseph died, James J. Strang—in Burlington, Wisconsin—claimed to have been
ordained to the same authority as Joseph under the hands of angel(s)—the only source of authority
when lost. James, though, was 400 miles distant and could have no knowledge of Joseph’s death; except
by angelic administration. The saints again failed to abide in the laws given to them; and James was
taken. Two apostate Strangites with the help of the US Government—the captain of the US Steamer
Michigan—were able to shoot James on the dock. He was returned to Voree—near Burlington—where
he died. The saints were driven from their inheritance given to them by God; and were scattered.

THE PATH TO SALVATION FOR THE WALKING DEAD IS ON THE EARTH. Those who were loyal during their
spiritual estate have the opportunity to hear the gospel in mortality. “4 According as he hath chosen us
in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in
love: 5 Having predestinated [for-ordained us] us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to
himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.” (Eph. 1) There is no predestination. That would
prevent us from having a free moral agency and mean that we have no choices in life. Those who
receive authority from God in mortality received that for-ordination in the spirit. “4 Then the word of
the LORD came unto me, saying, 5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou
camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” (Jer. 1)

Only those who receive the Melchisedec Priesthood, have authority from God to administer the saving
ordinances of the gospel. Before Jesus could begin His mission, He had to obey the gospel. He went to
John the Baptist—a Priest of the Levitical Priesthood—who held authority from God to baptize with
water. “11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier
than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost [because He
received the Melchisedec Priesthood], and with fire [the Holy Spirit].” (Matt. 3) Jesus was to receive the
higher Melchisedec Priesthood. Before Jesus began His mission He was ordained by the Father to the
highest office in the Melchisedec Priesthood–like Moses and others before Him. “11 Then the devil
leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.” (Matt. 4) What did they administer?
“4 And no man taketh this honour [of the priesthood] unto himself [as man does], but he that is called of
God, as was Aaron [by the spirit of revelation to Moses]. 5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made
an high priest; but he [the Father] that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee. 6 As
he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.” (Heb. 5) “17
From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matt.
5)

When Jesus restored the Kingdom of God, He did so with all of the officers of the Melchisedec
Priesthood. Only an officer holding this priesthood holds authority from God to administer the saving
ordinances of the gospel. “11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists
[high priests]; and some, pastors [elders] and teachers; 12 FOR the perfecting of the saints, FOR the
work of the ministry, FOR the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 TILL we all come in the unity of the faith,
and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the
fullness of Christ.” (Eph. 4)

Divine authority, though, continues to this day. James had ordained L. D. Hickey one of the Twelve
Apostles, who ordained Samuel Martin a high priest, who ordained Lloyd Flanders a high priest, who
ordained me an elder of the Melchisedec Priesthood with authority to administer all the saving
ordinances of the gospel. Having a legitimate claim to the Melchisedec Priesthood, I hold authority from
God to baptize you with water and the Spirit; and administer the holy Eucharist. Without receiving
these, there are only the walking dead. No faith, no baptism, and no hope of a better resurrection.

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE AMONG THE WALKING DEAD. The gate into the Kingdom of Heaven is open.
“13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction,
and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which
leadeth unto life, and FEW THERE BE THAT FIND IT. 15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in
sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” (Matt. 7) You could be counted among these
few and have hope of a better resurrection.