In Isaiah, the Lord warns that there will be those who "make a man an offender for a word, and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate, and turn aside the just for a thing of nought" (Isa 29:21).Remember the Savior taught us to "judge not, that we be not judged" (Matt 7:1-6). This counsel is just as much enforced today as in the day of the Savior. The Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils. In this they judged our Lord wrongfully.In the day of Joseph Smith, men in and out of the church judged him wrongfully. The sectarian ministers said Joseph's visions and revelations were all of the devil. While some of his fellow priesthood brethren, even those he had ordained and taught, accused him of being a fallen prophet.Joseph however, was true to his vision and wrote this after receiving much persecution,"it was nevertheless a fact that I had beheld a vision. I have thought since, that I felt much like Paul, when he made his defense before King Agrippa, and related the account of the vision he had when he saw a light, and heard a voice; but still there were but few who believed him; some said he was dishonest, others said he was mad; and he was ridiculed and reviled. But all this did not destroy the reality of his vision. He had seen a vision, he knew he had, and all the persecution under heaven could not make it otherwise; and though they should persecute him to death, yet he knew, and would know to his latest breath, that he had both seen a light and heard a voice speaking unto him, and all the world could not make him think or believe otherwise.So it was with me. I had actually seen a light, and in the midst of that light I saw two Personages, and they did in reality speak to me; and though I was hated and persecuted for saying that I had seen a vision, yet it was true; and while they were persecuting me, reviling me, and speaking all manner of evil against me falsely for so saying, I was led to say in my heart: Why persecute me for telling the truth? I have actually seen a vision; and who am I that I can withstand God, or why does the world think to make me deny what I have actually seen? For I had seen a vision; I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it, neither dared I do it; at least I knew that by so doing I would offend God, and come under condemnation" (JS History 1:21-26).To those in the church who felt and thought they knew better than the Prophet Joseph Smith, the Lord poured out his wrath as a warning to others not to persecute His friends. Those brethren who persecuted Joseph were called the "Great Big Elders" because they were so full of themselves, their learning, their wealth, and their positions of power that their pride reached up onto heaven like unto the scribes, pharisees and lawyers of old. These aspiring men "had a subtle devil to deal with, and could only curb him by being humble" (Scriptural Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith,p. 254).The Prophet Joseph Smith characterized himself in the following way: "I am like a huge, rough stone rolling down from a high mountain; and the only polishing I get is when some corner gets rubbed off by coming in contact with something else, striking with accelerated force against religious bigotry, priestcraft, lawyer-craft, doctor-craft, lying editors, suborned judges and jurors, and the authority of perjured executives, backed by mobs, blasphemers, licentious and corrupt men and women-all hell knocking off a corner here and a corner there. Thus I will become a smooth and polished shaft in the quiver of the Almighty, who will give me dominion over all and every one of them, when their refuge of lies shall fail, and their hiding place shall be destroyed, while these smooth-polished stones with which I come in contact become marred" (STPJS,p.339).Each one of us must come unto the Lord so he may personally give us the knowledge of salvation. Joseph has led the way and paid the price so we can enjoy the fullness of the gospel in these last days. The prophet said, "If we have any claim on our Heavenly Father for anything, it is for knowledge. Reading the experience of others, or the revelation given to them, can never give us a comprehensive view of our condition and true relation to God. Knowledge of these things can only be obtained by experience through the ordinances of God set forth for that purpose. Could you gaze into heaven five minutes, you would know more than you would by reading all that ever was written on the subject" (teachings, p. 324).I too am one whom the Lord has spoken to and have been blessed to see beyond the veil. My message is simple, God lives, Jesus is the Christ and Joseph Smith is the Lord's chief apostle and prophet in this the dispensation of the fullness of times. God had mercy upon my soul when he delivered me from the devil, death and hell at Woodstock. Then as I continued to call upon the name of Jesus Christ he lead me into heaven, then to The Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith and into the greater light. I trust in the living apostles and prophets in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and bear witness to the whole world that these men are the Lord's true legal administrators on earth at this time. This I know by the visions of heaven and the power of the Holy Ghost, amen.Now the Book of Mormon bears witness of the truth of all things for it was written by holy men as they were moved upon by the power of the Holy Ghost. The stories and teachings therein bear witness of the Father and Son. It tells of miracles, angels and visions that came upon the ancient Americans because of their faith and belief in the Great Messiah even our Lord Jesus Christ.Alma the younger had a marvelous conversion which my own is likened to. Surely he was born again into the greater light because of his great faith in Christ and his willingness to repent. My faith and repentance opened the heavens so that I saw the mysteries of Godliness and then like Paul(Saul) the Lord lead me to his authorized servant(Bro. W.) who taught and baptized me. I entered the straight and narrow gateway which leads to eternal life if I remain true and faithful and endure to the end. Over the last twenty-five years, I've had my share of successes and failures while striving to fulfil my mission here on earth. The Lord has continued to bless me with trials, knowledge and ordinances. These rich experiences have strengthened my faith in Christ and in his restored gospel.In addition, I have spent much time in study, prayer and service to my fellowman. Though my sins may be many and "as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool"(Isa 1:18). Forgive me if I don't confess all my sins before you, but I realize there will be many who will confess my sins and weaknesses before the world. However, I trust in my God and in the atonement of Jesus Christ to wash all my sins away in the blood of his life as I continue to repent and perfect my life.You may ask, by what right do I write or speak such things? Who gave you authority to act in the name of the Lord and hold up your life as light to the people?Have you not read my story or the restoration story gospel or all the Holy Scriptures of God? For in them are the answers for all of your concerns. Are not all the true saints prophets? I enjoy Elder Bruce R. McConkie's definition of prophet and scripture."To many of the spiritually illiterate in modern Christendom, prophets are strange, perhaps even freakish, characters from bygone ages to whom the lord somehow revealed future events. In fact prophets are simply members of the true Church who have testimonies of the truth and divinity of the work. They are the saints of God who have learned by the power of the Holy Ghost that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.A heavenly visitant, upon whom the Lord had placed his name, told the Beloved Revelator: "The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."(Rev 19:10) That is, every person who receives revelation so that he knows, independent of any other source, of the divine Sonship of the Savior, has, by definition and in the very nature of things, the spirit of prophecy and is a prophet. Thus Moses exclaimed, "Would God that all the Lord's people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit upon them!" (Num 11:29) And thus Paul counseled all the saints,"Covet to prophesy," and promised the faithful among them,"Ye may all prophesy."(1Cor 14:31-39)A testimony comes by revelation from the Holy Ghost, whose mission it is to bear "record of the Father and the Son." (Moses 1:24) Of Christ, Moroni says: "Ye may know that he is, by the power of the Holy Ghost." (Moro 10;7) Prophecy comes from the same source and by the same power. In Peter's Language,"Prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."(2Pet 1:21)When a person abides the law which enables him to gain a revealed knowledge of the divine Sonship of our Lord , he thereby abides the law which empowers him, as occasion may require, to prophesy. In Nephite history we find an account of a people who gained testimonies and as a consequence had also the gift of prophecy. After expounding the plan of salvation, as such operates through the atoning blood of Christ, King Benjamin desired "to know of his people if they believed the words which he had spoken unto them." Their answer: "We believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent." That is, they had gained testimonies. Then they said, "We, ourselves, also, through the infinite goodness of God, and the manifestations of his Spirit, have great views of that which is to come; and were it expedient, we could prophesy of all things."(Mosiah 5:1-3) That is, the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy: both testimony and prophecy come by the power of the Holy Ghost: and any person who receives the revelation that Jesus is the Lord is a prophet and can, as occasion requires and when guided by the Spirit, "prophesy of all things."Prophetic utterances, both oral and written, are scripture. "To some it is given by the Holy Ghost to know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that he was crucified for the sins of the world." (D&C 46:13) Testimonies borne by such persons, when moved upon by the Spirit, are scripture. In fact, all the elders of the Church, by virtue of their ordination, are called "to proclaim the everlasting gospel, by the Spirit of the living God," with this promise: "Whatsoever they shall speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost shall be scripture, shall be the will of the Lord, shall be the mind of the Lord, shall be the word of the Lord, shall be the voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation."(D&C 68:1,4) And as it is with the elders on earth, so it is with their fellow servants beyond the veil. The words of the angels of God in heaven are scripture, for, "Angels speak the words of Christ." (2Ne.32:3)Manifestly, all prophets are not equal, and all scripture is not of identical worth. Most persons with the spirit of testimony, of inspiration, and of prophecy are prophets to themselves only, or to their families. Some are called to preside over and give inspired guidance to one organization or another. In our day the First Presidency and the Twelve are sustained as prophets, seers, and revelators to the whole Church, with the revealed provision that the President of the Church, who is the senior apostle of God on earth at any given time, shall "preside over the whole church" and "be like unto Moses," being "a seer, a revelator, a translator, and a prophet, having all the gifts of God which he bestows upon the head of the church." (D&C 107:91-92) To the Church, the Lord says: "Thou shalt give heed unto all his words and commandments which he shall give unto you as he receiveth them, walking in all holiness before me; For his word ye shall receive, as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith." (D&C 21:4-5)Such scripture as is canonized- meaning, at the present moment, the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price-comes from prophets who held positions of leadership and trust in the Lord's earthly kingdom. It is binding upon the Church and the world and is the standard by which all men shall be judged when they shall stand before the pleasing bar of the great Jehovah to receive according to their works. (The Promised Messiah, p.23-25)Elder McConkie makes it very clear that the Lord will speak to all his worthy baptized servants by the power of the Holy Ghost and they have a charge to do as the spirit directs. According to the above quote, there are different levels of responsibilities and accountabilities for the messages given or received. Certain bounds are set and limits given to those who bear a message from the Lord. Remember that Samuel the Laminate was given a message to give to the unbelieving Nephites, which he did, but the Nephites failed to record its fulfillment in the scared record. Why did the Lord call their attention to this oversight? Did the Leaders of the church in that day overlook Samuel's message? In any case, the following quote touches this very point, to whom and when should we listen and heed a message given by a self proclaimed servant of the Lord? "When any people believe the word which Deity sends to them - let it come from earth's Chief Prophet or the Lord's lowest elder - then past cursing slink away like a jackal before a lion, to be replaced by the blessed glories of the gospel. But always the religious pretext for rejecting living prophets, the conscience-salving excuse for turning away from living oracles, is a supposed belief in dead prophets and is an assumed reverence for buried seers. By professing to believe the prophetic word of old - which brought salvation to them of old - the door of salvation seems open and the need for new revelation to be done away. Come, then, let us slay the living prophets lest they muddy the prophetic message of the past."(The Mortal Messiah p. 401)On July 11, 1995 I penned the following in my journal as I thought upon my lot in life:I feel to write my righteous indignation that all may see and hear and be warned to beware. For I have had enough and will have no more. I shall release the fury the Lord has put in and upon me.Can I tell my story? I have, but, many refuse to hear or listen. They know not what manner of man God has made me. I am innocent in many ways. My sins may have been many but they have been washed away in the blood of the Lamb. Oh, who am I but one commissioned of Jesus Christ to come forth in these latter-days to bear witness of the truth. Some say " Why You? " I say like Jeremiah the Lord knew me before he formed me in the womb and ordained me to this very calling. Who are you to try and stand between me and my Lord? Have you not read my testimony "Into the Greater Light"? Have you rejected it, me and my God? Oh, my heart aches for you and my spirit sorrows over your blind soul. I hold my scepter as a witness to all that what I write is true. I lay my humble life before you as a witness of God's eternal love for even the least of his children and you still misunderstand me?Can I speak plainly so you have no reason to persecute me or my family. Have you ever studied the life of the Savior, Joseph Smith, or any of the prophets. These humble men were endowed with great spiritual gifts and the Savior being perfect opened the way for the Salvation of all mankind that we could become one with the great eternal family of Elohim. This eternal family is sealed and bound together by the very Word of the Great Father in Heaven. I am bold to speak these things for they are true and if you fight against us you shall see and weep.Yes, I am what I say or I am everything false they ever said about the true and living prophets. Do I test your confidence in God? Well perhaps that is my mission. For the scriptures state that in last days judgment will start in the Lords House. Do I fit your paradigm or break its very image? Have you seen God or do you lean upon your own understanding? I'm tired of your arrogance, pride and self importance. Perhaps you need to taste the bitter brew that bites back forever. For I too have drunk of the bitter cup in my youth and know the beginning from the end.I have taken a back seat and quietly watched your games from a distance. Now as the Lord directs me to reveal my conversion and testimony many revile and seek my hurt like those whom have hated all the prophets since the world began. Will you stop, ponder and pray about your actions or continue in your blind self-righteous rage. Am I a magnet of the Lord to draw the poison out of the kingdom? Oh, fools don't see or understand that the pit they dig for others is the very one they shall fall into. Stop, look and listen before it is everlastingly too late. Have I written too plain, too loud or warned you long enough? Does my innocent pleading only incite you to seek after my blood because of your wicked unbelief?Whatever will be will be, but, the day will come when you will realize that I loved you and tried my best to help bring you to a knowledge of the truth so you could be saved alive in the Highest Kingdom of Our God.Now, my testimony is not without outside witnesses and I will share them with you and the world as the Holy Spirit guides me. I assure you I did not dream this all up on my own. God has called me forth for this very work which I now write. The stories and wonders of these witnesses are so many that I could write volumes. However, to do so at this time would not only bore you, but, go beyond the boundaries God has set for me. In fact these pearls of my life might incite you to be jealous and angry with me.Beyond all that I've written in, Into the Greater Light, I will at this time share with you a more current and unrelated witness of my mission. This story is sacred and true. It is the story of how God chose Beth to be my wife and the special witness he gave us and our families to know that our marriage was meant to be. I write this story to remind all our relatives and friends of the Lord's great counsel, "What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder"(Matt 19:6).Let us go back to the spring of 1981 when I first met my wife Beth. I was standing outside the Plainview Stake Center with a group of saints awaiting a bus to the Washington Temple. I noticed this bubbly sister greeting everybody by shaking hands and saying "Hi I'm Beth B. who are you?" I thought, who is this cornball as I was compelled to shake her hand. As she moved on I turned to my friend Paul K. and verbalized my thoughts by saying, "Who does that cornball think she is?" Well Paul gave me a look and said, "She's alright, she's one of the young adults." I got the message and realized I had no right to misjudge her. Paul's look and remark cut me to the heart and I knew I needed to repent of my evil thoughts before I entered the Temple. I prayed to the Lord and asked Him to forgive me and help me to make amends to Beth. The Lord reminded me of how I use to be as friendly as Beth when I had first joined the church. I resolved to humble myself and become more friendly toward strangers like Beth.This turned out to be a very special Temple trip. I was going down to do the work of my father who had passed away just over a year ago. I did all his work from baptism to endowment. Then, as I entered the Celestial room I saw Beth sitting alone on a sofa. My heart was full of charity for God and all mankind. Here was a perfect opportunity to show some brotherly kindness to one I had misjudged. I took a seat next to Beth and told her how her enthusiasm was refreshing and reminded me of how I once was.She thanked me and then began to tell me of her trials. I sat quietly listening as a good priesthood brother feeling I was paying the price for my earlier misjudgment. Beth's story was long and sad and my heart went out to her. I prayed a silent prayer that the Lord would bless Beth with her righteous desires.I was reflecting on all the events of the day as I sat next to Beth in the Celestial room. Then, the spirit of the Lord spake to my mind." Beth shall be your wife someday." I was shocked and confused and felt how can this be? I'm happily married with three sons. This can't be. The Lord must mean if any thing ever happens to my wife I should marry someone like Beth. I dismissed this prompting as I moved farther away from Beth.My mind shifted to my father and the purpose I came to the Temple. I needed to have him sealed to his parents. I decided to invite Beth to stand in for my grandmother, Paul for my grandfather and I for my father. Beth was very honored and grateful for this privilege to assist in helping to redeem my dead. There was a sweet spirit in the sealing room as we preformed this work. Beth and I parted the Temple that day with no idea what the Lord had in store for us.So this was how Beth and I first met in the spring of 1981. I made a short note in my journal stating, "I met a very interesting person", thinking perhaps that would be the last of it. However, a few months later my wife(Darlene) took a trip to the Temple on the bus from Plainview. Upon arriving home she couldn't stop talking about this wonderful sister she had met. When I asked if her name was Beth B. she said, "How did you know?"I told my wife a little about how I had met Beth on the last Temple trip and how she helped me do the work for my father. I didn't mention what the spirit had said, but, I took this as another sign that the hand of the Lord was moving upon us in a strange way. I kept these things deep in my heart telling no one. Unknown to me my marriage was falling apart. I guess my great dedication to the Lord and his church caused me to overlook the failings in our marriage. You could say I had grown blind to my wife's feelings and needs.The signs of this estrangement began to manifest itself to me during Thanksgiving 1981. My family along with my mother travelled to Maryland to spend the holiday weekend with my sister's family. I helped planned this so that Darlene and I might get the opportunity to get away and attend the Temple together. We hadn't gone to the Temple together in way over a year. We never got to the Temple for things just seemed to get in our way. Perhaps my wife already had it in her heart to get rid of me. In any case, the whole trip turn into a disaster. Our sons got sick, my sister Peggy got mad and my mother got sad. Darlene was upset with me and my whole family.We never recovered from the bad effects of that ill fated trip. My wife held a deep seated resentment against me and my whole family for the way she was treated during that visit to my sisters. Christmas came and the difficulties in our relationship continued to worsen. The more I tried win back my wife's love the worst things got.In early January, I decided to take my marital concern before the Lord. I fasted, prayed and went to the Temple. As I prayed in the Celestial room the Lord spoke to my heart and mind by the power of the Holy Ghost. He said, "Your wife is planning to divorce you." Like a knife it cut my soul in two. Still stinging with this revelation I raced down through the Temple stopping only long enough to remove my temple robes. Still in my whites I entered the lobby to use the pay phone to call my wife.I called home and got no answer. I then phoned my mother-in-law to see if my family was there. My wife answered the phone and was surprised to hear my voice. She sharply asked why are you calling me and what does your sister have to say? I answered cautiously saying, "I haven't called my sister and I'm calling you because I love you." "Yeah right" was her response. I then asked, "are you thinking about divorcing me?" Dead silence on the other end of the phone was a sure sign to me that I'd hit the nail on the head. I quickly said my good-byes as I was visibly shaken. I re-entered the Temple a broken man with tears running down my cheeks. The Lord had spoken to me and the news was bad. I had come to the Temple for comfort but the truth only gave me pain. I was in heavy denial and determined to fight to save my marriage no matter what either the Lord or my wife had to say. On the bus coming home I confided in my Branch President (Paul N.) concerning my failing marriage. I told him how I felt that Darlene was thinking about divorcing me. He calmed me and assured me my fears were unfounded. He promised that he would interview Darlene at church the next day and put an end to all my worries. The next day between meetings the President interviewed Darlene only to confirm my worst suspicion. He sadly said, "You know you were right I'm afraid she really is seriously thinking about divorcing you. I'm going to make arrangements for Darlene and you to see a church marriage counselor if you both are willing."Willing we were, but, things only continued to get worse as the months went on. We were married seven years with three sons and the issues dividing us were only beginning to surface. The harder I tried to make thing work the more my wife was convinced that I could never change. The more I told her how much I needed her the farther she moved away from me.We went from counselor to finally the Stake President who admonished us to keep our temple covenants. It all sounded so simple, but in reality the fear of me losing my wife and children was driving me crazy. My loud forceful demands only tended to increase my wife's desire to leave me.As I prayed and fasted to the Lord, I would get the feeling everything would work out but not the way I expected or wanted. In fact the name of Beth Beacom would often enter my mind and I would say "No Lord, I love my wife and sons and want no other."This cycle of behavior and thinking continued on into June until my wife served me with the divorce papers. I was taken by surprise even after all the signs and warnings. I even had told the Lord many times that I would give up my family if that's what He wanted. The fact that it was actually happening was hard to deal with. My emotions went from shock and resignation to anger and renewed determination to keep my marriage together.I got to the point that I thought this was just a bad dream or some super test that once I proved myself it would end. I would even express all my concerns and thinking to Darlene hoping we could make sense out of all the confusion we were in. I asked her about this Beth B. mystery we both were touched by. I wondered openly to Darlene about what the Lord was up to and was she just acting this way as part of some kind of strange test.This openness and reasoning only back fired in my face. She took my honest open feelings and twisted them to my church leaders.This was my wife, the mother of my children. I chose her to be my eternal companion after much prayer, dreams and revelations. We both had a sure witness and testimony that God had led us to be together. Darlene's own dream was perfectly fulfilled when we were married in certain sealing room in the Washington Temple on June 27, 1975. Her own father had come to her in a dream in 1980 and warned her to obey me. How could she turn so completely against me?My pride and emotions were a deadly mix. I was the First Counselor in the Riverhead Branch Presidency and the fact that my wife stopped believing in me just destroyed my credibility. How could I teach in the church when my own marriage was falling apart. My wife rejected my faith, testimony and conversion into the church. She also had the gall to try and persuade President N. to think I was crazy. She had me show him the scepter the Lord had guided me to, during my conversion. Then she told him that it was an idol and that I worshipped it.Attack my life and my weaknesses but leave my testimony and conversion alone. I defended my conversion and told President N. the story of how I came to possess the scepter. After hearing my story Paul told Darlene he wouldn't make a judgment on such a private and personal matter. This infuriated her all the more and she accused him of being converted by my smooth cunning devil tongue.Was it not my lot in life to have this happen? Did not my first true love Robin turn against me even after we shared visions together? Any true friend of Jesus will be hated by the world and sorely tested. I cannot escape my destiny for the Lord has shown me the great glory of eternity. Why do I lament when I know the victory is sure? Why do my most dearest loved ones turn their backs on me? Oh, my Lord my pain is as real today as it was when these events transpired years ago. It matters not for my love continues to grow and I will forgive all those who have turned against me. For surely my God will deliver me and defend me on all sides despite my many weaknesses and failings.That same June when Darlene started the divorce papers, my company offered me a transfer to Millstone Connecticut. I of course accepted this opportunity knowing it would give Darlene and me the space and time to think.The summer of 82 was a time of trial, tribulation, temptation and reflection and meditation. The Lord himself came to me as I wrestled with his will. Even after he made it perfectly clear that he had other plans for me, I continued to fight to win back my wife.This was to no avail. My life only got worse and my loneliness became more vivid and real. The Lord showed me my weaknesses and broke me before the church. I was and am no match against the will of our Lord Jesus Christ. I had to learn the hard way because I let my emotions get in the way.The fall arrived and my hope was running out that I could ever get things right between Darlene and me. I was tired of fighting the Lord over this issue. I felt the weight of the world upon my bosom. I decided I would make one final offer to Darlene and if she still refused, I would stop fighting the divorce and the Lord. I would grant her an uncontested divorce, but that would be the end of our marriage. For I would pursue from that moment to find a new wife.I remember the day very clearly. I was at the Millstone site and I walked to the far northwest cable reel trailer. There I sat alone and wrote a prayer to the Lord explaining my plight and the plan I had to resolve it. I knelt down asked Him for the strength and courage to face this problem and follow through with resolve. I got up and immediately phoned Darlene. I stood outside my emotions as I spoke with her. I quickly explained how I had done my best and asked if she would take me back and drop the divorce suit. Her answer was a cold no. I then told her I would no longer fight, but would give her an uncontested divorce. With that said all contention stopped and we both found our separate peace.I felt like the weight of the world was lifted off my back and I heard the voice of the Lord saying "now I will lead you into the greater light." I had finally made my wife happy by giving her, her freedom. By me letting go I finally gained the peace and freedom to find happiness again. I decide right after that phone call I would now look up Beth B.On my next trip home to Long Island, we went as a family to Stake Conference in Plainview. Darlene and I sat together holding hands in perfect harmony with our children sitting quietly along side. It was amazing how we glowed in the spirit even though we were getting a divorce. Fellow saints would approach us and say,"Its good to see you guys are getting back together." I would quickly tell them,"No we're getting divorced in two weeks." Then they would ask why do you both look so happy. I explained that it was the results of me giving Darlene what she wanted most,"a divorce!"That night as I was getting ready to go back up to Millstone and saying my good-byes to Darlene, a strange thing happened. It dawned on me I soon would be a single man and all alone. This thought scared me and I turned to Darlene and asked her what she thought I should do. She responded by saying,"Why don't you look up Beth B?" I said,"Do you really think I should?" "Go for it!" she said, "In fact I'll look up her address and phone number."Darlene got the information, wrote it down and gave me her blessing in finding Beth. I left for the Orient Point ferry wondering how I was going to make contact with Beth. So many things went through my mind. Will she remember me, is she still single or will she even be interested in me. These were just a few of my concerns as I waited at Orient for the ferry. I got the courage together and called the number Darlene gave me. It rang and rang then I heard the voice of a man on the other end of the phone and I quickly hung up. I then decided it would be safer and easier to write a letter. I wrote Beth a short letter reminding her how we had met on a temple trip and how I was getting a divorce in a few weeks. I told her I hoped we could get to know each other better.A few weeks later, I travelled to Suffolk County Supreme Court where Darlene and I were granted a divorce. When I got back to Connecticut, there was a letter waiting for me from Beth. The timing of these events were too perfect to be a coincidence. The signs spoke to me clearly that I was on the track the Lord had chosen for us. I excitedly opened the letter to read the words of Beth. The words of a young lady who I'd only seen and spoken with once. That "once" was over a year earlier during a trip we shared to the Washington Temple. The words of the Lord that I had heard in the Washington Temple were being confirmed in my life. For as I read, it became clear that Beth was still single and had a interest to get to know me better.It was mid October, the day of my divorce and the Lord gave me the blessing of a letter from Beth to ease the pain of a broken heart. I learned that Beth had moved to Florida almost a year ago and was presently living in West Palm Beach working as a private duty aid for a rich elderly lady. She gave me her address and asked me to send her my phone number and a picture.I wrote her a letter that night and sent it the next day. It was the beginning of a fore-ordained courtship between to broken hearted saints. My letter sailed from Mystic, CT to West Palm Beach, FL as fast as the mail can travel. Travel fast my letter did, for within a few days, my phone was ringing with Beth on the other end.We wrote and talked each day over the next few weeks. We were both searching for friendship, love and happiness. Our phone and letter courtship was on the fast track. I was very cautious not to mention any of the revelations I had had from the Lord about us. I didn't want to frighten, confuse or overly influence her to fall in love with me because of my spiritual gifts. I just wanted to be accepted and loved for the young man I was.Beth was just what I needed. She had a heart of gold and was able to calm my troubled soul. She sounded like a very open fun loving person. I needed someone with a strong, lively, out going personality after dealing with a wife who didn't love and understand me.After about a week of corresponding by letter, we began favoring the phone. Each day after work I would have dinner, say my prayers and go to bed setting my alarm for 10:45 pm so I could get up and go downtown to phone Beth during the cheaper rates. We were into this routine for over a week when a strange thing happened.One night just after saying my prayers as I settled into bed the voice of an angel spoke unto me saying, "Tonight you shall ask Beth to marry you." I was shocked and stunned as my thoughts ran wild. How can I do this? What will Beth think? What will my mother think? What will my friends and family think? My courage was waning as I heard a devil speak saying, "Tell him (the angel) to get (#@*$#@) lost !" I immediately realized it was important for me to act on what the angel had said. The voice of the devil only increased in me the desire to do the will of the Lord. Later that night as I talked to Beth, I found the courage to ask her to come up north and marry me. She was surprised and taken back by the boldness of my proposal and a silence fell upon the line. Then she spoke and said, "this is all so sudden, I must have time to think and pray about it." I assured her I understood and would patiently await her answer.The next day, Beth called me with the most marvelous answer. "Yes, I will marry you." Then she told me how she was able to decide so quickly. Prayer was the key. She had gone to the Lord for the answer and had spent the whole night on her knees. For awhile she had fallen asleep but when she awoke she heard a voice as clear as day say, "You'd be a darn fool not to marry him." She said the voice sounded like her long deceased grandmother.I was amazed beyond belief that the Lord had answered Beth's prayer so quickly and in such a miraculous way. I had told Beth nothing of the many revelations God had given me about her. Here was a women who was being led by the Lord confirming all the promptings I had received about her over the last year. The Lord was opening the windows of heaven and pouring his blessings upon us.Beth was finding more out about me from the Lord then I would ever had thought to tell her. The deep and lonely secrets that rested upon my soul were causing me to grow old. The Lord showed me much in visions at an early age and I must grow into what he wanted me to become. The spirit bore witness to us both that it was the Lord's will that we should marry. We both had been hurt and were lonely but the driving force in this relationship was the Lord. After we calmed down form the initial excitement of the moment, we started to make plans. Beth said she would quit her job and fly up to New York the following week to stay with her parents till we could make arrangements for the wedding.On the 15 of November, I drove down to La Guardia airport to meet Beth as she got off the plane. This was a strange reunion as I'd only seen Beth once before and that was almost a year and a half earlier. We greeted with a friendly kiss and a gentle hug. Then together we went to visit her grandmother's grave (Ethel Swift B.) in Middle Village. From this I could see Beth was very respectful of her family. We stopped for lunch and then went to meet her parents who treated us very kindly. We next went to meet with President J. the Plainview Stake President. We wanted him to know first hand about our plans. In fact we asked him to marry us. He thought this was awfully sudden but admitted some of the prophets had gotten married right away after their wives had passed on. He agreed to marry us on two conditions. One we get married right away and two we make it a very small and simple wedding. We agreed to his terms and went back to Beth's parents to make the arrangements. Beth and I were very private about all the revelations we had received for we knew how skeptical and unbelieving most people are about such things. It was hard for us to believe the miracles happening about us, so why try faith of others. All they really needed to know was that we loved each other and wanted to get married. I'd learned along the way to keep the sacred secret so as not to throw pearls before swine. For it does no one any good to invite persecution causing the spiritually weak or unbelieving to sin. However, if the time is right and the Lord commands these truths will be spoken like it or not. Now you must judge and decide where you stand on the rock or in the sand.There is more to this story which I must tell before you can make a stand. After discussing all with Beth's parents we settled on a wedding list, date and place. We chose Saturday, December 11 at Beth's families home in Westbury in the company of a few close relatives and friends to have President J. perform our wedding.The magic of this story was unfolding before our eyes. Beth and I marveled how quickly everything was falling into place. We hardly knew each other and yet we were engaged to be married in a few weeks. We took some time out to be alone and just talk to get to know one another better. Now that Beth and I were engaged and the wedding date set, I felt it was time to open up about my amazing spiritual life and how the Lord had spoken to me in the Washington Temple about her.While I was telling her about my fall at Woodstock and the great vision I saw of Zion at Centereach, she fell into a momentary trance of total motionless silence. Then she turned to me with tearing eyes of pure joy and said, "The Lord opened to me a quick vision of the Celestial Kingdom and I saw the glory that awaits me as your wife."I too was overwhelmed with the joy of the Lord, as we both cried tears of praise to a very loving and personal God who visits his humble children with the riches of heaven while they still suffer and labor in a world full of heartache and pain.The wonder of my life is directed by the mighty prayers I've offered in humble moments. I recalled offering such a prayer to the Lord in the Wells Ward Chapel one winter day while serving a full-time mission in Nevada. This prayer in its fullness is recorded in my missionary journal.It was a preparation day, and I was thinking about my future and my past. The heartache of losing my Robin still troubled my soul. I loved her with an eternal love and hated that pain of being parted. I prayed the Lord to prepare my future wife with dreams, visions, and revelations so she would know to stand by me forever. I never wanted the pain of such a tragic love again. Death is one thing, but when one of their own accord rejects you and walks out of your life, another death more painful then the first can enter into your heart and tare your soul asunder.The Lord answered that prayer with Robin, Darlene and now Beth. They each were given special witnesses about me and my mission in life. However, I'm a hard man to live with for my emotions and passions run as deep as eternity. My joy with Beth was both bitter and sweet for the Lord both giveth and taketh. Yes he gave Beth a beautiful vision and reconfirmed to me the reality of our relationship, but, the parting of Darlene had been more painful then in losing Robin because of our children and temple marriage.The Lord in his own wisdom has allowed me to suffer these losses that I might grow in faith, hope and charity for my fellow man. The Lord cushioned this last divorced from Darlene as best he could by preparing the way before me. His signature is all over this story. In that, I find greater comfort and peace then in the arms of any mortal. Perhaps this is the lesson I must yet learn. That God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ are to always be my first and only true love in this life of pain and tears. That I'm never to put any other god, man, women or child above them (the Father and the Son).The Lord even warned Joseph Smith not to worry too much over Emma. He reminded him that each soul has their own agency to go as they please and that if we as individuals will endure to the end, he will multiply our blessings with wives, children, fathers and mothers a hundred fold. During the next few weeks, Beth stayed at her parents while I continued my work at Millstone. Weekends, I would come back to New York to visit with Beth and my sons (Rob, Mike & Dave). During one such visit, Beth's parents took Beth and I out to dinner. Her parents were very good to us and supportive more then most others. In fact, I believe they took us out dinner almost every weekend before the wedding never allowing me to pay a dime.It was during one of those evenings out that Beth's mom opened up and told us a strange story that sent those heavenly shivers up and down our spines.She began by saying, " I'm a very practical women, but, I feel I have to tell you this story. I'm not a very religious person when it comes to going to church, but, I believe and pray to God in my own way. It was the first weekend in October this year and I had just returned home from a wedding of one my relatives and all I could think about was my baby daughter Beth. My heart went out to her for I knew in my heart of hearts she was unhappy with life. She was single, childless and over thirty living alone in Florida. When we talked by phone she would always pretend everything was fine, but, I knew she always longed to be married and have children. How could she be happy belonging to that 'Mormon Church' that makes such a big thing of being married and raising a family. I felt she could never find happiness in such a family orientated church, her being a divorced women and everything. So for one of the few times in my life, I went into my room and offered a kneeling prayer before the Lord in behalf of my daughter. I simply and boldly told the Lord what was on my mind. I wanted happiness for my daughter and I felt she would never find it in that Mormon church. So I made a proposal to the Lord that he find a good Mormon husband to marry my Beth before the end of the year, or he let her go from that church so she could find happiness with someone else where ever she may.Now here we are sitting together with all things set for my daughter Beth to marry a Mormon man before the end of the year. I just don't understand it. I never expected it to happen this way. I thought the Lord would free Beth from the Mormon church. I realize, however that the hand of the Lord is in this marriage and we will support you with our love and blessings."You can see why Beth and I tingled with the spirit as her mother told the story. The Lord raised up another witness concerning the strangeness of our courtship. My road is charted with the chisel of the Lord striking a mark in the souls of all those I come in contact with. Make no doubt these events are real and that the God I worship is alive and well; blessing those who bless me and cursing those who curse me. For I too am a son of God, born again into his Holy Kingdom endowed with blessings from on high receiving the new and everlasting covenant promised to all the seed of Abraham.We got married on Dec. 11 during a gentle snow storm by President J. which fulfilled a promise the Lord had made to me earlier. Back in April, I had fasted for two days to get the Lord to inspire President J. to have the wisdom to help my marriage. As I broke the fast and prayed, the Lord assured me that President J. would help resolve my problems. However, after Darlene and I counselled with him, things in our marriage only got worse. This only confused me as I knew the Lord couldn't lie.It was during our marriage ceremony that I finally realized that the Lord had used President J. to resolve my marital problems. It hadn't turned out the way I expected, but it turned out the way the Lord willed it. In fact President J. was suffering with eye problems during our wedding and told a few guests that his doctor wasn't sure what was wrong and that he might be going blind.After hearing about this blindness the spirit spoke to my mind saying "As you were blind to the will of the Lord so is the President blind to the importance of what he is doing here today." I learned a great lesson that the Lord rules in heaven and on earth and works his miracles through his authorized servants whether they realize it or not. Some don't understand and others don't want to understand. I guess the next question is "Which one of those are you?"Beth and I spent a weekend honeymoon in New York City before returning to Mystic, Connecticut. So began our marriage in a world wind of signs. Still many mocked and thought us fools for marrying so soon after my divorce from Darlene. Beth and I knew different even though we couldn't tell our friends and relatives of all the Lord had revealed to us. They must learn to drink milk before they can eat meat.Our journey won't be easy, but if we are faithful, our pathway will be well marked with signs and miracles so we can find our way back into the greater light.Within our first year of marriage, the Lord gave us another great sign that in getting married we did the right thing. Beth's greatest desire was to get married and have a daughter. The Lord answered her prayer in a marvelous way with the birth of our daughter Emily right on Beth's thirty-third birthday.Here was another physical witness that our marriage was meant to be. How could the nay sayers deny the sweetness of this heavenly gift. We called her our heavenly witness and our little revelation. Surely she is a child of promise to bring joy and happiness into the lives of many. Thus she was blessed in the church Emily B. L. a child of promise.Now I have told you the truth and if it irritates you remember I didn't write this script of my own accord but have only recorded the hand of God in my life. This I have written in defense of my conversion and testimony to bear witness to all that I'm not crazy as some may think nor do I stand alone in my witness of Christ for surely he has fulfilled his promise unto me and led me into the greater light.