Windows of Heaven

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Sonny.

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Bonanni my friends.

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Thanks for joining me on the

creative spirits journey podcast.

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We're Ghia and I share with

you what's in our hearts.

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And the joys where you witness

in this season of our lives.

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The wisdom years.

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And anything else we can discover

along this wonderful journey.

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I'm Judy also known assist a

Cooley here in the Durban, South

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Africa mission for the church of

Jesus Christ of latter day saints.

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In this episode.

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I'd love for us to imagine, or just out.

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On a hike together.

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That would be so sweet

and we're just chatting.

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And I asked you.

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Hey.

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Are you ready for general

conference weekend?

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I don't mean, do you have your

treats ready or your M and M

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being go game for the youngsters?

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Or the, do you remember those?

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what color of tie is the

apostle wearing coloring pages?

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Even though these are some super

fun ideas for the little ones.

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I have something else in mind.

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You see Eric and I have been super

busy, crazy busy with conferences.

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Last week, we had a tri district

conference where we had over

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300 youth come together.

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For a day, it was a mini conference.

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And in my opinion, it was super fun.

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Then

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Yeti X-1: we had our zone conference

with the elders of the new Castle's

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zone and the lady Smith zone.

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And that is always such a highlight to

hear from our mission presidents and

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to get together, to boil each other up.

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And it's just good to see.

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Such a fine young man.

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And then we had our district

conference with the members here.

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. Yeti X: This is the

Saturday and the Sunday.

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Much like the steak

conferences back at home.

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So conferences, conferences, conferences.

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What is the purpose behind

all these conferences?

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I am exhausted.

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The purpose of conferences

together, together to strengthen

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each other's faith in Jesus Christ.

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That's simple.

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Just think of how much time and

resources go into just that.

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Strengthening each other.

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Property each other back up

in our faith in Jesus Christ.

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Here's a little history channel for you

th,: 1830

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for the first general conference

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Yeti X-2: To Jesus Christ

of latter day saints.

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And imagine.

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It was only two months old.

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Yeti X: What do you

think they talked about?

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The prophet Joseph Smith

recorded the following.

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many whom assembled with us who were

either believers or anxious to learn,

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having opened by singing a prayer.

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We partook together, the ambulance

of the body and blood of our Lord.

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Jesus Christ.

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Now there's something you don't see

happening anymore in general conference.

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We then proceeded to confirm several

who had lately been baptized.

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after which we called out and

ordained several to the various

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office of the priesthood.

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Much exhortation and

instruction was given.

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And the holy ghost was poured out

upon us in a miraculous manner.

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Many of our number prophesied while

others had the heavens open to their view.

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It's this.

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The heavens open to their view.

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I want to come back to.

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From that small, but powerful beginnings.

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Look at us now.

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This conference will be

the hundred and 95th.

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You can access it anywhere in the world.

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Even down here in South Africa,

we can listen and watch.

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It will be translated in, 70 or

more languages and then go out to

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over 18 million members worldwide.

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I love.

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Conference weekend.

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It is a time to increase my

knowledge and be inspired.

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And stay in my pajamas.

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How fabulous.

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Now the heavens are open and we

get to hear words of inspiration

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and revelation that Christ lives.

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And that God loves and hears and

speaks to his children through

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living prophets and apostles.

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And that we can take this moment

to receive our own personal

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guidance and inspiration.

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Just think of that.

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The beautiful simpleness

that was experienced in: 1830

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is still true for us today.

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How do you prepare for conference?

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Do you prepare for conference?

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What do you think you can do to prepare

your heart and mind for the day?

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I personally like to prepare.

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A question or two that I'm seeking

answers for and guidance for.

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And then I show up and listen for those

words, that speak just to my soul.

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You know those aha moments when I

know that message was just for me.

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I've discovered this

is a grand opportunity.

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To, draw closer to the savior

and to know that he's answering

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and hearing your prayers.

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I'd invite you to give this a

try if you've never tried this.

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Receiving guidance from the

prophet and the apostle.

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It was brought home to

me on a safari trip.

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We took, back in may to

a place called Tula Tula.

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On one of our drives, we encountered

a herd of water, Buffalo K.

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Now the water Buffalo are one of the

top five, the big five of Africa.

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And they're actually very dangerous.

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They look very docile and large and

slow, but they can run super fast and be.

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Super Henri.

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Anyway.

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We come upon this hurdle, but water

Buffalo coming towards us with one leading

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the way she pauses in front of our Jeep.

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For about two or more

minutes, it felt like 15.

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Our driver.

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Vincent told us that she is

what is called a Pathfinder.

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She's most likely the wiser female

that knows her way around where to

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find the water and the green pastures.

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I think she got tired of waiting

for us to get out of her way.

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And she finally turned off the road.

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And her heard followed her.

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I love that she's called a Pathfinder.

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I'd love to have that role of the herd.

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If I was a water Buffalo.

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Of course, I went home and did

a Google search to know more.

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And it's true.

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The Pathfinder directs the herd.

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And so the buffaloes ask.

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Where should we sleep tonight?

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Where will we drink?

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Where should we go?

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These questions are all answered

by the Pathfinder, a Buffalo That

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defines the route for the herd.

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With such huge herds on the move There's

needs to be some sort of direction and end

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goal insight, a Pathfinder isn't always

the dominant animal within the herd.

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But they have a clearly defined.

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Cool roll.

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I I hate to compare a profit

to a water Buffalo Pathfinder,

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because that just would be silly.

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But here I go.

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I love the analogy that a prophet

knows the way to the living water.

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Jesus Christ.

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And he knows where to find

green pastures and safety.

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Do you remember the last message given

to us by our Pathfinder, the prophet.

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Remember, he encouraged us to

study The dedicatory prayer.

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For the Kirkland temple.

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Which was received by revelation as

the doctrine covenant section 1 0 9.

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Quote, It is a promise about what

will happen to those who serve and

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worship in the house with the Lord.

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They can expect to receive answers

to prayer, personal revelation,

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greater faith, strength, comfort.

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Increased knowledge.

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And increased power.

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We are also promised that in

the temple, we may receive a

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fullness of the holy ghost.

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Imagine what that promise means

in terms of having the heavens

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open for each earnest seeker.

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Of eternal truth.

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And quote.

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This brings me back to the windows of

heaven, spoken by our prophet Joseph

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in the very first general conference.

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In ancient Egypt techs.

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what they call is the firmament.

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Which is a space that divided

the celestial heavens from the

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earth Was this described as

having special doors or gateways?

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On the Eastern and the Western horizons.

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To allow the passage of heavenly bodies.

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During their daily journeys, these

were known as the windows of heaven.

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Okay.

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That's worth repeating.

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While picturing a ceiling.

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I saw an Egyptian tomb.

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It was painted a dark

blue with gold stars.

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And a goddess stretchers herself.

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Over the earth across the heavens.

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Okay.

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So the firmament is described as having

special doors or gateways on the Eastern.

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Stern and Western horizons to

allow for the passage of heavenly

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bodies during their daily journeys.

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These were known as the windows of heaven.

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Yeti X-4: The Western and the Eastern

hemisphere, the sunrise and the sunset.

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It is like the windows of heaven open.

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Yeti X-5: Also there's this

east to west continuum.

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In the temple Jerusalem.

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They built the altar of

sacrifice at the east most.

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And.

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And the holy of Holies was at its Western

most and everything else was in between.

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So everything in the temple.

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Existed on this east to west continuum,

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Most importantly, on the holiest day of

the year, Yom Kippur, the sins of the

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Israelites were toned for removed from

the people on this east to west continuum.

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And the high priest would offer

per sacrifice in the east.

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And they would sprinkle the blood on

the Ark of the covenant in the west

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and he'd journey back and forth.

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On this east and west continuum continuum.

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And the closing act of the day

would we see the sins of the

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people symbolically removed away

from the temple and into the east?

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wilderness.

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So why is this east or west?

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These horizons significant.

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So, if you think about it, how

far is the north from the south?

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It's finite right.

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There comes an end.

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You get either up to the land,

either up at the north end.

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Or the north pole or the south end or the

south pole, but this temple is built on.

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East to west.

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So there's no poles.

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There's never an end.

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East and west are infinite.

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They go on forever.

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everlasting.

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So.

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Isn't this beautiful,

this thought of that.

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Windows of heaven on

the east and the west.

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Horizons the sunrise and the sunset.

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Yeti X-7: The windows of heaven, opening.

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Yeti X: which brings us back

to doctrine covenants 1 0 9

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verse 22 and 23, which reads.

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And we asked the holy father.

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That they servants may

go forth from this house.

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The temple.

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Armed with power and that

they name may be upon them.

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And I glory roundabout them and

dine angels have charge over them.

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And from this place.

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They may bear exceedingly great

and glorious tidings in truth

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and to the ends of the earth.

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That they may know that this is they work

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So I love that part at the

ends of the earth, because

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I'm at the ends of the earth.

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So, let me wrap this up and tie

it with a pretty bow on top.

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I invite you to prepare your heart for

conference with a question and show

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up to be guided by the holy spirit.

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The Pathfinder.

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And listen for that message just for you.

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And be ready for the windows of heaven to

be opened and pour out in enlightenment

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and personal revelation out upon you.

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Oh, and even look for angels.

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I know I do.

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I take the profits promises very

seriously because we need heaven's help.

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We are serving at the ends of the

earth, the deep, deep Southern end.

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We all, could you some guiding

angels on our right and our left

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Barinas up along the way, I will

miss gathering with our family.

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And asking, what was

your favorite message?

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Did your question get answered

or did you see a common message?

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Pay attention to what God is saying to us.

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I testify joyfully of him.

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Jesus Christ.

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Who is what all this

conference, scene's all about.

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He will meet you there.

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Thank you for taking this moment

to walk and connect with me, DNI.

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And I are so grateful for you

choosing to spend your time with us.

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And if you know someone

in need of a Pathfinder.

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Send them our way by sharing this podcast.

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Because after all, no one is

walking alone on this journey.

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We are simply walking each other home.

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And I will see you on the trail.

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And