A BRIEF SURVEY OF AMERICAN AWAKENINGS, REVIVALS, AND RENEWALS

Religious highs and lows --- spiritual recessions and revivals are an amazing phenomenon. The term “awakening” refers to -- · A stirring up from a state of sleep to awareness, · A turning from sin to salvation, · An abandonment of dry religious forms and rituals and a return to the living God · A redirection of focus from the secular to the supernatural. It starts as an intensely personal experience and then spreads to the public domain. Oh, men may pray, seek and expect it, but a real revival is the gracious work and miraculous act of Almighty God. Gordon Lindsay in his book, “The United States in Prophecy” (1971) pointed out that our wars, such as The French and Indian War, The Revolutionary War, The Civil War, World Wars I and II, etc. mostly occurred in 17 year cycles. Likewise, the Great American Revivals have occurred about every 26 years as if God provided at least one for each generation. So, God and the devil are both at work; Satan wants to kill people and God wants to save them. Christian historians cite the following: 1. 1735-1748 THE FIRST GREAT AWAKENING It started in Massachusetts among the Puritans with Jonathan Edwards and spread up and down the Eastern Seaboard among the struggling colonies with Evangelist George Whitefield. His flamboyant preaching drew big crowds of those who sought God. Also Samuel Davis in Virginia emphasized that “without a personal conversion experience you’re on your way to Hell.” There was strong conviction of sin, much weeping and repentance and they “prayed through” to salvation. He also condemned the “Party Spirit” saying that denominational divisions are of the devil. There was great enthusiasm and emotional outbreaks, loud shouting, and falling out in the Spirit. Critics opposed it as unchecked emotionalism and extreme zeal of mentally unbalanced people. 2. 1801 – 1830’s THE SECOND GREAT AWAKENING The Cane Ridge Camp meeting in Frontier, KY, was a co-operation between Presbyterians, Methodists and Baptists. Crowds finally reached up to 25,000 people --- mostly the un-churched. Up to a dozen preachers on a platform 12’ x 16’ x six feet high took turns preaching, singing, exhorting, and praying at 3 services a day for many weeks. There were no musical instruments. People retired in little tents at night. There was highly charged and animated preaching. People sang, wept, howled and shouted so loud it sounded like a big water fall. There was “frenzied” worship, falling out in the Spirit, jerking, dancing, and running around. It was all highly criticized by contemporaries. 3. 1850 – 1860 THE HOLINESS MOVEMENT The leaders were John and Charles Wesley of Great Britain, starting in the early 1700’s. Their distinctive teachings: a. Salvation, and b. The “Second Blessing” of sanctification, or purification or perfection --- a crisis experience both preceded and followed by spiritual growth. These two points later developed into three points including “the Baptism into the Holy Ghost and Fire” among the Methodists, who later joined the Pentecostal ranks. The Holiness Movement developed into the “Church of God”, the “Pilgrim Holiness”, the Apostolic Churches, etc. The congregations punctuated the sermons with shouts of “Amen!”, “Glory!” and “Jesus!” But as size, wealth, and organizational structure developed through the years, their original fervor greatly declined. 4. 1858 – 1880’s THE THIRD GREAT AWAKENING A New York businessman, Jeremiah Lamphier, started a noon time prayer meeting in a fish market that spread across the nation. It grew to 6,000 and then to 50,000. Eventually about a million souls were converted in this time of refreshing from on high. 5. 1906 – 1909 and on THE PENTECOSTAL MOVEMENT The leader was William Seymour, a Negro, one-eyed, former waiter in a former livestock stable on Azusa Street, Los Angeles, CA. This was right after the famous Welsh Revival of 1904 and the Great San Francisco Earthquake and Fire of 1906. Many Whites and Blacks of all walks of life came from all over the nation --- many from the Methodist Holiness Movement. There were more women than men and many young people who were baptized in water. At the earnest, energetic, and animated preaching, the crowds swelled. They prayed, testified, clapped, shouted and danced. They spoke and sang in other tongues. Many were “slain” falling prostrate. They prayed all night, day after day. There was little formality. There were countless miracle healings of every sickness and illness --- blindness, cripples, deafness, and even missing body parts were instantly restored before the eyes of all, including secular news reporters. Demon spirits were expelled. There was plenty of criticism and rejection by other established churches of the day. This great Pentecostal Revival continued as a strong movement all through the 1920’s and 1930’s (The Great Depression years). To this day, there are scores of Pentecostal churches, although they have cooled off considerably. Just before the 1900’s and on up to the 1950’s, there was an amazing era of Divine Healing Ministers traveling around the country in auditoriums and big tents. There are too many to name, but a few were: Marie Woodworth Etter John Alexander Dowie Charles Parham Smith Wigglesworth William Branham Charles Price Jack Coe Kathryn Kuhlman A.A. Allen Oral Roberts T. L. Osborn Etc. They were very God-conscious men and women given to much prayer and fasting. Their great faith, boldness, anointing, and power drew overflowing crowds who witnessed live signs, wonders, and miracles. Sadly and hard to understand, many of them seemed to fail one way or another in the end. They all had their jealous critics. 6. 1948 – 1952 THE LATTER RAIN MOVEMENT --- (Within the Pentecostal Movement) Starting in a Bible school in Saskatchewan Canada, involving a 1,000 students and preachers. Their main Scripture was Joel 2 and Acts 2 about God pouring out His Spirit. They laid great emphasis upon the Five Fold Gift Ministries of I Cor. 12:28 and Eph. 4:11. Also, all of the 9 Gifts of the Spirit in I Cor. 12:8-10: tongues, prophecy and Divine Healing. Their specialty was the practice of laying on of hands to impart specific gifts with prophecy to others. I Tim. 4:14 They encouraged the whole congregation to sing in tongues at the same time in worship. They preached the doctrine of “The Manifestation of the Sons of God” (Rom. 8:19 ) and performing the “Greater Works” (John 14:21 ) such as Philip’s transportation in Act 8:26 -40. Bill Britton advocated this message in his “Jesus Saves” tabloid. They were rejected as extremists by the Assemblies of God and other Pentecostal groups. 7. 1960 – 1967 and on into the 1970’s and 1980’s THE CHARISMATIC RENEWAL It started among the Roman Catholics of Notre Dame. The early forerunner was David du Plessis. It was then greatly championed by “The Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International” with chapters in every major city in the USA and around the world. Their members were from nearly every Christian denomination that can be named. It finally included, “The Jesus People” --- young people converted from among the hippies. A SIDE NOTE In the mid-1970’s there arose a “Shepardship - Submission - Discipleship Movement” within the Charismatic Renewal which taught that every Christian and minister (especially women) had to be totally submitted to another person above them like a big pyramid - shaped ecclesiastical hierarchy. Apparently, their goal was to build one big Charismatic denomination. The F.G.B.M.F.I., Pat Robertson, and most all independent Charismatic churches rejected it. It was short lived. A PERSONAL NOTE By the grace of God, I was privileged to have a part in the Charismatic Renewal, as a featured speaker in scores of FGBMFI chapters, as well as a guest on the PTL, 700 Club, and other TV programs. The Lord led me to establish the first Charismatic church in the capital city of Raleigh, NC. At one point in time, half of the Christians there who spoke with other tongues received it in our church – Christ Chapel. Of course, we give God all of the credit and glory for it. 8. 1983 – 1993 THE THIRD WAVE – starting at Fuller Theological Seminary Peter Wagner and John Wimber helped plant a string of churches called “The Vineyard Churches”, which were mostly young married couples. 9. 1994 – 1995 THE TORONTO BLESSING was like a spiritual party. The Toronto Airport Vineyard Church pastored by John and Carol Arnott is where it happened. The evangelist was Rodney Howard Brown from South Africa, who led a “Laughing Revival”, in which many were struck with uncontrollable and sustained laughter. Also, Randy Clark of Saint Louis, MO ministered. The membership went from 300 to 3,000 with millions of visitors flying in daily from all over the world. There was lively worship music with guitars, drums and tambourines for an extended period of time. There was profound weeping and deliverance from past hurts that was like a spiritual overhaul. Many were slain in the Spirit and had dreams and visions. They experienced physical healings and rolled on the floor. Some ran around making barn yard noises, for which they were soundly rebuked and finally dis-fellowshipped by the leader of the Vineyard Churches. 10. 1995 – 2000 THE BROWNSVILLE REVIVAL This was a large Assembly of God church near Pensacola, FL, pastored by John and Brenda Kilpatrick. The evangelist was Steve Hill, born in Turkey, who had attended Dave Wilkerson’s Bible school in Texas and had participated in the Brazilian Revival. The saints had been praying earnestly for many months and then revival broke out in nightly services. Hundreds of people did not want to leave at the end of the service. Thousands came forward for salvation and many backsliders were reclaimed. Crowds swelled up to 5,000. They wept openly, fell out, spoke in tongues, were healed, and shook violently. The young people spread the excitement into their high schools. Long lines waited for hours to get in before the church doors were opened. They had to erect tents with closed circuit TV for those who could not get into the sanctuary. 11. 2008 – April to October (6 months) LAKELAND, FL Ignite Church pastored by Steve Strader, the son of a pastor. The unorthodox evangelist was Todd Bentley, covered with tattoos and body piercings, who dressed rather casually, but prayed for hours daily. The singing went on for hours and the services were long, night after night. He would prophesy that God was going to heal people and then call out scores of illnesses by the Word of Knowledge and they would run up to the platform to testify of what God just did. As he touched them --- sometimes roughly --- they would fall back. He often shook his head back and forth and laughed a lot. People came from all over the world. They erected a tent seating 15,000. There was much acclaim and criticism and in the end his wife left him. 12. 2012 --- Now THE RESTORATION OF THE RESTORATION The epicenter is the Independence, MO area among independent Book of Mormon churches called “Restoration Branches”, prayer meetings and other believers. This is not the work of some great prophet, or even a group of ambitious leaders, but of God. Instrumental persons being used are not being named at this time in order to shield them from undue distractions. Historically, many of the original Book of Mormon believers did have the Holy Ghost and experienced many manifestations of the Spirit. This was especially demonstrated at the dedication of the Kirtland Temple in 1836, attended by 1,000 people. During the 8 hour service they prayed, preached, gave the “Hosanna Shout”, spoke and sang in tongues, swooned, fell out in trances, and had amazing visions. But through the years these things declined just like after the days of the Act of the Apostles, and after the “Golden Age” among the Nephites. They have been spiritually hungry and thirsty for years and now God is finally granting them a Divine Visitation. They are tired of heavy-handed ecclesiastical authority. They want the supernatural realities of God. The younger generation has been bored with shallow religious programs; they want to see the things they read about in the Bible and the Book of Mormon. They deserve the spiritual experiences that God has given to His people in the past revivals --- powerful prayer, praise, worship, --- supernatural signs, wonders and miracles. Now, those concerned with certain doctrinal issues must remember that Jesus said, “When the Spirit of Truth is come, He will guide you into all truth.” John 16:13. Thus anyone being led into the truth is being led out of erroneous teachings. When God changes people, things are different and that includes everything. Rigid doctrinal emphasis that serves only to divide the Body of Christ will melt under the Love of God. They won’t be gathered around a set of truths, but around Him, Who is the Truth. There is no need to dwell upon old teachings and dusty traditions of the past when you are experiencing the mighty miracle - working power of the living God. This final revival with unprecedented exploits will be the greatest of all, exceeding all others. Jesus always saves the best wine for the last. CONCUSION We have seen how God sends revivals. The devil hates it, but he can’t stop it. All he can do is stir up criticism. One simple strategy is to send in those who are not right with God in their hearts to act up and make fools of themselves, barking like a dog, crowing like a rooster, and wiggling like a snake, so that when other curious people or even news media walk in, that is all they see and then they discredit the whole thing. Granted, when a person becomes super-charged with the “electric” power of God, they may feel so exuberant that they can’t contain their excitement and joy, but there is a line that they just don’t cross. A saint shouts praises to God; a sinner yells like a mad man. A saint dances in the Holy Ghost; a sinner just knocks over chairs and other people. Trembling, quaking, and leaping are Scriptural. Going into convulsions is a demon coming out. But the undiscerning are always prone to dismiss the moves of God, missing God’s blessing, thus condemning themselves, and ending up with nothing. God rejects those who reject Him, His Word and His work. But God’s true children are looking up to Him, Who is coming right away. (From Dr. Paul Richardson of Virginia and posted with his permission)

Jesus, the Real St. Patrick, and the Power of Forgiveness

Jesus, the Real St. Patrick, and the Power of Forgiveness—Sermon 3.16.2012

A. Introduction: Forgiveness and flowing with the Holy Ghost go together. You want more power than you must forgive your enemies, yourself, and others (who do you blame?--maybe even forgive God for your pain, suffering, past)

B. Power in forgiveness (forgiving enemies): Luke 23:34 (Jesus on the Cross), Acts 7:58b-60a (Stephen getting killed/stoned)

1. St. Patrick finding God & Christ in captivity, escaping, & forgiving captors—slave of Ireland  slave of Gospel
2. Patrick went after captor, former master Milchu first, but he (Milchu) burned himself and his house up (suicide) before Patrick could testify/preach to him

C. Forgiveness connected with receiving (flowing with) the Holy Spirit: John 20:22-23—true representation of St. Patrick (not wearing green but being disciple of Christ)

1. “The Breastplate” of St. Patrick

Christ shield me today against poison, against burning, against drowning, against wounding,
So that there may come to me abundance of reward,
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise, Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

D. Overcoming evil/serpents/demons: Mark 16:15-18—Show (These signs shall follow…) and tell (preach Gospel) See also Luke 10:19

1. St. Patrick and the legend of ridding Ireland of “snakes”/removing “snakes” from island

E. Conclusion: I want the “snakes”/demons out of Independence, out of Kansas City—get your training, forgive God, yourself, others, your enemies, move in power through forgiveness and humility

End Time Warriors Midterm

Randall Q. Lawrence
End-Time Warriors—Spring 2012
Dr. Eva
3/6/2012

Midterm: Are you an End-Time Warrior?

Yes!!! Absolutely!!! I have had a number of experiences in my life that have pointed to this calling. These events (prophetic dreams, prophetic blessings, and more) highlighted the War between God and satan, Jesus and the devil, Light and darkness.

For far too long in my life, I have allowed the devil and demons to “push my buttons”, lead me around, undermine my ministry and witness for Christ, break my heart, confuse my thinking and understanding, lead me into sin and temptation and more. I really did not have a clue about spiritual warfare until coming to Missouri in 2007, and I really did not understand it properly or have the proper examples/mentors until beginning my education with Faith Bible College and Ebony & Ivory Ministries.

I had a prophetic dream after asking the Lord as a teenager what to do with my life. He gave me 2 dreams in one night. The dreams dealt with deliverance ministry in using the Name of Jesus in spiritual warfare (Philip. 2:9-11) and in becoming vulnerable (trusting of God) and in dealing with the devil/demons having known me and in having been allowed to “work me over” for most of my life.

I also had a prophetic blessing which spoke about (demonic) “warriors working” to pull me from God, but I chose God. (“A battle between the forces of the universe has been waging and you have overcome that battle. You have chosen to follow the Lord Jesus though the [demonic] warriors have been valiant in trying to tear you from that decision. You must recognize that, yes, there is a great war going on in the hearts of the people. You have seen through the deceptions of the great deceiver…”—2003 Evangelist Blessing).

The above experiences and more have pointed to the need for training in spiritual warfare and how little I have known and walked in my past. I’ve only begun to get a handle on the mighty weapons of our warfare to pull down strongholds of the enemy (2 Cor. 10:4), destroy the works of the devil (thief, destroyer) in the Name and Blood of Christ (1 John 3:8), and to get myself and others free of demonic and worldly influence (Gal. 5:13). I praise God for what I’ve learned through Ebony & Ivory Ministries and through Faith Bible College-my training ground, my covering, my mentors and teachers, my learning and greater anointed walk/adventure. This is definitely the time for End-Time Warriors of Jesus Christ to rise, prepare and fight!

Blood, Name, and Spirit Midterm

Randall Q. Lawrence
Blood, Name, and Spirit-Spring 2012
Dr. Nick
3/5/2012

Midterm: The Blood

To be honest, I did not really have a clue (about the Blood of Jesus and what It means) growing up in a church that was not Pentecostal or Charismatic. In reading the Bible, I knew blood sacrifice was very important in the Old Testament; Jesus Christ’s (bloody) sacrifice was and is all important in the New Testament and in our lives.

I remember going to see “The Passion” with my Dad in the theater. We both cried our eyes out at the Sacrifice of Jesus (John 18-19, Matt. 26-27, Mark 14-15, Luke 22-23)—He became a bloody, painful mess, endured the unendurable for all of us (“cup & baptism”-Matt. 20:22-23, 26:39, “Lamb that was slain”--Rev. 5:6-14)! It was a graphic depiction of the physical suffering of Jesus Christ (see Isaiah 53—Suffering Servant “…by His Stripes we are healed…”-v. 5) that greatly impacted the two of us!

However, I did not really begin to understand the importance of the Blood of Jesus until Ebony & Ivory Multicultural (church with Faith Bible) and through many of your (Dr. Nick’s) sermons and your classes. I have really gained an appreciation for the Power in the Blood of Christ—demons/devil/hell is routed (Rev. 12:11), believers are protected and healed and delivered (Ephes. 1:7-12), lives and families are changed and made whole (Acts 26:18). There is victory, I mean VICTORY, V-I-C-T-O-R-Y!!!! (Rev. 19:11-16) in the Blood of Jesus.

I knew that the Name of Jesus was powerful (Philip. 2:9-11), but I really feel like I still even after over 2 years here that I barely understand the power in the Blood of Jesus. It (understanding and pleading the Blood of Jesus-Rev. 7:14, 1 Pet. 1:2) is kind of like an iceberg that has most of its mass under water and a small amount above the surface. This is the impression that I get from my time here, from your (Dr. Nick’s) book ‘The Blood’, from your sermons, from the ministry of war here and in the world, and from my journey with the Lord and Holy Spirit over the last 5+ years but especially the last 2+ years.

There is protection in the Blood. There is healing and deliverance in the Blood of Jesus Christ. There is Spirit-filled anointing in the Blood. There is power to pull down the strongholds of the enemy in the Blood. There is freedom and adventure in the Blood. There is sanctification in the Blood. There is holiness and righteousness through His Blood and Sacrifice. There is witness in the Blood. There is contact and connection with the Holy Spirit through the Blood. The Old Testament blood sacrifice was nothing but the prophetic type and shadow for the Blood Sacrifice of Jesus Christ in His New Covenant/New Testament. There is power and victory in the Blood of Jesus!

Finger of God Testimony

I guess I missed the Furious Love contest, but I wanted to share my testimony for the Finger of God Deluxe Edition. I had no idea that it wss 5 DVD's long. We had wanted to borrow it for awhile from our friend, Derek S., who is the CCM--Contemporary Christian Ministries leader. He graciously lent it to us saying that we could mail it back to him. I kept thinking that I would watch it over the weekend and give it back not realizing how long it is. We had a special retreat that began with the guest ministry of Frank & Nephtali Seamster. Friday night, I stayed up late and watched the 1st DVD and part of the 2nd DVD. I was blown away especially by the Bethel School of the Supernatural students, but I was inspired....Next day, I'm trying to tell my best friend, Peggy, (now my wife) about it. I was so inspired that my faith was challenged, and I began to walk in the "anointing" of the Holy Spirit like the Bethel students. Peggy did not have faith for a healing of her legs, but I asked Nephtali to pray over her and then made her take off her two ankle braces. She did not want to, but I made her test them (her feet and ankles) out by running. She did not believe, was not real cooperative, and went to the bathroom up a small flight of stairs. She took them normally. In all my time of knowing Peggy, she had never taken stairs normally always slowly one stair and one foot at a time. She began to scream and laugh so much that she was almost hyperventilating. It was a miracle just like the Finger of God events and the Bethel students! Not only that....there was more. I stated a very short statement to our friend Derek that turned out to be a prophetic word of Knowledge to him. This had never really happened to me like this before. I watched the DVD's and experienced an anointing that blew me away, makes me hungry for me, enlivens my life, and challenges me spiritually to have more of the Holy Spirit in my life. Thank you so much for these films! God, peace, blessings, and endowment be with you and God bless all your future endeavors! Thanks again! Randall

Sermon 2.5.12: Breakthrough-How bad do you want it?

SERMON 2-5-12: BREAKTHROUGH: HOW BAD DO YOU WANT IT?
Prayer—Dr. Nick and Dr. Eva

“Breakthrough”: Webster defines it as “1. The act, result, or place of breaking through against resistance, as in warfare. 2. A strikingly important advance or discovery.” Thesaurus uses terms like “attack, prelude, innovation”
Principles of Breakthrough:

1) Attack—assault, onslaught, charge, rush, drive, push, blitzkrieg--see 2 Samuel 23:16, 1 Chronicles 11:18
a. Courage and victory even against overwhelming odds
b. All glory and credit goes to God

2) Prelude—change, work a change, new phase—see Luke 18:1-8
a. Prayer and persistence are a key!
b. God answers prayer, but He is not a vending machine! (put a coin/faith in, get what you want out)

3) Innovation—introduction, discovery (or re-discovery—power of prayer & fasting), leap, transformation—see Genesis 32:24-31
a. Persistence (repeated it!!!) and sacrifice (fasting) are a key to breakthrough!!!
b. Who are you? Jacob (heel)Israel (God-wrestler) Breakthrough involves a change in identity! How bad do you want it?!?

Conclusion: Breakthrough involves courage, prayer, persistence, more persistence, and transformation!!! How bad do you want it?

David H. Smith and Dabbling in the Occult 1

David Smith and Dabbling in the Occult #1

I’m going to develop this into a full blog entry. I got the book From Mission to Madness: Last Son of the Mormon Prophet by Valeen Tippetts Avery from the library. From the preface, “David Hyrum Smith (1844-1904) was a brilliant and charismatic man, whose mind began to be clouded by mental illness when he was twenty-eight. Painter, singer, philosopher, theologian, naturalist, preacher, poet, and traveler, he approached life with warmth, humor, and intellectual curiosity. For a decade and a half before tragedy struck he was so effective a missionary for his church that he was placed in its presidency, so good a poet that his hymns are still sung, so compelling a preacher in Utah that it was rumored he would supplant Brigham Young, and so entertaining a writer that his descriptions of the places he visited conveyed to readers in the Midwest the excitement of America’s expanding frontier. Enthusiastic about the world in which he lived, David not only devoted himself to his religion but also dabbled in séances and spiritualism, defined the religious implications of contemporary science, challenged the Utah Mormons about polygamy, and argued the place of reason in a revelation-oriented theology.” [Italics emphasis is mine.]

It did not hit me at first. This preface holds the key to the mental illness development of David Smith. I do not have the Scriptural reference off the top of my head. The Old Testament especially the Pentateuch warns against consulting with witches, diviners, necromancers (spiritualists, talkers with the dead). The Israelites led by God and Moses were warned to have nothing to do with these things. King Saul, the first king of Israel, dabbled into this arena also with disastrous results in going to the witch of Endor to consult with the “ghost of Samuel”. We, nowadays, want to subscribe mental illness to genetic disorders or chemical imbalances. We underestimate the influence of the occult and opening the door to demonic influences.

I have had 2 classes, Rejection I & Rejection II, with material developed by one of the founders or main persons connected with Lake Hamilton Bible Camp which specializes in deliverance ministry. The book, Rejection and Its Fruits and Its Roots, is relevant to this subject. I’ve also had teaching in connection with CCM (Contemporary Christian Ministries) in regards to “opening of doors”. In addition, I have gone through the process of deliverance and inner healing for things in my life that were not right with God. I have been blessed and freed from past unhealthy soul ties and past fruits and roots as related to rejection, fear, pride, and other ungodly things in my life. I realize this can be a one-time event, but it also becomes a lifelong process.

I was wondering about this episode with David Smith. I have never heard anyone mention that he “dabbled in the occult” (spiritualism, séances). This would explain how he could open himself up to the demonic. David Smith was born after his father, Joseph Smith, Jr., along with his uncle, Hyrum Smith, were killed by mob actions. There are also sins connected with the parents—generational curses. Whether Joseph Smith, Jr. (JS, Jr.) originated the doctrine of polygamy or not is open to debate, we do know that he dabbled into masonry and promulgated baptism for the dead and other esoteric practices that could have opened doors in the life of David Smith. The very loss of a parent before one is born is a form of “rejection”. (anger/resentment at not having parent in life; sense of abandonment.)

A good example of this would be that the murder of JS, Jr. caused David Smith to grow up without his actual father. He did have a father figure in the form of a step-father Lewis Bidamon, when Emma re-married. David Smith became a part of the “Josephites”/”Reorganites” (Joseph Smith III-JSIII) in following his brother to become a part of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (RLDS) in contrast to the Utah “Brighamites” or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). In missions to the west, David Smith had to deal with persons telling him that his father JS, Jr. had promulgated and practiced polygamy while he could not speak with his mother Emma (improper) or his brother JSIII who took a hard-line stance that his father neither originated nor practiced the doctrine of “plurality of spiritual wives”. David’s later mental illness ended up costing his son Elbert a father figure so the sins of the father are visited upon the grandson going from generation to generation.