Testimony of Angel Cicero

BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO ARE PERSECUTED BECAUSE OF MY NAME 

Yesterday, Sunday, October 26, 2014 I was excommunicated from the LDS Church.

So much has happened in the last 3-4 years, I have seen fit to make a summary of what has happened in my life during this time, and what has brought me here. This summary does not include a complete history, far from everything that has happened to me, but it serves to explain many of the reasons I've come to this moment.

I want to start with a quote from our Savior Jesus Christ:

10 And blessed are all they who are persecuted for my name’s sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 And blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake;
12 For ye shall have great joy and be exceedingly glad, for great shall be your reward in heaven; for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.
13 Verily, verily, I say unto you, I give unto you to be the salt of the earth; but if the salt shall lose its savor wherewith shall the earth be salted? The salt shall be thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and to be trodden under foot of men.
14 Verily, verily, I say unto you, I give unto you to be the light of this people. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.
15 Behold, do men light a candle and put it under a bushel? Nay, but on a candlestick, and it giveth light to all that are in the house;
16 Therefore let your light so shine before this people, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.(3 Nephi 12: 10-16)

Although, in theory, and from the point of view of my leaders in the stake, this should be a time of sorrow and affliction for me, my heart and my spirit rejoice because the Lord and His Holy Spirit are closer to me than ever before. One of the consequences my stake president declared was that following my excommunication, effective yesterday, that I would no longer have the Gift of the Holy Spirit, and said, "Now you will feel lonely and abandoned, without being able to enjoy the Spirit". Although I had been feeling the presence of the Lord next to me throughout the disciplinary council, at the time that the president said those words, the Holy Spirit entered my body and I listened to the voice of the Lord saying: "That is not true, neither the Spirit nor I will abandon you."

More than three years ago, my wife and I decided one day that it was time to stop being such passive members as we had been for so long; going to the meetings on Sundays, doing our Home Teaching and Visiting Teaching, paying our tithing, doing Home Evenings, praying every day to bless the food and evening prayers, etc. In summary, we found that following a list of things that someone had told us that we had to do had not brought us closer to God, or at least not the way we expected. So I began to pray more fervently for the Lord to know his will for us to become instruments in His hands for anything that would benefit His work. We began to increase our efforts to do the things that we supposed that we should do to make our worship better and more intense. We began to hear the voice of the Lord relating our lives.

One of the impressions I had, was to read again, a copy of the book "Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith" that I had brought with me from my youth, which I had read several times. This time, some of the teachings and principles of the gospel that I read in that book impacted me in a deeper way. The Lord impressed in my heart the importance of doctrines such as "The Spirit of Revelation", "Calling and Election Made Sure", "The Second Comforter", etc. One Sunday at church, while reading parts of the book, a brother in my ward who was a neighbor of mine, asked me what I was reading. I told him I was reading the "Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith." He wondered what it was what caught my attention most in his teachings. I told him several things, including "Calling and Election Made Sure" and "The Second Comforter". We were talking about this subject for about 40 minutes until it was time to leave. Timidly, this brother asked me if I had read a book called "The Second Comforter", to which I replied no. He recommended it to me, and, as he was saying something I do not even remember now, I bought the book from my phone. When he finished speaking, I told him I had already purchased it and I would get it in a couple of days. The brother was really surprised that I had been so receptive to read something new, especially because the author was someone unknown, with no authority in the church, and without any authoritative credential. His name was Denver Snuffer.

I started to read this book, "The Second Comforter: Conversing with the Lord through the veil".  I liked it so much, and I felt a Spirit so uplifting, that I read it very fast, and I started to search for other books on the same topic, and other books by this author. I read other books on the topic that didn’t make an impact in the same way that this author had done, so I decided to get other books written by him. He had published 7 books so far, and I believe I recall buying them all. But just at that moment, in August 2011, this author published his latest book called "Passing the heavenly Gift", and a couple of months later he was going to give a talk on The Mission of Elijah the Prophet. We attended this talk and bought the last book that he had written. The lecture was magnificent; the Lord testified that the words that the man had spoken were true. With much enthusiasm, the next day, I began to read the book "Passing the Heavenly Gift".  To my surprise, this book focused on the history of the Church since the time of Joseph Smith until our days. The story that this book explained was very different to what I had heard previously. As I read, my body felt the desire to, figuratively, pick up a stone and throw it at this Denver Snuffer. What he described here could not be. No one told me these things before, despite having been to countless years and courses of pre-seminary, seminary, Institute, etc. However the only references that were used in the book were the scriptures, primarily the Book of Mormon, and the journals and minutes of the general authorities of the LDS Church. The story told in the book was a candid reproduction of the historical facts, and the spiritual consequences that this had meant for the body of believers, that is, the church. I began to feel depression by what I read, and I decided I had to know if those things were true or not. The reading of the book was intense, for, even though it was a fairly lengthy book, it only took me three days to read it. Those three days were some of the most intense of my life, with continual prayer and fasting (had no desire to eat, just keep reading). I had to know the truth of these things. That book was removing years and years of tradition both in my family and in the church. I finished reading the book and I realized that the intention of the author was that those who had decided to leave the church for historical reasons could understand why we were where we were and decided to stay or return to help reestablish Zion or at least qualify for this.

In such a state of intense desire to know, praying and fasting to the Lord, I received an answer to my prayers as I had never before received. Over the years, and above all, in the course of the reading of this book, my mind had been accumulating questions for which there was no answer. I had literally hundreds of questions that I didn't know, that I wanted God to make them known to me. In a moment of meditation, thinking and praying about those things, the Lord enlightened my mind and my heart so that, in less than a second, he responded to the hundreds of questions that I had. It was like an intense solar storm of intelligence and knowledge, pure intelligence flowing over me. At that moment I realized that the things I had been reading were true. My life had changed in that moment. We are still meeting often with our friends in the neighborhood, although now the gatherings had become much more interesting. We talked about Zion, to receive the ministration of angels, and to receive the ministration and presence of Jesus. The meetings were very powerful, so we decided to invite other people with whom we had touched slightly on these themes at church. After a short period of time, we had a group of about 12-15 people coming to our house each week to talk about the Gospel, to assemble according to the impressions of the Spirit, praying, singing, reading scriptures, etc., as the Spirit directed.

I was particularly interested in the history of the church, and I started to buy books and newspapers, minutes, etc., of all the leaders of the church at the beginning of the restoration. I arrived at a point of view clearly different than what I had previously believed on the history of the LDS church, but now with a testimony of the restoration much larger, both about the prophet Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon.

Since then my journey has been approaching the Lord more and more. I have been learning to discern his voice from the voice of the adversary, with whom I have had to contend with in numerous occasions. I've had incredible experiences. I have been blessed with dreams, visions, manifestations of spirits made perfect, etc. At this point I can't say that I have received the ministration of an angel in the flesh, nor the ministration of the Lord in the flesh. It is the greatest desire of my life to receive the second Comforter, to embrace my Lord and Savior, and worship him in person, and kiss his feet, and give thanks for the multitude of mercies that he has given me. For those of you familiar with the second comforter, Joseph Smith explained, among many others, in this way:

The Doctrine of Election

St Paul exhorts us to make our Calling & Election sure. This is that sealing power spoken of by Paul in other places.

13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. (Eph. 1:13-14)

In whom ye also trusted, that after ye heard the work of truth; the gospel of your salvation, in whom also after that ye believed ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise. Which is the earnest of our inheritance, until the redemption of the purchased possession unto the praise of his glory.) That we may be sealed up unto the day of redemption, this principle ought, (in its proper place) to be taught, for God hath not revealed anything to Joseph, but what he will make known unto the Twelve & even the least Saint may know all things as fast as he is able to — bear them, for the day must come when no man need say to his neighbor “know ye the Lord?” for all shall know him (who remain) from the least to the greatest, How is this to be done? It is to be done by this sealing power & the other comforter spoken of which will be manifest by Revelation.

Two Comforters

There are two Comforters spoken of. One is the Holy Ghost the same as given on the day of Pentecost and that all Saints receive after faith, repentance & baptism. This first Comforter or Holy Ghost has no other effect than pure intelligence. It is more powerful in expanding the mind enlightening the understanding & storing the intellect with present knowledge of a man who is of the literal Seed of Abraham than one that is a Gentile though it may not have half as much visible effect upon the body. For as the Holy Ghost falls upon one of the Literal Seed of Abraham it is calm & serene & his whole soul & body are only exercised by the pure spirit of Intelligence; While the effect of the Holy Ghost upon a Gentile is to purge out the old blood & make him actually of the seed of Abraham. That man that has none of the blood of Abraham (naturally) must have a new creation by the Holy Ghost, in such a case there may be more of a powerful effect upon the body & visible to the eye than upon an Israelite, while the Israelite at first might be far before the Gentile in pure intelligence.

The Second Comforter

The other Comforter spoken of is a subject of great interest & perhaps understood by few of this generation, After a person has faith in Christ, repents of his sins & is baptized for the remission of his sins & received the Holy Ghost (by the laying on of hands) which is the first Comforter then let him continue to humble himself before God, hungering & thirsting after righteousness. & living by every word of God & the Lord will soon say unto him, "Son thou shalt be exalted." When the Lord has thoroughly proved him & finds that the man is determined to serve him at all hazard, then the man will find his Calling & Election made sure then it will be his privilege to receive the other Comforter which the Lord hath promised the saints as is recorded in the testimony of St John chapter 14, verses 12 to 27

Notice verses 16 17, 18, 21, 23.

16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
. . .
21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
. . .
23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

Now what is this other Comforter ? It is no more or less than the Lord Jesus Christ himself & this is the sum & substance of the whole matter, that when any man obtains this last Comforter he will have the personage of Jesus Christ to attend him or appear unto him from time to time. & even he will manifest the Father unto him & they will take up their abode with him, & the visions of the heavens will be opened unto him & the Lord will teach him face to face & he may have a perfect knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of God, & this is the state & place the ancient Saints arrived at when they had such glorious vision Isaiah, Ezekiel, John upon the Isle of Patmos , St Paul in the third heavens, & all the Saints who held communion with the general Assembly & Church of the First Born.

The Spirit of Revelation

The Spirit of Revelation is in connection with these blessings. A person may profit by noticing the first intimation of the Spirit of Revelation for instance when you feel pure Intelligence flowing unto you it may give you sudden strokes of ideas that by noticing it you may find it. fulfilled the same day or soon. (i.e.) those things that were presented unto your minds by the Spirit of God will come to pass and thus by learning the Spirit of God. & understanding it you may grow into the principle of Revelation, until you become perfect in Christ Jesus

The Lord has guided me through these last years, uncovering or revealing the abominations that constitute the "terrible situation" in which we find ourselves as a church, according to the words of Moroni (Ether 8:23-24).  This situation is similar to all the times in which the Lord has sent prophets from outside of the "hierarchy" of the church, to preach repentance, as at the time of Lehi, Abinadi, Samuel the Lamanite, and many others. The Lord has been giving me commandments which includes revealing and sharing many of these abominations with my brothers and sisters from the church, with my family, friends, and the rest of the people with whom I have been in contact (many of them by other denominations different from the LDS Church, which, to my surprise, have been more receptive than those of the LDS Church).

Some of the abominations that the Lord has commanded me to share include:

• Change, modification, or suspension of eternal ordinances of the Gospel and of the Priesthood.
• Priestcraft.
• Misrepresentation of the doctrine of Christ, and the Gospel of Christ.
• Unjust dominion, control and compulsion on others on the basis of a supposed authority.
• Misrepresentation of the word of God, by calling the evil good, and good evil.
• Limiting fundamental blessings of the Gospel.
• Abominable use of tithes and offerings of the saints.

Revealing these things, and some more has led me to be called to a disciplinary council held on Sunday October 26, 2014. I was given the opportunity to defend my accusations, which I did using only the scriptures and quotes from the prophet Joseph Smith. No one was able to refute the ideas and beliefs that I shared with the Council. At the time my excommunication was announced, after having been deliberating with the Council, my president told me the following (after I had said that I was willing to reconsider any of my ideas that could be countered by scripture, if someone showed me through the scriptures that was in error, I would reconsider that belief):

"We do not want you to go today here thinking you've won. The arguments you have presented today are very weak and any member of this Council could have countered them easily through the scriptures. But that's not the issue, the point is that you do not sustain to Thomas S. Monson as a prophet, seer, and revelator, and follow the teachings of Denver Snuffer ".

Despite wanting to respond to such nonsense (since it was recognized that they had the power to convinced me of my alleged error by the scriptures, but decided not to), the Lord told me it was no longer required of me to answer more questions, and it was better to say nothing. I asked my parents to not be present when I got the news of whether or not I had been excommunicated; I wanted to dedicate that time to the Lord.

After being excommunicated at the disciplinary council, I approached a grove near my house. It was late, so there was a complete silence that dominated the dark surroundings where I was. I began to pray to the Lord and give thanks for the many mercies with which I had been blessed throughout my life. While waiting for the decision I had been talking to a brother on some principles of the gospel, one of them being the "unbelief" and how we often think ourselves unworthy of divine revelations or do not believe that they can happen at all. I read a verse in which Joseph Smith prayed to God for repentance (because he consider himself a sinner) and he asked for a manifestation, because he had the "full confidence in obtaining a divine manifestation" (JS-H 1:29). With this in mind, and after praying for my people, including those in the council who had just excommunicated me, I asked the Lord to forgive me for all my sins, as Joseph Smith had done it, and show me a divine manifestation if I had done what he had required of me. It’s been quite a while now since I stopped crossing my arms to pray, since the Lord showed me that it was something that didn’t pleased Him; therefore I lift out my arms as a symbol of worship and a desire to receive of His blessings. When I was in the act of praying to God, and lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, I observed that everything was covered by trees, except a small window through which I could see the stars. When I asked the Lord for a manifestation, suddenly, in the sky above me, through the only little hole through which I could see the wonders of His heavenly creation, I saw a shooting star, as I had never seen before, and it described a bright trajectory that lasted several seconds. For years I had not seen a shooting star, it was not a night of shooting stars, and the brightness of the star was much greater than I had ever before seen. At that time the Spirit whispered that I had done God's will in relationship to what I have expressed in this article, but also chastised me for not having fasted the days that I felt I should have fasted. As I went home, I felt the company of the Spirit and the Lord, and they have been with me ever since.

This is the story of my excommunication.

As a sign to the members of the high council of the stake of Madrid East, and the presidency of the stake of Madrid East:

When the Seed of the Woman was born, a new star appeared in the heavens. In like manner, when the Lion of Judah returns, as with his first coming, there will be a new star seen. All the world will note its appearance and shall be troubled at its meaning. When it makes its appearance, you may know His return is soon upon the world. You may also know by that sign that He has given to me the words I have faithfully taught as His servant. – Denver Snuffer blog (March 3, 2013)