Prophet Onias
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Prophet Onias is a scriptural code name, or pseudonym used by Robert Crossfield [1], born in 1929 in Canada.
In 1950 Crossfield converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, sometimes called the Mormon or LDS Church and was ordained into the lay Priesthood of the church. He unexpectedly received a revelation in 1961 which he sent immediately to the President of the church. The church never responded to him. He received further revelations for years, but showed them to no one except the church leaders, and remained alone. In 1968 he published them as commanded. In 1972 he was excommunicated without being talked to. Since then, Crossfield has had a small, fluctuating number of followers and associates, but most Latter-day Saints would probably reject his claims.
[edit] History
In 1961, while living near Edmonton, Alberta Canada, Crossfield claimed to have received the first of a number of divine revelations. This first revelation was that the leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints--considered prophets by devout Latter-day Saints-- could not receive clear revelation because they had repeatedly advised church members to not follow earlier church practices, especially one plural marriage instruction detailed in Doctrine and Covenants, Section 132, verse 44.
Crossfield reported this revelation to LDS officials, who ignored it. Crossfield reported other errors had crept into the LDS church since early Mormon leaders had died.
In 1968 Crossfield's early revelations were compiled as The Book of Onias. It was published by Philosophical Library of New York. The name Onias was a family name of Crossfield: several of his paternal ancestors had it as a first name, and he was called the Prophet Onias in these published volumes.
During this time, Crossfield remained alone. He sent free copies of the Book of Onias to many libraries in the U.S. and Canadian west, and received little in the way of new revelations.
In 1972 the LDS leadership excommunicated him because of his beliefs and claims to revelation.
Soon afterwards, in 1974, he reported a revelation concerning the nature of God, now known as Section 23 of the Second Book of Commandments. This clarifies that the Old Testament terms of "God" ("Elohiem" in Hebrew), "Jehovah" and "Michael" refer exactly to the "Father", "Son", and "Holy Ghost" spoken of by Jesus and early New Testament prophets and apostles.
This also claims to resolve scriptural contradictions with the sometimes controversial "Adam-God theory" mentioned publicly by LDS Prophet Brigham Young. This same revelation reported a few significant errors in Young's teachings, which were otherwise seen to be correct.
In 1975 a long revelation (Section 24) was received containing the Parable of the Pear Tree which showed that the LDS Church would be cleansed and not destroyed by the Lord. This, with Sections 25, & 26, were published and mailed to most of the local leadership of Mormon church as a tract. There was hardly any response.
During this time Crossfield remained alone except for a few people who sought him out on their own. In spite of this, he claimed additional important revelations concerning the setting up of Zion, but they were not published until later. Crossfield also reported personal revelations for himself and others. By 1980, Crossfield claimed revelation ordering a move to the United States from Canada.
On March 6, 1982, in Boise, Idaho, Crossfield and others complied with a reported revelation and set up the "School of the Prophets". The revelations reported that the School of the Prophets was not a church, and was not to do missionary work-- its purpose was to become the educational arm of Zion. Church members could not appoint themselves to the School or to offices in it, but were instead called by revelation. The School was given the work to compile and study Crossfield's reported revelations, and to search out truth in all areas of knowledge and to teach this truth to those who come to the School to be taught.
A School of the Prophets for the whole world was set up first, consisting of a President and six counselors. President Crossfield with six counselors has continued to direct the School since it was set up in 1982.
Schools are reportedly planned for many locations, each with a President and six counselors. The full duties and calling of the members of the School are found written in The Second Book of Commandments.
In 1984 the headquarters of the work of the School were relocated to Salem, Utah. At first many began to investigate the School, but after two former members of the local Provo, Utah School of the Prophets were involved in a high-profile homicide, scrutiny, rumors and fear that circulated at this time reduced desire to attend.
An up-to-date version of Crossfield's reported revelations was finally completed in 1985; since that time they have been updated periodically as new revelations have been recorded and reported.
In 1986, Crossfield reported a revelation that the times of the Gentiles had come to a conclusion. From that time revelations have come forth identifying Israel and the different tribes. The School was instructed that from this time forth those with "the signs of Israel" would have precedence in the School of the Prophets, and all "arms of Zion".
Crossfield reported additional revelations, showing that Zion will be set up "Four-square"-- with four separate organizations, all with Priesthood authority: First the political Kingdom of God; secondly the educational School of the Prophets; thirdly the economic United Order; and fourthly the missionary Church of Christ.
In 1988 members of the School set up the United Order Society of Utah in order for them to begin living by the principles of the economic laws of Zion.
Crossfield reported a revelation in 1989 that the Book of Onias would now be called The Second Book of Commandments. Because an anticipated gathering together of the faithful had not come about, Crossfield reported a revelation directing him to leave the Salem, Utah area by 1994.
Crossfield and a few others have continued to do the works of the School, and another temporary gathering place was set for gathering the Prophet and those support him. Those in the United Order have set up businesses to support themselves, and preparations are being made to set up a political party in line with Crossfield's revelations. An "endowment house" was also prepared and dedicated at this gathering place.
Crossfield's revelations are compiled in The Second Book of Commandments. Second Book of Commandments website This volume preserves the identical earlier revelations found in its first printing as the Book of Onias in 1969.
