Ross LeBaron, Fred Collier: Revelation on Salvation and Exaltation, 1974

On 7 August 1974, Ross W. LeBaron received a revelation stating the purposes of the Church of Jesus Christ and the Church of the Firstborn, and their relation to the principles of salvation and exaltation of humankind. [1] The revelation was recorded in handwriting by Fred Collier, then an adopted son of Ross LeBaron. In a later recollection, Collier suggested that he was the original recipient of the revelation, which had been given him a few years before, and that he only wrote it down after LeBaron had a spiritual confirmation of the message. [2]

The revelation was recorded as follows:

Revelation of Ross W. LeBaron 8-7-74 commited [sic] to writing Sat on that day as I can best remember he spoke it just prior to writing it down.

 “A man obtains the right to Salvation through demonstrating that he is willing to live harmoniously in a Society which is Governed by the Priesthood of God.

A man obtains exaltation by organizing a society of his own under the priesthood and according to the laws and ordinances of the “Holy Order of God” the same as all Gods have done before us.

It is the primary purpose of the Church of Jesus Christ to offer salvation to all mankind by teaching them the necessary social laws of love and respect which when incorporated into our lives enable us to live in a state of harmony in the Kingdom of God. Through the atonement of Christ salvation is offered as a free Gift to all those who demonstrate that they will living live accordingly.

It is the Primary purpose of the Church of the Firstborn to offer mankind exaltation by opening to their minds a knowledge of the Laws and ordinances of the ‘Holy Order of God’ <by offering them> and also an opportunity to receive the same through the authority of the priesthood that they might have the privledge [sic] of entering into their exaltation.”

Two earthly churches and their accompanying gospels

According to this revelation, the apostolic Church of the Son, carrying the gospel of salvation, was responsible for teaching social principles:

It is the primary purpose of the Church of Jesus Christ to offer salvation to all mankind by teaching them the necessary social laws of love and respect, which (…) enable us to live in a state of harmony in the Kingdom of God. Through the atonement of Christ, salvation is offered as a free gift to all those who demonstrate that they will live accordingly. [Emphasis added]

Salvation is defined in terms of a spiritual citizenship:

A man obtains the right to salvation through demonstrating that he is willing to live harmoniously in a society which is governed by the priesthood of God. [Emphasis added]

On the other hand, the patriarchal Church of the Father, or the Firstborn, carrying the gospel of exaltation, was responsible for sharing the knowledge and rituals of the Adamic Priesthood:

It is the primary purpose of the Church of the Firstborn to offer mankind exaltation by opening to their minds a knowledge of the laws and ordinances of the Holy Order of God; and also by offering them an opportunity to receive the same through the authority of the priesthood, that they might have the privlege [sic] of entering into their exaltation. [Emphasis added]

Exaltation required not simply the citizenship in a society but organizing a new society:

A man obtains exaltation by organizing a society of his own under the priesthood, and according to the laws and ordinances of the Holy Order of God, the same as all Gods have done before us. [Emphasis added]

The typology of the two gospels, carried by the two churches, as explained in the 1974 revelation, would be one of the main tenets of Ross LeBaron’s theology throughout his life. It’s subject to further textual and historical evidence, however, if such revelation was actually the start of it, as claimed by Fred Collier.

To read or download the entire text of the revelation, click here: RWLeBaron – Revelation on Salvation and Exaltation 8-7-1974.[3]

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Notes

1. Revelation of Ross W. LeBaron, received and recorded August 7 (Wednesday), 1974, Research Journal of Fred C. Collier, page 308.

2. “When I first met him, Ross taught me about the Church of the Firstborn. As he then understood things, the Church of the Firstborn was organized as a Patriarchal Order — but he did not then realize that the temple ordinances didn’t inheriently [sic] belong to the Church of Christ. What he then believed was that both Churches had the same ordinances and that ultimately both served the same function — the difference being that the Church of Christ was for a gentile era, and therefore was not organized as a Patriarchal Order, while the Church of the Firstborn was for the House of Israel and a Patriarchal Era and was therefore organized as such. In the winter of 1970 –1971 I received a revelation regarding the Difference between the Church of Christ and the Church of the Firstborn, that the first was to work out the Salvation of man and the later to work out the Exaltation of man, and that the Ordinances of the Temple (i.e. those having to do with family) actually belonged to the Church of the Firstborn and not to the Church of Christ. After having a discussion with Ross about this subject at his residence in the mini warehouse, on the 7th of August 1974, the spirit touched Ross’ mind and he accepted it and reiterated the concept. I then asked permission from him to write it down as a revelation to him, to which he consented, and later that day I wrote out the following revelation…

This revelation was written in my own words, according to what God had given me years before, and according to the ideas that Ross understood and spoke on that day when the spirit sparked his mind. At a later time, after having written it down, I read it to him and he accepted it, saying that “It was OK if I wanted to write it up like that.” In short as of the time I met him, Ross Wesley had laid the foundation — but however essential, in and of itself, a foundation does not have walls, windows or doors, nor a roof or floor. Yet as Jesus taught, in order to build a house that will withstand the test of time, it is necessary to build upon a good foundation.” (Fred Collier, Doctrinal Teachings of Patriarch Fred Collier, vol.2, section 1, pp. 1038-1039. Hanna, 2013.)

3. Many thanks to Kris Wray for making this copy available to us.