RECYCYLING THE SALT LAKE TEMPLE -THE GRAVESTONE FOR PRESIDENT NELSON

The gravestone for President Nelson was just erected in the Salt Lake Cemetery. This towering monument stands at over 8 feet tall and almost 2 feet wide of solid granite. It is not just any granite though, it is the granite that has been removed from the Salt Lake Temple. There is plaque that appears at the bottom of the North facing backside of the gravestone which reads, "This monument was crafted of stone from the Salt Lake Temple 2020 renovation. 

Although President Nelson is still alive, his grave monument has been placed right next to his first wife. See below. Not only does the size of the monument dwarf all other gravestones in the cemetery but it is interesting that it is not facing the same direction as all of the other graves. Instead of facing east, it is facing south. 

Christian graves in churchyards were traditionally aligned on an east to west axis. The coffins were placed with the head of the person at the west end of the grave and the foot at the east. This is because they believe in the second coming of Christ and scripture teaches that he will come from the east. In this manner, they place their dead in a position so they can meet Christ face-to-face during his second coming. The gravestone with name also faced east. It is interesting that President Nelson chose to have his grave facing south. 

A DAY OF "CONFESSING OUR NATIONAL SINS" and the RELEASE OF THE 'IRRESTISTIBLE REVOLUTION'

"WRITE THESE THINGS THAT EVIL MAY BE DONE AWAY"

Ether 8:26

Irresistible Revolution is a timely and bold contribution from an active-duty Space Force lieutenant colonel who sees the impact of the current "woke" agenda at the ground level within our armed forces. In it, author Matthew Lohmeier provides answers to many important questions that Americans are currently asking. The book begins with a discussion of the greatness of the American ideal, transitions to an examination of the history and overarching narrative of Marxist ideology, and concludes by looking into the ongoing transformation of America’s military culture and military policy, while also providing a warning about where the country is headed if we choose to not make an immediate course correction.

This book is being released today on APRIL 30th.. Information on how to order the book can be found HERE: http://www.irresistiblerevolutionbook.com/

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Many might not know that April 30th is an important day for our country's history. 

APRIL 30th was the original day set aside as the National Day of Prayer "to humble ourselves before the offended Power, to confess our national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness."

The importance of April 30 first began when George Washington was inaugurated as the First President of the United States at Federal Hall in New York City. At the time New York City was the first capital of the United States. After George Washington took his oath of office, he then dedicated this nation to God with much prayer, humility and fasting.

In the midst of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln was discouraged and weary as the North was getting overcome by the Confederates.  He called on the nation to observe a National Day of Prayer and repentance. The day slotted for this event was  April 30, 1863.  The day after Lincoln’s National day of fasting, repentance and prayer was observed, two major events happened that changed the trajectory and outcome of the entire Civil War.

Here are a few excerpts of President Lincoln's Proclamation:

Proclamation 97—Appointing a Day of National Humiliation, Fasting, and Prayer

Whereas the Senate of the United States, devoutly recognizing the supreme authority and just government of Almighty God in all the affairs of men and of nations, has by a resolution requested the President to designate and set apart a day for national prayer and humiliation; and

Whereas it is the duty of nations as well as of men to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God, to confess their sins and transgressions in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon, and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord...

It behooves us, then, to humble ourselves before the offended Power, to confess our national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness.

I do by this my proclamation designate and set apart Thursday, the 30th day of April, 1863, as a day of national humiliation, fasting, and prayer. And I do hereby request all the people to abstain on that day from their ordinary secular pursuits, and to unite at their several places of public worship and their respective homes in keeping the day holy to the Lord and devoted to the humble discharge of the religious duties proper to that solemn occasion.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

Like most important dates to observe,  the National Day of Prayer has been changed from April 30 to the first Thursday of May. The constitutionality of the National Day of Prayer was unsuccessfully challenged in court by the Freedom From Religion Foundation after their attempt was unanimously dismissed by a panel of a federal appellate court in April 2011.

The National Day of Prayer is celebrated by Americans of many religions, including Christians of many denominations, including Protestants and Catholics, as well as Muslims, Hindus and Jews. On the National Day of Prayer, many Americans assemble in prayer in front of courthouses, as well as in houses of worship, such as churches, mosques, synagogues, and temples.

There are a few of us that will be on outside on the Utah Capital steps today to observe and pray in behalf of our country on this significant day- April 30th.

DISCONTINUATION OF ADMINISTERING THE SACRAMENT IN YOUR HOME

A friend of mine forwarded an email to me that he received from his Bishop this week. This official correspondence from his Stake Church Leaders stated that fathers no longer have permission to bless the sacrament in their own home. They must return to partake of the Sacrament in their ward building even as the mandate to still wear masks is still in force.

"In our priesthood leadership meeting yesterday, President [XXXXX ] noted that the blanket authorization allowing the sacrament to be administered in homes in our stake has been discontinued. If you are not yet comfortable returning to our sacrament services and would like the sacrament in your home, please reach out to the bishop."

"For all of our in-person sacrament services and classes, we ask that everyone continue wearing face coverings, as instructed by our Area Presidency."

It saddens me that the Church is no longer allowing  the ability for priesthood holders to bless the sacrament for their families in some stakes in Utah. As a father, I have the responsibility to minister to my wife and children and provide for their spiritual needs. Giving blessings such as Father's blessings, Priesthood Blessings of Comfort/Healings as well as blessing the Sacrament have been an important part of our own family's spiritual needs during this unprecedented time. We have preferred holding Home Church instead of being forced to wear masks to Church. Our neighbor told us that someone in our ward attended Church last week not wearing a mask. After the meeting started, the presiding Stake President asked that the official Church policy of wearing face masks to be read over the pulpit calling out the offender. 

I am sure the Church has their reasons to gain back the control over who can bless the sacrament. Until our Stake Leaders no longer permit the sacrament to be blessed in homes, I have been grateful for opportunity.

I remember a friend telling me that it is usually a sign of fear that people exercise control over others. However, the more you attempt to control others, the likelihood of losing them is greater. For example, if you want to hold as much water in our hands as possible, the best thing to do is hold both hands open with as little grasping of the water as possible. The more one clenches to hold onto the water, the less water you will retain.   

We would to well to remember what the Lord said in D&C 121 about how exercise the Priesthood.

Sidenote: I read a footnote that other day of what the word 'dominion' means. We hear that word a lot in the scriptures and in the Temple. I have always connected the word to be mean.. 'to rule over or be dominate'. However, the below new insight I think is beautiful. Hopefully all of those men who think they have right of "dominion" will have a better understanding now of what that truly means. 

"The word “dominion” and the word “domicile” come from the same root. A domicile is a place set in order, arranged, planted with a yard and garden, and everyone and everything having a place for occupancy. Something made beautiful and aesthetic by the effort (or husbandry) of the residents. That image of “husbandman over a domicile” was what God conferred on Adam when he was given dominion over the entire creation. So Adam (and his posterity) were charged to do something much different with this creation than what mankind has done. We rather brutalize it into submission. We are more vandals and raiders than husbandmen to the earth."

TEACHING INDOCTRINATING SONGS TO CHILDREN?

The below YouTube video from the Church of Christ features small children singing a song entitled, 'Always Submit To The Church Administration'. This song was written by a self-proclaimed "one true Church" that was founded in the Philippines. Here are the lyrics to one of their catchy "Primary" songs. 

Always submit to the Church Administration. 

For they were placed by Lord God to lead his nation.
If we obey then we will receive salvation.

Sing along with me.  

LINK TO VIDEO   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nmYOQIidqo

I would hope that members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints would cringe at the idea of indoctrinating children to sing a song with words about "always submitting to the church administration." However, do we also teach our young children to sing a song with a similiar theme?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uy5qNAkJ4QA&t=2s

 The 'Follow the Prophet' song is one of the first songs that the Church teaches children starting in Nursery to the two year olds. In fact to make the song more interactive for the toddlers,  Nursery leaders give one of the children a large photo of President Nelson to hold as he/she marches around the room as the rest of the nursery children follow behind. Each child would then take turns holding the Prophet's photo as the children march around the room following the photo of President Nelson.

I sure wish we would change the words of this chant song from Follow the Prophet to  "Follow the Savior." It would also be nice to have the children hold up a picture of Jesus instead of President Nelson.

Here is a recently released video of LDS children answering the question of why we need to follow President Nelson.  I think it is interesting that Jesus Christ's name is NOT mentioned once in this video. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BavQ7i-vh0

A few days ago I read an article about an interview with Justin Bieber who was asked about his faith in Christianity.  The Pop singer called out religious leaders who put themselves on a pedestal and cause the church to be surrounded by them instead of being focused on Christ as the center of the church. Bieber, an outspoken Christian, stated, "I think so many pastors put themselves on this pedestal. And it's basically, church can be surrounded around the man, the pastor, the guy, and it's like, 'This guy has this ultimate relationship with God that we all want but we can't get because we're not this guy.' That's not the reality, though. The reality is, every human being has the same access to God."

In addition to calling out pastors who put themselves on a pedestal, Bieber reminded fans that Christianity isn't a self-help religion, rather, it is about coming to God for help and letting Him lead and change you for His will.

Justin Bieber shared his experience and said, "I came to a place where I just was like, 'God, if you're real, I need you to help me, because I can't do this on my own. Like, I'm struggling so hard,"

The rest of the article can be found here: LINK TO ARTICLE

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Sidenote:

I wanted to share an excerpt from a recent talk given last month about the Religion of our Fathers.

Joseph Smith taught the idea of direct association with Christ as the promised Second Comforter during a visit to Ramus, Illinois on April 2, 1843. After quoting Christ’s promise to not leave His followers comfortless because He and His Father would come to them and take up their abode with them, Joseph explained, “Now what is this other Comforter? It is no more nor less than the Lord Jesus Christ himself.... 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. The appearing of the Father and the Son, in that verse, is a personal appearance; and the idea that the Father and the Son dwell in a man’s heart is an old sectarian notion, and is false.” This appearing of the Father and Son began with Adam, and was intended to continue in every generation. Although the teaching of Christ as the Second Comforter was taught by Joseph, and believed by LDS Mormons, it is now one of the teachings that has dwindled from LDS teaching. In a Boise LDS meeting, church apostle Dallin Oaks denounced the teaching of mortals needing to see the Lord as a “tactic of the adversary.” Following that, the LDS church removed a footnote from their KJV John 14:16 which previously referred to Jesus Christ and replaced it with a reference to “the Holy Ghost.” 

WHERE DOES GOD PREFER TO DWELL? CITIES OR WILDERNESS?

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"A religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things, 

never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary 

unto life and salvation.

Lectures on Faith 6

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My family spent the past weekend camping in a very remote wilderness area near the border of Arizona and Nevada. It required driving on a 30 mile dirt road from Mesquite to get there. While very cold at night, it was beautiful during the day. Since it is Passover weekend, we went there in part to experience what it might have been like for the Israelites who fled Egypt into the wilderness. This event of exodus over 3000 years ago is origins of the Jewish religious observance of Passover.

On the Sunday morning, we hiked up a mountain to see the sunrise. It was a beautiful sunrise after a dark and cold night. Here are a few photos taken that morning that I wanted to quickly share. Hard to describe all the symbolism from the hike without witnessing them in person. 

From a mountain top view it was impossible to see any other civilization except for our campsite below that we shared with a group of fellow camper

 

This is the top of where stopped to watch the sunrise. We sang, prayed and shared thoughts of our ascension hike. 

 A few moments after the sun rose above the horizon. Day dawn breaking.

"In one sense, the religion of the fathers is based on a direct connection to God. Reduced to one thought, it is that as long as God is speaking directly to a body of people, giving them commandments, they have the most essential element of the religion of the fathers. If they remain true to that connection all things can be restored to them."

IS YOUR ORIENTATION ALIGNED WITH GOD?

When most people hear the word 'ORIENTATION', they either think it is referring to a training meeting or your sexual preference. Neither of which have anything to do with the origin of the word 'ORIENT'. The word 'orient' actually means 'to face the east'. The orient is the direction east, the part of the horizon where the sun first appears. On the spring and fall equinox, the sun rises exactly due east and sets exactly due west on only these two days a year. That happened today, March 20, 2021. 

Photo taken of one of my friends on a past sunrise hike. Unfortunately today was rainy.

One of my favorite things to do in life is to hike to a mountain peak to see the sun rise, especially on the spring or fall equinox and orientate myself to the Sun.  There is something beautiful to know you are directly aligned or 'oriented" to the Heavens and with God on those two days. 

Unfortunately most of the world is disoriented, even by a few degrees. Disorientation is a deviation from an east-facing position. It is a confusion as to your direction.

The following story was given in April 2008 conference called "A Matter of a Few Degrees" by Dieter F. Uchtdorf

In 1979 a large passenger jet with 257 people on board left New Zealand for a sightseeing flight to Antarctica and back. Unknown to the pilots, however, someone had modified the flight coordinates by a mere two degrees. This error placed the aircraft 28 miles (45 km) to the east of where the pilots assumed they were. As they approached Antarctica, the pilots descended to a lower altitude to give the passengers a better look at the landscape. As the pilots flew onward, the white of the snow and ice covering the volcano blended with the white of the clouds above, making it appear as though they were flying over flat ground. By the time the instruments sounded the warning that the ground was rising fast toward them, it was too late. The airplane crashed into the side of the volcano, killing everyone on board. It was a terrible tragedy brought on by a minor error—a matter of only a few degrees.

Such a tragic story to be disoriented, misaligned by just a few degrees. So, why is it so important to be aligned and oriented with Heaven?

Entire cities have been built to be aligned with the East and cardinal directions of the compass. There are examples of an equinoctial temples which are oriented on a precise east-west axis on the day of the spring and fall equinox. One of the most important Temples that is aligned directly East is the ancient Solomon and Herod's Temple in Jerusalem. Ezekiel 43:1-2

Even  St. Peter's Cathedral at the Vatican is aligned directly with the orient on the Spring and Fall Equinox. The great Eastern doors at the gate were opened at sunrise, and also the eastern doors of the church, and as the sun rose, its rays passed through the outer doors, then through the inner doors, and penetrating straight through the nave, illuminated the High Altar.

Sidenote: 

The LDS Rome Temple is unlike the St Peter's Basilica where it is not oriented directly east. It is off a few degrees. 

Recent announced changes to the Salt Lake Temple as part of the reconstruction will change the symbolic orientation from room to room in the live endowment ceremony. The initiate would start in the first room of the endowment facing East called The Creation Room. Then they would turn and move facing South into the Garden Room. They would turn again and be facing west in the Telestial World Room. Their backs towards the East.  Repentance was then required to come back into the presence of God to once again face east. This is done by the climbing upstairs and entering into the Terrestial Room. After further gaining further light and knowlegde, one then passing through the veil and enters into the Celestrial Room. It was one complete Circle. It is unfortunate that this upward spiral of movement upward and the symbolic directions once faced in each of rooms will be a lost part of the Salt Lake Temple experience after it is remodeled. Here are a few photos of what the rooms and directions were like.

We live in a world of disorientation. However, the most important thing that we have to align us to God and orientate ourselves to Him is the Scriptures. Today on the Spring Equinox the following video was released.

The Heavens Are Open Again - PART 05: Restoring Scripture.

Link to the video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLOLqbFFf8U

RIGHT IS NOW WRONG, AND WRONG IS NOW RIGHT?

 PROPHETS SPEAK

from the New York Times

LATEST REMOVALS FROM THE SALT LAKE TEMPLE

First Presidency announces 

No more live endowment sessions

The Church News 

"For both the Salt Lake and Manti temples, temple instruction will move from a live presentation conducted in several different rooms to single-room film presentations. Also, storied but aging murals in both buildings are being removed."

These historic rooms will no longer be used as originally designed.  The beautiful hand-painted murals will be removed as well. There was alot of symbolism in the upward spiral of moving up from one room to another, but patrons will now stay in one place during the Temple instruction. The historic baptistry and font will also be removed and new ones will be build in the Annex. 

In a letter written by the First Presidency it says,

"As this project has progressed, we have felt the Lord's hand guiding us in modifying several aspects of the renovation."  

So they only felt the Lord guidance on several aspects? Why not ALL aspects? 

The below pioneer murals will all be removed, painted over, and changed. 

 Are we  RESTORING or COMPLETELY REMOVING our  Historical Foundations?

I recently took a few photos last week of the Salt Lake Temple. I was surprised to see the stones being taken down from the exterior of the Temple. Apparently, the reason they are doing so is for cleaning purposes. I  would think it easier to clean them still attached to the building instead of removing them. Plus a whole lot less expensive.  (It is not like you can take them to the dry cleaners or something.) Anyway, I am constantly amazed at this "Renovation" of the Salt Lake Temple. 

Here is a photo that I took and added the ground level transparency to show the progress of the removal of the foundation. They have dug down what looks to be at least 30 feet. They will then begin the process of the replacing the rock foundation with moving rollers which they are calling  a "base isolation system". Essentially the building is no longer built on rock, a steadfast and firm foundation, but on rollers that can move back and forth depending on the movement of the world(earth).

I honestly wonder if it would have been easier and cheaper to just tear down and rebuild the temple with all of these massive changes they are doing. 

SYMBOLIC MINIMALISM vs New restrictions for depicting Deity in LDS artwork

I started writing a blogpost a few weeks ago about minimalism in artwork where the simplest and fewest elements are used to create the maximum effect.  The reason for wanting to write about this subject was that I had come across a couple of minimalistic art renditions of the First Vision that I thought were really cool. 

The image on the left uses just geometric shapes and the one on the right only uses black and white cutouts. Both are very symbolic and conveys a lot of meaning with very little detail. 

I never finished writing about it and kept the post in my every increasing drafts that I don't publish. However, a few days ago I heard that that there is a new internal direction from LDS church leaders about portraying Deity for the Church curriculum and media.  The new policy directs that artwork depicting God and Jesus Christ will need to fit within more narrow guidelines. All of the artwork depicting deity will need to have facial features. Artistic stylization like cubism will not be permitted as well. In addition, all visual interpretations of God will need undergo the approval process in Correlation.

Below are some examples of artwork currently being sold at Deseret Book that will no longer be used in Church media and materials because they do not following the new edicts from above. Apparently all artwork depicting the The Father and the Son will need to clearly show two eyes, a nose, a mouth, and two ears.  Like other recent changes including no longer using the Angel Moroni on top of newer temples, we will no longer see symbolic artwork of Christ appear in church produced media and publications like a few of these paintings below currently being sold at Deseret Book.

 NO LONGER ACCEPTABLE ARTWORK FOR CHURCH MATERIAL

Throughout history works of art have been altered, silenced and even erased due to unacceptable content by those in power and authority whether the motivations for censorship were religious, social or political. Despite these new restrictions in how we should depict God, I hope that artists will continue to use their God given talent and creativity to push boundaries of rigid guidelines through their imagery and content. Art is uniquely positioned to move people—inspiring us, inciting new questions and provoking curiosity.  Depicting Deity in a symbolic way allows the viewer connect with God in a unique way. Personally I have found beauty in some of the simplest and minimalistic forms depicting God and Christ. 

That being said, I wonder how long the revelation to brand His Church by depicting Christ as a Greek-like graven statue in marble will last.

And we will go down...

Photo taken on our recent flight

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And then the Lord said: 

Let us go down. And they went down at the beginning, and they, that is the Gods organized and formed the heavens and the earth.

Abraham 4:1

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All of us came "down" to this earth in a specific year, on a specific day, at a specific hour. We entered into a fallen world. A world of opposites: good and evil, virtue and vice, light and darkness, health and sickness, pleasure and pain. We came to exercise our agency. To choose between truth and error. 

I am sure most, if not all of us, are glad that 2020 is behind us. However, so far 2021 hasn't been too much better.  It seems like there are more lies being spread instead of truth. Our leaders taking more  control and offering us less freedom. A country moving towards more socialism and less liberty.  Just recently, my family left the mainland of the United States for a few weeks and spent some much needed "social distancing" from all that was happening in our country. It was nice to be off the grid during a time of chaos happening in our nation's capital.  

I wanted to share a few photos that I took to hopefully provide some balance to some of the recent blog posts I have written to show that there is still beauty in the world. 

Last sunset of 2020 looking over the Pacific Ocean.

The nature of the ocean can seem turbulent on the surface, with crashing waves everywhere, but as you move below the surface, you will find stillness for miles and miles until you hit the ocean floor. Here are a few photos of the raging waves we saw as well as some of the beautiful sea life that lives beneath the chaotic surface that we encountered.

Waves at Sunset Beach Park

Red Sand Beach

waves just west of Banzai Pipeline

Achilles Tang fish at Hanauma Bay

Sea Turtle at Hanauma Bay

These next two photos were taken at The Seven Sacred Pools. 

OUR COUNTRY'S MOST IMMORAL ACT... THE KILLING OF INNOCENT LIFE

Lady Gaga greets the President Biden after singing the National Anthem.  

Today we have a new President of the United States. I watched the entire Inauguration beginning with the singing of the National Anthem by Lady Gaga. Instead of comment on the Inauguration, I wanted to point out one interesting thing that happened right after Joe Biden took office. Two day ago, President Trump penned a Proclamation on the Sanctity of Human Life. It was posted and published on the official www.whitehouse.gov website. Here is the LINK . If you clicked on the link, you will see it is no longer available.

This important proclamation was quickly taken down minutes after the President Biden was sworn in. I think it was important to post it here since most people are not aware of this and was never publicized on any of the news media outlets. 

Even though the new White House leaders have taken this Proclamation down for the public to read on the whitehouse.gov website, you should be able to access it here. At least until this site is blocked as well. 

This proclamation is beautiful and emphasizes the importance of Human Life. Contrast the conservative views of the outgoing administration's stance on abortion, we now have Joe Biden who has plans to restore federal funding for abortion through Planned Parenthood. 

As he heads to the White House, Joe Biden is expected to overturn many Trump-era decisions, including the restrictions on abortion rights, Associated Press reports. He has voiced plans to nominate federal judges who support Roe v. Wade and would "support a federal statute legalizing abortion if the Supreme Court’s conservative majority strikes down Roe," according to the AP

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I attended a talk last year given in Hurricane where a warning was given to our country of the retribution it will face for the abortions of 60+ million unborn children:

"Our society suffers most from evils we inflict upon ourselves. It’s estimated that in January and February of this year, the greatest cause of death in the United States has come from one of our great evils of abortion. An estimated 141,000 abortions in those two months added to the estimated 51,000,000 who have been slain since 1973. Abortion is the leading cause of death in the United States. By tolerating this mass killing, we’re not unlike those who anciently killed their children, sacrificing them to the false god Molech. The Lord repeatedly condemned that:

And the Lord spoke unto Moses, saying, Again, you shall say to the children of Israel, Whoever he is, of the children of Israel or of the strangers that sojourn in Israel, that gives any of his seed unto Molech, he shall surely be put to death. The people of the land shall stone him with stones...

Stoning with stones was intended to be an expression of community condemnation to require that everyone participate, everyone know, and everyone witness the horrendous act of putting someone to death under the law for this kind of an offense.  This was an act of killing children for worship of a false god. There’s very little difference between that act and the idea of exercising a fundamental right enshrined as though it were a sacrament.

We’ve slain—as a society in the United States—over 51,000,000 children. Where is the alarm? Where is the upset? Where is the shutting down of business and the cutting off of travel in order to preserve those lives?

What kind of a society allows killing 51,000,000 innocent children to continue uninterrupted for over 47 years? As we’ve been told, Nevertheless, when the wicked rule, the people mourn. Wherefore, honest men and wise men should be sought for diligently, and good men and wise men you should observe to uphold; otherwise, whatever is less than these [come] of evil.

It’s not honest, it’s not wise, and it’s not good to uphold leaders who celebrate the murder of children as if it were a sacrament to be protected, sacrosanct, and constitutionally protected. It is something that will cause the greater society, eventually, to mourn.

We have elected and upheld men and women who have tolerated this obscenity for 47 years. The United States will be punished for this. By and by, you will see the chastening hand of an Almighty God, until the consumption decreed has made a full end of all nations (T&C 85:3, emphasis added)​. That full end of nations will include the U.S. And so, we have an opportunity to prepare if we will heed the Lord’s counsel."

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Sidenote: How fascinating it is that the person asked to sign our National Anthem today has recently appeared in promotional media photos drinking the blood of children. Of all the talented singers in this country, she is the one the new president asks to sing? 

May God help us. 

Be a good global citizen! Follow the Prophet. GET VACCINATED!

Be a good global citizen! Follow the Prophet. Get Vaccinated!

The First Presidency released a statement discussing the importance of immunization against preventable diseases, encouraging members to get their shots once they become eligible.

The full statement reads:

"In word and deed, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has supported vaccinations for generations. As a prominent component of our humanitarian efforts, the Church has funded, distributed and administered life-saving vaccines throughout the world. Vaccinations have helped curb or eliminate devastating communicable diseases, such as polio, diphtheria, tetanus, smallpox and measles. Vaccinations administered by competent medical professionals protect health and preserve life.

"As this pandemic spread across the world, the Church immediately canceled meetings, closed temples, and restricted other activities because of our desire to be good global citizens and do our part to fight the pandemic.

"Now, COVID-19 vaccines that many have worked, prayed, and fasted for are being developed, and some are being provided. Under the guidelines issued by local health officials, vaccinations were first offered to health care workers, first responders, and other high-priority recipients. Because of their age, Senior Church leaders over 70 now welcome the opportunity to be vaccinated.

"As appropriate opportunities become available, the Church urges its members, employees and missionaries to be good global citizens and help quell the pandemic by safeguarding themselves and others through immunization. Individuals are responsible to make their own decisions about vaccination. In making that determination, we recommend that, where possible, they counsel with a competent medical professional about their personal circumstances and needs.

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Before you rush off to become a good global citizen. Maybe read this.

Norway raises concern about Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine safety after 29 deaths

https://www.pharmaceutical-technology.com/news/norway-concern-pfizer-vaccine/

A SAD STATE OF AFFAIRS

This woman was born almost exactly one year before America became a nation. She was born on July 8,1775.  Her name is Lucy Mack Smith. She was the mother of the Prophet Joseph Smith. I find it interesting that her birth matches up so closely to our Independence Day when we commemorate our freedom as a Nation.

Her son Joseph would bring forth records from prior civilizations that occupied this great land. This land is a Land of Promise that has been given to those who inhabit it by covenant. 

"Whoso should possess this land of promise, from that time henceforth and forever, should serve him, the true and only God, or they should be swept off when the fulness of his wrath should come upon them. And now, we can behold the decrees of God concerning this land, that it is a land of promise; and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall serve God, or they shall be swept off when the fulness of his wrath shall come upon them. And the fulness of his wrath cometh upon them when they are ripened in iniquity. For behold, this is a land which is choice above all other lands; wherefore he that doth possess it shall serve God or shall be swept off; for it is the everlasting decree of God. And it is not until the fulness of iniquity among the children of the land, that they are swept off. And this cometh unto you, O ye Gentiles, that ye may know the decrees of God—that ye may repent, and not continue in your iniquities until the fulness come, that ye may not bring down the fulness of the wrath of God upon you as the inhabitants of the land have hitherto done. Behold, this is a choice land, and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall be free from bondage, and from captivity, and from all other nations under heaven, if they will but serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ." Ether 2: 

I am not sure what the "fulness of iniquity" looks like to God, but I can see if we continue down the path we are on that the Big Broom might be used soon to do some sweeping.  The warning is not that the people of this land would be destroyed, but that they would be swept off. It repeats that warning over three times. To be swept off is much different that being destroyed. It is actually worse. 

In the Book of Mormon, to destroy did not necessarily mean annihilation. It merely meant to end the organized existence of a people or to terminate their government, deprive them of a land, and end their cultural dominance. In the Book of Mormon, a people were destroyed when they lost control over their government and land. Their ability to preserve their own values and choose the way they were governed was taken over by others. Once people were destroyed, they were oppressed and suffered. Often they were oppressed with grievous taxes and had religious liberties removed. Then they faced a choice: either repent, in which case they came through the period of oppression with another chance; or if they were angry and rebellious, they would then be “swept away.” Being destroyed is not at all the same as being “swept away.” It is possible for people to have been destroyed and not even realize it. But when they are “swept away,” they face extinction and cannot help but notice it.

My friend who lives up in Washington shared his comments with me early today about his opinion of what is currently happening right now in our country like the rapid decision to impeach President Trump, the protests at the Capital, and the trillions of dollars being handed out for stimulus money. I asked for his permission to share what he wrote since I thought more people might find it as interesting as I did.

Hypocrisy is an understatement. All I'm hearing from the left now is to come together and heal and embrace the new regime. Even pray for their success. All good sentiments which would be the best thing that could ever happen. But 4 years ago the same people began a daily attack on our president and his supporters that never let up, culminating in a vindictive and flawed attempt to discredit all that was accomplished to maintain our liberty and shift power from an an ever growing, self-serving government back to the people. They could never separate the man from the mission.

I'm not disillusioned enough to think Trump and his family don't get high on the power and authority they hold. Almost no human doesn't. But at the end of the day, the guy just wanted to preserve and maintain the American way of life that our founders envisioned. He worked hard at it and did a ton of good toward those ends. Now vilified, abandoned by his friends and written off as a failed president, he'll join a host of others who went before that are forgotten as history gets conveniently rewritten.I'm so tired of the media claiming that the election was fair and honest. They have distorted the truth so much that it is now impossible for the public to know where to find it. The cardinal directions are literally upside down and backward. It's a gross display of cognitive dissonance and ignorance. Thousands of people volunteered across the country to help the swing states verify the votes by painstakingly going vote by vote to verify its origin and owner. They discovered widespread voter fraud in a dozen different ways that affected virtually every state. These corruptions didn't begin with this election. It's likely been going on for two decades. This election was the first in which the winner was so far out of the normal flow of election day data, that it warranted a hard look and the loser, not being part of the establishment, was willing to go the distance to exhaust every effort to expose the fraud and reveal it to the public. That effort to bring light to the darkness was not about reelecting a disrespectful rich guy with a potty mouth so he could enjoy the power for another 4 years.... it was about ensuring the integrity of future elections. Had he been re-elected, you can bet that he would have enacted laws to reform the way we vote to make sure it never happens again.But now that those who benefitted from the fraud are in power, the result is exactly the opposite. They will ensure the vote only goes one direction. I do not forsee another conservative, constitutional Republican ever being elected to the Presidency.We had a shot to fix this and it's now passed. It's not time to heal, nor time to come together as a country. It's time to flee. Neither party has the right to claim God's favor and certainly nobody anywhere in local, state and federal governments are using this opportunity in the way God intended, which is to warn people to repent and return. I have no idea how the Lord intends to help us escape all this, I just know that he does and has prepared the means.Unlike some, I'm not counting calendar days, thinking about times, time, and half-times, making comparisons to Nauvoo and the time it took them to build a temple, and otherwise mapping out how I think the Lord will handle the next 5-10 years. I hold the opinion that if you think you have it all figured out, you can be sure you are wrong. I ask the Lord every day to just show me the next step and hope like hell I don't turn a deaf ear or a blind eye to it. One step at an time is all I've ever been able to accurately perceive of God's hand in my life and that's likely never to change for me.Although my heart is sad in all this. I know that on the other side of it is something glorious and beautiful. I hope I live to see it.

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Sidenote:

I have always struggled to read about God's wrath or anger and how he might "punish" those who do not abide to His laws. When we read those scriptures in Ether about the fulness of his wrath coming upon us when we are ripened in iniquity, I don't necessary imagine a God who has lost his temper. The following quote from the book, Nephi's Isaiah helps clarify what God's anger really is. 

We will finally see the events of history are culminating in a great, final effort to reach us. The “anger” (caused by our rejection of what was offered) is now “turned away.” Actually, it wasn’t really anger. It was our refusal to accept what was offered. We regard it as anger when we can’t get from God what He offers on condition of obedience. We disobey, lose the blessing, and think God is angry with us. It is our perception, based upon our selfish view of everything, that He is angry. We want our God to bless us, and we want to be able to offend Him, too. But since He “cannot look upon sin with the least degree of
allowance,” we are asking the impossible when we want Him to accompany us as we trample through and among the filth He asks us to avoid.

As we finally repent and decide to do as He asks, His Spirit returns. We then rejoice and say His anger is turned away, and now He is there to comfort us. All along He was willing to do so, but we are difficult companions. As we reform and the Spirit returns to us, we take great comfort in finally receiving what He offered all along.