About 5 years ago I read Hugh Nibley's "Approaching Zion". Few books have had such a profound impact on my life. Since Hugh never attained the rank of a General Authority within the church, I highly doubt that any of his writings will be included in the new curriculum to teach the youth starting in January 2013. In my opinion, I would love it if we at least quoted him once in awhile...or at least as many times as we do non-LDS writers like CS Lewis.
This is a pivotal year. Election year. Tonight is the first of Presidental Debates. I don't particularily like either candidate. I think the American people have been given a "rock" or a "hard place" to choose from. Either the "ripe" or the "ripening". That being said, I just wanted to mention this. On page 275 in Approaching Zion, Hugh Nibley mentions the four things that will destroy a civilization. He quotes the Book of Mormon prophet writer, Mormon who also warns us in these latter days of these similiar four things. These four things are the lust for: Power, Riches, Popularity, and the Desires of the Flesh.
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"Satan had great power,
unto the stirring up of the people to do all manner of iniquity,
and to the puffing them up
POWER,
and AUTHORITY,
and RICHES,
and the VAIN THINGS of the world."
3 Nephi 6:15
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Almost every prophet in the Book of Mormon gives this same account of what happens to the people of the Church when they become powerful, rich and popular with the world. Examples can be found in Alma, Helaman, Mormon, Nephi etc. Here are few scriptures.
"For they saw and beheld with great sorrow that the people of the church began to be lifted up in the pride of their eyes, and to set their hearts upon riches and upon the vain things of the world."
Alma 4: 8
"But behold, it is to get gain, to be praised of men, yea, and that ye might get gold and silver. And ye have set your hearts upon the riches and the vain things of this world."
Helaman 7:21
"Yea, it shall come in a day when the power of God shall be denied, and churches become defiled and be lifted up in the pride of their hearts; yea, even in a day when leaders of churches and teachers shall rise in the pride of their hearts, even to the envying of them who belong to their churches."
Mormon 8:28
"They wear stiff necks and high heads; yea, and because of pride, and wickedness, and abominations, and whoredoms, they have all gone astray save it be a few, who are the humble followers of Christ; nevertheless, they are led, that in many instances they do err because they are taught by the precepts of men."
2 Nephi 28: 14
Sidenote images and video:
Multimillion dollars homes surrounding the Draper, UT Temple.
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Here is an interesting video of one of our most famous Mormons
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I'll end this post by quoting from a friend,
"May the Lord have mercy on us all. Even so, Amen."
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One more interesting tidbit:
The Republican Party in helping the Mitt Romney Campaign is offering a free 3 day stay down in Las Vegas. I received an phone call and a follow up email with the following offer.
We are sending buses down to Las Vegas every weekend from now until election day (with the exception of Oct 5-7). We would love to have you join us! Nevada is a battleground state and they need us in order for the Republican ticket to win in November.
The buses will leave Utah on Friday afternoon and return on Sunday by 8:30pm. We will be putting you up in a hotel, and covering food for the duration of the trip. Saturday will be spent canvassing neighborhoods (ID-ing voters so that the NV team can effectively target voters). These voter IDs help the campaign to save valuable time and money so that they can focus on the swing voters.
The buses will start boarding at our Midvale office at 3:45pm and leave promptly at 4:00pm, or from our Orem office at 4:45pm and 5:00pm, respectively.
In order to reserve your seat on the bus, I need the following information:.....
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