Wednesday, May 20, 2020

LDS CHURCH LOSES 8 BILLION DOLLARS OF VALUE IN THEIR "RAINY DAY ACCOUNT"

The Salt Lake Tribune printed an article this morning that the investment arm of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints, reported to federal regulators that the value of its stock holdings fell by $8.1 billion during a three-month span. Here is a link the article: [LINK]


Compare that 8 billion dollars (8,000,000,000.00) loss to what The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gives annually to help the poor, sick and needy. President Oaks reported (LINK) that  the Church gives about $40 million on welfare, humanitarian and other LDS Church-sponsored projects around the world and has done so for more than 30 years (equals out to approximately $1.2 billion on welfare and humanitarian efforts over the past 30 years.)


So much has been said on how prophetically we had been prepared as a Church for the  Covid pandemic with the programs that were put into place like our study manual to have home church. I wonder if not all the Church departments got the memo. 

Thursday, May 14, 2020

THE ZEALOUS IMPATIENT REAPING ANGELS vs OUR LONG-SUFFERING GOD - A message of Optimism found in Nature

Right now there is a lot of pessimism in the world. There are so many loud voices that demand our attention which continue to create fear, mistrust, division, anger and despair.  Some people are reveling at the  possibility that the end of the world is near and destruction is at hand. They are like the angels who "are crying unto the Lord day and night, who are ready and waiting to be sent forth to reap down the fields." D&C 86:5. Are we sometimes like those angels who are excited to have the tares bundled and burned?

I suggest taking a break from the doom and gloom for a minute and take a walk outside in nature. What you might find is a message of optimism. Observe and take notice of what God might be saying. God speaks loudly in nature. These messages in Nature are important for us to hear. They should be viewed, noted and appreciated.  I believe that God's hand is not only written in scripture, but it’s also in nature. God is speaking to all of us, more or less all of the time. We determine how much we want to hear and are willing to let in. We just need to observe it.  Francis Bacon wrote, “God has, in fact, written two books, not just one. Of course, we are all familiar with the first book he wrote, namely Scripture. But he has written a second book called Creation." 

We must read them both.

One such message in Nature that my wife and I saw this past week was this Weeping Pine. Below is the photo I took of the tree.  It appears to be dead.  If this tree was in your front yard, this would be at the top of the honey-do list to have it cut down and removed. 


But take a look at a close up of one of the branches.


If you look closely you can see small signs of life.



I think there is a message of Optimism found in this Weeping Pine. There are signs of life in this tree that appears to be a completely dead. In fact the new growth coming out of the nearly dead tree is the most vibrant green color I have seen. It is beautiful new life.

I am reminded about the story of Abraham who pleaded to the Lord to not destroy the city of Sodom if Abraham could find a few righteous people.

In Genesis 18 we read this dialogue between Abraham and God:

ABRAHAM: Will you destroy all the city for their wickedness if I find there forty-five righteous? GOD: I will not destroy, but spare them.

ABRAHAM: If perhaps there should be forty found there?
GOD: I will not destroy it for forty’s sake.

ABRAHAM: If perhaps there shall thirty be found there?
GOD: I will not destroy them if you shall find thirty there.

ABRAHAM: Will you destroy them if perhaps there shall be twenty found there?
GOD: I will not destroy them for twenty’s sake.

ABRAHAM: If perhaps ten shall be found there?
GOD: I will not destroy them for ten’s sake.

.........

The reason why Abraham was so acknowledged by God was because Abraham didn't give up on Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham was trying to save the lives.  The characteristics that Abraham possessed is the same as Gods. Long-suffering, patient, forgiving. You contrast that with the zealous and impatient angels who are so quick to reap and cut down. Because Abraham has a similiar outlook and nature as God,  God said to Abraham.. It is through you Abraham,  I will make your Father of Nations.

I am wondering if Abraham would ask the same questions about this Weeping Pine. 

ABRAHAM: Would you destroy this tree if I can find a few living branches?
GOD: I will not destroy the tree.
The reaping angels: Let's cut down the tree and burn it.

What do we want? Are we like Abraham? Would we want to nurture to try and save this Weeping Pine if you see a few living branches? Or would you be more like the reaping angels who would want to cut the tree down?


Wednesday, May 6, 2020

HERD MENTALITY vs HERD IMMUNITY

HERD MENTALITY

Are you wearing a mask because everyone else is wearing one?
Are you being masked shamed?
Is your local governments and law enforcement punishing you for not wearing one?

Some cities have gone as far as setting fines for failing to wear a mask. In Laredo, Texas, anyone over the age of five who walks into a store or takes public transit without their mouth and nose covered by a mask or bandana could now be fined up to 1,000.00 dollars.




OR

Or do you believe God created your body that can fight viruses,  toxins or other foreign substance that will induce an immune response in the body, especially the production of antibodies?

HERD IMMUNITY: the resistance to the spread of a contagious disease within a population that results if a sufficiently high proportion of individuals are immune to the disease, especially through passing on antibodies to one another.




Which camp do you belong to? If you are undecided on what to do, here is an interesting videos to watch.



Tuesday, May 5, 2020

PATTERN FOR THE CITY OF ZION?

The LDS Church released today their proposal to develop a community that includes hundreds of homes and a 55-plus adult community around the newly announced Temple in Tooele, Utah. Here is the news article LINK as well as the Church News Release. LINK


Below is the plot map showing all the lots that will be for sale. I assume with all the different size lots that there will be price ranges from expensive lots for the affluent to smaller lots for the modest income families. I labeled them accordingly.
Steve Romney, the president of the Church's Real Estate and Land Development, (Suburban Land Reserve) said the following in the news article, “In addition to contributing to needed utility infrastructure around the temple, this community will help protect the temple and create a place where people can enjoy the setting of this sacred building in ways that are important and meaningful to them.”



Is this the new pattern for the city of Zion?