SCRUPULOSITY.... Unhealthy Excessive Religious Behavior

Scrupulous is a word to describe someone who is diligent, thorough, and extremely attentive to details in following the rules or requirements that is asked of them. They are very concerned to avoid doing any thing wrong.  On the surface, being scrupulous might be considered a good thing, but if excessive, it could possibly lead to unhealthy religious behavior called Scrupulosity.  

Common Symptoms of Scrupulosity:

• Believes that religious practice must be 100 percent perfect.
• Critical of others that are perceived to be sinful. 
• Believes in a "Check-list" type God. 
• Overly concerned about keeping every Letter of the Law. 
• Devout in their outward observances especially in places of Worship
• Obedient in keeping the rules/commandments out of fear of punishment.
• Proud of being a member of "The Not Even Once Club"
• Confesses to every indiscretion.
• Fears that things are not being done quite the "right way"
• Believes you earn your love from God. 
• Overzealous in the need to keep religious tradition.

All of these symptoms could describe perfectly the Pharisees at the time of Christ. They were religious zealots and were scrupulous in following the Law of Moses. Their scrupulosity was so deep that they could not recognize the Savior of the World, the actual giver of the Law of Moses.

Common  Ways to Avoid of Scrupulosity:

• Remember that we all fall short and make mistakes .
• Forgive others of their faults. 
• Life is so much more than a check list of "to-do's" to cross things off.  
• Be guided by the Spirit of the Law. 
• Your inner commitment is more important than the outer appearance
• Be obedient to God's commandments because of your love for Him.
• Repent and access the Christ's Atonement when we sin.
• Confess your weakness and ask for strength to overcome
• Relish in the fact that someone does things differently than you.  
• Remember the Mercy of Christ and His love for us 
• Avoid perpetuating false traditions.

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Sidenote:

Another interesting thing about the Pharisees is that they cooperated with the Romans in order to preserve their own position among Israel. I bring this up because I recently came across an interesting 600 page dissertation about a possible parallel in our time.. If true, it is very unsettling.  

LINK TO DISSERTION

"This dissertation studies a small American religious group that survived unscathed during the Third Reich. Some fifteen thousand members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Mormons, lived under National Socialism. Unlike persecuted Jews and Jehovah's Witnesses, and other small American-based sects that suffered severe restrictions, the Mormons worshiped freely under Hitler's regime. They survived by stressing congruence between church doctrine and Nazi dogma. Mormons emphasized their interest in genealogical research and sports, sent their husbands into the Wehrmacht and their sons into the Hitler Youth, and prayed for a Nazi victory in wartime. Mormon leaders purged all Jewish references from hymnals, lesson plans and liturgical practices, and shunned their few Jewish converts. They resurrected a doctrinal edict that required deference to civil authority, which the Mormons had not always obeyed. Some Mormons imagined fanciful connections with Nazism, to the point that a few believed Hitler admired their church, copied its welfare program, and organized the Nazi party along Mormon lines."

"This dissertation builds upon Christine Elizabeth King's theory of a common Weltanschauung between Mormons and Nazis, and Steven Carter's description of the Mormons' “accommodation” with National Socialism. Instead of a passive approach, however, the Mormons pursued aggressive and shameless “ingratiation” with the Nazi state.""This work also examines memory. Mormons later tried to forget their pandering to the Nazis, especially when large numbers of Germans immigrated to Utah in the post war period. When the story of a martyred Mormon resister, Helmuth Hübener, emerged in the 1970s, church officials interfered with the research of scholars at Brigham Young University. They feared that Hübener's example would incite Mormon youth to rebel against dictators abroad, hurt the church's relations with communist East Germany, and would offend recent German Mormon immigrants in Utah. A few Mormons shunned and harassed Hübener's surviving coconspirators. In recent years, Hübener— excommunicated for rebellion against the Nazis but later restored to full church membership—has been rehabilitated as a recognized hero of Mormonism. A new collective memory has been forged, one of wartime courage and suffering, while the inconvenient past is being conveniently discarded."

AD CAMPAIGN USING SMALL CHILDREN WEARING MASKS OUTSIDE RUNNING FREELY IN THE SUN

I saw this billboard today in Salt Lake City. It made me sad to see a brother and sister holding hands running outside in the summer sunshine.. wearing masks. Nothing about that image is normal... and we should fight against it becoming our "new normal"

BILLBOARD: Two small children running outside wearing masks. 

We should think twice on what we are promoting. News article about 2 boys who died while running (exercising) because they were wearing masks. Let's make sure we don't kill the young to protect the high risk elderly who have underlying medical conditions. See story that was fact checked.

Two schoolboys in China reportedly collapsed and suddenly died within a week of each other after they were forced to participate in gym class while sporting face masks:

  https://www.nydailynews.com/coronavirus/ny-coronavirus-two-chinese-boys-die-face-masks-gym-class-20200507-ruyinz7czjbqde3tprx647q3dm-story.html

After seeing that I decided to edit together a few clips and make the following video: 

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore, take unto you the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."

 Ephesian 6:12

DISCONTINUED: Ensign Magazine. The LDS Church will cease publication

The Ensign of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly shortened to Ensign is an official magazine of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Some members would consider this periodical as modern day scripture since it contained a monthly First Presidency Message written by the Prophet or one of his counselors. Every month, Home Teachers shared that message with their assigned families so every member would hear the Prophets' message. Well, that was the goal at least.

Once he was sustained as the Prophet by the members in April 2018, President Nelson never wrote a First Presidency Message for the Ensign. This broke an almost 50 year history of the one of the main purposes of the Church's premiere publication. 

Announced this week, President Nelson takes things one step further. The discontinuation of the Ensign magazine altogether. The December 2020 issue will be the last one printed.

Here is the official announcement:

I know for many whose entire life as a members where this magazine graced their living room coffee table will find the elimination of the Ensign to be surprising. The Church will continue to print the Friend, the New Era (to renamed For the Strength of Youth, and the International magazine, The Liahona formerly known as Tambuli in the English-language version)


Sidenote:

It seems like the Church is also discontinuing placing the Angel Moroni's on top of their Temples. In The Church released this week a new rendering of the Taylorsville Temple which will be built in the middle of the Salt Lake Valley. Missing from the top of this to-be-built temple is the Angel Moroni. This is looking like this is the "new-normal" for the Church. 

Rendering of the Taylorsville, Utah Temple that will begin construction in the coming weeks. 

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Sidenote #2:

 the latest news about another Temple being built in Tooele about 30 miles away from this Taylorsville, UT Temple.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint leaders have withdrawn their plan to build a residential community surrounding the announced Tooele Valley Utah Temple

https://www.ksl.com/article/50007804/latter-day-saint-leaders-withdraw-rezoning-request-for-proposed-tooele-valley-temple-community

“We acknowledge the efforts of those who have raised questions and sincere concerns about the Tooele Valley Temple project, including the residential development surrounding the temple. There is a sincere desire on the part of the Church to avoid discord in the community,” the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said in a statement released Tuesday.

“Therefore, regardless of the outcome of a pending signature-gathering effort, we have determined to withdraw our rezoning request for the residential portion of the temple project.”

Bad Things Happen to Good People - #sayhisname

People often ask, "Why do bad things happen to good people?"  When we ask that question, we often forget the Good One who suffered/felt/experienced/atoned for more "BAD" things than we can even imagine. I post this in response to a story I read today that is not being reported very much in the media because it doesn't fit well with the current agenda sweeping our country. It is the shooting of a 5 year old boy, Cannon Hinnant. Here is a link to the story: LINK

excerpts from the chapter entitled Gethsemane in the book Come Let Us Adore Him. 

"As the Lord knelt in prayer, His vicarious suffering began. He was overcome by pain and anguish. He felt within Him, not just the pains of sin, but also the illnesses men suffer as a result of the Fall, and their foolish and evil choices. The suffering was long and the challenge difficult...

The Lord experienced all the horror and regret wicked men feel for their crimes when they finally see the truth. He experienced the suffering of their victims whose righteous anger and natural resentment and disappointment must also be shed, and forgiveness given, in order for them to find peace. He overcame them all. He descended below them all. He comprehends it all. And He knows how to bring peace to them all. He knows how to love others whether they are the one who has given offense or the one who is a victim of the offense.

In the final wave, the most brutal, most evil, most heinous sins men inflict upon one another were felt by Him as a victim of the worst men can do. He knew how it felt to wrongly suffer death. He knew what it was like to be a mother holding a child in her arms as they are both killed by those who delight in their suffering. He knew how it was for ambitious men to rid themselves of a rival by conspiracy and murder. He knew what it was to have virtue robbed from the innocent. He knew betrayal, treachery, and abuse in all its worst degrading horror. There was no cruelty, no offense, no evil that mankind has suffered or will suffer that was not put upon Him.

He knew what it is like for men to satisfy their ambition by clothing their hypocrisy in religious garb. He also felt what it was like to be the victim of religious oppression by those who pretend to practice virtue while oppressing others. He knew the hearts of those who would kill Him. Before confronting their condemnation of Him in the flesh, He suffered their torment of mind when they recognized He was the Lord, and then found peace for what they would do by rejecting Him. In this extremity there was madness itself as He mirrored the evil which would destroy Him, and learned how to come to peace with the Father after killing the Son of God, and to love all those involved without restraint and without pretense even before they did these terrible deeds. His suffering, therefore, encompassed all that has happened, all that did happen, and all that would happen in the future.

As a result of what the Lord suffered, there is no condition - physical, spiritual or mental - that He does not fully understand. He knows how to teach, comfort, succor and direct any who come to Him seeking forgiveness and peace.  He obtained this knowledge by the things he suffered. He suffered that we might avoid sin by being obedient to His commandments. None of us need harm another, if we will follow Him. He knows fully the consequences of sin. He teaches His followers how to avoid sin.
He can bring peace to any soul. He can help those who will come to Him love their fellow man. He alone is the Perfect Teacher because He alone has the knowledge each of us lack to return to being whole and at peace with the God and Father of us all after our transgression of His will..."

WEARING FACE MASKS: SO DO YOU FOLLOW THE PROPHET OR NOT?

Our friend posted on Facebook the letter from the LDS Church leaders which was sent to all members in Utah asking them to wear face masks in public, In the facebook post, this comment was added, 

"So do you follow the prophet or not?" 

Here is the post with our friend's name and photo removed. 

So we now have mandates from our religious and government leaders to wear a face masks. So if you live in Utah apparently you are not following the prophet if you don't have a face mask on. I understand that more cases are being reported and I am sensitive to those who have underlying conditions who are vulnerable, but let's remember that fewer deaths are happening in ratio of those who get the virus. And don't even get me started with our Utah Governor forcing our children (K-12 grades) to wear masks to school next month.

That being said, I just watched a few really good youtube videos that I thought are important to share.  I echo what my friend said after watching it, "Given the overflowing scourge of misinformation that seems to be gripping the country, it's the closest thing to the the truth I've seen since all this started."

continuing the quote from my friend:

"It's curious to me how the world almost overnight lost all of its good common sense. It began with the leadership of local and national governments who bought into the fear, but the most revealing truth is how willing we are to allow these leaders to do all the thinking for us while at the same time unwilling to hold them accountable and say.... "Look, show me the data that demonstrates this draconian approach you are taking and I'll saddle up along side you and fight the fight. But if there is no data, and your argument is weak, then I would prefer to trust my own intellect and common sense."

From the latter video:

"The longer that this goes on, the more we are realizing that the young and the healthy are relatively immune to this virus. they do well when they catch it, the recover quickly and they do not die from this virus. In children, they are so immune that they have a greater risk with influenza than they have with Covid 19. So that is why I am advocating opening up the schools with almost no restrictions. We got to get the children back into the classrooms. The children have a greater risk of dying by driving to school than they do from Covid 19. It is clear that children are not at risk. What the kids are at risk from is delaying their education, from delaying their socialization, from keeping them home and therefore, keeping their parents home who work. That is a greater risk. No data showing an asystemic child giving it to an adult. Putting masks on school children is not only unnecessary but very unhelpful.

To have people who are not in shape and not physically fit wearing a mask. (especially out walking) and is very unhealthy due to the lack of oxygen needed for the body. Not only that but after you have been breathing on the mask for 5 to 10 minutes in gets really moist inside, and once that mask is moist, the ability for that mask to filter goes out the door. Wearing a moist mask is the equivalent of building a chain link fence to filter out mosquitos..."

But until we really let go of the Fear... these two signs are our "new norm."

DISCONTINUING THE ANGEL MORONI ON LDS TEMPLES?

Below are a few of the latest renderings of the new temples that the First Presidency of the LDS Church has released.  Notice anything missing?

Orem, Utah Temple

Tooele, Utah Temple

Moses Lake, Washington Temple

Phnom Penh, Cambodia Temple

Not sure why the Church is starting to discontinue putting the iconic Angel Moroni facing east on top of the temples.  A few years ago I posted about some of the Temples placing the Angel Moroni facing a different direction other than facing to the East, but now it appears they are beginning to altogether not even put up the Angel Moroni on the temples.

No. 389: "I think I'll dedicate that one. It's good fishing up there"

No. 379: Does the direction we are facing matter?

Sidenote: 
Another name change announced today by the First Presidency. They are changing the name of the Washington County Utah Temple. It will now be called the Red Cliffs Temple.
https://www.ksl.com/article/50000191/washington-county-utah-temple-gets-a-new-name

I seriously don't understand why all these changes.

A WAR ZONE AROUND THE SALT LAKE TEMPLE - the Demolition continues

Here are a few photos I took of the Salt Lake Temple yesterday. I was shocked to what appeared to look like a warzone.  These are the views from the north side of the Temple.

It appears that the foundation of the Temple is starting to be removed. 

Here is a close up of the foundation of what is holding up the North side. 

Most of the glass windows have been removed and the north extension of the sealing rooms appear to be hollowed out. 

This is a photo of the demolition of the Chapel and North Entrance into the Temple.

All of the trees have been uprooted and removed. The entire surroundings around the temple is void of any living thing. It appears to be a shell of concrete.

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I sure miss what the Temple used to look like. Here are a few photos taken before the demolition on the Northside of the Temple with all of the Cherry blossom trees. 

Some views from the South side of the Temple of the gardens and fountains.

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But, this is what we have to look forward to. Here are the architectural rendering that the Church has released on what the newly remodeled Salt Lake Temple will look like in 4 more years.

THE HEAVENS ARE OPEN - PART TWO (new video released today on Summer Solstice 2020)

Today, Saturday, June 20, 2020  the sun will take its longest and highest path through the sky. The 2020 Summer Solstice occurs at 3:43 pm in Salt Lake City. In terms of daylight, this day is 5 hours, 51 minutes longer than on the December Winter Solstice.

A week from now will be the anniversary of the martyrdom of Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum.  A series of seven short videos on Restoration are currently being created to not only commemorate the 200 year anniversary of the First Vision but to also show how the Restoration is continuing to unfold today.  Below is the link to the second video that was just released in part of observing the Summer Solstice and the Martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum.

The style of the video uses imagery of large brush strokes on an old deteriorating canvas. The first large brush strokes introduce the images in monotone colors, but then begins to restore the original color. Each image on the canvas is not fully completed nor do they have all of the color restored completely. That is symbolic that the Restoration is not complete. That process of remembering and completing the Restoration  is currently underway. The remaining five videos will hopefully paint that picture of what the Lord is currently doing in our day.

EXTREME CONTRASTS: Black vs White, Control vs Freedom, Turmoil vs Peace

This is the world in which we live... Opposition in all things.  Everything has it's opposite. Good and evil, virtue and vice, light and darkness, health and sickness, pleasure and pain.

“Life is 10% what happens to you 

and 90% how you react to it.”

"We cannot change our past...we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude... life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it." by Charles R. Swindoll

Below are a few quotes from a great blog post: Blessed are the Peacemakers that was written over 10 years ago. It is probably more relevant today than when it was written: 

There are too many willing to cry for revenge or justice in the world. Eventually the spirit of revenge will reign, and the earth will be filled with violence. As it was in the days of Noah – those days will return again. (Gen. 6: 11-13; Moses 8: 28-30.) Those who want to see justified and unjustified killing will have their fill. In the days before the flood the earth was filled with violence. There was also a corresponding return of Zion. It would not be as it was in the days of Noah if Zion were not to return. For that, the pattern is set out in Moses Chapter 7: How much guilt we bring with us to that final day depends entirely upon the intent of our hearts, the actions of our hands, and the words we speak. (Alma 12: 14.) Becoming a peacemaker and meriting the call as a child of God is measured by our acts, but includes as Alma warns us, our thoughts and words as well.

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Sidenote:

My daughter and I just got back from a week long road trip up the West Coast.  Nature is full of contrast as well as similarities. I took some photos to show the extreme contrasts that we saw.

Great Salt Lake vs The Pacific Ocean

Both are bodies of water that contain salt, but one is inland and the other is on the coast. One has waves and rocks, the other is calm and flat. 

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Lake Tahoe vs Muddy Lake 

Both are fresh water lakes, but one is clear and blue and heavily forested, the other is muddy and only has dry sagebrush.

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Modern Sundial Bridge vs Old Railroad Bridge

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Pacific City Sand Dunes vs Cannon Beach

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Artificial Tree vs Pine Tree

May we learn to better appreciate the contrasts in the human race as well.

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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. 

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?

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.