Airbags Not Included

The Restoration has been a real rollercoaster.  

We've had our ups and downs, haven't we? 

But in the end we seem to be traveling a closed loop (or shall we call it a 'pride cycle?').

At some point we're going to get motion sick, exit the rollercoaster, and throw up our nachos.

Then what?

   -  Do we get back on the rollercoaster on an empty stomach?

   -  Do we sit this one out, finding a nice shady spot to fall asleep in?

   -  Do we try out some of the other amusement park rides that we haven't experienced?

Answer:  None of the above.

How about we wait patiently on our Father to come pick us up? 

​And while we're waiting, why don't we call over to our brothers and sisters to get ready so they don't miss their ride home?

Prepare Ye, Prepare Ye

The revelations given to Joseph Smith speak persistently of the Second Coming, as though the subject were never far from the Lord’s mind.

Whenever He talks about it, it seems like it is just around the corner.

   It is the eleventh hour,
   and the last time
   that I shall call laborers
   into my vineyard.

   And my vineyard has become
   corrupted every whit;
   and there is none which doeth good
   save it be a few;
   and they err in many instances
   because of priestcrafts.

(D&C 33:3-4)

The Lord commanded us to warn the world of "the desolation of abomination in the last days," and to "teach them of a judgment which is to come" (D&C 84:117, 87).

Ironically this message is the same as the one relayed prior to His First Coming by John the Baptist, Alma, and Samuel the Lamanite:

    Repent, repent,
    and prepare ye
    the way of the Lord,
    and make his paths straight;
    for the kingdom of heaven
    is at hand.

(D&C 33:10; compare with Matt. 3:2-3; Alma 7:9; and Helaman 14:9)

Talk about a platinum hit single!  Two thousand years later and we're still playing the same record.

What's the Rush?

We live in a world of free expedited, same-day shipping ― and you expect me to wait over 200 years for Christ to arrive?

   Be faithful until I come,
   for I come quickly;
   and my reward is with me.

(D&C 112:34)

"Quickly?"  QUICKLY??!  We've had time to go through an industrial revolution; we've had time to travel to the moon; we've had time to fight a couple of World Wars and to flood the earth with pornography . . . how is this "quick?"  

(Does the Lord not understand the meaning of "quickly?")

Or does He mean that he'll come quickly after a certain event, like, "Once I unscrew the cap to my toothpaste, I'll brush my teeth quickly?"

   Now it is called today
   until the coming of the Son
   of Man.

(D&C 64:23)

So it's been "today" since 1831?  How slow does the clock tick in Kolob? 

(Are we looking at a one-day-is-a-thousand-years kind of thing?)

So . . . we can expect the Second Coming sometime before the year of our Lord Two Thousand Eight Hundred and Thirty One?

(I suppose, on the outside, that's only eight centuries left of waiting.)

I really don't think we can last that long, do you?

According to the Science and Security Board (SASB), we've only got 100 seconds left on the Doomsday Clock.

So is it really, like, 11:58:20 p.m.?

Playing With Fire

Okay then, if we've got 100 seconds left, and 1 second for the Lord is like 4.22 days on earth . . . ummm . . . carry the 1 . . . assuming no leap years . . .  never mind.

​​It's no good trying to figure out when exactly the Lord is going to return.  

   Now [Christ] reigneth
   in the heavens,
   and will reign till he descends
   on the earth to put all enemies
   under his feet,
   which time is nigh at hand―

   I, the Lord God, have spoken it;
   but the hour and the day
   no man knoweth,
   neither the angels in heaven,
   nor shall they know until he comes.

(D&C 49:6-7)

Since the Lord always makes it sound like the Second Coming is imminent, it seems like that should be our messaging, too.

   That evil servant
   shall say in his heart:
   My lord delayeth
   his coming,

(Matt. 24:48)

We don't want to give the impression that the Lord "delayeth."  In fact, it's one of the "signs of the times."

   In that day shall be heard of wars
   and rumors of wars,
   and the whole earth shall be in commotion,
   and men’s hearts shall fail them,
   and they shall say that Christ delayeth
   his coming until the end of the earth.

(D&C 45:26)

​So what is Christ waiting for?

Forget Paris

I served my mission in Paris.  But Paris is not the City of Love ― the New Jerusalem is.

Why are we supposed to "flee unto Zion?"  Imagine what it will be like to belong to Zion in a time when the love of mankind has grown cold all around it.

There are a couple of important things in this letter by Joseph Smith I want to point out.

   Point 1.  Joseph invokes the formal, prophetic voice by stating his words are given "by the authority of Jesus Christ."

   Point 2.  Joseph uses the verb "to sweep" when referring to the fate of the wicked who shall be "swept off" the land of America.  This might sound familiar:

   [This] 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.

​(Ether 2:9)

This was one of the things I had this in mind when I wrote the poem Cleaning House, but I wrote it from the perspective of the wicked who first "sweep" away the righteous.

   Where is the broom,
   my dustpan? I do not
   like this voice
   speaking from the dust:
​
   I will sweep up
   ‘repent.’ Throw it
   away as a rumor
   silences the wind
   of a thousand beating
   wings echoing
   the instinct to fly
   south.

   Ignore the inkling
   voice growing
   as mustard grain;
   prune the birdsong
   and build a scarecrow
   from its branches.

   Make their mating nests
   into a crown of hollyhock
   sapping strength from
   the tongue of turtledoves.

   Give no heed
   for the Lord hath done his work
   and given power unto us
   who hearken to the precept
   that:

           floors must be
           spotless
           and
           skies barren.

What Does it Mean to be "Swept Off?"

​​Can anyone explain what it means to be "swept off" this land?  I feel like this is kinda important since, you know, many of us are United States citizens.

Alma warned:

   There is a curse upon all this land,
   that destruction shall come
   upon all those workers of darkness,
   according to the power of God,
   when they are fully ripe;
   therefore I desire that this people
   might not be destroyed.

(Alma 37:28)

I concur!  We're talking about our families and neighbors.  I sure hope "that this people might not be destroyed," too.  

How Do We Know if We Are "Fully Ripe?"

There are two really simple tests to determine how "ripe" (or rotten) we are.

   1.  Has the Spirit of the Lord ceased striving with us?

For both the Nephites and the Jaredites, this was the death knell of their civilizations.

   The Spirit of the Lord
   had ceased striving with them,
   and Satan had full power
   over the hearts of the people;
   for they were given up
   unto the hardness of their hearts,
   and the blindness of their minds
   that they might be destroyed.

(Ether 15:19)

     a.  How do know if the Spirit has ceased striving with us?

If we want to know what it looks like for the "Spirit to cease striving," look no further than the tell-tale sign: ANGER (see, Moroni 9:4-5).

This is why we need to let go of our anger.  (Especially being angry with the wicked.)

   Love your enemies,
   bless them that curse you,
   do good to them that hate you,
   and pray for them
   which despitefully use you,
   and persecute you;

   That ye may be the children
   of your Father which is in heaven.

(Matthew 5:44-45)

   2.  Have we cast out those whom the Lord has sent?

We know we're ripe for destruction when we reject and persecute those whom God has sent to warn us (example: the city of Ammonihah).  Can I have an Amen(!) from Abinadi, Samuel the Lamanite, and Ether?

   The time cometh, saith the Lord,
   that when ye shall cast out the righteous
   from among you, then shall ye be ripe
   for destruction.

(Helaman 13:14)

Do we pass either of these two tests?

   Because to pass is to fail.

How Are the Wicked Destroyed?

You're probably wondering what's gonna happen to cause our destruction.  

Well, if history is any indicator, there are two main ways the wicked are destroyed. 

   1.  Natural Disasters.

The Book of Mormon is pretty graphic in its depiction of the Nephite destruction prior to Christ's coming:

   The whole face of the land was changed,
   because of the tempest and the whirlwinds,
   and the thunderings and the lightnings,
   and the exceedingly great quaking
   of the whole earth;

   And the highways were broken up,
   and the level roads were spoiled,
   and many smooth places became rough.

   And many great and notable cities were sunk,
   and many were burned,
   and many were shaken till the buildings
   thereof had fallen to the earth,
   and the inhabitants thereof were slain,
   and the places were left desolate.

(3 Nephi 8:12-14)

It would be redundant to quote all of the prophecies about natural disasters that will befall us in the end times; but my favorite is probably the one about hailstones the size of basketballs falling from the sky (and, for dramatic effect, they will be on fire, too) which will "destroy the crops of the earth" (D&C 29:16).

   2.  Wicked Destroy the Wicked.

The other way we generally see nations getting destroyed is by war.

   The judgments of God
   will overtake the wicked;
   and it is by the wicked
   that the wicked are punished;
   for it is the wicked that stir up the hearts
   of the children of men unto bloodshed.

(Mormon 4:5)

Both the Nephites and the Jaredites fought annihilating wars that ended their civilizations.

In perhaps one of Moroni's more poetic descriptions of the Jaredites, we read:

   So swift and speedy was the war
   that there was none left to bury the dead,
   but they did march forth
   from the shedding of blood
   to the shedding of blood,
   leaving the bodies of both men, women,
   and children strewed upon the face of the land,
   to become a prey to the worms of the flesh.

   And the scent thereof went forth
   upon the face of the land,
   even upon all the face of the land;
   wherefore the people became troubled
   by day and by night, because of the scent.

(Ether 14:22-23)

Yikes.  (I think I'd rather take the earthquake.)

By the way, have I mentioned that Yellowstone is due for a super volcano eruption?

Guest Starring the Lost Ten Tribes

Back to Joseph's letter:

   Point 3:  Notice that Joseph says the purpose of the wicked being swept off the land is "to open and prepare the way for the return of the lost tribes of Israel from the north country."

We're going to be seeing a lot more of the Ten Tribes in the coming days, so I suggest everyone refresh their memories by re-reading the discussion of the Ten Tribes in my blog post from a year ago, "Teach Us Thy Statutes, Thy Law: Part 7 (also the one where I go off on a major tangent)."

See you back here when you're done.

Calling the 144,000

My previous posts over the past year were trying to lay the foundation for this series, "Lord, to whom shall we go?" Charting the Course of the Church from Here to the Second Coming.

(If ever a title promised the farm, this is it.)

I've always said there's no use arguing the past if it distracts from what the Lord wants us to do in the present.  Right now, we need to prepare for the coming calamity. 

But not in haste.  As the Lord said, "Let not your flight be in haste, but let all things be prepared before you; and he that goeth, let him not look back" (D&C 133:15).

We just need to follow the promptings we receive from the Lord, one step at a time.

So I hope you're excited for this field trip.  Come aboard the Good Bus Zion, and let's get started.

(I know, I know, it used to be the Good Ship Zion, but the rowdy sailors tossed the kids overboard.  So now we're on a magic school bus like little children.  And remember, there are no seatbelts on school buses!  But don't worry, we have an awesome bus Driver.)

Paradoxes

If you've been following along with this blog, you know we've been trying to resolve the following paradoxes:

   1.  How can we have authority without force?

   2.  How can we have order without hierarchy?

   3.  How can we have equality without control?

After the last series, "The Church Began to be Broken Up," I thought it would be nice to focus on some of the positive things ahead of us.

   For since the beginning
   of the world have not men
   heard nor perceived by the ear,
   neither hath any eye seen,
   O God, besides thee,
   how great things thou hast prepared
   for him that waiteth for thee.​

(D&C 133:45)

This series is going to address the question, "Now what, Tim?  Where do we go from here?"
​
Things are just getting interesting!

We are witnessing times in which "the church had begun to dwindle; and they began to disbelieve in the spirit of prophecy and in the spirit of revelation; and the judgments of God did stare them in the face" (Helaman 4:23).

"I'm ready for my close-up, Mr. DeMille!"

    Are we?

A Problem Well Defined is a Problem Half Solved

You may have wondered, as I have:

   1.  If the Church is broken up, who is going to be in charge?  Who will lead us?

   2.  Without the organization of the Church, how will we know what to do?

   3.  If we aren't relying upon leadership to give us our marching orders, how will we know when to gather?

   4.  Without a hierarchy, how will we know who speaks for God?

   5.  "To whom shall we go?" (John 6:68) in the absence of a formal organization?  

Okay, let's make a couple of observations about these questions:

   -  Why do we presume an organization is the repository of truth rather than the gospel?

   - Why do we think an organization is necessary to lead us when we are followers of Christ and have the Holy Ghost to guide us?

She'll Be Comin' Round the Mountain When She Comes

Previously I wrote, "Zion is a marriage."  

But the curious thing is we get to decide whether to attend as the bride (Zion) or as guests (to the supper). 

(I guess we could skip the wedding altogether; after all, it's a destination wedding and who wants to travel all the way to Har Məgīddō?) 

     O, we'll all go out
     an' meet her
     when she comes.

Anyway, my point is that marriage is one way (there are others) of organizing a family.

Ergo, Zion is an organization organized by the Lord for those who belong to His church, His family; which are they who live His gospel.

    A society of, and for, His children.

Well, that clears it up!

What Does the Organization of Zion Look Like?

Now that we know Zion is not the church, we might wonder, "How, then, is Zion organized?"

Chances are, Zion will be organized very differently from the way we see the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints being organized.  

Why?

Because the Church is a hodge podge of all kinds of people.  After all, an organization is just a composite of its members.  

Some of the members of the church belong to Christ's Church ("they" who are built on His gospel), but there are also others who exercise their agency in a manner inconsistent with His gospel.

In other words, the membership rolls of the Church are no help at all in discerning between those who are disciples of Christ and those who merely profess to be.

    Many will say to me
    in that day,
    Lord, Lord,
    have we not prophesied
    in thy name?
    and in thy name
    have cast out devils?
    and in thy name
    done many wonderful works?

    And then will I profess unto them,
    I never knew you
    ["Ye never knew me"]:
    depart from me,
    ye that work iniquity.

(Matthew 7:22-23)

So how do we know who qualifies for Zion?

Well, Zion is comprised of those who are able to endure the presence of the Lord without burning up like a box of Cornflakes doused in kerosene.

(I mean, I wouldn't want to be the one assigned to clean the church after Jesus's glory was unleashed at the ward picnic ― would you?  Just imagine trying to get the stains out of the hardwood in the cultural hall.)

Heart Healthy Cheerios

​The thing that qualifies us to belong to Zion is simple: can we walk with God?

That's the lesson we learn from our buddies in the City of Enoch, of whom it is written:  "And Enoch and all his people walked with God, and he dwelt in the midst of Zion" (Moses 7:69).

Notice that it wasn't just Enoch who got to pal around with the Lord.  It was "all his people," too.  

And did they burst into flame the color of Lucy Ricardo's hair?  No!  

     O, we'll kill
     the old red rooster
     when she comes.

Why not?  How were the people able to endure the Lord's presence?

Maybe this is why the Lord said: 

   For this is Zion― 
   the pure in heart.

(D&C 97:21)

Notice, again, that Zion is not equated in this verse with the Church.  It is a quality possessed by individuals.

Then those individuals organize themselves ("govern themselves") into an organization as, and of, equals.  

But can Zion really be reduced to such a simple statement?  Yes!

   Blessed are
   the pure in heart:
   for they shall see
   God.

(Matt. 5:8)

After thinking about it, we can see a major difference between Zion and the Church.  In Zion, the Lord walks around in His pajamas while grabbing his morning lox and bagels.

   And there shall be no night there;
   and they need no candle,
   neither light of the sun;
   for the Lord God giveth them light.

(Revelation 22:5)

Check it out: who gives us light in Zion? 

(Spoiler alert: it is not the Sunday School President or Bishop or Prophet.) 
   
    It is the Lord Himself.

     And we'll all have chicken
     an' dumplins
     when she comes.

What Now Brown Cow?

At the beginning of this post, I asked the question, "Where do we go from here?"

Well, the first step of our journey is to come unto Christ, who personally welcomes us into His Church. 

    Yea, come unto Christ,
    and be perfected in him,
    and deny yourselves
    of all ungodliness;
    and if ye shall deny yourselves
    of all ungodliness,
    and love God with all your might,
    mind and strength,
    then is his grace sufficient for you.

(Moroni 10:32)

LARPing

Have you ever LARPed?  

LARPing stands for "Live-Action-Role-Playing."

Since the 1970s, people have gathered together in costumes to pretend they're in a particular fantasy world or historical period (like Dungeons and Dragons, or Pride and Prejudice).  

   LARPing is kinda like adult dress-up.

Shakespeare wrote:

    All the world’s a stage,
    And all the men and women
        merely players.

​​Last night, as I was walking to the catch the train after work, I wondered:

Are we LARPers in some sort of elaborate religious drama without realizing we're actually reenacting a medieval role?

Let me explain . . . 

Religious Feudalism

How is it our ancestors fought for religious freedom and yet, after all this time, we're left with religious feudalism?

Feudalism is a social system developed in medieval Europe in which all power vests in the Crown, and the King (or Queen) bestows privileges upon the nobility (usually land) in exchange for their loyalty and service.

At the bottom of the heap are the peasants (serfs) who are obliged to give labor and homage to their noble vassals.

Here's how it worked:

Why Are We Stuck in the Middle Ages?

​This pyramid probably looks familiar because it represents a lot of modern religious systems, too.

While there are a couple of ways you can organize a church, feudalism is always a safe bet (if you're at the top, of course). 

A crucial part of the Restoration was to restore equality among the Body of Christ.

But was it too late?  Had we grown too accustomed to the power created by pyramid schemes to actually live Christ's law?

Does God want us to be equal? 

Here's a quick refresher (before we come across another scary pyramid) of some of the scriptures we looked at in the series Stewards of Grace.

And when the priests left their labor to impart the word of God unto the people, the people also left their labors to hear the word of God. And when the priest had imparted unto them the word of God they all returned again diligently unto their labors; and the priest, not esteeming himself above his hearers, for the preacher was no better than the hearer, neither was the teacher any better than the learner; and thus they were all equal, and they did all labor, every man according to his strength.  (Alma 1:26)

How can we to be equal in earthly and heavenly things in a hierarchy?

That you may be equal in the bonds of heavenly things, yea, and earthly things also, for the obtaining of heavenly things.  For if ye are not equal in earthly things ye cannot be equal in obtaining heavenly things. (D&C 78:5-6)

The principle of equality is not just for us humans.  The gods Themselves live by it.

And [God] makes them equal in power, and in might, and in dominion.  And the glory of the celestial is one, even as the glory of the sun is one.  (D&C 76:95-96)

Pop Quiz:  Why did the Nephite church break up?  What was the cause of the destruction of the church?

*Ding Ding!*  You guessed it.  They were unequal.

Are we?

BEWARE: Warning Signs

Mormon tells us (so we don't have to guess) what factors led to the Church being broken up in all the land.

Here were the warning signs (let's see if any of these factors apply to the Church today).  I know it is a long list, but this is sorta the whole point to this blog!  So if you've read this far, hang in there.

   1.  Disputings.  "There began to be some disputings among the people" (3 Nephi 6:10). 

I wonder what they were fighting about?

   2.  Pride and boastings.  "Some were lifted up unto pride and boastings" (3 Nephi 6:10). 

I wonder why some people thought they were more important than others?

   3.  Riches unto persecution.  They had "exceedingly great riches, yea, even unto great persecutions" (3 Nephi 6:10). 

Read that again.  Great riches led to great persecutions.  Why is that?  Were they fighting over control of the money?

   4.  Distinguished by Status.  "And the people began to be distinguished by ranks" (3 Nephi 6:12). 

What's wrong with ranks?

   5.  Distinguished by Wealth.  "Some were ignorant because of their poverty, and others did receive great learning because of their riches" (3 Nephi 6:12). 

What's wrong with a class system (upper, middle, and lower)?

   6.  Inequality.  "And this there became a great inequality in all the land" (3 Nephi 6:14).

Here we go!  Inequality is what pushes them over the cliff.

   7.  Church Breaks Up.  "Insomuch that the church began to be broken up; yea, insomuch that in the thirtieth year the church was broken up in all the land" (3 Nephi 6:14).

But it keeps getting better . . . 

   8.  Seeking Power and Authority.  "Now the cause of this iniquity of the people was this ― Satan had great power . . . tempting them to seek for power, and authority, and riches, and the vain things of the world" (3 Nephi 6:15).

How is "authority" a "vain thing of the world?"

   9.  Willfully Disregarded God's Law.  "Now they did not sign ignorantly, for they knew the will of God concerning them, for it had been taught unto them" (3 Nephi 6:18).

Which of God's laws are we in the Church ignoring or excusing?

   10.  Anger from Church Authorities.  "Now there were many of the people who were exceedingly angry . . . and those who were angry were chiefly the chief judges, and they who had been high priests" (3 Nephi 6:21).

What's got the high priests all worked up?

   11.  Secrecy.  "They did covenant one with another to destroy the governor, and to establish a king over the land, that the land should no more be at liberty but should be subject unto kings" (3 Nephi 6:30).

Why did the high priests want a king?

   12.  No unity.  "The people were divided one against another; and they did separate one from another" (3 Nephi 7:2).

So much for one fold, one Shepherd.

   13.  Seduction of the Righteous.  "The more righteous part of the people had nearly all become wicked" (3 Nephi 7:7).

Oh boy.  What does it take for righteous people to abandon Christ's laws?  

   14.  Rule of men instead of Rule of law.  "They were not united as to their laws, and their manner of government, for they were established according to the minds of those who were their chiefs and their leaders" (3 Nephi 7:14).

Don't you love arbitrary and capricious rules that change based  upon who's in charge?

   15.  Mighty miracles performed by God's servant.  "And Nephi [this was Nephi the son of Nephi, son of Helaman, son of Helaman, son of Alma, son of Alma who was a priest of King Noah] did minister with power and with great authority" (3 Nephi 7:17).

Nephi wasn't in charge of the government, or the military, or the church (it was broken up, remember), so where did he get his authority from?  What is the difference between his authority and that held by the "chiefs and leaders?"

   16.  Destruction.  "There arose a great storm, such an one as never had been known in all the land.  And there was also a great and terrible tempest; and there was terrible thunder, insomuch that it did shake the whole earth as if it was about to divide asunder.  And there were exceedingly sharp lightnings, such as never had been known in all the land. And the city of Zarahemla did take fire" (3 Nephi 8:5-8)

I guess the Nephites in Zarahemla didn't pay their tithing (otherwise they'd have had fire insurance)

If I Were a Betting Man . . . 

​If you asked me where (in 2021) we were at on that list (between 1 and 16) . . .

I would pause long enough to take a sip of Mt. Dew and would say, staring you in the eye, my voice husky with portent . . .

"Gee willikers, mister!  We're at # 14."

"Settle Down, Buddy"

I want to briefly take a moment in the middle of this Series to share some of my personal thoughts and feelings related to the Church ― this Church that I love so much.

Sometimes a friend will ask me (concerned for my eternal welfare, I think), "Tim, I know the Church isn't perfect.  Big whoop!  The Church does a ton of good in the world despite its flaws.  Why can't you focus on the good things the Church does instead of being so negative?"

That is a good question.  (After all, aren't we supposed to seek after that which is "lovely, of good report, and praiseworthy?")

I have pondered the answer to this question.  For a long time. 

Like Joseph Smith, I've gone to God (who giveth liberally and upbraids not) seeking to know what to do; to show me the way forward from this place we find ourselves in.

Sometimes it is difficult to find one's footing upon the tumultuous seas that faith journeys take us across.  (I'm not opposed to being stretched, but it would be nice if the Rack would give us a lunch break once in a while).

For my part, I have often felt myself drowning and crying out (like Peter), "Lord, save me!" (Matt. 14:30).

Over the years, as I have spent time in prayer and fasting, I've asked the Lord:

    - Should I just go on with my life, turning a blind eye to all the bad stuff?

    - Should I warm the pew and just keep my mouth shut, leaving it to my betters to fix the problems?

    - Should I write letters to the Brethren at 50 E North Temple, Salt Lake City, asking their advice?

    - Should I try to silence the cognitive dissonance that comes from hoping Zion could ever arise from a Church that values hierarchy over equality?

    - Should I work to implement changes in my limited sphere of influence and stop worrying about things outside of my control?

    - Should I leave the Church and join another religion?

What should I do?

Which Church Should I Join?

Before you answer my question, I want you to consider two things:

   Example 1.  After his First Vision in 1820, there were lots of churches Joseph could have joined up with (at least temporarily while he was waiting for further light and truth from above). 

I mean, he had plenty of time to go treasure digging ― so why not accomplish some good by serving in his local Presbyterian branch, waiting for Zion to get off the ground? 

Well, the Lord told Joseph to stay away from organized religions.  In fact, he was specifically told to not join any of them.

Think about that . . . God telling a person to stay away from religion??!  Huh?

Isn't that what the devil is supposed to be telling us? 

(When in fact, it is the devil that seems to encourages us to dive right in.  "Don't wait!  Just jump!  Yes, do a big cannon ball into that cesspool of creedal abomination.  Don't worry, I've got lots of bleach!")

    I asked the Personages . . .
    which [church] I should join.

    I was answered
    that I must join none of them,
    for they were all wrong.

(JS-H 1:18-19)

Well, what was the big deal?!  Let Joseph live a little!  Why can't he learn a few things from the Methodists while being tutored by Moroni/Nephi on the side?

    He again forbade me
    to join with any of them.

(JS-H 1:20)

Whoa!  A second time (!) Joseph is told to not join any religions (so now Joseph knows the Lord is serious). 

Why would the Lord emphatically repeat Himself?  What's wrong with joining a church?

The reason is because "they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof" (JS-H 1:19).

(Question:  What if the same could be said about the Church today?  Where does that leave us?)

I think we can logically infer from the First Vision that it is better to belong to no church than one whose professors teach with lips bifurcated from their hearts.

Example 2.

​Whenever someone says I should not dwell on the negative parts of our religion, I imagine the Savior looking over his beautiful city Jerusalem, his heart broken in pieces, proclaiming:

    I say unto you,
    All these things shall come
    upon this generation.

    O Jerusalem, Jerusalem,
    thou that killest the prophets,
    and stonest them which are sent
    unto thee, how often would I have
    gathered thy children together,
    even as a hen gathereth her chickens
    under her wings,
    and ye
    would
    not!

    Behold, your house
    is left unto you
    desolate.

(Matt. 23:36-38)

I can imagine Nicodemus patting Christ's shoulder.  "Ah, come now, Master.  Things aren't so bad, are they?  We've got a temple, a priesthood, prosperity, a covenant with God . . . . We're doing okay."

And in my mind's eye, I picture the Savior turning to his friend, His eyes filled with love and weariness, and He responds . . . .

What's All the Fuss About?

Everything I have written on Owl of the Desert stands for a single proposition.

This proposition is not mine.  It was taught by Joseph Smith and many others. 

It speaks to the very heart of the gospel.  

And yet, most of us find this proposition controversial. 

Why?  Because it contradicts our cultural and religious sensibilities.

What is it?

Genuine (godly) authority only arises from mutual love ― from pure love, or charity (love unfeigned).

Authority is inherently uncontrolling because love is uncontrolling.

Once a person seeks to control another, they grieve the spirit and lose their authority. 

Celestial authority can only be maintained in the bonds of mutual love (which leads to "oneness").

ON THE OTHER HAND, authority that uses control results in separation, division, contention and strife.

Nevertheless, in "Babylon" we still think authority attaches to a person's position (status). 

We obey them not because of their character (in fact, a lot of times authority figures are terrible people . . . just sayin') but because of the power their office or rank bestows on them.

Why Do We Obey Authority Figures?

The question we should be asking ourselves is why we honor the authority of those whose decisions are ungodly?

Well, that's simple: because they have the power to punish us. 

(It's easy to see who's in charge when staring down the business end of a bayonet.)

So our obedience to their authority is enforced by implied or explicit force (under pain of penalty).

We subordinate our agency to their authority because if we don't, they'll send us to jail, or make us pay a fine, or excommunicate us.

What are we left with?  In the end, we are left with shambling hierarchies that are prone to exercising unrighteous dominion (which is, simply, to exercise control over others).

* PAUSE

Let this sink in.  Why would we give others authority over us who are undeserving of our fealty?

Because we're afraid of what they'll do to us?

Let's look at a positive example: why do we follow Christ?  

He earned our loyalty ― ​not because He was the Firstborn (there are plenty of examples where "firstborns" got passed over, like Cain, Esau, and Judah) ― not because of His status as the Son of God (Satan makes the same claim) ― but because He showed us how much He loves us through His condescension and sacrifice.

So tell me, why would we think the sign of authority is a person's rank rather than their love, when Christ is the Great Exemplar?
​
Jesus himself gave us the Grand Key:

    By this shall all men know
    that ye are my disciples
    [i.e., that we bear Christ's imprimatur, or authority]
    if ye have love one to another.

(John 13:35).

Jesus did not say, "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have the office of an apostle."

Love is the "key" of priesthood authority (not ordination and office).

A person can be ordained to the priesthood and hold whatever office you please:  if they do not show love as Christ did, they have no authority. 

As Paul taught, he could profess all day long how great he was, and how much authority he had, and the wonderful things he had done, and yet, if he had "not charity, I am nothing" (1 Cor. 13:2).

    We have learned by sad experience
    that it is the nature and disposition
    of almost all men, as soon as they get
    a little authority, as they suppose,
    they will immediately begin to exercise
    unrighteous dominion.

    Behold, the heavens withdraw themselves;
    the Spirit of the Lord is grieved;
    and when it is withdrawn, Amen
    to the priesthood or the authority
    of that man.

(D&C 121:39, 37) ​

 * UNPAUSE

Okay, let's talk about the Great and Abominable Church for a minute.  (Now we're back on track!)

Why would the Great and Abominable Church prefer a system that relies on rank instead of love? 

Is it because love requires sacrifice?  (And isn't that just so . . . blue collar?)

Really, who wants charity if it means we have to "lose" ourselves (including our status) and become lowly servants? 

I mean, all of our fairy tales have Cinderella becoming a princess.  You're telling me that we're princesses who are supposed to become scullery maids?

(It's way more fun to go to the ball than to serve in the kitchens; give me the "high seats" any day of the week!)

This is why the Holy Priesthood after the Order of the Son of God is unpalatable to most (all) religions.

And what's the solution the Great and Abominable Church has come up with?

Well, that's the easy part: priestcraft.  

Why is Priestcraft So Popular?

Priestcraft looks a lot like priesthood on the outside (and sometimes, it looks even better).

Priestcraft solves the unfortunate parts of the gospel ― you know, the bits about

   a.  real intent
   b.  equality
   c.  sacrifice

― replacing those things with

   x.  authority (rank)
   y.  carnal security
   z.  obedience

(If you're looking for the recipe to unrighteous dominion, there it is: x+y+z.)

Priestcraft is a win-win for leaders and lay members because it is mutually profitable:

   1.  The Leadership receive the praise of the world while living comfortably; and

   2.  The members receive the assurance that, if they pay tithes and obeisance to Leadership, they will be saved at the last day.

Except, of course, priestcraft is a sandy foundation that cannot save us in the kingdom of God.

But who doesn't like taking long walks on the beach?

The Difference Between the Church of the Lamb and the Church of the Devil

Why is the Church of the Lamb "one" while the Church of the devil is always breaking up?

Why does the Church of the devil inevitably splinter into a thousand spin-off groups and churches? 

Maybe it's as simple as the fact that the Church of the devil is obsessed with authority ― which invariably leads to contentions, divisions, strife, and dissension when people disagree over whose authority is greater than whose.  

. . . All while Christ stands at the gate, and employs no other servant there.

    O then, my beloved brethren,
    come unto the Lord, the Holy One.
    [not unto a prophet, or pope, or president]

    Behold, the way for man is narrow,
    but it lieth in a straight course before him,
    and the keeper of the gate
    is the Holy One of Israel;
    and he employeth no servant there;

    and there is none other way
    save it be by the gate;
    for he cannot be deceived,
    for the Lord God is his name.

Third Time's the Charm?

This is my third attempt at writing this blog post.  

Why?  Because my previous attempts were too gloom-and-doom.  

The gospel is about glad tidings, right?

I don't want to be just another "Debbie Downer."

(For those of you who don't know who Debbie Downer is, she was a fictional character played by Rachel Dratch on Saturday Night Live, who always made negative and depressing comments at social gatherings, bringing down everyone's mood.)

But the topic of this Series does not lend itself to levity.  Even so, I knew I needed to lighten up when I began writing things like:

. . . I am afraid we have cast out so many of the beautiful voices sent by God to share glad tidings of great joy to us; I am afraid that our chapel halls ring with the reverence of boredom rather than the joyful shouts of the faithful; I am afraid we are dwindling in unbelief, being taught a God who performs no miracles greater than coincidences; I fear for our youth and children who are taught obedience instead of discernment, who are told not to question leaders even if they practice unrighteous dominion; I worry that we have sold our birthright for a seat at the sectarian table, choosing hierarchy over equality; I worry that we treat criticism as apostasy rather than as God-sent correction; I weep that we have wounded so many humble followers of Christ with our thorns of pride and exclusion; I sorrow that a Church which preaches repentance is unable to apologize for its past transgressions; I tremble at the truths found in scripture we trample over with our correlated orthodoxy that promotes carnal security; I cringe when we take the Lord's name in vain, puffed up in the shroud of our own authority and thinking it's a mantle; I thirst for the day when we will finally proclaim with Peter, “Gold and silver have I none, but such as I have give I unto thee,” instead of hoarding wealth and robbing the poor; I hunger for the day when Zion shall come down out of heaven and embrace its children who did not seek for power but to tear it down . . .

​Yup.  You get the idea. 

   Time I take my chill-pill.

Let's Have Some Fun in 3rd Nephi

If you're wondering where the title of this Series comes from ("The Church Began to Be Broken Up"), it comes from 3rd Nephi where things got dicey for the Nephites prior to their destruction and the Savior's ministry.

   The church began to be broken up;
   yea, insomuch that in the thirtieth year
   the church was broken up in all the land
   (save it were among a few
   of the Lamanites who were converted
   unto the true faith).

(3 Nephi 6:14)

Whoa, wait a minute.  You mean the church can just burst apart at the seams?  Kablooie?

(Well, for everyone except a few of those "Lamanites."  But who is interested in them, right?)

Question:  If it can happen to the Nephites, could it also happen to us?

Answer:  Well, it already has, hasn't it?

We don't need to go back to Nicaea, or the Great Schism, or the Reformation, or 1844 . . . we can just go back to last year.  

What happened when the pandemic hit in March 2020?

We stopped gathering (which, by the way, is what "church" means when translated from the Greek word "Ekklēsia").  

No "Gathering" = No "Church"

So the decision of the leaders to shut down church (however good their intentions were) incidentally showed all of us that the Church is . . . non-essential. 

(I mean, who needs Nero and hungry lions and tar and feathers and extermination orders . . . when we've got a virus?)

Where's Nostradamus When We Need Him?

What if the Book of Mormon was edited and curated so that its writings would be relevant to us today?

In other words, what if the Book of Mormon was not just a history about ancient peoples, but was a book of history that would repeat itself in the last days?

Does the Book of Mormon contain prophetic patterns, types and shadows, destined to repeat themselves in the future?

    What a horrifying thought!  

Why?  Ummm.  Have we read the Book of Mormon lately?  Remember how it ended for the Nephites and Jaredites? 

And here we are, Latter-day Gentiles, up at the plate.   

   We're next.  Batter up!​

Don't Take My Word For It

The fact that the church is going to be broken up (again) should not be a surprise to anyone.  This is not a curveball.  (Don't we always talk about the wheat being separated from the tares?)

Anyone who has read the tea leaves, the wind, the writing on the wall, the Book of Mormon . . . knows what's to come.

But don't take my word for it.  I'm a nobody (just a random dude with a keyboard and a set of scriptures). 

Luckily for us, God always sends "many prophets" to warn us before things get dicey. 

Always plural prophets.  Many, many mouths in God's chorus calling the people to repentance before things go sideways.

   And they're here.  

Here are some historical examples from what it was like before doomsday:

   1.  Prior to the destruction of Jerusalem: 

"[T]here came many prophets, prophesying unto the people that they must repent, or the great city of Jerusalem must be destroyed" (1 Nephi 1:4). 

​   So why did the Jews cast out Lehi?

   2.  Prior to the destruction of the Jaredites:

"And there came also in the days of Com many prophets, and prophesied of the destruction of that great people except they should repent, and turn unto the Lord" (Ether 11:1).  

   So why did the Jaredites cast out Ether?

   3.  Prior to the destruction of Jerusalem (70 A.D.)

"For when the city was about to be taken and destroyed by the Romans, it was revealed in advance to all the disciples by an angel of God that they should remove from the city, as it was going to be completely destroyed." (Epiphanius, On Weights and Measures 15)

     So why did the people cast out and crucify Jesus? 

​Ether Who?

Brother Ether prophesied "great and marvelous" things (Ether 13:13).

And how was he received by the people?

   They esteemed him as naught.

(Ether 13:13)

Doesn't this break your heart?  It reminds me of when Paul lamented how the Jews ignored the glad tidings of the gospel he brought to them (and I wonder if this applies to us, too):

    For the heart of this people
    is waxed gross,
    and their ears are dull of hearing,
    and their eyes have they closed;
    lest they should see with their eyes,
    and hear with their ears,
    and understand with their heart,
    and should be converted,
    and I should heal them.

(Acts 28:27)

How Are We Measuring Up?

Well, I'd say we're right on track, following in the tradition of ancient Israel and the Nephites.  

How many prophets have we cast out for their messages?

(I should add that there must have been many prophetesses, too.  Because today there are many female voices in God's chorus that deserve our attention.)

   I'm all ears.

You're Not Who You Think You Are

We began life as a single cell.  

But does that original cell exist anymore?

   Nope.  

Are we the same person today if our cells are different from those we had 20 years ago?  

Well, it's a little more complicated than that.  The cells in our body are constantly splitting up.  Through cellular division, the DNA from one cell is replicated into a second cell.  Those two cells are identical but are also distinct from each other. 

And then, in time, they die off (but newer cells remain).  And the cycle goes on and on.

But free radicals (unstable atoms) damage our cells as we age.  Over time our cells begin to degenerate (at a rate that accelerates as we get older).

Biologically, then, we are the same person in the sense there is a continuity of our genetic code; but we are also composed of new and different material than when we were born.

   So we are, and we are not, the same person.

Cell Division in Religious Bodies

My mother converted to the Church over 50 years ago as a student at Ricks College (now BYU-Idaho).  

Many times I have heard her say, "The Church today is not the same Church I joined in college."

Is the Church today the same Church as it was in 1840?  Or in 1970?

   Of course not.

Churches constantly evolve, change, and degenerate as they age (just like our bodies).

The "free radicals" of politics, cultural trends, shifting social systems, etc., are constantly reshaping the organization.

So while there may be doctrinal continuity and shared heritage, this is not the same Church Joseph built; or that Brigham built; or that Spencer W. Kimball presided over. 

   They are dead and have been replaced by "new" cells (us). 

Who Are We?

In Part 1 of "The Church Began to Be Broken Up," I asked the question:

​​"Why are there so many different churches when Jesus said 'there shall be one fold, and one shepherd?' (John 10:16)."

Well, the answer is not a mystery.  Divisions in religion arise inevitably over issues of control, authority and power.

Which is why, if you want your religion to survive, the best way is to make the members dependent upon your authority before they jump ship and chase authority elsewhere. 

And who perfected this practice and made it an art form?  The Great and Abominable Church, of course.  History shows that the most enduring religion of all time is the Church of the devil. 

Whoa!  That claim needs some explanation.  But let me repeat it:  history shows the most enduring religion is the Church of the devil.

Going back to Adam and Eve, Cain learned there was enormous power and authority in becoming Master Mahan (which allowed him to profit from secret combinations, wielding the power over life and death for his followers).

While the truth is "hard" (see, 1 Nephi 16:2), the Church of the devil has found a way to add a little sugar to its medicine (which is in fact poison) to make their "authority" go down easier:

   1.  There is no sin (Alma 30:17);
   2.  Or, if there is sin, God will save us in our sins (Alma 11:37);
   3.  Or, at worst, God will beat us with a few stripes for our sins and save us in His kingdom anyway (2 Nephi 28:8).

The reason the pews are packed in the Church of the devil is because we have chosen the "broad way" toward heaven: the path of ease (carnal security).  The broad way to heaven ends at the gates of hell, of course.  But who's counting?

    Therefore, wo be unto him
    that is at ease in Zion!

    Cursed is he that putteth his trust
    in man, or maketh flesh his arm,
    or shall hearken unto the precepts
    of men, save their precepts shall be
    given by the power of the Holy Ghost.

(2 Nephi 28:24, 31)

Priestcraft

The most enduring religions are those that practice priestcraft, because priestcraft ensures respectability and profitability, which ultimately attracts steady membership.

(Whereas, the Church of the Lamb promises neither.)

    Priestcrafts are that men preach
    and set themselves up for a light
    unto the world, that they may get gain
    and praise of the world.
​
(2 Nephi 26:29)

Now, getting gain and praise seems a lot more fun than belonging to a religion that "requires the sacrifice of all things."  I mean, who in their right mind wants to "lose his life?"

And thus we see how fragile a thing like Zion is; how rare a people who honor truth instead of man's authority; who seek freedom in Christ rather than the captivity of carnal security.  

    O how foolish, and how vain,
    and how evil, and devilish,
    and how quick to do iniquity,
    and how slow to do good,
    are the children of men;
    yea, how quick to hearken
    unto the words of the evil one,
    and to set their hearts upon
    the vain things of the world!

(Helaman 12:4)

Foolish?  Vain?  (You know, like claiming that a nest egg of $130 Billion will come in handy during the apocalypse when riches will be slippery and worthless?)

    In that day a man shall cast his idols
    of silver, and his idols of gold . . .
    to the moles
    and to the bats.

(Isaiah 2:20)

What does Isaiah have against moles and bats?  Why is he picking on those two animals?  Why not horses and penguins?

Well, what do moles and bats have in common?  That's right!  They are both blind and live in darkness.

   Who else would trust in riches?

Samuel the Lamanite tells us some interesting things: 

    An angel of the Lord . . .
    did bring glad tidings
    to my soul.
    And behold, I was sent
    unto you to declare it
    unto you also,
    that ye might have glad tidings;
    but behold ye would not receive me.

(Helaman 13:7)

Why did the people reject Samuel?  Well, because he destroyed their priestcraft.

    Yea, in that day ye shall say:
    O that we had remembered the Lord
    our God in the day that he gave us
    our riches, and then they would not
    have become slippery that we should
    lose them; for behold,
    our riches
    are gone
    from us.

(Helaman 13:33)

Why Do We Resist God's Messengers?

Churches are broken up when the ruling establishment rejects messengers from God because they have to protect the narrative that they, themselves, are the only authorized messengers.

   Example No. 1.  Moses

   Then Pharaoh called the wise men
   and the sorcerers:
   now the magicians of Egypt
   (i.e., priests)
   they also did in like manner
   with their enchantments.

   For they cast down every man his rod,
   and they became serpents:
   but Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods.

   And Pharaoh hardened his heart,
   that he hearkened not unto them.

(Exodus 7:11-13)

One of the dangers of look-a-like, false religion is that it hardens our hearts against that which is authentic and genuine.

We come to prefer the empty calories of carnal security over the life-giving forces of the gospel.  

(We see this today in our discourses which teach that faith in the absence of miracles is superior to the faith that produces miracles.)

Example:   Alma the Younger

   When Alma had come to the city
   of Ammonihah he began to preach
   the word of God unto them.

   Now Satan had gotten great hold
   upon the hearts of the people
   of the city of Ammonihah; therefore
   they would not hearken
   unto the words of Alma.

(Alma 8:8-9)

Notice that the definition of "Satan had gotten great hold upon the hearts of the people" is they refused to listen to a messenger sent by God.

Anytime someone says, "Don't listen to them," we should be wary lest we miss something important.  (Shutting our ears is the equivalent to hardening our hearts.) 

The danger is not that we listen to false doctrine (we do that all the time); the real danger is we ignore the messages that are coming from God all around us.

And why were the people of Ammonihah so hardened?  Just look at what they told Alma:

   We are not of thy church
   [so they were insular];
   we know that thou hast no power
   over us
   [so they are all about "proper authority"].

(Alma 8:12)
   
    When did we become The Church of Proper Authority?

    When did we stop being the Church that sought "anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy?"​

"I'm All Shook Up"

Break-ups are hard. 

   "Was it me?"
   "I can change!"

Falling in love is easy.  It's the falling out of love that is messy.

   A well'a bless my soul
   what'sa wrong with me?
   I'm itchin' like a man
   in a fuzzy tree.

Elvis Presley met his future wife, Priscilla, when she was 14 years old. He was 10 years older. 

   Well, my hands are shaky
   and my knees are weak
   I can't seem to stand
   on my own two feet.

Elvis and Priscilla didn't see each other for another three years but kept in contact.  Priscilla's parents finally allowed her to visit Graceland for two weeks under chaperoned care.

   Well, please don't ask me
   what'sa on my mind
   I'm a little mixed up,
   but I'm feelin' fine.

Despite the precautions, Priscilla began to take amphetamines to keep up with Elvis's lifestyle.

   Well she touched my hand
   what a chill I got
   Her lips are like a volcano
   when it's hot.

They married in 1967, but the marriage ended six years later. 

   There's only one cure
   for this body of mine
   That's to have that girl
   that I love so fine!

“I did not divorce him because I didn’t love him,” Priscilla said.  “He was the love of my life, but I had to find out about the world.” 

   I'm proud to say
   that she's my buttercup.
   I'm in love,
   I'm all shook up!

Church Divorces

Imagine what it is like when a Church gets divorced.

​   1.  The Great Schism.  

What caused Christianity ― the religion all about love ― to break up?  How did we become so splintered, so fractured?  

Well, the Great Schism was about power, control, and authority. 

In 1054, the Pope in Rome excommunicated the Patriarch of Constantinople.  And so, of course, the Patriarch in turn excommunicated the Pope.

The eastern Church recognized the authority of the Patriarch; the western Church recognized the authority of the Pope.

And the Church split into two: the Greek Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church.

   2.  The Reformation.

The western Church further broke up in 1517, when Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses exposing many of the pastoral and doctrinal abuses of Rome.

At the heart of the Reformation was the issue of power, control and authority.  (Sound familiar?)

Was the Pope, or scriptura sola, the ultimate authority?

And the western Church split up into Catholicism and Protestantism.  

   3.  The Church of England.

What caused the formation of the Anglican Church (the Church of England, or the British version of Catholicism)?

You guessed it!  It was about power, control and authority.  

King Henry VIII wanted a divorce and the Pope in Rome refused to grant it. 

So Parliament passed the Act of Supremacy in 1534 stating the King was the Supreme Head of the Church in England, not the Pope.

   4.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Reorganized Church of Christ.

In 1844, what caused the Church that Joseph Smith had created to split into two main divisions upon his death?

(This is starting to sound like a broken record.)

Yup: power, control and authority.

Some followed Brigham Young's claims to authority, and others followed the claims of Joseph's family.

Two Churches

With thousands of different sects and branches and remnants in Christianity, we have to ask ourselves:

Why are there so many different churches when Jesus said "there shall be one fold, and one shepherd?" (John 10:16).

   One shepherd? 

With all of the Patriarchs, Popes, Pastors and Presidents running around, there are literally thousands who are vying for the title.

Nephi wrote that an angel told him:

    There are save two churches only;
    the one is
    (1) the church of the Lamb of God,
    and the other is
    (2) the church of the devil.

(1 Nephi 14:10)

This is one of the plainest teaching we find in the Book of Mormon, but what does it mean?
 
For context, in Part 8 of the series, "Complications of Temple Worthiness," I said:
 
   1.  "It's time we stop thinking of Babylon as a drunk john lying in a pool of vomit in some back alley in Amsterdam strewn with dirty needles and STDs.  Because Babylon is beautiful."

   2.  "All the worst sins, the devil knows, are gilt with gold.  They shimmer like silver.  They repose on scarlet cushions in the image of respectability and religiosity."

   3.  "The best way to deceive the "very elect" (if possible) is to make them feel at home: in comfortable chapels that serve as prisons ― in religions that draw away from the pure gospel of Christ ― manifesting a form of godliness without the power thereof ― promoting a form of righteousness shaped by status."

The Great and Abominable Church

Jesus has a Church.  Not to be outdone, the devil has one, too.

   He really is competitive.  

The devil loves religion and all its trappings; he styles himself as our "great" high priest;  he craves to have people "fall down and worship [him]" (Matthew 4:9).

Can't you just hear him:

    Satan cried with a loud voice,
    and ranted upon the earth,
    and commanded, saying:
    I am
    the Only
    Begotten,
    worship
    me.

(Moses 1:19)

Instead of directing us to the Father, Satan wants us to focus on him.  On his office; on his authority.

And being the prideful type he is, you can bet the devil wants his Church to be the awesomest place of all.

   What a big budget Babylon has! 

So we should expect the Church of the devil to be something remarkable and marvelous and (in the eyes of the world) wonderfully grand. 

Nephi testified:

    I beheld this great
    and abominable church;
    and I saw the devil
    that he was the founder
    of it.

(1 Nephi 13:6)

So what makes the G&A so "great?"

Signs of the G&A Church

Just as we are watching for signs of Christ's return, we can watch for signs of the Great and Abominable Church.  

   Right now.  On full display.  In living color.

Probably a good thing to be keeping an eye on.  Nephi, in his characteristic plainness, gave us several clues to look for:

   1.  Yoke of iron (i.e., "captivity").  

Nobody wants to work for that boss.  The demanding, self-important guy who makes you get him coffee on the way to work.  And pay for it out of your own pocket.  

What're you gonna do?  Say no, and get latrine duty, or passed over for a promotion, or fired?

   #metoo

Inequalities of power always create inequalities of social interaction.  

Nephi warned us that the G&A Church

    Bindeth [the saints] down,
    and yoketh them
    with a yoke of iron,
    and bringeth them down
    into captivity.

(1 Nephi 13:5)

Okay, so right out of the gate Nephi wants us to understand something about the devil's plan.  He wants to "yoke" us to anything or anyone other than Christ.

Like the War in Heaven, the devil wants to destroy our agency by bringing us "down into captivity."  

And how does he do it?  How in the world does the devil get us to serve him? 

Well, by deceiving us.  By making us serve in his Church (!) while thinking we are actually on God's errand.

Joseph Smith said:

   [N]othing is a greater injury
   to the children of men
   than to be under the influence
   of a false spirit, when they think
   they have the spirit of God.

(Joseph Smith, "Times and Seasons, 1 April 1842," p. 744, The Joseph Smith Papers)

Is this not the "yoke of iron?"  To be under the influence of a false spirit and yet believe we are following God?  

But Wait! It Gets Better

If that isn't enough for us, Jeremiah issues an amazing prophecy that references a "yoke of iron" in Jeremiah 28.  (Nephi tells us his father was a contemporary of Jeremiah, but I don't know how much of Jeremiah's writings he had access to.)

Anyway, what's going on in Jeremiah 28?  Well, the prophet Hananiah falsely prophesies that Israel will be delivered from Nebuchadnezzar.

Oh yes, you heard that right.  A prophet dished out false hope to the people.

Whoops.

    Thou hast broken
    the yokes of wood;
    but thou shalt make for them
    yokes of iron.

    . . . Then said the prophet Jeremiah
    unto Hananiah the prophet,
    Hear now, Hananiah;
    The Lord hath not sent thee;
    but thou makest this people
    to trust in a lie.
​
(Jeremiah 28:13, 15)

LESSON LEARNED:

Prophets in the Church of the devil provide "carnal security" to the people by claiming "all is well" (when it is not). 

And just what is the great lie of the G&A Church?

It is believing we are free whilst we are encircled about in chains of darkness; that salvation can be found outside of Christ; that trusting in God means in fact the opposite: to trust in the arm of flesh.

What Does "Captivity" Look like?

Don't you love Creedal Orthodoxy?

    Yeah, me neither.

Why do religions draw lines in the sand with indelible marker, creating categories of "us" vs. "them," treating truth as if it belonged to them instead of God, teaching for doctrine the commandments of men? 

(Pharisees always draw with Sharpies.  No eraser is necessary when you're always right.)

And why do they chastise us when we color outside of the lines they've drawn, when we're only expressing the gifts God has given us?

Finally, why do authoritarians punish those who (in the words of Taco Bell) like to "think outside the bun."  

Sure, there are good reasons for religions to behave this way.  Religions need stability and steady membership to survive (or, in other words, they need to retain their 'market share'). 

But why is it that religion trains its adherents to act like limp lettuce hanging onto the bun (by "bun" I mean the rules established by those at the top of the hierarchy)?

Why would religions rather deal with popes and presidents than with 14-year-old upstarts who claim to have revelation from heaven, like Joseph Smith?

   Rule # 1:  Oh no you don't!  You gotta shut them down.

    It seems as though the adversary
    was aware, at a very early period
    of my life, that I was destined
    to prove a disturber and an annoyer
    of his kingdom; else why
    should the powers of darkness
    combine against me?
    Why the opposition and persecution
    that arose against me,
    almost in my infancy?

(JS-H 1:20)

The first order of business (by which I mean religion) is to restrict access to heaven.  Consolidate and monopolize authority.  Trademark God's name.  Place authority at the feet of the Holy See. 

In Catholic and LDS traditions we call it "holding keys."

(By the way, I have nothing against keys.  I love keys.  God bestows keys.)

BUT . . . when keys are used to rule and reign over others it creates a system of status and power wherein those that have authority (cardinals/apostles; bishops/priests) exercise unrighteous dominion over those who do not.  

You see, those without keys are dispossessed of the ability to effect meaningful change and are therefore disenfranchised. 

Keyless members do not get a say on the course of things, or the policies and practices which are handed down from above. 

(After all, we call them "LAYmembers" because they have laid at the feet of those WITH keys the responsibility to shepherd their souls.)

In other words, religions want us to out-source our salvation to a professional priestly class. 

    (Talk about Un-American!  Where is the indomitable spirit of American independence?)

Maybe this is what we want.  Maybe we all want to live in the shadow of a king or queen.  Is this a bad thing? 

What if, instead of being forced into captivity, we freely choose it?  We choose to be acted upon (not because we want to be slaves, but because the system has made us dependent on it). 

It's sorta like priesthcraft, which is spiritual Nimbyism.

(You've heard of NIMBY-ism? 'Not-In-My-Back-Yard.' Under Nimbyism, a person moves into a nice neighborhood and then they don't want anything new to be built around them.  They want to slam the door to future growth, which they view as detrimental to their property values and quality of life.  I mean, who wants an apartment complex to go up, for heaven's sake, next to their mansion?!)

Once the ruling class has consolidated its authority it will move to secure and safeguard that power.  

RESULT?

The Church breaks up when God sends an Abinadi, an Elijah, or a Joseph Smith.

Because the establishment must reject them OR LOSE THEIR POWER.

Just ask King Noah.
Just ask King Ahab.
Just ask . . . whoever's in charge.

    Hearken unto us,
    and hear ye our precept;
    for . . . the Lord and the Redeemer
    hath done his work,
    and he hath given his power
    unto men.

​(2 Nephi 28:5)