I was ordained to the Melchizedek priesthood at the age of 19. I had to wait one year because of my various violations of the law of chastity. I am certainly not proud of my sins, but I have left that area of weakness behind, owing to the enabling power of CHRIST. I have many other weaknesses to work on now.
I tell people my punishment was a mission to Bolivia. Although I know now that I was promoting a church in a state of apostasy, it was still one of the greatest experiences of my life. I would have never met people like Mark Thomas, Stuart Christensen, and Susie Kochevar. There are dozens of other great people I met there, but I must move on with this post.
I now understand that I do not hold any Melchizedek priesthood. I know this because JESUS has not given it to me via his own voice. My noble father laid his hands on my head sometime in the spring of 1984 and said some nice things, but I have never possessed the higher priesthood. I know this because I have never brought someone back from the dead, healed anyone instantly. I have never spoken in a tongue I do not know so that someone who does not speak English or Spanish can understand my message. I have never controlled the weather or animals. I have done nothing miraculous.
I cannot be trusted with any real power yet, because I like all the other men on this planet would misuse it. If I truly repent and become a lot more like JESUS, then maybe someday I could. It will not come from the Bishop, or a relative, or even one of the 15 pretend apostles in Salt Lake. Not even a real apostle like John the Beloved or one of the 3 Nephites can give it to me. It must come directly from CHRIST.
All of this leads me to first 3 verses of Hebrews chapter 7.
The King James Bible has it this way:
1. For this Melchisedec, king of Salem,
priest of the most high God,
who met with Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings,
and blessed him.
2. To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all;
first being by interpretation King of righteous,
and after that also King of Salem,
which is, King of peace;
3. Without father, without mother, without descent,
having neither beginning of days, nor end of life,
but made like unto the Son of God,
abideth a priest continually.
Just in case someone thinks that the problem is just the mediocrity of the King James Bible, The netbible.com has modernized the passage to read:
1. Now this Melchizedek, king of Salem,
priest of the most high God,
met Abraham as he was returning from defeating the kings
and blessed him.
2. To him also Abraham apportioned a tithe of everything.
His first name means king of righteousness,
then king of Salem,
that is, king of peace.
3. Without father, without mother, without genealogy,
he has neither beginning of days nor an end of life
but is like the son of God,
and he remains a priest for all time.
99.9 percent of Bibles would like you to believe that Melchizedek is some kind of immortal being who has brought into this world without the need for parents. Now GOD can do whatever He wants, because He would never do anything sinful, but this seems like a bit of a stretch.
Joseph Smith and the Holy Spirit render the third verse this way:
3. For this Melchizedek was ordained a priest after the order of the Son of God,
which order was without father, without mother, without descent,
having neither beginning of days, nor end of life.
And all those who are ordained unto this priesthood
are made like unto the Son of God,
abiding a priest continually.
Melchizedek had parents and lived and died like everyone else. It is the higher priesthood that does not require passage from father to son. Any man who follows CHRIST's example of service can receive this priesthood. GOD is no respecter of persons, meaning He plays no favorites. You can be any color, (sorry Brother Brigham even black) and if you emulate the Savior with your unselfish service while enduring above average amounts of suffering, then at some point you will receive some of GOD's power.
When GOD can trust you with power, you will get some, and not one minute before. Most men will never get it because we prize control and acclaim, more than our brothers and sisters. GOD's power can only be used to help your fellow human beings, and can never be used contrary to GOD's perfect will.
Thursday, November 21, 2019
Monday, November 18, 2019
JESUS calls His own apostles
First Corinthians 1:1 in the King James Version says this:
Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ
through the will of God...
All other popular versions of the Bible say the same thing, with one exception.
The Joseph Smith Translation words it this way:
Paul, an apostle, called of Jesus Christ
through the will of God...
It seems clear to me that Paul is trying to make the point that JESUS called Paul to be an apostle.
It happened obviously on the road to Damascus. Literally called him with His own voice. It was direct and there was no middle man. Just like with the first 12 apostles. Just like with Moses and all true prophets. GOD calls them face to face.
Now someone out there is going to point out the story of replacing Judas Iscariot. After Judas took his own life the 13th apostle (Matthias) was chosen by casting lots. That was not done like the original 12, or like Paul, but the two candidates were men who had seen JESUS. The key factor is GOD made his will known and the apostle had to be someone who had literally been in CHRIST's presence and almost certainly had heard His voice.
As an aside, casting lots can be a way for those of us who have not yet spoken with CHRIST to get information from Him. It you do not think so, ask yourself why Nephi and his brothers used the method to determine which of them would approach Laban first in an attempt to obtain the Brass Plates. If it is good enough for GOD to pick an apostle, then it should be good enough for us.
By the way, CHRIST can pick as many apostles as He wants. I am convinced that his wife Mary, counts as the First apostle of His resurrection. She was the first person to see him after he conquered death and made it possible for all of us sinners to live again. That is not a coincidence.
Paul's call was not a feeling or prompting given to Peter, Jacob (James), and John in Jerusalem and then passed on to the Jewish Christians. Paul was not chosen like the Utah version of Mormonism because he was a sycophant from Utah who was related to someone already in the quorum via the diluted bloodlines of polygamy.
GOD knows what He is doing. I am sure when the general membership found out later that JESUS had made Saul/Paul His newest witness, there were some fools who left the flock. The point is that JESUS chose Paul and He was not worried about the fallout. CHRIST knew that Paul was fearless and tireless. By adding the Holy Spirit to the mix, He would get one of the greatest missionaries of all time. JESUS knew that He would lose a few weak goats in Israel and gain hundreds (hopefully thousands) of new sheep in the Roman Empire.
GOD uses the best way to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of the greatest number of his children. And he does not care if it hurts your feelings. He knows that emotion is not truth. He knows our hearts better than we know them. Trust GOD, even if what He is doing does not make sense to you at the time. It will make sense eventually.
Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ
through the will of God...
All other popular versions of the Bible say the same thing, with one exception.
The Joseph Smith Translation words it this way:
Paul, an apostle, called of Jesus Christ
through the will of God...
It seems clear to me that Paul is trying to make the point that JESUS called Paul to be an apostle.
It happened obviously on the road to Damascus. Literally called him with His own voice. It was direct and there was no middle man. Just like with the first 12 apostles. Just like with Moses and all true prophets. GOD calls them face to face.
Now someone out there is going to point out the story of replacing Judas Iscariot. After Judas took his own life the 13th apostle (Matthias) was chosen by casting lots. That was not done like the original 12, or like Paul, but the two candidates were men who had seen JESUS. The key factor is GOD made his will known and the apostle had to be someone who had literally been in CHRIST's presence and almost certainly had heard His voice.
As an aside, casting lots can be a way for those of us who have not yet spoken with CHRIST to get information from Him. It you do not think so, ask yourself why Nephi and his brothers used the method to determine which of them would approach Laban first in an attempt to obtain the Brass Plates. If it is good enough for GOD to pick an apostle, then it should be good enough for us.
By the way, CHRIST can pick as many apostles as He wants. I am convinced that his wife Mary, counts as the First apostle of His resurrection. She was the first person to see him after he conquered death and made it possible for all of us sinners to live again. That is not a coincidence.
Paul's call was not a feeling or prompting given to Peter, Jacob (James), and John in Jerusalem and then passed on to the Jewish Christians. Paul was not chosen like the Utah version of Mormonism because he was a sycophant from Utah who was related to someone already in the quorum via the diluted bloodlines of polygamy.
GOD knows what He is doing. I am sure when the general membership found out later that JESUS had made Saul/Paul His newest witness, there were some fools who left the flock. The point is that JESUS chose Paul and He was not worried about the fallout. CHRIST knew that Paul was fearless and tireless. By adding the Holy Spirit to the mix, He would get one of the greatest missionaries of all time. JESUS knew that He would lose a few weak goats in Israel and gain hundreds (hopefully thousands) of new sheep in the Roman Empire.
GOD uses the best way to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of the greatest number of his children. And he does not care if it hurts your feelings. He knows that emotion is not truth. He knows our hearts better than we know them. Trust GOD, even if what He is doing does not make sense to you at the time. It will make sense eventually.
Friday, November 15, 2019
1st Corinthians 2:11: The things of God knoweth no man?
Since Satan would like us to believe that GOD is in no way like us mere mortals, we get verses like 1st Corinthians 2:11. I am fairly sure some fool changed the original wording to keep us from finding out the real truth. GOD is vastly better than we are right now, but it does not have to be that way forever. HE will always be our superior, but we do not have to remain on the opposite side of the holiness spectrum.
King James version
For what man knoweth the things of a man,
save the spirit of man which is in him?
even so the things of God knoweth no man,
but the Spirit of God.
If this verse is right then we can all just go about our lives in a quest for food, sleep, travel, leisure, money, and sex.
If we cannot know the things of God what is the point of this existence?
Thankfully Joseph Smith restored Paul's original meaning.
Joseph Smith Translation
For what man knoweth the things of a man,
save the spirit of man which is in him?
even so the things of God knoweth no man,
except he has the Spirit of God.
Ah, so we can know the things of God.
We just have to have God's Spirit. This entity but non-personage also goes by the title the Holy Ghost.
Our goal now should be to get the Holy Spirit.
Then we can get as much truth as possible directly from the mind of GOD.
We are only limited by our focus. The problem is we can only focus on one thing at a time. There is no such thing as multi-tasking in your mind.
Fantasy football or soccer is not going to get anyone closer to the things of GOD. Working more than necessary to feed you and yours is not helpful in a quest for saving truth.
Boats, jet skis, golf (guilty) is an impediment to finding GOD, or His Truth, or His Son.
Binge-watching TV (guilty) and movies is OK... if you are OK with not finding truth.
We all know we are too distracted by the idols of this world.
We all know what are personal idols are.
Time to leave Babylon behind for something infinitely better.
King James version
For what man knoweth the things of a man,
save the spirit of man which is in him?
even so the things of God knoweth no man,
but the Spirit of God.
If this verse is right then we can all just go about our lives in a quest for food, sleep, travel, leisure, money, and sex.
If we cannot know the things of God what is the point of this existence?
Thankfully Joseph Smith restored Paul's original meaning.
Joseph Smith Translation
For what man knoweth the things of a man,
save the spirit of man which is in him?
even so the things of God knoweth no man,
except he has the Spirit of God.
Ah, so we can know the things of God.
We just have to have God's Spirit. This entity but non-personage also goes by the title the Holy Ghost.
Our goal now should be to get the Holy Spirit.
Then we can get as much truth as possible directly from the mind of GOD.
We are only limited by our focus. The problem is we can only focus on one thing at a time. There is no such thing as multi-tasking in your mind.
Fantasy football or soccer is not going to get anyone closer to the things of GOD. Working more than necessary to feed you and yours is not helpful in a quest for saving truth.
Boats, jet skis, golf (guilty) is an impediment to finding GOD, or His Truth, or His Son.
Binge-watching TV (guilty) and movies is OK... if you are OK with not finding truth.
We all know we are too distracted by the idols of this world.
We all know what are personal idols are.
Time to leave Babylon behind for something infinitely better.
Tuesday, November 12, 2019
The Words of GOD
One of the reasons I love the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible is because I feel that I am getting the best source for the actual words of GOD to his ancient covenant people. Going along with my last post is my recommendation today. I wrote of Rob Smith's Upward Thought Blog. Rob not only claims to have seen JESUS, but that he speaks to CHRIST on occasion. That should be everyone's goal. If you go to his blog and read his latest post "God will visit his pure daughters" you can see what his latest conservation with the LORD entails.
Please pray and ask GOD via his Holy Spirit if these words from Rob's blog are the words of CHRIST.
I hope the words are GOD's because they fit nicely with my own belief system. I believe that GOD loves his daughters just as much as his sons. I also believe that He rarely intervenes in someone's life on a grand scale just to save them some suffering. HE may comfort you via different sources, but rarely will HE change the situation for you. You have to use your own agency to make your life better, and sometimes even that is not enough. JESUS suffered unjustly more than any being in history, and that pain was infinite. We mere mortals should not expect to get through this life without a little unjust suffering of our own. The problem is when people who should love us add to our suffering.
Rob's post deals with the systemic crisis of husbands who do not truly love their wives. Anyone who has a bad son-in-law can identify with the heartbreak of their daughter. You can ask GOD to intercede, but He is most likely not going to have a bus hit the fool.
GOD experiences the heartbreak of His daughters at an exponential level. There are possibly millions of hardhearted men walking this globe. It starts with males who father children and then will not take care of them. Some ask their girlfriends to get abortions. They would rather take a life than take responsibility. These are not men, they are cowards. They are not even male enough to be called boys.
Then we get the semi-hardhearted who do the right thing for appearance sake and get married, (or who get married and then have children) but then do a half ass job after that. This is the boy level. Their wives have to take care of their children and also their husbands. The husband becomes a kind of adult child. Instead of easing the wive's burdens he adds to them.
To be called a man you actually have to do some things you do want to do. Just as CHRIST did one infinite thing he would have preferred not to (if it were possible the rest of us could be saved some other way). Good luck telling JESUS at the judgement "Hey, I know you atoned for everyone's sins, but I was too grossed out by poop to change a diaper."
To you males out there I say, "love your wives." There are no bad husbands in GOD's Kingdom. There is also no hunting or televised sports. There is no TV at all you can tune into to, so you can tune out your wife. If you think you can mistreat one of GOD's daughters and avoid hell, you are sadly mistaken.
To the numerous oppressed women out there, GOD has some sublime things for you on the other side of this vale of tears. There is no polygamy in Heaven. There are no bad husbands in Heaven. In Heaven women and men are truly equal. There is no coercive priesthood to control you in Heaven. In Heaven there are no mean mother-in-laws who think you are not good enough for their son. There are no mothers who compete with you over who can cook better. There are no children who only call when they need something.
In Heaven, there is only love and beings who love perfectly. GOD would not have it any other way.
Please pray and ask GOD via his Holy Spirit if these words from Rob's blog are the words of CHRIST.
I hope the words are GOD's because they fit nicely with my own belief system. I believe that GOD loves his daughters just as much as his sons. I also believe that He rarely intervenes in someone's life on a grand scale just to save them some suffering. HE may comfort you via different sources, but rarely will HE change the situation for you. You have to use your own agency to make your life better, and sometimes even that is not enough. JESUS suffered unjustly more than any being in history, and that pain was infinite. We mere mortals should not expect to get through this life without a little unjust suffering of our own. The problem is when people who should love us add to our suffering.
Rob's post deals with the systemic crisis of husbands who do not truly love their wives. Anyone who has a bad son-in-law can identify with the heartbreak of their daughter. You can ask GOD to intercede, but He is most likely not going to have a bus hit the fool.
GOD experiences the heartbreak of His daughters at an exponential level. There are possibly millions of hardhearted men walking this globe. It starts with males who father children and then will not take care of them. Some ask their girlfriends to get abortions. They would rather take a life than take responsibility. These are not men, they are cowards. They are not even male enough to be called boys.
Then we get the semi-hardhearted who do the right thing for appearance sake and get married, (or who get married and then have children) but then do a half ass job after that. This is the boy level. Their wives have to take care of their children and also their husbands. The husband becomes a kind of adult child. Instead of easing the wive's burdens he adds to them.
To be called a man you actually have to do some things you do want to do. Just as CHRIST did one infinite thing he would have preferred not to (if it were possible the rest of us could be saved some other way). Good luck telling JESUS at the judgement "Hey, I know you atoned for everyone's sins, but I was too grossed out by poop to change a diaper."
To you males out there I say, "love your wives." There are no bad husbands in GOD's Kingdom. There is also no hunting or televised sports. There is no TV at all you can tune into to, so you can tune out your wife. If you think you can mistreat one of GOD's daughters and avoid hell, you are sadly mistaken.
To the numerous oppressed women out there, GOD has some sublime things for you on the other side of this vale of tears. There is no polygamy in Heaven. There are no bad husbands in Heaven. In Heaven women and men are truly equal. There is no coercive priesthood to control you in Heaven. In Heaven there are no mean mother-in-laws who think you are not good enough for their son. There are no mothers who compete with you over who can cook better. There are no children who only call when they need something.
In Heaven, there is only love and beings who love perfectly. GOD would not have it any other way.
Friday, November 8, 2019
Recommendations For Your Search for GOD
Here are my recommendations of sources that have helped me find truth and inspired me to repent. I do not agree with everything they say or write, but they are sincere people, and I am certain all of them are less sinful that I am. GOD is never going to give us a foolproof person to follow, because then we would miss the point of following Him.
Denver Snuffer- He has a blog at denversnuffer.com and he has written roughly a dozen books, almost all with the theme that anyone can have an audience with CHRIST. There are also several great talks of his that are posted on Youtube at the Restoration Archives channel. Here is a staunch defender of Joseph Smith.
Rob Smith- His blog is upwardthought.blogspot.com. He has written some great books that he tries to sell for the absolute miminum allowed by his publishers. He also has a Youtube channel (upwardthought) where he gives talks using power points. You never see him, because he believes the message should be the focus, not him. For example his talk "God Gives You What You Want" is filled with light. He taught me that humility is NOT minimizing what you have, but realizing that you can do more. Everyone has at least one gift given them from GOD and we need to figure out what that is and use it to help others. That is just one example of dozens that are in just that one talk.
Adrian Larsen- His blog totheremnant.com is always based on the scriptures of the restoration. He seems to have a good sense of humor. His posts are worth reaing, and he is emphatic about his testimony of the Book of Mormon.
Blake Ostler- Probably the greatest Mormon theologian of today. His 3 volume work Exploring Mormon Thought on Joseph Smith's description of GOD is unparalleled. His compassion theory of the Atonement is unique. He has a website blakeostler.com where all of his published works are listed and most of them have free links. He also does a podcast with his son, where he examines more in depth his take of what Mormon scripture means and does not mean.
Rock Waterman- He does not post much recently owing to spending his time on infinitely more important things like caring for his wife. You can spend the next few years studying his lengthy posts of the past at puremormonism.blogspot.com and not regret it. His devotion to CHRIST cost him membership in the LDS church.
The best written source for truth is the Book of Mormon. The best versions of the Book of Mormon are Grant Hardy's reader's edition and Royal Skousen's The Book of Mormon: The Earliest Text
The best version of the Bible is the Joseph Smith Translation. Called the Inspired Version by the people who were smart enough to remain with Emma Smith and her children rather than follow Brigham Young to Utah. I am refering to the formerly named Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ, now the Community of Christ.
As a side note, I will not be surprised at the judgment if GOD asks the esteemed Utah pioneers,
"So you followed Brigham instead of Emma?
You know you could have saved yourself a lot of trouble, travel, time, and unbelief by just staying with my Elect Lady instead of following a fool."
Of course, the best sources for all truth are the Holy Spirit, which is the literal mind of the Most High God for anyone like me, who has not yet met the Savior.
The goal of all of this of course is to find CHRIST, and have Him instruct us on what is true. That way we can skip the middleman and get our information directly from the Fount of Every Blessing.
Denver Snuffer- He has a blog at denversnuffer.com and he has written roughly a dozen books, almost all with the theme that anyone can have an audience with CHRIST. There are also several great talks of his that are posted on Youtube at the Restoration Archives channel. Here is a staunch defender of Joseph Smith.
Rob Smith- His blog is upwardthought.blogspot.com. He has written some great books that he tries to sell for the absolute miminum allowed by his publishers. He also has a Youtube channel (upwardthought) where he gives talks using power points. You never see him, because he believes the message should be the focus, not him. For example his talk "God Gives You What You Want" is filled with light. He taught me that humility is NOT minimizing what you have, but realizing that you can do more. Everyone has at least one gift given them from GOD and we need to figure out what that is and use it to help others. That is just one example of dozens that are in just that one talk.
Adrian Larsen- His blog totheremnant.com is always based on the scriptures of the restoration. He seems to have a good sense of humor. His posts are worth reaing, and he is emphatic about his testimony of the Book of Mormon.
Blake Ostler- Probably the greatest Mormon theologian of today. His 3 volume work Exploring Mormon Thought on Joseph Smith's description of GOD is unparalleled. His compassion theory of the Atonement is unique. He has a website blakeostler.com where all of his published works are listed and most of them have free links. He also does a podcast with his son, where he examines more in depth his take of what Mormon scripture means and does not mean.
Rock Waterman- He does not post much recently owing to spending his time on infinitely more important things like caring for his wife. You can spend the next few years studying his lengthy posts of the past at puremormonism.blogspot.com and not regret it. His devotion to CHRIST cost him membership in the LDS church.
The best written source for truth is the Book of Mormon. The best versions of the Book of Mormon are Grant Hardy's reader's edition and Royal Skousen's The Book of Mormon: The Earliest Text
The best version of the Bible is the Joseph Smith Translation. Called the Inspired Version by the people who were smart enough to remain with Emma Smith and her children rather than follow Brigham Young to Utah. I am refering to the formerly named Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ, now the Community of Christ.
As a side note, I will not be surprised at the judgment if GOD asks the esteemed Utah pioneers,
"So you followed Brigham instead of Emma?
You know you could have saved yourself a lot of trouble, travel, time, and unbelief by just staying with my Elect Lady instead of following a fool."
Of course, the best sources for all truth are the Holy Spirit, which is the literal mind of the Most High God for anyone like me, who has not yet met the Savior.
The goal of all of this of course is to find CHRIST, and have Him instruct us on what is true. That way we can skip the middleman and get our information directly from the Fount of Every Blessing.
Thursday, November 7, 2019
LDS Church Finances
Sorry, but today I am taking a break from Joseph Smith's inspired revision of the Hebrew Bible.
I am doing this to point out some information from Daymon Smith. Daymon worked in the Church Office Building after getting a Ph D in anthropology. A few years ago Rock Waterman did some phenomenal posts about Daymon and his book The Book of Mammon: A Book about a Book about the Corporation that owns the LDS Church. The book details the waste and ineptitude of the LDS church. Just search puremormonism.blogspot.com for "Daymon Smith" and you will find much better information and much better writing than my own.
I recently found an interview with Daymon where he made the following statement.
"Based on my time in the COB, I believe that the LDS church spends more money on Public relations, than it does on humanitarian aid."
I was astounded. I am still astounded. I will be astounded until the day I die. This supposed "true church" takes its members money and then spends more of it on looking good, than on doing good.
Daymon also estimated that the church spends about 2 percent of its billions (billions with a B!) on humanitarian aid. I guess that means is they spend at least 2.1 percent or more on getting the world to like them.
Other recent studies place the church's contribution to helping victims of disasters and poverty closer to 1 percent. So the church could be twice as chintzy as Daymon thinks. They are already shockingly miserly, but it could actually be twice as bad.
I am not 100 percent certain that these numbers are 100 percent accurate. Whether the LDS corporate empire spends 1,2, or 3 percent of its vast wealth to help people does not matter. What does matter is how small the amount is. Church members are supposed to give ten percent of their hard-earned cash to the church. The church cannot apparently return the favor to the world's disaster victims.
You would think one of the chosen 15 false apostles would speak up in their weekly meeting and say something. Something like
"Guys, instead of taking 99 percent of the members' money and using it on shopping malls, temples, and ourselves, how about we waste only 90 percent of their money?"
Of course that individual would probably be laughed out of the room, or possibly made an emeritus general authority. He might even be stripped of his modest stipend of $10,000 dollars a month.
I am 100 percent sure that GOD is going to do something soon to rid His temple of these modern-day money changers. JESUS' statement "And upon My House shall it begin" comes to mind (Doctrine and Covenants 112:25). To get a clear idea of what "it" is in verse 25, read verse 24. After reading this, if you live anywhere near Salt Lake City, you may want to consider moving.
I am doing this to point out some information from Daymon Smith. Daymon worked in the Church Office Building after getting a Ph D in anthropology. A few years ago Rock Waterman did some phenomenal posts about Daymon and his book The Book of Mammon: A Book about a Book about the Corporation that owns the LDS Church. The book details the waste and ineptitude of the LDS church. Just search puremormonism.blogspot.com for "Daymon Smith" and you will find much better information and much better writing than my own.
I recently found an interview with Daymon where he made the following statement.
"Based on my time in the COB, I believe that the LDS church spends more money on Public relations, than it does on humanitarian aid."
I was astounded. I am still astounded. I will be astounded until the day I die. This supposed "true church" takes its members money and then spends more of it on looking good, than on doing good.
Daymon also estimated that the church spends about 2 percent of its billions (billions with a B!) on humanitarian aid. I guess that means is they spend at least 2.1 percent or more on getting the world to like them.
Other recent studies place the church's contribution to helping victims of disasters and poverty closer to 1 percent. So the church could be twice as chintzy as Daymon thinks. They are already shockingly miserly, but it could actually be twice as bad.
I am not 100 percent certain that these numbers are 100 percent accurate. Whether the LDS corporate empire spends 1,2, or 3 percent of its vast wealth to help people does not matter. What does matter is how small the amount is. Church members are supposed to give ten percent of their hard-earned cash to the church. The church cannot apparently return the favor to the world's disaster victims.
You would think one of the chosen 15 false apostles would speak up in their weekly meeting and say something. Something like
"Guys, instead of taking 99 percent of the members' money and using it on shopping malls, temples, and ourselves, how about we waste only 90 percent of their money?"
Of course that individual would probably be laughed out of the room, or possibly made an emeritus general authority. He might even be stripped of his modest stipend of $10,000 dollars a month.
I am 100 percent sure that GOD is going to do something soon to rid His temple of these modern-day money changers. JESUS' statement "And upon My House shall it begin" comes to mind (Doctrine and Covenants 112:25). To get a clear idea of what "it" is in verse 25, read verse 24. After reading this, if you live anywhere near Salt Lake City, you may want to consider moving.
Wednesday, November 6, 2019
Logic Restored: Romans 8:31
Perhaps the most memorable verse in Romans is 8:31.
The King James Version states:
What shall we then say to these things?
If God be for us,
who can be against us?
A comforting thought, but it takes a bit of mental gymnastics to nail down what it means. It can be taken to mean that if God is supporting us, then everyone is supporting us. Now I know that God has all the power necessary to save and exalt his children based on their choices. If that is the case, then it does not matter what opposition we encounter in an abstract sense, because God will not be defeated in his quest to bring about the immortality and eternal life of his children. However, there is opposition in all things. When we are temporarily going through some adversity it can be hard to keep the faith.
Obviously God is for all his children. Satan is against us. However small his team is, he has some teammates. So this verse is flawed at a literal level. God is for us, but there are beings against us.
If you think I am nit-picking you may want to take that up with GOD. Why? Because GOD inspired Joseph Smith to change the verse to the following:
What shall we then say to these things?
If God be for us,
who can prevail against us?
So we are not being assured there is no opposition or adversity in this time of testing. Paul is assuring us that despite a common enemy, we will "prevail" with GOD's assistance.
The King James Version states:
What shall we then say to these things?
If God be for us,
who can be against us?
A comforting thought, but it takes a bit of mental gymnastics to nail down what it means. It can be taken to mean that if God is supporting us, then everyone is supporting us. Now I know that God has all the power necessary to save and exalt his children based on their choices. If that is the case, then it does not matter what opposition we encounter in an abstract sense, because God will not be defeated in his quest to bring about the immortality and eternal life of his children. However, there is opposition in all things. When we are temporarily going through some adversity it can be hard to keep the faith.
Obviously God is for all his children. Satan is against us. However small his team is, he has some teammates. So this verse is flawed at a literal level. God is for us, but there are beings against us.
If you think I am nit-picking you may want to take that up with GOD. Why? Because GOD inspired Joseph Smith to change the verse to the following:
What shall we then say to these things?
If God be for us,
who can prevail against us?
So we are not being assured there is no opposition or adversity in this time of testing. Paul is assuring us that despite a common enemy, we will "prevail" with GOD's assistance.
Tuesday, November 5, 2019
The Dead Don't Sin? : Romans 6:7
I am normally trying to find places in the Hebrew Bible where Joseph Smith made extensive changes. Today I am using a verse where only one change was made by adding two words.
Here is the original verse.
King James Version of Romans 6:7
For he that is dead is freed from sin.
Sounds great to me. But probably not true. Why would my sinful nature change just because I was dead? Surely the temporary loss of a physical body would help, but I am not sure that is enough to avoid sin altogether.
Satan does not have a body and he is the author of sin. Not having a body is insufficient evidence to explain this verse. Certain beings sinned in the pre-Earth life and were not allowed to get a body, so that should end that line of reasoning.
By the way, the whole "third part" does not mean "one third". Third part means limited number to those of the ancient world. Satan did not pull off bringing down 33.33 percent of our Heavenly Parents' children. It is heartbreaking that even one person failed to advance to Earth, but it was not some number in the billions. Any number was too high, but it is not as high as some people believe. I understand with free will people can follow whomever they want, and GOD could have theoretically lost all his children (except JESUS) in one fell swoop. I am just going on what the phrase "third part" really means.
My best speculation is that the first part of people said "Satan is a fool, and JESUS is the being most like GOD, so let's follow CHRIST." These people got it right from the outset and never wavered.
The second part of the people may have been initially confused but came to their senses before it was too late. In essence they changed their votes. Just like all of us have to do in this life to continue to follow CHRIST. Whenever we reached accountability and finally sinned we initially voted to be estranged from GOD.
The third part wanted the easy but ineffective way, and would not change their vote.
Back to Romans. Here is the inspired revision.
Joseph Smith Translation Romans 6:7
For he that is dead to sin is freed from sin.
The addition of the words "to sin" changes the entire chapter. It is worth reading Romans any time, but especially chapter 6 with this modification in mind. I am sure the apostle Paul is grateful we can now read what he really meant to convey. Let's be dead to sin before we are actually dead.
Here is the original verse.
King James Version of Romans 6:7
For he that is dead is freed from sin.
Sounds great to me. But probably not true. Why would my sinful nature change just because I was dead? Surely the temporary loss of a physical body would help, but I am not sure that is enough to avoid sin altogether.
Satan does not have a body and he is the author of sin. Not having a body is insufficient evidence to explain this verse. Certain beings sinned in the pre-Earth life and were not allowed to get a body, so that should end that line of reasoning.
By the way, the whole "third part" does not mean "one third". Third part means limited number to those of the ancient world. Satan did not pull off bringing down 33.33 percent of our Heavenly Parents' children. It is heartbreaking that even one person failed to advance to Earth, but it was not some number in the billions. Any number was too high, but it is not as high as some people believe. I understand with free will people can follow whomever they want, and GOD could have theoretically lost all his children (except JESUS) in one fell swoop. I am just going on what the phrase "third part" really means.
My best speculation is that the first part of people said "Satan is a fool, and JESUS is the being most like GOD, so let's follow CHRIST." These people got it right from the outset and never wavered.
The second part of the people may have been initially confused but came to their senses before it was too late. In essence they changed their votes. Just like all of us have to do in this life to continue to follow CHRIST. Whenever we reached accountability and finally sinned we initially voted to be estranged from GOD.
The third part wanted the easy but ineffective way, and would not change their vote.
Back to Romans. Here is the inspired revision.
Joseph Smith Translation Romans 6:7
For he that is dead to sin is freed from sin.
The addition of the words "to sin" changes the entire chapter. It is worth reading Romans any time, but especially chapter 6 with this modification in mind. I am sure the apostle Paul is grateful we can now read what he really meant to convey. Let's be dead to sin before we are actually dead.
Monday, November 4, 2019
GOD does not sin: Jonah Chapter 3
Similar to my last post the following problem is found in the 3rd chapter of Jonah. I am blaming the Greek translators for this one, because it fits with their ridiculous idea that GOD is capricious.
Here we have the king of Nineveh's decree to his wicked city, their repentance, and GOD's reaction.
King James Jonah Chapter 3: 9-10
Who can tell if God will turn and repent,
and turn away from his fierce anger,
that we perish not?
And God saw their works
that they turned from their evil way
and God repented the evil,
that he had said he would do unto them;
and he did it not.
The repentance of Nineveh brings about the repentance of God?
I do not think so.
Joseph Smith Translation, Jonah Chapter 3:9-10
Who can tell if we will repent,
and turn unto God,
but he will turn away from us his fierce anger,
that we perish not?
And God saw their works
that they turned from their evil way and repented;
and God turned away the evil
that he said he would bring upon them.
Even if Jonah was not excited by this result, the hosts of Heaven were.
Jonah (eventually) did his job, but at the end of the book he still has work to do.
Jonah is like the older brother in the parable of the prodigal son. His heart has not been broken and his spirit is obviously not contrite.
He was sinning less than the people of Nineveh, so he arrogantly thought that they should be destroyed because they were sinning more. We all need to get rid of this idea that there is some magic cut-off line for those heading to hell, and that we are somehow on the good side of that line. Instead it might be better to think we are all on a spectrum of progress, and there are many people ahead of us, and a few behind us.
In the book of Jonah, GOD stays his hand against one of the most violent cities in world history, so He is probably not going to take out your annoying neighbor. Forgive your neighbor, and you will be forgiven, and you can hopefully both avoid Hell. There is no quota on the number of saved beings.
Here we have the king of Nineveh's decree to his wicked city, their repentance, and GOD's reaction.
King James Jonah Chapter 3: 9-10
Who can tell if God will turn and repent,
and turn away from his fierce anger,
that we perish not?
And God saw their works
that they turned from their evil way
and God repented the evil,
that he had said he would do unto them;
and he did it not.
The repentance of Nineveh brings about the repentance of God?
I do not think so.
Joseph Smith Translation, Jonah Chapter 3:9-10
Who can tell if we will repent,
and turn unto God,
but he will turn away from us his fierce anger,
that we perish not?
And God saw their works
that they turned from their evil way and repented;
and God turned away the evil
that he said he would bring upon them.
Even if Jonah was not excited by this result, the hosts of Heaven were.
Jonah (eventually) did his job, but at the end of the book he still has work to do.
Jonah is like the older brother in the parable of the prodigal son. His heart has not been broken and his spirit is obviously not contrite.
He was sinning less than the people of Nineveh, so he arrogantly thought that they should be destroyed because they were sinning more. We all need to get rid of this idea that there is some magic cut-off line for those heading to hell, and that we are somehow on the good side of that line. Instead it might be better to think we are all on a spectrum of progress, and there are many people ahead of us, and a few behind us.
In the book of Jonah, GOD stays his hand against one of the most violent cities in world history, so He is probably not going to take out your annoying neighbor. Forgive your neighbor, and you will be forgiven, and you can hopefully both avoid Hell. There is no quota on the number of saved beings.
Friday, November 1, 2019
Amos 7: GOD does not need to repent
There are 2 verses in Amos chapter 7 that are flawed in the King James Version, verses 3 and 6. Since they are almost identically flawed and identically corrected I will use just verse 6.
King James Amos 3:6
The Lord repented for this:
This also shall not be,
saith the Lord.
I know very little about GOD because I have never met him...yet. But I do know He does not have anything to repent of. Whether He was a GOD forever or became one later does not matter here. In either scenario, He is now flawless in His behavior and does not make mistakes. He does not sin.
Joseph Smith rectified this horrendous verse with the following:
Joseph Smith Translation Amos 3:6
And the Lord said, concerning Jacob,
Jacob shall repent of his wickedness
therefore I will not utterly destroy him,
saith the Lord GOD.
I love how this clears up who is repenting (Jacob aka "Israel").
The message is that if we repent we can be blessed instead of cursed. The carrot and the stick is a fundamental part of the Gospel.
My mother Janet used to say when she was alive, "some people have to learn by feeling, because they cannot learn by hearing."
Sometimes we are motivated because of the fear of cursings, which is not a perfect situation. It is better than just sinning, but not ideal.
Let's call this stage one behavior.
Then we hopefully progress to seek for blessings from the LORD, which is better but still not ideal. This is stage two behavior.
Finally, we reach the stage of doing what GOD asks because we love Him. We are not concerned with fear or incentive. We trust GOD no matter what. Even if we are seemingly temporarily suffering when we may not have done anything to deserve it. The danger with stage 2 is that we might be doing well without deserving it, which is my take on some Mormon corridor folks. I am better off by the world's standards than 90 percent of people, but I do not attribute that to any righteousness on my part.
I admit it that I am not at stage 3...yet. There are probably other stages that people smarter than myself can think of, but that is my take on things for now.
King James Amos 3:6
The Lord repented for this:
This also shall not be,
saith the Lord.
I know very little about GOD because I have never met him...yet. But I do know He does not have anything to repent of. Whether He was a GOD forever or became one later does not matter here. In either scenario, He is now flawless in His behavior and does not make mistakes. He does not sin.
Joseph Smith rectified this horrendous verse with the following:
Joseph Smith Translation Amos 3:6
And the Lord said, concerning Jacob,
Jacob shall repent of his wickedness
therefore I will not utterly destroy him,
saith the Lord GOD.
I love how this clears up who is repenting (Jacob aka "Israel").
The message is that if we repent we can be blessed instead of cursed. The carrot and the stick is a fundamental part of the Gospel.
My mother Janet used to say when she was alive, "some people have to learn by feeling, because they cannot learn by hearing."
Sometimes we are motivated because of the fear of cursings, which is not a perfect situation. It is better than just sinning, but not ideal.
Let's call this stage one behavior.
Then we hopefully progress to seek for blessings from the LORD, which is better but still not ideal. This is stage two behavior.
Finally, we reach the stage of doing what GOD asks because we love Him. We are not concerned with fear or incentive. We trust GOD no matter what. Even if we are seemingly temporarily suffering when we may not have done anything to deserve it. The danger with stage 2 is that we might be doing well without deserving it, which is my take on some Mormon corridor folks. I am better off by the world's standards than 90 percent of people, but I do not attribute that to any righteousness on my part.
I admit it that I am not at stage 3...yet. There are probably other stages that people smarter than myself can think of, but that is my take on things for now.
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