Slaves shall rise up against their Masters

On Christmas Day 1832 the LORD's last publicly recognized prophet Joseph Smith received a revelation on the futures wars that would start with the US Civil War. The LDS church lists this as Doctrine and Covenants section 87. 

Do not get me wrong, the Mormon church is not true, but this revelation may well be. Joseph Smith being a Prophet has nothing to do with the falseness of modern Mormonism. The truth of some of the Bible does not make the Catholic Church GOD's chosen religion.  The truth of the Book of Mormon does not make the Mormon church "true."

The revelation from 1832 only contains 8 verses. The 4th verse has inspired this short piece. 

It reads, 

And it shall come to pass, 

after many days, 

slaves shall rise up against their masters, 

who shall be marshaled and disciplined for war.

Most Mormons read this as somehow a description of the Civil war. That is not supported by the timeline from verses 1-3. The "after many days" is referring back to the war that prevented southern secession as the starting point. This slave uprising has nothing to do with slaves in the southern states.

I am inclined to think there are at least 3 possible meanings of "slaves shall rise up against their masters."

1. The American middle class will start a second civil war against the wealthy secret masters of the US government, known and unknown. 

The middle class basically funds the wealthy by buying their goods and services. It also funds the lower class by paying taxes to bankroll welfare. If the US middle class was even cut in half by some calamity the American economy would collapse in 24 hours.

2. The countries of the world will rise up against the US to end America's tragic meddling in affairs around the globe.

The US was only the "home of the brave" from 1776-1865. After the Civil War cowardice has become more prevalent as government has become larger and more autocratic. Freedom keeps slipping away bit by bit like the heat being turned up on an unknowing lobster in a pot. 

The US has caused more death and destruction worldwide than Nazi Germany and Communist Russia combined. The death count includes the millions of abortions that have all happened in my lifetime. GOD will not be mocked by a civilization that supports wanton sexual immorality via the murder of the most innocent.

The US also likes to enforce crippling sanctions against third world countries in order to get whatever it wants. GOD is not a fan of bullies and eventually the US government, at a minimum is going to get its proverbial ass kicked for its crimes against humanity home and abroad.

3. Both may happen.

I am hoping I am wrong and none of the 3 happen. I am praying  that functionally illiterate Mormons are right and the revelation has no bearing on today. 

You need to decide via the Holy Spirit if some sinful fool from Central California is right, or if Mormons are right, or if we both are wrong. We cannot both be right.

This is not trivial. If I am right you have some critical decisions to make. If I am wrong, you can go back to your life and focus on other things. 

Either way, you need to focus the most on JESUS. Only He can save you from death and hell.

Now and in the next phase of existence.

Easy to do Justice, very hard to do Right

The title is a quote from The Winslow Boy, David Mamet's 1999 film. It is a fversion of the play by Terence Rattigan from 1946 of the same name. The line is delivered evocatively by the actor Jeremy Northam playing the role of the attorney Sir Robert Morton. For the most part the film is like watching a play, but the hour and 40 minutes of time spent is worth this line and one other...the last line in the production.

I have thought about this statement all day, and I finally believe that is describes GOD perfectly. We want Him to right all the wrongs, and we want it done ASAP. He operates on an infinitely higher level where knowing all prevents Him from delivering swift justice when it compromises what is right. 

GOD really has designed the best possible test to see if we His spirit children will do what is right, or whatever we want. Most people figure out that there is rarely "Hollywood Justice" when someone does something evil. They then allow themselves to do things they would never do if they felt like their was a quick punishment coming. The catch is, that GOD is not about punishing people, that is Satan's job. The time of testing is simply to see what it is we really want, and who it is we really love.

GOD does not care about carrots and sticks. God does not need time to test us. He already knows us better than we know ourselves. He is merely allowing us a few years on earth to prove to ourselves what kind of people we really are. To finish with the words of singer-songwriter Edwin McCain, "What matters is your heart."

Tithing: The Great Bait and Switch

     For 200 years after CHRIST's visit to the descendants of Lehi and Sariah a near perfect society was achieved. Lamanites and Nephites came together to eliminate ethnicities, classes, religions, and poverty. Homelessness was eradicated and hunger was unheard of. Every one took care of every one else. It was almost Zion. Had it been Zion they would have been taken up into Heaven. In the 201st year, literally all hell brook loose when economic divisions began again. The possibility of Zion was gone in less time than it took for a few people to start acquiring nice clothes. 

The same system was attempted for a short while when the LORD's last prophet Joseph Smith restored parts of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He was not able to restore it all, because the early Mormons were not ready to be anything resembling ZION. In the place of the law of consecration GOD reluctantly permitted the new religion to implement tithing. It has been almost 200 years since tithing was substituted as a test to see if Mormons could figure out how to share their stuff with others, to no avail. 

Modern Mormons, like most modern people have no desire to treat their fellow man as economic equals. Individuals come first, and if it is not too costly, families come next, friends occasionally, neighbors rarely, and strangers not at all. The Church gets 10 percent and gives almost none of it to the needy, and Mormons hope that is good enough to placate a Being that suffered infinitely for their sins. Mormons are hoping JESUS did everything, and they can just make a small sacrifice and it will all work out. Unfortunately GOD requires everything we have, if we are going to lay claim to anything He has.

I am sincerely hoping GOD will stay his hand from destroying this telestial world until I am dead, but my instincts tell me otherwise. Why should GOD wait another 200 years or even 20 for people who claim to be members of His Son's "One True Church" to become unselfish? Why should He allow more abortions, more murders, more human trafficking, more adultery, more warfare, and more selfishness from the world at large, when He knows better than all of us put together that humanity will not change?

I hope 2021 is better than 2020, but I will understand if it is not. Just in case a fool like me is right, we might want to repent and ask GOD to change us from our sinful selves into something less likely to be burned at CHRIST's second coming. It is going to require divine intervention and your sincere will to pull this off. GOD is not going to accept "that is just the way I am" at the final judgement.

All you have to do is ask, and keep asking, until being born of the Holy Spirit happens. I have work to do in 2021. What better New Year's resolution than to make sure you are really on GOD's team for whatever is coming.

The Gospel According to Luke

My pick for best gospel song ever was a small hit by Skip Ewing from the 1990s.

I am certain Joseph Smith would have liked the song, because he loved "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief."

I think the SAVIOR appreciates this underrated singer-songwriter's attempt to distill the Gospel of JESUS CHRST down to a few verses.

I could be wrong on both counts, but the song is better than anything currently being played as "Christmas music."

Here are the first half of the song's lyrics:

He was an old hand at living and making his way.

He smelled like old whiskey and he needed a shave.

His home was an alley off 8th avenue, 

but if you had a minute or an hour or two,

he'd tell you the Gospel according to Luke.

Luke carried his Bible in a Crown Royal bag,

and he wiped off his face with an old dirty rag

He'd tell you straight out just the way he believed,

Faith in the good Lord is all that you need

I remember the morning he first preached to me...

He said "give to your brother if he is in need,

Offer up thanks for the gifts you receive,

There's treasure in Heaven for the generous few"...

That was the Gospel according to Luke.

There are other verses but I let those interested search on Youtube for a video of Skip and his timeless song.

You will not be disappointed.

As a final note I see the word "Christlike" thrown around a lot on social media by Mormons and Christians who mean well, but do not know any better.

There is no being past, present, or future who will walk this planet who merits the adjective "Christlike." Their was only one CHRIST, and the difference between He and us is almost infinite. Calling someone Christlike demeans what the Savior did for us. It also elevates the person receiving this praise to a position where they might believe it, and then fail to repent.

It is like telling someone there are like GOD, because JESUS is God. I know a lot of above average people. But being a good person does not make someone like CHRIST. It just makes them slightly less sinful than the rest of us. 

The Dangers of Being Special

I grew up in a religion (LDS) that taught its membership explicitly and implicitly that Mormons are special. I have heard the phrase "The one true church" at least ten thousand times in lessons, testimonies, and talks. I was guilty of using that phrase more times than I would like to admit. 

It only took me 50 years to figure out there is no true church. I am a slow learner. All religion is an obstacle to GOD. Mormons are not the only people who think they are special. 

1. Jews

2. Catholics

3. Evangelical Christians

4. Muslims

5. Buddhists

6. Hindus

7. Politicians

8. Celebrities

9. Athletes

10. Mormon Leadership

11. Mormon remnant groups

12. Scientists

13. Journalists

14. College students

15. Americans

16. Men who believe in polygamy, past, present, or future.

17. People who think they were saved for the last days.

18. Sports fans

19. Doctors

20. Lawyers

21. Rich people

22. Democrats

23. Republicans

Anyone or any group that thinks they are special will get to suffer for their own sins. That horrific road leads straight through a literal hell. 

The only way out of the "special trap" is to acknolowedge you are less than the dust of the earth, cry to GOD for forgiveness, and spend the rest of your life helping people without thought of fame, money, power, or reward.

No one reading this or not reading this will likely change...

because they are special and need no repentance. They consider themselves whole and need no physician.

I am an above average sinner (and below average person) and need the only remedy that can save me from my awful situation...the Savior-GOD JESUS CHRIST. 

We are all in the same group: sinners.  

#BLINDOBEDIENCE

Almost anyone who might accidentally stumble on this humble blog would know that Mormon president Russell Nelson has asked his followers to spend a week giving thanks. He feels this will turn the tide on the world's problems and create healing.

I think a 96 year old has come up with a ridiculous idea and apparently no one at Mormon Inc. has the ability to make him see the obvious...

This is already the time of year when people give thanks...it is called Thanksgiving.

What is next up on the false prophet agenda?

Extra days of Christmas? If we go back to the 12 days of Christmas will Covid go away? If Mormons everywhere buy a partridge in a pear tree will evil be stopped in its tracks?

More New Year's resolutions? If all Mormons make more goals they do not keep for 2021 will it be a better year than 2020?

Will the Mormon Church allow drinking one day a year on St. Patrick's day in the hopes that its members can more closely bond with potential Irish converts?

How about more eggs at Easter? More fireworks on the 4th of July? More candy at Halloween?

All of these things are ridiculous I know, but not any more so absurd as giving thanks at Thanksgiving and calling it a revelation from a prophet.

I have also noticed that not many Mormons are giving thanks for JESUS the savior of this planet.

They like to focus on family. Families that will all go to Hell without JESUS and a laser-like focus on Him.

Here is my list of things I am grateful for every damn day...

I am grateful for the Most High GOD who came up with a way that others could become like Him (but still answer to Him).

I am grateful for Jesus Christ, the true son of the Most High God, who suffered immensely in a superhuman effort to save sinners like me.

I am grateful for the knowledge that salvation is between and individual and GOD, and not between families and middle-men like bishops, stake presidents, and general authorities.

I am grateful for the last prophet to walk the earth, Joseph Smith, and his equally noble wife Emma, and for the too easily overlooked brother Hyrum for all of their sacrifices to get a restoration of truth started in the 1800s.

I am grateful for the knowledge that the Holy Ghost is really the Holy Spirit and is NOT a personage. It is the influence of GOD that fills the immensity of space.

I am grateful that the Holy Spirit helped a hard-headed fool like me to leave a religion that prided itself on its specialness, and did almost nothing to help poor and needy people in the world.

I can never repay JESUS for what HE has done for me, and I will forever be in his debt.

If you are going to give extra thanks this thanksgiving, the only things that you could never be grateful enough for would be the life and Atonement of Jesus Christ and the incredible unselfishness of the Most High God!

Joseph Smith's Message of Love and Hope for the World

 If I were a billionaire I would pay to have every person on the planet receive the following information. Since I am a "thousandaire" I will use the limited tools at my disposal. 

According to a prophet of God, Joseph Smith, Life is a no-lose proposition. 

GOD wins by giving His children a vehicle to experience the consequences of good and evil.

We win by learning the difference.

We win just by having the experience. 

GOD wins by seeing who loves Him when He is not around.

Stop believing the false dichotomy of heaven/hell or good/bad or win/lose. 

Live the rest of your life by trying to learn as much as possible and serve as many people as you can. 

Trust GOD. He is real. He loves you. 

There is nothing you can do to stop Him from loving you. 

Stop trying to earn your way into Heaven.

Stop comparing your righteousness with those around you. 

We are all sinners. That is no excuse to sin.

We are all potential divine beings, but that is no excuse to think you are better than anyone else. 

Start loving others and yourself. Most of all love GOD.

GOD wants to be in a relationship with you regardless of your past choices.

He is waiting for you to reciprocate His love so He can make you whole again.

All of these ideas have been stolen from Blake Ostler's book

Fire on the Horizon: A Meditation on the Endowment and Love of Atonement

I am not smart enough or spiritual enough to come up with any of these concepts on my own.