Tag Archives: Russell Nelson

Urim and Thummim

A friend of mine recommended a book to me recently called By Means of the Urim and Thummim. It’s written by two seemingly active LDS authors who make a compelling argument that Joseph Smith actually used the Urim and Thummim, attached to a breastplate, to translate the Book of Mormon, rather than a stone or stones he peered into in his hat, which is the narrative the Church now has embraced.

It’s interesting that the argument has to be made, since Joseph himself never mentioned using a hat or any other seer stone in the translation process.

With the records was found a curious instrument which the ancients called “Urim and Thummim,” which consisted of two transparent stones set in the rim of a bow fastened to a breastplate. Through the medium of the Urim and Thummim I translated the record by the gift, and power of God (Times and Seasons, March 1, 1842).

“For over a century and a half”, the authors write, “most believers accepted Smith’s translation narrative.”

Without spoiling the book for those who wish to read it, the Church eventually embracing the once anti-Mormon stone in the hat translation theory had a lot to do with its insecurities over the Spaulding letter accusations — only made worse later by Mark Hoffman’s forgeries and accompanying fabricated, fantastical stories about Joseph — picked up on and embellished by LDS historian D. Michael Quinn — all of which led to an updated Church narrative that appeases those who believe Joseph to have been more of a treasure seeking, magic loving, shaman/mystical type — maybe crazy, maybe genius, maybe inspired by dark powers — young ignorant farm boy. The authors suggest that by embracing this stone in hat theory, Joseph and his mission are delegitimized. I tend to agree.

Joseph Smith never (not even once) suggested that he translated the Book of Mormon by looking into a hat. In fact, only two somewhat contemporary witnesses can be found ever saying anything at all about a hat: David Whitmer, many, many years later while still very much anti-Joseph and anti-LDS and an elderly Emma who was “said” to have seen Joseph translate by said means. The problem with her testimony is that it was published well after she died and was not in her own writing (second hand / hearsay) and her son, Joseph III, who took the interview, backtracked from the stone in hat theory himself in later years. In other words, even he didn’t promote the stone in hat narrative, but instead he promoted the Urim and Thummim direct translation account.

Many revelations were given through the Urim and Thummim and Joseph apparently knew how to use it. No revelation is said to have been received by means of a Stone in the Hat in the D&C. Oliver was chastised by the Lord because he supposed that all he had to do was ask to be able to translate using the instruments—

Behold, you have not understood; you have supposed that I would give it unto you when you took no thought save it was to ask me. But behold, I say unto you that you must study it out in your mind, then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right, I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right. But if it be not right, you shall have no such feelings, but you shall have a stupor of thought that shall cause you to forget the thing which is wrong. Therefore, you cannot write that which is sacred save it be given you from me.

Apparently (as the authors point out), the work of translation took much more than just asking and peeping into a stone in a hat. It actually took real, intellectual effort and study, all while looking at the characters through the Urim and Thummim on the gold pages of the record which somehow conveyed a translation to the one attempting to do the work.

They also note how strange it would be that the Lord would go through so much effort to preserve the records for thousands of years, costing untold lives, and then risking the lives of Joseph and his family and others by their mere existence, if Joseph didn’t actually need them in order to translate. Why have them under a cloth? Or in the room? Or why even bring them out of the ground? Why carry them across 100s, maybe 1000s of miles for more than 1000 years? Why edit them (Mormon)? Why hide them (Moroni)? If they were never actually needed in the translation process?

I personally have not toiled much over this question in part because for most of my life, we were never told it was true that Joseph used a hat while translating. It wasn’t until many years later as an adult that the hat story became something I ever heard given any credibility by the LDS Church. Anti-Mormons made those accusations, but not the Church itself. I actually find the authors to be very persuasive and I appreciate their efforts. I prefer their version of the story and especially so because it is consistent with Joseph’s own testimony.

The Church undermines itself when it does not know its own history or defends it wrongly as it has done with so many important topics.

Millions of LDS Church members celebrated Russell Nelson who turned 99 recently. He is called by his people: prophet, seer, and revelator. President Nelson, takes the view that Joseph translated the Book of Mormon with a seer stone(s) in his hat while the plates were usually covered next to him. It seems as is shown in this video that he espouses the magical translation D. Michael Quinn narrative.

After reading the above mentioned book, I think many would be perplexed that President Nelson does not believe Joseph’s own account. Especially if they believe that he too is a “seer” as was Joseph.

The term “seer” is one used often in Mormonism, but is it being used correctly? Here’s what the Book of Mormon says about seership:

Now Ammon said unto him, I can assuredly tell thee, O king, of a man that can translate the records; for he has wherewith that he can look and translate all records that are of ancient date, and it is a gift from God. And the things are called interpreters, and no man can look in them except he be commanded, lest he should look for that he ought not and he should perish. And whosoever is commanded to look in them, the same is called seer. And behold, the king of the people who is in the land of Zarahemla is the man that is commanded to do these things, and who has this high gift from God. And the king said that a seer is greater than a prophet. And Ammon said that a seer is a revelator and a prophet also. And a gift which is greater can no man have, except he should possess the power of God, which no man can; yet a man may have great power given him from God. But a seer can know of things which have passed, and also of things which are to come. And by them shall all things be revealed, or rather shall secret things be made manifest, and hidden things shall come to light, and things which are not known shall be made known by them, and also things shall be made known by them which otherwise could not be known. Thus, God has provided a means that man, through faith, might work mighty miracles. Therefore he becometh a great benefit to his fellow beings. (RE Mosiah 5:13)

The way the word seer is used in Mormonism is akin to the Catholic term “His Holiness” — a title used by Catholics and LDS Church leaders alike when referring to the Pope, which for me should ONLY refer to the Lord. It’s equally offensive to me to just give someone the title of seer if they are not in fact, “seeing” or “translating” as the above scripture describes.

The prophet Ammon did not refer to himself or to anyone in blanket fashion as a seer. He points out that a seer is greater than a prophet. And that Mosiah is a seer precisely because he looks through the “interpreters” aka the Urim and Thummim AND he can be trusted by the Lord to do so AND he has been given the gift and power to translate using them. Something apparently Ammon and others, despite their tremendous faith to take on Lamanite armies, and their ability to shake the earth with their words, etc. could not do. They were apparently not seers. At least not in the same way that Mosiah was.

And yet, 15 men in the LDS Church are gratuitously given the titles of Seers. Holy seers. Holy prophets. Men of God who reveal His will. Is this all true? Or is this blasphemy?

If Russell Nelson and these 14 other men are in fact seers, why can’t they translate with the stone they allege Joseph used to translate? The stone in their possession. And why have they not been entrusted with the Urim and Thummim as many other prophets were in the scriptures? And why has the testimony of the Seers changed from Brigham to present about how the Book of Mormon was translated?

Lastly and most importantly, why call them something they clearly are not? This, in my view, delegitimizes them AND Joseph AND the Book of Mormon.

Spencer W. Kimball’s Journals Online

A friend sent me a post from Reddit yesterday by u/Texastruthseeker about the Church’s recent release of Spencer W. Kimball’s journals, available now online. I was curious enough by the content of the post that I went to the Church’s website to take a look. Here’s the post from Reddit:

President Nelson ghostwrote the foreword to his autobiography (attributed to Spencer W. Kimball)

Some big news today with the church releasing digitized versions of Spencer W. Kimball’s personal journals. https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/blog/spencer-w-kimball-journals-now-accessible?lang=eng

I’ve been jumping around looking for anything interesting. Toward the end of his life the details are very brief each day but I was intrigued by the entries from 2/7/1979 and 2/27/1979:

Kimball: (Russell) “Nelson brought ‘a suggested foreword he has written for me that he would like approval to use in a compliation (sic) he has prepare on his life’s story. He has written a very interesting account of his activities, some which included experiences with me, and I assured him I would read it and give him approval to use it.’ [[a fulsome foreword for a man to write about himself!!]]”

I had to look up fulsome. Definition: complimentary or flattering to an excessive degree.

So what’s in the foreword Nelson wrote about himself on behalf of President Kimball?

You can read it here on starting on page 4: https://archive.org/details/from-heart-to-heart-an-autobiography-russell-m.-nelson/page/n3/mode/2up

Copied in part here. Copy and paste didn’t work perfectly from this file type so I had to be selective in what to include and there may be some slight errors (bold emphasis is mine)

Foreword

By President Spencer W. Kimball

This book, the engaging record of the life and experiences of Russell Marion Nelson, is a fulfillment of a great dream. In these pages he has set forth a chronicle of his noble parentage and crystallized the many experiences of himself and his adorable family. This work will bring joy and peace and happiness to its readers.

The first time I saw the Nelson family was at a stake conference meeting in 1964. Eight daughters were singing a song, accompanied by their mother, Dantzel. I was amazed and pleased, and I thought, “What a perfect family! What beautiful parents! And what delightful children to grow up in one household.” I have known them from that time forward, and now there are nine daughters and one son. Brother Nelson has always been a family man first, and now all his family unite to bring him honor.

I owe much to him as a doctor. It was in 1971 in England that I first spoke to him of my heart problems. When we returned to the United States, investigation showed that I had problems with a deteriorating valve in my heart and an obstruction in an artery. I felt my life slipping away, and I wondered if perhaps the time had come for a younger man to enter the Quorum of the Twelve and do the work I could no longer do. But at the inspired insistence of President Harold B. Lee, I was prompted to press on. Therefore, my life was placed in the hands of this young doctor, in whom we noted a sweet Spirituality. Because of his skill as a surgeon—one who trusts in the power of the priesthood and relies on the Spirit of the Lord—my life was spared, even though the risks were very great for a man of my seventy-seven years.

We became close as I recovered from the open-heart surgery that he performed perfectly. Whenever I became discouraged, there was always his sweet, understanding spirit to buoy me up.

Then President Lee died in December 1973. We never thought it could happen, for he was younger than I and seemingly in good health; therefore, we were all taken by surprise. Brother Nelson, of his own accord, came to my side immediately in case he should be needed. I appreciated his thoughtfulness very much…

It pleases me very much to note that he has done a superb work in assembling the information to bring this book into existence…It seems to me that it has been done beautifully and without flaw. Long will his children and their posterity honor this great man, and long will they remember that he followed the precepts of his Lord through his prophets…

Salt Lake City, Utah March 1979

I will let each of you draw your own conclusions.

While I was online in President Kimball’s journals, I took some time to read through a few years worth of entries. In doing so, I was struck by how generally uneventful the entries were. It seemed like President Kimball spent most days at luncheons and dinners and going to funerals or the hospital to see a family member or member of the Quorum. Or attending a gala or award ceremony… or at the Gym, getting a massage…

I understand that the President of the Church fulfills an executive leadership role and that his schedule will involve some of the above mentioned types of events. And I recognize that a man of his age would be busy in hospitals for himself and visiting others. But, what surprised me was that in the many years of personal journals I read, the president of the Church did not mention the Lord, the atonement, faith, hope, charity, the Book of Mormon, blessings of healings, revelations, visions, dreams, prophecy, the scriptures, or hardly anything of a spiritual nature whatsoever. Not from what I could see.

Safe and Effective? The Truth Matters

I’ve covered this topic previously in a November 10, 2021 post called Consequences of Compulsion as well as here and here. It’s a subject that I think merits some updated coverage.

From the beginning of the supposed pandemic, I’ve been skeptical of all the draconian measures, all so seemingly ready to implement, most specifically vaccination by force. It should go without saying that business and government have a legal and moral obligation to ensure that vaccines (or any product) are safe for public consumption and that people should then still be able to choose what they put into their own bodies — no matter the public health crisis — no matter the country — no matter the state.

Since my first post in 2021, many people I know and love have been coerced or inspired to get the untested CoVid19 vaccines. I do not judge anyone for doing so. I am truly sorry that so many people were put into impossible situations, however, and who had no real choice. For those who took the vaccine and have no regrets or negative side effects, I am grateful you are well and pray that continues.

Mostly because of my skepticism I think, my heart told me to go in a different direction. I concede that I was able to do so without fear of losing my job, which obviously made the decision easier, although it was still met with opposition at every turn it seemed. And still is to some degree.

Please do not read this post and assume I think less of you for doing what you felt was right. Your decisions for your health are your own. I do hope you can read this post with a willingness to consider that, perhaps, something terrible has been done to all of us and that not being able to see that now may only make things worse. Worse for our freedoms, our future, our health, the health of friends and loved ones, and especially worse for our ability to discern and choose truth over error. I love the RE Glossary definition for Truth:

Knowledge of things as they are and as they were and as they are to come (T&C 93:8). You can only know the truth by having it revealed to you from heaven itself (see T&C 69:29). “We must know the truth. The truth informs us how things are (now, today, in our current peril). The truth informs us of how things were (revealing exactly what happened, without mythical or political overlay, with its disappointments and tragedies candidly depicted). The truth informs us of the things to come (even if the prophecies and promises dash our hopes, crush our vanity and expose our foolishness). Without the truth it is impossible to repent. In order to take people captive, all that is required is for people to be content with their ignorance. The greatest threat to salvation does not come from teaching false doctrine but instead comes from ignoring doctrine altogether. Substituting platitudes and truisms for careful, ponderous and solemn investigation of the deep things of God is sufficient to keep people in the chains of captivity. It isn’t necessary for the devil to convince you of lies, only for him to make you content in your ignorance or fearful of the search for truth.” (My emphasis added)

I will place links to stories of real people throughout this post, beginning with this one:

12 Year Old Football Player Dies Suddenly At Practice

Background (From my vantage)

President Trump pushed for a “warp speed” response to Covid-19; a suspiciously timed “pandemic” purportedly created and released in Wuhan China, funded by US tax dollars.

Trump knew that the way the world was responding to this “virus” could single-handedly prevent him from winning a second term. He was damned if he did or didn’t do anything. If he shut down the economy as the rest the world was doing (minus Sweden), he threatened the very thing he could rightfully boast of — a great economy. If he followed Sweden’s example, he would surely be impeached and removed from office and prosecuted for “crimes against humanity” (such was the political climate at the time… maybe still is…). No herd immunity option for Trump (or the USA, more importantly) as much as logic would have informed and inspired him. Not right before the election if he or anyone else wanted him to win.

The planned pandemic that became the focus of the entire planet was indeed about accomplishing many things.

First and foremost, CoVid-19 was about getting rid of Trump. As an American Populist, and as the most polarizing and “popular” president of our lifetime, not likely yet completely owned by the establishment, he stood in the way of their Global UN 2030 goals.

As they were processing Trump out, they simultaneously pressed harder (and immediately) to impose 1984-like controls that would force compliance and destroy many freedoms overnight, thus ceding liberties to aspiring globalist sycophants anxious to reset the planet.

15 Year Old Star Soccer Player Dies Suddenly

CoVid-19 had given them cover for the election theft that was perpetrated on a level “never seen before in our country,” as Trump would say.

In hindsight, Trump was right about many things related to CoVid. Herd immunity, for example, would have been a better option, rather than closing down the entire world. He was right about masks and social distancing that didn’t do anything to curb the spread or save lives. Trump was right about Ivermectin and Hydroxychloroquine working as treatments and prophylaxes. And he was right that the bio weapon came from China.

But, along the way Trump made a terrible mistake.

Trump’s greatest misstep was to buy into the mRNA vaccines that had been in the works at least since 2012. In his desperation, Trump was dying to take credit for what he likely believed to be the only way to save our nation. “Warp speed. Miracle cure.” Surely if he could just get the cure out before the election and get the economy back open, he could stay in office and prevent the coup.

But alas, he walked right into their nefarious trap. They had the mRNA vaccines ready for him to put his name right on them and to give them legitimacy with an emergency use authorization order only a president can give, despite not going through the normal, rigorous approval processes to ensure their safeness and effectiveness. The fact that Trump was not politically aligned with the globalists made it even better.

To this day, when Trump mentions “miracle warp speed vaccines,” he gets booed by his most ardent supporters. Sadly, he can’t recognize his own hubris nor will he or can he now admit he was wrong. Not now and maybe not ever. He has too much blood on his hands, even if he was duped.

Pro Soccer player in Norway collapses suddenly, Cardiac Arrest

…And so does the LDS church.

The church did not have the same motives as Trump. The church, like most global entities, saw early on that it had very few options. Much like the realities the Wilford Woodruff era church was confronted with, it was very much a comply or die scenario. And comply they did. In fact, they did more than comply, choosing to become the poster boy for advocacy, they took up their bully pulpit and preached compliance with all the religious zeal they could muster.

LDS Church President Russell Nelson, a doctor who has used his medical credentials to promote the untested mRNA vaccine, has all but promised people in the name of the Lord that they are “safe and effective.” As a result, literally tens of millions of people who otherwise might not have taken the experimental jab, have.

When it came to religious exemptions, they offered none. Children and young people who were healthy and not at risk of death, were compelled (if not coerced) to comply. Even today, young, healthy, not at risk missionary and college age kids, are now vaccinating as a sign of obedience to the “living prophet” and in order to attend church schools and/or with the hopes of serving foreign missions. I received this terribly sad comment from one reader recently:

I have two daughters at university in Provo. One of my two daughters has a damaged heart from the COVID vaccine. I’m very disappointed in the response from the prophet. As things these days are looking like the vaccine is completely worthless and just injures people. I’m just wondering where their allegiance is. How can they so easily sacrifice my beautiful daughter. How were they duped to follow our corrupt government and politicians. How did the prophet make such a big mistake? We were always taught to follow the prophet and we won’t go astray. We were always taught to take care of our temples, our bodies. Never to use alcohol, coffee tea or drugs. How could the prophet be so deceived? For the last two and a half years, the media has lied to us and the church has lied to us as well! The prophet is a heart doctor, how ironic. It’s my understanding in the medical profession the number one rule is to do no harm. How many hearts has the prophet damaged? I’m sure I’m not the only one there must be hundreds or thousands like me.

My heart goes out to this parent and the many others like him.

Some people tried to stand their ground and many lost their jobs while the church told them they were not Christlike. Like the globalist propagandists, the church marginalized, shamed, and abandoned its own “rebellious” anti-vaxxers.

18 year old athlete on life support after suffering cardiac arrest in basketball game

The likes of Elder Rasband were caught on hot mics making condescending comments about those of us who sought to be free to choose. “Among MY Brethren,” he says, “we’re wondering what will happen when we ask you to do something really hard!” In other words, “Come on people, DO as you’re told! Be obedient to US, NO MATTER WHAT!” This is the test! …in their minds.

Meanwhile, and now two years into this science experiment, people are dying at alarming rates all around the world suddenly and unexpectedly and not from CoVid.

My friend who is a doctor and who has bought fully into the propaganda has stated, “Well we knew this was coming (referring to the spike in deaths) because of 18 months worth of skipped cancer screenings, etc.” How convenient (and preposterous). Another friend, when I asked him if he had noticed an increase in athletes dying flippantly said, “remember Len Bias? It’s called cocaine overdoses!” Really? All 20% of the increase in deaths (more like 400% in young healthy people) is from drug overdoses? Again, ridiculous. The effects of propaganda. Not supported by reality, the numbers, truth, or “science” for that matter. Yet, strangely, many otherwise intelligent people are unable to look at what’s happening all around us objectively.

There’s a reason, I think, for this kind of willful ambivalence. It’s because we all have loved ones, young and old, who have taken the vaccine, or we have taken it ourselves. No one wants to consider that they or their loved one has potentially been lied to and possibly poisoned. Or that their church leader or favorite politician has lied to them or was misled. Or that their child could collapse and die, suddenly.

And so what are we collectively doing as a world? Instead of confronting the issue, we choose to not be rational about it. We’re literally doing what many Germans knowingly did during Hitler’s reign of terror. Some call it Mass Formation Psychosis, where people refuse to see things happening right before their eyes. Is it fear? Denial? Pride? Naïveté? Politics? Religion? Whatever it is, it’s blinded many people on this planet to the truth that anyone even trying to squint at would normally see.

25 year old goalkeep dies suddenly after stopping penalty kick

Some are beginning to awaken, however. Last year the Princess of Thailand collapsed while jogging and is believed to be in a coma. Stories like hers can be found all over the news, if one is interested in seeing the truth. I’ve included below many links to those news stories I’ve bumped into in just the last month or two I’ve been working on this post. I highly recommend you take a look. Among those links are also recommendations for people worried their health may been compromised by the vaccines or from vaccine shedding or from CoVid19.

Trump once boasted he “could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue and not lose a single voter.” On this issue, I think Trump is so “yugely” wrong. He has proudly boasted he saved 2.2 million lives (recently he said maybe 100 million!) by creating the vaccines and by all he did during the CoVid pandemic. Hindsight tells a different story… one that history may never tell correctly, sadly, but that you and I would do well to try to discern. Lives could depend on it still.

But How Could Prophets Be So Wrong?

The church and specifically the men who call themselves prophets, seers, and revelators, in their zeal to be good global citizens are now also responsible for the deaths of untold thousands of people. Maybe 100s of thousands. I know people in my own small town who have been injured or killed by the vaccines.

One young man was just graduating from high school. He was perfectly healthy and was extremely active. Some time after receiving the vaccine, he developed a cancer so rare that only two other people in the world were known to have ever had it. After several rounds of chemo and a full bone marrow transplant, he contracted another rare unknown cancer. Within 5 months of being vaccinated he was gone. His LDS family was and remains devastated and is still unwilling to consider, as far as I know, that their son’s death was related in any way whatsoever to the vaccine he received. How many others are like them?

Another friend of mine was only 50. He was a bishop with a young family and a successful business. He was a delightful person in every way. He, after being vaccinated, contracted a rare and aggressive brain cancer and was gone in just a few months time.

Another long time friend was vaccinated and shortly thereafter contracted lymphoma. She’s now fighting for her life.

Some dear friends of ours have a son whose former soccer coach died of a heart attack at age 35.

Many of you probably also have friends who have been adversely affected and have heard stories from people you know.

Of course we also all have friends or know people who have died from CoVid19. Although the survival rate is 99.95% across the board, it is still such a great tragedy that this man-made virus has taken so many innocent people.

It should be acknowledged that young people are and never were at risk generally of dying from the virus, especially babies and toddlers. Is the “cure”now more deadly than the disease? How many innocent people have died as a result of our agency being taken away and for having been lied to?

The rate of increase in death among the vaccinated, that the whole world is completely ignoring, is unacceptably tragic and is a sign that the propagandist liars are winning.

23 year old University of Arizona swimmer dies suddenly

One only now needs to look around to see that something is incredibly wrong. Children are dying on soccer fields. Healthy people are dying in races. On stage. On air. On flights. Collapsing in NFL football games and in high school and college basketball games. Thousands of people. Maybe hundreds of thousands. All cause mortality rates are off the charts all around the world. On any given year there will be an increase or a decline of 1%. Now it’s at a 20% increase! That’s a 2000% increase in deaths. Yet, no major news outlets and certainly no Church leader in Salt Lake is sounding the alarm.

Although Some Have Changed Their Tune, Most Have Not

Some people who have been vaccinated have now changed their tune and ARE sounding the alarm. Robert Kennedy. Dr. Malone. Scott Adams. Elon Musk. Joe Rogan. Dan Bongino. Many others. The latter of the aforementioned said recently that “taking the vaccine is the greatest regret of his life.”

But completely unrepentant and not backing off from their feckless positions are the Brethren and Donald J. Trump.

CoVid for the church is very much like polygamy. They complied because they saw that they might lose important things if they didn’t. The ability to have missionaries in the field, for example. They clearly are also fearful of being canceled as they were in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. To this day, ironically, they need polygamy to be true, even if it wasn’t or isn’t. Even if it didn’t come from Joseph Smith. They need it to come from him! Otherwise their authority claims are called into question and that cannot be allowed to happen. At the time, they complied and allowed it to be written in their scriptures that the polygamy commandment was being taken away even though Brigham and others prophesied that if the church ever abandoned polygamy it would be in apostasy. They didn’t want to lose their churches, their temples, their state, their money. So, even though Brigham Young said it would lead the church into apostasy, they complied with government to keep their things. And now today the church needs the vaccines to be safe and effective lest they be denounced as false prophets. Worse, accomplices to murder.

As for Trump, he would have done well to not have been so quick to put his name on something so untested. I don’t know what the effect would be on his presidential ambitions if he were to now come clean. It would be the right thing to do of course and some people are calling for it, suggesting they won’t support him if he doesn’t. I do know that what he’s already declared and done is unforgivable morally and politically and may prevent him from winning. If he says nothing further about his miracle vaccines, as his advisors are telling him to do, blame can always still be laid at his feet. He is once again damned if he does and damned if he doesn’t.

Many, many people have blood on their hands and they are displaying horrible arrogance in not admitting their error. So many have died at their hands. That’s the truth and it matters.

As for the Church, for far too long have the false ideas been preached and accepted that the Brethren cannot lead us astray. It began with Brigham not Joseph. It’s not in the scriptures. But, it’s become scripture for the LDS Church. (See “I am Scripture” — David Bednar) This is what Brigham said during his time as president:

I am here to give this people, called Latter-day Saints, counsel to direct them in the path of life. I am here to answer; I shall be on hand to answer when I am called upon, for all the counsel and for all the instruction that I have given to this people. If there is an Elder here, or any member of this Church, called the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who can bring up the first idea, the first sentence that I have delivered to the people as counsel that is wrong, I really wish they would do it; but they cannot do it, for the simple reason that I have never given counsel that is wrong; this is the reason. This people, called Latter-day Saints, have been laboring now over forty years. Source

My brothers and sisters, friends, family and loved ones — the truth matters. Leaders we trusted have been very wrong. People are dying. If nothing else, those who have been hurt or lost should be honored, not ignored. And we can benefit now by embracing truth even if the implications are catastrophic.

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12 Year Old Football Player Dies Suddenly At Practice

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17 Year Old Football Player Dies Suddenly: Cardiac Arrest

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Uk Data Shows 70% of all CoVid Deaths Are Fully Vaccinated

Elon Musk’s Young and Fit Cousin Has Serious Myocarditis

Robert Kennedy Jr — CIA ran 20+ Pandemic Simulations

The suppression of hydroxychloroquine and the amount of lives and people who died as a result of that Is the Biggest Scandal of CoVid19

Fact – Pfizer Lied About the MRNA Shots

Austrian PM collapses after saying ”mistrust of Vaccines are unfounded”

Brazilian anchor Rafael Silva, 36, collapsed and suffered a cardiac arrest on live TV

Warning from God – Comedian collapses while joking she was double vaxxed — fractured skull

For every athlete that collapses there are thousands of others we don’t know of — 3 million more people are disabled in US in 2021, and rising

In Dec. 2021, Manchester United defender Victor Lindelöf, 28, struggled to breathe, pointed to his heart, and was taken off the field with apparent chest pain.

Oct. 2021, FC Barcelona star Sergio Aguero, 33, collapsed on the field due to chest pain and breathing issues that have since forced him to retire.

In Jan. 2022, Mali star Ousmane Coulibaly, 32, suffered a heart attack on the pitch and was given emergency medical attention as the match was abandoned.

The excess death rate of working-age people also increased in these European nations after mRNA vaccines were introduced

This increase in the death rate of working-age people also appears in the CDC’s Mortality database.

The Society of Actuaries Research Institute published its COVID-19 Mortality Survey Report.

Why are so many professional athletes and public figures collapsing live on television

Big tech, big government, & big media banned scientific criticism of Pfizer’s covid-19 vaccines even as children were paralyzed by them or worse, dead

The risk/reward calculation never made sense for children because the risk was virtually zero

@ScottGottliebMD worked with a Twitter lobbyist to censor an Israeli study that concluded natural immunity is 13x more effective than Pfizer’s mRNA shots.

In the Pfizer clinical trial, all cause illness and mortality were higher in the vaccinated group than the placebo

Pfizer has habitually engaged in illegal and corrupt marketing practices, bribed physicians, & suppressed adverse trial results.

Deseret News: Tik Tok Star Dies, 35, of Colon Cancer

Algerian Football Player drops dead during Nation’s Championship Game

College Basketball has Vaccine Injury during game

Wallstreet Journal Slams Vaccines and Boosters after seeing Troubling Data

Vaccines are a LIE, grounded in false advertising

Pro Soccer player in Norway collapses suddenly, Cardiac Arrest

Young Female Service Member has heart attacks and stroke after forced Vaccination

Millenials in West see 70% Explosion in Strokes!

Renowned MIT Professor and Drug Safety Expert calls for immediate suspension of MRNA Vaccines

Healthy 32 Year Old Vet and Firefighter Dies Suddenly

High School Basketball Phenom Collapses on Court

Calls for suspension of CoVid Vax now coming from South Africa

Princess of Thailand Collapses Suddenly While Running — Some fear she is in a coma

Doctor working with Thailand to nullify Pfizer Vaccines

Proof MRNA Vaccines cause Heart and Vascular Damage

Florian Dagoury — the world’s top static breath-hold freediver who held his breath for 10:30 — was diagnosed with myocarditis after his Pfizer mRNA shot.

Joe Rogan: I know over 15 people that have had serious side effects from the vaccine; menstrual issues, strokes, neurological disorders…One of the girls in the clinical trials that was 13 is confined to a wheelchair for the rest of her

Dr. Bret Weinstein tells Joe Rogan that the mRNA shots “have cost more lives than they have saved.”The claims that the covid shots saved millions of lives are “utter nonsense” based on a model that “they fed garbage.”

17,000 doctors and scientists signed a treaty that declared: “Pfizer, Moderna, BioNTech, Janssen, AstraZeneca, and their enablers withheld and wilfully omitted safety and effectiveness information from patients and physicians, and should be immediately indicted for fraud.”

There was a 99.95% survival rate for people under 50 and a 99.998% survival rate for children under 18 – So why the Draconian Measures to force Vaccine Compliance

Now Doctors Say They Are Refusing CoVid Shots

Newsweek — It’s Time the Scientific Community Admit we were wrong and it cost lives.

2 Teen boys who died after Pfizer Shots have confirming autopsies

Dr. Robert Malone, Dr. Bret Weinstein, and Steve Kirsch discuss the Japanese Pfizer documents, which show lipid nanoparticles concentrating in women’s ovaries.

Pfizer Director Jordan Trishton Walker sharing his concern about women’s reproductive health after getting the Covid vaccine

Argentinian mother outraged after 8 year old daughter dies from CoVid shot

White House Ignores FDA Warning that getting CoVid shot and Flu Booster at same time may increase risk of stroke and heart attack

JV Basketball player suffers siezure and cardiac arrest during game

18 year old athlete on life support after suffering cardiac arrest in basketball game

Perfectly Healthy 6 year old, fully boosted and vaxxed, dies suddenly

Vaxxed MSNBC Host blames vaccine on myocarditis

23 year old University of Arizona swimmer dies suddenly

Damar Hamlin dies twice on national television — won’t speak about cause of collapse

Former healthy NFL player almost dies of stroke

Dr Naomi Wolf says CoVid Vaccine is a BioWeapon intended to massively decrease population

Former NFL player, young and healthy, dies suddenly

Media and Governemnt lying that Vaccines have nothing to do with excess deaths

18 Year old freshman dies suddenly during a workout

American fashion model dead at age 27

Pilot suffered heart attack minutes after landing

Caddie collapses at Pebble Beach Pro Am

CoVid Jabs causing deaths

Georgia police officer dies suddenly on a foot chase

Brazilian senator proposes legislation making it a criminal offense to refuse vax

Japan accused of mass cover up of deaths and injuries from Vaccines

21 year old dies suddenly in sleep

Evidence CoVid Vaxx are causing terrible health side effects — possibly accelerated aging

Vaccine Deaths in the Netherlands

23 year old athlete, dancer, gamer, dies suddenly

UFC Fighter reveals his brother dies suddenly after taking vax

32 year old tv production supervisor dies suddenly

Thailand will become the first country to make the contract null and void, meaning that Pfizer will become responsible for all vaccine injuries. The Royal Family have now been alerted to the fact that the princess has most likely been a victim of the

Stanford and most Universities Force Vaccinations Among the Healthiest

31 year old former college tennis star dies suddenly

GOP Congresswoman describes CoVid Jab Injuries

Ivermectin worked and they lied

There is a spike protein inside every single cancer cell

Athlete suffers cardiac arrest after shot

7 Students at NC State have died unexpectedly since school started

The more jabs the more deaths substack

CoVid Commission Called For

25 year old goalkeep dies suddenly after stopping penalty kick

Hiding Skeletons

While his friends and family went to war or were serving missions, young college student Russell M. Nelson was being initiated into a secret society known as Skull and Bones at the University of Utah. Founded at Yale University in 1832, Skull and Bones has become known as a very dark and controversial organization.

Rumors abound of their thievery (they were sued in 2009 for allegedly stealing the skull of the famous Apache Indian, Geronimo), blood drinking, obsession with death and specifically infanticide, lewd acts while naked in a coffin while others watch, and potentially homosexual and other satanic rituals. One known recording exists from inside what they call The Tomb. Viewer discretion is advised.

You can learn more about Skull and Bones in this recently published video:

Skull and Bones is said to have ties to the Illuminati and is said to exist for the purpose of raising up leaders to eventually establish a One World Order that it controls. President Taft and both President Bushes and their predecessor Senator Prescott Bush and John Kerry are just a few of said members.

For any assuming Russell M. Nelson’s membership in this controversial organization is unfounded, President Nelson himself admits to having joined Skull and Bones while at the U in his autobiography entitled From Heart to Heart, published in 1979. The only challenge is it’s become increasingly hard to procure a copy. Interestingly the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does not sell or print their own president’s autobiography. Why would that be? It’s not available at Deseret Book or Seagull Book. It is available on Amazon however, for $2,495. Yes, that’s right. In fact, one seller has their copy listed for $2,950. Given the “demand” for the book, one would think the Church would do well to make copies available. Just as a side note, President Benson’s book An Enemy Hath Done This is still available on Amazon for $34 and at Deseret Book for $19.95.

From his chapter entitled University Life and Courtship Days on page 48, Nelson writes in his own words:

“University life was wonderful and successful. On April 3, 1944 I was elected president of the Sigma Chi fraternity. I was also later elected to the honorary societies of Skull and Bones in the junior year, Owl and Key in the senior year, the Beehive Honorary Society in the senior year, and at graduation time to the honorary scholastic societies of Phi Kappa Phi and Phi Beta Kappa. I was awarded my B.A. degree in June commencement of 1945, and there on hand was Dantzel, along with our dear parents, brothers, sisters, and other relatives who always did so much to encourage me. Dantzel got her bachelor’s degree a year later in 1946.”

In a cursory search on LDS.org, one finds no mention of their Church leader’s autobiography nor is there any mention of President Nelson’s membership in Skull and Bones, which by the way, is said to be a life long commitment. Apparently there are oaths one must take that endure to the grave and beyond.

I’m now trying to confirm whether or not Skull and Bones members are in fact required to give all their wealth to the Skull and Bones organization upon death, which is something I’ve read. Wouldn’t that be an interesting plot twist, given that the entire wealth of the Church is currently in the name of Skull and Bones member Russell Marion Nelson. It seems certain that at a minimum, according to the research done by the authors of the above video, that initiates are given assurances that they will always be “taken care of” by their order… whatever that means.

Is it possible that as a result of some kind of secret oath and sworn loyalty, that this dark organization now has an undue influence in some of the Church’s more recent decisions to compel untested global vaccinations and compliance, to refuse to offer religious exemptions for the same or to come out in open and excited support for legalizing gay marriage?

Without question, President Nelson, has pushed to be seen as the world’s Global Faith Leader. Coincidence? Or is something amiss.

We all have our skeletons, but this is one that I think the Church needs to explain, along with why it’s trying to starve / destroy the existence of President Nelson’s autobiography. Members are losing faith in Church leaders precisely because they seek to hide the truth and their works are in the dark. 2 Ne. 11:21 RE

Musings of a Fool

TheParable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins

Wise and Foolish Virgins (Source)

I’ve spent a fair amount of time on this blog highlighting things that have contributed to my loss of faith in the direction of the LDS Church. I began in 2014 shortly after having been released as a bishop. However, my concerns actually began many years earlier at least regarding certain issues and topics. I tried to address many of these concerns as a bishop and made honest attempts to be bold, persuasive, and thoughtful as I did. I discovered that the scriptures are the best way to make a case. But, I came to realize that even the scriptures or words of Joseph Smith are very often ignored in favor of today’s so called prophets. “The living oracles” doctrine is the new “stare decisis” of Mormonism. Sadly. No one can argue against this statement while being honest, because this is what the Brethren themselves teach.

In fact, the Apostle who preaches this sermon the most is Elder Neal Andersen. Elder Andersen is a man I happen to like very much. I find him to be very kind, capable, and sincere. I think in his mind, not only is NOT sustaining the prophets “the high road to apostasy,” BUT I think he also believes sincerely that sustaining the prophet is the MOST important thing we can do. That it’s the BEST way we can truly follow Christ. He leads the Brethren in referring to President Nelson the most in his talks, having named him 98 times in conference since Nelson became president and 23 times in his last Conference talk alone. (Source)

President Nelson, despite being perhaps the least interesting and least revered president in Church history, “continues to be referenced more than any Latter-day Saint prophet with 133 mentions — whether named, quoted or footnoted” — in this last month’s General Conference. This clearly demonstrates the idea that this practice of prophet preeminence is becoming more and more prevalent.

Let’s be honest — and intending no disrespect — but, Elder Nelson was never a Church leader most people ever enjoyed listening to in Conference. His talks were and still are unnotable from a doctrinal or even “interesting” standpoint. I found myself even as a bishop cringing over his style and his rather creepy, seemingly staged, smiles into the camera. For me, he’s never been someone I’ve been very inspired by.

Most telling of all as to what perhaps his own peers have thought of him for the last 50 years comes from the very telling comment his wife Wendy made shortly after being installed as Church president, when she said that the new prophet is finally “unleashed to follow through on all the things he’s wanted to do.” (Source) Think about the implication of that statement! The Brethren claim they collaborate and vigorously debate endlessly together over important issues and that they always vote on those issues and obtain unanimity. So, apparently, ALL the ideas Elder Nelson ever had for nearly 50 years, even while President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, were rarely or never embraced unanimously by his 14 other colleagues. Not a sign of one whose ideas were well loved and accepted.

Now think of the converse of that implication–All the ideas Elder Nelson advocated for for nearly 50 years, which the Brethren were largely against, are now magically being put into action. Translation? If the Brethren really did ever debate anything, they don’t anymore. They now blindly do what the prophet wants to do. What the prophet says IS what they ALL agree on unanimously.

Of course, when it comes time to finally put into place all the changes of President Nelson that everyone was once against, we get statements like this one from Elder Holland:

“I bear my own witness that these adjustments are examples of the revelation that has guided this Church from its beginning. They are yet more evidence that the Lord is hastening His work in its time.” (Source)

Here’s a list of some of the “adjustments” that have been made since Nelson became prophet:

2018

March 26, 2018 — The First Presidency updates guidelines on preventing and responding to abuse.

March 31, 2018 — Elder Gerrit W. Gong and Elder Ulisses Soares are sustained as Apostles; priesthood quorums are restructured as high priests and elders combined into one elders quorum.

April 1, 2018 — Ministering replaces home and visiting teaching.

May 9, 2018 — The Church will end relationship with Boy Scouts of America, announces new activity program for children and youth.

June 18, 2018 — Hymnbook and Children’s Songbook will be revised to create new, unified editions for the worldwide Church.

June 20, 2018 — A First Presidency letter announces new guidelines for youth interviews.

June 22, 2018 — A new and improved version of “Preach My Gospel” is released.

Aug. 16, 2018 — President Nelson issues a statement on using the full name of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (He later addresses this topic in general conference, and changes are made to Church websites, social media accounts, mobile apps, etc.)

Sept. 4, 2018 — The first volume of “Saints: The Story of the Church of Jesus Christ in the Latter Days” is released.

Sept. 5, 2018 — Missionary candidates will receive assignments online instead of in the mail.

Oct. 6, 2018 — Home-centered, Church-supported gospel study and adjustments to the Sunday meeting schedule are announced.

Oct. 30, 2018 — Some Church-produced pageants are discontinued.

Nov. 16, 2018 — All young missionary candidates — including prospective service missionaries ‚ will use the missionary online recommendation process.

Dec. 14, 2018 — Changes announced for Primary progression, young men priesthood ordination and youth temple recommends.

Dec. 20, 2018 — Sister missionaries have the option to wear dress pants.

2019

Jan. 2, 2019 — The First Presidency releases statement on temples.

Feb. 15, 2019 — Missionaries are authorized to communicate with their families each week on preparation day by text, online messaging, phone calls and video chats.

March 22, 2019 — Seminary curriculum will align with “Come, Follow Me.”

April 4, 2019 — Children of parents who identify themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender may now be blessed as infants and baptized without First Presidency approval.

May 6, 2019 — One-year waiting period for temple sealings after civil marriage is discontinued.

July 19, 2019 — The Church announces stakes in the U.S. and Canada will sponsor biennial For the Strength of Youth (FSY) conferences modeled after BYU’s Especially for Youth program.

Aug. 16, 2019 — The Church announces new training course to help adults know how to prevent and respond to child abuse.

Sept. 5, 2019 — Book of Mormon Videos series release dates are announced.

Oct. 2, 2019 — Women, youth and children may now serve as witnesses of sealing and baptismal ordinances.

Oct. 5, 2019 — Ward Young Men presidencies are discontinued; new Young Women theme, class name and structure changes are announced.

Oct. 6, 2019 — President Nelson announces revised temple recommend questions; 2020 will be “bicentennial year” with April conference “different from any previous conference.”

Nov. 15, 2019 — The Church releases new missionary handbook.

Nov. 17, 2019 — New Aaronic Priesthood quorum theme announced.

Dec. 17, 2019 — The First Presidency releases statement on Church finances.

2020

Jan. 17, 2020 — Adjustments are made to ceremonial temple clothing.

Jan 30, 2020 — The Church announces new administrative handbook for all Church leaders and members to replace Handbook 1 and Handbook 2.

April 4, 2020 — A new Church symbol is introduced.

April 5, 2020 — President Nelson issues “The Restoration of the Fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: A Bicentennial Proclamation to the World.”

April 17, 2020 — The First Presidency releases administrative principles for the Church during challenging times.

June 12, 2020 — Blue dress shirts, no ties are approved as missionary attire exceptions.

Aug. 14, 2020 — The First Presidency announces three global Church magazines will replace the current four; Ensign title is retired and New Era renamed.

Aug. 25, 2020 — Church members can now submit names to temple prayer rolls online.

Nov. 20, 2020 — President Nelson gives his worldwide message on healing power of gratitude.

(Source for the above)

It’s ironic that the least popular prophet, ignored by his peers largely for 50 years, now makes the MOST changes to Church policy (and doctrine) and funny enough, becomes “popular” among the people (in a way) for having made so many changes. (Examples above such as shorter Church! No more home teaching! Home church for a bit! Shorter temple times with less effort! No more dresses for girl missionaries! More casual dress requirements for boy missionaries! More temples in cool places! Civil marriage today and sealed tomorrow! Missionaries able to call home every week! No more Boy Scouts!!! Kids with gay parents can be baptized! Etc.) I think anyone would be more popular if they enacted these kinds of changes.

But, let’s not get ahead of ourselves and let’s be very honest again. Some of my closest very active Mormon friends have told me discreetly they strongly disagree with and even dislike President Nelson despite all the exciting changes he’s made. And why would that be? Here are just a few of the reasons:

“While home church is AMAZING and BETTER in every way than Church-church, why did the Church NOT fight for our religious freedoms and rights of assembly during CoVid like other Churches did?”
“Why did the Church make me wear a mask once it began opening its doors, and why couldn’t we sing, and why were we forced to sit 6 feet apart, and attend only every other week, etc?”
“Why did the Church not let us come every week and yet told Priesthood holders they could not do Sacrament in their homes for many of those weeks and why can’t people who still feel vulnerable to CoVid and are still not attending, do Sacrament in their homes in most cases?”
“Why do I need permission from the Church to do Sacrament in my home anyway?”
“Why has the Church been so friendly with the world and why are they pushing that we need to be good global citizens, by wearing a mask as a ‘sign of Christlike love,’ and by forcing vaccinations on its members?”
“Why in the hell (direct quote) does my 18-year old son or daughter have to get a vaccine to go on a mission or to attend a Church college, especially when they’ve already had CoVid?”
“Why won’t the Church grant religious exemptions for people who a) don’t believe the vaccine is right for them and b) don’t want to inject themselves with anything that comes from aborted fetuses?”
“Why is the Church NOT preaching in favor of our Constitution and the liberties it ought to want to safeguard that are GOD GIVEN?!”
“Why is the Church saying we should trust science and medical people, when those same “scientists” are in favor of gender surgeries, abortion, etc?!”
“How can the Church say vaccines are safe and effective when there have been almost 1 million adverse effects “reported” on VAERS, many of which have been deaths of young people, mothers, teens, children etc. AND tens of thousands of permanent disabilities!?”
“How on earth can the Church sit back while elections are stolen and the Constitution is being destroyed?”
“How can the Church be okay with one of its own Apostles contributing to political campaigns?”
“How come the Church congratulated Joe Biden while the election was still being legally contested?”
“Why does the Church seem to hate President Trump so much and yet seems to give folks like Joe Biden, Jeff Flake, Mitt Romney, Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, et al, a free pass?”
“Why is the Church so pro-illegal immigration?”
“Why is the Church investing in Facebook, Pfeizer, the UN, and a million other entities it should disagree with?”
“Why not invest in sports betting, porn, strip clubs, pay day loans, and pawn shops, if the whole goal is to just make money?”

I could add many of my own concerns, many of which I’ve spoken about on this blog. But, the point is that many, many LDS people are very upset with President Nelson about one or more of these above issues, hence the reason we are seeing historically low Church attendance/activity and growth rates. Another irony.

One faithful LDS mom took to the internet and read an open letter to President Nelson. I strongly recommend you listen to it. Her plea is incredibly sincere and needs to be shared and heard by the Brethren.

One friend who was a bishop recently told me, “Hey I will deny this in public, but I can’t stand this man leading the Church.” Another two friends confided in me that for the first time in their lives they believe the prophet can and IS leading people astray.

Add to the above list of concerns many have over a billionaire apostle being granted a “special dispensation” to be able to keep his company interests alive. So much for no purse or scrip and setting aside fish nets to become fishers of men.

AND secret accounts that only 7 people know about in the world where 126 billion tithing dollars are being gambled on the stock market…

AND the Church becoming more and more progressive on social issues including all things LGBTQ… meanwhile my gay friends have never felt less welcome or interested in Church… (In other words the Church has a credibility problem).

I think for the first time in my life we are seeing the beginning of the end of the Church’s ability to keep things from falling apart. I predict we are about to see a mass exodus from the Church.

Interestingly, the Church, for all its postering and unsupported policy impositions, is very sensitive to negative news and to member protests. Look at what happened recently with the Manti temple when members finally began to protest the Church for its decision to remove original pioneer murals. The Church went from “Pound sand!” to “Oh so sorry, we’ve heard you! And we’ve prayed again and good news! Jesus changed his mind! He wants us to keep the murals after all!”

The important thing to remember in all this is, DON’T just sit back and trust your leaders blindly! I know Mormons hate that word “blindly” (along with the word Mormon) and always contend that they don’t follow the prophet blindly… However… I have family members who literally have told me that they are getting the vaccine because the prophet told them to! And even if they DIE, they will not regret following the prophet NO MATTER WHAT! How is this not blind obedience?

Well, I rant. And I don’t mean to. Readers will notice that I don’t post much anymore. This has been largely for two reasons. 1) I really don’t find any enjoyment at this late point in the game to be critical of the Church. Things are getting too serious and I have too many people I love too dearly who are still faithful members of the Church. My hope for sharing my concerns has ALWAYS been with the desire to help people simply be willing to think for themselves and to focus on the Lord, not on men. 2) I am not a prophet or one who has words yet that can help produce faith. I am not one of His servants. For this reason, I am always reluctant to say anything at all.

And hence why I call these the musings of a fool, which I implore you NOT to give any heed to unless they turn you to the Lord, to the scriptures, or to those He calls. I am truly a fool before God and man, but I also truly hope He can redeem me and I pray I can learn how to serve Him and love Him better.

I will say this, however. I have absolutely found a new home in the Restoration movement. For any reading this blog who may be unaware of what that even means, I would refer you to these resources:

TheTenTalks.com

Scriptures.info

Here you can find a treasure trove of what I believe is God’s word as shared by at least one He has called to continue the work started through Joseph Smith.

The Church cannot save you, does not appear concerned with building Zion (i.e. a safe place to flee to during the troubles fast approaching) or saving the Constitution and will damn the people that follow them and hearken to their teachings if they have not been in the presence of God and His Angels.

The words you will hear in the Ten Talks above will better describe the work now underway AND will show you where you and your loved ones can land when you realize the dire and awful situation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Something New

Total Solar Eclipse as seen from the Sawtooth Mountains on August 21, 2017

One of the most memorable things our family participated in was the Solar Eclipse of 2017. It was truly amazing, mesmerizing, ominous, and somehow just felt very portentous of unknown things to come. The fact that it fell upon Thomas S. Monson’s 90th birthday also made it seem all the more important.

Thomas Monson died on January 2, 2018, just 134 days later and almost exactly on the first day of the New Year.

According to some astrologists, “If an eclipse falls on your birthday, or within five days of your birthday, the year that follows that particular birthday will be a critical one…”

Eclipses also represent the end of something old and the beginning of something new. (see source)

During an eclipse period, it is as though you will walk over a rickety old bridge. As you walk across this bridge, over a very deep, rugged, treacherous ravine, you may be a little nervous. Once you make it to the other side, the bridge will collapse and you will see the pieces fall far into the deep, perhaps making you jittery. The bridge snaps just as you get to safe ground, but you realize, first, that you could have been on that bridge when it fell (but you weren’t), and more importantly, you will never again be able to walk back over to the other side. Once we go through an eclipse, we can never go back to the former situation again, for the universe wants us to make progress, not go back to good old days. That option is taken away, forever. The only way with an eclipse is forward. If you find later you don’t like where you wind up, you can always have the option to make changes up ahead, but again, they must be future choices, not ones that bring you back to the past. The changes could happen instantly, but they also can occur over a period of months with each successive eclipse. Still, the news of those changes often comes as a shock.

Read more: https://www.astrologyzone.com/all-about-eclipses-a-guide-for-coping-with-them/#ixzz6QV1qnANq

Perhaps more ominous is that this particular eclipse from 2017 could only be seen in its totality from the NW United States to the SE of the United States. This was the “first coast-to-coast total solar eclipse in nearly 100 years.” More ominous still, the next total solar eclipse will be 7 years from this last one, on April 8, 2024, and it will be seen in its totality from the NE to the SW of the United States, thus making a huge “X” going through the United States.

We all know that April 6th is an important date and that the month of April where the world celebrates Easter, Passover, Spring, and new life, is also significant.

https://nationaleclipse.files.wordpress.com/2016/06/map_usa_2017_20244.png

If you look really closely at where the eclipses will intersect, you will find small lesser-known towns in Missouri, one of which is Cape Girardeau, interestingly, the birthplace of Rush Limbaugh, the undisputed voice of modern American conservatism who is battling stage 4 cancer. (This may be a complete irrelevant sidenote or it may be important — who knows.)

https://nationaleclipse.files.wordpress.com/2016/06/map_region_2017_2024.png

One thing is certain, the United States, during a 7 year period, will have experienced two amazing total solar eclipses that will make an “X” as if being crossed out, with its focal point being in Missouri along the banks of the Mississippi River, near perhaps the Garden of Eden and Valley of Adam Ondi Ahman, just downstream from Nauvoo and Carthage, Illinois. Coincidence? Or significant?

And the date of the first eclipse, for me, also seems to be trying to tell us something, being on the LDS Church president’s birthday. The end of one thing old, and the beginning of something new.

On September 3, 2017, just 13 days after the first solar eclipse, something new began. It was obscure and most people did not take notice nor were they aware. The LDS Church leadership was very aware, however.

The location of this obscure event was Boise, Idaho, where hundreds of people gathered to hear a man named Denver Snuffer speak. Brother Snuffer is an infamous excommunicated member of the LDS Church. He was excommunicated at the insistence of Russell M. Nelson, under the direction of President Thomas S. Monson. Denver was excommunicated 40 years to the day from the date he was baptized in the Atlantic Ocean on September 10, 1973.

I was blessed to be in attendance at this 2017 talk, where I believe something new and very important began.

I close with this man’s closing remarks at that event and I invite you the reader to ask yourself if any of what he said in that talk sounds like it may apply to current events we now all witness.

The Angel warned Joseph that the end times of the Gentiles was at a near-future date (after the fulness of the Gentiles) and that The Book of Mormon was a warning to us (the white Europeans) who inherited this Land of Promise, that we would be destroyed if we did not repent, just like the two civilizations from the Book of Mormon were destroyed.

I believe the day of the Gentile is coming to an end right before our eyes and that we will soon have NO nation on earth left to defend our freedoms and I think the eclipse is intended to be a warning and a testimony from Heaven.

Covenant of Christ Conference
Egyptian Theater
Boise, Idaho, September 3, 2017
Denver Snuffer, Jr.

That concludes all the work to be performed and all of the business. But I have a few remarks If I can impose on you for a few more moments before we finish up today. I was here in Idaho during the recent eclipse. We travelled to be near Lake Alturas, near Stanley in the zone of totality. At that spot totality was a little less than two minutes. During totality in a small lake adjacent to Alturas I performed a baptism. The one I
baptized might be here today.

We waded out in to the cold water beforehand and were trying to acclimate to the temperature of the water. At our spot the temperature dropped 20 degrees during totality. I observed as totality was approaching that it only takes one percent, certainly
no more than three percent, of the sun’s exposure to give absolutely, adequate light. But obscuring any significant portion of the sun affected heat at our location that day. Both of us were shivering for some time afterwards because of the water and the twenty
degree temperature drop.

Those who have entered faithfully into the covenant this day are going to notice some
things. The spirit of God is withdrawing from the world. Men are increasingly more angry without good cause. The hearts of men are waxing cold. There is increasing anger and resentment of gentiles. In political terms, it’s rejection of white privilege.

Language of scriptures gives a description of the events now underway and calls it the end of the times of the gentiles. This process with the spirit withdrawing, will end on this continent, as it did with two prior civilization in fratricidal and genocidal warfare. For the rest of the world, it will be as in the days of Noah in which, as that light becomes eclipsed, the coldness of men’s hearts is going to result in a constant scene of violence and bloodshed. The wicked will destroy the wicked.

The covenant, if it is kept, will prevent you from losing light and warmth of heart as the spirit now steadily recedes from the world. The time will come when you will be astonished at the gulf between the light and truth you will comprehend and the darkness of mind of the world.

Be charitable and patient and labor to reach others. They will judge you harshly, but nevertheless be kind to them. They are going to grow to fear you, but that’s only part of how darkness responds to light. Give them no reason to fear you. The time will come for us to gather, but between now and then, be leaven. Preserve the world. Be salt. Preserve the world, even if it hates you.

I hope for myself that when the time comes to gather I will have been proven faithful and to be among you.

May God bless you and send to each of you a growing light and warmth. As the spirit withdraws from the world may it continually shine uneclipsed on each of you to enlighten your minds and to warm your hearts. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. (Emphasis added)