Tag Archives: False Prophets

Latter-day Comicon

This past LDS General Conference once again provided members and non-members alike an opportunity to observe the teachings of Church leaders. As always, we are instructed to discern if a teacher and his/her message is from God, or not. If we choose wrongly, we are often captured by false spirits and kept asleep, further lulled and deceived by the philosophies of men mingled with scripture, which by hearkening to, will deceive the very elect in these last days.

Elder Haynie, of the first quorum of the seventy, shared one message in particular worth discussing. It’s important to note that since all General Conference talks are pre-approved by church correlation and are rehearsed at a podium so that all is perfectly timed and scripted, we must conclude that Church leadership was not only aware of what Elder Haynie would teach, but that they also endorsed the message as Church doctrine.

For any disagreeing with this point I would cite you to the example of Elder Poelman in 1984’s October General Conference, who, before the Church adopted the policy of pre-approving all talks, gave a message deemed to be false doctrine. The Brethren made him re-write and re-record it (with a cough track) to correct the error. Ironically, Elder Poelman got the doctrine right the first time when he taught that there is a difference between the church and the gospel.

The main message from Elder Haynie’s talk was that the living prophet is always more important than the dead ones. This is nothing new or shocking for those acquainted with Mormonism. Brigham Young and most Church leaders since, have all become quite comfortable emphasizing how the living oracles are better than the dead ones.

Elder Benson’s talk entitled the Fourteen Fundamentals in Following the Prophet, which was denounced by then President Spencer W. Kimball, has since nonetheless become the established doctrine of the LDS Church. The talk includes the following teachings, many of which which were deemed by Kimball to be false and damnable ideas:

1) The prophet is the only man who speaks for the Lord in everything.

2) The living prophet is more vital to us than the standard works.

3) The living prophet is more important to us than a dead prophet.

4) The prophet will never lead the church astray.

5) The prophet is not required to have any particular earthly training or credentials to speak on any subject or act in any matter in any time.

6) The prophet does not have to say “Thus Saith the Lord” to give us scripture.

7) The prophet tells us what we need to know, not always what we want to know.

8) The prophet is not limited by men’s reasoning.

9) The prophet can receive revelation on any matter — temporal or spiritual.

10) The prophet may be involved in civic matters.

11) The two groups who have the greatest difficulty in following the prophet are the proud who are learned and the proud who are rich.

12) The prophet will not necessarily be popular with the world or the worldly.

13) The prophet and his counselors make up the First Presidency–the highest quorum in the Church.

14) The prophet and the presidency – the living prophet and the First Presidency – follow them and be blessed; reject them and suffer. (Source)

Interestingly, the Church leaders of Jesus’ day were criticized by the Lord for revering the dead prophets (whom their fathers had killed) while rejecting and stoning the living prophets sent among them.

Today the Church has the opposite tradition. It rejects (according to Elder Haynie, Elder Benson, Brigham Young et al.) any and all dead prophets in favor of their living “prophets,” whether they actually be true or not. In other words, they stone the dead prophets and declare any potential living prophet coming among them, who is not the president of the Church, as false.

Ultimately, the problem is the same of course — church leaders of both the former and the latter day churches simply could not and cannot discern true from false messengers and assume that because they carry the titles of prophets, seers, and revelators (Pharisees, Sadducees, Priests), that God has given His power to them and even He cannot now take it away. The Great Jehovah is bound, they proclaim, and must follow their Order.

It begins to feel a lot like John the Baptist “wresting the authority” from the The Church of Jesus Christ of Moses’-day Saints… and they knew it not, because all they knew was that they had authority and they had the keys (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 276).

In his talk, Elder Haynie declares and reiterates the Church’s official position that in fact, “unlike vintage comic books and classic cars, prophetic teachings do not become more valuable with age.” Elder Haynie goes on to say that “we should not seek to use the words of past prophets to dismiss the teachings of the living prophets.”

Now, I realize that Elder Haynie is most likely emphasizing the need for this principle to be especially applied to more modern day church leaders who are known for varying in teachings from one presidency and one church era to the next. For example, if and when the words of Brigham Young seem to no longer be true or applicable, we must defer to Russell Nelson for clarification. For “inspired updates and revelatory adjustments.” In their view, I’m sure, sadly, the same would apply to Joseph Smith and they would choose Russell over Joseph.

But the further implication is that when Isaiah or Moses or Malachi or Nephi or Adam and Moroni (i.e. the Lord) have taught a doctrine in Scripture, it is a) likely less valuable because it is vintage and out of date and b) is never to be used as a standard for truth in place of the words of Russell Marion Nelson, the 97 year old safe and effective prophet.

The pattern set forth by the Lord and employed through the true and holy prophets who are His seed is quite different than what the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has set forth as its doctrine.

We need to decide which of these teachings is true doctrine if we are to survive the coming day of judgment. Again, if we choose wrongly, we will be damned and we will perish.

Here’s the Lord’s Pattern

When the Lord appeared to the young boy Joseph, He quoted Malachi, Isaiah, and Jeremiah when He could have simply said, “Thus saith the Lord unto you this day…” The Lord instead chose to quote vintage and classic prophets from, in some cases, more than 2,000 years prior.

When He walked with His disciples on the road to Emmaus, He opened and expounded the scriptures unto them from the beginning and their hearts burned within them (Read more here about this pattern).

Could you imagine going forward 2,000 years and the Lord appearing unto some obscure soon to be prophet declaring, “Let me now share the parable of the pickle from my servant Elder David Bednar” or “the parable of the proper way to crush plastic water bottles from my beloved servant Allen.” Or “How great are the words of Spencer (not be be confused with Visions of Glory Spencer)…”?

Not likely… the LDS Church of the year 2030 won’t likely share the teachings of Russell Nelson, and so why would the Lord share them in the future?

And so what does this tell us?

The Lord instructed Lehi to send his sons to retrieve the Brass Plates so that they would have the words of very old prophets, likely dating back many centuries to Joseph, who was sold into Egypt in about 1910 B.C., and who was Lehi’s ancestor also with ties to Egypt, hence the likely reason the record was etched using hieroglyphs. And hence the reason that Lehi, who would have studied those records previously, knew “the language” of his fathers. Ultimately the record goes back to the beginning of time, to the Ancient of Days, our parents Adam and Eve. Vintage indeed.

And behold, it is wisdom in God that we should obtain these records that we may preserve unto our children the language of our fathers, and also that we may preserve unto them the words which have been spoken by the mouth of all the holy prophets, which have been delivered unto them by the spirit and power of God since the world began, even down unto this present time. And it came to pass that after this manner of language did I persuade my brethren that they might be faithful in keeping the commandments of God. 1 Ne. 1:12

If living prophets were so important to Lehi, then why not just write new scriptures as they went? Nephi, Jacob, Enos, Alma, Mosiah and all the way up to Moroni, could have just given awesome talks and told cool stories and that could have been their canon. Instead of endlessly quoting Isaiah and the Brass Plates (Zenos, Zenock, etc…) and risking their lives to get the old worn out comic books from Laban’s treasury when they already had their own Liahona and eventually their own seer stones.

On the contrary, we are taught that IF Nephi had not successfully retrieved the record found on the Brass Plates, his new nation would have perished in unbelief just as the people of Zarahemla (the Mulekites) who had brought no records with them, and who had left Jerusalem at about the same time as Lehi. Omni 1:5

The hubris today among us is now beyond the pale. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-days Saints has fully embraced a doctrine that transforms their “prophet” beyond the Holy Scriptures into a deity who need only speak, and his words are true and will override anything the Lord has ever said through anyone else since the beginning of time. They reject the prophets (as needed) from Adam to Abraham to Moses to Lehi to Joseph, in favor of last days’ word salad prophets who at best give lip service to sacred words they do not understand and cannot teach.

There’s at least one quick way to discern whether a prophet is true or false. It’s laid out in the scriptures and it’s the reason Nephi is often frustrated with his brothers and others.

Wherefore hearken, O my people which are of the house of Israel, and give ear unto my words, for because the words of Isaiah are not plain unto you, nevertheless, they are plain unto all those that are filled with the spirit of prophecy. 2 Ne. 11:1

And the Lord follows up with the commandment:

And now behold, I say unto you that ye had ought to search these things. Yea, a commandment I give unto you that ye search these things diligently, for great are the words of Isaiah. For surely he spake as touching all things concerning my people which are of the house of Israel. Therefore, it must needs be that he must speak also to the gentiles. And all things that he spake hath been and shall be, even according to the words which he spake. Therefore, give heed to my words. Write the things which I have told you, and, according to the time and the will of the Father, they shall go forth unto the gentiles. And whosoever will hearken unto my words, and repenteth and is baptized, the same shall be saved. Search the prophets, for many there be that testify of these things. RE 3 Ne. 10:4

And so, if a prophet be true, he will search diligently, teach profoundly, and understand fully, the words of Isaiah (for starters), because he/she has the spirit of prophecy. If a “prophet” cannot prophesy and does not have the spirit of prophecy, then he/she is not and cannot be a prophet. Lest God be a liar and a trifler of souls. Which He is not.

I’ve waited a month or so to post on this to see how this teaching would go over with church members generally. I’m saddened and disappointed that no correction was made by the Church and that no member of the Church even seems slightly bothered by this damnable false doctrine yet again so carelessly preached.

The truth is, vintage prophets ARE akin to comic books, old coins, fine wine, Harley Davidsons and baseball cards — AND their words get better and better with time AND will be vindicated, no matter how old. In fact, their words are better than the aforementioned vintage items and will actually endure forever. Because TRUE prophets speak the words of the Lord, who IS Endless and Eternal.

Vintage Prophets of old saw our day and they wondered why the leaders of the Lord’s once Holy Church have now polluted it and “transfigured the holy word of God.” Morm. 4:5

Jeremiah saw those who would be cursed for putting their trust in man (i.e. church leaders) and who would inhabit a “Salt Land” (aka SLC):

Thus says the Lord: Cursed be the man that trusts in man and makes flesh his arm, and whose heart departs from the Lord. For he shall be like the bush in the desert and shall not see when good comes, but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. Blessed is the man that trusts in the Lord and whose hope the Lord is, for he shall be as a tree planted by the waters and that spreads out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat comes, but her leaf shall be green and shall not be anxious in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. Jer. 6:12

Long ago, the Lord spoke through Isaiah and told him:

Now go, write it before them upon plates and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come, for ever and ever — that this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the Lord, who say to the seers, See not — and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits, get out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us. Wherefore, thus says the Holy One of Israel: Because you despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and rely thereon, therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking comes suddenly, at an instant. And he shall break it as the breaking of the potter’s vessel that is broken in pieces, he shall not spare, so that there shall not be found in the bursting of it a shard to take fire from the hearth, or to take water out of the pit. For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: In returning and rest shall you be saved, in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength, and you would not. But you said, No, for we will flee upon horses — therefore shall you flee. And, We will ride upon the swift — therefore shall they that pursue you be swift. One thousand shall flee at the rebuke of one; at the rebuke of five shall you flee, until you are left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and as an ensign on a hill. Isa. 9:9

…and He told Ezekiel…

And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy and say unto them, Thus says the Lord God unto the shepherds: Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves. Should not the shepherds feed the flocks? You eat the fat and you clothe yourself with the wool. You kill them that are fed, but you feed not the flock. The diseased have you not strengthened, neither have you healed that which was sick, neither have you bound up that which was broken, neither have you brought again that which was driven away, neither have you sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have you ruled them. And they were scattered because there is no shepherd, and they became food to all the beasts of the field when they were scattered. My sheep wandered through all the mountains and upon every high hill, yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them.

Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord. As I live, says the Lord God, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became food to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves and fed not my flock, therefore, O you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves anymore, for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be food for them. Ezek. 17:5,6

Sadly, these words and others like them are never expounded by today’s church leaders in any setting and no one dare ever apply them to ourselves. Instead they write endless autobiographies and they tell endless stories about airplanes and pickles and pigeons and field fires and olympic races and they get weepy in speaking about their missions to Japan–mingled with a scant scripture reference from time to time. But they do not understand nor do they teach nor do they expound the scriptures. Period.

These men today set themselves up as lights to the world and quote themselves endlessly… until they are dead and gone and their teachings are dead and gone with them. Then the next company moves on to the next “prophet” ready to discard everything they once held onto so dearly, and so recently.

Change is the new constant and the new disciple’s reward. Change proves God is speaking through them. Change is what keeps everyone invigorated and engaged.

Ancient, true prophets, however, warned us long ago of a time now fast approaching when we the Lord will put an end to nations and to kingdoms and to our horses and our chariots and to our flocks and husbandmen Jer. 18:14. And to false prophets Jer. 6:3. When our cities will be laid to waste Ezek. 4:5. When we are swept from this continent, because we no longer serve Jesus Christ Eth. 1:7. When anyone not willing to pick up the sword against his neighbor must flee to Zion for safety T&C 31:15.

Their words WILL BE vindicated and so we may want to start searching and pondering them instead of the words of the comical men of our day, who see not and who hear not and who, to their own condemnation, are denied access to the greater things 3 Ne. 12:1.

I for one, must do better. And the Church should be ashamed that members and leaders alike no longer care or notice when such errors are taught as doctrine.

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.

One of the famous Thai boy cave survivors dies suddenly at age 17

12 Year Old Boy Collapses and Dies Suddenly At No Contact Football Practice

NYU Cardiologist Shocked That So Many Have Myocarditis

3 Primary School Teachers All Died Unexpectedly At Same School in NC

How to Treat and Prevent Vaccine Injuries 

Pilot of Small Plane Dies of Casrdiac Arrest Mid Flight

Forbes 30 Under 30 Honoree Dies After He Collapses at Arizona Marathon

12 Year Old Football Player Dies Suddenly At Practice

Idaho Introduces Legislation To Criminalize Vaccine Giver For Injury and Death

NBC News Finally Admits Natural Immunity Is Better Than Vaccines

FL Surgeon General Issues Major Health Warning Against MRNA CoVid Vaccines

Military Anthrax  Vaccine Deaths — History Repeating Itself On a Global Scale!

How to Repair Your Heart By Dr Robert Malone

Surfer Legend Kelly Slater Says Mother Suffered Adverse Reaction from Vaccine

Hot Mic – World Series Poker Player Says He’s Had Chest Pains Ever since Vax

Outrageous! Australian Mother Denied Life Saving Heart Surgery Because She was Unvaccinated

Dr Wolf Receives Apology from Dr Drew for being wrong about CoVid

Women and Fertility Issues Since CoVid Shots

Brazil Doubles Down! Forces Parents to Vaccinate Children to Keep Govt Benefits

17 Year Old Football Player Dies Suddenly: Cardiac Arrest

34 Year Old Border Patrol Agent Dies Suddenly

Inventor of MRNA Technology Says He Cannot Support Trump While He Stands By Vaccines

Diamond Says Something’s Not Right About Her Sister Silk’s Sudden and Unexpected Death: Age 51

Delbert, Scott Adams Tells Anti-Vaxxers He’s Sorry, They WERE RIGHT!

35 Year Old Middle School Teacher Drops Dead Teaching Class – Heart Attack

Heart Attacks Surge in Australia

GB News: Why Are Birth Rates Falling and Excess Deaths Rising?

Australian Rugby Player Dies Suddenly, Age 35

15 Year Old Star Football Player Dies Suddenly

Former NFL Player Almost Dies of Severe Stroke

Dr. Richard Fleming: Pfizer mRNA Shot Causes Blood Clots Under The Microscope

Nine Months Post Vax — Substantial Birth Rates Drop in 13 European Countries

Vaccines Don’t Stop Covid

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

What’s Coming

It’s sobering to contemplate that millions, if not billions of people will die before the Lord comes again. It’s equally sobering to realize that in order to survive the apocalypse, we must be able to discern between true and false prophets. This is what saved the relative few when Jesus came to this continent in 34 AD and it will be what saves those who survive what’s coming here shortly.

I was quite surprised that among all the talks shared at General Conference this last week, not a single “prophet” or church leader warned about the food shortage that is at our doorstep. It doesn’t take prophecy to see what’s happening and a true servant of the Lord would want to warn members… or at least remind them of the warnings of previous “prophets” I would think.

LDS messages today instead seek to flatter and look to not overly offend the world or the Church. They use corporate speak and repeat catch phrases like “positive spiritual momentum, hastening the work, staying on the covenant path, lifting where you stand and blooming where you’re planted, making the Sabbath a delight, lengthening your stride (going way back), and this is how WE hear Him.”

It seems that at every conference there’s either a strange overuse of the president’s most recent catch phrase OR there’s an attempt to create a new one that also sticks. Sister Dibbs (President Monson’s daughter who was a recent General Authority) even suggested her quotable would make a great t-shirt. And thus it was made.

In fact, all quotables that are made by the president along with others that float to the top, are quickly monetized by the Church’s own Deseret Book. Sadly. Elder Devin Durant and his family had already printed the t-shirts and made a website for his “Ponderize” talk, which they apparently hoped would turn his phrase taken from the evangelical world into a little family business. His mistake, ironically, was not trying to sell t-shirts and make money, but rather that he didn’t do so through the proper sales channels of the Church.

We’re on the verge of planetary destruction and today’s Church leaders are focused on t-shirt quotes and airplanes.   (Uchdorf talk GC 2022, Not Joking)

For those of us who think we may be discerning correctly, we would do well to look more closely at the message being given. My family is not ready spiritually or temporally for what is coming. We’re working on it, but we’re not there yet. And who can actually “be ready” for something so apocalyptic, unknown, and devastating. It’s overwhelming for me at times. I personally feel the need to refocus my study on the Book of Mormon and on the words of the true prophets, of which there are only two or three in the last 200 years. It’s too late in the game to be focused on anything or anyone else.

It was a good reminder for me this week to read the counsel from the Book of Mormon about what we should be teaching:

And it came to pass that Alma, having authority from God, ordained priests; even one priest to every fifty of their number did he ordain to preach unto them and to teach them concerning the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. And he commanded them that they should teach nothing save it were the things which he had taught and which had been spoken by the mouth of the holy prophets. Yea, even he commanded them that they should preach nothing save it were repentance and faith on the Lord, who had redeemed his people. And he commanded them that there should be no contention one with another, but that they should look forward with one eye, having one faith and one baptism, having their hearts knit together in unity and in love one towards another. And thus he commanded them to preach. And thus they became the children of God. Mosiah 9:9 RE

I was also rebuked by what President and Prophet Hyrum Smith said in T&C 152:

And again, I say unto you, an elder has no business to undertake to preach mysteries in any part of the world, for God has commanded us all to preach nothing but the first principles unto the world. Neither has any elder any authority to preach any mysterious thing to any branch of the church unless he has a direct commandment from God to do so. Let the matter of the grand councils of Heaven, and the making of gods, worlds, and devils entirely alone, for you are not called to teach any such doctrine — for neither you nor the people are capacitated to understand any such principles — less so to teach them. For when God commands men to teach such principles, the saints will receive them. Therefore, beware what you teach! For the mysteries of God are not given to all men; and unto those to whom they are given they are placed under restrictions to impart only such as God will command them, and the residue is to be kept in a faithful breast, otherwise he will be brought under condemnation. By this God will prove his faithful servants, who will be called and numbered with the chosen. And as to the Celestial glory, all will enter in and possess that kingdom that obey the gospel and continue in faith in the Lord unto the end of his days. Now, therefore, I say unto you, you must cease preaching your miraculous things and let the mysteries alone until by and by. Preach faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repentance, and baptism for the remission of sins, the laying on of the hands for the gift of the holy ghost — teaching the necessity of strict obedience unto these principles, reasoning out of the scriptures, proving them unto the people. Cease your schisms, and divisions, and your contentions. Humble yourselves as in dust and ashes, lest God should make you an example of his wrath unto the surrounding world. Amen. In the bonds of the everlasting covenant, I am your obedient servant, Hyrum Smith. (T&C 152:3,4)

Again I feel rebuked, for I have taken these things too lightly and I am not ready. I commend to you in closing the words of such a true messenger that are worth reading, pondering, and heeding. One is from this week and one is from 2012. I am humbled by these words and I want to do better to prepare for what’s coming:

It would be wise to take steps to purchase food in advance of coming inflationary price increases and shortages. We will also be going through another government caused “stagflation” cycle. If you aren’t familiar with that term then you should look up how the era of President Jimmy Carter unfolded to explain how both a stagnant recessionary economy and inflation led to that term being adopted.

The bold, shameless advance of sexual abuse of children in the public schools, and unrelenting killing of the unborn are making this and many other countries ripen in iniquity. It will not go unnoticed by God, but will invoke the promised penalty: This is “the land of promise, which was choice above all other lands, which the Lord God had preserved for a righteous people. And he had sworn in his wrath unto the brother of Jared that whoso should possess this land of promise, from that time henceforth and for ever should serve him, the true and only God, or they should be swept off when the fullness of his wrath should come upon them.” RE Edition Ether 1:6

Instead of instilling honor, integrity, honesty, and courage in children, schools are sexualizing and confusing children with corrupt ideas that result in mental damage. It is perilous and wicked to engage in this foolishness. It mirrors the words of Isaiah: “The show of their countenance does witness against them, and does declare their sin to be even as Sodom; they cannot hide it. Woe unto their souls, for they have rewarded evil unto themselves.” RE Isa 1:8 (Source)

And from 2012:

Jacob makes a startling promise for those who live when the destruction begins preliminary to the cleansing of the world before the Lord returns. He says “none will he destroy that believe in him. And they that believe not in him shall be destroyed, both by fire, quakes, and by bloodsheds, and by pestilence, and by famine.” (2 Ne. 6: 14-15.)

This amazing promise is predicated on “believing in Him.” This requires us to understand what the word “believe” means in the parlance of the Book of Mormon. Those who believe in Him know and accept correct doctrine, or the truth about Him. Those who do not know and will not accept correct doctrine or the truth have dwindled in unbelief. They do not believe in Him. They may have religion, may belong to churches, may be active in all their observances, but they are not in possession of belief in Him. Instead they accept for doctrines the commandments of men, and their hearts are far from Him. They teach false and vain things. As a result they neither enter into the kingdom nor suffer those who are entering to go in. This includes those who, though they are humble followers of Christ, are nevertheless led that in many instances they do err in doctrine. (2 Ne. 28: 14.)

There will be many who are destroyed who will be quite surprised by it. They will complain that they have prophesied in Christ’s name, and in His name cast out devils, and done many wonderful works, but they do not know Christ, and therefore never did believe in Him. (See Matt. 7: 22-24.)

If you are one of those who believe in Him, and who will not dwindle in unbelief, will not accept the commandments of men as doctrine, but will take the Spirit for your guide, then Jacob promises that Christ will not destroy you. The rest He will destroy.

Fire will upset the order of things and make societal collapse inevitable. Men’s self-inflicted woes will not be the only sign of Divine disapproval. The earth will quake to signal God’s disapproval. Interruptions of social order and control will be followed by self-inflicted violence. Bloodshed will be widespread among the survivors. Disease and pestilence will be one of the results of the lack of social order. Air and water will be contaminated. Neglected hygiene will lead to the promised pestilence. As the downward spiral continues, food production and distribution will be inadequate to prevent widespread, global famine. It is as if Jacob could see the sequence of events and gave us the list of how it would unfold, step by step, as the unbelieving are wiped from the earth.

Survival during this bleak time depends on the qualification of “believing in Him.” Suddenly, if you think Jacob knew what he was talking about then our doctrines take on terrible significance. What we believe matters. Not just in the distant after-life, but for the preservation of our present lives. Jacob does make a powerful case for studying the Gospel a good deal more carefully than we can accomplish in a 40 minute class-discussion, with an approved “discussion leader,” using Correlated materials, rather than a teacher declaring and testifying of true doctrine.

I’m pretty sure Jacob would be a very marginalized Mormon, if he were among us today. (Source)

The Destruction of Church and State

The interesting thing about destruction is that those who are “destroyed” are often the last to find out. It’s extremely difficult to recognize such things AS they are happening and there’s usually a delay between the time a nation or institution has fallen and when it’s “swept away” into non-existence.

We can all look back on Nazi Germany and say we would have never been sucked into the propaganda of Hitler, for example, but the truth is, when you’re in it–seeing it for what it is, is really hard to do.

Going against “popular” opinion, even and especially when the opinions are the result of propaganda, usually make one look, sound, and feel crazy. Talk to someone awaiting life saving surgery who is unwilling to get the Covid vaccines or someone on a plane who refuses to put a mask on their special needs child and you’ll see my point.

And so the seeds of destruction are sown while a nation sleeps. Our apathy has allowed the foundations and pillars of our freedoms to be sabotaged and wrecked all in the name of protecting us. “Good is called evil and evil is called good.” “Evil triumphs when good men and women do nothing.” And strangely it all begins to feel very much like Orwell’s 1984.

We see just how hard it is to actually DO something when the forces of evil control everything we think and do. Look at the people from January 6th, rotting in prison, who have not even been given a trial date and in many cases haven’t even been charged. Most of those people, many of whom were patriotic grandparents, tried to save our country from a coup by simply peacefully protesting what they believed was a stolen presidential election. They were in DC to wave the banner of freedom and stand up for America by exercising what used to be called free speech. Now over a year later they languish in jail cells as if they were in the Soviet Union or some third world country.

I suppose we could also talk about what happens to people’s bank accounts and social media profiles and ability to travel on airplanes or eat in restaurants or shop at grocery stores or keep a job when they go against the false narrative… The point is, America has been destroyed from within and many of us still don’t know it or want to believe it.

Of course millions of us and sadly maybe even the majority of us, hope and pray that something will change the tide. Swing the pendulum back. Give us more time. The hopium of elections in 2022 or 2024 to get these tyrants out of office… But to what end? So that Mitt Romney or Lindsey Graham can have more control over our freedoms? Name almost ANY other politician and my question remains the same. To what end? They are seemingly and almost completely ALL corrupted. Or at a minimum rendered useless in a system so deeply compromised, infiltrated, and controlled by secret shadow governments and global power structures in place.

And how is the Church doing at this unprecedented time of national and global crisis? Have they stood up to fight for our freedoms? For free and fair elections? Have they talked much lately about the evils of communism or even socialism? Or abortion? Or forced experimental medical treatments? Or defended our God given rights to speech and assembly?

Who would have ever believed that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints would NOT have written a letter for a soldier in the military, for example, confirming that aborted fetuses being used to make a vaccine goes against his or her religious beliefs?! A soldier who has defended our freedom and who is now trying to keep his job to feed his family… and the Church refuses to defend him? Shameful and unbelievable. Plenty of other churches have offered such support to their congregants, but for whatever reason, our church won’t.

Is the Church any different when it comes to silencing dissenters? They neither defend them nor allow them a voice. They too seek to control narratives and silence dissent. Just ask Richard Harward, the young BYU basketball player who will never play basketball or maybe even be able to run on a treadmill, ever again. Did the Church protect and defend him? His freedom? His right to choose? Have they told his story or LET him tell his own story? Just ask Denver Snuffer, who shared a different more plausible version of Church history, that ironically sought to help people keep faith in the Restoration. Did the Church defend his religious freedom? His agency? Just ask 1000s of others the Church has silenced through excommunication or litigation.

If the Church doesn’t stand up for its God given religious freedoms and protect its own people from government overreach AND won’t let us defend the Church or ourselves either, then what hope can be had that we will be left with any freedom, anywhere eventually? Soon.

What other foundational pillars have we lost in the Church? Can we say that we don’t pay our ministers and that we are not preaching to get gain? Can we say that our preachers are any better or different than those of other churches? Do ours commune with heaven any more or less than anyone else’s? Can we say that the Church is transparent with our finances? Or that lay members have any real voice in the decisions the Church makes with our tithing dollars or with anything? Has the Church completely abandoned the principle of common consent? Of revelation? Of agency? Of life and liberty? Can we say the Church doesn’t support communism when it partners with the UN and supports their 2030 agenda? (If this is news to you, I highly recommend this video presentation).

Can we say that the Church really focuses on the Book of Mormon in its teachings? Or the words of Joseph Smith? Or the Bible for that matter? Or is it more accurate to suggest that the focus is on the words of men? Can we say that the Church is warning people of our loss of liberty? Or really focusing on coming food supply issues and the collapse of world economic markets? Is the Church really preaching or preparing us for Zion?

When, in government and in church, do we pass a point of no return where undoing the damage to such pillars and principles becomes nigh impossible? When the destruction has taken place and is not likely to ever be reversed?

In the Glossary of the Restoration edition of the scriptures it discusses the idea of destruction:

In the vernacular of the Book of Mormon, to destroy did not mean annihilation. It merely meant to end the organized existence of a people or to terminate their government, deprive them of a land, and end their cultural dominance. In the Book of Mormon, a people were destroyed when they lost control over their government and land. Their ability to preserve their own values and choose the way they were governed was taken over by others. Most often it was from a different ethnic group, though not always. Once people were destroyed, they were oppressed and suffered. Often they were oppressed with grievous taxes and had religious liberties removed. Then they faced a choice: either repent, in which case they came through the period of oppression with another chance; or if they were angry and rebellious, they would then be “swept away.” Being destroyed is not at all the same as being “swept away.” It is possible for people to have been destroyed and not even realize it. But when they are “swept away,” they face extinction and cannot help but notice it. (emphasis added).

The most disconcerting thing about all this is that collectively there is likely not much we can do to save our country or our churches. And yet, personally WE must still figure out how to repent, come unto Christ, and protect ourselves and our families as the world around us is being destroyed. Without the protections of government and the spiritual guidance of Church, the opportunity for escape (Salvation), both physical and spiritual, becomes more and more difficult. Especially given that to even embrace truth has become heretical. We can easily see how society could arrive at a place where people are put to death for refusing to worship false gods or to cease to pray to the only true God.

No wonder the Book of Mormon warns us of the great and abominable church that in the Last Days will be the cause of the destruction of so many. Remember, the Book of Mormon was written for those who would read it and when the Lord refers to an abomination, He is referring to “the use of religion to suppress truth or impose a false form of truth. It involves the religious justification of wrongdoing. That is, something becomes abominable when it is motivated out of a false form of religious observance or is justified because of religious error.” See glossary

Is it possible that something that started as the Lord’s true and living Church could actually become the an abomination to Him? That answer is always yes. This scripture is being fulfilled right before our eyes:

And it shall come to pass that if the gentiles shall hearken unto the Lamb of God in that day that he shall manifest himself unto them in word and also in power, in very deed, unto the taking away of their stumbling blocks, and harden not their hearts against the Lamb of God, they shall be numbered among the seed of thy father. Yea, they shall be numbered among the house of Israel; and they shall be a blessed people upon the promised land for ever. They shall be no more brought down into captivity, and the house of Israel shall no more be confounded. And that great pit which hath been digged for them by that great and abominable church — which was founded by the Devil and his children, that he might lead away the souls of men down to hell — yea, that great pit which hath been digged for the destruction of men shall be filled by those who digged it, unto their utter destruction, saith the Lamb of God, not the destruction of the soul, save it be the casting of it into that hell which hath no end. For behold, this is according to the captivity of the Devil, and also according to the justice of God, upon all those who will work wickedness and abomination before him. (1 Nephi 3:25 RE)

Christmas Is For Cover Ups

Laura Seitz, Deseret News

More than one month ago, I reported on the vaccine injury of Richard Harward and I said that every day that goes by that the Church is not transparent is further evidence of their dishonesty and willingness to cover up the truth to protect themselves.

As of today, December 23, 2021, the Church-owned Deseret News, BYU, KSL, and the entire leadership of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including, ironically heart surgeon and Church president Russell M. Nelson, are still complicit in a cover up that potentially affects the health and lives of millions of people just like Richard, who the Church and BYU coerced and apparently shamed into getting vaccinated.  Since Richard’s incident, the Church has doubled down on its position, calling vaccines a godsend from heaven to gather Israel on both sides of the veil, as it’s been reported by LDTruths.

The Deseret News decided to finally to publish something about Richard’s condition, which until December 14th, no Utah media outlet was reporting on.  They reported on knee injuries and other health updates of all of its players except for one.  Richard’s.  And now, they report that due to “a cardiovascular issue” Richard is stepping down from basketball.  Likely forever.  With NO mention of the vaccine whatsoever.   (Source)

The Citizen Free Press, an internationally respected conservative news outlet, is way ahead of any and all Utah news outlets in reporting the truth about this awful situation.

Vaccinated BYU Starting Center — I will miss the rest of season due to ‘heart damage’…

I was pleasantly surprised that CFP linked to my story as one of its sources.  But, that’s what real journalists do — they look under every rock and look at every possible source to try to get to the truth.

Where is the real journalism in Utah?  Where is the Free Press here?  Where is the Salt Lake Tribune?  KSL?  LDS Church News?  Deseret News?  The Daily Universe?  Where is heart surgeon Russell Nelson?  Where are the apologies?  Where is the newly appointed committee to investigate?  Where is the transparency?

Thousands of people have left and/or have lost faith in the church and its leaders because of the lack of transparency.  See Mountain Meadows, polygamy, electric shock therapy, child abuse, missionaries abused at the MTC, finances, and much more.  One would think that the Church would be trying harder, given the exodus of so many of its once faithful members, and given its current abysmal growth numbers that, for the first time in at least 40 years, it isn’t reporting to local news outlets and other officials.  (Another story for another day).

It would seem the Church is more interested in protecting its own interests than in telling the truth and protecting the injured and vulnerable.  I propose the Brethren give their combined Church salaries to this young man for the next 30 years along with millions of dollars in restitution (of their own funds) and it still won’t be enough.  Why not remove one of their own names from the many buildings at BYU and place his name on it in the meantime?  Do something.  Saying and doing nothing speaks volumes.

Elder Stevenson

I think it’s also important to shed light on other things the Church is now being strangely quiet about, namely LDS Apostle Gary Stevenson and his role in the company iFit.  The Salt Lake Tribune and other news outlets reported on this Apostle’s “special dispensation” granted to him by the Brethren which allowed him to, instead of go without purse or scrip, actually keep his purse, scrip, and 43 million shares as well as other income from his company iFit (aka Icon).

I have it from a credible source that iFit has struggled for decades with over $1+ billion in company debt.  Despite large annual revenues, its debt service costs have crippled the company and it’s been a problem it could not find anyone to help solve, for years and years.  During all those years, Gary and his business partner, insisted that no matter how much the company might lose in a given year, they would pay themselves millions a year each in salaries.  I assume this is why it was reported that “$53.2 million in loans to managers” would be forgiven as part of the IPO transaction.

I once met a woman who lived down the street from Stevenson for decades.  For 10+ years she worked for him at iFit.  She had 8 children and a deadbeat husband in prison.  She worked the graveyard shift on the assembly line in very poor working conditions, making $11 an hour.  The pay was so little that she was forced to also have a day job at Walmart.  This poor woman worked 80+ hours a week while trying to care for her children’s’ needs.  I’m told she explained her dilemma to her neighbor Gary, whose Logan home is reported to be more than 12,000 square feet, and asked him for a raise.  He told her he could not give her a raise because “it would set the wrong precedent.”

In line with this sad tale is the recent Herald Journal reporting that iFit just laid off an undisclosed number of employees right before the holidays:

Lindsey Lundholm worked as a software tester and was one of the employees terminated on Friday. She wrote about her experience on social media the following Monday — in a post that has garnered over 100 likes and more than 150 comments. “We were told so many times in meetings that the company was growing and doing so well and to refer our friends,” Lundholm said. “A few weeks later, Friday, I get asked to join a Zoom meeting. It was the testing supervisor and an HR representative. They proceeded to tell me that I was getting laid off, that I had until the end of the day.” Lundholm stated the representative and supervisor said they had to cut back on employees and that the department was hit hard. Soon after, she was locked out of company Wi-Fi and removed from a workplace chat app.  “I would guess at least half of my team was laid off that day,” Lundholm added.  “I just feel iFIT isn’t telling the truth,” he said. “They go off telling people how profitable their Black Friday was but then why are they experiencing so many layoffs? … It feels that iFit’s ethics are nonexistent.”  An employee in the home delivery department, who asked not to be identified, said she had no warning she would be let go. She said she was told during her termination that she would be put down for immediate rehire. “There is no such thing, as I found out later,” she said. “Then when I applied for unemployment, they put down that I was fired, which was not the case, and put misconduct and attendance as the reasoning.”  (Source)

It should be noted that IFit’s IPO is now on hold because it’s being sued by two different large corporations, Peleton and Hyperice, for alleged patent infringements, which could ruin its hopes for an IPO at all.

Last checked, Gary Stevenson has at least 3 very large homes, which I’ve been told are all over 10,000 square feet each.  Yet, his company lays off employees at Christmas time, carries a billion dollars in expensive debt, refuses to give a poor woman with 8 kids and no husband a raise and borrows millions in potentially phantom loans from the company for himself and partner.

It’s also concerning to many who have looked into this more than I have, whether Stevenson has used his position as presiding bishop and apostle to advance his personal business interests, which almost made him the first billionaire apostle.  Keep in mind that as presiding bishop, Stevenson was one of only 7 people on earth to know about and to oversee the Ensign Peak 100+ billion dollar fund.  Might there be conflicts of interest that arise while managing such funds and while being in need of funds for his own company?

One could also wonder if the Church has given special pricing for some of the ads we’ve seen from iFit (NordicTrack) in between General Conference sessions.  

I don’t mean to pick on Elder Stevenson nor do I wish him any ill will.  I’m sure he’s likely a very nice person.  But, when a person holds the sacred office of Apostle and maintains such public business interests, there needs to be public transparency and public scrutiny for there to be also integrity and public confidence.  Especially when he and his company decide to lay people off during Christmas and are being sued for stealing someone else’s patents.

It’s December 23rd

In contrast, Joseph Smith was petitioning for bankruptcy at the time of his death.  He could have been the first millionaire West of the Mississippi like Brigham Young, but instead Joseph gave any spare money he had to the poor and spent months in jail unjustly accused of things he didn’t do.  He was known as a poor businessman for giving away his store’s goods, giving away his horses, taking in other people’s children all while trying to care for his own family and was never paid a salary for his labors with the church.  Joseph was also falsely accused as he is today… by his own Church and lamented before his death that no one really knew him and that if his life was of no value to his friends it was of none to him.

Most sad of all for me today is that on this the 23rd day of December, the Church does not remember or honor this man’s birthday.  Not on their website.  Not on Church News or Deseret News.  It highlights Russell Nelson and #lighting the world and job training and CoVid and temples and missionary work in the DRC and interfaith concerts and temple square renovations and President Oaks in Rome…  But not a peep about today being the day Joseph Smith was born.

This was certainly not the case for Russell Nelson’s 95th and 96th and 97th birthdays…

Joseph died trying to expose darkness.  He fought against polygamy, called out impostors, stood against the mobs with boldness and went as a lamb to the slaughter in June of 1844… another day the Church no longer commemorates.  Joseph knew Christ and not only saw Him, but he lived and died by His words.  He was a true prophet and if he were here today, I think he would not be well received by today’s church.

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:

  1. “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?”
  2. “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?”
  3. “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?”
  4. “Why do I need permission from the Church to do Sacrament in my home anyway?”
  5. “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?”
  6. “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?”
  7. “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?”
  8. “Why is the Church NOT preaching in favor of our Constitution and the liberties it ought to want to safeguard that are GOD GIVEN?!”
  9. “Why is the Church saying we should trust science and medical people, when those same “scientists” are in favor of gender surgeries, abortion, etc?!”
  10. “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!?”
  11. “How on earth can the Church sit back while elections are stolen and the Constitution is being destroyed?”
  12. “How can the Church be okay with one of its own Apostles contributing to political campaigns?”
  13. “How come the Church congratulated Joe Biden while the election was still being legally contested?”
  14. “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?”
  15. “Why is the Church so pro-illegal immigration?”
  16. “Why is the Church investing in Facebook, Pfeizer, the UN, and a million other entities it should disagree with?”
  17. “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.

“They Will Never Lead Us Astray”

I’ve spoken about this topic many times on this blog.  The idea that the Brethren and the Prophet cannot lead us astray has become a very controversial topic even among active LDS.

Elder Oaks’ daughter Jenny Oaks Baker struck a chord on Facebook a few days before Conference with this post on the subject:

I woke up this morning feeling with a deep desire to publicly declare my testimony that the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is led by a true prophet who communes with God and who will never lead us astray! I also know that the Apostles and other members of the First Presidency are also prophets, seers and revelators who are called of God and who will lead us back to Him if we follow their counsel. My heart has been so saddened as I have seen so many members of The Church doubting and publicly disagreeing with these good and righteous leaders, thinking that they themselves know better. Wearing masks at church and in the temple as President Nelson has asked us to do, is our way of looking at Moses’ staff to be healed. It really doesn’t matter if masks work or not! That is not the point! This is an obedience test! And the same goes for vaccinations! The Prophet has encouraged us all to be vaccinated unless we have a medical reason to refrain from doing so, and if we do get the vaccine, we will be blessed! It’s that simple! I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord’s true Church on this earth! I know it! And I feel so blessed to have the Gospel in my life as it brings my life so much peace and joy. Please don’t let your distrust of vaccinations and hatred for masks be the mists of darkness that shake your hold upon the iron rod and prevent you from partaking of the sweet fruits of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ! I know that following the Prophet in all things, will bring healing, peace and safety to us all!  Facebook Post September 28, 2021 4:55 am #JennyOaksBaker

When I last checked there were 425 comments.  The comments are quite interesting to read and range from completely in favor to accusations that this post is evidence that the Church is a cult.

I would simply point to the words published as said by Joseph Smith, a true prophet of God, forwarded to me by a good friend recently.  This statement reflects quotes from early Church leaders, even Brigham Young, but which the likes of today are considered as grounds for apostasy by the Church.

We have heard men who hold the priesthood remark that they would do anything they were told to do by those who preside over them (even) if they knew it was wrong; but such obedience as this is worse than folly to us; it is slavery in the extreme; and the man who would thus willingly degrade himself, should not claim a rank among intelligent beings, until he turns from his folly. A man of God would despise the idea. Others, in the extreme exercise of their almighty authority have taught that such obedience was necessary, and that no matter what the saints were told to do by their presidents, they should do it without any questions. When the Elders of Israel will so far indulge in these extreme notions of obedience as to teach them to the people, it is generally because they have it in their hearts to do wrong themselves.

Joseph Smith, Millennial Star, vol.14 #38, pp. 593-95

The religion restored through Joseph Smith has turned into something I think he would mourn.  I don’t think the Church can continue pushing this “last doctrine” and not lose the vast majority of its members.

Authenticity

A friend of mine sent me a link to The Chosen a year or so ago. We watched the first and only season and instantly fell in love with it. It’s a very well done series about the Savior’s ministry and although it takes quite a bit of artistic license in its telling of the story, it’s done so very well and is incredibly uplifting.

I have since shared the link with many friends and have contributed to the producer’s efforts to raise money for Season 2. For Season 1, they raised over $10M. More than any other crowdfunded film project in GoFundMe history. They hope to do 8 or more seasons and will need about $10M per season. I highly recommend The Chosen to anyone who has yet to see it. You can click on the link below to watch the first episode and season for free:

https://share.thechosen.tv/94Q38E

Here’s a quick sampling:

I think the reason The Chosen has been such a huge success is because of how real the characters are made to feel. Jesus, for example, says things like, “Hey good to see you boys!” He belly laughs and smiles ear to ear on more than one occasion. He feels real. Authentic. Relatable. Approachable. Human, although God-like. He speaks and acts like you might imagine a real person in real life would, even if the Son of God.

Of course, the actors and director know full well, they are not perfectly depicting the characters they are trying to portray, but without question, they have brought a tremendous amount of real-life personality to these seminal figures. Capturing and portraying authenticity is no easy task in the world of cinema, especially when depicting the Savior and other old world prophets.

Authenticity in real life is an even more refreshing thing to witness. Most people want real. Especially from the preachers of religion. Those who are stiff and scripted and speak fancifully in a way that is not relatable may indeed be loved and may even be revered, but they are not going to be very effective, in my opinion. They can control meetings and membership and tempo and curriculum and hierarchy, but they will not truly convert souls unto Christ. Not when approaching the effort in a superficial, scripted way. And certainly not when being dishonest or unwilling to address people’s real-life concerns and questions.

A friend of mine recently highlighted remarks made in a Face to Face by Elder Rasband. His post covered the comments Elder Rasband made about how they, the 15 prophets, seers, and revelators, receive revelation—through a process of collaboration, drafts, and edits. Bare Record’s post led me to watch the full event, which you can find below.

The news of how the Brethren receive revelation may be disappointing for those who still believe they “see the Lord” (as did Joseph) or hear His Voice. Their process is the same as for anyone trying to be inspired but clearly is NOT prophetic by the standards of Scripture. Yet, somehow their way is viewed as better than our own.

Elder Rasband teases in this particular Face to Face that he was grateful that a “couple of his words” made it into the final cut and that when they had all written their drafts, they gave them to the Prophet for him to put it all together. In other words, although all 15 men are prophets, seers, and revelators–the newer the prophet you are, the less important and less respected and less inspired you are by your peers (and possibly by the membership too). None of it feels “genuine” or authentic. It feels mechanical and scripted. I.e. NOT prophetic.

As I tuned in I was very surprised to see that the Church filmed this episode of Face to Face on their Goshen, Utah film set. Apparently, they had planned on filming the event from the Sacred Grove in upstate New York but changed their plans officially on August 10, 2020.

It would be at about that same time that the filmmakers and supporters of The Chosen were fasting and praying to find a location where they could film their second season. And It was at about this same time that the Church agreed to let them “use” the Goshen location. (I don’t know if it’s being donated or rented out). The director of The Chosen made the announcement of the new film location on August 19th, only 9 days after the Church announced its change of venue. Surely, negotiations to use the Goshen location would have been ongoing for weeks if not months before officially securing it. The Chosen view the location as a miracle from God and an answer to their prayers.

But, one may ask, why did the Church change venues at the last minute for its Face to Face to the new set of Season 2 for The Chosen? Why Goshen? I don’t know the answer but, I find it strange that the Church would just happen to move their big event to a location it had just rented out to the amazingly popular Christian series as if wanting to associate itself with the success of the production. The timing is suspect at best and the location for this type of event I believe is unprecedented. It feels very much like the Church is trying to benefit from the popularity of The Chosen, which for me, is a very superficial and shallow thing to do. The least they can do is FUND several seasons! At least then, they can say they helped the cause, instead of surreptitiously trying to promote themselves.

In watching the Face to Face with Elder Rasband, I was struck at how unauthentic it all was. The entire event is supposed to be homey. I think it’s meant to be a modern-day “fireside chat with one of the 15 prophets.” In-person and up close are meant to carry the day. Not scripted and stiff, and evasive.

In this event, every question from the LDS youth of the world is handpicked and responses are all planned in advance. The setting feels extremely stiff with all of the handpicked audience sitting 6 feet apart and all donning the politically correct masks, even though outside on a desert film set. The message seems to be all about exactness. Exactly 6 feet apart. Exactly obedient. Exactly scripted. Exactly in line with the Men who lead the Church.

The first two questions to Elder Rasband are truth claims questions. One from a young Latter-day Saint man named Harry who is considering leaving the Church. Elder and Sister Rasband’s response is effectively, “Don’t you dare leave! If you do, your life will be ruined!” They then turn the audience to a film about a young man who was going to commit suicide, because he was not a member of the Church. The story was nice enough, but I had to wonder how Harry must have felt. “If you leave Harry, your life will be meaningless and you too will likely want to commit suicide. It’s the Church or it’s eternal Misery!”

What people like Harry and Harriet (the other truth claims questioner) want, is someone to be real with them. In my opinion, they just want authenticity. They crave real answers to real questions. And what they get is the inauthenticity of a geriatric version of High School Musical. Lots of theatrics and nice music. So much “niceness” and so many smiles, but no real answers.


Here a just a few of the comments online from those who sympathize with Harry and Harriet:

Why do we need to shelf these items? If these are truly men of god, why can’t they answer the questions? Instead they dodge it and say “just shelf it” well I’ve shelfed it for 36 years and my shelf is broken because of the weight.

Same here. They can’t answer the questions, because if they do, they admit to being wrong.

The thing is……many of us HAVE opened up and sought truth from the Holy Ghost when the leaders of the church were unwilling or unable to provide it. The truths we have found from the Lord speaking through his spirit are that the church and its leaders are not what they claim to be. While this is inconvenient for the church and its truth claims, what we have learned is, nonetheless, true. There is no need to shelve these items. The Lord will answer your prayer. The truth, the knowledge, the answers may not be what you WANT them to be, they may not affirm what you have believed your entire life, but they are real. I am so glad that the Lord has made me aware of this and that I have found a deeper, richer spiritual experience in a different church.

The music felt a little American Idol for me.

Really disappointing to hear people come with genuine questions and then hear a leader say “don’t worry about it, just follow my Twitter”

The thing that got me was hearing elder and sister Rasband respond to a question from a member wondering if they should resign from the church with a video about an individual struggling with mental illness and suicide…. How are those related exactly?

It is so sad how they are given the opportunity to say the right thing and they totally blow. Their responses to concerns were completely irrelevant. Someone struggling with Truth Claims of the church needs answers!

I was disappointed that when a person mentions struggling in the faith over doctrine or history that the issues are never explored. Why is this so? It would seem only natural to want to know what people struggle with in order to shepherd them in the faith. I personally have struggled with discrepancies between the Book of Abraham text and what Egyptologists report from scholarly translation of the fragments in the possession of the church. Nobody in the church seems willing to talk about this or my concerns with the various versions of the Joseph Smith story..

You’re not alone. Anyone who is observant and objective will recognize that the church is dodging the issues. At the very least…the very LEAST…Rasband could have directed the questioner to the Gospel Topics Essays that address these issues on the church’s own website!! But he couldn’t even bring himself to do that. And why?? Because he is aware that many people have left the church precisely BECAUSE of what they learn from the Gospel Topics Essays. Talk about your dereliction of duty!

I really do not like that they screened and prepared the questions and “answers” in this meeting. It feels very staged. I would have liked to have seen honest real answers off the cuff. The emotional manipulation here is intense for those still inside the church bubble. Take one foot out of it and you can see what this really is. Sadly, many never will for fear of losing family and friends, and that’s a legitimate fear. Especially if you live in Utah.


Sadly, many who struggle, see these Face to Faces with “the Prophets” as shallow and unhelpful. The above questions and comments are sincere and worthy of consideration. Why can’t these men be more relatable? Approachable? Off the cuff? Real? I’d invite you to watch the Face to Face for yourself if you haven’t already.

There’s a story that Sister Rasband shares where she was hit by a car as a little girl because she did not listen to the Spirit warning her. Elder Rasband thanked her (no fewer than 1,000 thank you’s in this F2F) and told her while getting choked up that “Their family’s faith has been built on her telling this story so many times over the years.” I’m sorry but the exchanges between Elder and Sister Rasband seem very unnatural. You can watch and decide for yourself.

I also do not like that Elder Rasband stops midway through and asks the audience to #hashtag the event and to “follow the prophet” on social media. Reminds me of the scene in the Truman Show where out of the blue, Truman’s wife takes a moment to thank the Show’s sponsors:

So much advertising. So many hushed tones. So much superficial reverence. So many thank you’s. There’s even a “scene” where Elder Rasband stops the tape and reinforces that HE and HIS WIFE KNOW the SAVIOR! This is their gift! According to him, it’s other people’s gift to believe on their testimony. Sure seemed like Elder Rasband was checking off a box to reinforce to the audience his assignment to be a “special witness.”

Another interesting moment is when Sister Rasband refers to “Anti-Church literature.” I always knew this as “Anti-Mormon” literature, but I assume that Sister Rasband is trying very hard to not use the word “Mormon” in any way, in accordance with the current prophet’s teachings. A little awkward. I wonder if the Church will buy websites such as: “memberofthechurchofjesuschirstoflatterdaysaintsandgay.com so as to be exactly obedient to President Nelson’s teachings.

All in all, the lack of authenticity carried the day. Now, having said that, there are incredibly talented people who sing and there are people there who are amazingly sincere, who surely God loves and watches over. But, Mormonism has sadly become something that appropriately feels very staged and scripted. It belongs on a movie set. They would do well to learn that real, raw, and authentic are always better than staged, scripted, and phony. They need to learn from The Chosen, rather than trying to hijack their spotlight. Again, the Church would do well to give The Chosen millions of dollars. It would be a far better investment than in the City Creek Mall or in the Book of Mormon Musical (aka Hale Theater), which is a very “anti-Church” production.

Trifling With Souls

C. S. Lewis on the Coronavirus

Picture from the gospelcoalition.org website

In trying times such as these there are many voices clamoring for our attention.  Crises present opportunities for self-interested people to sell their wares.  Often it’s an ideology that’s for sale,  fueled by a vain ambition to be popular or to feel important and validated.  It presents a challenge to expose the impure motives of such a person when there is no money trail.  But, look closely enough and you’ll find that the tokens being sold are of greater value to the seller than today’s currency– they yield followers, flatterers, validators, comforters, listeners– in short POWER and VANITY.

For the seller, he/she is led to believe by the adversary that what they have to share is of great value.  “You are great.  Your message is great.  You’re an enlightened soul of this last great and best generation.  The ‘Lord’ speaks to you!  If you don’t display courage and share your message, then who will?”

But, such fools are trifling with the souls of men.

Lately, fear has been peddled and in great supply.  Fear is the opposite of faith.  When fear is your product, you stand to make tremendous gains.  Somehow because you sell fear, those who buy into it will also trust you to get them through it.  You set yourself up, people look to you, and you extract your needed coin from the sycophants you produce.

A fanciful and flowery and heated imagination be aware of, because the things of God are of deep import, and time, and experience, and careful and ponderous and solemn thoughts can only find them out. Your mind, O man, if you will lead a soul unto salvation, must stretch as high as the utmost Heavens, and search into and contemplate the lowest considerations of the darkest abyss, and expand upon the broad considerations of eternal expanse. You must commune with God. How much more dignified and noble are the thoughts of God than the vain imagination of the human heart? None but fools will trifle with the souls of men. (T&C 138:18, emphasis added)

Joseph Smith warned of those who would trifle with the souls of men.  Their fanciful and flowery ideas, their fearmongering, their lies; we should be aware of and surely guard ourselves and others against.

I read Joseph Smith’s quote to say:  If we have NOT communed with God, in other words, seen Him and partaken from Him and been redeemed by Him, then we must be extremely careful in what we say, teach, and share lest we too trifle with souls and damn them and ourselves to hell.

Someone online recently called me a coward because I don’t put my name on what I write on this blog.  One of the many reasons I blog anonymously is because I don’t want attention drawn to myself.  As you’ll notice, I write very little and very infrequently.  I don’t believe that I have much of true value to share.  I have not communed with Heaven.  What I do share is my opinion and is not meant to be followed as if prophetically inspired.  I don’t ever want to trifle with the souls of men, nor do I wish to lead them, where I am a blind guide at best.  For all the times I have trifled with men’s souls, I plead for forgiveness.  It is wrong and it is evil.

The above-mentioned person recently made the statement online that “more than 7 million Americans will die from the Corona Virus this year,” (paraphrasing)  among many other dire and bold declarations.  He also said that 2% or more of the world’s population would die from the virus.  That’s 180 million people!  He posted all this and much more on social media for all to see.  I told this individual I believed he was wrong (a) and (b) that he should not be fearmongering.  I would have hoped he would at least say that this was just his opinion rather than to put such shocking things out there that may cause people to panic, or heaven forbid do something extremely rash.  People can be very fragile especially at a time like this.

In that moment, I was angry and feel bad that my anger was directed towards this individual.  I was angry because this person spoke “as if it was so” — as if his every word would be vindicated because he was “brave” enough and inspired enough to publish it to the world under his name.  I was the coward, but he was the bold and brave one.  I should not have taken it so personally.

If and when only 50,000 to 100,000 people die from the Corona Virus this year in the U.S. for example, will this individual admit he was wrong?  Will he repent for trifling with souls and ask for your forgiveness?  Will he reimburse you for the extra toilet paper or other supplies you bought?  Or will he compensate you for sleepless nights and other distress you experienced imagining 180,000,000 people dying?  Wondering who in your own family might die…

More importantly, will YOU cease to give your time to such foolishness?  Will YOU see this as a fruit of a false messenger and repent of your false belief?

Just because someone puts their name on something does not make them courageous.  There is nothing more foolish or more cowardly in my view than to lead people astray with pretended authority from God.

Joseph Smith said:

A man must have the discerning of spirits before he can drag into daylight this hellish influence and unfold it unto the world in all its soul-destroying, diabolical, and horrid colors; for nothing is a greater injury to the children of men than to be under the influence of a false spirit when they think they have the spirit of God. Thousands have felt the influence of its terrible power and baneful effects. Long pilgrimages have been undertaken, penances endured, and pain, misery, and ruin have followed in their train; nations have been convulsed, kingdoms overthrown, provinces laid waste, and blood, carnage, and desolation are habiliments in which it has been clothed. The Turks, the Hindus, the Jews, the Christians, the Indians — in fact all nations have been deceived, imposed upon, and injured through the mischievous effects of false spirits. (T&C 147:5)

At a time when the Lord is doing His work to bring forth His Kingdom, it is only expected I think, that we will see an increase in such opposing messages.  An increase of false statements and false ideas inside and out of the Church.

I’ve been very clear as to where I stand regarding such messengers.  It’s not intended as unkind.  I am doing what I believe is my duty regarding anyone who proclaims to have a message from God — to discern their fruits and if I believe they are not from God, then to warn others.  It’s not my duty because I’m someone special, it’s OUR duty to NOT be deceived and to help each other figure these important things out.

In my view, subscribing to these types of titillating false messages, whether the example of “prophetic” fearmongering above, or the fables of Bishop Koyle’s Mine, or the Visions of Glory, or the Brazilian Gold Plates — ALL OF THIS HURTS us far more than them.  They, as individuals, will answer to God.  He will be their Judge.  He knows their hearts.  BUT, WE will never be of one mind and one heart while such fecal matter occupies our heads and WE will never be able to find refuge in Zion – let alone help build it.  We must become more firm minded and we must cease giving our time and attention to such false messengers.  In my opinion.

We may be nearing the end times, but surely there have been other times of great uncertainty in this world’s history.  While fools have peddled fear, great souls such as C.S. Lewis peddled faith.  Here is what he said during World War II to comfort the thousands of people who respected him:

In one way we think a great deal too much of the atomic bomb (Corona Virus). “How are we to live in an atomic (Corona Virus) age?” I am tempted to reply: “Why, as you would have lived in the sixteenth century when the plague visited London almost every year, or as you would have lived in a Viking age when raiders from Scandinavia might land and cut your throat any night; or indeed, as you are already living in an age of cancer, an age of syphilis, an age of paralysis, an age of air raids, an age of railway accidents, an age of motor accidents.”

In other words, do not let us begin by exaggerating the novelty of our situation. Believe me, dear sir or madam, you and all whom you love were already sentenced to death before the atomic bomb (Corona Virus) was invented: and quite a high percentage of us were going to die in unpleasant ways. We had, indeed, one very great advantage over our ancestors—anesthetics; but we have that still. It is perfectly ridiculous to go about whimpering and drawing long faces because the scientists have added one more chance of painful and premature death to a world which already bristled with such chances and in which death itself was not a chance at all, but a certainty.

This is the first point to be made: and the first action to be taken is to pull ourselves together. If we are all going to be destroyed by an atomic bomb (the Corona Virus), let that bomb (virus) when it comes find us doing sensible and human things—praying, working, teaching, reading, listening to music, bathing the children, playing tennis, chatting to our friends over a pint and a game of darts—not huddled together like frightened sheep and thinking about bombs. They may break our bodies (a microbe can do that) but they need not dominate our minds.  (See full use of text at gospelcoalition.org)

Another message I have found of great worth recently was given by Denver Snuffer, who spoke a few weeks back just as CoVid19 was shutting things down and the world was beginning to panic.  Contrast his message to the many others you hear.  As always, we are forced to discern and we are forced to choose.  Will we choose fear or we will choose faith?  True messengers or false?

You can follow the link below to Snuffer’s remarks.

The Heavens are Open