Sunday, December 29, 2019

2020: The Year of Vision


Isa 52:8 Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion.

The year 2020 will mark the 200th anniversary of the First Vision of Joseph Smith.  The First Vision involved the inaugural appearance of God the Eternal Father and His Son Jesus Christ to the prophet Joseph Smith in the spring of 1820.  This event marked the beginning of this, the final dispensation, preparing for the Millennial return of Jesus Christ. 

20/20 is how opthomologist measure and designate perfect vision. Will 2020 be a year where God's people receive a more perfected vision?  Could Isaiah have been aware of our day and have used similar imagery promising that His watchmen (prophets and apostles) would be seeing "eye to eye" with the Lord at  His return? Could 2020 also mark the beginning of the 120th Jubilee? (See post on 1/20/11)

400 years since Plymouth Colony
200 years since First Vision
70 years since Law of Return 

Friday, November 29, 2019

Sunday, November 24, 2019

The Soapmaker and Rabbi



A soapmaker asks a Rabbi, we have had religion for 1000s of years and the world is still full of corruption,  evil, and suffering.  What good has religion done the world?  The Rabbi and soapmaker came across a playground with children playing.  The children were dirty.  The Rabbi then coments, we have had soap for 1000s of years, yet these children are dirty. The soapmaker responded, soap works but only if it is used.  Yes the Rabbi said, the same is true of religion, it only works if it is used. 

James 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

Wednesday, November 06, 2019

Self-esteem vs. Self-worth



The concept of performance-based self-esteem, and Ayn Rand meritocracy has been championed since the 1970's. The problem with performance-based self-esteem is that if value is based on performance; failure threatens people's identity and self-worth. 

Because self-concept and identity is based on performance, health, and image people raised under the concept of self-esteem fight to protect image even if it's a false image. It's much easier to protect image than producing real performance. The consequences of self-esteem is greater Narcissism.  

There was a young man in my neighborhood who played soccer in highschool.  When he blew his knee out (ACL tear), he could no longer play and lost his friends. This young man went into a tailspin of drugs and alcohol.

Self-worth, on the other hand, is based on knowing you're a child of God and virtue. Because God loves us unconditionally and accepts us where we are, self-worth provides greater stability.  If our value is based on God, no failure or setback can take our intrinsic  self-worth away. People with a healthy concept of self-worth are better able to deal honestly with their weaknesses/failures and improve. (Brene Brown Vulnerablility). 

Virtue is a far superior measure than merit because virtue is based on the clear principal of "do no harm".  Merit is vaguely defined.  Also, virtue is superior to merit because a person can always repent and return to virtue. 

[In the Milennium/ideal world, I think our political candidates will be initially vetted and endorsed by the Church based on the "do no harm" virtue of true religion/Holy Temple (1 Cor. 5:11) and not by the media's shaky conception of merit.]




Monday, October 28, 2019

Ye Shall Know That It Is By Me That Ye Are Led



1 Nephi 17:13 And I will also be your light in the wilderness; and I will prepare the way before you, if it so be that ye shall keep my commandments; wherefore, inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall be led towards the promised land; and ye shall know that it is by me that ye are led.

God doesn't promise a smooth journey.  In fact, God guarantees that there will be a few major bumps in our path. However, at the same time, He promises to sustain and deliver us from all our adversity.   So that, all along the way and in the end, we know that He was with us and that we couldn't have made it without Him.


Wednesday, October 09, 2019

Book of Mormon: Type of Christ



Bible scholars have long recognized that the lives of many prophets foreshadow aspects of Christ's life.  These parallels are referred to as types and shadows. I had known that the comming forth of the Book of Mormon is also a type and shadow of the death and resurrection of Christ.

Christ is the Word.
Book of Mormon contains the word of God.

Christ died on Cross.
Book of Mormon reveals history of fallen people. 

Christ was buried in stone sepulachur. 
Book of Mormon was buried in stone box or cyst. 

Christ's body was in the care of Joseph of Aremathea.
The Book of Mormon was in the care of Joseph Smith.

Christ's resurrection was attended by heavenly angels. 
The comming forth of the Book of Mormon was attended by the angel Moroni. 

In addition to this typology, the coming forth of the Book of Mormon typifies the resurrection of Christ in another even more profound way.  Jeff Lindsay, an amateur scholar and blogger, drew the following amazing parallels. 

Mary Magdalene was honored to be the first witness of the resurrection of Christ.  Accordingly, she became the first Christian and the first to bare record to the Peter and the apostles of Christ's glorious resurrection. However, Mary's conversion was not without incident. 

According to Jeff Lindsay, the reaction of Mary Magdalene in the garden typifies and foreshadows the reaction of the Christian Church to the Book of Mormon. Mary Magdalene represents the Church.  When Mary beholds the open tomb,  she believes a crime has been committed. When Mary hears the voice of Christ, she doesn't recognize it in her grief, and believes Christ to be a gardener that has stolen away the body.

In the same way, the comming forth of the Book of Mormon, which is another testament of Jesus Christ, is viewed by most Christians as a criminal fraud.  Most Christians believe the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has stolen away and corrupted the name and identity of Christ as well as lured away many Christians. 

Many Christians do not recognize the voice of the Savior Jesus Christ in the Book of Mormon, however, it is my hope that like Mary Magdalene, Christ will call His Church by name, and the eyes of all the Christian Church will be opened and finally recognize the resurrected Lord is standing before them and speaking to them through the Book of Mormon. 



 

General Conference October 2019



Saturday Morning Session
Elder Holland
What is it all about?
Jesus Christ, have mercy on me
Blind man surrounded himself with good people. 
Man had sense to seek Christ's blessing 
Can the blind lead the blind?
Ask for direction by those who have sight.
Conference means nothing if we don't find Christ in the middle of all the commotion. 
Adjustment in the Church are meant to focus better on Christ (temple, Sabbath, name). Christ is to be the center of our worship. 
During Great Awakening, revivals obscured Christ. 

Elder Vinson
fair dinkum about the gospel 
"What we need here is less WiFi and more Nephi"
Giving our all, commitment, enduring. 
I don't regret broken jaw because I gave my all. I regret my fat lip because I didn't 
Sacrifice is more sacred to the Lord than increase. 
Haggai reminds us to "consider our ways"
King Lamonis father only was willing to give 1/2 for life but all for eternal life.

President Owen YM
Deers died of malnutrition with bellies full of hay
Not much nutrition on social media
Disconnect from world, reconnect with heaven. 
Home-centered Church, 
Beware going thru the motions
Build strong relationships
Do not neglect the needful things

Elder Christofferson
Things I heard my father speak of eternal life and the joy of the Saints sank deep into my heart. 
Joy in keeping the commandments vs. hefonism, some seem to prosper
Some claim it is vain to serve God
We call the proud happy
Wicked may have joy for a season 
Joy of the Saints is eternal (make up my jewels)
Joy of overcomming, trials interfere with our joy
Trials and sorrows turn to joy
Bro Rushton paralyzed, but regained ability to talk, became a gospel doctrine teacher and patriarch.

Sister Craig YW
If something entices to do good, it is of God
Do the work that is required to increase spiritual capacity
1. Be intentional (carve out time)
2. Act without delay (instrument)
3. Get errand from Lord (quiet nugges)
4. 

Elder Renlund, 
Converted into the Lord
Congo temple, follow the covenant path 
This becomes who we are, (identify)
Commitment etched in our hearts 
Faith isn't spread like the flu or cold
You must act in faith. Can't grow others faith, only invite them. 
Covenants are manifestations of own conversion, to be like Christ and adopt His attributes. Image in our countenance.
Don't be ambivalent/casual to our covenants 
We should be constant like a river. 
Dependable, steadfast 
Anchor ourselves to the Savior
Bury your weapons of rebellion

President Oaks 
Trust the Lord when it comes to marriage issues.
Worry about getting there first. 
What do we know about the Spirit World? 
Don't procrastinate, but some repentance is possible. Some are in bondage. 
Trust in the Lord, not in speculation 
Just Spirits will be raised to greater responsibility.
Work of salvation continues. 
After they pay the penalties of their works, will be hiers of salvation

Saturday Afternoon Session
Elder Bednar
Spiritual crocodiles- elder packer
Cheattahs stock prey, work in tandem
Distract and deception 
Sentinals stand on high ground
Pattern of stocking continued 
1. Beware of evils beguilling disguises 
2. Vigulence required to guard against casualness 
3. Understand intent of advisary. He wants suffering. 

Elder Alliaud-
Lord of the lost: sheep, coin, son. Doesn't matter why they are lost, or fault.
How I was found. 
Allow the power of the Book of Mormon to find us.

President Nelson 
Women and youth can be witnesses.
Youth battalion-gathering of Israel

Elder Cook
Bishopric hold keys over Aaronic Priesthood. Priests, teachers, deacons
No more YM presidency
Ward, stake, general officers, organization
Girls interviewed by YW leaders

Elder Pace
A firm foundation, withstand freeze/thaw
Home-centered church
Come follow me
Church is not 1hr shorter, but 6days longer
Influence of advasary will decrease in home
Anchor us to the bedrock of conversion 

Elder Budge
Resiliently happy, surender to God
Put our trust in him
In this life we still will have tribulations
Brother of Jared was worried about journey
Yes cannot cross this great deep save I prepare a way for you. 
We know that thou art able to show forth great power.
Surrender and entrust to God
May not feel safe, or be easy
They did have light continually

Elder Alvarado
Tell my son to stop eating so much candy
2 weeks ago I was eating too much candy myself
Empower moral authority 

Elder Rasband
Reinforce our testimonies and commitment.
Keep your word, integrity, walk the covenant path.
Shall see my face and know that I am
Do we stand by our promises?
Make decision now
Ruth lived true to her word to Naomi
The Lord will establish your words and sustain/endorse your deeds. 

Sunday Morning Session
Elder Gong
So much illusion in this world 
Covenant belonging 
Book of Mormon is a book of covenant belonging to those who accept it
We are children of the covenant
We can change when we decide to be happy and stop being miserable.
Blessings of covenant belonging
1. Eternal marriage, families
2. Following the prophet
3. Book of Mormon 

Sister Franco

Elder Uchtord
Discipleship is like practicing piano 
Concertos await. Maybe 
Keep strivjng/ which side do you stand
Help others progress
Reach out to those in distress
No expectations of repayment 
Love those who hurt you
Take upon ourselves the name of Christ
Don't hide or burry our faith
Talk about faith in natural ways
Tell others about our journey
God doesn't need you to sell it 
Just don't hide it
Invite people to come and see
Come and see, help stay 

Elder Gonzales
Lepers were unclean
God knows what is best for us
Burdens will be lifted eventually
Christ is a God of hope and healing 
All things are reconsiled 
If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean 

Elder Stevenson. 
Youth are the Hope of Israel 
Stories of mistaken identity 
Many cannot see things as they really are
Satan makes war with the Saints
Moses knew who he was 
"Get thee hense Satan, decieve me not"
This one God I will worship, which is a God of glory. 
Word of wisdom, porn, fear, lookism 

President Nelson
Love God and love others
Rebuilt mosques in Christchurch
Wheelchairs for disabled
Marys letter
Look for opportunities to lift, help
Latter-day Saints Charities - 2b$
Power of the Fast, fast-offering 
Bishops storehouses 
Story of Laputa 
800 million under-nourished 
70 million displaced refugees 
Deseret Industries, vision care 


Elder Eyring
Personal search for happiness.
Wickedness never was happiness
Continual repentance, keeping covenants
Ist experience in temple
I felt I had been there before
People face death with happiness. 
Work to: Feel the Savior's approval 
Joseph Smith in Liberty jail
Job, "be a man", job corrected for saying situation was unfair. 
Grow in holiness daily 

Elder Boom
Consider a gong in a symohany
Plays a minor role, but important 
Worth it to take efforts to be part of the orchestra.
We all have a part to play in the kingdom.
God did not send us here to fail
But to return glorious 

Elder Ballard
Barbara passed away last year
Live together in love 
We don't fully appreciate others until they are gone. 
Do not miss the opportunity to express love and appreciation 
If we marry right and live right we have the assurance of eternal relationships
Battle is divine spirit vs natural man 
Empower your divine spiritual nature 

Elder Johnson
3 D's, discretion, distraction, discouragement 
Study scriptures with a question daily
Partake of sacrament weekly

Elder Suarez
Devotion to Christ requires sacrifice and suffering. 
Take up your cross and follow Christ 
Deny yourself of all ungodliness 
Never stop trying 
Don't be held hostage by those who have hurt us.-- forgive, ask Christ to heal your heart. Wounds can heal. 

Elder Anderson
Fruit of the gospel
Grow your faith, trust God's plan
Dad loves u, Jesus loves you, and you're a good girl. 
Joy comes from purposely striving to follow the will of Heavenly Father. 
Fruit is always in season 
Without me, ye can do nothing 

President Nelson
Crowning Jewel of restoration is the temple
Many dedicated temples
All are invited if they are qualified 
Holiness to the Lord 
It's easier to build a temple then build a people worthy of the temple 
200 years of First Vision 













Saturday, August 31, 2019

Rectification of a Seeming Contradiction


According to reliable NDEs (near death experiences), numerous experiencers report seeing God.  This detail is perfectly in line with the Book of Mormon that teaches that the dead are immediately taken home to "that God who gave them life" (Alma 40:11).  

But if God appears at death or during these NDE's, wouldn't that knowledge destroy any further need for faith?  And without faith, there would no longer be a need for preaching to the dead (1 Peter 3:19).  But Peter in the New Testament says that Christ went and preached into the spirits in spirit prison.  

However, according to NDEs, God appears, but does not identify Himself as He does to the prophets.  That is why the testimony and annunciation of God at these prophetic visitations is so important.  God wants His prophets to know exactly who is speaking to them.  

Consequently, when researchers collect NDE stories from around the world, the elements of the experience are similar, but experiencers may report being visited by Muhammed or Buddah, etc. In one NDE, a man who was not religious and previously an atheist asked God which of all the Churches was true and reports he was given a smile but not an answer that that question.  

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Purpose of Religion: Being Good and Doing Good in Christ



I wanted to share with you the value and purpose of religion.  It can be hard to see the value of most religion because most religion have lost sight of their purpose.  Sadly, many religions have become more about entertainment, money, and valueless ideologies then purpose.

Rejecting religion is sort of unamerican and counter-constitutional.  Constitutional government was established dependent upon religion to do it's job. Yes, there was to be a separation of Church and State.  The State was designed to operate within its jurisdiction of enumerated rights, and the Church was to operate within the confines of it's purpose. 

"Avarice, ambition, revenge, and licentiousness would break the strongest cords of our Constitution, as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.". -John Adams, 2nd POTUS

"So that, however it may be mistaken, the end of law is not to abolish or restrain, but to preserve and enlarge freedom: for in all the states of created beings capable of laws, where there is no law, there is no freedom" — John Locke,Two treatises of government, p. 234 (1689).

"The American Republic will endure until the day Congress discovers that it can bribe the public with the public's money."

Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America



"Liberty cannot be established without morality, nor morality without faith."

Alexis de Tocqueville,  Democracy in America



There is no country in the world where the Christian religion retains a greater influence over the souls of men than in America, and there can be no greater proof of its utility and of its conformity to human nature than that its influence is powerfully felt over the most enlightened and free nation of the earth.

Alexis de Tocqueville,  Democracy in America

The purpose of America was to establish a nation free of aristocrats, which a division of powers, and a system of checks and balances. This is because "power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely."  America's leaders were not to be  based on birthright, but by election.  A moral people were meant to elect moral leaders. Instead, an immoral electorate choose immoral leaders like JFK, LBJ, Bill Clinton, and Trump.  And then we are surprised that these immoral leaders continually disappoint us, sell out, and serve corporate special interests. 

What is the purpose of religion?

James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

Religion is not just idealogy but supposed to be about upholding morality (do no harm to self or others), and helping the poor.  If your institution calls itself religion, but is busy doing something else, it isn't religion.  Real religion is supposed to encourage and reinforce moral living, and provide welfare for the disadvantaged.  Tragically, most religions do very little welfare, or humanitarian work, and teach even less morality. 

The Founding Fathers would roll over in their graves if they saw all the federal social programs we have today.  The Founders specifically intended that the federal government should not be engaged in welfare programs. Welfare was to be administered by the Church.  This is because, corrupt politicians use welfare to buy votes.  Also, Government is great at redistribution of wealth but can't rehabilitate the welfare recipient. Conseqently, the welfare check becomes a "handout" and not a "hand-up".  Free money "enables" the poor and keeps them down and disadvantaged. Government entitlements give out fish but doesn't teach people how to fish. 

Religion, is to provide welfare, and at the same time rehabilitate recipients.  "God takes the slum out of the person, and the person takes themselves out of the slum".  We saw this work somewhat in the Augusta ward where people were baptized and they immediately moved out of the Ward. In other cases, where people only came for the handouts, it didn't work as well. 

History witnessed the failure of Rome and Greece.  There was a lot of scientific innovations and a lot of philosophy and public discource, but these facts did not prevent their fall.  Rome and Greece lost their moral foundation.  The immorality of the Silk Road (drugs) and Pompeii (sex), pervaded Rome resulting in an explosion of idle and illegitimate poor. 

The false religion of Rome did nothing for the poor and actually sponsored and promoted the immorality. The people gave away their freedom to the Ceasars in exchange for their promise of "social justice" via "free bread and circus" (socialism). But the problem of poverty only worsened. 

Today, we are witnessing the slow errosion of freedom together with the errosion of morality. Poverty, disability, real  unemployment is at all-time highs.  Estimates are that 50% of the US population recieve some sort of government welfare. And those takers, are going to naturally elect politicians that promise to keep the handouts going. Nothing else really matters when you are dependant and not independent. 

The US is 20+ Trillion in debt with continued record deficits.  If the FED interest rate on our debt were to increase, our debt interest payment would exceed our 3 Trillion in yearly tax, and we would be bankrupt. But the US is continuing to print money (quantitative easing) and the FED is continuing to artificially hold interests rates at record low levels (2.5%). 

Missionaries are out there teaching about Jesus, purpose, relationship, and perspective.  Missionaries are teaching repentance, eternal families, word of wisdom and chastity. Missionaries are teaching individual and families to actually pray and read scripture.  Missionaries enjoyed a great upbringing and are showing gratitude by trying to show others how they can have the same great family life they had.

Now there are many Christian families that enjoy great family lives and are not LDS.  But these families still follow moral ideals. LDS have a higher responsibility just like the Levites among Israel. The other 11 tribes were not expected to do the responsibilities that the Levites were expected to do.  Simiarlily, LDS have additional responsibilities to serve in the temple and serve missions that we are accountable for, but that other Christians are not. 

Christianity is superior to all other idealogies, because 1. It's true 2. teaches golden rule 3. equality of man 4. personal responsibility 5. need for change 6. morality (do no harm) 7. universal salvation. 8. humility 9. thankfulness  

Also, Christianity almost teaches a nearly universal salvation which is unlike most idealogies. 1. where there is no law there is no sin. 2. One day every knee shall now she every tongue confess that Jesus is Christ (requirement for salvation) 3. Vicarious proxy ordinances. 4.  Many people are considered righteous or Christian even though they don't know it because of their faith. (Lamanites were baptized by fire and holy ghost and knew it not)(because Abraham believed God, it was counted until him for righteousness) 

But for those who know better. Have been taught the truth and come out in open rebellion against God and reject him.  I'm not sure in that case. 


Women in the Apostolic Church





https://byustudies.byu.edu/content/early-christian-prayer-circle

https://www.fairmormon.org/conference/august-2008/the-israelite-temple-and-the-early-christians


Saturday, July 13, 2019

Near Death Endowment



While most research scientists, and medical doctors; including a vast majority of Nobel Laureates are people of faith, a few vocal and visible scientists like to argue that science somehow fails to measure the existence of God or life after death. However, I think these science communicators are overlooking a fascinating branch of legitimate science into near-death experiences (NDEs) that has been going on for over 40 years. 

Dr. Bruce Greyson is an international expert into near-death experience research at the University of Virginia, Division of Perceptual Studies. Dr. Greyson has personally collected over 1000 NDE accounts from all over the world.  Dr. Greyson and other researchers have collected a mountain of profound scientific evidence in support of human consciousness beyond death. 



IANDS is an educational nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, the International Association for Near-Death Studies (IANDS) focuses resources into providing information and promoting research into NDE-related subjects.  

A great example of an NDE is Steve Gardipee:

While NDE's are all a little bit different, there is a common thread that runs through them all.  Most experiencers of positive NDE's consider them to be a divine gift or endowment of 1. divine perspective, 2. divine identity, and 3. divine purpose.  Also, many NDE's support the reality of eternal family relationships involving deceased family members as spirit guides. 

Like Paul's conversion, nearly all these NDE's are transformative.  The experiencer never comes away from the experience the same. Like Joseph Smith following his First Vision, experiencers report having their hearts filled with love for days afterward and oftentimes for the rest of their remaining lives. 

So, if these NDE's are so profound, and wonderful, then why does God only gift this endowment to a select few? Often, the experiences report being athiests, agnostics, a casual believer or even rebellious. Does God bestow a similar endowment on His believing children? 

The key to this is that the blessing of divine perspective, identity, and purpose can be given by alternate means than by almost killing you. In the Book of Mormon, Lehi and Nephi's vision of the Tree of Life served as such an endowment. Likewise, King Bejamin's speech transmitted this same divine knowledge to those gathered at the temple. The Pearl of Great Price-Moses records his vision of God that empowered his ability to later resist Satan's temptations. 

In our day, Temples of the Church of Jesus Christ serve to transmit this same divine message of perspective, identify, and purpose.  Temples also reveal and secure the eternal reality of family relationships. 

Think about it.  When God chooses to reveal Himself to mankind, the message of divine perspective, identity, and purpose is the message God chooses to communicate again and again.  And this is precisely the same message the LDS temple transmits to God's people and why the latter-day temple is true and why the Bible in Isaiah 2, Mica 2, Ezechiel 37, Malachi 3,  Revelations 7, etc. foretold the restoration of the temple would preceded Jesus Christ's second coming.  This latter-day temple would ultimately be Christ's divine mechanism and institution (house built without hands) to bring about world peace and a paradise on Earth. 


It is sad that evil is never far away from good.  It is apparent that the Theosophical Society of America is very interested in influencing the narrative surrounding these NDE's. These TSA members seem to favor interpretation of these NDE's that promote false doctrines of 1. unconditional blessing (God loves all but blessings are conditioned on accepting Christ and repentance) 2. reincarnation 3. medium/spiritism 4. astrology 5. energy healing 6. meditation instead of prayer and 7. minimizes importance of the physical body. 


Tuesday, July 02, 2019

Roses and Thorns




Spencer,

I feel your frustrations.  I'm not sure how to motivate people to follow the Spirit to make big changes in their lives either.  If you figure it out, let the rest of us know. I know that we must love people into stuff, but also use reason (head and heart).  Love and reason is is the Spirit of God. Motivating by fear, coersion, embarrassment or any other way is not of God. 

Investigators learn pretty quickly that joining the true church will change their life.  In addition to all the "thou shalt nots", Gods kingdom involves a number of "thou shalts".  People don't like "thou shalts".  People are scared of the "thou shalts." False religion pacifies people into thinking God doesn't have very many expectations of them.  So, its easy for people to talk themselves out of keeping commitment and progessing. 

It is true that all you have to do to be saved and go to heaven is accept Christ as your Savior.  But, as you know, heaven is made up of different kingdoms, mansions, rewards, responsibilities, callings. 

The kingdoms of glory may not actually involve a physical separations. (Higher can visit or do all the responsibilities of the lower) More likely we all work together but like the ER (doctor, nurse, tech), or any work place their are different levels of responsibility. The doctor can do all the tasks of the lower positions, but the lower (nurses, techs) are not trained to do the responsibilities of the doctor.  

If we want to enjoy the highest responsibility, we need to learn to take responsibility, to give our lives to God and like Christ,  have the attitude of Christ where he said again and again, "I came not to do my own will, but to do the will of the Father who sent me".  If we wish to not only be saved, but merit exaltation and the highest reward of heaven, we must be willing to not only accept Christ, but receive/accept/adopt the love and faith of Christ for doing His Father's will. (Charity = pure love of Christ for His Father and towards always proactively doing the will of God the Father in all things). 

Christ was the greatest of all, not for imposing His own will on the Earth and mankind, but because He, completely subordinated His will to the that of His Father in all things. Magic (white or black) involves the natural and supernatural imposition of our own will on the universe for good or evil.  But since magic involves our own will, even white magic is wrong. Priesthood involves the natural and supernatural imposition of the will of God on the universe. 

I have some kids who are picky eaters.  All they seem to want to eat is Raman and Mac n' cheese. We are kinda guilty of giving into that and let the kids always have what they want for breakfast or meal time.  This is called "short-order cooking" as opposed to expecting that our children "eat the well balanced meal that mom or dad has made".  We sometimes give into letting our kids "short-order" other aspects of their life. 

We should respect children and all people and validate our children's feelings, wants and needs. But there are consequences to always letting kids and adults "short-order" breakfast as well as other aspects of their temporal and spiritual lives. 

1. People will tend to limit themselves only to what they are comfortable with and not try new things. 

Just as parents understand the nutrition of food, God understands the spiritual  nutrition of all things and ofttimes puts things on our plates (like spiritual spinach) that we are expected to develop a taste for. 

With abundant screens, and choices, we tend to always let our kids pick what they want to watch or listen to instead of parents controlling the remote control and imposing a nature or history show on them or some classical music. 

2.  Short-order cooking our lives can make people less resilant and adaptible . We kinda understand this when we talk about "helicopter parents" raising "snowflake children", "micro-aggressions" and "safe spaces". 

If we approach situations only thinking in terms of what we want, or how to make the experience perfect for us, inevitatably we will be disappointed. Nothing in life goes as planned or comes out perfectly. When life fails to meet with our exact expectations or something doesn't go exactly as planned, we might feel more anxiety, and stress about it and then become overly focused on those negative details. We can then begin to become avoidant of new situations or situations that are out of our control. In some cases, we can short-order cook ourselves out of living life. 

All things in life (relationships, marriage, career, activities, ourselves) can be likened to a rose bush.  The thorns come along with the flowers.  If things don't go exactly as planned, we can get focused on the thorns and even begin to believe that our whole life is nothing but thorns.  Or we can keep our focus on the beautiful flowers.  Then when we look back at an event or marriage or life, we may not completely forget the thorns, but we also see and remember all the beautiful blooms. 

Mosiah 3:19 For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.

Elder Maxwell said: 

“our relationship to living prophets (God) is not one in which their sayings are a smorgasbord from which we may take only that which pleases us. We are to partake of all that is placed before us, including the spinach, and to leave a clean plate!” Elder Maxwell, Things As They Really Are, P.74

I have several friends who built set about to build their dream homes.  After touring their beautiful homes and listening to the hundreds of details about design, features, and decisions I was surprised to hear that they were considering selling their supposed dream homes not long after completion. Why? How is it possible?  It turns out that it is impossible for any man to build the perfect house, because what he wants is continually changing. So, immediately after building what you thought was the perfect home, you realize it isn't because what you want has changed.  My wife (real estate agent) tells me these dream homes can be difficult to sell because what one person might go out of their way to design into a home might just be a design feature that noone else wants and that makes the home nearly unsellable. 


When some people complain about all the various things that are expected of LDS people. I understand were they are coming from. It can seem like a lot. I appreciate the recent attempts to consolidate and simplify. Also, I appreciate reminders that we are never expected to "run faster than we have strength" and to just "lift where we stand". But, God has a marvelous work that He is bringing about in these latter days. Tragically, there is a lot of work and the laborors are few.  God can defineately do all His own work, but blesses us to participate in it with Him. 


Love and Warmest Regards, 
David Brosnahan

Wednesday, June 26, 2019

Equal Partners


2 Cor 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together

Men and women (in general)  have different temperaments.  Our children come with different temperaments as well.  Men tend to be a little on the disagreeable side and if the children are a bit disagreeable as well, Father's may be a bit avoidant to participate in certain routines. Disagreeableness or assertiveness help men leave the home and deal with workplace tasks.  Women tend to be on the more agreeable side, which can help with dealing with children without losing it. That said, it's still tough. 

Husbands and wives need to appreciate each other's temperaments and their pluses and minuses.   If both mom and dad are on the disagreeable side, it may be that having a bunch of disagreeable children to care for will be too much.  For agreeable parents with agreeable children, having 10+ may be a dream. The Church attracts agreeable people, but should be open an accepting to the disagreeable/assertive as well. Assertiveness has its value too. Also, agreeableness and assertiveness can be trained to a degree. 

In today's more equaltible culture, wives and husband might enjoy a more ideal and equal relationship.  Instead of dividing up the home tasks and waiting for Mom to tell Dad what needs to happen, Dad can be more involved and more cooperative in the family tasks.  Instead of looking at the efficiency of a division of labor, consider the synergy and and intimacy of working together.  Nurses in the hospital really come together as a team when they tackle the hard tasks together.  When there is a code brown, a great working team will all gather to make quick work of a dirty task. Also, working together is more fun.

If you can be a full partner and lift the household loads together, you might be surprised at how you and your spouse grow together.

Gen 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

Tuesday, June 18, 2019

Exaltation



In my opinion, exaltation involves the work of preparing spirits for their mortality. This could be considered giving spirits their "first lessons", eternal parenting, or teaching "morality prep'.

There are 3 lessons that must be learned during mortality and can only be learned now. 1. love God 2. control the body 3. submit to God's priesthood authority. 

If you never learn these lessons here and now, you can never learn them and consequently, you can never teach what you have never learned. 

In my view, the 3 degrees of heaven are not physical separations but more of a division of responsibility. It's kinda like the hospital with techs, nurses, and doctors. We all work together, but there is a hierarchy of responsibility. God is the Great Physician, The Physician of physicians, who desires all His children to become doctors, but some will settle to be nurses and techs-- worlds without end. 

If you desire to become like, and do the work of our Heavenly Father, the time to decide is now. There is no going back to medical school later.

Saturday, June 15, 2019

No Law = No Humor




The Book of Mormon tells the story of Korihor who preached against the existence of God, against Christ and that religion was just another form of oppression. 

Alma 30:17 And many more such things did he say unto them, telling them that there could be no atonement made for the sins of men, but every man fared in this life according to the management of the creature; therefore every man prospered according to his genius, and that every man conquered according to his strength; and whatsoever a man did was no crime.

Korihor had a lot of success convincing people that all rules were arbitrary.  Korihor argued that there is no right and wrong; there is only what a person wants, what a person can do, and what a person can get away with. 

Sadly, in this lawless, "do as you will" world, there can be no place for humor. Humor absolutely depends on the harmless violation of rules.  Without rules, there can be no humor. The reality of universal truth is proven by the universality of humor. 

If there is something we don't find humorous, it is either because, we don't understand the rule the joke is based upon (premise), or we consider the rule too important and sacred to be harmlessly violated.  Sadly, in Korihor's world, if there is no law, there is no humor. 

2 Nephi 2:13 And if ye shall say there is no law, ye shall also say there is no sin. If ye shall say there is no sin, ye shall also say there is no righteousness. And if there be no righteousness there be no happiness. And if there be no righteousness nor happiness there be no punishment nor misery. And if these things are not there is no God. And if there is no God we are not, neither the earth; for there could have been no creation of things, neither to act nor to be acted upon; wherefore, all things must have vanished away.


Thursday, June 06, 2019

Reading Program: "My Neighborhood"


I am doing the "My Neighborhood" reading program with my daughter Vivian.  "My Neighborhood" was created by my mother,  Gayle Brosnahan.  Together with sight words, "My Neighborhood" is an easy, fun, and effective teaching tool. Smartphones, cameras, and wireless printing technology should make this system accessible to and convenient for most families to implement

The "My Neighborhood" program involves taking a picture of something in my daughter's world (bed, kitchen, computer).  We print the photo out on the top half of the page, and then my daughter crafts a sentence about the picture.  I write out the sentence with a Sharpie on another sheet of paper, cut out the words and scramble them. I then have my daughter unscramble the words and we paste them on the bottom of the page under the picture.  We do 1-2 pages daily and put all the pages together in a book. 

A modified version of this program might serve to be a very effective tool to help teach adult to read as well. 


Saturday, May 18, 2019

Galen on Christians

Galen,  [129 - c. 199]  (Aelius Galenus or Claudius Galenus, Galen of Pergamon) was a great Greek physician and philosopher, member of the Roman Imperial court and friend to Marcus Aurelius. Galen admired Christians for their faith, virtue, sexual purity, and justice. Christians should be similar examples of virtue today. 'Virtue signaling' is not a bad thing.  There are a variety of worldviews in the world.  Despite what some would claim, not all worldviews are created equal.  Some are better than others.  A good example demonstrates the supperiority and practicality of one worldview over the others. Even those who claim all worldviews (religions) are equal, are evangelizing their own worldview.  However, l would invite them to demonstrate the fruits of their religion reminding them that some worldviews endorse bacha bazi and female circumcision, etc. 

From Galen, Πλατωνικῶν διαλογων συνόψεις(=Summary of Platonic dialogues), in 8 books; from part 3.  The work is listed in De libris propriis c. 14.17

This work is lost, but a quotation is found in Arabic authors in somewhat different forms.  Hunain ibn Ishaq records that he translated a work in four parts, written by Galen in eight parts, containing summaries of works by Plato.18

The first version is found in Abu Ali Isa ibn Ishaq ibn Zura 19 (known as Ibn Zura, d. 1008 AD), On the main questions discussed between Christians and Jews20Walzer translation:21

Galen ... says at the end of his summary of Plato's Republic: "In the religious community of the followers of Christ there are most admirable people who frequently act according to perfect virtue; and this is to be seen not only in their men but in their women as well." And I see that he admires them for their virtue, and although he is a man whose position is known and whose opposition to Judaism and Christianity is manifest and clear to everybody who has studied his books and knows what he states in them, he nevertheless cannot deny the excellent qualities which the Christians display in their virtuous activities.

Ibn Abi Usaibiah (d.1270) quoting an earlier writer, `Ubayd Allāh ibn Jibrā`īl:22

"...Evidence that Christ lived quite some time before Galen is contained in the following passage of Galen's commentary on Plato's "Republic." 'From this we may infer that the people called Christians derive their faith from signs and miracles. Also, sometimes, they show such behavior as is adopted by philosophers; for fearlessness of death and the hereafter is something we witness in them every day. The same is true of abstention from sexual intercourse. Some of them, both men and women, go their whole life without sexual intercourse. There are among them those who possess such a measure of self-control with regard to food and drink and who are so bent on justice, that they do not fall short of those who profess philosophy in truth.'

The last version is Abu'l Fida', Universal Chronicle, book 3, chapter 3.  This covers history down to 1329 AD.  Latin translation:27

Secundum El-Camil, regnante illo vixit Galenus, quamquam prima vita ejus pars in extremam Ptolemaei aetatem incidit.  Galeni tempore religion Christianorum magna jam incrementa ceperat, eorumque mentionem fecit in libro de sententiis Politiae Platonicae, his verbis: Hominem perique orationem demonstrativam continuam mente assequi nequeunt; quare indigent, ut instituantur, parabolis (narrationes dicit de praemiis et poenis in vita futura exspectandis).  Veluti nostro tempore videmus, homines illos, qui Christiani vocantur, fidem suam e parabolis petiisse.  Hi tamen interdum talia faciunt, qualia qui vere philosophantur.  Nam quod mortem contemnunt, id quidem omnes ante oculos habemus; item quod verecundia quadam ducti ab usu rerum venerearum abhorrent.  Sunt enum inter eos, et foeminae et viri, qui per totam vitam a concubitu abstinuerint; sunt etiam, qui in animis regendis coercendisque et in acerrimo honestatis studio eo progressi sint, ut nihil cedant vere philosophantibus.  Haec Galenus.

Walzer's translation:16

Most people are unable to follow any demonstrative argument consecutively; hence they need parables, and benefit from them and he (Galen) understands by parables tales of rewards and punishments in a future life -- just as now we see the people called Christians drawing their faith from parables [and miracles], and yet sometimes acting in the same way [as those who philosophize]. For their contempt of death [and of its sequel] is patent to us every day, and likewise their restraint in cohabitation. For they include not only men but also women who refrain from cohabiting all through their lives; and they also number individuals who, in self-discipline and self-control in matters of food and drink, and in their keen pursuit of justice, have attained a pitch not inferior to that of genuine philosophers.

Sprengling's translation:28

According to the Kâmil [of Ibn Athîr] Galen lived in the days of this Commodus, having been born before the death of Ptolemy [literally: "and Galen lived to the time of Ptolemy"].  In his [i.e. Galen's] time the religion of the Christians had become manifest, and Galen mentions them [i.e. the Christians] in his book Remarks on the book of Plato on the Republic, where he says: "The mass of the people are not able to follow the thread of an apodictic discourse, wherefore they need allusive (enigmatic) sayings, so that they may enjoy instruction thereby (by allusive sayings he means the tales concerning rewards and punishments in the world to come). Of this sort we now see the people who are called Christians deriving their faith from such allusive sayings. Yet on their part deeds have been produced equal to the deeds of
those who are in truth philosophers. For example, that they are free from the fear of death is a fact which we all have observed; likewise their abstinence from the unlawful practice of sexual intercourse. And, indeed, there are some among them, men, and women, also, who during the whole of their natural life refrain altogether from such intercourse. And some of them have attained to such a degree of severe self-control and to such earnestness in their desire for righteousness, that they do not fall short of those who are in truth philosophers. Thus far the words of Galen.


Galen expresses criticism, of the God of Judaism and Christianity sometimes giving commandments without explainations. But according to Moses 5:6, we see that this can be an accurate observation. The angel of God does give an explainations, but we see that Adam's faith was tested first before the explaination was given.  Sometimes you have to first do things and see that they work, before the explaination will even make sense. Unfortunately, sometimes Christianity gets intself into trouble by speculating (with faithful intention) why an unpopular commandment is true.  But, ofttimes the speculation ends up being more damaging to faith than the unpopular practice itself ever was. 

Moses 5:6 And after many days an angel of the Lord appeared unto Adam, saying: Why dost thou offer sacrifices unto the Lord? And Adam said unto him: I know not, save the Lord commanded me.

Galen also seems critical of Christian teaching method of "needing parables," miracles strengthing faith, or relying on promised future blessings.  However, Galen recognized that the common man was common and likely not educated in Greek philosophy and reasoning like His students.  But what Galen couldn't argue with was the results.  Galen acknowledges that God's way of teaching the common man, while inferior to his Greek methods, while inferior in his opinion, was nonetheless very effective. 

From Galen, Εἰς τὸ πρῶτον κινοῦν ἀκίνητον (=On the prime mover). The work is listed in De libris propriis14, so must have been composed before that work was written in 192 A.D.14

The work is lost, but it was translated into Arabic by Hunain ibn Ishaq.15  The Arabic translation is not known to us today, but material from it is quoted by Ibn Abi Usaibia (d. 1270 AD), in chapter 5 of his work The History of Physicians.4

Walzer's translation:16

If I had in mind people who taught their pupils in the same way as the followers of Moses and Christ teach theirs — for they order them to accept everything on faith — I should not have given you a definition.

Kopf's translation:

Galen further mentions Moses and Christ in his treatise on "The Primum Movens," where he says: "If I had seen people who taught their disciples in the same way as the disciples of Moses and Christ were taught — that is, who ordered them to accept everything on trust — would not have given you any definitions."


http://www.tertullian.org/rpearse/galen_on_jews_and_christians.htm

Friday, May 17, 2019

Where Is God In Adversity

Some critics who question the existence of God, point to the adversity and suffering of God's people.  If God exists, then why do His people suffer?  The truth is that God has not called His people to have an easy life.  God's people are continually called to suffer, and be an example of patience and faith in our adversity. How can we be an example of faith unless our faith is challenged?  How can we be an example of patience unless our patience is challenged? 

The suffering of Job is a type of the suffering of the Messiah Jesus Christ and God's people. Where was God in Jobs life?, In the life of Jesus, or in the Holocaust of the Jews? Jesus Himself cried out on the cross, "O God, O God, why hast thou forsaken me".  Joseph Smith in Liberty jail wrote, "O God, where art thou? And where is the pavilion that covereth thy hiding place?" 

Yet, in all these examples, God has proven faithful to redeem His people and make up to them all their losses, even to exceed 100 fold. Job was restored to family and riches beyond what he had a first. Jesus Christ was gloriously resurrected and the Kingdom of God was birthed out of His death.  The nation of Israel was originally brought out of Egyptian bondage.  The Jewish people have been preserved through two thousand years of persecution, and the modern state of Israel was resurrected out of the Holocaust.  

Simillarly, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the New Jerusalem, arose from the martyrdom of Joseph Smith and the persecution of the Saints beginning in Kirkland, Missouri, Nauvoo and following them to the Rocky Mountains. Today, this great Latter-day kingdom reaches across all people's and continents. 

However, while each of us is subject to the conditions of mortality, I have found much less adversity in my life, and avoided many potholes, by living according to God's commandments. 

Thursday, May 09, 2019

False gods of Science and Medicine

Lev 15:13 And when he that hath an issue is cleansed of his issue; then he shall number to himself seven days for his cleansing, and wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in running water, and shall be clean.

The germ-theory of medicine was only recently appreciated in the mid 1800's.  Doctors routinely went from patient to patient without washing hands at all or washed in a basin of still water.  Consequently, women giving birth under the care of a doctor suffered a near 30% morality.  This high mortality vs midwives generated distrust of the medical profession which exists to the present day. 

Ignaz Philipp Semmelweis 1 July 1818 – 13 August 1865) was a Hungarian physician of ethnic-German ancestry, now known as an early pioneer of antiseptic procedures. Described as the "saviour of mothers", Semmelweis discovered that the incidence of puerperal or childbed fever (endometritis) could be drastically cut by the use of hand disinfection. Semmelweis proposed the practice of washing hands with chlorinated lime solutions in 1847 while working in Vienna General Hospital's First Obstetrical Clinic, where doctors' wards had three times the mortality of midwives'wards.

Despite other publications of results where hand washing reduced mortality to below 1%, Semmelweis's observations conflicted with the established scientific and medical opinions of the time and his ideas were rejected by the medical community. Semmelweis could offer no acceptable scientific explanation for his findings, and some doctors were offended at the suggestion that they should wash their hands and mocked him for it. 

In 1865, Semmelweis supposedly suffered a nervous breakdown and was treacherously committed to a asylum by his colleague.  Semmelwies died 14 days after at age 47 from gangrene.  Semmelweis developed gangrene after his wounds became infected which he recieved after being beaten by asylum guards. (Wiki)

Sammelweis's practice earned widespread acceptance only years after his death, when Louis Pasteur and Joseph Lister confirmed the germ theory.  Lister, acting on the French microbiologist research, practiced and operated using hygenic methods with great success. 

This tragic history of medicine is the fruit of the paternalistic hierarchy of science and medicine that resists change, matrys many of it's revolutionaries, and has harmed and killed millions of people.  So, beware if you are losing your faith in religion, and giving up to worship the gods of science and medicine.  The Church of Jesus Christ is administered by imperfect people.  But if you are going to judge the LDS Church, then it's unfair to not use the same criteria for science and medicine. What I see is a massive double standard. 

Do we reject modern medicine because of it's past history of bloodletting and murcury poisoning?   Do we reject modern science for recently switching from string theory and a multiverse (many world's) to simulation/information/emergence theory  (zero world's)?  Critics of religion will demonize the LDS Church for its limited mistakes but hold up science and naturalism as the source of universal truth.  

Critics may contend that their double standard is justified because religion claims to talk with God while science has to work things out based on evidence and mistakes. Critics may claim that science admits it's faults. Does it? In reality,  this king-of-the-mountain system only admits fault after a mountain of evidence has finally broken the massive dam of resistance and denials.  Then, under the new paradigm, science talks like no scientist in their right mind ever believed anything different. 

The truth with religion is that God doesn't reveal every little detail to man.  And when God does reveal something, He rarely gives reasons or a plan of implementation.  Consequently, while the revealed word of God has proven trustworthy, varous attempts by man to understand, or explain God's word and implement it have been failible. 

I am trained as a scientist and a physician.  I have a masters in biochemistry and a doctorate in medicine with several peer-reviewed publications. I recognize the limitations and faults of both science, medicine, and religion, and despite their mistakes, the benefits far outweigh the risks. We can always work to make things better; even in religion.  But there is no logical justification to outright reject the institutions (hierarchy) of science, medicine or religion. Critics of religion need to learn how to work within the system to bring about change without harming the faith of the innocent. 

There has been a concerted movement in the West to errode our faith in our institutions. While we should tirelessly labor for improvement, we should be wise to recognize this trend and not be found guilty of supporting its aims. 

Sunday, May 05, 2019

Covenant and Naturalization

I have an Evangelical Christian friend who believes the ordinances and covenants of the temple are an addition to the all-sufficient gospel of Jesus Christ. Although, Isaiah 2 says the Latter-day temple will bring the long-anticipated millennial peace on Earth, he interprets the temple to mean Christ alone. He believes all covenants and ordinances including baptism and the Lords Supper are unnecessary. 

I know some atheists who believe similarly about covenants and ordinances. Many atheists believe anything religious is dangerous. However, I think this view may be due to a misunderstanding about what religion actually is. Pure religion, according to James 1:27, is about helping those in need, and living purified (in Christ). If our definition of religion involves anything else that these two things, it isn't religion. 

I ask my Evangelical and atheist friends what they think about other covenants we make in our lives. Is reciting the Pledge of Allegiance silly? What about our politician oath of office or a new citicizens oath of naturalization? Are these purely pagan practices? What about a doctor's Hippocratic oath to 'do no harm'? And what about the marriage vows we make with our spouses. Atheists argue that religious people are dangerous. Maybe people that deny the foundation principles and covenants that make up the fabric of our society pose more of a danger. 

Understanding the importance of covenant to society and our relationship with God, we should begin to understand why baptism for the dead is necesssry. If all people must be baptized by water and the spirit, then a just God would make heavenly citizenship available to both the living and the dead. Baptism for the dead are performed in temples, which are embassies of heaven. Those who serve in these heavenly embassies are its ambassadors- ambassadors of heaven. 

Nicholas T. Wright, a preeminent New Testament scholar,  wrote that modern Christianity misunderstands Paul's justification by grace thru faith and the gospel by interpreting Paul according to the 16th century protestant-catholic debate and not his first century jewish-christian context. Jews observed many commandments that did not involve right and wrong.  When Paul taught that men were not saved by works of the Law, Paul was referring to the Law of Moses and not the moral Noahide Laws. 


Friday, May 03, 2019

Tacitus on Christianity

Marcus Claudius Tacitus, a Roman historian, in his "Annals of Imperial Rome" (15.44), gives a description of the six-day Great Fire of Rome that burned much of Rome in July 64 AD dring the reign of Nero. The passage is one of the earliest non-Christian references to the origins of Christianity, the execution of Christ described in the canonical gospels, and the presence and persecution of Christians in 1st-century Rome (wiki).

"But all human efforts, all the lavish gifts of the emperor, and the propitiations of the gods, did not banish the sinister belief that the conflagration was the result of an order. Consequently, to get rid of the report, Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace. Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus, and a most mischievous superstition, thus checked for the moment, again broke out not only in Judæa, the first source of the evil, but even in Rome, where all things hideous and shameful from every part of the world find their centre and become popular. Accordingly, an arrest was first made of all who pleaded guilty; then, upon their information, an immense multitude was convicted, not so much of the crime of firing the city, as of hatred against mankind."

Testimonium Flavianum

The Testimonium Flavianum (meaning the testimony of Flavius Josephus) is a passage found in Book 18, Chapter 3, 3 "Antiquities" by Titus Flavius Josephus, born Yosef ben Matityahu, was a first-century Romano-Jewish historian who was born in Jerusalem. Josephus was part of the Jewish revolt in 67 AD, was captured, and then spared and used as a translator because he told Vespasian that Hebrew scripture predicted that Vespasian would become emperor. Josephus was freed and took the name Flavius after Vespasian became emporer in 69 AD (wiki), 

Josephus is one of the most important first-century Jewish and Roman historians. Josephus mentions Jesus on two occasions in his writings. His mention in Antiquites may be the most important of the secular accounts of Jesus Christ. Josephus account of Christ is known as "The Testimonium Flavianum". Critics argue that this passage is unreliable because it shows clear evidence of Christianization. It turns out that the known Greek versions of Josephus "Antiquities" were preserved by Christians and this passage about Jesus shows clear signs of biased embellishment. 

Never fear, because schors have discovered an arabic version of "Antiquities", and the major details of Christ's virtuous life, crucifixion, and reported bodily resurrection are preserved. 

Arabic summary, presumably of Antiquities18.63. From Agapios' Kitab al-'Unwan ("Book of the Title," 10th c.).

The translation belongs to Shlomo Pines. See also James H. Charlesworth, Jesus Within Judaism.

"At this time there was a wise manwho was called Jesus. And his conduct was good, and he was known to be virtuous. And many people from among the Jews and the other nations became his disciples. Pilate condemned him to be crucified and to die. And those who had become his disciples did not abandon his discipleship. They reported that he had appeared to themafter his crucifixion and that he was alive; accordingly, he wasperhaps the Messiah concerning whom the prophets have recountedwonders."