Tuesday, December 30, 2025

Elder Jeffery R. Holland



Elder Jeffery R. Holland served as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from June 23, 1994 to his passing on December 27, 2025.  Prior to serving as an Apostle, Elder Holland was BYU President from 1980 to 1989.  During Elder Hollond's ministry, he gave countless amazing BYU devotionals, and General Conference talks.  Different Apostles tend to reach different people, but I think most agree that there was no other speaker in the Modern Church of Jesus Christ who had a bigger inspirational influence than Elder Holland.  His talks made your bones burn with the Holy Ghost. 
  

Saturday, December 27, 2025

Kingdom of Heaven


I think a proper economic and monetary system will be how Satan is bound. Right now, Satan controls the "treasures of the Earth". The first step in cleansing the temple is to overturn the tables of the moneychangers. Is there money in God's Kingdom? Money is a tool. The temple had the temple shekel.

I think the US Constitution Article 1, Section 8 has the key to proper monetary policy by requiring that Congress via the Treasury "Coin the money". Sadly, we don't follow our own constitution and allow banks to create most of the money (virtually) via a fractional reserve monetary system.

Milton Friedman proposed a full-reserve monetary system. Such a system would protect banks from banking runs. Most money is created at loan origination. Governments could collect simple prime-interest on ALL money creation as opposed to only a small fraction and not need to collect other involuntary taxes like income tax.

A cool name for this system would be the "Safety Society System". Local non-profit's (Safety Societies) could approve loans with federal underwriting for real assets like property based on uniform rules of credit worthiness, and only collect a "loan origination fee". The government would collect a simple prime interest to control inflation and M2 (money supply). Unlike the amortized mortgage, (double death), home owners in SSS would begin to build equity from the start. This equity is a built-in insurance system, missed payments are deducted from equity. Homes prices are a major driver of inflation. In SSS, home prices are stable.

Communities and corporations apply for loans based on projected proceeds of an approved sales tax. or combined credit of all employees, Mining companies can get a loan based on value of proven mineral value in the ground with benefits going towards residents who equally share mineral rights.

Saturday, November 22, 2025

Constitutional Government

1. I'm not sure LDS believe in theocracy.  The preferred government in Israel was the Judges and the preferred government among the Nephites was having a chief judge.

2. We believe Constitutional government in general is inspired if not specifically the US Constitution.

3. The Bible says the law would come from Zion and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.Isa 2:3 

4.  Church and State have different jurisdictions.  State has the duty to prevent and prosecute harm.  The State prevents harm (deprivation of life, liberty, property) by imposing  punishments on the perpetrator as apposed to overregulating and punishing everyone in the name of prevention (origin of Big Government) . Alma 1:17

5.  The duty of the Church is charity and virtue.  James 1:27.  Church rehabilitate and disciplines those who commit self harm (addictions). Church is to provide welfare because there is potential accountability and assistance with virtue issues leading to poverty. 

6. Brigham Young prophesied the preservation of the US Constitution:

"Will the Constitution be destroyed? No: it will be held inviolate by this people; and, as Joseph Smith said, ‘The time will come when the destiny of the nation will hang upon a single thread. At that critical juncture, this people will step forth and save it from the threatened destruction.’ It will be so." -BY

7. I think talking about preserving the Constitution vs. changing it will build more unity. 

8.  I think the problem we have is not following our Constitution.  ie money creation, etc. Legislative Branch legislating the law.  Senate investigating corruption and not house committee with no subpoena power. Politicians just say "its being investigated" but Trey Gowdy and Jason Chaffetz in the House had no real subpoena power to get testimony or documents. The wrong house was investigating. 

9.  I think case law is unnecessary or less necessary and a jury can decide if harm has been done and the appropriate punishment.  I've seen big corperation cause harm and get off saying "we have broken no laws". 

10. I think the Council of 50 was necessary at the time and might well have a place again as a city government.  But even thought the US had betrayed the LDS , the LDS after considering all options felt to stick with and support the US Constitution as opposed to many other options considered by the Council of 50.  That's the take away I get from it. 

11. Jesus will not reign the whole time during the Melennium.  

"“That Jesus will be a resident on the earth a thousand [years] with the Saints is not the case, but will reign over the Saints and come down and instruct, as he did the five hundred brethren [see 1 Corinthians 15:6], and those of the first resurrection will also reign with him over the Saints.” -TPJS

12.  I think the big push right now as it has been for awhile, even with Candace Owens and Tucker Carlson is for us to lose faith in all our institutions and ultimately in the US Constitution so that when the plug is finally pulled on society, we walk away voluntarily and voluntarily accept their more globally controlled alternative. The US Constitution is the basis and example for Constitutional government everywhere, if we turn our back on it; consitutional government will fall everywhere. 

Friday, November 14, 2025

Notes on LDS Historical Polygamy

The following summarizes a few points made by "Women of Ward Radio" podcast. 

1. In a combination of Victorian and eternal sealing mindset, many sealings and adoptions to Joseph Smith were made with the idea to link families. (most likely were symbolic sealings not involving physical relations at all). 
2. Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball polygamy was not typical. Many of their wives, now widowed, were originally sealed to Joseph Smith. (BY and HCK took responsibility for a unique need) 
3. Divorce laws were very liberal. Womens rights were generally much better for the time. If there was a divorce, children belonged to the wife. Women could vote, own property, encouraged to be educated. 
4. The institution in frontier Utah for caring for fatherless and the widow was the family thru adoption and marriage.  
5. Most men practicing polygamy only had 2 wives max.
6. In many cases polygamy was a calling and sought approval of 1st wife. 
7. Only 30% men practiced in St. George in 1860, 25% in 1870, 20% in 1880. 
8. Individual women in polygamy had less children overall, men had more children overall. 
9. Women could seek and were encouraged to seek education and vocational opportunities if desired while having builtin intrafamily access to childcare.
10. Journals of polygamous wives at the time were net positive. Descendents today, looking back, are net positive. 
11. Fundamentalist polygamy today is nothing like the historical practice.
12. A women's own children provide care and support for her in her old age, then as now. 
13.  It was a commandant of God to restore the practice for a time.  We don't know all the whys
14.  It was 100% voluntary for men and women.  
15. Women were asked by Joseph Smith and others to seek a revelation from God.  Women eport receiving independent revelations that polygamy was God's will for them. 
16. Raised the bar for single men. 
17. LDS are not called to and do not practice this today.

"when your daughters have grown up and wish to marry let them have their choice in a husband if they know what their choice is... but if they marry the wrong man let them try again... you shall have your own agency in the matter"  -Brigham Young

"they will tell you that you will go into eternity and find yourself without husbands and cannot get an exaltation. That you cannot have this, that, or the other if you are not sealed to them. .. My advice to the sisters is never be sealed to any man unless you wish to be.... Let me hear no more: 'you must be sealed to me or you cannot get an exaltation'."  -Brigham Young

Wednesday, October 29, 2025

Peacemakers Needed: Turning the Other Cheek


Matt 5:39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person.(seek revenge, retaliate against) But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.

President Russell M. Nelson in his General Conference talk entitled "Peacemakets Needed" says:

"Anger never persuades. Hostility builds no one. Contention never leads to inspired solutions. Regrettably, we sometimes see contentious behavior even within our own ranks. We hear of those who belittle their spouses and children, of those who use angry outbursts to control others, and of those who punish family members with the “silent treatment.” We hear of youth and children who bully and of employees who defame their colleagues."

"The Savior’s message is clear: His true disciples build, lift, encourage, persuade, and inspire—no matter how difficult the situation. True disciples of Jesus Christ are peacemakers."

"My dear brothers and sisters, how we treat each other really matters! How we speak to and about others at home, at church, at work, and online really matters. Today, I am asking us to interact with others in a higher, holier way. Please listen carefully. “If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy that we can say about another person—whether to his face or behind her back—that should be our standard of communication."

Turning the other cheek doesn't mean being a doormat or inviting someone to hurt you again. Turning the other cheek is a form of nonviolent resistance that aims to subvert their intent and break the cycle of violence. Culturally, a backhanded slap from a superior was a grave insult, and by turning the cheek, the victim forces the aggressor to use an open hand—a gesture of equality—effectively robbing them of the insult's power. The phrase is not a call to passively endure abuse, but a radical, nonviolent act of courage that challenges wrongdoing and affirms that one's dignity is not dependent on the aggressor's approval. 

The following podcast by Steven Bartlett 'Diary of a CEO' with guest Jefferson Fisher gives real direction in how to respond in the best ways when dealing with contentious situations. 


Communication Tips:
1. Take a Deep Breath
2. Pause
3. Untangle instead of argue
(Never seek to win an argument, seek for mutual understanding, prioritize relationships over issues)
4. Thank instead of apologize
5. Ask them to say it again 
6. Did you mean for that to sound short?
7. How would you like me to respond to that?
8. How did you feel as you said that to me in the way you did?