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”

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 

https://youtu.be/zsuOSDb7gzQ?si=F3-_qSsvxUXfMLIR

Shemini Atzeret and President Dalin Harris Oaks: Hastening and Welcoming the Rainy Season in Israel

There is a profound connection between the restoration of thr Church of Jesus Christ, the coming forth of the Book of Mormon and the Biblical fall feast holidays of Rosh Hashanah, Sukkot, and Shemini Atzeret. 

Joseph Smith was given the golden plates upon which the Book of Mormon was translated on Rosh Hashanah, Sept. 22, 1827.  Together with the golden plates were mystical clear stones known as the urim and thummin used to traslate the Book of Mormon.  We learn from Lucy Mack Smith, Joseph Smith's mother, the first revelation through the Urim and Thummin, Joseph was shown Martin Harris. Joseph Smith prayer was for help in translating the Book of Mormon.  Martim Harris was the answer to Joseph's prayer.  Martin Harris served as a witness of Jesus Christ, special witness of the Book of Mormon, scribe to the initial translation, and principle investor in its publication.   This revelation occurred on Oct 6, 2027, which is the first day of Sukkot. Just as God provided manna to Israel in the wilderness,  God provided the means via Martin Harris to fund the translation and publication of the Book of Mormon. 

Today:, a descendant of Martin Harris, Dalin Harris Oaks, has now been ordained and sustained the 18th prophet and president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. President Oaks was ordained as prophet on October 14, 2025 which was Shemini Atzeret or the eighth day of Sukkot or eighth day of assembly or tarrying.  Part of the observation of Sukkot and Shemini Atzeret includes a libation offering prayer for rain and marks the start of the rainy season in Israel. 

Zech 14:17 And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King (eg keep the feast of tabernacles), the Lord of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain.

There is a connection with Shavuot 50 days after Passover (Nisan Full Moon) but God not wanting Israel to make a separate trip to Jerusalem durring the rainy season.  Accordingly, God hastens the feast of Shemini Atzeret to immediately follow Sukkot instead of 50 days after the beginning of Sukkot (Tishrei Full Moon) as is done with Shavuot following Passover (Pesach). 

The Lord Jesus Christ appeared in a dream to Martin Harris in 2017, three years before the First Vision of Joseph Smith telling him to not join any Church at that time but soon there would be a Church restored worthy to take upon itself the name of Jesus Christ.  Martin Harris and now his desendant President Dalin H. Oaks have served and are serving a key role in the building of God's kingdom on Earth. 

Again, Shemini Atzeret is the hastened holiday that is only 15 days following the Jewish New Year (Rosh Hashanah) as opposed to counting the omer and observing it 50 days following the new year as is done in the spring feasts. Shemini Atzeret marks the beginning of the rainy season is Israel.  The rain is a blessing to the righteous who are standing in holy places, but a tribulation to the unrighteous traveler who is caught outside in the storm. 

Matt 5:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

There is an also association with the Jewish Holiday of Shimini Atzeret and Simchat (Rejoice) Torah observed the day following on Oct 15, 2025.  Simchat Torah is when Jews celebrate the Torah and restart their weekly torah reading beginning again in Genesis.  Some see a connection between Shimini Atzaret, Simchat Torah and Presudent Oaks having worked as a constitutional lawyer and Utah Supreme Court Justice. 

The reason Jews restart the Torah readings at Simchat Torah associated with Shimini Atzeret and not Matan (Giving) Torah associated with Shavuot is believed to be associated with Moses breaking the first tablets containing the ten commandments and then being given a new set of tablets paralleling the great apostasy and restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in these Last Days. 

President Dalin Harris Oaks, a descendant of Martin Harris, was ordained as the 18th President and Prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Shimini Atzaret, October, 14 2025.  President Nelson, a heart surgeon prepared the Church for the hastening of the Lord's work.  President Oaks, a descendant of Martin Harris, a consitituonal lawyer and Utah (Jewtah) sepreme court judge, may be the prophet of Shimini Azeret/Simchat Torah, the prophet of the hastening,  the prophet of the rainy season, the prophet of the Law, and may also be the prophet of the Lord's divine judgement. 

Why Christians Should Prosetylize

Penn Jillette, of the magician duo, Penn & Teller, is an outspoken atheist.  Nevertheless, Mr  Jillette articulates one of the best reasons why Christians should share their faith, witness, and testimony of Jesus Christ with others.  

“I’ve always said that I don’t respect people who don’t proselytize. I don’t respect that at all. If you believe that there’s a heaven and a hell, and people could be going to hell or not getting eternal life, and you think that it’s not really worth telling them this because it would make it socially awkward—and atheists who think people shouldn’t proselytize and who say just leave me alone and keep your religion to yourself—how much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize? How much do you have to hate somebody to believe everlasting life is possible and not tell them that?

“I mean, if I believed, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that a truck was coming at you, and you didn’t believe that truck was bearing down on you, there is a certain point where I tackle you. And this is more important than that.”

https://youtu.be/owZc3Xq8obk?si=ooc9a07qptmsRUaH

Mediators of Christ's Grace

Elder Holland made this amazing point in General Conference.  When Jesus Christ healed the blind man, He could have just spoken it and made it so. Instead, Jesus anointed him with a mixture of spit and dirt. And then commsnded that the man wash in the pool of Siloam. 

John 9:6 "When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, ... He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing."

When Christ told the story of Good Samaritan, The Good Samaritan (representing Christ) could have stayed with the man and done everything himself.  Interesting that the story makes the point that the Samaritan employed the assistance of the innkeeper to continue caring for the man who fell among thieves. 

Luke 10: 33-35 "But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him.  The next day he took out two denarii[c] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have."

Interesting also that the holy scriptural books of St. Luke and Acts (God breathed) was written by someone who confesses that he was not an Apostle nor an eyewitness to the things he's writing about but interviewed people who were.   

Luke 1:1-4  "Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed."

In another example we have the first miracle of Jesus changing water to wine at the marriage at Cana.  The Bible says Jesus commended the servants to bring him six waterpots.  These vessels were used for the guests to wash their hands and contained dirty water.  But Jesus didn't just immediately change the dirty water into clean.  Instead, Jesus commanded the servants to top off the waterpots to the brim with clean water and only then did He change the water to wine. We are like those waterpots.  We are filled with unclean water but if we wish to become not only clean but transformed into pure wine through the power of Christ, we must dump out the old dirty water and fill ourselves up with clean water to the very brim. Then we can expect to experience the trasforming power of His miraculous grace in our lives.  

John 2:7 Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.

Christ could have effectuated this miracle with a word or even a thought.  Instead, Christ employed obedient servants, six waterpots, dirty water and clean.  But the power to transform unclean water to pure wine was 100% through the power and grace of Jesus Christ. 

So, yes we come to God through Jesus Christ.  But Christ seems to still be working through various people and means (gifts of grace) that we are also expected to both receive and make use of. So, I think we should be careful in over-interpretting when scripture teaches that Christ is our only mediator with God the Father to the exclusion of thinking we no longer need to accept the many gifts of grace Christ has sent us and expects we receive and make use of. (ie prayer, fasting, scripture, gift of the Holy Ghost, baptism, Lords Supper, priesthood, Apostles and Prophets, His Church, The House of the Lord). These gifts bring us to Christ and Christ brings us to the Father. 

Alma 60:21 "Or do ye suppose that the Lord will still deliver us, while we sit upon our thrones and do not make use of the means which the Lord has provided for us?"

Yes, there is one mediator between God the Father and man.  That mediator is the only begotten Son of God, who is Jesus Christ.  But we come unto Christ by faith, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, being born again and entering into the discipleship and employment of Jesus Christ and being willing to recieve, make use of,  and become all that God wills for use to recieve, maje use of, and become. 

1 Tim2:5 "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;"

Receive and Make Use of the Gift of Grace

Eph 2:8-9 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."

Modern mainstream Christianity has evolved in the last 100 years. It used to be that Christianity was divided by denominations.  Christians were Catholics, Orthodox, Anglican, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Baptist, or Methodist. In more recent times, non-denominational churches have arisen as part of a more modern Evangelical movement.  My understanding of Evangelicalism is the belief that regardless of denomination or non-denomination, if an individual believes that Jesus Christ is their personal Savior, they are saved.  That's it. Evangelicallism crosses denominationsl boundaries.  A person can attend a Baptist, Lutheran, Methodist or even Catholic congregation but still be Evangelical believing that their belief in Christ is the foundation of their faith over the denomination or non-denomination they might happen ro attend.  We see this with Charlie Kirk who was a more Evangelical Christian but was drawn to attending the more traditional Catholic Church services over the more contemporary service. 

Rom 10:9  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Many Evangelical Christians believe in the the doctrine of the 5 solae: While not specifically put forth in the Bible, the 5 Solae are: Sola Fe (faith alone), Sola Gracia (grace alone), Sola Scrptura (scripture alone), Sola Christus (Christ alone) and Soli Deo Gloria (God's glory alone).  This belief is that the Bible is the ultimate, final, and only authority.  And that salvation comes only through belief in the saving grace of Jesus Christ. So, while the the Bible may talk about the need for repentance and confession, or the Bible may talk about the ordinances of baptism and the Lord's Supper, or the establishment of a Church with Apostles, Bishops and Deacons; none of these other aspects of Christian practice impact salvation.  Salvation is in Christ alone.  These other aspects of faith and practice support the believer, but do not impact their salvation. 

How do Evangelicals view members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons)?  Generally speaking,  Evangelical along with Catholics and most mainstream denominations hold the view that in spite of the name of our Chrurch, and our confessed belief that Jesus of Nazareth is Jehovah of the Old Testament, the promised Messiah, and the Savior and Redeemer of the World; LDS are not true Christians, we believe in a different Christ, and we are going to hell. 

Why doesn't mainstream Christianity like the Church of Jesus Christ?  In addition to accusing us of believing in the wrong Jesus they generally don't like that we believe in modern prophets and Apostles,  in additional scripture like the Book of Mormon, and in our Temples were we offer saving ordinances like baptism for the dead.  And, they claim our doctrine is too works based.  They accuse us of believing we can save ourselves through our own efforts. I think some of this stems from a misunderstanding of LDS belief on grace.  Yes, LDS absolutely believe that Jesus Christ is the only way and source of salvation.  But Evangelicals may point to our Book of Mormon which says: 

2 Nephi 25:23 "For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do."

Evangelicals say 'ha, after all we can do'.  That proves you think you can contribute to your own salvation. According to them,  we can't contribute anything.  However, The Book of Mormon explains what "after all we can do' means.  In one sense, because we have already been given the gift of agency, we therefore have the ability and can use our God-given agency to offer our whole souls back to God as an offering to God. 

Omni 1: 26 "And now, my beloved brethren, I would that ye should come unto Christ, who is the Holy One of Israel, and partake of his salvation, and the power of his redemption. Yea, come unto him, and offer your whole souls as an offering unto him, and continue in fasting and praying, and endure to the end; and as the Lord liveth ye will be saved."

In another sense, the Lord Jesus Christ has given us the gift of His grace.  He has given the gifts of faith, prayer, repentance, scriptures, the Holy Ghost, priesthood, prophets, apostles, and temple ordinances.  What does Christ expect of us?  He expects us to receive these gifts and to make use of them.  

D&C 88:33 "For what doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him, and he receive not the gift? Behold, he rejoices not in that which is given unto him, neither rejoices in him who is the giver of the gift."

Alma 60:21 "Or do ye suppose that the Lord will still deliver us, while we sit upon our thrones and do not make use of the means which the Lord has provided for us?"

LDS Doctrine is not about thinking we can save ourselves by our own efforts.  Instead, we simply believe that we are to demonstrate our faith by our works by receiving the many gifts of grace that the Lord Jesus Christ has given us and to make the best use of them we can. 

James 2:18 "Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works."

Matt 7:21 "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven."

We need to avoid making the mistake of interpreting Eph 2:8-9 while excluding all other scriptures on the matter; especially the direct words of Jesus Christ during His ministry. Yes, if we truly accept Christ as our personal Savior, we will be born again, and born of the Holy Spirit and embark on a life-long path of discipleship, spiritual growth, and sanctification.   The many gifts of Christ grace (scripture, prayer, fasting, baptism, Holy Ghost, Lords Supper, temple) are given to us to aid in our progression in Christ unto eternal life. If we are truly born again, we should not have any aversion to receiving these many gifts with thanksgiving and diligent utilization.

President Russell M. Nelson's Prophetic Priorities and Invitations

President Russell M. Nelson, a former world-renowned heart surgeon, was called and sustained  as the 17th prophet and president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on January 14, 2018. President Nelson passed away on September 27, 2025 at the age of 101.  The following is a summary of President Nelson's prophetic priorities and invitations. 

2018 

“Stay on the covenant path.”

“Now, to each member of the Church I say: Keep on the covenant path.”

Talk: April 2018 – “Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives.”

Theme: Covenant keeping opens the door to personal revelation and divine guidance.

“Hasten the work of salvation.”

“The Lord is hastening His work and needs you.”

Context: Emphasized missionary and temple efforts as unified gathering work.

“Home-centered, Church-supported gospel learning.” 

“We are moving forward into a new era… of home-centered, Church-supported gospel learning.”

Talk: October 2018 – “Becoming Exemplary Latter-day Saints.” (and in the announcement introducing Come, Follow Me)

Theme: The home is the primary center of gospel instruction, with Church meetings providing support and structure.

Significance: This prophetic shift—announced before the 2020 pandemic—prepared Saints worldwide for spiritual self-reliance and family-based discipleship.

2019

"Time is Running Out"

"Now, as President of His Church, I plead with you who have distanced yourselves from the Church and with you who have not yet really sought to know that the Savior's Church has been restored. Do the spiritual work to find out for yourselves, and please do it now. Time is running out.".  

“The purposes of God shall be accomplished.”

“…until the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.”

Talk: October 2019 – Closing Remarks.

Theme: Assurance that the Restoration will continue until the Lord declares it complete.

2020

“Hear Him.”

“Our Father loves us and wants us to hear Him.”

Talk: April 2020 – Bicentennial Proclamation / ‘Go Forward with Faith’.

Theme: Personal revelation and direct connection with the Savior.

“Let God prevail.”

“When your greatest desire is to let God prevail in your life, many decisions become easier.”

Talk: October 2020 – “Let God Prevail.”

Theme: Yielding one’s will to God’s direction in every choice.

“The glory of the Lord will be revealed at the Lord’s Second Coming.”

“When He returns, the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.”

Talk: April 2020 – “The Future of the Church: Preparing the World for the Savior’s Second Coming.”

Theme: The Lord’s return will be literal, visible, and glorious.

2021

“The gathering of Israel is the most important work on earth.”

“Anytime you do anything that helps anyone… you are helping to gather Israel.”

Theme: Missionary and temple work are one unified labor of gathering. Gathering Israel includes anything that brings others to Christ on both sides of the veil.

2022

“Be peacemakers / Contention is evil.”

“Contention is a choice. Christ is the Peacemaker.”

Talk: April 2022 – “Preaching the Gospel of Peace.”

Theme: Replace contention with Christlike calm and reconciliation.

2023

“Think Celestial!”

“When you are confronted with a choice… think celestial!”

Talk: October 2023 – “Think Celestial!”

Theme: Make decisions guided by eternal, celestial perspective.

2024

“Rejoice in the gift of priesthood keys.”

“Rejoice that priesthood keys are again on the earth and exercised in righteousness.”

Talk: April 2024 – “Rejoice in the Gift of Priesthood Keys.”

Theme: Gratitude for restored authority and preparation for the Savior’s return.

2025

“Let thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God.”

“Your confidence can truly wax strong in the presence of God.”

Talk: April 2025 – “Confidence in the Presence of God.”

Theme: Temple worship, charity, and personal holiness (virtue) create divine assurance. Temple worship increases spiritual capacity.

2016 Bonus Quote:

"The joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives.”

Are Mormons Christian?

YES!!!!  Mormons who are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are Christians.  I am Christian not just because the name of Christ is in the name of the Church, but because I accept Jesus Christ of Nazareth as the promised Messiah and as my personal Savior. I consider myself a follower and disciple of Jesus Christ, His teachings and example.  And by doing so, I have experienced being Born Again by the Holy Spirit. I feel a personal relationship with Jesus Christ which has helped me feel the love of the Savior, His forgiveness, and His power that enables me to live a better life in Christ. I am experiencing and enjoying the good fruit of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

There exist many Christian denominations and non-denominations who disagree on all sorts of minor and even sometimes more major aspects of Christian belief (orthodoxy) and practice (orthopraxis).  However, the Bible sets a very open standard on what it means to be Christian.  

Rom 10:9 "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved"

I and my fellow Latter-day Saints believe in Christ.  We confess and accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and we believe that Jesus was crucified, died, literally ressurected from the dead on the 3rd day, and lives today. 

Joseph Smith and the Cosmic Channel

Many critics of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Joseph Smith often criticize Joseph Smith and the LDS Church over the Book of Abraham.  Joseph Smith purchased a collection of mummies and ancient Egyptian  papyri from a man Michael Chandler who was traveling through Kirtland Ohio back in the 1830's.  Chandler was exhibiting the mummies and papyri as a traveling show. The purchase of these documents was done decades before the discovery of the Rosetta Stone, before ancient Egyptian could be decipheted and understood.  

Joseph Smith had already translated and published the Book of Mormon and claimed to be a Seer and Prophet and possess the divine instruments known in the Bible as the Urim and Thimmin.  The Urim and Thummin were special Seer stones touched by the finger of God and given for the purpose of translating unknown languages and revealing hidden knowledge. Similar stones were used by Moses and Aaron to judge Israel. 

Upon examining the newly obtained ancient documents, in addition to common funerary texts known as the Egyptian Book of the Dead and Book of Breathings, the Chandler collection contained another long scroll that contained the writings of Abraham known as the Book of Abraham. 

Joseph Smith used His divine gift of translation via the Urim and Thummin to traslate what we in the LDS Church call the Book of of Abraham.  The source papyri for the Book of Abraham is believed to have been destroyed in the Great Chicago Fire.  However, some of the other papyri from the Chandler collection were later found in the storage of the New York's Metropolitan Museum.  While copies of the Book of Breathings ahd Book of the Dead believed to be part of the Chandler collection have been found. the source document of the Book of Abraham was not found, except for the 3 facilities or graphics that are referred to by the Book of Abraham and are presented together with the Book of Abraham as part of LDS Scripture known as the Pearl of Grear Price. 

One of the facsimile, called Facsimile #2, depicts a hypocephelus.  The hypocephalus was a clay tablet that was placed below the head the mummy wheh buried.  The circular clay tablet contained special information the person being buried believed he or she would be asked by angels who stood by the gates of heaven.  Egyptians believed certain key words or token information needed to be known to pass by these angelic sentinels in order to enter into eternal life with God.  In common terms, the hypocephelus was a celestial cheat sheet. 

Joseph Smith was a revelator not necessarily an explainer.  When Joseph Smith translated something, he didn't approach it like a scholar.  He wasn't necessarily interested in being exactly true to the source document in doing an exact gloss of the anciejt Egyprian into English.  In what some scholars refer to as the "catalyst theory", Joseph Smith is sometimes believed to reveal things that should be in a document, from God's divine perspective, over what may actually be there.  

In the case of the Book of Abraham, Facsimile #2, Joseph Smuth gave some interpretation of some of the glyphs. While modern egyptolpgists have attempted to check Joseph Smith's work using their current knowledge, I am more interested in what truth God is revealing here. I care more about what is actually true about God and the universe than what ancient Egyptians believed. 

The Bible story of Abraham, together with many apocraphal text that talk about Abraham, as well as Joseph Smith's "Book of Abraham" tell the story that God showed Abraham and sun, moon, stars and entire universe and explained to Abraham how it all was ordered and how it all worked.  It then says Abraham taught these things to Phoaroh while he was visiting Egypt. Some of these explanations are contained in the Book of Abraham Facsimile #2 Hypocephelus.  

While the idea of buring objects with you so you you could take and use those objects in your travels into the afterlife and enjoy in heaven, is not Biblical. (moth and rust corrupt)  The idea that there is special knowledge that one must know that Peter or other angels (cheribim with fiery swords)  may ask at the pearly gates is fascinating.  Maybe the wise virgins knew some key information to be allowed into the marriage feast that the unwise virgins lacked and therefore were not recognized. (you never knew me). 

So, when Joseph Smith went about translating Facsimile #2, this was the context of the translation.  And what did Joseph Smith reveal? The Joseph Smith translation talks about the order of the universe.  Science used to teach that the universe was homogenous, that everywhere you looked looked like everywhere else.  The universe was random and unordered. Now, cosmology has flipped and now talk about the grand order of the universe known as the Cosmic Web. 

While many critics of the Book of Abrahsm and Joseph Smith disagree with the exactness of certain aspects of Joseph Smith's translation of the facsimires, Several recent scientific discoveries are now supporting and vindicating what Joseph Smith revealed about how the universe is ordered nearly 200 years after the fact. 

The SRG/eROSITA diffuse soft X-ray background - I. The local hot bubble in the western Galactic hemisphere | Astronomy & Astrophysics (A&A)

In this paper. researchers using a new soft-xray observatory are measuring an asymmetric channel or tunnel of hot plasma that connects our sun and solar system to our surrounding intergalactic environment.  Joseph Smith guessed correctly here when revealing that there is a connecting medium between our Sun and the Great Cosmic Web.

Facsimile 2, Fig. 5.  "and is said by the Egyptians to be the Sun, and to borrow its light from Kolob through the medium of Kae-e-vanrash"

The point of this is not understanding exactly what Kolob is.  It is absolutely false to say Mormons believe God lives on the planet Kolob with His wife.   That's not what this says or means.  The Book of Abraham says God lives nearest to Kolob, not on Kolob.  This seems to be speaking in a metaphorical sense. I dont know what exactly Kolob is any more than cosmologists can explain to me what dark matter is or what The Great Attractor is.  

I believe the main point of God showing Abraham and us the order of the universe is to reveal to us how God does things.  God is a God of order, and the Universe, which is God's creation is not random but a creation of miraculous and wonderful order.  And in the same way, the cosmos is a thing of exact and exquisite order, God's kingdom and Church on Earth is also a kingdom and Church of order and hierarchy with light and truth preceeding forth from God through the medium of the Holy Spirit via prophets and Apostles, to regional and local leaders, down to each individual. 

Another cosmological truth contained in the Bible and the Book of Abraham Facsimile 2 which is now being vindicated by modern science is the idea of time dilation or that the concept of dark energy may be an artifact or illusion of what is in reality time slowing down in response to matter. 

Facsimile 2, Fig. 1, "Kolob, signifying the first creation, nearest to the celestial, or the residence of God. First in government, the last pertaining to the measurement of time. The measurement according to celestial time, which celestial time signifies one day to a cubit. One day in Kolob is equal to a thousand years according to the measurement of this earth,"

Physics of the Dark Universe, Volume 46, December 2024, 101703 "The significance of measuring cosmological time dilation in the Dark Energy Survey Supernova Program"  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2212686424002851

Cast the net on the right side

John 21:6 "And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes"

I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  As a member of Christ's true Church I feel a joyful obligation to share the restored gospel of Jesus Christ with my friends amd neighbors.  I wish to share with others the reality that God has called prophets in these latter days beginning with Joseph Smith. and that God has revealed addition scriptures in the Book of Mormon that testifies of the divinity of Jesus Christ. I'm trying to be a fisher of men and women.  

However. while the Church of Jesus Christ has experienced consistent miraculous growth, the message is not popular and sometimes I feel like the Apostles who had fished all night and caught nothing.   But, I am encouraged by the scriptures in Luke 5 and John 21 which may be a prophetic metaphor for our day.  Also. I am encouraged by the words of the living prophet President Russel M. Nelson who has instructed the Church to focus on gathering Israel and preparing to be the people of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. 

While the Gospel message may not be popular at the moment and our attempts to share it show little success-- maybe one here and two there.  The reality is. JESUS IS THE CHRIST, and the Book of Mormon is HIS WORD, the stick of Joseph, together with the Bible, the stick of Judah.   At some point, this message will go viral. At some point, I dont know when, Jesus will ask us again, to let down our nets on the right side ofvthe boat, and the nets will be full to overflowing.  

Despite the a discouraging night fishing, Jesus Christ and His living prophet are asking us to keep our nets mended and in good repair and to continue to share our testimony of the Gospel message of Jesus Christ.  And, at some point, the Church of Jesus Christ will experience a miraculous harvest.  And, we need to make sure the nets will hold and those that return or come for the first time feel welcome. 

Luke 5:5-6  "And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake."

John 21:11 "Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken."

The Covenant Path

We don’t need to get a complex or get a feeling that you have to be perfect to be saved. You don’t. There’s only been one perfect person, and that’s the Lord Jesus, but in order to be saved in the Kingdom of God and in order to pass the test of mortality, what you have to do is get on the straight and narrow path — thus charting a course leading to eternal life — and then, being on that path, pass out of this life in full fellowship. I’m not saying that you don’t have to keep the commandments. I’m saying you don’t have to be perfect to be saved. If you did, no one would be saved. The way it operates is this: you get on the path that’s named the “straight and narrow.” You do it by entering the gate of repentance and baptism. The straight and narrow path leads from the gate of repentance and baptism, a very great distance, to a reward that’s called eternal life. If you’re on that path and pressing forward, and you die, you’ll never get off the path. There is no such thing as falling off the straight and narrow path in the life to come, and the reason is that this life is the time that is given to men to prepare for eternity. Now is the time and the day of your salvation, so if you’re working zealously in this life — though you haven’t fully overcome the world and you haven’t done all you hoped you might do — you’re still going to be saved. You don’t have to do what Jacob said, “Go beyond the mark.” You don’t have to live a life that’s truer than true. You don’t have to have an excessive zeal that becomes fanatical and becomes unbalancing. What you have to do is stay in the mainstream of the Church and live as upright and decent people live in the Church — keeping the commandments, paying your tithing, serving in the organizations of the Church, loving the Lord, staying on the straight and narrow path. If you’re on that path when death comes — because this is the time and the day appointed, this the probationary estate — you’ll never fall off from it, and, for all practical purposes, your calling and election is made sure.

The Probationary Test of Mortality

Elder Bruce R. McConkie

Address given at the University of Utah Institute of Religion January 10, 1982

The Law of Return

Matt 24:32-34 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

Dan 9:24-25 Seventy weeks (shabuas) are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city. . . Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.

Some believe that the reestablishment of Israel is the fulfillment of Matt 24. According to scripture, the state of Israel is the "fig tree". Therefore, if this is so, according to Matt 24, the generation born to see the nation of Israel restored would not pass away until all of the End Times prophesies of Matt 24 are fulfilled.

The prophesies of Daniel have multiple fulfillment. But they also apply to the Last Days as well. Daniel tells us that after a command goes forth to rebuild Jerusalem, there is a special 70 "Shabua" time period set aside until Jerusalem and the temple are fully restored and sanctified. Shabua can mean "a week of 7 days" or can refer to the "Feast of Weeks". Therefore, 70 Shabuas can mean 490 years or it can mean just 70 years.

So, when is the start of Daniel's timeline of 70 prophetic years? Some start the clock at the UN declaration creating the Nation of Israel in 1947. I do not agree with this. It is my personal opinion that Daniel's clock begins with the "Law of Return" where the Jewish government itself called for the gathering of Jews to Israel on July 5, 1950 (20 Tammuz 5710).

Accordingly, if Daniel's prophetic timeline begins in 1950, and 70 Shabuas = 70 years, then it should end in 2020. I'm not saying this marks the Second Coming of Christ. No man knows the day nor the hour. However, Daniel seemed interested in telling us when to expect the restoration and sanctification of the 3rd Temple in Jerusalem.

That said, the final 7 years from Shabua 62 to 69 seem to be a period of tribulation, war, and desolation. This Tribulation period is described as the 7 Trumpets by John in Revelation which preceeds the 7 vials of wrath. While the righteous are not appointed unto wrath, believers will be subject to the trials and adversity of the Tribulation. So, we should be prepared. When should the Tribulation begin? If "The Law of Return" starts the clock, and 70 Shabuas = 70 years, then the 62nd Shabua should begin in the year 2012. The Abomination of Desolation will occur in the midst of the Tribulation week (Dan 9:27).

Although the Tribulation period will be painful like any medical procedure. Remember, God is allowing the wicked to unleash these trials to wake us up and get the is to repent to turn back to Him. The Tribulation can only be as bad as man has technology to torment man. This may include technology to trigger Earthquakes in strange places, arson, disease, famine, steer and potentiate storms, civil unrest, and war. Satan has no power over astrological phenomenon. Celestial signs and wonders are Gods domain and is saved for the Wrath upon the wicked only. Just remember, that Zion waits just on the other side of the Tribulation.

2020 may also mark the 120th Jubilee (Gen 6:3).

Fight or FEMA Camp: Alma vs. Limhi

A recent new report was discussing the use of US Military being used as peace keepers on American soil in violation of the Pose Comitatus Act. Over the past 10 years, there has been an increasing trend for FEMA to call upon the US Military to assist with domestic disaster relief as opposed to using the State National Guard which are under the command of the Governors as opposed to DOD. (Caesar has crossed the Rubicon).

Accordingly, Many concerned citizens point to several instances where during these disaster relief operations, US Military were used to conduct warrantless door-to-door searches, gun confiscation, and forced relocations. Critics of this kind of domestic use of the US Military claim it is in clear violation of the Pose Comitatus Act of 1878 . Pose Comitatus prohibits US Military from engaging in "law enforcement," "military occupation" or "peace keeping" activities on non-federal property. Last October, NorthCOM using the threat of WMD's as justification, assigned the US Army 3rd Infantry Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team (otherwise known as the Chemical, Biological, Radiological/Nuclear, and Explosive Consequence Management Response Force or CCMRF) to operate within the US. The issue FEMA and Pose Comitatus got me thinking about the following scenario.

1. We know that Utah (Wasatch Fault) is way overdue for an 8-9 Earthquake (Utah has been feverishly retrofitting for last 25 years). 2. A magnitude 8-9 earthquake along the Wasatch Front would result in considerable devastation. 3. When that Earthquake occurs or any another large-scale domestic disaster, US Military will likely assist local law enforcement in peacekeeping activities as was done in New Orleans, Billings, MT and Greenburg, KS 4. If called upon, the US Military could engage in house-to-house searches and gun confiscation. 5. FEMA could use the military to enforce a mandatory vaccination program 6. Disaster victims could be forcibly removed, relocated, and transported to a system of FEMA residential facilities.

So, some unconventional questions are these: When the Big Utah Quake happens (or the next big domestic disaster), and FEMA activates the Consequence Management Response Force (CMRF) to imposes a policy of gun confiscation, forced vaccination and relocation; What do you think the reaction of the general public will be? Would anyone militantly resist gun confiscation and forced vaccination? The choice between [Fight] or [FEMA Camp] seems like a lose-lose, false dichotomy to me. It is my conviction that by being spiritually and temporally prepared, listening to the prophet, and taking the Holy Spirit as our guide, we will not have to fear either of these false choices.

Having and sharing a year supply nicely avoids the (fight vs FEMA camp) dichotomy. While many people may voluntarily get on the trains headed toward FEMA residential centers because of the promise of food and water. If we follow the prophet and have food storage, we can share with our neighbors, ban together, and keep some semblance of community. Then again, having a 72-hour kit and hitting the road early and getting out of Dodge may be wise depending on the circumstances.

Again, lets imagine that Utah's Wasatch Fault finally has its 8-9.5 Earthquake and the entire Wasatch Front is in shambles. Marshall Law is imposed, Federal Troops are on the street and going door to door rounding up people and enforcing policies of forced vaccination, gun confiscation, and forced relocation to FEMA residential camps. What would be the correct response? I don't like the [Fight vs. FEMA Camp] dichotomy, but it reminds me a lot of the situation of the people of Limhi vs. the people of Alma in the Book of Mormon.

Limhi's was the son of wicked King Noah who burned the prophet Abinadi at the stake. Limhi's people were enslaved by the Lamanites and put under a kind of martial law. In response, the people of Limhi marshaled themselves and went to battle against impossible odds and were badly defeated again and again before they were eventually delivered.

On the other hand, Alma and a small band of believers were warned and escaped the City of Nephi before the Lamanites enslaved its citizens. Eventually Alma's City of Helam was taken captive for a short time. In fact, a law was made that if the guards found them praying, they would be put to death. However, we are told Alma's and his people did not resist and God did quickly delivered them.

I think we all hope we would have some prior warning of danger like Alma at the Waters of Mormon. However, If I were forced to choose between Alma or Limhi, I choose Alma every time.

I think the important thing here is to follow the prophet, get out of debt, acquire a food supply, and keep an open mind when anticipating instruction to "defend the constitution" vs. "comply and seek redress later in the courts?" (D&C 101:76, 134:11) I hope that most citizens understand that the Pose Comitatus Act of 1878 only applies to the point where the Insurrection Act of 1807 takes over. Therefore, when I hear anyone say they would militantly resist a policy of gun confiscation, I can't help but think about the lesson of People of Limhi vs. the People of Alma in the Book of Mormon.

My hope is that regardless of what may happen (earthquakes, dirty bombs, financial collapse) many of us who have listened to the living prophets and have a food storage will be able to stay put and maybe share our food storage with 1-2 Ishmael-like families with skills and resources that will help us survive, instead of relocating to FEMA residential centers or major cities where food and water distribution is promised.

D&C 112:25 And upon my house shall it begin, and from my house shall it go forth, saith the Lord;

D&C 45:57 For they that are wise and have received the truth, and have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide, and have not been deceived—verily I say unto you, they shall not be hewn down and cast into the fire, but shall abide the day.

Brigham Young's Misunderstood Teachings

Adam- God: (misunderstood by people who heard it)

1. Adam has already entered into His eternal life. 

2. Adam is a physical father of Jesus Christ through Mary.
3. Adam is our physical father who has achieved godhood who is the only god physically we are related to and "have to do with".

The point of this was to say, "isn't it cool that the father of mankind has already entered into his godhood". If Adam has done so, then so can we.

Blood Confession: (Blood Atonement is a misnomer and always a false doctrine )

1. Only the shedding of Christ's blood brings forgiveness, blessing, diverance, reception, salvation and exaltation. (Period)
2. This doctrine has to do with how a person obtains forgiveness from a seemingly unforgivable sin and how you can trust the confession (eg malafactor, Sherem).

a. Confess Christ as the Savior and Redeemer
b. Make full and public disclosure and confession and restitution if possible.
c. Voluntarily accept and submit to all required consequences and punishments even including capital punishment if required. (No endless appeals on death row and no plea deals).

Submitting to death penalty does not atone for sin, and may not always be required, but only as it is required by society depending on the crimes committed, a person by voluntarily submitting to the full consequences and penalties of the law seals their confession with their own blood as true. This is how the great latter-day conspiracy could be revealed. 

The great conspiracy sends many false defectors. But you know they are false because they don't confess and don't submit to punishment. Anyone high up in the Great and Abominable Church who would know anything about it would be required to have done heinous things, which would require a shocking confession and the most severe punishments.

But if someone were to come forward and actually, confess and submit to full punishment without a plea deal, you'd know the confession he made was true. (Sherem)  This is a very important doctrine and why it's so misunderstood. The implimentation of this doctrine would take Satan's Church down. 

No More Prophets?

Heb 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

Evangelicals believe in the notion of "Sola Scriptura". Sola Scriptura means that the Bible, as it currently exists,  is the sole infallible source of authority for Christian faith and practice.  Evangelicals claim this scripture in Hebrews 1:1 means that since the coming of Jesus Christ. God no longer uses prophets and there will not be any more scripture given. The Bible is closed.  Believers are to rely on the testimony of the Apostles alone who were eye witnesses of Christ  in the New Testament.

Evangelicals claim that since the coming of Jesus Christ, that Christ's Himself manifests Himself to mankind directly via His word in the New Testament and the Holy Ghost without need for a mediator, intermediary, emessary, witness or prophet as was done in the Old Testament.  This is, in reality, a reactionary protestant doctrine that rejects the authority of the Catholic Pope. 

But does the Bible itself support this interpretation?

1. Luke was the author of the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. Luke is not an Apostle, but was a missionary companion of Paul.  Luke himself confesses that he was not an eye witness of the sayings or acts of Jesus Christ but claims to have recorded the witnesses of people who did. 

While, Luke is reliable in my mind. Doesn't Luke serve as an intermediary of Christ's words? 

Luke 1:2 Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;

2. John is visited by an angel. In Revelation, John the Beloved is shown a vision of the Last Days.  John mistakenly attempts to worship the angel sent to deliver Christ's words.  But, the angel forbade John stating that John should only worship God.   But if God no longer uses intermediaries other than Christ, and Christ deals with mankind directly without any other intermediary; why did  Jesus send His testimony vua this angel in Rev 19:10 and Rev 22:9 and not directly?

Rev 19:10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

3. In the Parable of the Good Samaritan, the Samaritan, who respresents Christ, personally cared for the man who fell among thieves.  But then Christ states that the Samaritan left the man in the care of the host of the inn.  If Christ no longer uses prophets, representatives, or other authorized representatives, why does the Samaritan in the Parable arrange for someone else, (the innkeeper) to continue care of the injured man on His behalf?

Luke 10:35. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.

4.  Revelation says in the Last Days, there will be two witnesses who prophesy in Jerusalem. Isn't witnesses who prophesy just another way of describing a prophet?

Rev 11:3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

Considering these four examples from the Bible,  is it reasonable to continue to believe in the protestant/Evangelical tradition of Sola Scriptura, which tradition itself is not found in the Bible?

Faith and Seatbelts

Mainstream Christianity and their doctrine of "Sola Fide" or salvation by faith alone, sadly often misunderstands, and dilutes the true meaning of faith.  James teaches to, "be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only (James 1:22), and "faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone (James 2:17)".  Christ Himself taught, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven" (Matt 7:21).

When Paul says we are saved by grace and not by dead works, Paul is talking about the amoral requirements of the Law of Moses. Paul is not talking about the moral requirements of a Christian life to be virtuous,  honest, true, and chaste, and to care for the poor and needy, the fatherless and the widow. 

A good analogy to faith is the seatbelt in a car.  I can say that I believe that using a seatbelt will save my life in the event of an accident.  I can form a foundation and launch a crusade to raise seatbelt awareness and advocate for its use. But, in addition to my words and advocacy, true faith also requires my daily consistent personal use. I can talk all day long about how I believe seatbelt use saves lives. but If I don't use my seatbelt, I am being hypocritical, and I will not be free of the consequences. 

Paul teaches that Christ's righteousness is imputed to us.  But our justification through Christ's grace does not negate our need to wear a seatbelt and will not deliver us from the consequences of not wearing one. What justification in Christ allows, is the presence of the Holy Ghost to be with us, even in our imperfect state, to help us via our conscience (peace or guilt), to keep keep Christ's commandments, and, in this case, consistently wear our seatbelt. 

The workings of the Holy Spirit could be compared to the annoying car notification that sounds when we have not yet fastened our searbelt.  The presence of the Holy Ghost, given by Christ's grace, through faith, aids in our sanctification and perfection. The Holy Ghost will not protect us from harm and the consequences of being in a car accident without a seatbelt and  when we have, as Captain Moroni writes to Pahoran. failed to make use of the means the Lord has already provided for us. The Holy Ghost is only there to "bring all things to our remembrance"  and help us remember to put on our seatbelt in the fiest place.  Protection comes by our obedience. 

Alma 60:21 Or do ye suppose that the Lord will still deliver us, while we sit upon our thrones and do not make use of the means which the Lord has provided for us?

There were some ancient Jews in the Book of Mormon (Wicked King Noah) and the Bible (Pharisees) who mistakenly believed if they kept all the amoral particulars of the Law of Moses, that they were given leeway to break all the moral commandments.  As Christians, we need to be careful that we don't make the same mistake.  and believe that saying "Lord, Lord", excuses us from keeping the commandments.  Professed Christians are not given permission to lie, cheat, steal, get drunk, do drugs, look at porn, or have sex before or outside of marriage. 

We need to beware telling ourselves that its okay because everyone is doing it and God wouldn't punish so many people.  God did punish a whole lot of people in the Great Flood, and warned us these Last Days would be the same as the days of Noah.  Confessing Christ but continuing in sin won't protect us from the spiritual and physical consequences. While. no one is perfect, what accepting Christ will do, is allow the Holy Spirit to work in us and help us improve every day.  Our responsibility is to continue in the grace of Christ and in our daily striving, improving, and endure to the end. 

Salt Lake Temple Foundation

The Second Coming of Jesus Christ, according to scripture, is linked to the ancient Israelite marriage custom. The Second Comming is the final marriage feast where the groom (Jesus Christ) is finally united and eternally sealed together with His bride (the Church). But according to tradition, after the engagement, the groom spent a year away from his betrothed building a house for their family to live. The day of the wedding was unknown until the father of the groom inspected the home and declared it accepted.

The house of the Lord Jesus Christ is the temple. In Bible times the temple was built in Jerusalem to one nation, kindred, tongue and people. But in the Last Days, the mountain of the Lord's House and the everlasting covenant would be established to all nationd, kindreds, tongues and peoples. The Salt Lake Temple built in Utah, built in the tops of the mountains, is the House of the Lord Jesus Christ.

10 years after arriving in the Salt Lake Valley, President Buchanan sent Johnstons Army in 1857 to occupy Utah, assert federal authority. and quell a falsely perceived inserection. Not wanting temple square to be occupied, Brigham Young had the all the stones and foundations of the Salt Lake temple up to that point cast into its excavation, covered with dirt. and the ground plowed to appear like a farmers field.

After Jonston's Army passed through and established a camp in another area of the valley, work eventually resumed on the Salt Lake temple. However, when the foundation was reexcavated, the builders discovered many cracks. Undaunted, Brigham Young ordered the entire sandstone foundation removed and replaced with a granite (dolomite) foundation including an unusual detail featuring 16 inverted arches. Brigham Young said at the time that he desired the Salt Lake Temple and its foundation to last through the Melennium.

Years later, Elder Boyd K Packer was recounting this history and the temple's mysterious 16 inverted foundation arches in a 1993 talk entitled. "The Temple, the Priesthood". Elder Packer said, "sixteen large inverted granite arches were built into the new foundation. There is no record as to why they did that. That manner of construction was unknown in this country then. But, if someday per chance there'd be a massive force wanting to lift the temple from beneath, then we shall know why they are there."

Today, we finally know why God inspired and showed Brigham Young to place these inverted arches in the temple's foundation. At 7:09 a.m. MDT on March 18, 2020, a 5.7 magnitude earthquake hit Salt Lake City, Utah, United States, with an epicenter 6 km (3.7 mi) north-northeast of Magna, Utah. The result of the shaking was the angel Moroni atop the Salt Lake temple dropped his trumpet. All public church gatherings were suspended on March 12, 2020. March 16, and 20 saw missionary work curtailed and some missionaries sent home early. Two weeks later, on March 25, the First Presidency announced all temples would close.

Damage to the Salt Lake City temple foundation was extensive enough that experts worried. a more serious earthquake would completely destroy the temple. So, while all the other lds temples eventually reopened, and resumed normal operation, the Salt Lake temple has remained closed and us undergoing a massive 7-year long seismic upgrade.

The temple itself has been literally lifted up by its foundation with the help of its 16 inverted arches using state-of-the-art hydraulics and the massive edifice with foundation has been placed on a base-isolation technology system. The technology to lift an entire building and its foundation didn't exist in Brigham Young's day or even in Elder Packer's day. But Brigham Young, in 1853, said the Lord showed him the completed temple in a vision before any stones had been laid.

see more ar Rise Zion 

United Order (Order of Enoch)

Individuals can live consecration individually. The United Order is likely more of an economic, banking, credit, and insurance system that facilitates an entire community to live consecration where the community lives with "all things common"; NOT, all things [in].common. Maybe that's how Satan is bound by keeping him from controlling the economic system. There is likely a way to have a free market and free enterprise without dependency on the dictates of the unelected machiavellian capitalist money elite.

Brigsm Young experimented with establishing the United Order with the establishment of Orderville also affectionately known as "souo town" in 1875. 

Flash of Light at Carthage

"The ruffian, of whom I have spoken, who set him against the wellcurb, now gathered a bowie knife for the purpose of severing his head from his body. He raised the knife and was in the attitude of striking, when a light, so sudden and powerful, burst from the heavens upon the bloody scene, (passing its vivid chain between Joseph and his murderers,) that they were struck with terrified awe and filled with consternation. This light, in its appearance and potency, baffles all powers of description. The arm of the ruffian, that held the knife, fell powerless; the muskets of the four, who fired, fell to the ground, and they all stood like marble statues, not having the power to move a single limb of their bodies."  -- William Daniels, at Carthage as part of the mob. 

Mary Lightner remembered that within days of the martyrdom

"a number of men came and called us to the door and said, "The Smiths are dead, and they do say a great light appeared when they were killed." I said, "That should prove to you that Joseph was a true Prophet and a man of God." One answered "It proves that the Lord was well pleased with what was done."  -- Mary Lightner

The Martyrdom of Joseph Smith: An Archetypal Study 

The Book of Abraham

In facsimile 3. it is apparently a marriage. (holding hands) But marriage ceremonies often also reflects a dramatization of a mythological scene.  In our culture, marriage reflects the union of Adam and Eve.  When watching a play, movie, or TV there is a need to differentiate references to the actor from the character being depicted.  The same may apply when interpreting facsimile 3.

The use and recontextualization of specific Egyptian artwork may be saying that Abraham was the main character in this ritual on one occasion or was asked to officiate the wedding ceremony (Maat ritual), for the Phoaroh's son on another occasion. 

And in the case of the hypocephelus,  Joseph Smith always translated what should have been written and not exactly what was written-- if God had allowed a divine cheat sheet containing important answers to give angels who stood as sentinels at the gates of heaven..

Judge Righteous Judgement

Toxic people confuse sympathy with empathy.  Empathy means you see and feel things from anothers perspective and then judge if sympathy is warranted.  Sonetimes, out of empathy, sympathy is NOT warranted. Toxic people feel entitled to sympathy in all circumstances because of their delusions of victimization (victim complex, specialness,  exceptionalism).

Narcissism equates to the Bibilical sin of pride. Sadly, the narcissist lacks any ability of insight, even up to the point of standing before Jesus Christ, and having Him condemn them to their face declaring, "you never knew Me" and then proceeding to argue with God about it-- talking to God as if He is somehow mistaken.

So, if this is you or me, we likely have No idea.

I think the key, is to have the attitude of Jesus Christ's 11 Apostles, upon hearing Christ declare that one among them would betray Him, each asking with sincerity, "Is it I?"

This is an interesting argument for the LDS attitude about salvation/exaltation (fear and trembling) vs. the Evangelical false certainty.

“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.” — 2 Corinthians 13:5

Psalm 139:23–24: “Search me, O God, and know my heart… see if there be any wicked way in me.”

Lamentations 3:40: “Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord.”

James 1:22: “Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”

Counting the Omer

I dont know but President Hinkley got me thinking about a 7-year pattern after declaring the opening of the 7th seal on April 6, 2000 General Conference. President Hinkley referenced Joseph in Egypt and the 7 years of famine in 1998 and again 7 years later in 2005.

The Tribulation may have a connection with Feast of Shavuot/Pentecost or Weeks or 7's. Tribulation could be 7x7 or 49 (50) years. 7 Trumpets sound after the opening of the 7th seal. Pentecost is named for the 50 days (omer) following Passover (Pesach). Are we currently counting the omer?

Trumpet 1, 2001, 9/11

Trumpet 2, 2007, Housing Crisis

Trumpet 3, 2014-15, Russia in Crimea, Same-gender marriage legalized 

Trumpet 4, 2020, COVID

Trumpet 5, 2027-8, (Locusts, Woe 1)

Trumpet 6, 2035, (Armageddon, Woe 2)

Trumpet 7, 2042, (7 Vials Wrath, Woe 3)

There is likely a connection between the completion of the Lord's House in 2027 before the Wedding Feast. (Andrea W). In ancient hebrew wedding tradition, the bridegroom spends a year away from his betrothed building her a home. The day of the wedding is not appointed until the Father of the groom accepts the home as completed. The House of the Lord is the Salt Lake Temple which will be rededicated in 2027 after an extensive seismic upgrade.

Beware extreme beliefs with regard to the Last Days such as mistakenly subscribing to the Scofield Bible idea of the 7-year tribulation and pre-trib rapture or the extreme attitude that "if it gets bad I'd rather just die".  Both lead people to not be prepared.  Yes, there will be a rapture. but it will be pre-wrath, not pre-trib. The 7 vials of wrath are poured out as part of the 7th Trumpet.  Believers will need to be watching and be prepared for 1-6. 

Remember the Bible teaches that in this life we will have tribulation (John 16:33)  but are not appointed unto wrath (1 Thes 5:9). Also, we are promised that if we are prepared, we don't need to fear (D&C 38:30),  The Last Days will be great for some and terrible for others.  But if we are prepared, are watching and have plenty of oil for our lamps we can look forward to the Second Coming of Christ with optimistic and hopeful anticipation. 

Again, President Hinkley suggested a pattern of 7 in 1998 and again in 2005.  The 7-year tribulation tradition comes from the Scofield Bible. But maybe the 7 trumpets occur over a 49(50) year time frame (Shabua/Omer) and not all in 7 years.  2001 (9/11), 2007 (housing), 2014 (Same-sex, Crimea), 2020 (Covid), 2028 (Woe1), 2035 (Woe2), 2042 (Wrath). 

The reason for President Nelson's emphasis on being prepared for the Second Coming and the correlation with the finishing of the Temple is although we may be midway into the Tribulation, the 1st Woe (Trumpet 5) may be upon us.  Life may be altered in a similar way to COVID but for a longer period. The Brethren have said that COVID was just a trial run. 

Maybe the 2 Menorah/candlesticks representing the 2 witnesses who prophecy could mean 14/15 annointed Apostles and not just 2. The Church has been unable to preach in Jerusalem which may have been overcome by BYU Jerusalem Center and the Internet or it can be literally 2 persons.

Reverence for Sacred Things

https://youtu.be/WPPPFqsECz0?si=cZ1TSELZFSTLF8Tf

The following video discusses gratitude as an antidote for dissatisfaction. The video describes gratitude as an expression, feeling, and behavior. The video discusses ways in which we can "feel" more gratitude and satisfaction in our lives by expressing and showing more gratitude.   I suggest that "reverance" is exactly how we "show" gratitude. Reverence is the scripturally defined "behavior" of gratitude. 

Therefore, if we wish to feel more satisfied, positive, and grateful for someone or something, we can begin by both expressing gratitude for them, as well as showing gratitude towards them.  Service is a way we show reverence to God and others. 

Mos. 5:13 For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart?

We may fall into a trap thinking if we are not feeling love for our spouse, it is because they aren't doing enough.  We may think that the only way to feel more love and gratitude for our spouse or others is for them to do more or serve us than they are currently doing.  In reality, the opposite may be true. Maybe the key to feeling more love and gratitude for another is for us to serve, express gratitude, and reverence them more than we are doing. Maybe we need to be doing more for them. 

Remember that Jesus Christ loves us with a perfect love not because of anything we have done for Him, but because of what He has done for us. 

A key point of the research is that gratitude affects how we interpret the intentions of others.  It may be that Jesus taught His disciples to do good to them that use them and dispitefullty abuse them.  This may be because in some cases, (other than outright physical abuse) we might actually mistakenly think that people are being mean to us or victimizing us when they are not.  We may harbor delusions of victimization by interpreting neutral expressions and neutral responses as negative or feeling intense feelings of abandonment when others disagree with us, say no, or maintain a boundary.  We may even be tempted to treat others in the same negative manner in which we feel we have been treated (eye for an eye) instead of always overcoming petceived evil with good and always treating others in the way we wished they had treated us (golden rule). 

Reverence for Sacred Things

https://youtu.be/WPPPFqsECz0?si=cZ1TSELZFSTLF8Tf

The following video discusses gratitude as an antidote for dissatisfaction. The video describes gratitude as an expression, feeling, and behavior. The video discusses ways in which we can "feel" more gratitude and satisfaction in our lives by expressing and showing more gratitude.   I suggest that "reverance" is exactly how we "show" gratitude. Reverence is the scripturally defined "behavior" of gratitude. 

Therefore, if we wish to feel more satisfied, positive, and grateful for someone or something, we can begin by both expressing gratitude for them, as well as showing gratitude towards them.  Service is a way we show reverence to God and others. 

Sometimes we may fall into the trap thinking test we will feel more love and gratitude for our spouse or others if they do more or serve us more than they are doing.  In reality, the opposite may be true. Maybe the key to feeling more love and gratitude for another is for us to serve, express gratitude, and reverence them more than we are doing. 

Remember that Jesus Christ loves us with a perfect love not because of anything we have done for Him, but because of what He has done for us 

Learn About the Church of Jesus Christ

Meet with Missionaries 

Receive a Free Book of Mormon 

Gates of Hell

The region of Bashan, which includes the area of Caesarea Philippi, near the city of Dan, was associated with the underworld or Sheol or Hades, where the spirits of the dead, including the Rephaim (ancient kings), were believed to dwell.  Mount Hermon (Transfiguration), a prominent feature in the landscape of Bashan, was also seen as a place of evil and a gateway to the underworld. 

Caesarea Philippi, the Grotto of Pan, a deep cave with a spring at its mouth, (Spring of B[P]anias) was believed to be an entrance to the underworld, or "the gates of hell" by the pagan inhabitants. The spring, believed to be a path for gods to travel between earth and the underworld, was a central feature of their beliefs. Pagans grusomely offered infant baby sacrifices into the pool.  If the baby or other animal was mutilated and blood seen flowing the lower waters the offering was considered rejected.  If the infant or animal simply sank and disappeared it was considered accepted. 

This juxtaposed to the temple baptism for the dead which is performed in fonts on the back of 12 oxen (bulls of Bashan or 12 tribes of Israel) . Instead of throwing in your child to be killed, Latter-day children are being baptized in pools of water spiritually saving our children and others whose work is performed in sacred temples.  

Psalm 22:12 Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.

Place where Abraham rescued Lot.(Gen 14:14) Place where Joshua defeated 5 tribes (Joshua 11:3). Place were Israel intermarried with pagan tribes. (Judges 3:3). Place were Jereboam built a false temple (1 King 12:29-30). Mount Herman (Transfiguration) was the place were Peter Janes and John were given sealing keys. Ceserea Philippi is located in the uncoincidently contested area of the Golan Heights.

Aristotle's God

Mainsteam Christianity doesn't consider members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to be Christian because we don't subscribe to the Trinitarian conception of God. However. the Trinity in many aspects sounds a lot like Aristotle's and the Greek Hellenistic conception of diety. Must LDS be Greek to be Christian? Aristotle's god sounds a lot like the god of Thomas Aquinas. 

Aristotle conceived of God as the Unmoved Mover, the ultimate final cause of all motion and change in the universe. This "God" is not a personal, intervening deity but rather the source of order and purpose in the cosmos, a purely intellectual and immaterial being engaged in perfect contemplation of itself. 

Unmoved Mover:

Aristotle argued that everything in the universe is in motion, and each movement must be caused by something else. This chain of causes can't go on infinitely, so there must be a first mover that is itself unmoved, the Unmoved Mover. 

Final Cause:

This Unmoved Mover is the ultimate purpose or end toward which all things in nature are striving. It is not a causal force in the way that a person might move an object, but rather it is the motivating force that gives things direction and purpose. 

Divine Nous:

Aristotle also described God as Divine Nous, meaning "divine intellect." This Nous is the perfect actuality of thought thinking itself, the most perfect form of being. 

Immaterial and Eternal:

God is not a material being but rather a pure spirit, incorporeal and without any physical attributes. God is also eternal, meaning that God has always existed and will always exist, as there would be no time without change and God is the cause of all change.

 

Contemplation:

God's activity is primarily one of contemplation, reflecting on itself in a state of perfect self-knowledge. 

Not a Personal God:

It's important to note that Aristotle's God is not a personal, anthropomorphic deity in the way that God is often conceived in the Abrahamic religions. God is not concerned with the affairs of the world or with human beings' actions. 

A Source of Order:

Aristotle believed that God's existence and nature explain the order and intelligibility of the natural world. All things in nature are ordered and strive towards a specific goal, and this order is ultimately traceable to the influence of the Unmoved Mover.