The Akkadian Inscription of Idrimi

John Gee of the LDS Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship asks: "How did Joseph Smith manage to publish in the Book of Abraham a story that closely matched a Middle-Bronze-Age Syrian autobiography that would not be discovered for nearly a hundred years?"   

I agree with Brother Gee that the style in this text is unlike anything else found in the region except the Book of Abraham.  The text dates to 200 years after Abraham. So, while Brother Gee may not feel like he can say it in scholarly paper, it seems evident to me that this authentic ancient text closely emulated the original Book of Abraham.

God hath said, I will establish my word. Nevertheless, God sendeth more witnesses, and he proveth all his words. (Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi, 2 Nephi 11:3)

And if they are not the words of Christ, judge ye—for Christ will show unto you, with power and great glory, that they are his words, at the last day; (Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi, 2 Nephi 33:11)

1–14 In Aleppo, my ancestral home, a hostile [incident] occurred so that we had to flee to the people of Emar, my mother's relatives, and stay there. My older brothers also stayed with me, but none of them had the plans I had. So I, Idrimi, the son of Ilimilimma, devotee of IM, Ḫebat, and my lady Ištar, lady of Alalaḫ, thinking to myself, "Whoever his patrimony is a great nobleman, but whoever [remains] among the citizens of Emar is a vassal," took my horse, chariot, and groom and went away.

14–20 I crossed over the desert and came among the Sutu warriors. I spent the night with them in my covered chariot. The next day I set forth and went to Canaan. The town of Ammiya is located in Canaan.

20–27 People from Aleppo, Mukišḫe, Ni'i, and Nuḫašše were living in Ammiya, and when they realized that I was their lord's son, they gathered to me. I said the following: "I have become chief, I have been appointed."

27–29 Then I stayed among the Ḫapiru warriors seven years. I released birds and practiced extispicy.

29–34 In the seventh year IM became favorably inclined toward me, so I made ships and had auxiliary troops board them and proceeded via the sea to Mukišḫe. I reached land at Mount Casius and went ashore.

35–42 Now, when my country heard of me they brought me large cattle and small cattle, and in one day, in unison, the countries of Ni'i, Nuḫašše, Mukišḫe, and my own city Alalaḫ became reconciled to me. When my allies heard, they came to me. And when they concluded a treaty with me, I established them truly as my allies.

42–51 Now for seven years Barattarna, the mighty king, the king of the Hurrian warriors, was hostile to me. In the seventh year I sent Anwanda to Barattarna, the mighty king, the king of the Hurrian warriors, and told him of the treaties of my ancestors when they were allied with them, and that our actions were pleasing to the (former) kings of the Hurrian warriors for they had made a binding agreement between them.

51–58 The mighty king heard of the treaties of our predecessors and the agreement made between them, and with the treaty they read to him the words of the treaty in detail. So on account of our treaty terms he received my tribute. Then Ipr<esented> the (gestures of) loyalty, which were considerable, I made great sacrifices, and restored to him a lost estate. I swore to him a binding oath as a loyal vassal.

58–63 Then I became king. Kings from all around attacked me in Alalaḫ. Just as they had heaped up on the ground the corpses of (my) ancestors,corpse upon corpse, so I, too, caused (their corpses) to be heaped up on the ground thus putting an end to their warfare.

64–77 Then I took troops and attacked Hatti-land. As for the seven cities under their protection, namely, Paššaḫe, Damarut-re'i, Ḫulaḫḫan, Zise, Ie, Uluzina, and Zaruna, these I destroyed. Hatti-land did not assemble and did not march against me, so I did what I wanted. I took captives from them and took their property, valuables, and possessions and distributed them to my auxiliaries, kinsmen, and friends. Together with them I took (booty).

77–86 Then I returned to Mukišḫe and entered my capital Alalaḫ. With the captives, goods, property, and possessions which I brought down from Hatti I had a palace built. I made my regime like the regime of kings. I made my brothers like royal brothers, my sons like their sons, and my relatives like their relatives. The inhabitants who were in my land I made to dwell securely, and even those who did not have a dwelling I settled.

86–91 Then I organized my land, and made my cities like they were before. Just as our ancestors had established regular rites for the gods of Alalaḫ, and just as our forefathers had performed sacrifices, I constantly performed them. These things I did, and I entrusted them to my son IM-nirari.

92–98 Whoever effaces this statue of mine, may the Heaven god curse him, may the Earth below destroy his progeny, may the gods of heaven and earth diminish his kingship. Let them have him executed (lit., measure him by a rope). Whoever changes or erases it, may IM, the lord of heaven and earth, and the great gods extirpate his progeny and seed from his land.

98–101 Šarruwa is the official scribe. He has written, copied and reviewed (the text). And now may the gods of heaven and earth keep Šarruwa, the scribe, who has written (the text of) this statue for him, in good health; may they protect him and be his guardian. May Šamaš, lord of the upper and nether worlds, lord of the spirits, be his protector.

102–4 I reigned for 30 years. I inscribed my achievements upon my statue. Let [the people read it] and continually bless me.

Edward L. Greenstein and David Marcus, "The Akkadian Inscription of Idrimi," Journal of the Ancient Near Eastern Society 8 (1976): 67–68.

Faith vs. Doubt, Hope vs. Fear, Charity vs. Pride

When I was at BYU, a religion professor taught that the opposite of love was not hate but fear based on the scripture that perfect love casteth out all fear.  I think that was only partially correct. Mormon and Moroni labored to make sure we understand the original meanings of these words. After considering other scripture, it seems to me that the scriptural opposite of faith is doubt, the scriptural opposite of hope is fear, and the scriptural opposite of charity (pure love of Christ) is pride (enmity with God).

Faith is obedience with real intent. Faith is not blind belief without action. Faith obeys first waiting for the witness that comes only after a trial of our faith. Also faith knows that only by obeying first will we know of the doctrine, whether it is of God or our leaders speak of themselves. 

Doubt passive-aggressively says we won't obey or submit until we understand or God proves it to us.  Those who Doubt may also refuse to obey because life doesn't seem fare.

Real Intent is an eye single to the glory of God. Real Intent doesn't seek to be seen of men. Real Intent is not giving primarily for a tax break or good public relations. Real Intent doesn't hide evil behind a facade of humanitarianism.

Hope is an assurance through obedience of God's providence and blessing. Hope is not a casino, wishing upon a star mentality. Hope is not fear of scarcity but a trust in God's promise that "The Earth is full and there is more than enough and to spare", or trust that "Thy days are known and thy years shall not be numbered less" and a trust to "take no thought fir the morrow". and that God will provide us "sufficient for our needs". Thus people with Hope don't take bribes or illegal kickbacks and payoffs.

Charity is a motivation to act based on pure love of Christ, a desire to build Zion, and an eternal perspective. Charity is not a motivation based on fear of scarcity: not enough time, not enough resources, not enough oil, contemplation of death, overpopulation, climate change, peak oil, war on terror, etc, etc. Charity is not charity without righteous obedience. An evil man cannot cannot give a good gift any more than a rich man can pay indulgences to the Church for forgiveness of sins. Charity will give a good gift and exhibit faith through repentance and righteous obedience. Charity is the "perfect love casteth out all fear". Charity doubt's not and fears not.  Charity says "Not as I will but as thou wilt" instead of "Do as you will".

Many people really are turned off by the LDS Church because it is led by a living prophet and a local bishop that are going to tell them what to do and how to live their lives.  Many cannot stand to be told what to do, even by God and especially God's annointed servants.

Consequently, the most popular religion in the world is where individuals worship the god in their hearts.  While the true and Living God can dwell in our hearts through His Holy Spirit, most people worship an imaginary god after their own likeness that never really expects or demands much of them.

A religion that does not require the sacrificeof all things, never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation - Joseph Smith, Lectures on Faith

A Warning Voice

The Book of Mormon is a divine book of scripture containing a witness and a warning.  The witness is that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. According to President Ezra T. Benson, the warning is to beware of pride.  What is the sin of pride?  President Benson taught that pride is "enmity with God".  In other words, according to the Book of Mormon, pride is an evil desire "that the God who created [you] should not rule and reign over [you]". 

There are 3 Lessons we are to learn in life: 1. Love God.  2. Control the Body, 3. Submit to God's Priesthood Authority.  In other words, Pres. Benson liked to say, "Give your life to God because He can do more with it than you can."  Christ taught the essence of Christianity when He said, "not as I wilt but as Thou wilt".

However, some despise God and seek not his will.  Some cannot stand than anyone else tell them what to do--even God.  Many follow the "god in their hearts", a god of their own making created in their image who never really requires that much out of them.

A few of those possessed with this pride fall for Satan's lie that you can "do as you will."  But not everyone can do as they will. That's what the pyramid is all about. There is only room at the top for one.  Everyone else is a "king-man" slave looking for privileges, bribes, pay-offs, kick-backs and favors to "trickle down" from the top.

Truth is that there is no such thing as anyone doing whatever they want.  Life is about choosing the master we will serve. If we choose Satan, there can only be one person in the whole pyramid scheme doing what they want. And even that person can't do much of anything because Satan has no creative power.  Satan can only enslave, steal and corrupt.

If we choose to be a slave to the body, or riches or power; we too end up realizing that we can never get enough and we quickly can become enslaved by various addictions that destroy our lives, our health, our self-respect, and our happiness.

Lucifer lies to his followers that He was the chosen son and not Jehovah and that there will be no future judgement and there will be no physical resurrection.  This false doctrine that there will be no judgement is enticing to those enslaved to sin.

Because God has creative powers, there is no scarcity of position at the top.  God can bestow His creative power on His children and they then can have dominion over their own creation as God has dominion over us as we are His creation.  In God's system there is never a problem with too many Chiefs and not enough indians.

But the problem with pride is not just the problem of inequality but when a people are prideful, they allow room for secret combinations to enter in.  Secret Combinations take advantage of, steal from, enslave and even kill their neighbors.   

Secret Combinations create a society with great inequality and artificial scarcity. Why does Satan love to make resources scarce? God assures us the "Earth is full and there is more than enough and to spare".  But if we make resources scarce, then possessing these resources brings power, status over those who will take the bribe or who also covet material things.

In Roman times, Secret Combinations destroyed their democracy by demoralizing the people through immorality and substance abuse. Sexual immorality led to Illegitimacy.  Illegitimacy led to poverty. Substance abuse led to greater idleness and wastefulness, and idleness and wastefulness also led to poverty.  

After building up a voting base of poor, instead of helping the poor themselves, the people instead voted for state-sponsored welfare (free bread and circus). When the State attempts to do the work of religion (charity and virtue according to James), the State leaves out the virtue. Thus there is no accountability and the poor stay poor because instead of rehabilitating the poor, the State-sponsored welfare bails out and enables the poor.  The free bread and circus just keeps on coming without any expectation to change the behavior that made the person poor in the first place.

Just like building orphanages creates more orphans, and adopting children from 3rd-world countries for tens of thousands of dollars creates a bigger market in human trafficking. State-sponsored welfare creates more poverty and more dependence. Government needs to get out of the job of Religion and Religions needs to also start doing their job (charity and virtue).

So, Rome was sending all its gold to China for hashish and opium carried along the spice roads.  To maintain the Roman economy, Rome had to bring in more tribute.  To bring in more tribute, they had to expand their territory.  But Rome didn't have enough soldiers.  So, the Marian reforms (Dream Act), promised German Barbarians citizenship and welfare benefits and land if they would serve in the Roman Legions.  

After Rome was bankrupt, these German Barbarian Foeterati aliens staged an insurrection, assassinated the Emperor and divided up the Roman Empire for ever. The Holy Roman Empire lasted for hundreds of years until Emperor Francis II signed the Treaty of Pressburg in Dec 1805. Joseph Smith was born Dec 1805.

Christ warns the Gentiles in the Book of Mormon that the seed of Jacob will be among us and could tear us into pieces if we don't repent.  However, I am hopeful because of Isa 19 that Egypt will repent.  We will be smitten and then we will be healed. 

The current banking empire represented in Nebuchadnezzar's dream by the feet of clay  involves the private central banking system set up by Nathan Rothschild in 1815 when he used his fore-knowledge of the outcome of the Battle of Waterloo. Rothschild spread the rumor that England had lost. This created a panic on the Consul market.  The next day, Rothschild bough up control over 1/2 the British Empire for pennies on the British pound.

In America we have allowed the secret combinations that the Book of Mormon warned about to infiltrate and grow up among us.  We call this system of private central banks that rule the industrialized world the G20.  The Book of Mormon warns that this conspiracy seeks to destroy the freedom of all nations.  Also, that secret combinations like that are among the Gentile nations proved the destruction of the Nephites and Jaredites.

The Banking conspiracy really got ahold of the US in 1913. The US Revolutionary war was fought over freedom to print or coin our own currency and issue our own credit and not have to go though London's good 'ol boy system.  However in 1812, rich elite gathered at Jekyll Is. Georgia and planned the Federal Reserve system (New World Order Heritage Site).  

There were many who remembered why our forefathers fought the Revolution (not tea or stamps or wearing jeans and watching football). So, JPMorgan invited all the opposition to the FED on a cruise to discuss the matter.  JPMorgan thought the lifeboats on the Titanic cluttered the deck and had them removed.  Then something came up at the last minute and JPMorgan couldn't make the cruise.  Then the Titanic was driven into an iceberg and all JPMorgan's adversaries went down with the ship.  

I drive over a memorial of the sinking of the Titanic almost every day coming home from work.  The Major Archibald Butt memorial Bridge is located in Augusta, GA and spans the Augusta Canal on 15th Street. Major Butt supposedly kept all the scared men from getting into the life boats at gun point making sure women and children were attended to first.  The whole thing is a total fabrication and the Butt Bridge is the ugliest little bridge you could possibly imagine.  But President Taft flew in to Augusta for the ribbon cutting ceremony. (Georgia Guidestones is another local NWO globalist monument in Elberton).

Every President since Taft has been controlled by the Banking cartel.  Most have all been members of the Bohemian Club/Grove and the Bilderberg Group.  Whatever they call their get-to-gethers; its the same people weaving the same web.

So, then over Christmas break Dec 23, 1913, A few congressmen meet and pass the Federal Reserve Act which insider Woodrow Wilson signs (Woodrow Wilson's Childhood home is in Augusta on 9th Street). and the now Chief Justice and former President Taft, who had became an initiated insider (took the Mark of the Beast), checked off on it also. Now Satan had control over the world's reserve currency and America began its slow and steady moral decline.

So what does secret combinations and the warning of Nephi, Mormon and Moroni in the Book of Mormon have to do with faith, hope and charity?  Well, I was trying to think about why after warning about secret combinations in Ether 8 did the Lord end the Book of Mormon with a lecture on true charity?  Maybe the Lord feels like our misunderstanding of true charity is part of what gives conspiracy power to grow up among us.

Understanding these fundamental principles is challenging because Satan has changed the meaning of faith, hope and charity.  Satan has also changed the meaning of pride to be a good thing. So now we talk about good pride and bad pride.

FAITH

Faith has been changed to mean blind belief.  In reality faith is obedience with real intent that then bares knowledge. True Christians are Christian scientists  who are taught and encouraged to prove all things.  LDS always question but never doubt. Doubt says I will obey after I understand.  Faithful questioning says I will obey first knowing the commandment is of God and understanding will come through obedience later.

But we know we cannot receive a witness until after a trial of our faith. Christ taught only after doing the will of the Father would know of the doctrine whether it was of God or if Christ spoke of himself.  LDS obey with real intent, we talk-the-talk and walk-the-walk, knowing that obedience will bring forth the good fruit of peace and happiness and the powers of godliness and priesthood in our lives.

HOPE

Hope has become a wish upon a star.  Hope has become the feeling we get inside a casino when we roll the dice or pull the lever on the slot machine and we wish that our number comes up.

Firstly, true Christians don't gamble and only go to casinos for the buffet. Second, true hope is an assurance through our faith.  As I have said before, at the BYU Testing Center, after turning in your scan-tron at the desk, the test is immediately  graded electronically on the spot and a special HP printer is located near the exit that continuously spits out half-sheets of paper with your test grade.  

There is almost a continual vigil of prayer and supplication surrounding that HP Printer at the BYU Testing Center. But sometimes students pray a wish knowing they didn't study as they should have and more often there is the prayer of faith and assurance that the print-out will read "Congratulations on a NICE test score", because they put in the work required to master the material.

CHARITY

But how does true obedience and true hope and assurance lead to the true love of Christ?  Mormon warned that an "evil man cannot give a good gift". Why? because an evil man does't give with true intent. What is that intent?  The only true intent is with an eye single to the glory of God.  Remember, faith is obedience and good works with real intent. 

However, the great conspiracy hides behind their many foundations and the cloak of humanitarianism.  But in some cases, some (not all) of what these foundations support is self-serving or supports the progressive demoralization of America and other nations.

Also, we have to remember that even if we give to others with real intent, we must also be virtuous.  If we are immoral in our personal lives but are generous to the poor; are we any better than the rich during the days of Martin Luther who falsely believed they could pay indulgences for forgiveness of sin?

So, we have discussed how true faith leads to charity. More interesting is how true hope leads to charity?  Many times I am not patient enough because I fear I may not have enough time or energy.  Consequently, I may get short with another person instead of being patient.  

The conspiracy and false morality teach men to contemplate on their death and use that fear to motivate their actions.  True Christian morality teaches an eternal perspective. When we humble ourselves and trust in the Lord that he knows our days, and our years will not be numbered less; then we can exemplify the patience, kindness and long-suffering of Christ.

I almost put Serenity but serenity is NOT a Christ-like attribute.  Christ has even more patience than Job but we are taught that God does not look upon sin with the least degree of allowance.  We can be content with the gifts God has given us, but we do not need to be content with evil. We can change the evil around us into good but we know it may take a long time. We also know good wins in the end.

Instead of fear motivating our actions, fear of death, or fear of scarcity; the true Christian is motivated by love, contentment, and trust in God's power. When we have obedience with real intent, we can have an assurance in God's blessings. and we then can be liberated from fear and empowered to show love to others regardless of the situation. 

SAVING THE CONSTITUTION

If anyone has a plan to save the United States that does not involve a "return to virtue", it won't work.  Satan has slowly destroyed this country by first demoralizing us just like Rome.  We can do all the educating we want, but unless we have a moral people, the immoral will not want to believe the truth.  They will be like the people of Ammonihah who falsely believed that their great city could never be destroyed.  

I mention this because a very important tactic that Satan uses is controlled opposition.  Satan knows people are tribal and we love to take sides.  So, when Satan starts up his "Destroy the Constitution Foundation", he also starts up a "Save the Constitution Foundation". In addition to tax sheltering money, No one starts an alternative "Save the Constitution Foundation B" because Foundation A seems to be doing so well.

These two forces battle it out. But remember, contention is always of the devil, and fighting it out rarely brings a good result.  And then when the conflict comes down to the wire, the wolves in sheep's clothing divert our attention from the real issues, claim we can save the Constitution by legalizing drugs, and then throw the game at the end.

Well, many things have been prophesied in scripture.  Every one of these things must be fulfilled.  There is no changing the things that surely must come to past.  There is no saving Babylon on Track 1.  But like Pres. J Ruben Clark often said, the faithful will win this war on Track 2. Zion is track 2 and the most important thing we can do to save America and Constitutional government is to work and sacrifice to build Zion and return America to being a nation of virtue.   Because after Babylon is burned and shaken and falls; Zion is going to be the only thing left standing.  

The scriptures ask, when the shaking begins, Will we be able to stand?  If we have been wise and have oil in our lamps, if we have received the truth and not been deceived, and have taken the holy spirit to be our guide and if we are standing in holy places, we will be able to stand whether it be "in life or in death".

Drawing The Line In The Sand

When Moses came down from mount Sinai with the 10 Commandments, he found that Israel had so quickly abandoned the True and Living God, reverting to worshiping the false golden calf idol of Egypt which also involved morally corrupting themselves.  Moses ordered the idol destroyed and then drew a line in the sand and asked "who is on the Lord's side"?

In this past Conference, LDS Apostles have again drawn another line in the sand notifying the world that the LDS Church is not going to budge on the issue of same-gender marriage. 

Our understanding of God’s plan and His doctrine gives us an eternal perspective that does not allow us to condone such behaviors or to find justification in the laws that permit them. And, unlike other organizations that can change their policies and even their doctrines, our policies are determined by the truths God has identified as unchangeable. . . . 

In this determination we may be misunderstood, and we may incur accusations of bigotry, suffer discrimination, or have to withstand invasions of our free exercise of religion. If so, I think we should remember our first priority—to serve God—and, like our pioneer predecessors, push our personal handcarts forward with the same fortitude they exhibited.   -- Elder Oaks, General Conference, Oct. 2013

Despite the proponents of same-gender marriage promising that if they got their way they would never go after religion for discrimination, we are now seeing reports of Christians in the wedding services and in the military targeted for their traditional family values.

A small minority mistakenly believe the LDS Church will eventually cave to social pressure the same way it did on polygamy and priesthood. Those who mistakenly believe this couldn't be more wrong because they don't understand the moral basis for the Church decision. 

LDS morality with regard to marriage has never changed and it is that a man and a women should have no intimate relationship whatsoever unless they first are married. That means if an LDS man were to have multiple wives than he must first have the consent of his first wife and covenant to financially support both wives.

If he take him another wife; her food, her raiment, and her duty of marriage, shall he not diminish. (Old Testament, Exodus, Exodus 21:10)

LDS Polygamy itself is not the same type of moral issue as same-gender marriage.  Polygamy has more to do with welfare and how a Zion people cares for the fatherless and the widow.  Even in polygamy, absolute chastity before marriage and complete fidelity in marriage is and always will be the immovable standard.

I will therefore that the younger women [re-] marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully. . .If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; (New Testament, 1 Timothy, 1 Timothy 5:14-16)

The LDS Priesthood issue was not the same kind of moral issue either.  As I have explained before, the LDS Church was way ahead of the time in its opposition to slavery.  This opposition was a part of the reason for the Mormons being expulsed from Missouri and later the United States. 

While I am glad the priesthood is now availible to all worthy males, the initial shift in Church policy by Joseph Smith and them the reversal by Pres. Kimball, did not affect anyones eternal salvation.  But it seems it may have been a temporary organizational necessity to prevent more religious persecution that was threatening the survival of the Church.

The moral issue with same-gender marriage has nothing to do with 2 or more consenting adults determining their living and sleeping arangements. Rather, the moral issue with same-gender marriage is that children have the right to be born into families with both a mother and father as gender role models.  

LDS believe same-gender intimacy is sinful but recognize that consenting adults can choose to live together and sleep together.  However, when it comes to civil unions, same-gender couples should receive all tax and insurance benefits as married couples except for having children together using advanced fertility.  Baring and raising children by both a mother and father is the critical moral issue what sets marriage appart from civil union.

Moving Forward With Unity

I live in Augusta, GA.  When I attempt to share the restored gospel with friends and co-workers, I am invariably asked about the LDS attitude about Blacks and the Priesthood.  Here was roughly one idea that came out of a recent gospel-centered conversation.

Most all Christian religions were guilty of some sort of racism of some sort or another.  Racism has no part in true religion.  God is no respecter of persons but religions are filled with imperfect members as well as imperfect leaders.

That said, I think the LDS Church should be praised for being way out in front on the slavery issue.  Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon both came out in absolute  condemnation of slavery.  Joseph Smith in his presidential bid proposed the US purchase all slaves and predicted the War between the States would be fought over the slave question. Joseph Smith even began to ordain blacks to the priesthood.

America's response to the LDS opposition to slavery was the "Mormon War" in Missouri and the LDS being mobbed and expulsed from the state after Governor Lilburn Boggs signed the infamous  extermination order legalizing the killing of any Mormon found within the State.

At some point, no one knows why, the LDS stopped ordaining Blacks to the priesthood.  The exact reasons were never given by God through Joseph Smith.  However, some LDS leadership have speculated on the reason over the years. Could it be that prohibition was felt  necessary for the preservation of the LDS Church.  

As it was, Mormons were forced to leave the US , the supposed land of religious freedom, for Mexican Territory.  And even after fleeing extermination, the US sent an occupying Johnston's Army to keep their thumb on the Mormons.

Also, let me remind everyone that Blacks were always allowed baptism and baptism is what is necessary to go to Mormon heaven.  Also, Mormons have always offered all ordinances and priesthood posthumously in the name of the deceased.

So, how did the LDS Church who started out so ahead on racial issues fall so far behind following the civil rights movement?   One possible major reasons for the delay is the need for complete unanimity among the 12 Apostles.  If the 12 are not unverified on any issue they do not press forward.

However, a wonderful manifestation of the Spirit was received while in the LDS Temple in 1979.  The manifestation was such that if there had been any doubt or opposite opinion before, minds and hearts were changed and unanimity was achieved.  One such holdout, Elder McConkie publicly retracted all his writings on the issue saying: 

"forget what I or Brigham Young or anyone else has said which is contrary to the current light and knowledge we have now received, we spoke without understanding"  

Elder McConkie humbled himself, and retracted what had said before. And only after unanimity has been achieved, did the LDS Church reopen the priesthood to all worthy male members.  Unlike ecumenical creeds, The Brethren never act on split decisions. Uninimity is a sign of the true Church of Christ and leadership.  

After being initially light-years ahead, the consequence of delayed unanimity was the LDS Church lagged behind the rest of Christendom following the civil rights movement. 

God truly is no respecter of persons. "All are alike unto God" accord to the Book of Mormon.  However, just like the gospel went to the Jew first and then the gentile, the restored gospel has gone to the gentile first and then to all the Earth.  God is not racist but I think God understands all too well how we have been born into a prejudice world.

Ultimately, the Lord's Church moved forward offering the Priesthood and all blessings to all worthy male members when the world, LDS members and even LDS leadership were ready.