Samuel the Lamanite

"And now, it came to pass that there were many who heard the words of Samuel, the Lamanite, which he spake upon the walls of the city. And as many as believed on his word went forth and sought for Nephi; and when they had come forth and found him they confessed unto him their sins and denied not, desiring that they might be baptized unto the Lord." (Book of Mormon, Helaman, 16:1)

The Book of Mormon recounts the history of a lost tribe of Israel who were led away from Israel in about 600 BC to America.  Upon arriving in America, the families of Lehi and Ishmael separated into 2 groups known afterward as the Nephites amd Lamanites.  The Book of Mormon recounts the eventual conversion of many of the Lamanites to the Lord and at the same time the increasing pride and apostasy of the, once faithful, Nephites because of their prosperity.  

At a certain point just prior to the appearance of Jesus Christ in America, a Lamanite prophet was raised up among the Lamanites who gave a powerful but brief sermon and witness of Jesus Christ to the more wicked Nephites.  

I don't know if Samuel the Lamanite held amy official position in the Ancient American Church, but one important point of his preaching was that Samuel did not draw people away from the Lord's prophet but led people to the prophet Nephi who was at the head of their Church to repent and be baptized. 

President Joseph Smith, Jun., addressed the assembly and said, "the Melchizedek High Priesthood was no other than the Priesthood of the Son of God; that there are certain ordinances which belong to the Priesthood from which flow certain results; and the Presidents or Presidency are over the Church; and revelations of the mind and will of God to the Church are to come through the Presidency. This is the order of heaven." - History of the Church, Volume Two, page 477  

Economic Solution: Safety Society System

When Joseph Smith and the Early Saints established the city of Kirkland, they needed to establish a banking system to provide credit and currency for their emerging economy. However, what was established was a traditional European-style, fractional-reserve bank that is inherently unstable. Because of the inherent instablility, the Kirkland Bank succumbed to market instabilities and soon failed. Following the direction of the US Constitution, a more equitable and Constitutional banking solution may be possible. The Safety Society Banking System addresses the income inequality starting with the Home Mortgage. 1. National Currency 2. Treasury creates money as needed 3. Local Non-profit Safety Society Bank approves loans 4. Simple-interest and fee-based loans granted 5. Debtors earn equity from day 1 6. Missed payments deducted from equity = instant reverse mortgage and mortgage insurance 7. No income tax 8. No inflation 9. Full Reserve banking. 100% Deposits stay at the bank and are never loaned out. 10. Money for new loans is created "on-demand" by US Treasury based on local loan approval and credit worthiness. 11. Communities or groups can qualify together for a hospital or park or aquarium or whatever if credit worthy. 12. Local Safety Societies cover costs with loan origination fees only and monthly loan service charge. 13. Fed Gov earns money via simple interest which constitutes a necessary fee which regulates money supply. 14. Repaid money is retired from circulation by the Treasury. 15. Loans only made for "real assets" not stock 16. Money is "backed" by the "real asset". 17.Value of currency = quantity and quality of human labor. Automation reduces costs. According to the equation MV = PG, inflation (P) is dependant on money supply (M). US Treasury controls money supply by only creating new money as it is nedeed (on demand). Inflation or deflation happems when there is too much money or not enough. It should always be more equensive to borrow than to save. With an equitable economic system, thrre will be a more equitable distribution of wealth. The Safety Society System is Free Market without a need for the capitalists although there may be a place for Mitt Romney style business venture capital. I like the idea of the ZCMI that was supported by the general public. The Safety Society System would not invest in business aspect but only the land and the building itself. Letting the people themselves be joint shareholders in the rest is a great idea in order to prevent the Walmart syndrome where Walmart has the power to dictate both the wholesale price and the suggested retail price.

Polygamy: Miraculous Unity of the Faith

Many Evangelical and Protestant have a hang-up with LDS historic practice of polygamy.  When people think of polygamy they immediately think of modern media depictions of the practice by a tiny corrupt FLDS group who chase adolescent boys out their isolated community and brainwash and coerce uneducated young girls into the the practice.  But instead of actually supporting these women and their children, FLDS wives collect government welfare as single mothers which is exactly the opposite of why polygamy was ever instituted in the first place.  Unfortunately, this hang-up prevents many from taking any type of serious investigation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or the Book of Mormon. 

The Bible warns of false prophets in the Last Days. If there are false prophets, doesn't this suggest there would be true prophets? But the Bible also says that we can differentiate false and true prophets by their fruits.  What of the fruits of Joseph Smith?  What about Joseph Smith's and Brigham Young's practice of polygamy?  Was Joseph Smith's implementation of polygamy a clear example of bad fruit?  I'm sure reasonable people hear about Joseph Smith and polygamy and instantly roll their eyes and think its exactly the corrupt kind of thing that any corrupt and false, cult-leader, megalomaniac would do.  Jesus Christ via Joseph Smith declared in the Doctrine and Covenants:

"We have learned by sad experience that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion." (Doctrine and Covenants, D&C 121:39)

Because polygamy can easily be abused and corrupted, does that make it inherently bad? What does the Bible have to say about polygamy?  Let's start with marriage. We read that God performed the first marriage in the paradisiacal Garden of Eden before the Fall saying that it was NOT good for man to be alone. Well if is not good for man to be alone I think we can assume its not good for women to be alone either.  And, in the garden we have the ideal union between one man and one woman. 

"And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.  ... Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh." (Old Testament, Genesis, 2:18;24)

So what about polygyny specifically? Admittedly, polygyny is NOT the ideal.  But are there conditions where God has allowed, sanctioned or even commanded its practice?  What does the Bible say about it?  Abraham is the clearest example of polygyny with 2 wives who is considered the Founding Father of Jewish, Christian, and Islamic religions. Jacob had 4 wives and 12 sons. While Jews historically practiced polygamy; today, only Muslims still consider it acceptable but not recommended.  What does Islamic scripture say on the matter?

"If ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly with the orphans, Marry women of your choice, Two or three or four; but if ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one, or (a captive) that your right hands possess, that will be more suitable, to prevent you from doing injustice." (Qur'an, Sura 4, Ayah 3)

These Verses were revealed after the Battle of Uhud, in which many Muslim men were killed, leaving widows and orphans. Thus, many argue that these Verses have been revealed “because of God’s concern for the welfare of women and orphans who were left without husbands and fathers who died fighting for the Prophet and for Islam. It is a verse about compassion towards women and their children; it is not about men or their sexuality.”  (Wiki)

Back to the Bible.  What does Moses have to say about it?  Immediately after giving the Ten Commandments which forbids adultery, God instructs the men of Israel that  "If he take another wife for himself; her food, her clothing, and her duty of marriage, shall he not diminish" (Exodus 21:10)

Later, the Bible says, "If a man have two wives, one beloved, and another hated, and they have born him children, both the beloved and the hated; and if the firstborn son be hers that was hated: .... But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the firstborn, by giving him a double portion of all that he hath: for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his. (Old Testament, Deuteronomy, 21:15-16)

Deut 25:5-10 proscribes the practice of levirate marriage which obligated a man whose brother has left a widow without heir to marry her to continue his brother's name  in Israel. According to the Old Testament at least, multiple marriage was considered a realistic alternative in the case of famine, widowhood, or female infertility. (Wiki)

But what about the New Testament.  It seems that Rome together with some Early Christian writers condemned polygamy. But what does the New Testament say?  Paul discusses the care of widows with Timothy.  Paul specifically instructs younger widows to remarry and continue to "bear children".

"I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully." (New Testament, 1 Timothy 5:14)

But who would take on this responsibility to marry a younger widow already with or without children and take on the management of another household?  Consider the historical stigma against an already married woman with children.  Paul says that the married Elders and Sisters of the Church should receive them and support them.  Then Paul makes a direct reference to Deut. 25 and the commandment for Levirate marriage with "Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn."  

"If any man or woman (married couple) that believeth have widows (younger), let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it (the Church) may relieve them that are widows indeed (eg older widows without family or prospects)." (New Testament, 1 Timothy, 5:16)

But what about Paul's instruction that among the qualifications of a Bishop in Titus 1:6 and Timothy 3:2, that he be the husband of one wife?  The word "one" in Greek is "mia" not "eva" which is more correctly interpreted as "man of the first wife" which is not talking about number of wives but is talking about a man who has never been divorced and is still married to his first wife. But even if you disagree, the alternate interpretation itself suggests polygamy was in common practice and would only exclude one from being the Bishop but not an Elder.

However, the most important point here is like the Qur'an, Paul's instructions are about compassion towards women and their children; caring for the fatherless and the widow; and not about men or their sexuality.   Remember that in James 1:27, pure religion is all about caring for the fatherless and the widow and keeping ourselves unspotted from the world. 

By the way, what does the Book of Mormon say about polygamy?  Despite the polygamy of Abraham, Jacob and King David and others, Monogamy is the ideal and polygamy is forbidden in the Book of Mormon and only allowable if the Lord commands it.

"Wherefore, I the Lord God will not suffer that this people shall do like unto them of old. Wherefore, my brethren, hear me, and hearken to the word of the Lord: For there shall not any man among you have save it be one wife; and concubines he shall have none; For I, the Lord God, delight in the chastity of women. And whoredoms are an abomination before me; thus saith the Lord of Hosts. ... For if I will, saith the Lord of Hosts, raise up seed unto me, I will command my people; otherwise they shall hearken unto these things." (Book of Mormon, Jacob 2:26-30)

When it comes to Early LDS Church practice of polygamy; what was the intent and the outcome?  Whether the Church leaders knew it or not, God knew the LDS Church and His saints would soon be cast out of their city of Nauvoo, Illinois at gunpoint and forced to flee the United States of America to settle the wastelands of the Great Salt Lake Valley. The LDS Church with 70,000 people left all civilization in America and Europe to settle a valley of complete desolation surrounding a dead salt sea.  There was no WIC or Medicaid, or Social Security or Disability back then.  If you were a newly immigrated young woman with children and without family in frontier Utah, you didn't stand a chance.  

But, according to James 1:27, welfare is the business of the Church of Christ and polygyny was ONLY instituted as a calling and assignment to those who were willing, worthy and capable to care for the fatherless and the widow.  My wife Ruth Emily Cornish comes from polygamist ancestry on both her maternal and paternal sides.  Pure Christian  Charity was the motivation behind their initially reluctant acceptance and faithful practice of polygamy and great spiritual and temporal prosperity was their reward.

So, if polygamy was commanded by God why did the LDS Church cave to pressure and abandon polygamy?  The real question is why Christian Americans caved to allowing the US Congress to pass the illegal Edmonds-Tucker Act which the Federal Supreme Court later ruled to be constitutional despite knowing the 1st Amendment of the Bill of Rights strictly forbids the Federal Congress from making any laws with regard to religion or its practice?  Marriage is a practice of religion and off-limits to the Federal Government.  But this was the first of many subsequent rulings that have slowly eroded away the rights reserved in the US Constitution and Bill of Rights. 

Nevertheless, why did the LDS Church cave?  Read Official Declaration 1 in the Doctrine and Covenants for yourself.   1. Monogamy is the ideal. 2. Polygamy was no longer absolutely necessary as a welfare mechanism and 3. the Church leaders followed the direction of Jesus Christ and inspiration of the Holy Ghost to act (as Peter's denial) to preserve the keys, authority, and function of the Church.  The Federal Government was ready and able to seize all church property, arrest all church leaders, and shut down all Temples. Instead, the Church, in unity, followed the prophet and took great pains to comply with the new law of the land and we were blessed with great spiritual and temporal prosperity.

Maybe some would have preferred a showdown.  They seek for a sign.  They would have preferred to see the prophets of God surrounded by the armies of Satan and watched entertained as the Earth shook, plagues were unleashed, and fire came from heaven to consume our enemies.  One day those signs will come.  But the bigger miracle was to see the Latter-day Saints act with unity to follow the Lord and His prophet and avoid conflict and war.   Which is more of a miracle, for God to command the elements or for God the change the heart of a man or an entire nation?  Unity was the greater miracle.

"Husband of the first wife" vs. "Husband of one wife" comes down to these words being in the genitive case and not in the nominative case.

Genitive Case:1 Tim 3:2 "mia gynaikos" = "of the first wife"John 20:19 "mia sabbaton" = "first of the week"

Nominative Case: John 10:16 "mia poimne heis poimen" = "one fold with one shepherd"

Eph 4:5 "heis Kyrios, mia pistis, hen baptisma" = "one Lord, one faith, one baptism"

Polygamy was illegal in the Roman Empire and the Jews were terribly persecuted for practicing polygamy. Yet, at the same time, Roman society accepted adultery, fornication, homosexuality, divorce, concubinage, and prostitution. Doesn't sound too different from today's morality.  You can cheat all can get away with but you can't, with full adult consent, take on the responsibility and fully support two households.  Not the ideal situation but maybe better than the alternatives in difficult circumstances.

Again, the miracle was the unity of the LDS Church, despite the great personal sacrifice, in following the Lord's prophet when the Lord commanded to practice polygamy and then commanded to discontinue its practice. The LDS Church was unified except for a small handful.

Was there the same kind of miraculous unity in the Catholic Church following the Council of Nicea or in the Presbyterian Church when it was decided to ordain women to the priesthood?

Marks of Adversity

A young woman at Youth Conference Q&A asked the question "why did Christ retain the marks of the crucifixion". Among many good answers was primarily to testify that Jesus Christ is the Messiah who was lifted up on the cross.  Second, the marks testify of the healing power of the Atonement. 

I think some religions get what they call the "stigmata" mixed up.  Christ's marks were completely healed and not like lifting a bandaid to reveal a festering, bleeding wound that hasn't healed.  The marks of Christ are, too often depicted grotestly in the media instead of being a faint scar like a soldier or adventurer might show before telling you their tale of heroism and bravery.

But there may be an important point of personal application here. Every one of us carry the marks of adversity with us, even after we have been healed.  We were fortunate to have Sis. Dawn Armstrong from the " Meet the Mormons" movie as a guest speaker.  Sis. Armstrong shared with the group the marks of adversity she carries and testified of the healing power of Christ's Atonement in her life.  

However, we need to be careful how we share past adversity and especially, as a general rule, not share past sins.  If we are not truely repentant and haven't truely been healed, then our sharing may sound more like glorifying in our past wickedness instead of glorifying in the redemptive power of Christ.  And instead of showing the faint scar of past adversity, we may still have an unresolved  wound that needs the Bishop's and the Savior's attention.

Three Nephite Stories

Instead of telling ghost stories around the camp fire, I encourage Three Nephite stories. Sharing certain stories can invite the wrong spirit.  Who are the Three Nephites? Like Enoch and Elijah and John the Beloved in the Bible, there are three of Christ's disciples from America who were also blessed to endure and live to see the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

Mormon and Moroni commented that they had seen the Three Nephites who they said had "ministered unto them".  Many others also report having been ministered to by Three Nephites. The ministration of the Three Nephites typically involves instances when a person is in distress, a mysterious person appears in their life (Like Ephraim's Rescue), to say something or do something that changes the course of their entire life. 

My Mother's 3 Nephite Story: My mother was very good girl and never a party'er. But she was in college and happened to be at party she had been invited too. While there, there was a young man that seemed a bit older than the rest and just looked at her and said "why are you here?" The question hit her to the very core. After looking down and pondering the question, she looked up and the young man was nowhere to be found. She immediately called her father to pick her up and take her home. She found the Church not long after that experience and was baptized. My mother believes that the young man who asked her that question was one of the 3 Nephites. 

I just realized that my mother has a 2nd 3 Nephite Story: My parents took in a Vietnamese family of 6 child refugees. The children had been separated from their parents. They already had 4 children and my Dad was in between jobs. They took all 6 children together not to divide up the family. They were pretty much living on food storage. My mother didn't know how she was going to feed everyone. However, she said one day she was driving and she came upon a man selling fruit and vegetables on a roadside stand near our house in California. She told the man about her situation and he told her to come see him at the end of each day and he would sell her whatever he had left at the end of the day for 15$. She visited the vegetable/fruit stand often to feed everyone until one night she had a dream about the Vietnamese parents of the 6 children being in Hawaii. It turns out the parents were in Hawaii, and the family was reunited. After the Vietnamese children had left thier home and had been reuinited with their parents, my mother sought out the man at the produce stand to thank him but he and his stand was gone. She never saw him again. 

My father may have a 3 Nephite Story: Someone left a Book of Mormon on his front lawn in California. Every night he read a chapter in the Old Testament and the New Testament. After finding the Book of Mormon he started reading a chapter out of the Book of Mormon as well. He subsequently was baptized, met and baptized my mother before severing a mission to Berlin, Germany and transferring to BYU. My Father in Mother married not long after he returned home from his mission.