Allegory of David ahd Saul

I went out to see the Angel Sudio production of "David" at my local movie theater with several of my kids. I enjoyed it.  The animation, orchestration, voice acting, and story adaptation are excellent.  The music was very good.  Not quite to the level of "Prince of Egypt" or "Joseph: King of Dreams", but very, very good. "Psalm 8", "Adventure Song", "Shalom", "Why God" and "Follow the Light" are amazing but just not as catchy as "Deliver Us", "When You Believe", and "More than You Take".  But it's probably unfair to compare to Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston singing "When You Believe". . 

1 Sam 15:22 "And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams"

The aspect of the movie that I most enjoyed was pondering on the story of Saul and David as an prophetic allegory of the Last Days.  Many of the stories in the Old Testament, in addition to having a prophetic parallel to the coming of the Messiah Jesus Christ, also have a prophetic parallel to the Last Days.

There is a prophetic parallel in the story of Joseph sold into Egypt being the means of saving the other 11 brothers (even Judah) during a great famine. The United States today represents ancient Egypt in biblical times.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints boldly and unapologetically declares that we represent spiritual Joseph and Ephraim today.  And the spiritual ordinances and covenants we perform in everlasting temples are for the benefit of not only ourselves but for the whole human family.  The covenants, and sealing ordinances of the House of the Lord are for the blessing of every kindred, nation, tongue, and people. 

The modern Jews in Israel and throughout the world are represented by Saul in the Old Testanent story.  The Jews are Hashem's people whose obedience and faith is meant to bring the light of Hashem into the world.  Sadly,, an elite few in posotions of global governance have been a bad example supporting policies encouraging moral corruption and economic oppression. But, like Saul, despite these failings, Judah is still chosen. 

Modern Ephraim, like David has found refuge, sustainence, and the sword of God's Spirit in the Temple/Tabernacle/House of the Lord.  And while our leadership remain subject to the appointed worldlty 'powers that be', Those worldly powers, in addition to their moral corruption; have engaged in self-injurious foreign policy and economic behavior.  Israel is the promised land for the Jews, but the fate of Saul on Mount Gilboa may be fixed. 

Nevertheless, the promises of God toward the faithful of His people are also fixed.  God will finally make bare His Holy Arm in the eyes of all nations.  No longer will the world be eating honey from the carcass of a dead lion. Samson will himself finally destroy the corrupt temple of Dagon. Goliath will be slain by the smooth river stone of God's people keeping their temple covenants, Joseph will reveal himself to his brothers saving them from spirirual famine.  David will emerge to peacefully unify all the House of Israel, and Jesus Christ will suddenly and literally appear, returning to His purified Temple to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. 

Isa 2:3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

Preaching After the Holy Order of God

We live in a narcissistic society that confuses sympathy with empathy.  Narcissists feel entitled to sympathy in everything.  However,  empathy values truth, while also seeing things from the other person's perspective.  Empathy has the courage to tell someone their view is harmful and wrong and the compassion and patience to explain why.  

This is a major theme of the Book of Mormon in preaching the gospel after the "Holy Order of God".  The gospel is not just sunshine and rainbows.  Sometimes love and empathy requires correction and even an occasional denial of sympathy.  Sometimes giving sympathy can actually just be plain apathy, and denying sympathy while providing patient correction reflects true compassionate empathy. 

Preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ is not just peaching "greasy grace"; nor is it "hell, fire, and damnation.".   Teaching after the Holy Order of God us balanced and binds up the wounded and broken hearts sometimes, but at other times it cuts deep and even widens already tender wounds. 

Jacob 2:9  Wherefore, it burdeneth my soul that I should be constrained, because of the strict commandment which I have received from God, to admonish you according to your crimes, to enlarge the wounds of those who are already wounded, instead of consoling and healing their wounds; and those who have not been wounded, instead of feasting upon the pleasing word of God have daggers placed to pierce their souls and wound their delicate minds.

And this is what lead prophets in the Book of Mormon like Jacob to address the anti-Christ Sharem and Alma to address Korihor.  And it is what led Elijiah to face the false priests of Baal on Mount Carmel in 1 Kings 18.  And this spirit motivated Jesus Christ Himself to call out the corruption of Scribes and Pharisees of His day and motivated the Apostles to contend against the many false doctrines that continually were trying to creep into the Church.

1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

Elder Jeffery R. Holland

https://youtu.be/0bi_LjNB6YY?si=3ovkITCNcH1cKCZ9

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

  

Kingdom of Heaven

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

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

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

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

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

Constitutional Government

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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