Joseph Smith and Constitutional Government

Someone posted online the idea that Joseph Smith ran for US President with the intention to replace the US Constitutional Government with a higher order of Celestial Government and that Joseph Smith revealed his secret anti-American intentions to a secret "council  of 50". 

This post feeds into a false idea that Joseph Smith, Mitt Romney, and all LDS members are fundamentally "anti-American" and "anti-US Constitution".  Nothing could be further from the truth.   I think it is a very false idea to suggest that Joseph Smith secretly intended to commit treason against the United States. 

Does this suggestion of treason claim Joseph Smith just was going along with the US Government, like it was a "stepping stone" to something better and he intended to run for US president and take over and supplant constitutional government with his United Order?  is this suggesting that Joseph Smith called a secret council of 50 and revealed to them his treasonous intentions?  Seems like roumors and slander to me.

1.  These kind of baseless "anti-American" roumors and slanders against Joseph Smith is exactly what led to all the LDS persecution, the Mormon war, the extermination order, etc etc.  

2. These kind of "anti-American" roumors were used to raise suspicion against Mitt Romney.  If Mitt understood his religion he would gladly talk about how America-loving and US Constitution-loving the LDS religion really is.  In fact he should divert every religion question to this point.

3. Satan used these "anti-American" roumors and suspicions against Joseph Smith together with the nationalism and patriotism of the Missouri and Illinois residents to justify all the abuses, persecutions, and eventual expulsion of LDS

4. If we continue to spread these false roumors and suspicions, how are we any better than the persecutors back then?

5. Joseph Smith taught again and again the US Constitution was given by God and is akin to scripture. What other church teaches that?

6. Joseph Smith taught that America and NOT Israel is the promised land and place of freedom, liberty, and gathering for the tribe of Joseph and the 10 tribes of Israel.

7. Joseph taught that the Millennial Kingdom of God will NOT be a Theocracy (Theocracy is a Catholic doctrine) but will still be governed with a separation of Church and State. The Book of Mormon and the Bible in Judges teach that this separation is the ideal.  Even in the Book of Abraham this is suggested in the facimilies when discussing "Oliblish" that stands next to "Kolob" in authority. 

8. Joseph's Millennial Kingdom was to be governed by 2 capitals:Jerusalem in Israel and Zion in America. One would be the religious capital and the other the capital of the government.

9. Joseph's idea of constitutional government is anti-socialist. According to James 1:27: it is the business of religion and not the state to offer welfare services and encourage virtue.  That is because the state will treat symptomatic welfare issues but not get at the virtue issues which are at the root cause of poverty.

10. The State has jurisdiction when one citizen harms another citizen (distributing recreational drugs).  Religion has jurisdiction to discipline and rehabilitate when an individual is violating laws of virtue and only harming themselves (abusing themselves with recreational drugs). 

11. Joseph's United Order and Safety Society were not a civil government system but a US Constitution-friendly economic system.  Capitalism is not a part of the LDS faith nor is it a part of US Constitutional government.  

12.  The US Constitution specifies that Congress should have power over the US credit and currency and NOT the calitalist nor the bankers.  We did not vote for the capitalist or the bankers with our dollars such that these "special interests" can use their unelected economic Machiavellian power to oppress us through debt, controlled media propaganda, and monetary influence over our civil elections.

13. I fully expect the US Constitution to be " the governing civil law" in the Millennium (Isa 33:22).  Again, separation of Church and State is a major theme of the Book of Mormon.  The State needs to get out the welfare business of religion not by cutting the poor off but by religions doing its job so that state welfare is no longer needed.

For the Lord is our judge (Judiciary), the Lord is our lawgiver (Legislative), the Lord is our king (Executive); he will save us. (Old Testament, Isaiah, Isaiah 33:22)

The Spirit of God is the Spirit of Freedom

Covenants and ordinances: I think its important to talk about the big picture---- ie. why we do them.

1. Purpose of life is a test to see if we love God and will do His will over our own will: "Not as I will but as Thou wilt".
2. Life is body driver's education where we learn to control our bodies. Our spirits need to drive our bodies and not our bodies drive our spirits.
3. God gave us weaknesses so that we will be humble and look to God for help.
4. The body is weak and has a tendency to sin. The natural man is an enemy to God. Just because we may have a tendency or predisposition to sin is not an excuse to do it.
5. Covenants help make our weaknesses strong
6. My body wants to do this, but I promised God I would do something else.
7. Eating vegetables is essential for good health but children don't necessarily come into this world liking them. But children can be trained and acquire a taste for them.
8. Likewise, people dont come into the world wanting to keep Gods commandments (dont drink alcohol, no steady boy friend before college). But, like vegetables, temple ritual and covenants are designed to help us acquire a taste for keeping the commandments.
9. We participate in entering into covenants using our whole body. (ritual) Ordinances change who we are until the point that we no longer desire sin and have no more disposition to do evil.
10. The gospel is not "Chuck-o-Rama" were we pick and choose only those commandments which please us. Instead, the gospel is a well balanced meal where we are expected to even take the spiritual spinach and leave a clean plate. -Elder Maxwell
11. When God freed Israel from slavery the first thing He did was give them commandments to preserve their freedom.  Commandment free us not restrict us.
12. Satan enslaves us through sexual sin and chemical addiction.
13. Sexual sin and chemical addiction creates poverty in the world via broken families, illigitimacy and idleness. Evil men can take advantage of the poor in a democracy by instituting socialism that gives the poor money (symptomatic treatment) but doesn't address the problems of virtue that are the root cause of poverty. (how Greece and Rome fell-- Pres. Monson Ensign July 2013)
14. Pure religion in James 1:27 is welfare and virtue. The bishop will give you needed food and money but will also adress the virtue issues. Government does not which "enables" the poor and makes them dependent on government for a continual bailout instead of reform and rehabilitation and return to productivity and self-reliance. Religion in America needs to start doing its job so people don't need to turn to government handouts.
15. Only a "return to virtue" can save our nation and Constitutional government.
16. If you want to "defend the constitution", serve a full-time mission and spread the gospel and the principles of virtue and freedom. 
17. There is no such thing as missionaries being "called home to defend the Constitution". Missionaries are already defending the Constitution by spreading a message of virtue and family values.
18. The Book of Mormon teaches that "the Spirit of God is the spirit of freedom".
19. The Temple and its covenants and ordinances are the way God effectively passes on faith, virtue, spiritual and moral values on to the next generation. That is why we should have a picture of the temple in our children's room and the temple is to be a symbol of our faith.
20. Keeping God's commandments (chastity and sobriety) is the only source of true peace, prosperity and safety. If you believe that prosperity or peace comes in any other way, then you serve a false god.  Isaiah warned "Woe unto the drunkards of Ephraim" (Isa. 28).

Problem of Poverty: Safety Society System

Most people on this planet are poor and can barely scape together enough food to survive.  Change is difficult because the current economic system benefits only a few, but those few are in positions of power and are disinclined to make changes. In Socialist/Democratic countries, the poor also benefit and also have a similar conflict of interest. I appreciate the many personalized ideas to combat poverty but I feel it is a bit like rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic.  Our current debt-based system is unsustainable.

The #1 thing to combat poverty is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  But it's more than just believing in Christ but believing and following Christ's commandments.  The 2 biggest sources of poverty are 1. illegitamacy and 2. substance abuse.  Government has taken over the welfare business and prints checks but doesn't address virtue issues which are the cause of poverty. James 1:27 says that pure religion is welfare and virtue. Government welfare symptomatically alleviates sufferings on the short term but doesn't treat the root cause and tends to "enable" and lead to dependance.  Religion needs to take its job back and start doing it.  Separation of Church and State?  The State needs to get out of the business of religion but this will only happen when religion does its job and State welfare is no longer needed.

In addition to the Gospel of Jesus Christ we also need an equitable economic system.  We learn from the Doctrine and Covenants the United Order where all things are "common" (NOT in common- Acts 2:44) provides for both wants and needs (D&C 51:3).  Basic needs should always be provided liberally. The Bishop as Judge in Israel determines what is needed.  However, when it comes to wants, those are not given without labor. Instead of giving eveyone their wants for free, the United Order would invest in able-bodied people and help them develop job skills so that they can be productive and self-reliant. The United Order would teach a man to fish at the same time give him a fish.  The disabled would also have their wants, but they would rely on gifts and hand-me-downs (Luke 3:11)

End of Bretton-Woods

It seems apparent that we are likely, at some point, to see the end of the current Bretton-Woods System.  While the FED can continue to print money at its current pace for more years.  It seems apparent that our current debt-based system has likely reached a point of no return. 

Opportunity

The end of Bretton-Woods (likely following world war and not collapse) offers a great opportunity to suggest a replacement economic system.  Many people dislike the current global private central banking system but don't know what to replace it with.  I fear if the honest in heart do not suggest an honest system, another less-equitable system will be provided for us and readily accepted by the masses following some sort of crisis. 

End to Poverty

Also, an equitable economic system could be implemented in any nation to provide a strong currency as well as micro, middle and macro credit.  In addition to programs that address individual spiritual and temporal matters, a macro-economic system is necessary as part of a comprehensive solution to the problem of poverty. 

Safety Society System

The History of the US has been one financial panic or economic depression after another.  Banks operating on fractional-reserve principles are inherently unstable. A proposed replacement system would be both full-reserve and constitutional.  I will attempt to describe the basics of the Safety Society System (SSS):

1. Fractional Reserve Banks fail for several major reasons.  A. because of inflation banks hold reserves in stock/bonds or historically gold/silver whose prices can fluctuate via manipulation and speculation.  When banks loose their fractional reserves via "run" or "crash, the bank becomes insolvent and fails. Depositors are then exposed to the risk taking of speculators because deposits are loaned out and not kept in the bank (mostly virtual money).  Accordingly, a stable bank must be full reserve and inflation must be avoided.

2. Article 1 Section 8 US Constitution states that the US Congress (via Treasury) should "coin" (print or virtually create) currency and regulate its value (no inflation). Currently FED member banks create majority of money by Fractional Lending.  When a big (FED-member) bank borrows $1-million from the FED, they can make $10-million or more in loans (money multiplier and leverage). When the loans are repaid the bank collects $20-million and repays the FED $2-million.  This cheats the American people out of earning prime interest on 90-percent or more of money creation.  Local small bank serve as agents or brokers using Big-bank money and earning loan-origination fees.  With stable local banks, and the Federal Government doing its constitutional duty, we would no longer will need the mega-banks.

3. The Safety Society System (SSS) is Full Reserve.  Money is created federally, but loans are administered locally.  Local SSS Banks are non-profit but cover overhead as local banks do now through loan origination fees.  100% Deposits are kept in reserve.

4. MxV = PxG (money supply x velocity = price/inflation x real growth)

Loan origination is the major point of money creation.  SSS Money can be created "on demand" by the US Treasury as the real need arises in the economy.  Too much money = inflation.  Not enough = deflation.

5. National Currency will prevent currency wars. Money can be created "on-demand" upon loan approval, qualification and origination. The right amount of money supply controls inflation according to M.V=P.G.  Repaid loan money (mostly virtual) is returned to the US Treasury and retired out of circulation.

6. SSS banks are non-profit and administer loans from US Treasury and earn money via loan-origination fees as local banks do now.   Loans are made with new US Treasury Money only.  100% deposits are kept in full reserve. Depositors money is never subjected to the risk taking of the lenders.  There can never be a "run" on full-reserve SSS bank.

7. US Treasury collects simple interest on loans. These fee-based loans: A. regulate the value of currency by making borrowing easier or harder depending on interest rates. B. generates "voluntary" Federal Government revenue instead of income tax. C. Creates an advantage for the saver over the borrower. (Federal Revenue based on tariffs and simple prime interest)

8. SSS loans would only be issued for things of real value: i.e. land, natural resources and real estate.  Business loans would be made via crowd source and venture capital but not via the SSS. SSS only lends for land, buildings and mining natural resources.

9. Credit-worthy Borrowers repay and earn equity from day 1.  Missed payments are deducted from equity in an instant reverse mortgage process. Default only occurs when the borrower has lost all equity.  This serves as mortgage insurance.  If default occurs, the bank repossesses a real asset and not a worthless stock or derivative or other worthless speculative financial instrument.  You could never borrow from an SSS bank and invest that money in the stock market.

10. Communities who wish to build a hospital, aquarium, city pool or park may pass a ballot referendum approving a 1% sales tax.  Based on projected revenue, a loan is approved and construction on the city aquarium begins.

11.  "All Things Common": Price of product or service is not based on supply and demand (scarcity) but instead is based on the quality and quantity of labor  involved to produce the good or service.  Backing for money is land and real-estate and natural resources.  Any country could implement the SSS because every country has land, can build houses, and has natural resources.

12. National tariffs would protect domestic industry and manufacturing resulting in "real cost discovery." You can buy imports but you will pay a little more for them unless there is no domestic market already.  Tariffs would provide "voluntary" revenue for the federal government instead of an involuntary income tax.

13. SSS Loans are fee-based, simple interest loans.  SSS Loans would not be inflationary and not be amortized or charge compound interest.  Repaid loan money is immediately retired from the system by the US Treasury.

14. Separate crowd-funding and venture capital systems would supply business loans beyond land, natural resources, and houses/buildings.   SSS economy focuses on saving the bank and not focused on individuals being able to redeem currency for something else after the economy has collapsed.  If the banks stay healthy, the currency will remain healthy.

15. Because if the amortized FHA loan, home sellers feel the need to charge the buyer more than they themselves purchased their home for (equity).  Rising home price is a major source of inflation.  A home that is 10-years old should not necessarily be worth $30,000 more.  SSS would favor preserving asset value and preventing inflation.  SSS Home owners earn equity from day 1.

Conclusion

The point of the Safety Society System is to create a full-reserve financial system where citizens can deposit their money with full confidence. SSS is immune from failure and serves as a local loan broker on behalf of the US Treasury who creates 100% of the money and not just a fraction.  The Federal Government is protected from loan defaults because any missed monthly payments are deducted from equity.  Default occurs when all equity is lost.  But then the Federal Government has a real asset to repossess instead of a pile of worthless, toxic paper securities.

Utah Traditional Family Defeat by Court

I was reading about the tragic decision by the 10th circuit overturning Utah's ban on same-sex marriage.  This may not be a battle we can win but I appreciate your efforts to defend traditional marriage.

However, as you said before when we talked, the media never permits the real arguments to be heard.  The opposition makes this about relationship and benefits.  However, as you know and have stated: the difference between civil union and marriage is the legal permission for a man and a woman to biologically procreate.  Let civil unions have every benefit except violating the right of the child to have the genetic inheritance by both a male and female.

The real "Brave New World" end goal of the Fabian Globalists is to use same-sex couples as a vehicle to introduce reproductive technology.  We already have the technology for 2 Men or 2 Women to procreate by creating effectively female sperm and male ovum.  The widespread release of this technology will not be made now as to now become part of the public discourse. 

The end goal as the opposition routinely and openly talks about on PBS or NPR is the day when we will all choose our children's hair and eye color. It may well be that at some future day, it becomes illegal to naturally reproduce and pass on potentially defective genes. 

The consequence of non-random genetic selection is an increase in phenotypic diversity (different looks) but a decrease in overall genetic diversity and fitness (genetic subtraction).  What happens is that when you get into having "designer babies", you immediate create domesticated human breeds who like the dog will never again have the strength to stand up to the wolf again.  We may unsuspectingly quickly breed ourselves into eternal slavery while the "wild-type" elite become a genetically superior ruling class.

Together with other very important and well-reasoned arguments focused on erroding the traditional family and the consequence of changing the social fabric of society, every loving adult who love each other should have the right to live together, to have every insurance, medical, tax benefit.  However, a same-sex couple cannot violate the right of a child to have a genetic inheritance from both a male and a female.  This is the civil-rights issue of our day. I hope we can rise to the challege.

Temple, Freedom and Vegetables

1. When the Lord via Moses led Israel out of Egypt and slavery the first thing God did was give them the Law and 10 commandments to preserve their freedom. Being free isn't about "doing whatever you want" . Being and agent and acting and not being acted upon means acting with self restraint. If we only do what feels good (YOLO), we are no different than an animal. Being human and a disciple of Christ means we can choose yo fast when we are hungry, we can forgive when offended, and we can stand up and do our duty even when we are afraid. 

2. The Lord wanted all the Elders of Israel to purify themselves and go up into the mountain and not just Moses. God wanted a royal priesthood, a kingdom of Moses where every home was led by priests and kings. But the people were afraid of going up into the fiery mountain and were afraid to put their lives in the safekeeping of God. While Moses was away, Israel backslid into old sins (like addiction) and worshipping the golden calf. So God gave them a preparatory law to prepare them to receive Christ and the higher law.

When Moses came down and found Israel worshipping the golden calf he drew a line in the sand and asked "who is on tbe Lord's side?" Only the tribe of Levi stood with Moses. Levi was then selected by God to hold the priesthood and administer the temple service.

19 And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die. (Old Testament, Exodus, Exodus 20)
29 And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the Lord’s people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit upon them! (Old Testament, Numbers, Numbers 11)
6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. (Old Testament, Exodus, Exodus 19)

3. Children are not born liking vegetables even though vegetables are essential for your good physical health. In the same way, people are not born wanting to keep the commandments even though keeping commandments are vital to good physical and spiritual health. Like vegetables, people have to acquire a taste for keeping the commandments. The temple is designed to help us acquire a taste for obedience, faith and temperance. 

http://m.medicalxpress.com/news/2014-05-early-children-vegetables.html

4. When we are baptized we confess Christ and witness that we are willing to keep the commandments according to Gods standard in 1 Cor 5:11. This scripture is the basis for the baptismal and temple worthiness questions. When we are worthy of the temple we must demonstrate that we are actually keeping those commandments. That is why new members wait at least a year after baptism to be endowed. Don't want to make promises to God you don't intent to keep. We are nor perfect but we can be sexually pure, not covet (pay tithing), not idolaters (confess Christ), not railers (not abusive), not drunkards (word of wisdom), not extortioners (honest, don't take bribes or purger). 

5. The point of the LDS temple is to give us a glimpse of what heaven will feel like. This world is ruled by Satan. Much of the suffering here is thanks to individuals not living the commandments of Christ. "Why call me Lord and do not what I say?" The LDS temple helps us receive a glimpse of heaven by helping us feel the spirit of God that can only be experienced as we purify ourselves through Christ and keep His commandments. We can then begin to bring peace and heaven to this Earth as we live the commandments and bring the spirit of God in ourselves, our marriages, families and communities. You cannot experience the peace of the Holy Spirit while sinning even if you say you accept Christ. This is not an all or none thing. The more you purify your life through Christ the more of His Spirit you will experience and enjoy.

6. The LDS Temple uses a lot of symbolism and ritual. We may not be used to this but its an ancient form of teaching. We take for granted that everyone can read now days. Anciently, only the elite could read. Other forms of modern teaching like chalkboard lecture or powerpoint require reading skills. Ritual symbolism has advantages that it involves your whole body to participate, and the elite reader and common non-reader are on equal footing.

7. In the OT temple the OT ritual involved washing and anointing and clothing only the tribe of Levi. This ritual was meant to teach and internalize the lesson and promises. The OT Temple priesthood was only fully available to one kingdom, nation, tongue, people, and tribe. In the restored NT temple blessings are now available to all kingdoms, nations tongues and people.

The angel at the top of the temple represents the "another angel" in Revelations that is sounding a trumpet with the everlasting gospel to every kingdom, nation, tongue and people. The white clothing represents that we have washed our sins in the blood of Jesus Christ. Also John says in Revelation it is the "righteousness of the Saints". A reminder to keep our temple commitments to keep the commandments and serve our fellow man.

Rev 14:6 angel
Rev 7:14 white clothing
Rev 19:8 white clothing