Thinking and Living “Celestial” in the New Year: > Think through decisions in advance, or at least in the moment: ZOOM IN mentally. > Identify the LOW ROAD, the MIDDLE ROAD, and the HIGH ROAD. > Align choices with the three Kingdoms of God: ZOOM OUTspiritually. > We ACT on our choices with our thoughts, emotions, and spirit. > LEARN from the results.
The “Fulcrum” or Pressure Point of ChoicePointing to Three Kingdoms of Glory. See the full graphic HERE, linked from my website, starting with this diagram:
Fulcrum or Pressure Point of Decision
The Rummy Game that taught me the importance of strict honesty, even in something as inconsequential as a card game. I discarded a Jack that I thought couldn’t be played on the board, and only after my opponent threw down his cards in defeat did I see the Jack did play on my opponent’s Jacks. I didn’t have a legal discard and couldn’t “go out.” It was one of those moments when your choices become crystal clear in a nano-second. Trust and honesty was paramount in our relationship and game playing. I said, “Pick up your cards, my Jack does play.” As competitive as that game was, neither of us remember who won the final hand. But I knew I had won a moral victory that would fuel and strengthen future hard choices.
Who Would Know? Why Not Take the Win? GOD Would Know. D&C 1:31-32: For I the Lord cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance; Nevertheless, he that repents and does the commandments of the Lord shall be forgiven; Personal consequences: I would repent and need to confess to my son as part of required restitution. That would DAMAGE THE TRUST between us—totally unacceptable as we are fanatic rule-keepers! “It’s not a WIN unless it’s an HONEST WIN.”
When It’s Life and Death—Pres. Oaks Facing a Mugger: On a warm summer night in 1970, Dallin H. Oaks, a law professor and member of a Chicago-area stake presidency, had a frightening encounter with an armed robber on the city’s south side as he returned to where his wife was waiting in their parked car.“Give me your money,” the mugger demanded. “I don’t have any,” Brother Oaks replied, showing him his empty wallet. “Give me your car keys,” he ordered. The keys were locked in the car with Sister Oaks. “Tell her to open the car,” the robber insisted. Brother Oaks said no. The robber threatened, “Do it, or I’ll kill you.” “I won’t do it,” Brother Oaks said firmly. While the robber repeated his demands and threats, Brother Oaks saw an opportunity to wrestle the gun away from the young man. “Just as I was about to make my move, I had a unique experience. I did not see anything or hear anything, but I knew something. I knew what would happen if I grabbed that gun. We would struggle, and I would turn the gun into that young man’s chest. It would fire, and he would die. I also understood that I must not have the blood of that young man on my conscience for the rest of my life.” The threat was made again, but Brother Oaks’ courage and steadfast refusal to comply unnerved the young man and he fled. Within a year of the experience, Dallin Oaks was chosen as president of BYU, and fourteen years later he became an apostle of the Lord, who had inspired and protected him that summer night. (SOURCES: This Summary is from Lawrence R. Flake, Prophets and Apostles of the Last Dispensation, Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 2001, pp. 535–38; Original Full Source: Dallin H. Oaks, Oct 1992 Conf Talk, Bible Stories and Personal Protection.)
What’s Our Source of Help? Stephen Robinson (Believing Christ, pp. 25-26): Taken together, Christ and I make up a new creature. The old creature, the imperfect me, ceases to exist, and a glorious new creature, a perfect partnership, takes its place. Taken together as a single entity, the two of us, Christ and I, are perfect. . . . True, this is not individual perfection, which will indeed come later (much later), rather it is perfection-in-Christ (see Moroni 10:32-33), through which we receive the benefits of our partner’s merits.Nevertheless, from this moment the kingdom is ours, provided that we maintain the partnership by abiding in the gospel covenant.
My daughter years ago: Mom, when you hurry, you lose the joy! 2 Nephi 2:25:. . . . men are, that they might have joy. Mosiah 4:27:And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength.And again, it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize; therefore, all things must be done in order.
Take one day at a time.Conquer those challenges and you’re better prepared for the challenges of tomorrow.Then the day after that . . . .
From A Wise Woman in my Youth: ENJOY, ENJOY, ENJOY! God pays first in JOY and second in eternal life!
Because of the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ, we have many doors open to us:
And the great and wonderful love mademanifest by the Father and the Son in thecoming of the Redeemer into the world; That through his atonement, and by obedience to the principles of the gospel,mankind might be saved. (D&C 138:3-4)
What are we saved from? Death, Sin, and Sorrow as well as being strengthened, healed, comforted, guided, chastened, and even filled with courage by God’s Spirit. Here are some real-life examples:
(1) From Corrie ten Boom and her challenge to forgive terrible wrongs from a concentration camp guard:
And I stood there—I whose sins had again and again been forgiven—and could not forgive. Betsie had died in that place—could he erase her slow terrible death simply for the asking? And still I stood there with the coldness clutching my heart. But forgiveness is not an emotion—I knew that too. Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart. Jesus, help me! I prayed silently. I can lift my hand. I can do that much. You supply the feeling. And so woodenly, mechanically, I thrust my hand into the one stretched out to me. And as I did, an incredible thing took place. The current started in my shoulder, raced down my arm, sprang into our joined hands. And then this healing warmth seemed to flood my whole being, bringing tears to my eyes. “I forgive you, brother!” I cried. “With all my heart. . . .” I realized it was not my love. I had tried, and did not have the power. It was the power of the Holy Spirit as recorded in Romans 5:5: “because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” (Tramp for the Lord, pp. 55–57)
What gave her the impetus to reach out her hand? I suppose that it’s knowledge of the Gospel and God’s commandments to us.
(2) From Immaculee Ilibagiza exercising great courage and love facing a Hutu with a machete and no earthly help available:
“Get out of the truck,” I said to my friends. “Everybody out . . . the French are leaving us here.” The cries of disbelief and fear coming from the back of the truck drew even more attention from the killers, who were now moving toward us. I looked one Interahamwe straight in the eye and held his gaze. My heart told me that he was a person just like me, and that he really didn’t want to kill. I held my rosary and summoned all my will to send a message of love to him. I prayed that God would use me to touch the killer with the power of His love. I didn’t blink . . . and we stared into each other’s eyes for what seemed like a lifetime. Finally, the killer broke my gaze and looked away. He turned his back to me and dropped his machete, as if the devil had left his body. But there were plenty of other devils to take his place. At least 15 Interahamwe were now standing a few yards from the truck, with machetes in their hands and smirks on their faces. They were figuring out what was happening, waiting to see if any of my companions would dare leave the truck. . . . We were moving very briskly, but the killers were all around us now, circling us, slicing the air with their machetes. We were defenseless, so why were they waiting to strike? Take the evil from the hearts of these men, and blind their hatred with Your holy love.” . . . “If they kill me, God, I ask You to forgive them. Their hearts have been corrupted by hatred, and they don’t know why they want to hurt me.” After walking a half mile like that, I heard Jean Paul say, “Hey, they’re gone . . . they’re gone!” I looked around, and it was true—the killers had left us. Jean Paul said later that it was probably because they knew the RPF soldiers were close by, but I knew the real reason, and I never stopped thanking God for saving us on that road! (from her book, Left To Tell, pp. 171–173)
What’s the Common Denominator in These Two Stories? LOVE—the Love of Christ!
(3)From Jacob Abbott’s book, Alfred the Great, on how he conquered the Vikings and established the beginnings of Western Civilization in England: > Alfred was the legitimate king of England in the 900s AD when England had been besieged by invading Vikings, bent on plunder and conquest for hundreds of years. > He had been nearly defeated by a large invading Viking army and then driven into hiding. > Rallying both his courage and his Saxon chieftains, they defeated the invaders and offered them a choice: > Become Christians and peaceful settlersor be mercilessly driven out. They settled their previous conquered English territory of Southeast England, under the kingship of Alfred. > Alfred rebuilt England’s infrastructure, rather than live luxuriously on the taxes of the people. Herequired that English Courts be scrupulously impartial in all cases brought before them, whether from Celts, Saxons, or Vikings and other settlers. > Alfred spearheaded long-lasting peace in England and contributed to the start of Western Civilization, promoting literacy, and the groundwork for English common law.
Alfred is the only king ever called The Great in all of British history.
(4)Brother Yun, The Heavenly Man, Brings Old Man to Christ in China: The doctor poured out her heart [to Brother Yun], “My father has suffered a stroke because of a blood disease. Now half his body is paralyzed. We’ve taken him to numerous doctors in many cities. One specialist advised us to use long term massage therapy to ease his pain. . . . [Later] I told the dear old man how Jesus had borne his sin and sickness on the cross. I urged him, “Now, you have to open your mouth and invite Jesus Christ into your heart. Trust in him and you shall receive healing [from paralysis because of a stroke].” I urged him not to delay, because, “Now is the time of God’s favour, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2) I laid hands on the man and his wife, and comforted them with words of joy and hope. They tearfully renounced their sins and invited Jesus to be the Lord of their lives. Although the man did not immediately feel any better, I knew God had captured his heart and would soon heal his body. . . . Brother Yun, The Heavenly Man, Brings Old Man to Christ in China: The doctor poured out her heart [to Brother Yun], “My father has suffered a stroke because of a blood disease. Now half his body is paralyzed. We’ve taken him to numerous doctors in many cities. One specialist advised us to use long term massage therapy to ease his pain. . . . [Later] I told the dear old man how Jesus had borne his sin and sickness on the cross. I urged him, “Now, you have to open your mouth and invite Jesus Christ into your heart. Trust in him and you shall receive healing [from paralysis because of a stroke].” I urged him not to delay, because, “Now is the time of God’s favour, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2) I laid hands on the man and his wife, and comforted them with words of joy and hope. They tearfully renounced their sins and invited Jesus to be the Lord of their lives. Although the man did not immediately feel any better, I knew God had captured his heart and would soon heal his body. . . . The next morning before dawn, the old man suddenly felt someone strike him on his neck and back. For the first time in months he could easily move his head. He exclaimed, “It feels as if a rope around me has snapped!” He stood to his feet and freely moved his neck and back. The man’s wife jumped around the room in gladness. The whole family came together and thanked God for his goodness to them. The old man’s health recovered and soon he was able to walk up and down the stairs. This was remarkable for a man who’d been paralyzed by a stroke! He witnessed to all his old friends and sought forgiveness from people he’s wronged in the past.
This is a book so worth having, available used on www.bookfinder.com:
(5) King Haakon of Norway—A Man of Conviction Facing Unthinkable Demands from Hitler: Norway was invaded by the naval and air forces of Nazi Germany during the early hours of 9 April 1940. The German Ambassador to Norway called on Haakon to accept Adolf Hitler’s demands to end all resistance and appoint Vidkun Quisling as prime minister. The King consulted with Norway’s government stating: For my part I cannot accept the German demands. It would conflict with all that I have considered to be my duty as King of Norway since I came to this country nearly thirty-five years ago. He went on to say that he could not appoint Quisling as prime minister, since he knew neither the people nor the Storting (parliament) had confidence in him. However, if the cabinet felt otherwise, the King said he would abdicate so as not to stand in the way of the Government’s decision. . . . [The Legislature supported the King’s stance but the monarchy and government evacuated]. The King’s official residence in England was the Norwegian Legation at 10 Palace Green, Kensington, which became the seat of the Norwegian government in exile. Here Haakon attended weekly Cabinet meetings and worked on the speeches which were regularly broadcast by radio to Norway by the BBC World Service. These broadcasts helped to cement Haakon’s position as an important national symbol to the Norwegian resistance. The Minister of Church and Education in Norway gave this observation: This made a great impression on us all. More clearly than ever before, we could see the man behind the words; the king who had drawn a line for himself and his task, a line from which he could not deviate. We had through his five years [in government] learned to respect and appreciate our king, and now, through his words, he came to us as a great man, just and forceful; a leader in these fatal times to our country. (Source: Wikipedia)
What Line We Will Each Draw in the Days Ahead?
King Haakon’s Descendants—A Triumph of Righteousness:
> King Olaf V > King Harald and Queen Sonja > Crown Prince Haakon
All are loved and respected as the moral leaders of Norway, if only in a figurehead position relative to the government. Crown Prince Harald and commoner Sonja Haraldsen somewhat secretly dated for 9 years before his father finally granted permission for them to marry, a requirement mandated by the Norwegian Constitution. The couple have lived a long life, and are still on the throne at aged 88. They have two children, Princess Martha Louise, and Crown Prince Haakon. Amazon Prime 4-part miniseries, The Commoner, is about the 9-year courtship of Harald and Sonja, see this picture:
Is Life Random or a Foreordained Plan? From Elder Richard G. Scott: So that the period of mortal testing and growth would yield its greatest benefit, you were taught and prepared for the circumstances you would personally encounter in mortality. Our Father’s pattern for guiding you through mortal life was explained. He would choose from among the most valiant, obedient spirit children prophets and other authorized servants to hold His priesthood, to be taught His truth, and to be guided to disseminate that truth among His children on earth. God would give each child moral agency, the right to choose His counsel or to ignore it. All would be encouraged but not forced to obey. You understood that while you could choose your path on earth, you could not determine the outcome of your choices. That would be decided by eternal law. (“Truth Restored,” Ensign, October 2005)
At the End of Your Rope, Tie a Knot in It and Hang On:
O Little Town of Bethlehem, Hymn 208: The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.
It Came upon the Midnight Clear, Hymn 207: For lo! The days are hast’ning on, by prophets seen of old, When with the ever-circling years shall come the time foretold, When the New heav’n and earth shall own the Prince of Peace their King, And the whole world send back the song which now the angels sing.
Imagine this is the road you must take through the Last Days and you’re heading “into the storm.” It’s obvious that your own powers will not be enough to see you through it, so you must call upon God for help and protection. We can learn from history how other humans experience this kind of protection.
Pixabay.com/Image 8720525
MIRACULOUS EVENT #1: RESCUE AT DUNKIRK:
In May and June of 1940, almost the entire British Army was surrounded and trapped on the coast of France in and around Dunkirk by the German army. Winston Churchill had just been made Prime Minister and called for every private ship available to join the Navy in their rescue efforts—a daunting task given the vastly superior power of the German Luftwaffe, already mercilessly shelling the beaches there. Here’s what happened (per www.bbc.com):
Operation Dynamo, as it was known, saw 20 ships of the British Navy joined by 850 “Little Ships”—privately owned boats—to make multiple trips across the Channel between 26th May and 4th June. The waters of the Channel are notoriously treacherous, which could have posed problems for the smaller boats, but thanks to a spell of settled weather the sea remained unusually calm with little more than a light breeze. Light easterly winds blew smoke over the beaches, screening the soldiers as they waited to be evacuated. Cloud cover between 28th and 30th May obscured the beaches, preventing the Luftwaffe from bombing the Allied forces and their rescuers as they sailed across the Channel. Above the clouds, the Royal Air Force was able to engage the Luftwaffe in the skies. In the week of Operation Dynamo around 338,000 soldiers were rescued.
Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s further vow in a speech made to the House of Commons, June 4, 1940: We shall not flag or fail.We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender!
Furthermore, here’s Churchill’s rallying cry after they faced the Blitz (1940 and 41) and at other hard times (speech at Harrow Oct 29, 1941): This is the lesson: never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never—in nothing, great or small, large or petty—never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy. This is often summed up as follows:
Never, never, never, NEVER give up!
May we be so valiant when America is faced with tyranny!
MIRACULOUS EVENT #2: Pilgrims Protected from French Armada:
The French and Indian War was fought between England and France over control of the Ohio River Valley and the larger North American colonial territory to determine who would ultimately dominate it: the French or the English. This culminated in a worldwide nine year’s war (1754–63). During the earlier King George’s War of 1744–1748, an amazing event happened (Britannnica.com). The French sent a huge Armada to destroy ports in Nova Scotia, as well as all in the American colonies from Boston to Charleston SC, with orders to spare no life along the way.
The Puritan settlers assembled in a Boston Meeting House, which is still standing today, to pray and beseech the Lord for protection. Shortly, a huge storm arose in the ocean with winds strong enough to ring the bell in the tower of this meeting house. The two largest ships in the Armada were lost, along with many others, while all but 1,000 soldiers of the 11,000 in the French fleet came down with scurvy, typhoid, or cholera. The expedition was such a disaster that its commanding officer, the Duc D’Anville committed suicide rather than face the shame of failure.
The colonies were saved by the power of God!
(Originally heard on YouTube: Come Follow Me, Lesson 4, Part 1, “Breaking Chains” on the Joseph Smith Foundation channel, and summarized on p. 116 of Last Days Decoded, link HERE.)
MIRACULOUS EVENT #3: Thunder Defeated the Philistines
1 Samuel 7:3-6, 10: 3-6 And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the Lord with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the Lord, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the Lord only. And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the Lord. And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before the Lord, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the Lord. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh. 10 And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: but the Lord thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smitten before Israel. 13 So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel: and the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.
ANCIENTLY: 1 Samuel 7:3-4: . . . If ye do return unto the Lord with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the Lord, and serve him only . . . . Then the children of Israel did put away Baalimand Ashtaroth, and served the Lord only. [The gods of fertility and their immoral rites and sacrifices]
IN OUR DAY: Idolatry is hardly a thing of the past. Our types of Idols have changed, but the worship of false gods is alive and well. . . . [while we] are no longer tempted to worship these fertility gods, Baal and Ashtaroths, . . .Today, they are replaced by the gods of ‘consumerism’ . . . The gods of power, weath and consumer goods. [And] it cannot be denied that the immorality of Canaanite worship seems alive and well in our hedonistic society of today. . . . But the worship of appetites, passions, and the human body are everywhere around us. (COMMENTARY SOURCE: Miracles of the Old Testament, Alonzo Gaskill, pp. 241, 244)
MIRACULOUS EVENT #4: Crossing the Delaware:
FROM OUR FRIEND “AI”:
Thestormy weather created poor visibility, hindering enemy observation.
Heavy snow and ice made the river crossing more challenging for the British.
The harsh conditions forced the enemy to lower their guard, underestimating Washington’s resolve.
The element of surprise was enhanced by the unexpected timing of the attack amidst the storm.
Washington’s troops were motivated by the dire circumstances, bolstering their determination.
The weather ultimately played a crucial role in the success of the surprise attack on December 26, 1776. (From AI)
Almost more importantly, his Soldiers had proved they could stand toe to toe with disciplined European troops. The Continental Army also seized much-needed supplies, including cannons and 1,200 muskets.While the operational gains were important, the strategic impact far outweighed the real gains. Washington’s late Christmas gift captured popular imagination and new support at a key point in the War for Independence.
PERSONAL WEATHER MIRACLE: A Rainbow and the Space Needle:
On a family outing to Seattle, four of us took a boat tour of the Harbor and a grand view of downtown Seattle, the Space Needle, and surrounding area. Rain was predicted for the entire day, but we went anyway and about 30 minutes before we boarded, the rain stopped and the clouds parted enough to provide a lovely view for the entire ride. The rain resumed about 30 minutes after our return to shore! A miracle of God and showing His tender mercies? Maybe not, but it sure seemed like it at the time. Here’s a photo of how another tourist captured the magic of the moment we saw a rainbow appear over the Space Needle:
“One of those epic photo moments, when the stars align! In this case, a rainbow and the Space Needle during a break in a storm!“ https://tracietravels.com/
Thanks to Tracie for sharing this wonderful photo. It captured our feelings as well. So when the storms of life threaten you, do all you can and ask God for His help and protection. He will give it to you according to His will, and often provide these little moments of assurance and mercy.
This is the companion post to my YouTube video, The Miracle of Invisibility: Do You Have the Faith to Ask for It? link HERE. See earlier Blog Post on this topic, HERE.
The Miracles of God — Are They Done Away? D&C 35:8: 8 For I am God, and mine arm is not shortened; and I will show miracles,signs, and wonders, unto all those who believe on my name. Mosiah 8:18: 18 Thus God has provided a means that man, through faith, might work mighty miracles; therefore he becometh a great benefit to his fellow beings. 2 Nephi 27:23: 23 For behold, I am God; and I am a God of miracles; and I will show unto the world that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and I work not among the children of men save it be according to their faith. Pres. Thomas S. Monson: When you are on the Lord’s errand, you are entitled to the Lord’s help. (Old Testament Teaching Videos: Isaiah-Malachi, “On the Lord’s Errand,” Also quoted by Neil L. Andersen, “The Spiritual Gifts, Ensign, Dec 2009, 48)
MIRACLE: Mother and Baby Made Invisible: A young mother and her fussy baby were separated from her wagon train a short distance. Here’s what happened: “After a while, I heard footsteps, then voices. At first I was relieved, thinking that someone from our group had missed me and came back to help. But then I realized the voices were speaking the enemy’s language.” Stacey stopped and pressed one hand against her chest.“I nearly fainted. I was so scared. There was no place to hide, and there was no time to run away. Porter was fussing as much as ever, crying louder than ever. The only thing I could think to do was pray, and it was a fast one. Just ‘Oh, Heavenly Father, please help us.’ “Those soldiers walked right past us, with just a bush between them and us. Not a single one of them paused or even stopped talking to one another. It was as if Heaven put earplugs on them or something. It was amazing. I thanked Father in Heaven over and over, but I was too scared to move until the search party came to get us.” (From Through the Window of Life, A near-death experience of Suzanne Freeman, pp. 84-85)
Karola Hilbert in Dire Straits, WWII in West Berlin: BACKGROUND: Coming back from country shop with food, needed to pass a garrison of Russian soldiers. She hid behind a tree as they came out and stood in the road. There was no possible way that I could pass by them without being seen. If I were discovered, I could never survive what would be in store for me. There was no earthly help for me to plead for. No one was coming to my aid. So I turned to the only One who could give me the heavenly help I so crucially needed. Creeping between two trees by the side of the road, I quietly laid my nets down, folded my arms, and closed my eyes in prayer. I knew I urgently needed the courage to face the most savage enemies I’d ever known so that I could save the life of my mother. She was the one person on earth whose faith had sustained me and given me hope, courage, and a faith of my own at a time when all seemed lost. It was critical that I get home to her. That day I did more than pray. I begged the Lord for his divine intervention. I felt like I was truly wrestling with the Lord. As I used every ounce of energy I possessed to reach my Father in Heaven, I became deaf to the soldiers’ voices and the world around me. My only focus was my Eternal Father. The instant I began my prayer, I knew with all my soul that He was listening. He was right beside me, hearing each breath I took as I said, ‘I believe all the miracles Thou has done in the time recorded in the Bible. I also believe all Thou hast done for the people in the chosen land of America as recorded in the Book of Mormon. I know Thou art the same today, yesterday, and forever . . . . Dear Heavenly Father, I know Thou canst protect me. Please make me invisible to the eyes of those Russian soldiers so that I may walk through them unharmed, even as Thou hast done for Thy prophet Joseph Smith. Help me reach the train so that Mother will not have cause to worry beyond the strength she has to endure.’ After closing my prayer, I immediately picked up my sacks and, without a doubt in my heart, walked straight toward the Russian soldiers. I had to literally plough my way through them. As I pushed one soldier with my right shoulder to have a pathway through, he turned and said something to the soldier on my left. I looked into his eyes and he looked right through me, his big, clear, blue eyes holding no image of me. I continued on my way unscathed. They never even knew I was there. . . . I caught the train home. When she told her parents what had happened, this was her mother’s response: Karola, you have made a tremendous sacrifice to get this food for us. I feel that the Lord has given you this test. You had a sufficient amount of faith to pass it. Her father’s: The Lord will not require your sacrifice anymore, and neither will we. Don’t go again. The Lord will provide. He will open the way for us to get food from some other source. Excerpt from We Were Not Alone,How an LDS Family Survived World War II Berlin, Chapter 15
My Personal Experience at a Gas Station in a Sketchy Area: When the engine light in my car went on driving south of I-15 in the Salt Lake area, I was advised to get off the freeway, find a gas station, and buy some antifreeze. I did so and found a gas station near that exit. I hesitated to even get out of my car because several very questionable looking men were standing around the parking lot and in front of the store. I prayed for protection, and walked decisively towards the store. I didn’t see anyone look at me. I then went in, bought my antifreeze, and had the same experience while surreptitiously watching these men. No one seemed to see, once again. Then I started worrying about opening the hood of my car on my own. Just then a car pulled into the space next me. A man got out, leaving two boys in the car–probably his sons. He was clean-cut and I felt safe asking him to help me. I got into my driver’s seat, locked the doors, and unlatched the hood. He then opened it and checked the antifreeze, which was full. I thanked him through an opened window, closed it, dialed my son, and then left as he advised me that there wasn’t a serious problem, just failed sensor. I made it home without incident. I don’t have any mortal or spiritual proof that I was protected during this incident, but I thanked the Lord mightily anyway.
The Miracle of Invisibility — Christ as Precedent: John 8:39-40, 44-45, 59: 39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham. 40 But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. 44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. 45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. 59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.
The Miracle of Invisibility — Nephi as Precedent: Helaman 10:4-5, 16 (TO THE WICKED NEPHITES): 4 Blessed art thou, Nephi, for those things which thou hast done; for I have beheld how thou hast with unwearyingness declared the word, which I have given unto thee, unto this people. And thou hast not feared them, and hast not sought thine own life, but hast sought my will, and to keep my commandments. 5 And now, because thou hast done this with such unwearyingness, behold, I will bless thee forever; and I will make thee mighty in word and in deed, in faith and in works; yea, even that all things shall be done unto thee according to thy word, for thou shalt not ask that which is contrary to my will. 15 And it came to pass that when Nephi had declared unto them the word, behold, they did still harden their hearts and would not hearken unto his words; therefore they did revile against him, and did seek to lay their hands upon him that they might cast him into prison. 16 But behold, the power of God was with him, and they could not take him to cast him into prison, for he was taken by the Spirit and conveyed away out of the midst of them.
Commentary from Alonzo Gaskill: Like Jesus, Nephi imperceptibly slips away. This functions well as a subtle metaphor for the veil and how it conceals sacred things from the unworthy while also revealing holy things to those who are prepared and worthy to receive them. Neither the Lord nor His prophet could be detected or retained by the wicked. Both were enabled to pass unmolested from their antagonistic attackers. Both were able to continue the work of the Father contrary to the will of their combative opponents. God can veil the eyes of our enemies that we might do His work unharmed and unhindered. (From his book, Miracles of the Book of Mormon, p. 268)
A Real-Life Missionary Experience: Hurricane Yolanda in the Philippines, 2013, in one of the worst hit areas: • 2 missionaries living in a concrete block house and asked to move but didn’t find a new place before it hit. • Had to hold on to their bunk beds to not be sucked out when one wall collapsed and lost most of their possessions. • Took in other survivors until full. Last man in had a dog that barked at everyone else. The well outside their house furnished clean water. • 90-95 % of buildings were destroyed as well as residents killed. • Found their Bishop who said: “Take this list and check on the members.” • All the members survived. They reported back to the Bishop who had found a warehouse with food. • Missionaries then instructed to take food to these members. • They visibly stood out. People had always noticed and talked to them. • This time, survivors were roaming desperately in search of food, but they didn’t see or speak to these two missionaries. MADE INVISIBLE?
See Earlier Post of Same Name, HERE.
You WILL need miracles in the days ahead, at some point. Maybe it will be this one!
Companion to the YouTube video, link HERE, “Heading Into the Storm, Are We Creating Men of Iron or Wooden Men?” Also see my interview with Randy Brown on his Spiritual Survival channel, “Hour of Judgment 2027? How Close are We? link HERE
Bernhard Sorensen, Norwegian Resistance in WWII: From We Die Alone, by David Howarth: Bernhard Sörensen, aided Jan in his escape:
Bernhard, who was 72 at that time . . . went back to his bedroom and began to put on his clothes. Fru Sörensen asked him where he was going. “We’ve got to take the boat out, there’s a man who [needs] to cross the sound. . . . Now don’t worry. He must get across. . . .It was a row of ten miles across and back. But Bernhard laughed at [his wife’s] fears.
“In my day, it was wooden ships and iron men, and what is it now? Iron ships and a lot of wooden men.
Why, do you know, there was a young fellow taken to hospital sick, only the other day.And do you know why he was sick? Because he’d got his feet wet.Yes, taken to the hospital because he’s gotten his feet wet.I’ve had my feet wet for over seventy years.Come along, boy. Crossing the sound is nothing. We’ll swindle the devils out of one corpse, eh?” (Book available on www.bookfinder.com, link HERE.
An “Iron Man” in Recent History: King Haackon of Norway
Norway was invaded by the naval and air forces of Nazi Germany during the early hours of 9 April 1940. . . The German Ambassador to Norway called on Haakon to accept Adolf Hitler’s demands to end all resistance and appoint Vidkun Quisling as prime minister. The King consulted with Norway’s government stating: For my part I cannot accept the German demands. It would conflict with all that I have considered to be my duty as King of Norway since I came to this country nearly thirty-five years ago. He went on to say that he could not appoint Quisling as prime minister, since he knew neither the people nor the Storting (parliament) had confidence in him. However, if the cabinet felt otherwise, the King said he would abdicate so as not to stand in the way of the Government’s decision. The King’s official residence was the Norwegian Legation at 10 Palace Green, Kensington, which became the seat of the Norwegian government in exile. Here Haakon attended weekly Cabinet meetings and worked on the speeches which were regularly broadcast by radio to Norway by the BBC World Service. These broadcasts helped to cement Haakon’s position as an important national symbol to the Norwegian resistance. The Minister of Church and Education in Norway gave this observation: This made a great impression on us all. More clearly than ever before, we could see the man behind the words; the king who had drawn a line for himself and his task, a line from which he could not deviate. We had through the five years [in government] learned to respect and appreciate our king, and now, through his words, he came to us as a great man, just and forceful; a leader in these fatal times to our country. Source https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haakon_VII
King Haakon’s Descendants: • King Olaf V • King Harald and Queen Sonja • Crown Prince Haakon All are loved and respected as the moral leaders of Norway, if only in a figurehead position relative to the government. Crown Prince Harald and commoner Sonja Haraldsen secretly dated for 9 years before his father finally granted permission for them to marry, a requirement mandated by the Norwegian Constitution. The couple have lived a long life, still on the throne, both at aged 88. They have two children, Princess Martha Louise, and Crown Prince Haakon. See Amazon Prime 4-part miniseries, The Commoner, about the 9-year courtship of Harald and Sonja. See how it ends, many years later (read her story HERE.
What Line We Will Each Draw in the Days Ahead?
An Iron Man in Ancient History: King Alfred the Great
• Alfred was the legitimate king of England in the 900 AD when England had been besieged by invading Vikings, bent on plunder and conquest for hundreds of years. • Alfred is the only king ever called The Great in all of British history. • Source: Alfred the Great, by Jacob Abbott • He had been nearly defeated by a large invading Viking army and then driven into hiding. • Rallying both his courage and his Saxon chieftains, they defeated the invaders and offered them a choice: • Become Christians and peaceful settlersor be mercilessly driven out. They settled their previous conquered English territory of Southeast England, under the kingship of Alfred. • Rather than live luxuriously on the taxes of the people, Alfred rebuilt England’s infrastructure, required that English Courts be scrupulously impartial in all cases brought before them, whether from Celts, Saxons, or Vikings and other settlers. • Alfred spearheaded long-lasting peace in England and may well be the father of Western Civilization.
King Alfred the Great
Winchester, England
WHAT ABOUT VALIANT WOMEN?
Esther: A Valiant Woman in Ancient Times
We probably all know Esther’s story from the Book of Esther in the Old Testament: The King deposed Queen Vashti when she refused to appear before his guests. He then held a beauty pageant to replace her and chose Esther, and her cousin Mordecai was given a governmental post. Then Haman, the King’s highest official, proposed a plan to annihilate all Jews, whom he hated. The King agreed and a date was set. She was counseled by Mordecai to intervene, in Esther 4:13–16. Esther’s life really was at stake because the King didn’t know she was Jewish, plus even asking to see the King could result in death, if he so chose. But Mordecai’s words, “who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” awakened her loyalty to her people. It was a cause worth risking death for. Her decision: If I Perish, I Perish. Fortunately, her wishes prevailed and Haman was himself hanged on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. This story and others have caused me to put myself in their shoes. How would YOU choose?
Joan of Arc, a pious peasant in medieval France, believed that God had chosen her to lead France to victory in its long-running war with England. With no military training, Joan convinced crown prince Charles of Valois to allow her to lead a French army to the besieged city of Orléans, where they achieved a stunning victory. After seeing the prince crowned King Charles VII, Joan was captured by enemy forces, tried for witchcraft and burned at the stake at the age of 19. By the time she was canonized in 1920, Joan of Arc was considered one of history’s greatest martyrs, and the patron saint of France. NOTE: link to movie about Joan of Arc, to view on BYU TV, link HERE.
What is the source of St. Joan’s courage,even in the face of martyrdom?
Joan of Arc Wikipedia Commons
WE March Forth With Needed Priesthood Power
JST Genesis 14:27–28, 30–31: 27 And thus, having been approved of God, he [Melchizedek] was ordained an high priest after the order of the covenant which God made with Enoch, 28 It being after the order of the Son of God; which order came, not by man, nor the will of man; neither by father nor mother; neither by beginning of days nor end of years; but of God; 30 For God having sworn unto Enoch and unto his seed with an oath by himself; that every one being ordained after this [Melchizedek] order and calling shouldhave power, by faith, to break mountains, to divide the seas, to dry up waters, to turn them out of their course; 31 To put at defiance the armies of nations, to divide the earth, to break every band, to stand in the presence of God; to do all things according to his will, according to his command, subdue principalities and powers; and this by the will of the Son of God which was from before the foundation of the world.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Recap from Feb 2022 Priesthood Blessing: Teach about the Last Days because we are in times of tribulation. They’re coming soon and they will be difficult. And the members, and others, need to be ready with: • Food Storage • Spiritually Prepared • Lives in Order. Heard in Stake Conference from a General Authority: He detailed the Church’s counsel about food storage, which is still in force, and added: Those who don’t follow this advice will REALLY suffer. Don’t let that be you!
SPIRITUALLY PREPARED:
Stand strong in the testimony of Christ in the face of persecution. Start NOW. • In all things, honor your covenants. • Don’t let the whispered opinions of your peers, nor the voice of any human, replace the “still small voice” of the Spirit of God. • Ask yourself: Are you men, or women, made of iron or wood?
D&C 88:63: Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me; ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
Do you want there to be a God? • Someone smarter than you? • Someone who loves you? • Someone who only has your best interests in mind? I did and still do!
THE LIGHT OF CHRIST
D&C 84:44-47: 44 For you shall live by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God. 45 For the word of the Lord is truth, and whatsoever is truth is light, and whatsoever is light is Spirit, even the Spirit of Jesus Christ. 46 And the Spirit giveth light to every man that cometh into the world; and the Spirit enlighteneth every man through the world, that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit. 47 And every one that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit cometh unto God, even the Father.
THE HOLY GHOST
D&C 121:26, 28-29: 26 God shall give unto you knowledge by his Holy Spirit, yea, by the unspeakable gift of the Holy Ghost, that has not been revealed since the world was until now; 28 A time to come in the which nothing shall be withheld, whether there be one God or many gods, they shall be manifest. 29 All thrones and dominions, principalities and powers, shall be revealed and set forth upon all who have endured valiantly for the gospel of Jesus Christ.
THE VOICE OF MINISTERING ANCESTORS
Moroni 7:22-25: 22 For behold, God knowing all things, being from everlasting to everlasting, behold, he sent angels to minister unto the children of men, to make manifest concerning the coming of Christ; and in Christ there should come every good thing. 23 And God also declared unto prophets, by his own mouth, that Christ should come. 24 And behold, there were divers ways that he did manifest things unto the children of men, which were good; and all things which are good cometh of Christ; otherwise men were fallen, and there could no good thing come unto them. 25 Wherefore, by the ministering of angels, and by every word which proceeded forth out of the mouth of God, men began to exercise faith in Christ; and thus by faith, they did lay hold upon every good thing; and thus it was until the coming of Christ.
CAN NON-MEMBERS HEAR THE HOLY GHOST?
From Elder Dallin H. Oaks (now President): In highlighting the gift of the Holy Ghost as a distinguishing characteristic of our faith, we need to understand the important differences between (1) the Light of Christ, (2) a manifestation of the Holy Ghost, and (3) the gift of the Holy Ghost. . . . In contrast, a manifestation of the Holy Ghost is more focused. This manifestation is given to acquaint sincere seekers with the truth about the Lord and His gospel. These manifestations are available to everyone. The Book of Mormon declares that the Savior “manifesteth himself unto all those who believe in him, by the power of the Holy Ghost; yea, unto every nation, kindred, tongue, and people” (Always Have His Spirit, Oct 1996 Conference)
2 Nephi 26:13: And that he manifesteth himself unto all those who believe in him, by the power of the Holy Ghost; yea, unto every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, working mighty miracles, signs, and wonders, among the children of men according to their faith.
Alma 32:27: 27 But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words. (See 26-43)
ULTIMATE PROMISES
D&C 76:5-8: 5 For thus saith the Lord—I, the Lord, am merciful and gracious unto those who fear me, and delight to honor those who serve me in righteousness and in truth unto the end. 6 Great shall be their reward and eternal shall be their glory. 7 And to them will I reveal all mysteries, yea, all the hidden mysteries of my kingdom from days of old, and for ages to come, will I make known unto them the good pleasure of my will concerning all things pertaining to my kingdom. 8 Yea, even the wonders of eternity shall they know, and things to come will I show them, even the things of many generations.
MY PERSONAL “FRUITS”
• General Increase in Happiness • The Joy of Christ Specifically • Great Relief and Return of Sense of Humor • Cracking Jokes • View the YouTube video for my personal examples, link HERE
“Hilarity Never Faileth” (From Hello Sunday, from KBYU TV, Season 2, Episode 8, Zandra Vranes and Tamu Smith, authors of “Sistas in Zion” Blog)
Brigham Young on Evil and Unclean Spirits: I know very well that, whether we are active or not, the invisible spirits are active. And every person who desires and strives to be a Saint is closely watched by fallen spirits that came here when Lucifer fell [evil spirits], and by the spirits of wicked persons who have been here in tabernacles and departed from them [unclean spirits], but who are still under the control of the prince of the power of the air. Those spirits are never idle; they are watching every person who wishes to do right, and are continually prompting them to do wrong. This makes it necessary for us to be continually on our guard—makes this probation a CONTINUAL WARFARE. (Journal of Discourses 7:239)
My two experiences while living in the woods of New Hampshire in the 1970s:
This is the companion blog post for my YouTube video: Spiritual Preparation, Part 2: Combating Evil and Unclean Spirits, link HERE, with these slides and images:
Courtesy AllTrails.com, Image 41586414837
While walking one evening in my small town in SW New Hampshire, I started down a logging road about 50 yards from an opening in the trees much like this one. I immediately felt the presence of evil spirits and perceived they were gathered there, held back from closeness to residences by the good spirits that surrounded well-meaning people.
The second experience was at a Halloween party in a neighboring rural home, well off the main road, also on an old logging road. At one point, I went outside with the family dog and headed further into the woods on that road. As soon as we started towards a similar opening in the trees, the dog started barking with his back arched and hair on end. Simultaneously, I felt the same hackles up my back and neck. We went right back inside, shelving any thought of going farther. By my own experience, I know evil spirits are real and either the Spirit of God or my watchful “good spirits” (probably ancestors) saw them and warned me. What mechanism alerted the dog will probably be knowledge gained in the Millennium!
Also in line with the lesser spirituality I was investigating at the time is described succinctly in Isaiah 8:19-20: 19And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead? [Seances, Oija Boards, Wiccans, direct Satan worship, and all avenues to God not protected by the Spirit, especially Priesthood power] 20To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
How do these dark spirits make you feel? How does the Spirit of God make you feel?
Satan’s “Vice Presidents”—the Dark Trinity: BAAL: To the nation of Israel, Baal was the embodiment of paganism and of all pagan gods. He was the epitome of all that was not God and all that warred against Him. . . . He was the god that Israel turned to when it turned away from God. He was the god who separated Israel from its God, who drew it away, who made it forget the God of its foundation. (Rabbi Jonathan Cahn, Return of the Gods, p. 41) ISHTAR: She was the goddess of sexuality. . . . She was also the goddess of war and destruction. . . . If denied the object of her desires or if offended, she would become vengeful and violent and could wreak havoc and destruction. She was the breaker of rules, the trespasser of boundaries, and the transgressor of standards and conventions. (Return of the Gods, p. 71) MOLECH: Molech was associated with the darkest of sins —the sacrifice of human beings and, in particular, the sacrifice of children. Even darker, Molech is associated with the sacrifice of children by their parents. The bible speaks of the act as the most grievous of “abominations” as well as the sign of a nation that has turned entirely against the ways of God and become lost to Him. (all Return of the Gods, by Jonathan Cahn, p. 93)
MOSIAH 29:27: And if the time comes that the voice of the people doth choose iniquity, then is the time that the judgments of God will come upon you; yea, then is the time he will visit you with great destruction even as he has hitherto visited this land.
Addiction Leads to Possession? Excerpt: Return from Tomorrow, a near-death experience of George G. Ritchie, P. 59-60: Gradually I began to notice something else. All of the living people we were watching were surrounded by a faint luminous glow, almost like an electrical field over the surface of their bodies. . . . And then I realized that the non-physical beings didn’t [have that glow] either. My own unsolid body, I now saw, was without this glowing sheath. At this point the Light drew me inside a dingy bar and grill near what looked like a large naval base. . . . Then I noticed a striking thing. A number of the men standing at the bar seemed unable to lift their drinks to their lips. And these men, everyone of them, lacked the aureole of light that surrounded the others. I watched one young sailor rise unsteadily from a stool, take two or three steps, and sag heavily to the floor. Two of his buddies stooped down and started dragging him away from the crush. But that was not what I was looking at. I was staring in amazement as the bright cocoon around the unconscious sailor simply opened up. It parted at the very crown of his head and began peeling away from his head, his shoulders. Instantly, quicker than I’d ever seen anyone move, one of the insubstantial beings who had been standing near him at the bar was on top of him. In the next instant, to my utter mystification, the springing figure had vanished. Twice more, as I stared, stupefied, the identical scene was repeated. A man passed out, a crack swiftly opening in the aureole round him, one of the non-solid people vanished as he hurled himself at the opening, almost as if he had scrambled inside the other man. Was that covering of light some kind of shield, then? Was it a protection against . . . against disembodied beings like myself? Presumably these substance-less creatures had once had solid bodies, as I myself had had. Suppose that when they had been in these bodies they had developed a dependence on alcohol that went beyond the physical. That became mental. Spiritual, even. Then when they lost that body, except when they could briefly take possession of another one, they would be cut off for all eternity from the thing they could never stop craving. An eternity like that—the thought sent a chill shuddering through me—surely that would be a form of hell!
HIGHLIGHTS: • Takes place in a bar near a naval base (end of WWII) • Saw beings with aura of light and those without it, drinking or trying to. • When a living person was intoxicated enough, their aura of light broke open and a non-living spirit jumped in. These spirits were thought to be addicted to alcohol in mortality. • They were trying to re-experience it because their minds and even their spirits had become addicted, not just their bodies, now in the grave. • Is this a form of Hell? • What makes US vulnerable? • What might free them, and us, from this spirit world prison?
Excerpts from Visions of Glory, Ch 6, pp. 103-104: It was late at night. A young man in his underwear came into the room quietly. . . . He closed the door softly . . . and went to a computer . . . I felt a growing sense of excitement coming from him. I knew that his wife and two sons and baby daughter were asleep . . . and that he intended to view pornography. I perceived that he was a good man . . . . I saw eight spirits enter the room. Four of these were evil spirits who had once been mortal, the other four were unborn evil spirits—Satan’s minions. The disemboded [unclean spirits] looked human and wore clothing typical of the period in which they had died. The evil spirits were less substantial, general smaller, with misshapen features, making them look slightly inhuman. They were agitated, active, jumping around in a frenzy, shouting their commands to the young man in excited voices. The disembodied spirits said little at first. They had little ability to be heard by the young man. They trying to satisfy the sexual passion they had developed during their own lives. . . both male and female spirits. Their addiction was unending, painful, and impossible to satisfy. . . . The unborn evil spirits were there to trap him, to entice him on, to remind him of the upcoming thrill. They cared nothing for experiencing his passion. They had never had a body and were not capable of understanding the thrill—they were there to control him . . . to keep him involved and under their “spell” as long as possible. . . . They were most interested in keeping him focused upon his own body, and his own thrills so effectively that he could not feel his relationship to Christ, the Holy Spirit, or remember his family. All he could think of was himself and the guaranteed gratification that was just a click away. The more excited he grew, the more frenzied the evil spirits became. They became more aggressive, jumping at him, hitting him with their hands and cursing. It was a loathsome thing to see. I realized even more powerfully from seeing this that all addictions are purely selfish; they guarantee the instant gratification of the flesh. When he made the decision to partake, all of his good intentions and desires were immediately drowned out by the passion and the control of the evil spirits. The good spirits that had been near him as he slept were forced a distance away until he could not hear them.
POSSESSION BY AN ANCESTOR: Excerpts from Freeing the Captives: The Emerging Therapy of Treating Spirit Attachment,by Louise Ireland-Frey, M.D.) “Louise, a neighbor of mine called [Amy], saying that for the past month she has become more and more convinced that her deceased mother [Maggie] is trying to push her out of her body and take over. She can’t talk to anyone about it because people would think she’s crazy. But she has become more and terrified than ever, since even her husband comments on how much like her mother she is looking. I referred her to you.” With considerable hesitation I agreed to see this neighbor. For years I had been working with hypnosis and had discovered the immense power of the altered state. Moreover, since my teens I had known about “earthbound entities,” the psyches of deceased person that did not “go on to the astral level” [spirit world] as they normally should. After leading Amy into a light state of hypnosis, I call the mother: “Maggie, we are calling you. Please come . . . . Amy, tell us when you see her” . . . . [she came] After commanding Maggie to leave: “Good, Maggie, that’s fine, you have your own place to go to. You don’t belong here any more. You have your own destiny. You must go on. . . . “Amy do you see her going? Getting smaller? . . . . “Yes, she’s going—slowly. She’s very small . . . Way over there.” “Louise to Amy:“You are free; you are yourself.”
CLEAN HOUSE—Personally and Nationally Matthew 12:43-45: 43 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. 44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. 45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation. This is true for individuals, families, groups, and nations—
D&C 121:45: Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God . . . .
What’s OUR Power Over Dark Spirits? • Control Our Thoughts and Actions—Be Your Own “Gate Keeper.” Remember this saying:
Sow a Thought, Reap an Action Sow an Action, Reap a Habit Sow a Habit, Reap a Character Sow a Character, Reap a Destiny
• Pray for the Lord’s Help and Protection. • Raise Our Right Arm to the Square and Rebuke Them: MY WORDING:
TO EVIL SPIRITS—COMMAND: “Evil spirits leave and never come back, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.” TO UNCLEAN SPIRITS—INVITE BY WAY OF COMMAND: “Unclean spirits, this isn’t the place for you to satisfy your wishes or progress. There are good spirits waiting to take you to a place of acceptance, instruction, repentance and forgiveness, love and progression. I invite you to go there, by way of command. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
• Have an Inspired Priesthood Blessing on Our Homes. • Have a Righteous and Believing Priesthood Holder Cast Out An Evil Spirit that Doesn’t Leave Any Other Way.
We don’t need to fear evil. Its only power is to cause fear and intimidation but it can’t force our thoughts, words, or actions. Here’s the AI image given in the video to illustrate that—a half vision/half dream I received years ago after an encounter with an evil spirit entity I perceived as the “Angel of Death” trying to scare me:
The message was pretty clear to me. Evil is real and really wants to hurt and destroy us, but this wolf couldn’t get up from this bench and could only threaten me. What looks like a clown suits symbolizes that we can laugh at Satan and his evil minions—they have no real power!
REMEMBER:The Prophet Joseph Smith: All beings who have bodies have power over those who have not. The devil has no power over us only as we permit him. The moment we revolt at anything which comes from God, the devil takes power. (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith [1976], 181).
GOOD
EVIL
Church of Christ
Church of Satan
Create, Build Up, Expand
Destroy, Tear Down, Constrict
Create Loyal Families
Living Any Immoral Lifestyle
Protect Innocence/Children
Destroy Innocence/Children
Build Communities/Nations
Destroy Communities/Nations
Teach Good Principles
Teach Evil, Masked as “Good”
Form Government of Liberty
Form Government of Slaves
God Gives Us Free Agency
Satan Controls/Owns Us
God Promises Eternity and Delivers It for the Righteous
Satan Promises Eternity but Only Delivers Darkness/Death
LIVE WITH GOD
ETERNALDAMNATION
Behold there are save two churches only; the one is the church of the Lamb of God, and the other is the church of the devil . . . (1 Nephi 14:10)
FULCRUM OF CHOICE Diagram: See Home Page of this website or direct link HERE.
FINAL THOUGHTS: St Augustine: For the Devil does not seduce or influence anyone, unless he finds him ready in some way similar to himself. He finds him coveting something, and greed opens the door for the Devil’s suggestion to enter.
D&C 122:9: Therefore, hold on thy way, and the priesthood shall remain with thee; for their bounds are set, they cannot pass. Thy days are known, and thy years shall not be numbered less; therefore, fear not what man [or evil]can do, for God shall be with you forever and ever.
St Ambrose of Milan: The Devil tempts so that he may ruin; God tests so that He may crown.
FOR FURTHER STUDY: • YouTube video:Combating Evil and Unclean Spirits, link HERE • The Return of the Godsand Josiah Manifesto, by Rabbi Jonathan Cahn • Visions of Glory, Ch 6, by “Spenser” as told to John Pontius • Return From Tomorrow, by George G. Ritchie with Elizabeth Sherrill • Freeing the Captives: The Emerging Therapy of Treating Spirit Attachment, by Louise Ireland-Frey, M.D. • Manual for Spiritual Warfare, by Paul Thigpen, quotes on p. 169 • NOTE: Many of these books can be purchased on Amazon or used from www.bookfinder.com—a site that surveys the top used books sellers online—a great resource!
OTHERS not quoted in Video: • Scott Gillespie: Porn, Sickness, Evil Spirits and the Priesthood, 61 pp, better for study, redundancies removed, link HERE. • Scott Gillespie: Porn, Sickness, Evil Spirits and the Priesthood, longer version with redundant references, but starts with his personal story and worth reading, link HERE. • EXCERPTS: The Unquiet Dead, A Psychologist Treats Spirit Possession, link HERE.
Please do contact me with your comments and/or questions, link HERE.
Here the “Tiers of Authority” in our search for Truth, as I understand them:
Authoritative, Top-Down Learning: – Holy Ghost, understood correctly – Prophets and Apostles, “over the pulpit” – Scriptures Semi-Authoritative—human opinion can creep in: – Church Education – Church College Professors – Deseret Book Publications – Apocrypha Logical Analysis: – Personal Experience – Human theory Interesting: – All are subject to possible personal error, or opinions of the speaker/writer. No Authority: – Emotion, Opinion, Speculation—just ask more questions
USE A “MAYBE BOX” AND KEEP STUDYING: French philosopher Simone Vey/Weil says: All wrong translations, all absurdities in geometry problems, all clumsiness of style, and all faulty connection of ideas, all such things are due to the fact that thought has seized upon some idea too hastilyand, being thus prematurely blocked, is not open to truth. (from Waiting on God, Reflections on the Right Use of School Studies with a View to the Love of God, Simone Weil, 1950) Also: There is nothing that comes closer to true humility than the intelligence. It is impossible to feel pride in one’s intelligence at the moment when one really and truly exercises it. (https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Simone_Weil)
PITFALLS IN THE LEARNING PROCESS: Joseph Smith, Prophet of the Restoration: It is not very essential for the elders to have knowledge in relation to the meaning of beasts, and heads and horns, and other figures made use of in the revelations; still, it may be necessary, to prevent contention and division and do away with suspense. If we get PUFFED UP by thinking that we have much knowledge, we are apt to get a contentious spirit, and correct knowledge is necessary to cast out that spirit. (TPJS, P. 287) D&C 88:118: And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom;seek learning, even BY STUDY and also BY FAITH.
LET’S SHARE IDEAS: – Set aside pride and see ideas as “things” and not “personal pets.” – Become “as a little child” and play with ideas. (Matthew 18:3) – Get in the “sandpile” and collaborate with other students. – Develop a thick skin and don’t take offense when your ideas are questioned, even challenged vigorously. – Remember: It’s not WHO’S right, but WHAT’S right. – Give the glory to God because all truth comes from Him. – Stay a “little child” and resist the temptation to become “puffed up” in pride.
FAITHFUL vs “CHURCH OF THE FIRSTBORN”: Elder Bruce R. McConkie on who will be at Adam-ondi-Ahman: . . . before all these, there is to be a secret appearance to SELECTED members of his Church. He will come in private to his prophet and to the apostles then living. Those who have held keys and powers and authorities in all ages from Adam to the present will also be present. And further, all the FAITHFUL members of the Church then living and all the faithful saints of all the ages past will be present. It will be the greatest congregation of faithful saints ever assembled on planet earth. And it will take place in Daviess County, Missouri, at a place called Adam-ondi-Ahman. (From: The Millennial Messiah (pp. 578–79) CHALLENGE: “No, it’s not only being FAITHFUL,but we’ll need to be in the Church of the Firstborn.“
THE RESOLUTION: D&C 93: 11–13, 18–20, 22: 11 And I, John, bear record that I beheld his glory, as the glory of the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth, even the Spirit of truth, which came and dwelt in the flesh, and dwelt among us. 12 And I, John, saw that he received not of the fulness at the first, but received grace for grace; 13 And he received not of the fulness at first, but continued from grace to grace, until he received a fulness; 18 And it shall come to pass, that if you are faithful you shall receive the fulness of the record of John. 19 I give unto you these sayings that you may understand and know how to worship, and know what you worship, that you may come unto the Father in my name, and in due time receive of his fulness. 20 For if you keep my commandments you shall receive of his fulness, and be glorified in me as I am in the Father; therefore, I say unto you, you shall receive grace for grace. 22 And all those who are begotten through me are partakers of the glory of the same, and are the CHURCH OF THE FIRSTBORN. (EMPHASIS added)
LEARN BY FAITH: KNOWLEDGE IS “ONE GREAT WHOLE”: Elder Dallin H. Oaks (Always Have His Spirit, Conference, Oct 1996): To repeat, the Light of Christ is given to all men and women that they may know good from evil; manifestations of the Holy Ghost are given to lead sincere seekers to gospel truths that will persuade them to repentance and baptism. The GIFT of the Holy Ghost is more comprehensive. The Prophet Joseph Smith explained: “There is a difference between the Holy Ghost and the gift of the Holy Ghost. Elder and Sister Neil L. Andersen: The Mormon view of truth is grounded in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, but that doesn’t mean truth is limited to the Mormon experience. As Elder D. Todd Christofferson said, “Truth is scattered liberally across the globe.” And it was Joseph Smith who encouraged us to “get all the good in the world” and to “receive truth, let it come from whence it may.” Truth has many aspects — spiritual, physical, philosophical, historical — and in the end they all fit together into one great whole. (Worldwide Devotional, 13 Oct 2017)
Galaxy.Pixabay.com.10995
Brigham Young: It’s OK to think far out—just be sure you can think your way back!
Find the center of all truth—It’s bigger than we are!
This is the companion post to YouTube video link HERE: God’s Timeline? Part 5: Timeline Skeleton: The “BONES” and “JOINTS” Explained.
I provided the scriptures that described the “bones” of the timeline I use in my book and elsewhere, also referred to as “Daniel’s Numbers”—spans of days associated with Last Days events: 1,290; 1,260; 2,300; and 1,335 days.
Here’s a simplified chart to refer to, and you will see that the beginning and ending points of those four spans all land on a relevant Hebrew “Holy Day” for that event:
Here are the scriptures that describe each “number”:
1,290 Days: Daniel 12:7-11: Daniel 12:7–11: 7 And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half;and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. 8 And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? 9 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. 10 Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand. 11 And [1] from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away [beginning], and [2]the abomination that maketh desolate set up [end], there shall bea thousand two hundred and ninety days. [1,290]
1,260 Days: Revelation 11:1-3 1 And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. 2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city [Jerusalem] shall they tread under foot forty and two months. 3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. SIDE NOTE: Revelation 12:6: 6 And the woman [House of Israel—native or adopted]fled into the wilderness[Zion in America?], where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days [1,260 days].
2,300 Days: Daniel 8:13-14: 13 Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation[set up], to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot? 14 And he said unto me, Unto [until the END of]two thousand and three hundred days [2,300]; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed. [in America] SIDE NOTE: Review Daniel 12:11 listed above to review the 1,290 days that are the second part of the 2,300 days.
1,335 Days: Daniel 12:11-13: 11 And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. [This verse is repeated from above for continuity.] 12 Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh tothe thousand three hundred and five and thirty days. [1,335] 13 But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days. [1,335]
If all this seems too bold for our current understanding of these scriptures, see what these scriptures have to say:
New Knowledge OK? D&C 121:26-28, 33: 26 God shall give unto you knowledge by his Holy Spirit, yea, by the unspeakable gift of the Holy Ghost, that has not been revealed since the world was until now; 27 Which our forefathers have awaited with anxious expectation to be revealed in the last times, which their minds were pointed to by the angels, as held in reserve for the fulness of their glory; 28 A time to come in the which nothing shall be withheld, whether there be one God or many gods, they shall be manifest. 33 How long can rolling waters remain impure? What power shall stay the heavens? As well might man stretch forth his puny arm to stop the Missouri river in its decreed course, or to turn it up stream, as to hinder the Almighty from pouring down knowledge from heaven upon the heads of the Latter-day Saints.
D&C 107:56-57: 56 And Adam stood up in the midst of the congregation; and, notwithstanding he was bowed down with age, being full of the Holy Ghost, predicted whatsoever should befall his posterity unto the latest generation. 57 These things were all written in the book of Enoch, and are to be testified of in due time. SIDE NOTE: You will see that the Book of Enoch that we don’t currently study as a Church is to be “testified of in due time.” Due time has arrived!
Appointed Times? Set Times?D&C 121:29-32: D&C 121:29-32: 29 All thrones and dominions, principalities and powers, shall be revealed and set forth upon all who have endured valiantly for the gospel of Jesus Christ. 30 And also, if there be bounds set to the heavens or to the seas, or to the dry land, or to the sun, moon, or stars— 31 All the times of their revolutions, all the APPOINTED DAYS, months, and years, and all the days of their days, months, and years, and all their glories, laws, and SET TIMES, shall berevealed in the days of the dispensation of the fulness of times— 32 According to that which was ordained in the midst of the Council of the Eternal God of all other gods before this world was, that should be reserved unto the finishing and the end thereof, when every man shall enter into his eternal presence and into his immortal rest. (EMPHASIS added)
TORECAP: Here are the “bones” and “joints” of this skeletal timeline:
The original researcher on this theory, Farrell Pickering (www.PropheticAppointments.com) tried placing this skeleton in all 50 years between 2020 and 2070 and the only one where all 8 points of Daniel’s Numbers landed on the appropriate Hebrew Holy Day for Adam-ondi-Ahman, and all the others, was 2031. What are the odds that they would all land where they needed to:
1 in 385,000,000! Is this really what the Lord intended? There’s only one way to know: PRAY !
When it comes to scripture, no human logic can determine truth, God’s truth! If you’re truly seeking truth about this theory, you will need to ASK GOD (Moroni 10:4 in the Book of Mormon, and James 1 in the New Testament):
Humble yourself and set aside your preconceived notions.
Pray with total sincerity,
With “real intent,” meaning you will act on what the Lord tells you,
And with at least a beginning Faith in Christ,
Nothing wavering (James 1).
Empty yourself of all opinion, hold up an open hand to the Lord, and He will lead you along to higher and higher truths:
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The full explanation in given in the companion video on YouTube, link HERE, and even more in my book on Amazon, link HERE. Be sure to read the “Sample Pages” linked under the cover photo. It’s the first 40 pages or so.
There are 4 BEASTS described in the Old Testament, mostly in the Book of Daniel, and there are 4 described in the New Testament, Book of Revelation. Are they the same? Are they good or evil?
Here’s what the Prophet Joseph Smith said: When God made use of the figure of a beast in visions to the prophets He did it to represent those kingdoms which had degenerated and become corrupt, savage and beast-like in their dispositions, even the degenerate kingdoms of the wicked world; but He never made use of the figure of a beast nor any of the brute kind to represent His kingdom.… (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith or TPJS, pp. 289-91)
Then see the description of these Beasts and Horns, continuing Joseph Smith’s commentary: Daniel 7: 3: And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another. There are four successive empires, and then the kingdom of God is established. (Old Testament Institute Manual, Lesson 28 on Daniel) Daniel says (ch. 7, v. 16) when he saw the four beasts . . . [the] beasts had no allusion to the kingdom of God. . . . the beasts are spoken of to represent the kingdoms of the world, the inhabitants whereof were beastly and abominable characters. . . . The lion, the bear, the leopard, and the ten-horned beast represented the kingdoms of the world, says Daniel. John’s Vision of Futurity: John saw that only which was lying in futurity and which was shortly to come to pass. See Rev.1:1-3. . . . The four beasts and twenty-four elders were out of every nation; for they sang a new song, saying, “Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seal thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.” (See Rev. 5:9) . . .What John saw and speaks [mostly] of were things which he saw in heaven; those which Daniel saw were on and pertaining to the earth. (TPJS, p. 287)
See Home Page for Simplified Timeline Chart, or direct links here: Black and White link HERE, Color link HERE.
The 1st Beast: Daniel 7:4: The first was like a LION, and had eagle’s wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man’s heart was given to it. Anciently: The first, which was like a lion with eagles’ wings, represented the Babylonian Empire under Nebuchadnezzar. (OT Institute Manual, Lesson 28 on Daniel) Modern Times: Corresponds with ENGLAND: England had “3 Lions” on their Coat of Arms since at least 1200s AD. The Royal Crest of England has an “upraised” Lion on it’s 2 rear feet with 3 small lions in the middle. The Eagle Wings could refer to the spread of Britain’s Colonial Empire. (Source: James Prout, Last Days Timeline, pp. 30-32)
The 2nd Beast: Daniel 7:5: And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh. Anciently: The Median-Persian Empire – The bear was considered next to the lion as the strongest among animals by the people of the ancient Middle East. The raising up on one side could represent the raising of the forefeet of the bear (standing on its hind feet) as when it goes after prey. (OT Institute Manual, Lesson 28 Daniel) Modern Times: Russia’s USSR was the 2nd Beast, from the 1940s to 1991. James Prout theorized that the “three ribs” in verse could be the three eastern European countries that Stalin grabbed before WWII, and where Russia “devoured much flesh.” Contemporary John Taylor also identifies the USSR as the bear which is also on its feet, and Stalin also murdered at least 10,000,000 of his own people. (James Prout, pp. 33-35)
The 3rd Beast: Daniel 7:6: After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it. ANCIENTLY: The Greek Empire of Alexander the Great – Wings signify power to move and extend influence. Heads signify governing power or the seat of government. His kingdom extended greatly under Alexander and had great power. (OT Institute Manual, Lesson 28 Daniel) MODERN TIMES: Germany and France’s European Union James Prout’s theory: Germany’s national symbol is the Leopard/Panther which are seen on their Coat of Arms, stamps, WWII tanks. This union needs to fall before the 4th Beast arises. The 2nd Beast (Russia) fell because of too much debt, and this 3rd beast and America’s financial collapse will set the stage for the 4th Beast. The Four Wings and Four Heads could certainly be other European powers or leaders extending their power. (pp 36-40)
The 4th Beast: Daniel 7:7: After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns. Revelation 13:1-2: 1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. 2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the DRAGON gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
The 4th Beast Gives Rise to the “Horns”: Daniel 7:23, 8-9: 23 Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. 8 I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another LITTLE HORN, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things. [“3 Horns = 3 Eagle Heads?] 9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the ANCIENT OF DAYS [Adam/Michael] did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.
The 10 HORNS: Revelation 17:12-13: 12 And the TEN HORNS which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings ONE HOUR with the beast. [the 4th Beast kingdom] 13 These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. [1 hour = 7 years]
Who is the LITTLE HORN? Daniel 11:21, 23, 22, 24: 21 And in his estate shall stand up a VILE PERSON, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries. 23 And after the LEAGUE made with him he shall work deceitfully: for he shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people. 22 And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown from before him, and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant. 24 He shall enter peaceably even upon the fattest places of the province; . . . and he shall scatter among them the prey, and spoil, and riches . . . . [The 10 Horns = the League of 10 Nations with 10 Rulers]
See Home Page for Simplified Timeline Chart, Black and White link HERE, Color link HERE.
Why is BARBARISM Dominate in History? From the book,Alfred the Great, by Jacob Abbott: It was discreditable then, as it is now in Europe, for any branches of families of the higher class to engage in any pursuit of honorable industry. They could plunder and kill without dishonor, but they could not toil. To rob and murder was glory; to do good or to be useful in any way was disgrace. The “Danes” or Vikings made excursions every where for conquest and plunder, and were proud of their successful deeds of violence and wrong. It was honorable to enter into their service. Chieftains and nobles who dwelt upon the land sent their sons to acquire greatness, and wealth, and fame by joining these piratical gangs.
Do We See THESE PATTERNS Today? Henry B. Eyring:The Lord would not use the word warn if there was no danger. Yet not many people we know sense it. They have learned to ignore the increasing evidence that SOCIETY IS UNRAVELING and that their lives and family lack the peace they once thought was possible. (First Presidency Message, Ensign, January 2009)
How Did ALFRED “the Great” Tame Barbarism (the Vikings)? Through (1) Christianity, (2) Fair and just government, (3) Impartial court system, (4) Fairer distribution of wealth, and (2) Building Civilization–Learning and Culture.
King Alfred the Great Winchester, England
MASLOW’S “HIERARCHY OF NEEDS” SHOWS HOW CIVILIZATION IS BUILT:
The bottom 4 layers are called “Deficiency Needs” because until they are secured, one cannot build the higher layers of society and civilization (the “Growth Needs”). This is true for individuals, families, groups, states, and nations, and whole worlds!
How Can WE Tame Modern Barbarism and Where is Our Help? Deuteronomy 30:19: I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live. . . 2 Nephi 25:23: . . . for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do. Pres. Nelson, Overcome the World and Find Rest, Oct 2022 Conf Talk: But, my dear brothers and sisters, so many wonderful things are ahead. In coming days, we will see the greatest manifestations of the Savior’s power that the world has ever seen. Between now and the time He returns “with power and great glory,” He will bestow countless privileges, blessings, and miracles upon the faithful. JST Matthew 1:37: . . . for the Son of Man shall come, and he shall send his angels before him with the great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together the remainder of his elect fromthe four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Our Promise of a Future Civilization:
President Brigham Young: “The business of the Elders of this Church (Jesus, their elder brother, being at their head), is to gather up all the truths in the world pertaining to life and salvation, to the Gospel we preach, to mechanisms of every kind, to the sciences, and to philosophy, wherever they may be found in every nation, kindred, tongue and people, and bring it to Zion.” The “Gathering” was to be not only a bringing together of people, but of all the treasures surviving in the earth from every age and culture; “Every accomplishment, every polished grace, every useful attainment in mathematics, music, in all science and art belong to the Saints, and they rapidly collect the intelligence that is bestowed upon the nations, for all this intelligence belongs to Zion. All the knowledge, wisdom, power, and glory that have been bestowed upon the nations of the earth, from the days of Adam till now, must be gathered home to Zion.” “What is this work? The improvement of the condition of the human family.” (Hugh Nibley quoting Brigham Young in Why I Believe, a collection of essays, Bookcraft, SLC, 2002; and originally from Brother Brigham Challenges the Saints, 1994, emphasis added)
Every minute, every day we can choose to build or tear down, to create or destroy, light over dark, and good over evil. So let’s keep at it and build Zion!
