Heed and Diligence

Equality / Equilibrium

January 1st, 2026

Its an abuse of the word equality to think that if there is equality among men, everyone is at the exact same point or level of progression. In a future zion there will be equality but that doesn’t mean that everyone will be the same or individuals in stasis with all others matched the same . “In the current Dispensation, God is working to bring about a people of one heart and one mind, with no poor among them — Zion. So those who oppose equality and favor inequity commit iniquity — inequity is iniquity” (Glossary – Iniquity) There will be no rich and no poor because he who is rich will give to he who is poor and he who is poor will receive. To be of one heart and one mind doesn’t mean equality of thought or homogeneity either. Those who share in this will always wrestle with things and face disappointments, difference of opinions and views contrary to others but the equality among them and desire to do Gods will, will temper them. They will face differences in abilities, knowledge and execution of plans.

“And a strict command went among all the congregations that there must not be any persecution among them, but there should be equality among all of them, that they shouldn’t let any pride or arrogance disrupt the peace, everyone should value their neighbor as themselves and work with their own hands to support themselves, and their priests and teachers should work with their own hands for their support in every case except for sickness or extreme poverty.” (Mosiah 11:24) Among the nephites a time came when there was much persecution and difference of opinion. While there was no doubt a difference and inequality in wealth, labor and degree of knowledge or abilities, there was to be an equality among them by this decree.

—

“And this is the manner after which they were ordained: being called and prepared from the foundation of the world, according to the foreknowledge of God, on account of their exceeding faith and good works in the first place, being left to choose good or evil; therefore they, having chosen good, and exercising exceeding great faith, are called with a holy calling — yea, with that holy calling which was prepared with, and according to, a preparatory redemption for such. … And thus they have been called to this holy calling on account of their faith, while others would reject the Spirit of God on account of the hardness of their hearts and blindness of their minds (while, if it had not been for this, they might have had as great privilege as their brethren — or in fine, in the first place they were on the same standing with their brethren — thus, this holy calling being prepared from the foundation of the world for such as would not harden their hearts, being in and through the atonement of the Only Begotten Son who was prepared), and thus, being called by this holy calling and ordained unto the High Priesthood of the Holy Order of God to teach his commandments unto the children of men, that they also might enter into his rest” Alma 9

The pattern is given to us. Yes, this refers to the Holy order but it shows that in the first place we all stand on equal footing and it depends on us to embrace the Spirit of God instead of reject to be able to participate in and accomplish His will. Those who had made those decisions in that example before this experience and were counted among those who had exercised exceeding faith because they didnt reject the spirit were on the same standing as all of their other brethren who had done the same. They were in effect grouped. This grouping made them equal despite their unequal experiences.

We may be put into certain positions but those aren’t necessarily for us. They are to accomplish Gods purposes through us. They don’t give us reason to celebrate our greatness or be proud . The man or woman of God would approach it soberly. What is that Holy calling? It is to preach the word.

“And he inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness, and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen, and all are alike unto God, both Jew and gentile.” (2 Nephi 11:17)

The gospel is a free gift to all mankind. What he says to one He says to all.

“For I command all men, both in the east, and in the west, and in the north, and in the south, and in the islands of the sea, that they shall write the words which I speak unto them. For out of the books which shall be written I will judge the world, every man according to their works, according to that which is written.” (2 Nephi 12:10)

All men have the ability to follow the light of Christ which is in them. The words the Lord has for them might come down through different traditions but that syllabus or academic program is reserved to be distributed as the Lord sees fit.

“For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creation shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 1:37

It is that love that affords us all the same opportunity to go to God and receive the same of Him.

“But it is also necessary that men should have an idea that he is no respecter of persons, for with the idea of all the other excellencies in his character and this one wanting, men could not exercise faith in him; because if he were a respecter of persons, they could not tell what their privileges were, nor how far they were authorized to exercise faith in him, or whether they were authorized to do it at all; but all must be confusion. … But no sooner are the minds of men made acquainted with the truth on this point — that he is no respecter of persons — than they see that they have authority by faith to lay hold on eternal life, the richest boon of Heaven, because God is no respecter of persons and that every man in every nation has an equal privilege.” (LoF 3:23) Because everyone shall be judged out of the books which shall be written. “Wherefore, he has given a law; and where there is no law given there is no punishment; and where there is no punishment there is no condemnation; and where there is no condemnation the mercies of the Holy One of Israel have claim upon them because of the atonement, for they are delivered by the power of him. For the atonement satisfieth the demands of his justice upon all those who have not the law given to them, that they are delivered from that awful monster, death, and hell, and the Devil, and the lake of fire and brimstone, which is Endless torment. And they are restored to that God who gave them breath, which is the Holy One of Israel.

But woe unto him that has the law given, yea, that has all the commandments of God like unto us, and that transgresseth them and that wasteth the days of his probation, for awful is his state.” (2 Nephi 6:7) Through these laws and the divine weaving the Lord has brought all of His creation into equilibrium and addresses the inequalities of those who have not the law given unto them. On the other hand, those who have the law and transgress it receive a different judgement. (Hence the thought that it is easier to be looking up on the ladder than down on it.) “Therefore, whosoever repenteth and hardeneth not his heart, he shall have claim on mercy, through mine only begotten Son, unto a remission of his sins, and these shall enter into my rest. And whosoever will harden his heart and will do iniquity, [uphold inequity] behold, I swear in my wrath that he shall not enter into my rest.’ Alma 9:8

The very fact that we risk it all to come here puts us on the same standing with those that have more or less to lose. (depending on where they were at preceding this existence) Everything gained through the eternities is not present in us in our mortal state. No power, ability or privilege afforded us there has followed us here. They are waiting to be rediscovered and to be returned once we accomplish our tasks and honor our obligations.

“And now behold, my beloved brethren, I would speak unto you, for I, Nephi, would not suffer that ye should suppose that ye are more righteous than the gentiles shall be. For behold, except ye shall keep the commandments of God, ye shall all likewise perish.” (2 Nephi 12:11)

To think we are somehow not equally subject to the laws and peril that is placed before us daily and not equal to our fellow man is dangerous to our soul and threatens to damn our progression.

“He that exalts himself shall be abased, and he that abases himself shall be exalted.” (T&C 107:1)

To exalt yourself is to elevate yourself to a position of excessive power, importance, or pride, often by deeming yourself superior to others. It manifests as self-praise, self-glorification, arrogance, thinking yourself better situated than another, pursuing personal glory. It is considered a sign of pride and self-deception.

“But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant, and whoever shall exalt himself shall be abased of him, and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted of him.” (Matthew 10:26)

“For the servant who had been called to stand above his peers needed to descend below them. Pride is unthinkable when in the presence of such a meek and humble figure as our Lord. It is required that the balance be restored. Nephi, who had been made to rise, had to choose, on his own, to descend and abase himself.’ (Glossary call/ed)

Equality means equilibrium or balance.

We live in the most wicked and the most righteous world. It is brought into equilibrium. Where there is greater light there will be greater darkness. It is brought into equilibrium.

I think in reference to the definition of equality thusly: “Zion will be produced by a journey begun in equality, pursued by equals, with no man able to command another man’s actions.” (Glossary – Equality.) Meaning that while equality of outcomes, start state and opportunities don’t exist and will not exist now or forever more; the independent state of man and his agency, setting out on a path to self existence can only be achieved by equality reconciled to the Lord by His mercy and justice..

“For behold, are we not all beggars? Do we not all depend upon the same being, even God, for all the substance which we have, for both food and raiment, and for gold, and for silver, and for all the riches which we have of every kind? And behold, even at this time ye have been calling on his name and begging for a remission of your sins. And has he suffered that ye have begged in vain?” (Mosiah 2:4)

In this carnal state we are subject to the same physical weaknesses, illnesses and maladies that threaten to overcome us dependent on that God who gives us our daily breathe. He causes it to rain on the just and the unjust. But… when this corruption puts on incorruption we will be raised to that place that we merit based on our decisions. If it be terrestrial or celestial, inhabiting different glories and altogether different spaces from one equality to another, for those terrestrial won’t be able to abide a celestial and hence will be equal to all other terrestrial residents. Same goes for those who abide a different glory. Kingdoms separate and progress looks similar to those you inhabit that kingdom with until you go from exaltation to exaltation or rung to rung leaving one state of relative equilibrium behind into another.

No matter where we were before; from Angel, Archangel, Throne to Seraphim, where an Archangel wouldn’t dare command a Seraphim we all descended to earth in relative equality to be equally subject to the buffetings this carnal state provides to work out our calling and election and struggle against the flesh.

It is my observation that we are left to struggle with our relatively equal states; (as viewed by the Lord) among our groupings (eternities, progressions etc), as we coalesce as divers peoples and are born into different situations, so that we can learn how to take whatever physical advantages or knowledge we have gained and not cause mischief with it.
Crumbling

December 12th, 2025

I’ve been thinking a bit lately about this statement.

“The Book of Mormon is more prophecy than history. Before the Lord’s appearance to the Nephites, society broke down into tribes consisting of family and friends. Immediately before the Lord’s return we should expect something similar. Therefore, part of the preparation by God’s house for coming social chaos is likely to include some preliminary preparations by families and friends to fellowship with one another in local gatherings”, (Preserving the Restoration,p. 6)

In the Nephites time there was a group who had committed to usurp the government and destroy all that which had been established for societal stability and the rule of law“ Therefore they conspired against the Lord’s people and made a covenant to kill them and to free the guilty murderers from the justice to be imposed under the law. They defied the law and the rights of their country. And they covenanted with one another to kill the governor and set up a king over the land, to destroy liberty and establish control by kings.

Now you should know they didn’t establish a king, but in that 30th year they murdered the chief judge while on the judgment seat.” (3 Nephi 3:6-7 CoC)

After they had accomplished their evil designs, society collapsed. “2Then the people divided against each other. They separated into tribes, everyone gathering with family, relatives, and friends. And the government was destroyed. 3Each tribe had a ruler or leader over them, resulting in tribes forming around tribal leaders. 4Now every man had many family members and many relatives and friends; therefore the resulting tribes were quite large” and “they remained divided into tribes, every one according to their family, relatives, and friends.” (3 Nephi 3:7-8 CoC)

This is a pattern that has been repeated in other places.

When the western Roman Empire fell in 476 AD; what was left of the empire gradually descended into disparate Kingdoms, City states and Papal states, each one governed by whomever had a monopoly of violence over a specified territory. Kingdoms such as the Franks in France, Visigoths in Spain, Ostrogoths in Italy, Vandals in N. Africa and Anglo Saxons in the British Isles. The Papal States were run by religious monarchies and the city states and countryside by whomever exercised the most vicious and sophisticated form of subjugation of the population.

We see that this is a pattern that repeats. When it repeats here what should we expect? I’d expect to see what has happened in the past and in accordance with the opening statement of this post. “society broke down into tribes consisting of family and friends”.

What have we done to form these groups bonded in righteousness?

What preparations have we undertaken to ensure that we have the proper relationships, love for one another and humility to ensure that God can work with us. Have we given Him a broken heart and a contrite spirit. These aren’t just words we hear all the time; they mean something profound and deeply connected to an unseen but connected plane of existence.

Have we sought to exercise compulsion over others or to set ourselves up for a light or get gain in the vacuum of religious or moral authority? Have we sought the Lord and His will in the execution of our daily life and sought for His guidance in meekness?

Patterns exist in all things. What we do as a group now knowing what is coming matters immensely. Are we practicing and modeling what we must do and become in order to accomplish the tasks the Lord sets before us? Great Wo and suffering linger and overshadow our actions, words and thoughts. There are angels anxiously waiting to reap the harvest of the wicked. (In this respect I can’t think of anything more wicked than for him to whom the law is given and understands it to turn from it to wreak havoc and cause mischief)

What will be your lot? Will you have the support of family, friends and acquaintances with whom you have close relationships and have labored together to develop the kind of intimacy and ability to truly care for the welfare of each others souls required for the troubled times quickly approaching?

For those of us who have made covenants, have we kept them?

It is my hope that we are being the salt that has savor, the leaven that helps everything around Him rise and grow in all of our several commitments in the world and among believers.

Marcus Aurelius said “At dawn, when you have trouble getting out of bed, tell yourself “I have to go to work-as a human being. What do I have to complain of, if I’m going to do what I was born for-the things I was brought into the world to do? Or is this what I was creared for? To huddle under the blankets and stay warm?”

-Don’t you see the plants, the birds the ants and spiders and bees going about their individual tasks, putting the world in order, as best they can? And you’re not willing to do your best as a human being? Why aren’t you running to do what your nature demands?

-We have to sleep sometime….

Agreed. But nature set a limit on that-as it did on eating and drinking.” “People who love what they do wear themselves down doing it, they even forget to wash or eat. Do you have less respect for your own nature than the engraver does for engraving, the dancer for the dance, the miser for money or the social climber for status? When they’re really possessed by what they do, they’d rather stop eating and sleeping than give up practicing their arts.

Is helping others less valuable to vou? Not worth your effort?”

Those who have heard and responded to the message of our time were born unto that which is at hand. They were born for this moment in eternity to respond to obligations made before they arrived here. In order to comply with those obligations we must necessarily learn how to behave and obey the Lord. That is done through humility and subjecting ourselves to him and being harmless, not imposing your own will but by being long suffering. We have been goiven simple instructions but many times we make it too hard on ourselves. The Lord needs to be a constant focus and the desire of our hearts. His labor, our labor.

A new dawn is on the horizon. We can let Him lead us and walk towards the light. His burden is light.
Lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God

September 10th, 2025

Charlie Kirk was assassinated today by a demon hellbent on erasing the voice of one who had the spirit of prophecy. (The spirit of prophecy is the Testimony of Jesus Christ).

He did what many faith leaders wouldn’t. There has been a few words said by so-called faith leaders about his death, but not much truth shared. The self proclaimed role of suppposed leaders is to proclaim the truth to Kings, Presidents and Governors etc. The requirement is to proclaim the truth without respect of position or status because they are all of the earth and the footstool of God.

What has been said by these leaders of Kirks assassination? The LDS said the following “We condemn violence and lawless behavior. We also pray that we may treat one another with greater kindness, compassion and goodness. For members of the Church, we reaffirm the Savior’s teaching and admonition is to love our neighbor” On its surface it appears respectful and thoughtful but for self proclaimed messengers of God it is lacking in its content and panders to those of its members who have publicly maligned Charlie for doing what they should have been doing. If they had been doing what they claim to be they would have declared that Charlie was a servant who was declaring truth and used it as an opportunity to reinforce Charlies message and declare repentance to the world and a turning to God.

The Catholics have done quite a bit better with ArchBishop Burbidge declaring “What we see unfolding in our nation is a vicious pattern of hatreds rooted in the rejection of God, of the dignity of the human person, and the sanctity of the family. We can eradicate these ills only through a firm reliance on God”

Other churches have not issued statements at all. Those who are most vocal are the lay members of the various Christian denominations who have risen up and awakened to our awful state and know what is right better than those who would lead them and take their money and adoration in their priestcraft.

It’s sad to see churches who don’t strongly reinforce true and correct messages, because they are worried about what certain of their members would feel in order to maintain membership numbers and remain popular in the sight of men rather than dutiful to God. They have become essentially “lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof.”

I would that we all should pray for Charlie’s family, for the loss of such a wonderful Human being who was dedicated to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. His shoes will be almost impossible to fill unless people rise up and awaken to their awful state and have the courage to do so..
Choices

August 8th, 2025

A very close friend of mine shared the following parable with me. I’ve taken some liberties and paraphrased some parts and share my interpretation of it. With his permission, I am sharing it here.

A small community needs to accomplish a task which will result in life or death for its survival. They have limited resources to draw on to accomplish the task. After much debate it is determined that there are two options.

Option A and option B
They take a vote. 51% vote for A and 49% vote for B. Because the majority is usually right they all decide to accomplish the task with option A.

In the 1st scenario the minority group decides they will go along but if it doesn’t work blame those in the majority.

In the 2nd scenario; everyone, after spending all their money and talent to accomplish the task and after putting all of their effort into that task (Both the majority and minority) option A doesn’t work.

There is much distress and heartache. The group that voted for option B has a number of ways they can respond to the dilemma. We’ll highlight two here. They could hold resentment in their hearts and say “you should have listened to us because we were right” or they could have said well geez that is really unfortunate. What are we going to do?

In the 1st scenario where they resented and started to cause strife and contention the community falls apart. They go their way always angry at what transpired and with vitriol toward the other group because they just didn’t listen.

In the 2nd scenario they found themselves together in a desperate situation but because they obeyed the Lord and His commands to not dispute and love each other regardless of the outcome, they decided to take it to the Lord.

In the Lords economy neither A or B were going to work. They would have to rely on the merits of the Lord.

In the 1st scenario the group didn’t mutually do what was required and lay down their disputes and arguments. Those who chose to contend became laws unto themselves to kick against the pricks and forever mull over others bad decisions that affected them so terribly. Blaming others into eternity.

In the 2nd scenario the group humbled themselves and called upon the Lord for His blessing and witnessed a miracle because the Lord had another option awaiting that only He could perform. That group by their diligence and obedience called down the blessings of heaven which obedience brought the blessing it was tied to. They all had their testimonies strengthened and were able to witness unspeakable things.

My dear friend pointed out to me that instead of being about the outcome of the situation it was more about the process and how they treated each other.
Persisting through the veil

June 22nd, 2025

If we believe ourselves sons and daughters of God with obligations to perform we oughta have some confidence and faith like unto that which we had before.
If we were self exalted according to our faith, why are we now weak in the faith? Why do we believe we are less than optimal for the tasks in front of us?
Is this because we operate in Babylon and that philosophy is overpowering our instinct to perform according to previous covenants?.

The apostles were initially weak but the after the Saviors feat of the atonement they were unflappable and confident in their role and duty, facing everything thrown at them and even death, resolutely.
If they needed that why would need something different?
We already have that experience and recorded history.
Shouldn’t we also be inspired by the very same act along with the various miracles that have occurred since? They had to see it happen. We have the record that it DID indeed happen.
If we have obligations to assist the servant in the vineyard to help in the work shouldn’t the same thing embolden us?
”Revelation from Heaven is also a revelation of yourself. For as you see Him, you see most clearly how very limited and dependent you are upon Him. You cannot be prideful after seeing yourself alongside Him.” (The second comforter, Snuffer, pp 416)
We can do this work by connecting because of the faith he has in us. By His faith in us, He bridges the gulf and brings us along. Molding, guiding, chastising and affirming.

“The view into heaven is as thin as the razor’s edge. You must be perfectly perpendicular to this world to see through that narrow opening” (The second comforter, Snuffer, pp 288)
How can we be perpendicular and reach through to connect to eternity?
“There is nothing hidden but what will be made known, but it is up to you to be willing to see and receive what is hidden. God hides most things in plain sight. It is up to you, therefore, to be willing to draw back the veil and see them.” (T&C 159:28)

What’s there is here and is accessible . We only need let the scales fall from our eyes.
When we abide in His commands and take upon ourselves His yoke, then will our “confidence wax strong in the presence of God, and the doctrines of the Priesthood shall distill upon your soul as the dews from heaven. The holy ghost shall be your constant companion, and your scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth, and your dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto you for ever and ever”. This is tied to sonship and the relationship that ensues between those who cry “Abba Father” and He who responds.

Agency unto condemnation.

“Man supports himself only on that which resists. So Earth must resist man else he existeth not.” Thoth (Emerald tablets)

Consider in conjunction this tidbit from Denver. “When you take money from someone else in order to advance your religious purpose, the mere act of doing that creates an inequality, it instills an arrogance in the recipient.
It removes the burden of sacrifice, it removes the humiliation of having to lose sleep and to fret and to worry about things, and to face an uphill battle in everything that you do in order to please God. But you can’t please God by taking advantage of your fellow man.” (A Visit with Denver Snuffer, 5-13-15, restoration Archives)
Here he is saying that to satisfy and please God we must face the uphill battle. Engaging in that battle and struggle is what demonstrates that we are willing to do his will and exist perpendicular to the world.
If we are doing it right and sacrificing we will never have enough money to do what we think necessary, never have the kind of peace and comfort we think we need or deserve. Our relationships will never be final and perfect, Everything will be fluid and never really settled.
“Man was also in the beginning with God. Intelligence, or the light of truth, was not created or made, neither indeed can be. All truth is independent in that sphere in which God has placed it to act for itself, as all intelligence also; otherwise, there is no existence.” (T&C 93:11) The idea then process of action is what gives us progress. When we ventured out of the comfort zone in Gods presence and started to manifest our own agency which God gave us and followed Christ who ventured out first, we made a decision to forever be on a path of individualism but collectively reconciled to God. “Behold, here is the agency of man, and here is the condemnation of man, because that which was from the beginning is plainly manifest unto them, and they receive not the light, and every man whose spirit receives not the light is under condemnation. For man is spirit, the elements are eternal, and spirit and element, inseparably connected, receive a fullness of joy; and when separated, man cannot receive a fullness of joy.” (T&C 93:10)

We see that it is necessary to receive the light in this tabernacle to receive joy and joy comes by way of agency reconciled to God. That is; receiving the light. Pushing back against the world and resisting its influence. In this sense joy is not pleasure or comfort. It is rooted in something deeper and beyond the veil. Connected while walking the path of agency or better put: collective with the spirit but individual through agency.

“The elements are the tabernacle of God, yea, man is the tabernacle of God, even temples, and whatever temple is defiled, God shall destroy that temple.” (T&C 93:!0)
The only trees worthy of preserving are those which bring forth righteous fruit worthy of preservation. Even though agents unto ourselves we can condemn ourselves and God; while still in control and connected, still has the power to recall the righteous unto their reward and recall the wicked unto their destruction.

Once we realize who and what we are, the need to exert our will over others, fight over inconsenquential things of the world and continue to trifle falls away. We lay down our disputes and like the Apostles have the faith to do the Lords will instead of our own. We recognize the greater work and those who are willing to engage in that work and keep the covenant in community.
Proofs in the doing

June 7th, 2025

Nephi in closing his remarks to future readers at the end of his life said the following: “And now my beloved brethren, all those who are of the house of Israel, and all ye ends of the earth, I speak unto you as the voice of one crying from the dust. Farewell until that great day shall come. And you that will not partake of the goodness of God, and respect the words of the Jews, and also my words, and the words which shall proceed forth out of the mouth of the Lamb of God, behold, I bid you an everlasting farewell, for these words shall condemn you at the last day. For what I seal on earth shall be brought against you at the judgment bar, for thus hath the Lord commanded me and I must obey. Amen.” (2 Nephi 15:3 CoC)

I am led to ponder on what is being sealed against or in our favor in our day.

What has the messenger said to us who are counted with Israel that either condemns us or blesses us today? What have we listed to obey?

Has the Lord given us blessings or cursings? How have we fulfilled the commands He has given us as a people?

The Lord has said “I want my people to have understanding.” (T&C157:5) yet, “You do not yet understand the glory to be revealed unto my covenant people.” (T&C 157:44)

If we listen and obey, he has said,

“I will teach you things that have been hidden from the foundation of the world and your understanding will reach unto Heaven.” (T&C 158:16)

We have an opportunity to walk the path and put down unbelief. By mutual agreement this can be done if we humble ourselves to the dust of the earth and concede. As a people we are commanded to serve, uplift and support each other. To concede to the majority is to bring peace and understanding.

Let’s do those things and be of one heart.
Mothers of all living

May 11th, 2025

The Lord put together both the man and the woman to make a complete couple. “Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.

For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:44)

Nephi described the symbolism of the love of God or the one whom God loves equating her to a tree who has roots and branches and extends life through the literal family tree. It’s also a representation of the mother’s role as the giver of life and inspirer of the souls of mankind. (1 Nephi 3:8)

Our Mother’s joy is Her family, Her creation and that which She has sustained. She was present in the beginning. She was revealed directly to us in the Book of Proverbs.

She said: “The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. I was set up from everlasting⁠, from the beginning⁠, or ever the earth was.When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:

When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:

Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.” (Proverbs 1:36)

When we talk about Adam in the garden we are also talking about Eve. The pair.

“For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?

Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder⁠.” (Matt 9:19).

Our Heavenly Mother is evidenced all over our scriptures and is said to give life. In talking about this pair and the mothers role King Benjamin said “Art preserving you from day to day by lending you breath that ye may live, and move, and do according to your own will, and even supporting you from one moment to another.” (Mosiah 1:8) That means that the Divine Feminine and all her sisterhood of progeny are the ones supporting your daily life.

From our mothers comes the fountain of life. Our mitochondrial DNA which produces ATP which is the power of life and only passes down from mother to child, is passed down from the mother to all of her children and her children’s children. They therefore receive that life giving force from their mother and we all ultimately receive it from Eve the mother of all living.

We should honor our mother and wives and all those who are fulfilling the measure of their creation.
What if Lehi’s family went East as it is written they did.

July 9th, 2024

I have pondered this for years as it didn’t make sense but recently I got a hold of the new Covenant Edition of the Book of Mormon and some things were made clearer to my Wife and I. This is what we currently believe to be the case.

In a Nutshell.
-Lehi Traveled to the mouth of the river through the mountains and not the river valley to avoid the Jews who would have been alerted to what had happened to Laban as Lehi’s family was the last to be seen there
-They camped at modern day Aqaba which Lehi named the valley of Lemuel
-They proceeded east south east for a number of days
-They then turned nearly Eastward and traveled for 8 years. During that time:
-Their women became strong as unto the men
-They had children
-They didn’t have a fire to cook their meat because the smoke and fire would have caused them to be discovered by other enemies. (Think the Midianite and Neo-Babylonian empires)
-They had to find Iron ore of which there is no Major top source in the entire Middle East. The closest you get while traveling for eight years is either near Kolkota (Calcutta, India) or in the Hunan Province of China.
-Both of these places have high mountains and access to the sea in areas that have plentiful wood.
-Flint and steel was an invention of teh middle east for creating fire but the steel came from Africa
We think that Bountiful was in the Hunan Province in China. That Nephi’s ship was built of solid timbers found in eastern China from tools made and forged of iron from the Hunan Province and Timber from the Zhejiang Province.

The weather and what is noted in the Book of Mormon makes it extremely unlikely that once in the ship, they encountered a storm that drove them back 3 days if it were from somewhere in Oman or Yemen. Typhoons in the Arabian Sea would have driven one forward to the target location as these typhoons travel in an east to west orientation. When I lived in UAE the young men and women would go on youth conference trips to the paradise in the Oman city of Muscat. They would return “knowing” that this was the place Lehi and Nephi had left from.

We disagree. This area is too dry and does not have plentiful timber. There are many small Cedars but nothing plentiful enough from which to make a boat to cross the ocean. Further any Hurricane that would have pushed them would have pushed them towards the promised land. (In the Northern Hemisphere Hurricanes or Typhoons rotate in a counter clockwise orientation.

The other cities that are primarily named are the Yemeni city of Khor Kharfot or Salalah, Oman. These cities have shown continuous occupation since 5000 BC. Further the city of Khor Kharfort would have been the land of Sheba mentioned in the Bible from 1000 BC to 249 AD. All of which were inhabited and hostile to Jews. (Jews would have been conscrioted into military forces and sent of to conquer neighboring Sha’bs of mini kingdoms. Lehis travels were from 600BC to 592BC. That puts them in the middle of the reign of the the Mukarribs or Federators of the Sha’bs.

Bountiful was an unpopulated and relatively peaceful place where Nephi could build a ship without being noticed. He could build a fire for smelting and blacksmithing tools, cut down wood for a boat and have enough meat nearby for sustenance.

Now that I have a premise which you can understand I will start from the beginning.

Lehi chose to leave Jerusalem and travel to the river mouth where it empties into the Red Sea. this would have been a trek to the west of the Jordan River Valley. They descended into the Valley through the mountains so as not to be discovered by the population centers along the river valley.

After 3 days they camped at the mouth on the borders at the Red Sea which Lehi called the valley of Lemuel¹. (2 Nephi 1:8 RE) This also illustrates the speed at which they were able to cover ground and a pace set forth for the rest of the journey.

After Nephi and His brothers made the two trips to retain the Brass Plates and gather Ishmael’s family they tarried in the wilderness for a time and gathered seeds of grain and fruits (1 Nephi 2:6-7 RE) (This will be of critical importance later.)

They then picked up, crossed the river Laman in a South southeast direction and found themselves in a place called Shazer² at which they camped, found food and continued to Nahom³ where Ishmael died. (we think this is near Jeddah, Saudi Arabia) (1 Nephi 5:5-6, 9-10 RE)
To think that this has to be in Yemen because of a reference on the Temple at the Throne of Queen Sheba is reaching. It only means we are in the right area. It also proves the existence of a people hostile to Lehi’s family in that area.

Up to this point we know they traveled and tarried “many days”. After this they switched directions and traveled “nearly eastward” for 8 years. ( 1 Nephi 5:11-13 RE) The record does not say they were lost in the wilderness or traveled in circles in the wilderness but that the traveled nearly eastward which means they kept pursuing a course. The women became strong like the men and they ate raw meat which gave them strength and their children suck. Later well learn the reason they ate raw meat.

They ended up by a seashore called Irreanteum⁴ which was many waters. This means very large. I contend that this is in eastern China primarily because Calcutta has too much land inhibiting travel eastward. (Myanmar, Thailand, Singapore, Australia) We didn’t get the Book of Mormon from Australia which would have been the most likely destination if it had been from that point. (1 Nephi 5:13 RE) We can also rule out this origin because of that as well.

The Pacific Ocean is the largest Ocean in the world and is on the eastern Chinese Seabord. While there at this land called Bountiful, Nephi climbed a mountain and asked the Lord what he should do and where to find Iron ore. He also states they weren’t allowed to make many fires. (1 nephi 5:20) Why? If they were being at first hunted down, then traveling through Babylonian and Midianite territory as well as navigating the northern vedic period chieftaincies in India.,They would have been interlopers and considered a threat. They kept to themselves and ended up in China just south of the fledgling hegemony that dissolved in 591 BC.

It is here that Nephi climbed the mountain and asked for further directions. He told him to build a ship and where to go to find Iron Ore to build tools. Like I said previously the only two surface Iron Ore areas near the mideast not on the African continent (eliminated because the old theory is that they were already in a ship before going that far) were near Calcutta and Jiangxi China.

in 1 Nephi 5:26 RE we encounter a scripture that says Nephi went into the mount often to converse with the Lord . Could it have been on these trips that Nephi’s brothers started causing all the contentions? Because he was gone for quite a while? There is a Mountain called Zhurong Mountain in Hunan said to be the dwelling place of the God of Light and fire. It’s also mentioned and associated alongside such stories as the Great Flood and the Queen Mother in the book “Classic of Mountain and Seas”. Could it have been this mountain that Nephi Frequented?
Along this line of thinking and with this mountain being 140 miles from the coast I’d like to mention a very contemporary individual named Charles Alexander Eastman or originally named Ohiyesa a Canadian Sioux who graduated from Dartmouth University. This man would travel on foot from southern Saskatchewan to Dartmouth MA. twice a year. (2,200 Miles) The endeavor only taking a few (6-8) weeks. He would leave in the fall and make the return trip in the spring. This illustrates the speed with which one person adept on traveling on foot could make long journeys. Six weeks at 3.7 mph walking briskly for 14 hours a day could do that.

Bountiful was a land full of Meat, Fruit, Honey and Timber with which to work wood. This is not what you find on the southern tip of the Arabian peninsula. The Arabian Peninsula was full of twisted and gnarly cedars and junipers unsuitable for building a ship. The Palms they might have encountered also unsuitable. The timber described is more like what you find on the eastern edge of China in its more moderate climate. Timber akin to large Cedar and Sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum and Metasequoia) species (rot resistant and waterproof)

Below you will see the route thus far and the numbers that correspond to the superscripts above. This is also a course we believe they could have taken over the eight year period. Its about a 5,000 mile trek in total.

From Bountiful they entered the ship and stored in it all the seeds they had brought from the land of Jerusalem and what they had gathered from Bountiful (1 Nephi 2:6 seeds, and 5:27 RE)

They set out upon the sea driven by the wind towards the promised land. Winds also correspond to currents. You can see in the image below that the ocean currents on the eastern coast of Africa are NOT conducive to travel around the horn of africa. You can also see that they ARE if you are traveling from China to the U.S. West coast. This also means that Pre-Christ sacrifice, we don’t agree with the heartland model.

After a time and some heated arguments they encountered a storm so strong and violent that they were driven back three days. This would have been a Typhoon or what we call then in the western hemisphere a Hurricane. The track from the coast of eastern china would indicate being pushed back three days. The image below shows just the typhoons that spawned in the 1964 typhoon season and their tracks.

Had they encountered a typhoon in the Arabian sea it would have driven them towards the target. Not setting them back.

Lehis family repented of their wrongdoings on the ship and after many days were safely conducted to the promised land. (1 Nephi 5:32 RE)

In this promised land they quickly sowed their seeds which grew extremely well. They also found FORESTS with all sorts of animals that could be for human use. These areas also had precious metals: Gold, Silver and Copper (1 Nephi 5:33 RE) The highest conecntrations of these metals that coincide with all of the other criteria are found in California.

From a direction eastward from China to a Promised land described in the Book of Mormon we think that this promised land they initially landed in was California. The inland valleys and warm fertile soils were perfect for that which they brought with them from Jerusalem in addition to the moist temperate steppes of the coastal range and Sierra Nevada for other crops. This place was temperate, full of forests, animals and a veritable garden of Eden. Truly a promised land.

Joseph Smith also stated the following:
“The Book of Mormon is a record of the forefathers of our western tribes of Indians; having been found through the ministration of an holy angel, and translated into our own language by the gift and power of God, after having been hid up in the earth for the last fourteen hundred years, containing the word of God which was delivered unto them. By it we learn that our western tribes of Indians are descendants from that Joseph who was sold into Egypt, and the land of America is a promised land unto them, and unto it all the tribes of Israel will come, with as many of the Gentiles as shall comply with the requisitions of the new covenant.” (Letter to Noah Saxton, 4 Jan. 1833) Joseph is talking about the Western US Indians. not the Mayans or others. After Christs atonement and the destruction in the land the were driven to what he called the “plains of the Nephites”.

I mentioned before that they had brought seeds with them from both Jerusalem and from Bountiful (They took large quantities of honey and provisions, 1 Nephi 5:27) This region of the continent is very amenable to fall and winter planting and growth and similar in its steppes to ecoregions from Jerusalem to eastern China. There is a connection here that many people miss. The Sequoia connection. The Giant Sequoias are said to be 2200-2700 years old. Nephi landed here 2616 Years ago. Could it be he along with his family planted these trees who’s counterparts are Chinese?

The moral of this story is to do your own study and draw your own conclusions through the spirit. W emust continually search out truth accept differences in viewpoints and develop our own thoughts. Too may prognosticators assumed much because of ethnocentric beliefs or geographic lenses. God and His works are much greater than the limits we place on Him. Through Heed and Diligence you too can discover the mysteries of the world and of God and decipher what has been taught in scripture and how it applies today.
Good Citizens

June 9th, 2024

There are many within the groups of people I associate with these days who don’t want anything to do with politics. I personally had an issue with being a participant in Babylon and even thinking my voice mattered. Many don’t or won’t vote. Abstaining from that community practice is something I had contemplated. As I’ve read the Scriptures listened to the Lords Messenger, prayed and pondered, I am persuaded that it is wrong thinking and we are commanded to be participants.

A few weeks ago I heard the following:

“With famine and plague and the thunder of heaven with fierce and vivid lightning also the inhabitants of the earth shall be made to feel the wrath and indignation and chastening hand of an almighty God until the consumption decreed hath made a full end of all nations. That’s not something to look forward to. It will be a time of great mourning and sorrow.

Whatever we can do to delay that day and preserve our nation we should do!”

There are many ways to be leaven and to preserve our nation. Politics is one way. This makes me think that politics IS important and involvement in them is crucial.

Martha Gellhorn an American novelist, writer and journalist said this “People often say with pride, I’m not interested in politics. They might as well say they are not interested in my standard of living, my life, my job, my rights, my freedoms, my future or any future. If we mean to keep any control over our world and lives, we must be involved in politics.”

We were given agency. The American experiment gave us a voice and authority over government through our constitutional republic. This thing is rare indeed for each and every one of us in contrast to all the souls born into the world since the beginning of time. At a time when everything around us is being corrupted we can be leaven. Voting is a basic responsibility in a free society. If we withdraw from this right are we allowing others to take our agency? Are we conceding our voice?

Even if we don’t think it matters. Even if our rights have been usurped and our vote or opinion doesn’t count isn’t it necessary to try and do what we can? To give voice to principle?

The Lord said “And now verily I say unto you concerning the laws of the land, it is my will that my people should observe to do all things whatever I command them, and that law of the land which is constitutional, supporting the principles of freedom in maintaining rights and privileges belonging to all mankind, is justifiable before me; therefore, I, the Lord, justify you and your brethren of my church in befriending that law which is the constitutional law of the land. And as pertaining to law of man, whatever is more or less than this comes of evil. I, the Lord your God, make you free; therefore, you are free indeed, and the law also makes you free. Nevertheless, when the wicked rule, the people mourn. Wherefore, honest men and wise men should be sought for diligently, and good men and wise men you should observe to uphold; otherwise, whatever is less than these comes of evil.” (T&C 98:2)

How can we befriend that which is constitutional if we don’t take part in the practice?

Voting is the first step. I’ll repeat from above and pair it with another counsel.

“Whatever we can do to delay that day and preserve our nation we should do!”

“If you want to help you should not just vote and hope. Someone with integrity needs to lead. To lead in speaking out, lead in social circles, in conversations, in churches, in communities, in countries, and in businesses. We face perils that are not going to be solved by the very loud but very pathetic voices that dominate everywhere today. “

Truth is both resilient and infectious. Proclaim it and it will win. Stay silent and it will be ignored and ultimately forgotten.” Denver Snuffer Blog Post Jan 28, 2024

The next statement may be taken as a bold declaration but it’s not meant to offend, Just my opinion based on what I’ve learned. To be inactive in this process when given a voice makes us complicit in the destruction around us and unworthy of being called the leaven we are commanded to be.

The Lord follows up the previous command with an even weighter instruction. “And I give unto you a commandment that you shall forsake all evil and cleave unto all good, that you shall live by every word that proceeds forth out of the mouth of God, for he will give unto the faithful line upon line, precept upon precept. And I will try you and prove you herewith, and whoever lays down his life in my cause for my name’s sake shall find it again, even life eternal. Therefore, be not afraid of your enemies, for I have decreed in my heart, says the Lord, that I will prove you in all things, whether you will abide in my covenant even unto death, that you may be found worthy, for if you will not abide in my covenant, you are not worthy of me. Therefore, renounce war and proclaim peace, and seek diligently to turn the hearts of the children to their Fathers and the hearts of the Fathers to the children, and again, the hearts of the Jews unto the prophets and the prophets unto the Jews, lest I come and smite the whole earth with a curse, and all flesh be consumed before me.” (T&C 98:3)

He wants us to be participants in this probationary state and take full advantage of the opportunity to be added upon. In addition to being a good citizen we are also to rise above that lowly status and be pure, forsaking evil cleaving unto good and living by every word God says. (either by Him or His messengers), renouncing war and proclaiming peace and returning to the religion of the Fathers. He has given it to us to be proven in a fallen world, whether we will abide the covenants He has made with us to prove our worthiness.

I’ll end with Denvers words and hopefully I havent taken them out of context. “Someone with integrity needs to lead. To lead in speaking out, lead in social circles, in conversations, in churches, in communities, in countries, and in businesses. We face perils that are not going to be solved by the very loud but very pathetic voices that dominate everywhere today. “

I don’t want this post to misconstrued as advocating for or saying that it is our responsibility to get politically active and run for office. I’m advocating being active in your community and being the leaven. Help preserve your community. Be good natured and love as Jesus loves. Aways do whats right and stand for righteous principles.
Jerusalem, Zarahemla and more…

April 19th, 2024

The Book of Mormon sets the patterns and tells a story for its readers in our day to help us understand what the Lords will is and to offer us a warning as to what is to occur.

Jerusalem’s first destruction.

The Book of Mormon starts out with Lehi and his family’s flight from Jerusalem because of the Prophecies and Lehi’s knowledge of impending destruction. Laman and Lemuel wanted to return not just because they had a comfortable lifestyle and riches. They also thought themselves righteous because they did what the people in Jerusalem did. They thought they, at Jerusalem, kept covenants which thing they did not.

Jerusalem was destroyed due to the vengeance of God.

It was revealed to Nephi “And as one generation hath been destroyed among the Jews because of iniquity, even so have they been destroyed from generation to generation according to their iniquities. And never hath any of them been destroyed save it were foretold them by the prophets of the Lord. Wherefore, it hath been told them concerning the destruction which should come upon them immediately after my father left Jerusalem; nevertheless, they hardened their hearts. And according to my prophecy they have been destroyed, save it be those which are carried away captive into Babylon.” (2 Nephi 11:4 RE, 2 Ne. 25:9-12 KJV )

This happened during the reign of King Zedekiah of whom Nebuchadnezzar had placed in authority but the conditions were set up far before hand (about 130 years)under the reign of King Hosea wherein it came under the rule of Babylon. “Then the king of Assyria came up throughout all the land, and went up to Samaria, and besieged it three years. In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria took Samaria and carried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them in Halah, and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.” (2 Kings 5:18 RE, 2 Kings 17:5- KJV)

But there’s more, we have a record of why it happened and the festering sins that Lehi had exposed. Sins that Laman and Lemuel wanted to go back to. ”For so it was that the children of Israel had sinned against the Lord their God, who had brought them up out of the land of Egypt from under the hand of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and had feared other gods, and walked in the statutes of the heathen whom the Lord cast out from before the children of Israel, and of the kings of Israel, which they had made. And the children of Israel did secretly those things that were not right against the Lord their God, and they built them high places in all their cities, from the tower of the watchmen to the fortified city. And they set themselves up images and groves in every high hill and under every green tree. And there they burned incense in all the high places as did the heathen whom the Lord carried away before them, and wrought wicked things to provoke the Lord to anger; for they served idols whereof the Lord had said unto them, You shall not do this thing. Yet the Lord testified against Israel and against Judah, by all the prophets and by all the seers, saying, Turn from your evil ways, and keep my commandments and my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets.

Notwithstanding, they would not hear, but hardened their necks like to the neck of their fathers that did not believe in the Lord their God. And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified against them. And they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning whom the Lord had charged them that they should not do like them. And they left all the commandments of the Lord their God, and made them molten images, even two calves, and made a grove, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served Baal. And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger. Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of his sight; there was none left but the tribe of Judah only.

Also, Judah kept not the commandments of the Lord their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made. And the Lord rejected all the seed of Israel, and afflicted them, and delivered them into the hand of spoilers until he had cast them out of his sight.” (2 Kings 5:19-21 RE, 2 Kings 17:7-20 KJV)

These were the very sins that Laman and Lemuel thought were “keeping the statutes”. “And we know that the people who were in the land of Jerusalem were a righteous people, for they keep the statutes and the judgments of the Lord, and all his commandments according to the law of Moses; wherefore, we know that they are a righteous people.” (1 Nephi 5:17 RE, 1 Ne. 17:19-22 KJV).

Like the Jews in the time of Lehi and Nephites in the time of Helaman to Nephi (son of Helmana), most followers of current traditions think they keep the covenants of God yet they do not.

For more on this see addendum 1 at the end of this post.

Destruction comes in the last days.

As it was in the days of Noah so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.

“And as I said before, after the tribulation of those days, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken, then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in Heaven. And then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of Heaven, with power and great glory. And whoever treasures up my word shall not be deceived, 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 his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Now learn a parable of the fig tree. When his branches are yet tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near at hand. So likewise my elect, when they shall see all these things, they shall know that he is near, even at the doors. But of that day and hour no one knows — no, not the angels of God in Heaven, but my Father only.” (Mark 6:8-9 RE, Mark 13:28-29,32KJV )

What are these signs? Signs in the heavens? Signs in the earth?

Luke tells us what these are.

“And then his disciples asked him, saying, Master, tell us concerning your coming. And he answered them and said, In the generation in which the times of the gentiles shall be fulfilled, there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars, and upon the earth, distress of nations with perplexity, like the sea and the waves roaring. The earth also shall be troubled, and the waters of the great deep, men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth, for the Powers of Heaven shall be shaken; and when these things begin to come to pass, then look up and lift up your heads, for the day of your redemption draws near. And then shall they see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

And he spoke to them a parable, saying, Behold the fig tree and all the trees; when they now shoot forth, you see and know of your own selves that summer is now near at hand. So likewise you, when you see these things come to pass, know that the kingdom of God is near at hand. Truly I say unto you, this generation — the generation when the times of the gentiles are fulfilled — shall not pass away until all are fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. Let my disciples therefore take heed to themselves, lest at any time their hearts should be burdened with overindulgence, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day come upon them unawares; for as a snare it shall come on all them who dwell on the face of the whole earth. And what I say unto one, I say unto all. Watch, therefore, and pray always, and keep my commandments, that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things which shall come to pass and to stand before the Son of Man when he shall come, clothed in the glory of his Father. (Luke 8:22 RE, Luke 12:17-18 KJV)

We read twice about the fig tree. We also read about the destruction that’s to come after the sacrifice of the Savior. But here Luke takes it a step further and equates these things with the times of the gentiles being fulfilled (or over). We get two prophecies out of one. One for the current time or better put, the time in which Jesus is making these prophecies and one for the future, or last days.

“But as it was in the days of Noah, so it shall be also at the coming of the Son of Man, for it shall be with them as it was in the days which were before the flood. For until the day that Noah entered into the ark, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, and knew not until the flood came and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be. (Matt 11:11 RE, JS-M 1:41-43, Matt. 24:37-39 KJV )

Joseph Smith also gives us a prophecy of what’s to come in the last days and warns the house of those who would claim to have a covenant.

“Verily, verily I say unto you, darkness covers the earth, and gross darkness the minds of the people, and all flesh has become corrupt before my face. Behold, vengeance comes speedily upon the inhabitants of the earth: a day of wrath, a day of burning, a day of desolation, of weeping, of mourning, and of lamentation. And as a whirlwind it shall come upon all the face of the earth, says the Lord. And upon my house shall it begin, and from my house shall it go forth, says the Lord — first, among those among you, says the Lord, who have professed to know my name and have not known me, and have blasphemed against me in the midst of my house, says the Lord.”(T&C 124:6 D&C 112:23-29)

Just like Laman and Lemuel and those at Jerusalem thought that no harm could come to them, those that were given a covenant in the latest dispensation are claiming the same and in their pride and hubris declare that they are doing Gods work even though they are not. This is the definition of Iniquity and working lies in hypocrisy. They work contrary to Gods purposes assuming to know his will but they are blind guides.

We must not get caught unawares or sidetracked by the things of this world or even the things many of us consider wonderful gospel centered activities like getting married, eating and drinking etc.

Zarahemla is destroyed

Samuel the Laminate declared to the Laminates before Christ’s birth that it was too late for them because they had gone so off the rails there was little they could do to turn back to God. This was 39 years before Christ was crucified and destruction in the Americas ensued that laid waste to the entirety of the population.

“Behold, I, Samuel, a Lamanite, do speak the words of the Lord which he doth put into my heart. And behold, he hath put it into my heart to say unto this people that the sword of justice hangeth over this people” (Helaman 5:2 RE, )

“Yea, woe be unto this great city because of the wickedness and abominations which are in her; yea, and woe be unto the city of Gideon for the wickedness and abominations which are in her; yea, and woe be unto all the cities which are in the land round about, which are possessed by the Nephites, because of the wickedness and the abominations which is in them. And behold, a curse shall come upon the land, saith the Lord of Hosts, because of the people’s sake who are upon the land, yea, because of their wickedness and their abominations.

And it shall come to pass, saith the Lord of Hosts, yea, our great and true God, that whoso shall hide up treasures in the earth shall find them again no more” (Helaman 5:4-5 RE, Hel. 13:14-20 KJV)

Samuel described the conditions that allowed the iniquity to spread. Then proceeds to declare the mental state of the people and the vanity of their unbelief caused by their culture and their self proclaimed righteousness.

“Yea, woe unto this people because of this time which has arrived that ye do cast out the prophets, and do mock them, and cast stones at them, and do slay them, and do do all manner of iniquity unto them, even as they did of old time.

And now when ye talk, ye say, If our days had been in the days of our fathers of old, ye would not have slain the prophets, ye would not have stoned them and cast them out. Behold, ye are worse than they; for, as the Lord liveth, if a prophet come among you and declareth unto you the word of the Lord, which testifieth of your sins and iniquities, ye are angry with him, and cast him out, and seek all manner of ways to destroy him. Yea, you will say that he is a false prophet, and that he is a sinner and of the Devil, because he testifieth that your deeds are evil. But behold, if a man shall come among you and shall say, Do this and there is no iniquity, do that and ye shall not suffer — yea, he will say, Walk after the pride of your own hearts, yea, walk after the pride of your eyes and do whatsoever your heart desireth — and if a man shall come among you and say this, ye will receive him and ye will say that he is a prophet. Yea, ye will lift him up and ye will give unto him of your substance, ye will give unto him of your gold and of your silver, and ye will clothe him with costly apparel. And because he speaketh flattering words unto you and he saith that all is well, and then ye will not find no fault with him.

“O ye wicked and ye perverse generation, ye hardened and ye stiffnecked people, how long will ye suppose that the Lord will suffer you? Yea, how long will ye suffer yourselves to be led by foolish and blind guides? Yea, how long will ye choose darkness rather than light? Yea, behold, the anger of the Lord is already kindled against you.” (Helaman 5:6-8 RE, Hel. 13:21-37 KJV)

All of this leading them into a state wherein it was too late for them. They could not avoid the destruction.

“But behold, your days of probation are past. Ye have procrastinated the day of your salvation until it is everlastingly too late and your destruction is made sure; yea, for ye have sought all the days of your lives for that which ye could not obtain, and ye have sought for happiness in doing iniquity, which thing is contrary to the nature of that righteousness which is in our great and eternal Head. O ye people of the land, that ye would hear my words. And I pray that the anger of the Lord be turned away from you and that ye would repent and be saved.” (Helaman 5:9 RE, Hel. 13:38-39)

Look at the similarities between what happened BEFORE the destruction. Keep in mind the Book of Mormon was to be an example of what was also to come in a future time when its words would be in the hands of the gentiles upon this nation. It’s for us and to be considered a prophecy for our days.

“And seeing the people in a state of such awful wickedness, and those Gaddianton robbers filling the judgment seats, having usurped the power and authority of the land, laying aside the commandments of God and not in the least aright before him, doing no justice unto the children of men, condemning the righteous because of their righteousness, letting the guilty and the wicked go unpunished because of their money; and moreover, to be held in office at the head of government, to rule and do according to their wills, that they might get gain and glory of the world; and moreover, that they might the more easy commit adultery, and steal, and kill, and do according to their own wills — now this great iniquity had come upon the Nephites in the space of not many years —“ (Helaman 3:1 RE, Hel. 7:1-9 KJV) people who were part of a conspiracy (meaning to breathe together in Latin) to overthrow the people of the land, overthrow the laws of God and not only cease to do righteousness but to do the opposite.

These judges condemned the righteous and subverted the law, let their criminal and wicked cronies go free for money and persecuted those who would do righteousness. They exalted themselves above the people and the law and became glorious unto the world for the proper of increasing their sin and abomination without being checked. Don’t we see the same in our day? Do we have activist judges sitting on the bench making rulings against those who would do righteousness? Do we have political persecutions? Is our system setting free those who are wicked and letting off those who are repeat criminals? All of these things are occurring in the political sphere. What’s more is we have religious institutions, whose responsibility it is to bring these acts to light and they aren’t even saying a word.

Nephi seeing these things preached unto them the following. “For if ye will not repent, behold, this great city, and also all those great cities which are round about, which are in the land of our possession, shall be taken away, that ye shall have no place in them. For behold, the Lord will not grant unto you strength, as he has hitherto done, to withstand against your enemies. For behold, thus saith the Lord: I will not shew unto the wicked of my strength, to one more than the other, save it be unto those who repent of their sins and hearken unto my words.” (Helman 3:5 RE, )

That great city was Zarahemla. He also mentions that the other great cities would be destroyed with it. The Lord would not suffer them his protection because of their wickedness. This is a chilling revelation to us in our day knowing that the lord will not protect those that do not honor him. Especially on this great land of promise.

This should make one wonder and want to seek the Lord and his truth instead of relying on the arm of the flesh.

What do these repeating patterns tell us about what is to happen in our day?

Addendum

They keep covenants that have been changed and altered and deny the Holy Prophets. “The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof, because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant”

The following sins have repeated in our day. They commit priestcraft in that they set themselves up to get Gain, be a Light and become popular They build and adorn buildings, wear fine linens and costly apparel, serve Babylon, Command to abstain from that which God had ordained for the use of man.

They repeat the same mistakes the Levites made and the resulting reason Malachi called them to repentance. (Tithing meant to be on your excess not on your gross) I’ll expand on this in the next section.

“And now, O you priests, this commandment is for you.” (Malachi 1:3 RE, Mal. 2:1-9 KJV) In this time period the Levites had gathered in all of the Tithes but had decided to only give part back to the people in the form of aid and took the rest for themselves for their support and for their desires. They were guilty of Priestcraft. After being rebuked the following discussion between them and Malachi (speaking for the Lord) ensues. “Return unto me and I will return unto you, says the Lord of Hosts.

But you said, Wherein shall we return? Will a man rob God?

Yet you have robbed me.

But you say, Wherein have we robbed you?

In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed me, even this whole nation.” (Mal 1:7 RE, )

They had robbed the nation of Israel in the taking of that which was meant for the poor and supported themselves and their designs with it. He then commands “Bring you all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house,”

The law of Tithing is set forth by Melchizedek and is a law that is set for all time. We read what the law is in the JST of the Bible. “And he lifted up his voice and he blessed Abram, being the high priest and the keeper of the storehouse of God, him whom God had appointed to receive tithes for the poor. Wherefore, Abram paid unto him tithes of all that he had, of all the riches which he possessed, which God had given him, more than that which he had need.” (Gen 7:21 RE, ) In Joseph Smith’s day we see a repeat of this command “shall pay one-tenth of all their interest annually.” (T&C 135:1 RE, )

They also command in Hypocrisy and compel people along a false “covenant path” that has no basis in scripture.”they do not learn this one lesson — that the rights of the Priesthood are inseparably connected with the Powers of Heaven and that the Powers of Heaven cannot be controlled nor handled, only upon the principles of righteousness. That they may be conferred upon us, it is true, but when we undertake to cover our sins or to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control, or dominion, or compulsion, upon the souls of the children of men in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the Heavens withdraw themselves, the spirit of the Lord is grieved, and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man. (T&C 139:5) They compel tithing by falsely declaring the Temple or “covenant path” will bring salvation. This so called covenant path contains several compulsions that are unholy and grievous to be born. Namely the LDS version of tithing as mentioned above and adherence to a false version of the word of wisdom.

Amen to the priesthood of any man who sustains compulsion not to mention a methodology of compulsion based on a lie.