Saturday, January 24, 2015

Arms of Flesh ?


If ever there was an escalating global tragedy, it is the great con of psychotropic drugging. Independent science and voices of warning have been sounding for decades and still the CON goes on. Outright lies, suppression of evidence, disparaging of truth, slick slick propaganda, and on and on—all of which keep the profits rolling in as people in physical and psychic pain seek the advice of professionals who, in turn, accept (without independent study) the advice and claims of the profit-seekers.

Has there ever been such appalling myopia (and collusion) in recorded history?!

And so day after day, hour upon hour, individuals die, families split apart, hopes and dreams are shattered while:
▪  the Regulator’s revolving door spins in sync with Big Pharma;
▪  prescribers, with the scribble of a pen, shunt the suffering to the “chemical” dispensers without a word of warning;
▪  pharmacists dispense their orders in small bottles without a word of caution; or, on the odd occasion, silently offer a caveat in tiny script or lengthy folio;
▪  therapists and counselors (try to) ply their (expensive) skills without ever asking about psychoactive drug effects or adverse withdrawal reactions;1
▪  independent researchers test the Pharma claims and find the placebo as effective as the drug, but few pay attention as drug-induced, chronic brain impairment (CBI) spreads its toxic sludge;
▪  prescribers and others interpret the consequent drug-induced abnormal behaviors or worsening symptoms as the unmasking of a patient’s mental illness and thus, they up the dosage; or worse, poly-prescribe to try and mask the adverse effects;
▪  in cases of suicide or mayhem, the toxicology reports are suppressed or sealed, whenever possible, and when not permitted, the ploy is to blame the patient for non-use or irregular use, EVEN when black boxes and adverse effects listed in hefty desk-references warn of abnormal behaviors, suicidality, homicidal ideation, impulsivity, paranoia, mania, etc., etc.
How long do we trust in these arms of flesh? How many people have to “inexplicably” die before we accept the diagnosis—medication spellbinding—that seems to afflict nigh the entire world?

Why this spellbinding, stupefying trust? Dont we know better? Do we really think that an obsession with bottom-line inclines one toward truth-telling? Haven’t we yet understood: When money is all that matters, the trust must end?

What have we been told about trusting in the arm of flesh?
I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm. (Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 4:34)
How long before we allow ourselves to register these facts?
» … all the physical treatments in psychiatry—medication, electroshock, and lobotomy—have their primary or “therapeutic” effect by causing malfunctions in the brain and the mind that are then misidentified as “improvements.” (Breggin,* p. 27)
» Spellbinding more specifically builds on a brain-disabling corollary, which states that patients receiving medications and other mind-altering treatments “often display poor judgment about the positive and negative effect of the treatment on their functioning.” (p. 27)
» Depression and suicide are not side effects as much as they are primary effects of stimulant drugs. (p. 192)
» Millions of children are having the spiritual stuffing knocked out of them by stimulant drugs. (p. 199)
» Drug companies go to great lengths to protect their products and in the process they keep doctors and the public in the dark about many of their adverse effects. (p. 246)
» Unfortunately, many healthcare practitioners remain unaware that the first few doses, or dose changes, present the greatest risk of causing severe adverse psychiatric reactions. (p. 266)
» At the end of the day, you cannot trust what your doctor tells you because you cannot trust the information your doctor is getting from the drug companies. (p. 268)
» Modern people swim in a sea of psychopharmacological advertising and promotion amounting to an all pervasive propaganda campaign designed to shape the way we think about our lives and ourselves. (p. 269)
»  Psychoactive drugs do not improve biochemical imbalances; they cause them, and withdrawal reactions are one result. (p. 274)
»  (See a few additional quotes from Breggin at footnote 2 below.)
It is time every soul on earth read at least one of these:
▪  Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal: A Guide for Prescribers, Therapists, Patients and their Families by Peter R. Breggin, M.D.
▪  Overdosed America: The Broken Promise of American Medicine by John Abramson, M.D.
▪  The Truth About the Drug Companies: How They Deceive Us and What to Do About It  by Marcia Angell, M.D.
▪  The Myth of the Chemical Cure: A Critique of Psychiatric Drug Treatment by Joanna Moncrieff
▪  Medicines Out of Control?: Antidepressants and the Conspiracy of Goodwill by Charles Medawar and Anita Hardon
for if we aren’t taking psychoactive drugs ourselves, we know and probably love someone who is.

Please listen to these witnesses and many other credible ones you can easily find:

“Depression is NOT a Chemical Imbalance” (Time: 2:56:35)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OB-AzVBj3E



Psychiatry: The Marketing of Madness (Time: 2:56:35)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFkivsEy3CI

And PLEASE, do NOT stop your meds cold-turkey. You need a support system to help you navigate the crisis. Withdrawal is one of the most dangerous times for drug-induced psychosis, mania, depression, suicidality, medication spellbinding, etc. But know this: There are better ways to get through and beyond pain and confusion than CBI (chronic brain impairment). Search out what works for you. There is hope and there is healing, no matter how it looks right now.

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*Peter R. Breggin, M.D., Medication Madness: The Role of Psychiatric Drugs in Cases of Violence, Suicide, and Crime © 2008.
1. See the PLEA at http://www.dejavu-times.blogspot.ca/2015/01/a-plea-to-therapists-everywhere.html
2. More quotes from Breggin:*
» Stimulants [like Ritalin or Concerta] work in part by causing obsessive -compulsive behavior, compelling a child to act dutifully and to persist at boring tasks. (p. 189)
» Most children taking stimulants will become abnormally obsessive and compulsive. (p. 194)
» Both Ritalin and Prozac can overstimulate children and adults, causing them to start drinking alcohol or to increase their alcohol intake as a method of calming themselves down. (p. 204)
» By shutting down the functions of the highest centers of the brain, [antipsychotic] drugs can produce an actual chemical lobotomy and a chemical straitjacket from which no adult or child can escape. (p. 211)
» The “antipsychotic” medications like Zyprexa, Seroquel, and Abiligy have their primary or “therapeutic” effect by causing severe apathy and indifference. (p. 222)
» There are two exceptions to the rule that antipsychotic drugs crush spontaneity and enforce robotic docility. One exception is akathisia, an experience of inner torture with a compulsion to move, which we’ve seen as a result of exposure to SSRI antidepressants. … Withdrawal is the other exception in which neuroleptics can cause activation with anxiety and agitation rather than more stupefied reactions. (p. 236-237)
»  The fact that a drug sometimes makes us feel better does not mean that it’s correcting a biochemical imbalance. Recreational drugs such as alcohol and marijuana are used by hundreds of millions of people to “relax,” but few if any scientists believe that these chemicals are correcting imbalances in the brain. Instead, everyone recognizes that they impair brain function. No psychiatric drug is known to correct anything in the brain. (p. 272, bold emphasis added)

Thursday, January 15, 2015

Whither Justice and Judgment?


About 73 B.C., in the Americas, a father sought to explain the concept of justice to his worried son:
AND now, my son, I perceive there is somewhat more which doth worry your mind, which ye cannot understand—which is concerning the justice of God in the punishment of the sinner; for ye do try to suppose that it is injustice that the sinner should be consigned to a state of misery. (Book of Mormon | Alma 42:1)
More and more in these latter-days, we seem to encounter a similar idea: that the “harsh” voice of the Old Testament has been superseded by the lovingkindness and mercy of Jesus of the New Testament. And so we pick and choose the attributes of God as though they were à la carte. But what if:
•  God is a full-meal-deal?
•  He comes with ALL his attributes intact?
•  He wheels the meal cart and, despite unconditional love, will serve up at our judgment what we dished out to Him and others during our mortal probation?

And now behold, is the meaning of the word restoration to take a thing of a natural state and place it in an unnatural state, or to place it in a state opposite to its nature? O, my son, this is not the case; but the meaning of the word restoration is to bring back again evil for evil, or carnal for carnal, or devilish for devilish—good for that which is good; righteous for that which is righteous; just for that which is just; merciful for that which is merciful. Therefore, my son, see that you are merciful unto your brethren; deal justly, judge righteously, and do good continually; and if ye do all these things then shall ye receive your reward; yea, ye shall have mercy restored unto you again; ye shall have justice restored unto you again; ye shall have a righteous judgment restored unto you again; and ye shall have good rewarded unto you again. For that which ye do send out shall return unto you again, and be restored; therefore, the word restoration more fully condemneth the sinner, and justifieth him not at all. (Book of Mormon | Alma 41:12-15; bold emphasis added; see also below, footnote1)
Can we not fathom that Love and Justice/Judgment co-exist? that they do not compete? that God loves us no matter what we choose? BUT that Love will not and cannot override Justice for those who reject the Way, the Truth, and the Light?2

There is a lot we do not understand about God’s ways; even what He means by the word misery,3 but He seems to have a lot to say about Justice and Judgment.4

So, when we confront Justice, Judgment, and Mercy at the pleading bar of God, whose love, do we imagine, is going to be on trial?5

 In the meantime, His love continues to pursue us as He tries, with all His might—within the parameters of our agency—to persuade us to accept His gifts and promises. Then, as Alma says:
... and thus they stand or fall; for behold, they are their own judges, whether to do good or do evil. (Book of Mormon | Alma 41:7)
And as Jacob says:
Therefore, cheer up your hearts, and remember that ye are free to act for yourselves—to choose the way of everlasting death or the way of eternal life. (Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 10:23)
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1. Doctrine and Covenants | Section 1:10 ~ … the Lord shall come to recompense unto every man according to his work, and measure to every man according to the measure which he has measured to his fellow man.
Book of Mormon | Alma 41:3-7 ~ … it is requisite with the justice of God that men should be judged according to their works; and if their works were good in this life, and the desires of their hearts were good, that they should also, at the last day, be restored unto that which is good. And if their works are evil they shall be restored unto them for evil. Therefore, all things shall be restored to their proper order, every thing to its natural frame—mortality raised to immortality, corruption to incorruption—raised to endless happiness to inherit the kingdom of God, or to endless misery to inherit the kingdom of the devil, the one on one hand, the other on the other— The one raised to happiness according to his desires of happiness, or good according to his desires of good; and the other to evil according to his desires of evil; for as he has desired to do evil all the day long even so shall he have his reward of evil when the night cometh. And so it is on the other hand. If he hath repented of his sins, and desired righteousness until the end of his days, even so he shall be rewarded unto righteousness. These are they that are redeemed of the Lord; yea, these are they that are taken out, that are delivered from that endless night of darkness; and thus they stand or fall; for behold, they are their own judges, whether to do good or do evil.
Book of Mormon | Alma 42:22-26 ~ But there is a law given, and a punishment affixed, and a repentance granted; which repentance, mercy claimeth; otherwise, justice claimeth the creature and executeth the law, and the law inflicteth the punishment; if not so, the works of justice would be destroyed, and God would cease to be God. But God ceaseth not to be God, and mercy claimeth the penitent, and mercy cometh because of the atonement; and the atonement bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead; and the resurrection of the dead bringeth back men into the presence of God; and thus they are restored into his presence, to be judged according to their works, according to the law and justice. For behold, justice exerciseth all his demands, and also mercy claimeth all which is her own; and thus, none but the truly penitent are saved. What, do ye suppose that mercy can rob justice? I say unto you, Nay; not one whit. If so, God would cease to be God. And thus God bringeth about his great and eternal purposes, which were prepared from the foundation of the world. And thus cometh about the salvation and the redemption of men, and also their destruction and misery.
Book of Mormon | Alma 42:27 ~ Therefore, O my son, whosoever will come may come and partake of the waters of life freely; and whosoever will not come the same is not compelled to come; but in the last day it shall be restored unto him according to his deeds.
Book of Mormon | 1 Nephi 10:20-21 ~ Therefore remember, O man, for all thy doings thou shalt be brought into judgment. Wherefore, if ye have sought to do wickedly in the days of your probation, then ye are found unclean before the judgment–seat of God; and no unclean thing can dwell with God; wherefore, ye must be cast off forever.
New Testament | Galatians 6:7-8 ~ Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
2. New Testament | Matthew 7:13-14 ~ Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 33:9 ~ I also have charity for the Gentiles. But behold, for none of these can I hope except they shall be reconciled unto Christ, and enter into the narrow gate, and walk in the strait path which leads to life, and continue in the path until the end of the day of probation.
Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 2:7 ~ Behold, he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered.
Doctrine and Covenants | Section 1:31-33 ~ 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; And he that repents not, from him shall be taken even the light which he has received; for my Spirit shall not always strive with man, saith the Lord of Hosts.
Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 2:21 ~ And the days of the children of men were prolonged, according to the will of God, that they might repent while in the flesh; wherefore, their state became a state of probation, and their time was lengthened, according to the commandments which the Lord God gave unto the children of men. For he gave commandment that all men must repent; for he showed unto all men that they were lost, because of the transgression of their parents.
Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 9:27 ~ But wo 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!
Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 33:9 ~ I also have charity for the Gentiles. But behold, for none of these can I hope except they shall be reconciled unto Christ, and enter into the narrow gate, and walk in the strait path which leads to life, and continue in the path until the end of the day of probation.
Book of Mormon | Mormon 9:28 ~ Be wise in the days of your probation; strip yourselves of all uncleanness; ask not, that ye may consume it on your lusts, but ask with a firmness unshaken, that ye will yield to no temptation, but that ye will serve the true and living God.
Doctrine and Covenants | Section 29:43-45 ~ And thus did I, the Lord God, appoint unto man the days of his probation—that by his natural death he might be raised in immortality unto eternal life, even as many as would believe; And they that believe not unto eternal damnation; for they cannot be redeemed from their spiritual fall, because they repent not; For they love darkness rather than light, and their deeds are evil, and they receive their wages of whom they list to obey.
Book of Mormon | Mormon 7:3 ~ Know ye that ye must come unto repentance, or ye cannot be saved.
3Doctrine and Covenants | Section 19:6-12 ~ Nevertheless, it is not written that there shall be no end to this torment, but it is written endless torment. Again, it is written eternal damnation; wherefore it is more express than other scriptures, that it might work upon the hearts of the children of men, altogether for my name's glory. Wherefore, I will explain unto you this mystery, for it is meet unto you to know even as mine apostles. I speak unto you that are chosen in this thing, even as one, that you may enter into my rest. For, behold, the mystery of godliness, how great is it! For, behold, I am endless, and the punishment which is given from my hand is endless punishment, for Endless is my name. Wherefore— Eternal punishment is God's punishment. Endless punishment is God's punishment.
Doctrine and Covenants | Section 76:38-40 ~ Yea, verily, the only ones who shall not be redeemed in the due time of the Lord, after the sufferings of his wrath. For all the rest shall be brought forth by the resurrection of the dead, through the triumph and the glory of the Lamb, who was slain, who was in the bosom of the Father before the worlds were made. And this is the gospel, the glad tidings, which the voice out of the heavens bore record unto us—
4.  Number of Scripture References for Justice, Just, Judgment, & Judgments

Old TestamentNew TestamentBoM, D&C, PGPTotals
 Justice
28
0*
85
113
 Just
59
35
92
186
 Judgment
218
76
165
459
 Judgments 
122
5
61
188
Created with the HTML Table Generator
* The word justice may not appear in the New Testament, but when one analyses the parables and other words of Jesus, there is clearly a theme of justice, as in “The Unjust Steward,” “The Unjust Judge,” “The Unmerciful Servant,” “Lazarus and the Rich Man”, etc. It might be an enlightening exercise to read the Four Gospels looking for the theme of Justice in the words and actions of Jesus..
5. New Testament | John 14:15 ~ If ye love me, keep my commandments.
New Testament | John 3:16 ~ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. [In short: God’s immeasurable love was proven long ago at Gethsemane and Golgotha. He satisfied Justice in every circumstance. He paid the price for every offense. His work to meet the demands of justice was finished. (New Testament | John 19:30 ~ When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.) And now, we are in the midst of our work.

Saturday, January 10, 2015

Broken Heart?


I came across a discussion (somewhere?) several weeks ago concerning the meaning of “broken heart and contrite spirit.”1 Some viewed “broken” and “contrite” in a negative light, as in the quashing of personality, desires, independence, self-esteem, self-worth, self-respect, and so forth—a condition that was to them completely unacceptable, even contemptible.

When viewed only from mortal perspective and experience, broken and contrite can seem offensive and demeaning, but from God’s higher perspective,2 what might He mean by “broken heart and contrite spirit”?

Could “broken and contrite” be the remedy to one of God’s most frequent laments—the hardened condition of the human heart?—a déjà vu lament that begins in Genesis and then echoed down the ages.3
And GOD saw that the wickedness[4] of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (Old Testament | Genesis 6:5)

… behold, there are many that harden their hearts against the Holy Spirit, that it hath no place in them; wherefore, they cast many things away which are written and esteem them as things of naught. (Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 33:2; see others below.5)
Perhaps, in this contest between flesh and spirit;6 in this place of opposites and agency, the heart is like an egg, or a seed, or a nut. Until it is broken open to things as they really are and as they really can be, life and purpose can never be fully realized—can never rise to fullest potential.

How can we ever imagine that we know enough to pursue our own way7 into the eternities with our limited vision and memory in this season of probation and testing? Isn’t this one of the great tests—to break away from our attachments to the things, temptations, and wisdom of the world and trust in the transrational God?

Perhaps the best synopsis of “broken and contrite” is found in this familiar, but oft-forgotten verse:
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. (Old Testament | Proverbs 3:5-6)
And perhaps the best example is the Psalm of Nephi.8

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1. Old Testament | Psalms 34:18 ~ The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
Old Testament | Psalms 51:17 ~ The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, …
Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 2:7 ~ Behold, he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered.
Book of Mormon | 3 Nephi 9:20 ~ And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit. And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost, even as the Lamanites, because of their faith in me at the time of their conversion, were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not.
Book of Mormon | 3 Nephi 12:19 - 20 ~ And behold, I have given you the law and the commandments of my Father, that ye shall believe in me, and that ye shall repent of your sins, and come unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit. Behold, ye have the commandments before you, and the law is fulfilled. Therefore come unto me and be ye saved; for verily I say unto you, that except ye shall keep my commandments, which I have commanded you at this time, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Book of Mormon | Ether 4:15 ~ … when ye shall call upon the Father in my name, with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, then shall ye know that the Father hath remembered the covenant which he made unto your fathers, O house of Israel.
Book of Mormon | Moroni 6:2 ~ Neither did they receive any unto baptism save they came forth with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, and witnessed unto the church that they truly repented of all their sins.
Doctrine and Covenants | Section 59:8 ~ Thou shalt offer a sacrifice unto the Lord thy God in righteousness, even that of a broken heart and a contrite spirit.
2. Old Testament | Isaiah 55:8-9 ~ For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
3. http://dejavu-timestwo.blogspot.ca/2014/01/gods-lament.html
4. (straying from truth and purpose? falling victim to The Three Temptations?)
5.  Old Testament | Deuteronomy 8:13-14, 17 ~ And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied; Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the LORD thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage; … And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.
Old Testament | Joshua 24:23 ~ Now therefore put away, said he, the strange gods which are among you, and incline your heart unto the LORD God of Israel.
Book of Mormon | Alma 12:10-11 ~ And therefore, he that will harden his heart, the same receiveth the lesser portion of the word; and he that will not harden his heart, to him is given the greater portion of the word, until it is given unto him to know the mysteries of God until he know them in full. And they that will harden their hearts, to them is given the lesser portion of the word until they know nothing concerning his mysteries; and then they are taken captive by the devil, and led by his will down to destruction. Now this is what is meant by the chains of hell.
Book of Mormon | Alma 12:34-35 ~ 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, behold, I swear in my wrath that he shall not enter into my rest.
Book of Mormon | Alma 34:31-32 ~ Yea, I would that ye would come forth and harden not your hearts any longer; for behold, now is the time and the day of your salvation; and therefore, if ye will repent and harden not your hearts, immediately shall the great plan of redemption be brought about unto you. For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors.
Book of Mormon | Helaman 7:17-18 ~ O repent ye, repent ye! Why will ye die? Turn ye, turn ye unto the Lord your God. Why has he forsaken you? It is because you have hardened your hearts; yea, ye will not hearken unto the voice of the good shepherd; yea, ye have provoked him to anger against you.
Book of Mormon | Helaman 12:2 ~ Yea, and we may see at the very time when he doth prosper his people, yea, in the increase of their fields, their flocks and their herds, and in gold, and in silver, and in all manner of precious things of every kind and art; sparing their lives, and delivering them out of the hands of their enemies; softening the hearts of their enemies that they should not declare wars against them; yea, and in fine, doing all things for the welfare and happiness of his people; yea, then is the time that they do harden their hearts, and do forget the Lord their God, and do trample under their feet the Holy One—yea, and this because of their ease, and their exceedingly great prosperity.
Doctrine and Covenants | Section 20:15 ~ But those who harden their hearts in unbelief, and reject it, it shall turn to their own condemnation—
Book of Mormon | Alma 34:9 ~ For it is expedient that an atonement should be made; for according to the great plan of the Eternal God there must be an atonement made, or else all mankind must unavoidably perish; yea, all are hardened; yea, all are fallen and are lost, and must perish except it be through the atonement which it is expedient should be made.
Doctrine and Covenants | Section 112:13 ~ …if they harden not their hearts, and stiffen not their necks against me, they shall be converted, and I will heal them.
6.Flesh: http://dejavu-timestwo.blogspot.ca/2014/11/the-flesh.html ;
Spirit:  http://dejavu-timestwo.blogspot.ca/2014/11/the-divided-soul.html
7. Our Own Way vs. The Way, the Truth, and the Light:
Old Testament Isaiah 65:2 ~ I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts;
New Testament Romans 10:2-3 ~ For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
New Testament Philippians 2:21 ~ For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's.
Book of Mormon Helaman 6:31 ~ [Y]ea, the more part of them had turned out of the way of righteousness, and did trample under their feet the commandments of God, and did turn unto their own ways, and did build up unto themselves idols of their gold and their silver.
Doctrine and Covenants Section 1:16 ~ They seek not the Lord to establish his righteousness, but every man walketh in his own way, and after the image of his own god, whose image is in the likeness of the world, and whose substance is that of an idol, which waxeth old and shall perish in Babylon, even Babylon the great, which shall fall.
Doctrine and Covenants Section 56:14 ~ Behold, thus saith the Lord unto my people—you have many things to do and to repent of; for behold, your sins have come up unto me, and are not pardoned, because you seek to counsel in your own ways.
Doctrine and Covenants Section 82:6 ~ And the anger of God kindleth against the inhabitants of the earth; and none doeth good, for all have gone out of the way.
Old Testament | 1 Samuel 12:24 ~ Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.
Old Testament | 1 Kings 8:61 ~ Let your heart therefore be perfect with the LORD our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day.
Old Testament | Psalms 147:3 ~ He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.
8. Psalm of Nephi: Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 4:15-35
And upon these I write the things of my soul, and many of the scriptures which are engraven upon the plates of brass. For my soul delighteth in the scriptures, and my heart pondereth them, and writeth them for the learning and the profit of my children.
~ Behold, my soul delighteth in the things of the Lord; and my heart pondereth continually upon the things which I have seen and heard.
~ Nevertheless, notwithstanding the great goodness of the Lord, in showing me his great and marvelous works, my heart exclaimeth: O wretched man that I am! Yea, my heart sorroweth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities.
~ I am encompassed about, because of the temptations and the sins which do so easily beset me.
~ And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth because of my sins; nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted.
~ My God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep.
~ He hath filled me with his love, even unto the consuming of my flesh.
~ He hath confounded mine enemies, unto the causing of them to quake before me.
~ Behold, he hath heard my cry by day, and he hath given me knowledge by visions in the night–time.
~ And by day have I waxed bold in mighty prayer before him; yea, my voice have I sent up on high; and angels came down and ministered unto me.
~ And upon the wings of his Spirit hath my body been carried away upon exceedingly high mountains. And mine eyes have beheld great things, yea, even too great for man; therefore I was bidden that I should not write them.
~ O then, if I have seen so great things, if the Lord in his condescension unto the children of men hath visited men in so much mercy, why should my heart weep and my soul linger in the valley of sorrow, and my flesh waste away, and my strength slacken, because of mine afflictions?
~ And why should I yield to sin, because of my flesh? Yea, why should I give way to temptations, that the evil one have place in my heart to destroy my peace and afflict my soul? Why am I angry because of mine enemy?
~ Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul.
~ Do not anger again because of mine enemies. Do not slacken my strength because of mine afflictions.
~ Rejoice, O my heart, and cry unto the Lord, and say: O Lord, I will praise thee forever; yea, my soul will rejoice in thee, my God, and the rock of my salvation.
~ O Lord, wilt thou redeem my soul? Wilt thou deliver me out of the hands of mine enemies? Wilt thou make me that I may shake at the appearance of sin?
~ May the gates of hell be shut continually before me, because that my heart is broken and my spirit is contrite! O Lord, wilt thou not shut the gates of thy righteousness before me, that I may walk in the path of the low valley, that I may be strict in the plain road!
~ O Lord, wilt thou encircle me around in the robe of thy righteousness! O Lord, wilt thou make a way for mine escape before mine enemies! Wilt thou make my path straight before me! Wilt thou not place a stumbling block in my way—but that thou wouldst clear my way before me, and hedge not up my way, but the ways of mine enemy.
~ O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm.
~ Yea, I know that God will give liberally to him that asketh. Yea, my God will give me, if I ask not amiss; therefore I will lift up my voice unto thee; yea, I will cry unto thee, my God, the rock of my righteousness. Behold, my voice shall forever ascend up unto thee, my rock and mine everlasting God. Amen.

Thursday, January 1, 2015

Arms Race?


aka: Colossal Squid
can be up to 46 feet long
from WikimediaCommons: author Rcidte
If a group of divers were attacked by a Colossal squid,1 and became obsessively focused on disabling a single arm as the chief and all consuming danger, what would be their chances of survival? Slim to none?

Well, that seems to be the strategy of many defenders of freedom. They latch onto the parasitic system of socialist / communist tyranny and hack away, leaving other arms free to contort and captivate, seemingly oblivious to the danger or damage.

So, one last time (maybe),  I sound the alarm and lay it out as plain as I can.

Babylon is the body of the Colossal—the “brain,” the nerve center manipulating all the arms of destruction. Babylon—the whore of all the earth (God’s description2)—will co-opt, infiltrate, and corrupt everything she can lay her arms and tentacles to, and she has done so. Science, government, law enforcement, military, militias, politics, philosophy, entertainment, religion, finance, business, education, industry, you name it—she has a suckered arm for each. But perhaps the more far-reaching, dangerous tentacles are those devoted to that other (conjoined) parasitic system known as capitalism / corporatism.

It remains astounding that people with conscience and grey-matter cannot yet discern that corporate capitalism has done more damage to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness worldwide—at warp speed—than any other tyranny ever threatened to do. Of course, tyrannies have done enormous damage, but there are no countries or institutions that so market and manufacture deception and destruction (despite some real and perceived contributions) like those promoting  the primacy of profit and the supremacy of “competitive” capitalism. Capitalism has become its own tyranny, one we seem reluctant to investigate, because the perks and privileges of power and gain hide a multitude of sins—mostly in the third world, but more and more, sweeping round as a global flood.

Just take a look at the “dark side” of what power and gain and the desire for power and gain (the focus of corporate capitalism and its architects) have wrought and ask:
▪ Where would our world be and what incredible advances might be present IF our paradigm had been one of cooperation and compassion instead of competition, self-interest, and profit?
▪ What two words describe the way of iniquity (the way of the Natural Man3) more succinctly than these two: competition and self-interest?
▪ Can force or intimidation ever begin to match the captivity that freely-chosen iniquity will bring upon the soul who succumbs to the riches, enticements, images, and flatteries of Babylon?
As for Ayn Rand devotees, it’s past time to observe the science of self-interest and motivation.

As it is, there is probably no age, ever, since the beginning of time that has been as obtuse and blind to truth and consequence than this age obsessed with power and gain, competition and self-interest. The so-called dark ages might be considered a time of enlightenment in comparison for
… if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness.
If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness,
how great is that darkness!
No man can serve two masters:
for either he will hate the one, and love the other;
or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other.
Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
(New Testament | Matthew 6:23-24)
Do we really think mammon and materialism equates to communism / socialism or some other government tyranny? Why do we seem so reluctant to admit that Babylon has acquired her coveted wealth and power (and consequent captivation of others) through the corruption of our (so-called) free, capital markets? What other economic system is so saturated with money, merchants, riches, costly apparel, endless things, vain images, gross inequities, and unconscionable debt?

When will we awake to the great deception—to our awful situation?
Wherefore, the Lord commandeth you,
when ye shall see these things come among you
that ye shall awake to a sense of your awful situation,
because of this secret combination
which shall be among you;
or wo be unto it, because of the blood of them
who have been slain;
for they cry from the dust for vengeance upon it,
and also upon those who built it up.
For it cometh to pass that whoso buildeth it up
seeketh to overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations, and countries;
and it bringeth to pass the destruction of all people,
for it is built up by the devil,
who is the father of all lies;
even that same liar who beguiled our first parents,
yea, even that same liar
who hath caused man to commit murder from the beginning;
who hath hardened the hearts of men
that they have murdered the prophets,[4]
and stoned them, and cast them out from the beginning.
(Book of Mormon | Ether 8:24-25; bold emphasis added)
And if we haven’t noticed that warp speed has warped again in these latter days, then maybe we should re-read New Testament Revelations, especially:
... Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea!  for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. (New Testament | Revelation 12:12, bold emphasis added.)
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1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colossal_squid ; current estimates put its maximum size at 12–14 m (39–46 ft) long.
2. Doctrine and Covenants | Section 86:3 ~ And after they have fallen asleep the great persecutor of the church, the apostate, the whore, even Babylon, that maketh all nations to drink of her cup, in whose hearts the enemy, even Satan, sitteth to reign—behold he soweth the tares; wherefore, the tares choke the wheat and drive the church into the wilderness.
New Testament | Revelation 17:4-5 ~ And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
New Testament | Revelation 18:2-3 ~ Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.
Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 28:18 ~ But behold, that great and abominable church, the whore of all the earth, must tumble to the earth, and great must be the fall thereof.
3. Book of Mormon | Mosiah 3:19 ~ For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.
4. (Includes all those who speak truth to power and who lose life or liberty for doing so.)