The Tithing of My People?

At Far West, Missouri, July 8, 1838, the Lord answered Joseph Smith’s query about “how much thou requirest of the properties of thy people for a tithing.” The resulting revelation is found in our current Doctrine and Covenants, Section 119.

1 VERILY, thus saith the Lord, I require all their surplus property to be put into the hands of the bishop of my church in Zion,
2 For the building of mine house, and for the laying of the foundation of Zion and for the priesthood, and for the debts of the Presidency of my Church.
3 And this shall be the beginning of the tithing of my people.
4 And after that, those who have thus been tithed shall pay one–tenth of all their interest annually; and this shall be a standing law unto them forever, for my holy priesthood, saith the Lord.
5 Verily I say unto you, it shall come to pass that all those who gather unto the land of Zion shall be tithed of their surplus properties, and shall observe this law, or they shall not be found worthy to abide among you.
6 And I say unto you, if my people observe not this law, to keep it holy, and by this law sanctify the land of Zion unto me, that my statutes and my judgments may be kept thereon, that it may be most holy, behold, verily I say unto you, it shall not be a land of Zion unto you.
7 And this shall be an ensample unto all the stakes of Zion. Even so. Amen.

This was not an easy two-stage law. It greatly offends the natural man and were it required today, membership would undoubtedly be but a fraction of what it is. Originally, the first stage was: 1) “all their surplus property” upon joining the Saints, and thereafter, 2) “one–tenth of all their interest annually.” Then verse 5 seems to reveal a future time when: “it shall come to pass that all those who gather to the land of Zion shall be tithed of their surplus properties, and shall observe this law ....”

Because the words “interest” and “surplus” can be subject to various interpretations (and have been), it might be helpful to understand how this law was understood in 1847:

The celestial law requires one-tenth part of all a man’s substance which he possesses at the time he comes into the church, and one-tenth part of his annual increase ever after. If it requires all a man can earn to support himself and family, he is not tithed at all. The celestial law does not take the mother’s and children’s bread, neither ought else which they really need for their comfort. The poor that have not this world’s good to spare, but serve and honour God according to the best of their abilities in every other way, shall have a celestial crown in the Eternal Kingdom of our Father. But the rich, and such as have this world’s good which they can spare, without injury to themselves, or without bringing want upon themselves and upon their families, can never obtain a celestial crown unless they pay their tithing. They are not excluded, neither disfellowshipped from the church if they do not do it. We have no law to authorize us to do this; still, such as are able and do not pay their tithing, their light, like that of the foolish virgins, will go out: they will have not oil in their vessels, and consequently cannot be admitted. It, therefore, remains with every man to decide for himself whether he will seek for a celestial crown of his own free will and choice, without compulsion, or not. The poor will readily pay their tithing and more too, because tithing is not particularly required of them. The rich think that it is a hard law as a general thing, yet once in a while a rich man is caught in the gospel net, whose heart is open not only to pay his tithing, but even to sell all that he hath and give to the poor, and go forth and preach the gospel without purse or scrip. But we expect that not only our property will be tithed, but our life also, not one-tenth of it particularly, but even the whole.¹

Since there has not been another revelation announced to change or refine Section 119, the following scriptures (mostly relating to the Law of Consecration) might help those who remain confused with conflicting interpretations about how or when  to calculate interest or surplus (all bold emphasis added):

And he [Melchizedek] 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. (Old Testament | JST Genesis 14:37-38)

[To Martin Harris:] Impart a portion of thy property, yea, even part of thy lands, and all save the support of thy family. (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 19:34)

[Revelation “embracing the law of the Church”:] And again, if there shall be properties in the hands of the church, or any individuals of it, more than is necessary for their support after this first consecration, which is a residue to be consecrated unto the bishop, it shall be kept to administer to those who have not, from time to time, that every man who has need may be amply supplied and receive according to his wants. (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 42:33)

And if thou obtainest more than that which would be for thy support, thou shalt give it into my storehouse, that all things may be done according to that which I have said. (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 42:55)

And again, let the bishop appoint a storehouse unto this church; and let all things both in money and in meat, which are more than is needful for the wants of this people, be kept in the hands of the bishop. (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 51:13)

And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength. And again, it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize; therefore, all things must be done in order. (Book of Mormon | Mosiah 4:27)

Moreover by being in haste, and forcing the sale of property, unreasonable sacrifices have been made, and although this is a day of sacrifice and tithing, yet to make lavish and unreasonable sacrifices is not well pleasing in the sight of the Lord.²

 Sometimes, a person may feel directed by God to covenant more than a tithe, but that is a personal covenant not compulsory on any other—somewhat in the nature of the Nazarite or Rechabite covenants;³ or like the covenant that Joseph and Oliver made after a very trying period in their lives.⁴

So if the more exacting Law of Consecration allows for subtraction (after the first consecration) of what is needed for the support of self and family, then is a similar subtraction in the Law of Tithing sanctioned when calculating surplus and the tithe on that surplus?

Here are some questions to consider about our tithing traditions:

▪ Is God instructing us to take the needs and support of ourselves and our families into account before we know what is surplus? what is to be tithed? what is to be offered?
▪ Do our current traditions have a different expectation for the business owner as compared to the wage earner when counsel on tithing is given?
▪ If God is asking a perpetual tithe (ten-percent) of our interest / surplus annually (verses 4 and 5), what are we to do with the remaining ninety-percent?
▪ Does He leave us ninety-percent so we can individually practice the second great commandment anonymously?⁵
▪ Does rote-giving foster a sense of having done our part without more expected?
▪ If we calculate ten-percent on something other than surplus, does that hinder our ability or desire to personally practice, “unto the least of these”?⁶
▪ Does God leave calculating “surplus” and “interest” to the conscience and circumstance of each individual as a test of integrity, reasonableness, and inspiration?
▪ If we truly calculated surplus, would we be more cognizant of how much, in wisdom, we can further disperse or use under inspiration?
▪ Would we be more inclined to moderate our desires and buy less of everything in order to maximize surplus, or would we do the opposite?
▪ What do we now have that we could, in wisdom, downsize in order to increase surplus?
▪ Have we been “looking beyond the mark” in defining “interest”?
▪ Do we feel burdened to pay tithing? or are we burdened by possessions and debt?
▪ Is tithing just a knee-jerk to cultural expectations or it is a thoughtful, cheerful expression of gratitude?

------------------------------------/
1. Millenial Star ~ Vol. IX, No. 1, January 1, 1847, p. 12: https://books.google.ca/books?id=UCEEAAAAQAAJ&pg=RA2-
2. (The Elders in the Land of Zion To the Church of Christ Scattered Abroad., Evening and Morning Star, vol. 1 (June 1832-May 1833), Vol. I. July, 1832. No. 2. 13.)
3. Nazarite: Old Testament | Numbers 6; Rechabites: Old Testament | Jeremiah 35.
4. The Covenant of Tithing [by Joseph and Oliver]. On the evening of the 29th of November, I united in prayer with Brother Oliver for the continuance of blessings. After giving thanks for the relief which the Lord had lately sent us by opening the hearts of the brethren from the east, to loan us $430; after commencing and rejoicing before the Lord on this occasion, we agreed to enter into the following covenant with the Lord, viz.:
That if the Lord will prosper us in our business and open the way before us that we may obtain means to pay our debts; that we be not troubled nor brought into disrepute before the world, nor His people; after that, of all that He shall give unto us, we will give a tenth to be bestowed upon the poor in His Church, or as He shall command; and that we will be faithful over that which He has entrusted to our care, that we may obtain much; and that our children after us shall remember to observe this sacred and holy covenant; and that our children, and our children's children, may know of the same, we have subscribed our names with our own hands. (Signed)
Joseph Smith, Jun.
Oliver Cowdery.
—DHC 2:174-175. (Joseph Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, selected and arranged by Joseph Fielding Smith [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1976], 70.)
5. New Testament | Matthew 22:39 ~ And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
New Testament | Matthew 6:3-4 ~ But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
6. New Testament | Matthew 25:35-40 ~ For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

#2: FLAGS*

Anarchism?
(n. 1  the political theory that government and law are unnecessary and harmful because they prevent individuals from reaching their greatest development.  2  lawlessness or terrorism.)

As can be observed throughout the déjà vus of history and scripture, the natural man¹ has often objected to law—at least any law he perceives as curtailing his freedom. He often seems somewhat less precise about the law he would like to impose on others who offend his theories or sensibilities. A classic case is the fictional natural-man, named John Galt in his valley of “no-rules rules.”² A real flesh and blood character who might have admired John Galt (from the safe distance of his own “liberated” bubble) would undoubtedly be Korihor.

And many more such things did he [Korihor] say unto them, telling them that there could be no atonement made for the sins of men, but every man fared in this life according to the management of the creature; therefore every man prospered according to his genius, and that every man conquered according to his strength; and whatsoever a man did was no crime. (Book of Mormon | Alma 30:17)

The natural man’s gospel is, of course, the “good news” of self-will. More and more, we are encountering this “good news” amongst Christians as they sport their flags and banners of agency, freedom, and ofttimes, anarchism.

But what do God and His prophets have to say about agency and anarchism? And when we encounter advocates of self-will, should we ask ourselves: “Who was the first preacher of this “good news”? and how does it stack up against law?

AND I, the Lord God, spake unto Moses, saying: That Satan, whom thou hast commanded in the name of mine Only Begotten, is the same which was from the beginning, and he came before me, saying—Behold, here am I, send me, I will be thy son, and I will redeem all mankind, that one soul shall not be lost, and surely I will do it; wherefore give me thine honor. … Wherefore, because that Satan rebelled against me, and sought to destroy the agency^[3] of man, which I, the Lord God, had given him, and also, that I should give unto him mine own power; by the power of mine Only Begotten, I caused that he should be cast down; And he became Satan, yea, even the devil, the father of all lies, to deceive and to blind men, and to lead them captive at his will, even as many as would not hearken unto my voice. (Pearl of Great Price | Moses 4:1, 3-4)

And the Messiah cometh in the fulness of time, that he may redeem the children of men from the fall. And because that they are redeemed from the fall they have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon, save it be by the punishment of the law at the great and last day, according to the commandments which God hath given. Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself. (Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 2:26-27)

I, the Lord God, make you free, therefore ye are free indeed; and the law also maketh you free. (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 98:8)

There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated—And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated. (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 130:20-21)

What then of Anarchism and its Offspring?

It has been the design of Jehovah, from the commencement of the world, and is His purpose now, to regulate the affairs of the world in His own time, to stand as a head of the universe, and take the reins of government in His own hand. When that is done, judgment will be administered in righteousness; anarchy and confusion will be destroyed, and "nations will learn war no more." It is for want of this great governing principle, that all this confusion has existed; "for it is not in man that walketh, to direct his steps;" this we have fully shown.⁴

The Political Motto of the Church of Latter-day Saints.
The Constitution of our country formed by the Fathers of liberty. Peace and good order in society. Love to God, and good will to man. All good and wholesome laws, virtue and truth above all things, and aristarchy [government by the best], live for ever! But woe to tyrants, mobs, aristocracy, anarchy, and toryism, and all those who invent or seek out unrighteous and vexatious law suits, under the pretext and color of law, or office, either religious or political. Exalt the standard of Democracy! Down with that of priestcraft, and let all the people say Amen! that the blood of our fathers may not cry from the ground against us. Sacred is the memory of that blood which bought for us our liberty.
Joseph Smith, Jun. [& 8 others] (March, 1838).⁵

We believe that every man should be honored in his station, rulers and magistrates as such, being placed for the protection of the innocent and the punishment of the guilty; and that to the laws all men show respect and deference, as without them peace and harmony would be supplanted by anarchy and terror; human laws being instituted for the express purpose of regulating our interests as individuals and nations, between man and man; and divine laws given of heaven, prescribing rules on spiritual concerns, for faith and worship, both to be answered by man to his Maker. (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 134:6; italics added.)

The [Nauvoo] Legion is not, as has been falsely represented by its enemies, exclusively a "Mormon" military association, but a body of citizen soldiers, organized (without regard to political preferences or religious sentiments) for the public defense, the general good, and the preservation of law and order—to save the innocent, unoffending citizens from the iron grasp of the oppressor and perpetuate and sustain our free institutions against misrule, anarchy, and mob violence; no other views are entertained or tolerated. …
Joseph Smith, Lieutenant-General.⁶

Now let us ask ourselves: Is there cause for Lucifer to favor self-will and anarchism? Is it the Balaam strategy?⁷ Get children of God to choose self-will contrary to God’s will; seduce them to use their agency to turn from things of the Spirit to things of the flesh till he, Lucifer, has them where he wants them—ripe for captivation AND destruction via God’s own laws—of Justice and of Harvest. Perhaps Lucifer’s strategies change with the wind. Sometimes he favors choice, sometimes control and coercion, but his favored strategy may be centered on convincing humans that agency means freedom from law because without law, a multitude of sins doth vanish.

And if ye shall say there is no law, ye shall also say there is no sin. If ye shall say there is no sin, ye shall also say there is no righteousness. And if there be no righteousness there be no happiness. And if there be no righteousness nor happiness there be no punishment nor misery. And if these things are not there is no God. And if there is no God we are not, neither the earth; for there could have been no creation of things, neither to act nor to be acted upon; wherefore, all things must have vanished away. (Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 2:13)

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. (Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 9:25)

Now, repentance could not come unto men except there were a punishment, which also was eternal as the life of the soul should be, affixed opposite to the plan of happiness, which was as eternal also as the life of the soul. Now, how could a man repent except he should sin? How could he sin if there was no law? How could there be a law save there was a punishment? Now, there was a punishment affixed, and a just law given, which brought remorse of conscience unto man. Now, if there was no law given—if a man murdered he should die—would he be afraid he would die if he should murder? And also, if there was no law given against sin men would not be afraid to sin. And if there was no law given, if men sinned what could justice do, or mercy either, for they would have no claim upon the creature? 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. (Book of Mormon | Alma 42:16-24)

Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. (New Testament | Romans 4:15)

(For, before the law, sin was in the world: yet sin is not imputed to those who have no law. (JST New Testament | Romans 5:13)

For behold that all little children are alive in Christ, and also all they that are without the law. For the power of redemption cometh on all them that have no law; wherefore, he that is not condemned, or he that is under no condemnation, cannot repent; and unto such baptism availeth nothing—(Book of Mormon | Moroni 8:22)

What a super-duper way to save everybody!!⁸ (theoretically, at least). No law; no sin, no condemnation, no punishment, no (big G) God. Just an intelligent Lucifer with lots of knowledge (i.e. power) and a burgeoning self-will and -image!

So, for those who believe that real freedom is to be without the restraints of law—that one can eventually advance beyond the rule of any law—I submit that the gestalt of scripture⁹ testifies against such a notion.

Now to briefly consider the libertarian and anarchist objection to rules and regulations for man and the Business of power and gain (sometimes referred as “free markets”):

◦ if Lucifer is the advisor of the natural man and acknowledges no bounds (at least for himself)
◦ if the natural man’s disposition is toward increasing grandeur, power, and gain
◦ if law (aka: rules and regulations) are for

“the express purpose of regulating our interests as individuals and nations, between man and man”
“the public defense, the general good, and the preservation of law and order—to save the innocent, unoffending citizens from the iron grasp of the oppressor and perpetuate and sustain our free institutions against misrule, anarchy, and mob violence”;

maybe there are justifiable and appropriate bounds and limits to the expression of self-will, acquisition, and concentrated economic power. Take these two latter-day examples:

[Size limits:] And again, we further suggest for the considerations of the Council, that there be no organization of large bodies upon common stock principles, in property, or of large companies of firms, until the Lord shall signify it in a proper manner, as it opens such a dreadful field for the avaricious, the indolent, and the corrupt hearted to prey upon the innocent and virtuous, and honest. ¶ We have reason to believe that many things were introduced among the Saints before God had signified the times; and notwithstanding the principles and plans may have been good, yet aspiring men, or in other words, men who had not the substance of godliness about them, perhaps undertook to handle edged tools. Children, you know, are fond of tools, while they are not yet able to use them. ¶ Time and experience, however, are the only safe remedies against such evils. There are many teachers, but, perhaps, not many fathers. There are times coming when God will signify many things which are expedient for the well-being of the Saints; but the times have not yet come, but will come, as fast as there can be found place and reception for them.¹⁰

[Share limits:] And now I say unto you, as pertaining to my boarding house which I have commanded you to build for the boarding of strangers, let it be built unto my name, and let my name be named upon it, and let my servant Joseph and his house have place therein, from generation to generation. … And let the name of that house be called Nauvoo House; and let it be a delightful habitation for man, and a resting–place for the weary traveler, that he may contemplate the glory of Zion, and the glory of this, the corner–stone thereof; ... Behold, verily I say unto you, let my servant George Miller, and my servant Lyman Wight, and my servant John Snider, and my servant Peter Haws, organize themselves, and appoint one of them to be a president over their quorum for the purpose of building that house. And they shall form a constitution, whereby they may receive stock for the building of that house. And they shall not receive less than fifty dollars for a share of stock in that house, and they shall be permitted to receive fifteen thousand dollars from any one man for stock in that house. But they shall not be permitted to receive over fifteen thousand dollars stock from any one man. And they shall not be permitted to receive under fifty dollars for a share of stock from any one man in that house. And they shall not be permitted to receive any man, as a stockholder in this house, except the same shall pay his stock into their hands at the time he receives stock; And in proportion to the amount of stock he pays into their hands he shall receive stock in that house; but if he pays nothing into their hands he shall not receive any stock in that house. And if any pay stock into their hands it shall be for stock in that house, for himself, and for his generation after him, from generation to generation, so long as he and his heirs shall hold that stock, and do not sell or convey the stock away out of their hands by their own free will and act, if you will do my will, saith the Lord your God. And again, verily I say unto you, if my servant George Miller, and my servant Lyman Wight, and my servant John Snider, and my servant Peter Haws, receive any stock into their hands, in moneys, or in properties wherein they receive the real value of moneys, they shall not appropriate any portion of that stock to any other purpose, only in that house. And if they do appropriate any portion of that stock anywhere else, only in that house, without the consent of the stockholder, and do not repay fourfold for the stock which they appropriate anywhere else, only in that house, they shall be accursed, and shall be moved out of their place, saith the Lord God; for I, the Lord, am God, and cannot be mocked in any of these things. Verily I say unto you, let my servant Joseph pay stock into their hands for the building of that house, as seemeth him good; but my servant Joseph cannot pay over fifteen thousand dollars stock in that house, nor under fifty dollars; neither can any other man, saith the Lord. … And again, verily I say unto you, let no man pay stock to the quorum of the Nauvoo House unless he shall be a believer in the Book of Mormon, and the revelations I have given unto you, saith the Lord your God; For that which is more or less than this cometh of evil, and shall be attended with cursings and not blessings, saith the Lord your God. Even so. Amen. And again, verily I say unto you, let the quorum of the Nauvoo House have a just recompense of wages for all their labors which they do in building the Nauvoo House; and let their wages be as shall be agreed among themselves, as pertaining to the price thereof. And let every man who pays stock bear his proportion of their wages, if it must needs be, for their support, saith the Lord; otherwise, their labors shall be accounted unto them for stock in that house. Even so. Amen. (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 124: 56, 60, 62-72, 119-122)

Perhaps these two patterns could limit the damage that natural men do, and thus help

“save the innocent, unoffending citizens from the iron grasp of the oppressor and perpetuate and sustain our free institutions against misrule, anarchy, and mob violence.”

When so many seem to conflate freedom and agency with the absence of law or restraint, are we buying into the anarchism paradigm with all its abuses, propaganda, deceptions, etc.?

And if truth be told, can those who have never experienced anarchism really know its meaning—really know how grateful they should be for a Constitution that is honored in word and in deed.

According to the laws and constitution of the people, which I have suffered to be established, and should be maintained for the rights and protection of all flesh, according to just and holy principles; That every man may act in doctrine and principle pertaining to futurity, according to the moral agency which I have given unto him, that every man may be accountable for his own sins in the day of judgment. (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 101:77-78)

EXCEPT, the great tragedy is that the U.S. Constitution has not been honored for most of its existence— especially not for “all flesh”—not even for its citizens.¹¹ “Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” have almost always been an unequal proposition, because the natural man is, at heart, a PWOC (person without conscience), and PWOCs favor anarchy for themselves and accountability for most everyone else. So it’s become a tilted playing field, with everything possible rolling their way.

The signs of the times are upon us—the red flags flying high; and the time soon coming when those who wave their banners of anarchism and self-will, will experience, not just a romanticized draught of “freedom,” but an overflowing of natural men—a déjà vu of Joseph Smith’s day that was recounted in part in Doctrine and Covenants | Section 123.¹²

The Last Speech of President Smith to the [Nauvoo] Legion.
I call upon all men, from Maine to the Rocky Mountains, and from Mexico to British America, whose hearts thrill with horror to behold the rights of freemen trampled under foot, to come to the deliverance of this people from the hand of oppression, cruelty, anarchy and misrule to which they have long been made subject. Come, all ye lovers of liberty, break the oppressor's rod, loose the iron grasp of mobocracy, and bring to condign punishment all those who trample under foot the glorious Constitution and the people's rights.¹³

---------------------------/
*This is the second in a FLAG series intended to encourage us in these last days to apply these words of wisdom and warning:

Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

(New Testament | 1 Thessalonians 5:21)

For in those days there shall also arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders, insomuch, that, if possible, they shall deceive the very elect, who are the elect according to the covenant. (Pearl of Great Price | JS-Matthew 1:22)
Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye shall continue in the Son, and also in the Father. … These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. (New Testament | JST 1 John 2: 24, 26)

1. 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.
New Testament | 1 Corinthians 2:14 ~ But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Book of Mormon | Alma 26:21 ~ And now behold, my brethren, what natural man is there that knoweth these things? I say unto you, there is none that knoweth these things, save it be the penitent.
Doctrine and Covenants | Section 67:10-12 ~ And again, verily I say unto you that it is your privilege, and a promise I give unto you that have been ordained unto this ministry, that inasmuch as you strip yourselves from jealousies and fears, and humble yourselves before me, for ye are not sufficiently humble, the veil shall be rent and you shall see me and know that I am—not with the carnal neither natural mind, but with the spiritual. For no man has seen God at any time in the flesh, except quickened by the Spirit of God. Neither can any natural man abide the presence of God, neither after the carnal mind.
New Testament | 1 John 2:15-16 ~ Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
New Testament | James 4:3-5 ~ Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
New Testament | Romans 8:6-7 ~ For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
2. John Galt: http://www.dejavu-times.blogspot.ca/2012/10/who-is-john-galt.html
3. Ways to destroy agency: remove the opportunity for making choice by 1) dismantling law; 2) force or coercion, 3) trauma-based mind control, etc.
4. Joseph Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith [TPJS], selected and arranged by Joseph Fielding Smith [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1976], 250; Also Joseph Smith, History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 7 vols., introduction and notes by B. H. Roberts [Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1932-1951], 5: 63.)
5. TPJS, 117. Also Joseph Smith, History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 7 vols., introduction and notes by B. H. Roberts [Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1932-1951], 3: 9. (See also Ibid. 3: xxviii-xxix)
6. Joseph Smith, History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 7 vols., introduction and notes by B. H. Roberts [Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1932-1951], 4: 355; italics added.
7. Balaam: New Testament | Revelation 2:14 ~ But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. (See also: Old Testament | Numbers 22-24; 31:16; New Testament | 2 Peter 2:15; Jude 1:11)
8. Pearl of Great Price | Moses 4:1 ~ AND I, the Lord God, spake unto Moses, saying: That Satan, whom thou hast commanded in the name of mine Only Begotten, is the same which was from the beginning, and he came before me, saying—Behold, here am I, send me, I will be thy son, and I will redeem all mankind, that one soul shall not be lost, and surely I will do it; wherefore give me thine honor. …
9. Doctrine and Covenants | Section 88:13 ~ The light which is in all things, which giveth life to all things, which is the law by which all things are governed, even the power of God who sitteth upon his throne, who is in the bosom of eternity, who is in the midst of all things.
Doctrine and Covenants | Section 88:21-25 ~ And they who are not sanctified through the law which I have given unto you, even the law of Christ, must inherit another kingdom, even that of a terrestrial kingdom, or that of a telestial kingdom. For he who is not able to abide the law of a celestial kingdom cannot abide a celestial glory. And he who cannot abide the law of a terrestrial kingdom cannot abide a terrestrial glory. And he who cannot abide the law of a telestial kingdom cannot abide a telestial glory; therefore he is not meet for a kingdom of glory. Therefore he must abide a kingdom which is not a kingdom of glory. And again, verily I say unto you, the earth abideth the law of a celestial kingdom, for it filleth the measure of its creation, and transgresseth not the law—
Doctrine and Covenants | Section 88:34-42 ~ And again, verily I say unto you, that which is governed by law is also preserved by law and perfected and sanctified by the same. That which breaketh a law, and abideth not by law, but seeketh to become a law unto itself, and willeth to abide in sin, and altogether abideth in sin, cannot be sanctified by law, neither by mercy, justice, nor judgment. Therefore, they must remain filthy still. All kingdoms have a law given; And there are many kingdoms; for there is no space in the which there is no kingdom; and there is no kingdom in which there is no space, either a greater or a lesser kingdom. And unto every kingdom is given a law; and unto every law there are certain bounds also and conditions. All beings who abide not in those conditions are not justified. For intelligence cleaveth unto intelligence; wisdom receiveth wisdom; truth embraceth truth; virtue loveth virtue; light cleaveth unto light; mercy hath compassion on mercy and claimeth her own; justice continueth its course and claimeth its own; judgment goeth before the face of him who sitteth upon the throne and governeth and executeth all things. He comprehendeth all things, and all things are before him, and all things are round about him; and he is above all things, and in all things, and is through all things, and is round about all things; and all things are by him, and of him, even God, forever and ever. And again, verily I say unto you, he hath given a law unto all things, by which they move in their times and their seasons;
New Testament | Galatians 5:13-14 ~ For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
New Testament | Matthew 7:12 ~ Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
New Testament | Matthew 22:36-40 ~ Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
New Testament | Romans 3:31 ~ Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
Book of Mormon | 3 Nephi 15:3-10 ~ And he said unto them: Marvel not that I said unto you that old things had passed away, and that all things had become new. Behold, I say unto you that the law is fulfilled that was given unto Moses. Behold, I am he that gave the law, and I am he who covenanted with my people Israel; therefore, the law in me is fulfilled, for I have come to fulfil the law; therefore it hath an end. Behold, I do not destroy the prophets, for as many as have not been fulfilled in me, verily I say unto you, shall all be fulfilled. And because I said unto you that old things have passed away, I do not destroy that which hath been spoken concerning things which are to come. For behold, the covenant which I have made with my people is not all fulfilled; but the law which was given unto Moses hath an end in me. Behold, I am the law, and the light. Look unto me, and endure to the end, and ye shall live; for unto him that endureth to the end will I give eternal life. Behold, I have given unto you the commandments; therefore keep my commandments. And this is the law and the prophets, for they truly testified of me.
10. TPJS, 144. Also Joseph Smith, History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 3: 301.
11. Rose-colored Specs: http://www.dejavu-times.blogspot.ca/2015/03/rose-colored-specs.html
12. Doctrine and Covenants | Section 123:7-10 ~ It is an imperative duty that we owe to God, to angels, with whom we shall be brought to stand, and also to ourselves, to our wives and children, who have been made to bow down with grief, sorrow, and care, under the most damning hand of murder, tyranny, and oppression, supported and urged on and upheld by the influence of that spirit which hath so strongly riveted the creeds of the fathers, who have inherited lies, upon the hearts of the children, and filled the world with confusion, and has been growing stronger and stronger, and is now the very mainspring of all corruption, and the whole earth groans under the weight of its iniquity. It is an iron yoke, it is a strong band; they are the very handcuffs, and chains, and shackles, and fetters of hell. Therefore it is an imperative duty that we owe, not only to our own wives and children, but to the widows and fatherless, whose husbands and fathers have been murdered under its iron hand; Which dark and blackening deeds are enough to make hell itself shudder, and to stand aghast and pale, and the hands of the very devil to tremble and palsy.
13. Joseph Smith, History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 7 vols., introduction and notes by B. H. Roberts [Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1932-1951], 6: 498-499.

#1: FLAGS*

Any Other Gospel?

Not only is Satan a great liar, he is also a great imitator and a persuasive preacher. One of the well-worn, golden, proselyting approaches in his gospel is “What do you want?” In other words, he panders to the natural man’s disposition to focus on self. “What’s in it for me?” “What would make me happy?” “What will satisfy my desires? What is MY will?” And then he, Lucifer, promises to supply the desire, IF we will follow him—or, as he put it in the third temptation:

Again, the devil taketh [Jesus] up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.¹

This self-will began even before the creation² and soon manifest again after the creation³ and again thereafter in the life of Cain. Thus the natural man has been with us for millennia—each one describing his philosophy in his own way—with examples as follows.

Korihor (circa 64 BC) phrased it about as succinctly as anyone could: And many more such things did [Korihor] say unto them, telling them that there could be no atonement made for the sins of men, but every man fared in this life according to the management of the creature; therefore every man prospered according to his genius, and that every man conquered according to his strength; and whatsoever a man did was no crime.⁴

Ayn Rand (1905-1982) put it this way: Man—every man—is an end in himself, not a means to the ends of others; he must live for his own sake, neither sacrificing himself to others nor sacrificing others to himself; he must work for his rational self-interest, with the achievement of his own happiness as the highest moral purpose of his life. ⁵

Aleister Crowley (1875-1947) said it thus: Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law. Also: There is no law beyond Do what thou wilt.⁶

The law of attraction and the prosperity gospel are versions of this same self-focus and self-will.⁷

On the other hand, we read the words of Jesus:

»  Not my will, but thine, be done. (Not as I will, but as thou wilt.)⁸
»  My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.⁹
»  For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.¹⁰
»  No man can come to me, except he doeth the will of my Father who hath sent me. And this is the will of him who hath sent me, that ye receive the Son; for the Father beareth record of him; and he who receiveth the testimony, and doeth the will of him who sent me, I will raise up in the resurrection of the just.¹¹

Jesus exemplified that the submission of man to God is the key—not vice versa.

SO, if a person like unto Chris Nemelka¹² should come among us and say:

Jesus never said “Love God with all your heart, might, mind, and soul.” He said this: “Love yourself with all your heart, might, mind, and soul and your neighbor as yourself.” That’s how it went down;¹³

should it be so hard to figure out which gospel he is preaching? And if he says his many lies are justified—that they have an enlightening purpose—that they are lies to counter lies and to make people think,”¹⁴ should we be surprised?

SO, what do we think?

Are we dealing, at core, with the father of lies? And what an ingenious, self-serving justification!—he is not lying to deceive,¹⁵ but to awaken people to truth and true symbolism. Is this credible or incredible?

Not without cause did Paul the Apostle talk of “lying wonders”¹⁶ and to lament in his day:

I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. ¹⁷

So let us not seal our fate with “messengers” who preach another gospel than what Christ preached. If we don’t know or believe what we already have, why would God give us more?¹⁸

The father of lies is not without great intelligence. He knows (as others have said) that the greatest deception lies between two truths. And it also lies in the propensity of man to prefer the way of the self and self-will.

Going our own way has been the déjà vu lament¹⁹ of the ages. So if any should come in the name of Jesus and preach the gospel (“good news!”) of self-will, perhaps it should raise a flag.

In truth, there are so many flags flying in this latter day, they stretch horizon to horizon. And if we don’t pay attention to them we shall be left without excuse.

Joseph Smith (?); John Taylor, Editor: If any man writes to you, or preaches to you, doctrines contrary to the Bible, the Book of Mormon, or the book of Doctrine and Covenants, set him down as an imposter. You need not write to us to know what you are to do with such men; you have the authority with you.—Try them by the principles contained in the acknowledged word of God; if they preach, or teach, or practice contrary to that, disfellowship them; cut them off from among you as useless and dangerous branches, and if they are belonging to any of the quorums in the church, report them to the president of the quorum to which they belong, and if you cannot find that out, if they are members of an official standing, belonging to Nauvoo, report them to us.²⁰

---------------------------------/
*This is the first in a FLAG series intended to encourage us in these last days to apply these words of wisdom and warning:

Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

(New Testament | 1 Thessalonians 5:21)

For in those days there shall also arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders, insomuch, that, if possible, they shall deceive the very elect, who are the elect according to the covenant. (Pearl of Great Price | JS-Matthew 1:22)
Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye shall continue in the Son, and also in the Father. … These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. (New Testament | JST 1 John 2: 24, 26)
Joseph Smith: I preached to the saints, setting forth the evils that existed, and that would exist, by reason of hasty judgment, or decisions upon any subject given by any people, or in judging before they had heard both sides of a question (TPJS. p. 118).

1. New Testament | Matthew 4:8-9 (bold emphasis added).
2. Doctrine and Covenants | Section 76:25-29 ~ And this we saw also, and bear record, that an angel of God who was in authority in the presence of God, who rebelled against the Only Begotten Son whom the Father loved and who was in the bosom of the Father, was thrust down from the presence of God and the Son, And was called Perdition, for the heavens wept over him—he was Lucifer, a son of the morning. And we beheld, and lo, he is fallen! is fallen, even a son of the morning! And while we were yet in the Spirit, the Lord commanded us that we should write the vision; for we beheld Satan, that old serpent, even the devil, who rebelled against God, and sought to take the kingdom of our God and his Christ—Wherefore, he maketh war with the saints of God, and encompasseth them round about.
Pearl of Great Price | Moses 4:1, 3-4 ~ AND I, the Lord God, spake unto Moses, saying: That Satan, whom thou hast commanded in the name of mine Only Begotten, is the same which was from the beginning, and he came before me, saying—Behold, here am I, send me, I will be thy son, and I will redeem all mankind, that one soul shall not be lost, and surely I will do it; wherefore give me thine honor. … Wherefore, because that Satan rebelled against me, and sought to destroy the agency of man, which I, the Lord God, had given him, and also, that I should give unto him mine own power; by the power of mine Only Begotten, I caused that he should be cast down; And he became Satan, yea, even the devil, the father of all lies, to deceive and to blind men, and to lead them captive at his will, even as many as would not hearken unto my voice.
3. Pearl of Great Price | Moses 5:12-13 ~ And Adam and Eve blessed the name of God, and they made all things known unto their sons and their daughters. And Satan came among them, saying: I am also a son of God; and he commanded them, saying: Believe it not; and they believed it not, and they loved Satan more than God. And men began from that time forth to be carnal, sensual, and devilish.
4. Book of Mormon | Alma 30:17
5. https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Ayn_Rand
6. https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Aleister_Crowley
“I:40 This famous statement derives from several historic precedents, including that of François Rabelais in describing the rule of his Abbey of Thélème in Gargantua and Pantagruel: Fait ce que vouldras (Do what thou wilt), which was later used by the Hellfire Club established by Sir Francis Dashwood. It is also similar to the Wiccan proverb: An ye harm none, do what thou wilt; but the oldest known statement of a similar assertion is that of St. Augustine of Hippo: Love, and do what thou wilt.”
7. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_Attraction
8. New Testament | Luke 22:42; Matthew 26:39, 42; Mark 14:36
9. New Testament | John 4:34
10. New Testament | John 6:38
11. New Testament | JST John 6:44
Additional references to God’s will:
New Testament | Mark 8:34 ~ And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
New Testament | Matthew 12:50 ~ For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
New Testament | JST John 5:31 ~ For I can of mine own self do nothing; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father who hath sent me.
Pearl of Great Price | Abraham 3:25 ~ And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them;
Pearl of Great Price | Moses 4:1, 3-4 ~ But, behold, my Beloved Son, which was my Beloved and Chosen from the beginning, said unto me—Father, thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever.
12. Christopher Marc Nemelka: His website is http://www.marvelousworkandawonder.com/. A site seeking to expose him as an imposter is at http://chrisnemelka.com/
13. At minute 45:50 of Episode 341: Christopher Nemelka (Time: 57:50) at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtMcAnwyJQY The host pastor lumps Joseph Smith and Nemelka together in his belief that there can be no other Holy Word outside the Bible. Could that be a form of “limit[ing] the Holy One of Israel” (Old Testament | Psalms 78:41)?
More Nemelka sayings in the same episode: “God is simply a human being’s self-reality. There’s nothing outside of oneself that tells that person what to do, how to think. There’s no influence for good or evil but what is inside oneself. The kingdom of God is right there [within us]. There’s no such being. There’s just me and you and any other advanced beings in solar systems …” (@ 38 min.)
“There’s nobody out there except yourself—no being outside of the human mind.” (@ 39:25 min.)
“Sin is the absence of happiness.” (@ 46:35 min.) Compare New Testament | 1 John 3:4 ~ Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
14. Christopher M. Nemelka Biography, Part Two (at minutes 17:40 to 24 plus) ~ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LL3MW2bfhFI . In defending his use of “Lies to counter [other’s] lies,” he adds, “Does the end justify the means? Absolutely. ABSOLUTELY.”
15. Doctrine and Covenants | Section 10:28 ~ “Verily, verily, I say unto you, wo be unto him that lieth to deceive because he supposeth that another lieth to deceive, for such are not exempt from the justice of God.
16. New Testament | 2 Thessalonians 2:9 ~ Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, …[Nemelka’s website is titled “Marvelous Work and a Wonder.”]
17. New Testament | Galatians 1:6-9
18. Doctrine and Covenants | Section 84:54-59 ~ And your minds in times past have been darkened because of unbelief, and because you have treated lightly the things you have received—Which vanity and unbelief have brought the whole church under condemnation. And this condemnation resteth upon the children of Zion, even all. And they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon and the former commandments which I have given them, not only to say, but to do according to that which I have written—That they may bring forth fruit meet for their Father's kingdom; otherwise there remaineth a scourge and judgment to be poured out upon the children of Zion. For shall the children of the kingdom pollute my holy land? Verily, I say unto you, Nay.
19. Our own way:
Old Testament | Numbers 15:39 ~ And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring:
Old Testament | Proverbs 30:12 ~ There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.
Old Testament | Isaiah 5:21 ~ Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!
Old Testament | Isaiah 65:2I ~ 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;
Old Testament | Jeremiah 7:24 ~ But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward.
Old Testament | Jeremiah 8:6 I hearkened and heard, but they spake not aright: no man repented him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done? every one turned to his course, as the horse rusheth into the battle.
New Testament | Romans 10:3 ~ 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 | Mosiah 16:12 ~ Having gone according to their own carnal wills and desires; having never called upon the Lord while the arms of mercy were extended towards them; for the arms of mercy were extended towards them, and they would not; they being warned of their iniquities and yet they would not depart from them; and they were commanded to repent and yet they would not repent.
Book of Mormon | Helaman 6:31 ~ And now behold, he had got great hold upon the hearts of the Nephites; yea, insomuch that they had become exceedingly wicked; yea, 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.
Book of Mormon | Helaman 7:5 ~ 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 easily commit adultery, and steal, and kill, and do according to their own wills—
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 3:4 ~ For although a man may have many revelations, and have power to do many mighty works, yet if he boasts in his own strength, and sets at naught the counsels of God, and follows after the dictates of his own will and carnal desires, he must fall and incur the vengeance of a just God upon him.
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 136:19 ~ And if any man shall seek to build up himself, and seeketh not my counsel, he shall have no power, and his folly shall be made manifest.
Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith ~ But alas, it is in vain to warn and give precepts, for all men are naturally disposed to walk in their own paths as they are pointed out by their own fingers, and are not willing to consider and walk in the path which is pointed out by another, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, although he should be an unerring director, and the Lord his God sent him (p. 26).
20. To the Elders Abroad, Times and Seasons, vol. 5 (January 1844-January 1, 1845), No. 7. Nauvoo, Illinois, April 1, 1844. Whole No. 91 490-491.

Where is the Anguish?

   David Wilkerson: A Call To Anguish ~ (Time 11:51 min.)
   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tF4TfKp4iic

Have we made a covenant with death because we have not seen and have not heard? Do we think we are just in a matrix of illusion—the ever-expanding fluke of a Big Bang? here to enjoy all we can of the world before our time runs out?

Do we not remember the weeping of Enoch AND of God as they witnessed what mankind had done with their agency, millennia ago?

28 And it came to pass that the God of heaven looked upon the residue of the people, and he wept; and Enoch bore record of it, saying: How is it that the heavens weep, and shed forth their tears as the rain upon the mountains?
29 And Enoch said unto the Lord: How is it that thou canst weep, seeing thou art holy, and from all eternity to all eternity?
30 And were it possible that man could number the particles of the earth, yea, millions of earths like this, it would not be a beginning to the number of thy creations; and thy curtains are stretched out still; and yet thou art there, and thy bosom is there; and also thou art just; thou art merciful and kind forever;
31 And thou hast taken Zion to thine own bosom, from all thy creations, from all eternity to all eternity; and naught but peace, justice, and truth is the habitation of thy throne; and mercy shall go before thy face and have no end; how is it thou canst weep?
32 The Lord said unto Enoch: Behold these thy brethren; they are the workmanship of mine own hands, and I gave unto them their knowledge, in the day I created them; and in the Garden of Eden, gave I unto man his agency;
33 And unto thy brethren have I said, and also given commandment, that they should love one another, and that they should choose me, their Father; but behold, they are without affection, and they hate their own blood;
34 And the fire of mine indignation is kindled against them; and in my hot displeasure will I send in the floods upon them, for my fierce anger is kindled against them.
35 Behold, I am God; Man of Holiness is my name; Man of Counsel is my name; and Endless and Eternal is my name, also.
36 Wherefore, I can stretch forth mine hands and hold all the creations which I have made; and mine eye can pierce them also, and among all the workmanship of mine hands there has not been so great wickedness as among thy brethren.
37 But behold, their sins shall be upon the heads of their fathers; Satan shall be their father, and misery shall be their doom; and the whole heavens shall weep over them, even all the workmanship of mine hands; wherefore should not the heavens weep, seeing these shall suffer?
38 But behold, these which thine eyes are upon shall perish in the floods; and behold, I will shut them up; a prison have I prepared for them.
39 And That which I have chosen hath pled before my face. Wherefore, he suffereth for their sins; inasmuch as they will repent in the day that my Chosen shall return unto me, and until that day they shall be in torment;
40 Wherefore, for this shall the heavens weep, yea, and all the workmanship of mine hands.
41 And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto Enoch, and told Enoch all the doings of the children of men; wherefore Enoch knew, and looked upon their wickedness, and their misery, and wept and stretched forth his arms, and his heart swelled wide as eternity; and his bowels yearned; and all eternity shook. (Pearl of Great Price | Moses 7:28-41, bold emphasis added.)

And when other visionaries saw our day, was it not all déjà vu Noah's day? And we don’t seem to have a clue, while repeating the “What have we done?” mantra of the blissfully, willfully ignorant.¹

35 Behold, I [Moroni] speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not. But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing.
36 And I know that ye do walk in the pride of your hearts; and there are none save a few only who do not lift themselves up in the pride of their hearts, unto the wearing of very fine apparel, unto envying, and strifes, and malice, and persecutions, and all manner of iniquities; and your churches, yea, even every one, have become polluted because of the pride of your hearts.
37 For behold, ye do love money, and your substance, and your fine apparel, and the adorning of your churches, more than ye love the poor and the needy, the sick and the afflicted.
38 O ye pollutions, ye hypocrites, ye teachers, who sell yourselves for that which will canker, why have ye polluted the holy church of God? Why are ye ashamed to take upon you the name of Christ? Why do ye not think that greater is the value of an endless happiness than that misery which never dies—because of the praise of the world?
39 Why do ye adorn yourselves with that which hath no life, and yet suffer the hungry, and the needy, and the naked, and the sick and the afflicted to pass by you, and notice them not?
40 Yea, why do ye build up your secret abominations to get gain, and cause that widows should mourn before the Lord, and also orphans to mourn before the Lord, and also the blood of their fathers and their husbands to cry unto the Lord from the ground, for vengeance upon your heads?
41 Behold, the sword of vengeance hangeth over you; and the time soon cometh that he avengeth the blood of the saints upon you, for he will not suffer their cries any longer. (Book of Mormon | Mormon 8:35-41)

Is it time for that other déjà vu that so many deny will come—the déjà vu of the justice of God—the déjà vu that invariably comes when His will and mercy are incessantly rejected?

HE [the Lord GOD] cried also in mine ears with a loud voice, saying, Cause them that have charge over the city to draw near, even every man with his destroying weapon in his hand.
2 And, behold, six men came from the way of the higher gate, which lieth toward the north, and every man a slaughter weapon in his hand; and one man among them was clothed with linen, with a writer's inkhorn by his side: and they went in, and stood beside the brasen altar.
3 And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer's inkhorn by his side;
4 And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.
5 ¶ And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity:
6 Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house.
7 And he said unto them, Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain: go ye forth. And they went forth, and slew in the city.
8 ¶ And it came to pass, while they were slaying them, and I was left, that I fell upon my face, and cried, and said, Ah Lord GOD! wilt thou destroy all the residue of Israel in thy pouring out of thy fury upon Jerusalem?
9 Then said he unto me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceeding great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of perverseness: for they say, The LORD hath forsaken the earth, and the LORD seeth not.
10 And as for me also, mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity, but I will recompense their way upon their head.
11 And, behold, the man clothed with linen, which had the inkhorn by his side, reported the matter, saying, I have done as thou hast commanded me. (Old Testament | Ezekiel 9:1-11, bold emphasis added.)

Where are the millions “that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst of [Zion and professing Christians]”?

Or are the majority of us all aGaga with the perks, promises, and “glamour” of Babylon?

-----------------------/
*Other sources for David Wilkerson’s A Call to Anguish are at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGMG_PVaJoI (7.24 min.);
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASxOwPdJixQ (7.20 min);
Full Sermon at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-CFMN3wDPo (56.01 min.)
1. Old Testament | Jeremiah 16:10 ~ And it shall come to pass, when thou shalt shew this people all these words, and they shall say unto thee, Wherefore hath the LORD pronounced all this great evil against us? or what is our iniquity? or what is our sin that we have committed against the LORD our God?
Old Testament | Proverbs 30:12 ~ There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.

All the World’s Become a Stage

(The Déjà Vus of Occult Seduction)

From the book, Ancient Documents and the Pearl of Great Price, we read:

This is the story they tell between the Sethians and the Cainites [descendants of the sons of Adam: Seth, being a disciple of Jehovah; Cain, a follower of Lucifer]. … Their cultures have different traditions, but the Cainites win hands down. There's no contest here at all. It happened over many years, however. They tell us how it happened. The plains had great attraction for the more simple-living people of the high places. They naturally were enticed. Satan took charge down below. He made a covenant. They talk a lot about the covenant, how he directed them and gave them the jewelry and the beautiful clothes and loud instruments. He specialized in brass bands. This would attract the attention of the young people up on the heights. They'd come and look down with some envy at all the fun that was going on down there in the plain—all the lights, the dancing, the carousing, etc. Then we come down the list here. After Cainan and Mahalaleel, then comes Jared. His name means "going down" because that was the day when they went down from the mountain; they left it. Jared told his sons, if you ever go down there, you'll never get back. At first they didn't know the way down, so Satan had to teach them. Satan actually came with a delegation of very important-looking people. He came up and invited Jared, "Come down, Brother Jared, and visit us in the city down below. You'll see what a nice society we have and you will love to stay with us. You'll see what it's like." He was curious, so he went down with them. They dressed up like angels, and they fooled him. He actually was fooled until he got back home, and the angel came and told him, Look, this is terrible. You've been led astray. Don't let your people do this. Satan showed them a way down. There was a gully where a stream went down, and you could get down that way. They started drifting down and joining in the fun. Incidentally, when Jared went there, he was introduced into all the delights of the place. Immediately, they started giving him a real show. It was a session—a real orgy with obscene goings on, etc. He was horrified because the men who came to get him had convinced him.

And oftentimes, to win us to our harm,
The instruments of darkness tell us truths,
Win us with honest trifles, to betray 's
In deepest consequence.^[1]

They won Jared over, but he saw where it was going. Well, his kids started going down and joining in the fun. They couldn't find their way back, and they didn't want to come back either. But they were warned ("if you do"). Pretty soon there was only a small community left up on the hill, the righteous and holy ones. As I say, this is all in these very old traditions. These were discovered in the nineteenth century in several places. There are about a hundred different sources actually.²

Do we see the déjà vu? how it’s all a “great seductive show”? how much of our culture is glued to and consumed with staged extravaganzas. From padded sofas we watch stages without curtains—stages that can entertain 24-hours a day, 365 days a year; stages recorded on twirling discs that can be replayed endlessly in the comfort, privacy, secrecy of our homes. Stages designed around the repetitive promotion of all things Babylon—advertisement on advertisement; seduction upon seduction.

Then we leave our homes and go to bigger stages—to mega-theatres, auditoriums, stadiums, even vast fields where we are mesmerized by massive stages “full of sound and fury, signifying”—what? Like the children of God of olden times, we gaze in awe upon the pyrotechnics and fantasia of show upon show:

◊  Music Awards
◊  Movie Awards
◊  TV Awards
◊  Olympic ceremonies
◊  Idol searches
◊  Half-time cacophonies / gyrations
◊  Video game caverns
◊  Raves
◊  & on and on

Any and every event, an opportunity to seduce.

And we never seem to clue in.

Do we never give thought to what we are seeing? Do we even notice all the occult, satanic and luciferian seductions? Are we just repeating the fall from grace of previous children of God and think it’s all just amazing entertainment showcasing the wonders of man’s genius?

Are we being led down the garden path, passing the tree of knowledge with nary a glance, right into hell?

Pay attention if you must watch the Grammys³ this year. What are you really seeing? Are you prepared for what they are promising, planning?

What better description is there of a life in and for Babylon with all her extravaganzas and her captive “stars”⁴ than these words from the 1600s?

Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more: it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.⁵

EXCEPT, living in and for Babylon does signify something—the forfeiture of all that one could have been. Thus, it signifies both nothing and everything at the same time. Which do we want to inherit?

Then let us open our eyes and see what we are seeing and hear what we are hearing. We are almost out of time.

--------------/
1. Shakespeare, Macbeth, Act 1, Scene 3
2. Hugh Nibley, Ancient Documents and the Pearl of Great Price, edited by Robert Smith and Robert Smythe [n.p., n.d.], 4-5 (bold emphasis added).
3. INTEL X LADY GAGA 720pHD ~ (2.41 min) at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiSVbzp4K88&index=18&list=RDzkV4smUW6KU or
Lady Gaga, Intel - 2016 Grammy Awards ~ (1.35 min.) at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkV4smUW6KU or
Last[?] Grammy Awards Ever: Lady Gaga Unveils Lucifer CERN (2016) ~ (9.45 min.) at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xi68YyOzjeE
4. Listen to their interviews, and ask yourself: How much of this “persona” is real and how much the construction and consequence of trauma-based mind control?
5. Shakespeare, Macbeth, Act 5, Scene 5